Teacher Edition Podcast

Cyber Sense: Reimagining Assessments in an AI World

How do you assess when answers are readily available for students via AI? How can you detect whether a student has used AI on their assignments? Jenny challenges educators to stop chasing AI detection tools and instead redesign assessments that naturally resist misuse.
 
In this episode, Jenny reminds educators to remember the why behind assessments. Are we grading for growth or just filling gradebooks? AI forces us to examine whether our assessments have authenticity and connection, or if they have become busy work students want to shortcut.  
Jenny also discusses some key strategies for making assessments, as well as some essential policies to help clarify what is cheating and share what is permitted or prohibited within the classroom. She also shares some red flags to look for in a student’s work and how to encourage students to develop integrity in their work. 
Coming Next: The final episode—Being AI Ready.
Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you.
Go do what God has called you to do!
Sponsored By 
Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. [bjupress.com]
 

Cyber Sense: The Scoop of Students Use

“In 2024, 66 percent of students reported using AI in some form for their studies. In 2025, 92 percent of students are reporting that they use AI in their studies. A 26 percent jump in usage in one year!” — Jenny Copeland
 
Are students using AI? How are students using AI? What tools are most popular? Jenny answers these questions with some eye-opening statistics about student AI usage and reveals how educators can shift the conversation from cheating to proper learning support.
Jenny discusses in further detail on this episode of Cyber Sense:
Statistics of AI usage inside and beyond classrooms
The mindset shift challenge -How to approach AI as a tutor
Practical applications for both student and teacher
Even if AI is banned at your school, students are using it. Rather than fighting reality, Christian educators have the opportunity to guide students toward appropriate, God-honoring use of these powerful tools.
Coming Next: Reimagining Assessments in an AI World
Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you.
Go do what God has called you to do!
Sponsored By:
Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. [bjupress.com]

Cyber Sense: Tools for Teachers

“Think of these AI tools as super excited, exuberant, ready-to-help student teachers or interns. They’re right there, ready to help.” – Jenny Copeland
 
On this episode of Teacher Edition in our Cyber Sense series, Jenny gives us a high flyover view of various AI tools to help educators navigate the overwhelming landscape of options available today. Jenny shares three main ground rules for choosing your AI platforms: 
A tool that claims to be a solution for everything is probably not the best at anything.
ChatGPT does not equal AI.
Don’t feel the pressure to try or use them all. Find what works for you.
 
Major AI Platforms Covered:
ChatGPT
DALL-E
Sora
Claude
Copilot
Gemini
Perplexity
Education-Specific Tools:
Curipod
Brisk
School AI & Magic School AI
Khanmigo
NotebookLM
TrekA
Tools Within Existing Platforms:
Canva
Padlet
EdPuzzle
Quizlet
Specialized Options:
Snorkl
Labster
Diffit
Jenny addresses the common concern about whether using AI tools is “cheating” as an educator, comparing AI to a vacuum cleaner. It’s simply a tool that helps you work more efficiently so you can focus on what only you, as the human, can do.  
Coming up next in our series, Jenny talks about students’ use of AI and guidelines for classroom implementation.
 
Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you.
Go do what God has called you to do!
 
Resources Mentioned:
https://chatgpt.com/
https://chatgpt.com/g/g-2fkFE8rbu-dall-e?locale=en-US
https://sora.com
https://gemini.google.com/
https://copilot.microsoft.com/
https://www.canva.com/
https://www.briskteaching.com/
https://schoolai.com/
https://www.magicschool.ai/
https://quizlet.com/
https://edpuzzle.com/
https://padlet.com/
https://www.khanmigo.ai/
https://trekai.org/
Sponsored By Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. [bjupress.com]

Cyber Sense: Prompt Engineering

“The prompt is the key. That’s how you get where you’re going. That’s how you get to the endpoint that you’re looking for.” – Jenny Copeland
Have you ever been around a great baker or cook? They intuitively know how to tweak a recipe so the end product comes out just right. Jenny explains how this applies to AI and reveals the most important aspect of using AI effectively: the prompt.  
 
