Postcards from ISTE - The Student AI Revolution is Already Here | Ep. 118

In this episode of ChatEDU, Postcards from ISTE - The Student AI Revolution is Already Here, Matt and Liz open with the perils of being an author, including AI-generated knockoffs flooding Apple Books and Amazon with hallucinated covers and nonsensical content.

The Rundown

Google added short-form vertical AI video to NotebookLM, and Gemini launched study notebooks, which generate a diagnostic quiz from uploaded materials and build adaptive lessons around the results.

As AI automates routine tasks, an op-ed in The 74 argues employers increasingly value durable skills like collaboration and real-time problem solving, and that theater, debate, sports, and student government are where students actually build them.

Lawmakers in 27 states have introduced bills this session covering classroom AI guidelines, guardrails, and AI literacy standards.

The rapid expansion of AI data centers is placing massive strain on energy grids, with some districts forced to dim school lights to manage skyrocketing utility costs during summer heat waves.

The episode examines the environmental costs of AI, noting that many data centers must rely on backup gas turbines during peak grid demand, which contributes to local air quality issues.

The Beneath the Surface

The hosts compare two contrasting perspectives on the future of education. They analyze a Reddit-based study revealing an adversarial ecosystem of mutual distrust regarding academic integrity and student anxiety, and contrast this with the inspirational student-led innovation Liz witnessed firsthand at the ISTE conference in Orlando.

The Bright Byte

The episode concludes by highlighting the Elephant Alert AI early detection system, which uses artificial intelligence to help local villages and forest departments prevent fatal human-wildlife encounters in India.

Say hi to Matt on the road:

NAESP - July 14th

https://www.naesp.org/events/

AESA - July 15th

https://www.aesa.us/summer-leadership-conference/

New Jersey Association of Independent Schools - August 11th

https://members.njais.org/integratedEvents/home/2026-INNOVATION-COLLABORATION-CONFERENCE

RIACTE - August 14th

https://www.nextgenmfg.org/event-details/rhode-island-acte-summer-conference

Say hi to Liz on the Road:

Bridges Conference 2026 by Starbridge - July 21-22

https://share.google/0Ky8DA4yQbYLQcmWQ

Global Teaching Dialogue | Fulbright Teacher Exchanges

https://share.google/F2CwJdKGIVoe7RIHg

Announcements

Purchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday

Amazon - https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77

Seeing through the Machine – Teaching Bias as an Equity Practice in AI - Dr. Elizabeth Radday - https://tinyurl.com/4ybwkn7a

Check out our middle / high school Student AI Literacy course - ​​⁠⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠⁠

Explore Skills21’s FREE social media literacy curriculum - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/social-balance⁠⁠⁠

Address Screen Time concerns - ⁠skills21.org/ai/screenshift⁠

Sponsors

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing - https://www.nextgenmfg.org

Links

AI-generated knockoffs of Joanna Stern's book keep appearing on Apple Books

https://tinyurl.com/45ehzuy3

Google NotebookLM expands AI video features with 60-second shorts

https://tinyurl.com/3bjtbtke

In the Age of AI, Everyone Should Be Hiring Theater Kids

https://tinyurl.com/yc4uht2w

Legislative Tracker: 2026 State AI in Education Bills

https://tinyurl.com/3xx4d89j

The AI boom is colliding with a new threat: Severe weather

https://tinyurl.com/59jdbas7

They Welcomed 37 Data Centers to Town. Now Their Schools Have to Dim the Lights to Cut Energy Costs

https://tinyurl.com/2u4z8xtz

Energy Dept. Orders Data Centers to Tap Backup Power

https://tinyurl.com/5xm8wkte

ChatGPT vs Teachers vs Students: Large-Scale Analysis of Generative AI Discourse

https://tinyurl.com/5ez949cu

Elephant alert! AI warning systems aim to avoid deadly clashes

https://tinyurl.com/3n3xe7x3