💡 How do we turn classrooms into innovation hubs? Liz Gallo, founder of Whymaker, joins us to share how she’s transforming education by making hands-on, minds-on learning the norm—and how schools can partner with businesses to better prepare students for the future.

In This Episode:

• ✅ How Whymaker helps teachers bring playful, project-based learning to every classroom
  ✅ The power of school-business partnerships in shaping career-ready students
  ✅ Real-world workforce development projects that connect education with industry
  ✅ Why CTE & STEM programs are more than just technical skills—they teach essential workplace skills
  ✅ How any educator can start collaborating with local businesses today

Game Changing Takeaways

• 💡 Hands-on learning isn’t optional—it’s essential for real-world success.
• 💡 Workplace skills (like collaboration & problem-solving) are just as critical as technical skills.
• 💡 Local businesses WANT to support education—you just need to ask!

Resouces and Links

🌐 Visit Whymaker:Whymaker.com

Check out the NYS Clean Energy for Educators Workshops. Sign up for one near you!!!

📢 Follow Liz & Whymaker: @Whymaker on all social platforms

🎯 Your Challenge:
What’s one way you can bring real-world industry connections into your classroom? 💬 Tag us with #TechEdClubhouse & share your ideas!

Episode Summary:

In this episode ofThe TechEd Clubhouse Podcast, I sit down with Larisa Black, a seasoned virtual educator and AI Literacy Coordinator, to discuss the evolving role of AI in education, building an AI club for teachers and students, and the power of community in professional learning. As one of the founding members of the EduGuardians, Larisa shares insights on the accidental origins of the movement and how it has grown into a thriving global network of educators.

✅ Larisa’s background in virtual education and AI literacy✅ The development of the AI Club for educators and students✅ How AI tools like ChatGPT and SchoolAI support personalized learning✅ Overcoming AI skepticism among educators✅ The power of community-driven professional learning with EduGuardians✅ Reflections on FETC and upcoming events like MACUL 2025✅ How educators can get involved with AI in the classroom

🗨️“AI isn’t replacing teachers—it’s a thought partner.” – Larisa Black

🗨️“When students engage with AI chatbots, it provides valuable insights into their learning gaps.” – Larisa Black

🗨️“The EduGuardians started as an accident, but it turned into a global community.” – Larisa Black

🔗Connect with Larisa Black

🔗https://www.teachwiseai.com/📧 Email:teachwiseai@gmail.com
🔗 LinkedIn:Larisa Black

🔗EduGuardians: A group of educators who connect, share ideas, and engage in community building. All educators are invited to become a member! Sign up here: https://www.eduguardian5.com/

🔗South Carolina Connections Academy: A virtual charter school (K-12th grades) available to students in the state of South Carolina. Larisa has been a Science teacher here for the past 9 years. https://learn.connectionsacademy.com/south-carolina-combo/

🔗Recommended AI Tools for Educators:
🛠️SchoolAI – AI-powered chatbots for student engagement
🛠️Curipod – Interactive learning with AI feedback
🛠️Diffit – AI for differentiation in instruction

🎤MACUL 2025 – March 19-21, Detroit, MI
📅 EduGuardians will be hosting multiple sessions, including the closing keynote!
📌 Interested in meeting up? Sign up atEduGuardians5.com to join the community.

LEGO isn’t just for STEM—it’s a powerful tool for math, history, English, and even the arts! In this episode of The TechEd Clubhouse, we explore how LEGO can transform learning across every subject, making lessons more engaging, hands-on, and fun.

From using LEGO for fractions and bar graphs in math to recreating historical events in social studies, storytelling in ELA, and even stop-motion animation in art, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can use in your classroom tomorrow!

💡 What You’ll Learn:
✅ Creative ways to integrate LEGO into every subject
✅ Quick lesson ideas to spark engagement
✅ Free resources to bring LEGO learning to life

🔗 Get the full lesson plans and student worksheets here: coachthomastech.com