The prompt is the key to getting what you want and where you want to go with AI.  
 
Jenny discusses the six essential prompting tips:
Be clear and specific.
Include context.
Specify output format.
Break down complex requests. 
Provide reference materials.
Follow up as needed. 
 
The overarching golden rule is to assume that your prompt needs work, not the platform. Don’t blame AI for poor results; instead, refine your prompt. Jenny gives multiple examples with weak and strong prompts that will help you adjust your prompt engineering to produce more effective results.  
 
Coming next: Jenny looks at specific AI tools that are currently used in education.  
 
Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you.
Go do what God has called you to do!
 
“God has placed us right here, right now, for this. AI is not taking God by surprise. What a shame it would be to not take full advantage of the opportunity to speak into the lives of students in this area.” – Jenny Copeland
Sponsored By Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. [bjupress.com]

Cyber Sense: Benefits and Cautions

 “You are the moral checkpoint, and that’s where we cannot hand that off to AI.” – Jenny Copeland 
 
“Think of it like an intern. AI is here to help.” – Jenny Copeland 
 
What can AI do for you as an educator or as an administrator? And what are some cautions around AI? In this episode, Jenny answers these important questions and shares many practical ways you can implement AI within the classroom.  
 
Jenny shares the benefits of AI through:
-Administrative tasks
-Teaching applications
-Subject-specific uses
-Student support
 
Sharing some cautions, as well, Jenny discusses:
-Technical concerns
-Ethical issues
-Overreliance on AI for creativity and critical thinking
 
Overall, remember that you have an incredible tool at your fingertips, and you are the one who adds heart and human touch. AI should be viewed as a starting point and partner, not a solution or endpoint.  
 
Coming next episode: Practical, hands-on exploration of specific AI tools and platforms for educators.  
 
Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you. 
 
Go do what God has called you to do!
 
Referenced Episode Mentioned:
Bryan Smith’s Understanding Work Through a Biblical Worldview
 
Sponsored By
Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. [bjupress.com]

CyberSense: Myths, Misconceptions, and Mindsets

“AI is an assistant. It’s not the final product. See AI as a partner, not a solution. It’s a starting point. It’s not the end point.” – Jenny Copeland
 
Generative AI is here to stay, so what do we do as educators? How do we take advantage of this tool and switch our mindset around it?  In this episode, Jenny debunks some common AI myths and misconceptions that may be holding educators back from embracing this new technology. 
 
AI myths Jenny debunks:
AI equals robots 
More data equals smarter AI
AI can teach itself anything
AI understands like humans do
Machines are neutral
AI will leave humans unemployed
AI has no place in our world
 
Jenny encourages us to adjust our mindsets in four key areas as we approach AI to learn more and champion the benefits of it. It’s about moving beyond defensive reactions and recognizing the potential AI can bring to Christian educators and students.  
 
Coming up next in our Cyber Sense series, Jenny will share some practical applications within the classroom.  
 
Every day in the classroom is your day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you.  
 
Go do what God has called you to do! 
 
Sponsored By Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit your website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. [bjupress.com] 

CyberSense: Generative AI 101

“Someone once said, ‘We fear things in proportion to our ignorance of them…. People fear what they don't understand and hate what they can't conquer.’” – Jenny Copeland
Have you been curious about generative AI? This month, Jenny sits down to clear the fog around this hot topic in the world and more specifically within education. We as educators know AI can feel overwhelming. You are not alone. This series aims to transform fear into understanding and confusion into confidence. 
On this episode Jenny covers:
-The official definition: machines performing tasks typically requiring human intelligence
-Three types of AI: reactive, predictive, and generative
-Why AI isn’t new
-How generative AI works
-Essential AI vocabulary 
 
She also explains the necessary framework to get started with AI:
Select your platform.
Enter your prompt.
Refine the results through conversation.
Utilize (not just copy and paste) the output. 
Jenny emphasizes that AI should be viewed as a starting point and tool for assistance, not just a replacement for human thinking and creativity. The goal isn’t to ban AI or fear AI but to understand it well enough to lead students biblically and teach confidently.
This episode sets the stage for the remaining seven episodes in the series, where we will dive into more practical applications, ethical considerations, and specific strategies for Christian educators.  
Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God's power and grace working in you. 
Go do what God has called you to do!
 
