Teacher Edition Podcast

Finding Purpose: Helping Students Discover Their Calling

 “You can’t be anything you want to be; you can be anything God wants you to be. You can be more of who God created you to be.” – Rebecca Weier
 
Many teachers have heard the question from students, “What’s the point?” Rebecca Weier, a teacher with more than thirty years of experience, joins Jenny on the podcast to help connect the dots between daily school work and their futures. Rebecca has a passion for helping students (and teachers) discover their purpose and calling so they can be more of who God created them to be.  
 
Rebecca shares some practical ways to empower students to develop realistic goals in order to walk out what they feel God has called them to do. She also shares some thought-provoking questions to spur on students’ ideas.  
 
Knowing there may be some educators who are wondering whether they are fulfilling their God-given purpose, as well, Rebecca’s wisdom and encouragement in this episode can help. 
 
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
Rebecca Weier holds a BS in mathematics education, an MS in personnel services, and an EdD in higher education leadership. She has more than thirty years of teaching experience on the high school and university levels. She and her husband have four children and two grandchildren and serve in a variety of ministries at their local church. She is currently a national consultant for 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]
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Cyber Sense: AI Ready

“Don’t replace tasks that make you think or make your students think. Thinking is a good thing, and we don't want to replace that. Don’t replace the human connection. This is how God made us.” –Jenny Copeland 
The thing about AI is that it may just highlight what we as human teachers CAN do. AI needs teachers. Only educators can bring certain elements to the table. We can use it to be transformational inside our classrooms. Jenny explores where AI is headed and shares predictions from Big Tech companies, from the workforce and content creation to adapting inside the education system with academic and emotional support. Through the Gartner Hype Cycle, Jenny is hopeful that AI will reach a plateau of productivity where it will be helpful rather than a distraction.  
 
Great teachers will never be replaced by AI, but those who refuse to learn AI may be replaced by teachers who choose to embrace this tool. Only humans can bring the connection and relationship piece.  
 
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]
Resources Mentioned:
“Control -Alt- Achieve” by Eric Kurtz 
“AI For School Leaders” by Vickie F. Echols
“How to Teach AI” by Rachelle Dene Poth
“Storytelling with Purpose” by Michael Hernandez
“Learning First, Technology Second” by Liz Kolb
“Learning Technology, “ by Liz Kolb
“From the Garden to the City” by John Dyer
 

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]