Jake and Matt Miller from Ditch That Textbook dive into the power of AI’s imperfections as a teaching tool. They explore how the quirks and mistakes in AI-generated content, like extra fingers or misshapen images, can sharpen students’ critical thinking, media literacy, and observation skills. Instead of fearing AI’s flaws, teachers can turn them into opportunities for deeper learning and classroom engagement.

Matt shares how he uses AI-generated images in his Spanish classroom to help students develop AI literacy and train their ability to "check the weirdness." Jake builds on this idea, discussing how engaging with AI critically can strengthen students' ability to discern fact from fiction. This episode is all about flipping the script: AI isn’t a threat to critical thinking: it’s a tool to refine it.

• AI-generated errors can be powerful tools for teaching observation skills.
• Encouraging students to "check the weirdness" fosters critical thinking.
• AI literacy is essential in today's classrooms.
• Engaging with AI helps students become more skeptical and analytical.
• Classroom discussions on AI weirdness can lead to broader conversations about media literacy.
• Discerning fact from fiction is a critical skill in the digital age.
• Educators should embrace AI as a learning tool, not fear its impact.

• "Check the weirdness!"
• "AI is highly fallible."
• "Training our BS detector."
• "AI’s mistakes are teaching gold."

• Matt Miller’s Website
• AI for Educators by Matt Miller
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Have you tried using AI-generated weirdness in your classroom? How are you helping students think critically about AI? Share your story! Leave us a message on SpeakPipe or connect with us on social media. Your insights might be featured in a future episode!

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Can you be excellent at your job without letting it consume your life? The education system thrives on unpaid teacher labor, but at what cost?

In this episode, we discuss cruel optimism—the idea that if teachers just work harder, they can fix systemic issues. Spoiler: They can’t. More hours don’t equal better teaching, and burnout isn’t a badge of honor.

Hans Tullman kicks off the discussion with a hard truth: the system depends on teachers working for free. Jake unpacks how setting boundaries, leveraging AI, and using EduProtocols can help teachers reclaim their time—without sacrificing excellence.

Key Takeaways:
🔹 Cruel Optimism—Pushing through systemic problems won’t fix them, it just keeps them going.
🔹 More Hours ≠ Better Teaching—A well-rested teacher is more impactful than a burnt-out one.
🔹 Unpaid Labor—Other professions wouldn’t tolerate it. Why should teachers?
🔹 Set Boundaries—Excellence doesn’t require self-sacrifice. Protect your time.
🔹 AI & EduProtocols—Work smarter, not harder. Reduce workload & focus on what really matters.
🔹 School Leaders—Admins must redefine what “excellence” looks like and actually protect teacher time.

Join the Conversation!
Got thoughts? Rants? Questions? Leave us a voicemail!
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Resources Mentioned:
🎤 Hans Tullman – hanstullman.com
📚 Cruel Optimism by Lauren Berlant
⚡ EduProtocols & AI Tools – Reduce your workload & increase efficiency

🔥 Final Thought: You can be an excellent teacher and have a life—in fact, you’ll be a better teacher because of it.

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We’re back! Our real-talk educator dynamic duo, Jake & Nathan are back in action: complete with career and life updates and a return to form discussing real life uses of AI tools to beat burnout and have more fun in your classroom tomorrow!

Visit https://www.mrcarrontheweb.com/ and sign up with your email for Jake’s newsletter to receive a PDF guide on when students should and should not use AI in the classroom.

Resources discussed in the episode:

Jake’s ELA Edition Edu-Protocols Book

Adam Grant’s Re-Thinking Podcast with Sam Altman on the future of AI and humanity

Artificial Intelligence tools mentioned in the episode that you should familiarize yourself with:

ChatGPT — for the left brain!

Claude.ai — for the right brain!

Google Notebook LM — create AI podcasts on demand of learning materials? What?!

Brisk — ultimate instant feedback hack

SchoolAI — use “Spaces” to easily create content-focused chat bots with full back channel, student overview, and NO student account needed

MagicSchool — SO MUCH stuff on here!

Learning Genie — new soon-to-be EduProtocol-embedded lesson plan partner

Reach out to us on What Teachers Have to Say SpeakPipe to get in on the conversation with what YOU have to say, teachers!