Sponsored By
Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. [bjupress.com]

Beyond the AI Panic: Thoughtful AI Integration for Christian Schools

“Learning is a social experience and it always will be. Educators in Christian education know this better than anyone. They understand that education is not about knowledge transfer. Education is about student formation.” – Josh Thomason
The arrival of generative AI has sent education into chaos. While schools scramble to ban ChatGPT or train teachers to become prompt engineers, two Christian educators saw an opportunity to bring order back to the classroom.
Dr. Josh Thomason and Dr. Derek Wilson join us to share their journey from online education pioneers to AI innovators. Starting with the challenge of offering specialized courses to small Christian schools, they discovered that the real need wasn’t just access to education; it was personalization at scale.
Their solution, TrekAI, represents a fundamentally different approach to AI in education. 
You’ll hear:
The Problems with Generic AI:
Why ChatGPT and similar tools can actually harm student learning
The dangers of “sycophancy” in large language models
How unguided AI use creates rabbit holes instead of learning
TrekAI’s Educational Approach:
Socratic training that asks questions instead of giving answers
Built-in guardrails that protect students while promoting growth
Integration with curriculum content, including BJU Press materials
Practical Implementation:
Teacher tools that reduce administrative burden without requiring prompt engineering expertise
Student tutoring that’s available 24/7 with educational safeguards
Data insights that help teachers understand what students actually struggle with
Whether you’re skeptical about AI in education or overwhelmed by the rapid changes, this episode provides a thoughtful framework for understanding how technology can serve Christian education’s core mission of student formation.
“What generative AI did to education was it sent the whole ecosystem into chaos. And what we’ve been trying to do through this is bring order back to chaos.” – Josh Thomason
Resources Mentioned:
TrekAI’s partnership with BJU Press: https://trekai.org/bjupress
About Our Guests Dr. Josh Thomason serves as the vice president of finance and operations at Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC), one of the nation’s largest K-12 Christian schools. He is the founder and executive director of Ethos, GAC’s global online school. Josh is also the visionary behind TrekAI. Josh’s work reflects a deep belief that when technology is aligned with purpose, it doesn’t dehumanize education—it makes it more personal, more meaningful, and more Christ-centered.
Dr. Derek Wilson is a seasoned educational leader with a passion for harnessing the power of emerging technologies to improve student learning and teacher support. As a senior leader at TrekAI, he plays a pivotal role in shaping how artificial intelligence can be thoughtfully integrated into K-12 education. With more than two decades of experience as a teacher and academic leader in Christian schools, Derek brings deep insight into the daily realities of schools—insight that makes him uniquely equipped to translate the rapidly evolving tech landscape into practical, meaningful solutions for students and educators.
TrekAI is an AI-based tutor and suite of teacher tools designed to reduce administrative burden and restore what matters most: human connection in the classroom. TrekAI supports Christian schools by offloading time-consuming, repetitive tasks like grading, lesson planning, and administrative logistics. In doing so, it redeems teachers’ time, allowing them to re-engage with their core calling: mentoring, motivating, and deeply knowing their students. Since its launch in 2023, TrekAI has expanded to serve over 150 schools and more than 100,000 students worldwide.
Sponsored By
Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. [bjupress.com]

Teaching Reading in Every Classroom: Skills, Content, and Comprehension

“We need to be teaching every subject in reading as well as teaching reading in every subject.” – Rachel Santopietro
Reading affects everything. When students struggle academically, the issue often traces back to reading comprehension. But what if everything you thought you knew about teaching reading was only half the picture?
Rachel Santopietro returns to the Teacher Edition Podcast to unpack the science of reading and reveal why traditional approaches to reading instruction may be missing a crucial component. Through an example involving rock-climbing terminology, Rachel demonstrates that decoding words isn’t enough. True comprehension requires something much deeper.
This episode explores the two strands of reading comprehension: word recognition and language comprehension. While most educators focus heavily on phonics and decoding skills, Rachel reveals research showing that background knowledge is actually a stronger predictor of reading success than reading ability itself.
You’ll discover:
What the “science of reading” really means and how Scarborough’s Reading Rope illustrates the complete picture
The critical difference between teaching skills and teaching content
Why the famous “baseball experiment” revolutionized understanding of reading comprehension
How to build background knowledge across all subject areas
The three tiers of vocabulary instruction and which tier has the biggest impact
Practical strategies for teaching reading in every subject, not just language arts
Rachel provides concrete methods for building background knowledge, from reading aloud above grade level to using graphic organizers that help students organize information both on paper and in their minds. She also breaks down vocabulary instruction into actionable tiers, showing how strategic focus on cross-curricular vocabulary can transform comprehension.
The conversation concludes with the powerful reminder that Christian education began with the goal of teaching children to read the Bible – making reading comprehension not just an academic skill, but a spiritual foundation for knowing Christ more deeply.
Whether you teach kindergarten or high school, math or history, this episode will change how you think about your role in developing student literacy and comprehension.
Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you.
Go do what God has called you to do!
Resources Mentioned:
Scarborough’s Reading Rope: https://www.learninga-z.com/site/resources/breakroom-blog/reading-rope-resources
The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler
Bringing Words to Life (vocabulary instruction resource)
About Our Guest Rachel Santopietro is passionate about helping students find joy in learning as they engage, learn, and create. And she wants this enthusiasm to be contagious. The same sense of wonder that sparked her curiosity in childhood spurred her to pursue a degree in chemistry, a master’s degree in education, and a doctorate in learning design and technology. She wants to share her passion as she draws from her teaching and writing experience to oversee instructional design for writing teams at BJU Press.
Sponsored By Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. [bjupress.com]

Understanding Work Through a Biblical Worldview

“We declare the glory of God by being made in His own image and by living out the commands of the creation mandate. And the creation mandate is a call to work.” – Bryan Smith
 
What if the key to transforming both your teaching and your students’ attitudes toward learning was hidden in plain sight? 
Bryan Smith, longtime Christian educator and biblical worldview expert, challenges educators to rediscover one of the most fundamental aspects of education: work itself. But this isn’t about motivating lazy students or managing workloads. This conversation goes much deeper, connecting the very purpose of education to a biblical understanding of what it means to be human.  
Bryan reveals how the creation mandate in Genesis 1:28 serves as the educational mandate that explains why math, science, language arts, and social studies matter beyond college preparation. Work predates the fall and serves as a primary way humans declare God’s glory. For students, school isn’t preparation for their future work – it IS their work as children called to exercise dominion.
This perspective addresses both lack of motivation and overachieving as spiritual issues in students. Bryan tackles the tension between engaging learning and constant entertainment, arguing that productive struggle prepares students for real-world work. He also helps overachieving students find identity in Christ rather than performance.
The conversation includes practical wisdom for both ends of the spectrum while maintaining the biblical balance between work and rest that God modeled in creation.
Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you.
Go do what God has called you to do!
About Our Guest Bryan Smith has worked in Christian education for over thirty years, having been a classroom teacher as well as a textbook author. Currently, Bryan serves as the director for Biblical Worldview Formation at BJU Press. He is responsible for ensuring that all educational materials produced by BJU Press support the development of a biblical worldview in students. He has led BJU Press in becoming the worldview leader in Christian education publishing. Recently, he authored Biblical Worldview Beyond the Basics (a high-school level survey of biblical worldview thinking and living). Bryan speaks at conferences, schools, and churches around the country. He and his wife, Becky, have six children.
Sponsored By Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. [bjupress.com]
 
“When you are a child in the third grade or the fourth grade, school is your work. School is what God has called you to as a child when it comes to Genesis 1:28.” – Bryan Smith