The Learning Curve

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the landscape of education — and school leaders are being asked to make important decisions faster than ever. In this episode of The Learning Curve, we explore what it really takes to develop a thoughtful, practical AI policy for your district or campus.A major part of this conversation also centers on building AI literacy across our schools. Policy alone isn’t enough — educators, students, and administrators all need a clear understanding of what AI is, how it works, and how it can be used responsibly in learning environments. We also examine how emerging legislation, including the Texas Responsible AI Governance Act, may shape expectations for transparency, accountability, and ethical AI use in public institutions. Developing strong AI literacy now helps districts stay proactive, informed, and prepared for both instructional shifts and regulatory changes ahead.

This episode features an interview with Danielle Johnson of TexSEF, the Texas Scholastic Esports Federation. Cyndi and Michael ask Danielle about Esports in Texas, how to start an Esports team, and what might be on the horizon for this exciting extracurricular opportunity for students.

In this episode, Carl and Cyndi explore what in-depth writing support looks like. From Tier 1 and Tier 2 instructional supports to individual writing conferences, quality timely feedback can help students improve their writing.

FITT 2025 is in the books! It was a great two days of learning and networking. We explored the theme of Innovation, challenging educators to build on skills and knowledge to develop truly creative learning experiences. The best part about FITT is that the learning opportunities come from YOU! Learning together and from each other makes us all better.We're already looking forward to FITT 2026! See you there!!!

The Region 7 Fall eSports Tournament was a huge success! Over 200 students competed in a Super Smash Bros. tournament over the course of 2 days. College recruiters from East Texas A&M, Jacksonville College, Panola College, Trinity Valley, and Kilgore College were present to scout out the contenders. The eSports movement is growing in East Texas, and we can't wait to see how it spreads!

The Fall AllPath Competition at Region 7 brought together bright young minds from across East Texas to celebrate creativity, collaboration, and engineering design. This exciting event featured 220 students representing 11 districts, each working in teams to solve a hands-on engineering challenge (designing a Wi-Fi tower) that tested their problem-solving, design thinking, and teamwork skills. The competition encouraged students to apply science, technology, engineering, and math concepts in real-world ways while fostering a spirit of innovation and perseverance. Participants showcased impressive creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. The Fall AllPath Competition continues to inspire students to explore future pathways in STEM and highlights the incredible talent and potential of young engineers across the region.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, we dive into the world of gamification and its potential to transform learning experiences. By applying game design principles to classroom activities, educators can foster motivation, track progress, and build a stronger classroom culture. The episode also highlights popular learning games such as Blooket, Quizizz, Kahoot, and Gimkit, while cautioning against common pitfalls like neglecting learning objectives. Remember that gamification is a vehicle for learning—not the goal itself. Learning is always the goal, and we should have intentional, student-centered design to create engaging and effective educational experiences.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, we move beyond basic AI applications and explore its transformative potential in education. The discussion highlights practical implementations of AI while addressing the importance of thoughtful and ethical integration. Topics include adaptive learning systems for personalized pathways, sophisticated writing analysis tools for improved student feedback, and multilingual support to ensure inclusivity.The episode also emphasizes the necessity of AI literacy as a core curriculum, covering how AI "thinks." Educators are introduced to custom AI environments, including classroom-specific chatbots and safe spaces for AI exploration. The episode concludes by underscoring that successful AI integration requires more than technical skills—it demands a vision for equitable and purposeful pedagogy.

In this episode, Cyndi and Carl discuss the difference between RTI/MTSS and Differentiation for mastery AND suggest some tools that can provide scaffolding options and quick feedback for your students.

Welcome to Season 2 of The Learning Curve!In this episode, Carl and Cyndi discuss the exciting things happening in the Digital Learning department for the 2025-2026 school year. Hear about AI Alliance, WriteAlign ECR Grader, eSports, and more! There are lots of amazing things happening with the DL team this year!

For the final episode of the '24-'25 season, Cyndi and Carl get to sit down with Jon Corippo—educator, innovator, and co-creator of EduProtocols. Jon shares the origin story behind the wildly popular instructional framework, how EduProtocols are transforming classrooms across the country, and why simplicity and repetition are the secret sauce for deeper learning. We dive into practical examples, teacher success stories, and the mindset shift required to move from content coverage to student engagement. Whether you're new to EduProtocols or a seasoned user, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and a few laughs along the way.Referenced Tools: eduprotocols.compadlet.comsnorkl.app99math.comgimkit.comblooket.comquizizz.comquizlet.com (specifically Quizlet Live)eduprotocolsplus.com/samplereduprotocols.com/classsocrative.commyshortanswer.comwewillwrite.comclasscompanion.combriskteaching.com

This special episode of The Learning Curve highlights the Region 7 eSports Spring Showdown! Over 40 teams and 150 students came to the Service Center April 29-30 to compete in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments. It was an exciting couple of days! We got to meet two students from Brownsboro who have received eSports scholarships to Trinity Valley Community College!

In this episode, Carl interviews the newest member of the Digital Learning team, Cyndi Nyvall. Cyndi is a veteran Region 7 employee, coming to Digital Learning from the Curriculum department. We talk about her experience in education, what she's looking forward to in Digital Learning, and the future of education. Help us welcome Cyndi Nyvall to the Digital Learning department.

Today on The Learning Curve, Carl interviews Holly Curry. Holly puts together all of the online courses for Region 7. If you've ever taken a virtual course through our system, Holly had her hands on it in some way. We also explore virtual learning and how it has the potential to reach students in different ways than traditional brick-and-mortar schools. Thanks for checking out the show this week!

In our final (for now) conversation with Michelle and Michael, we discuss ideal libraries. Why is the library the hub of the school? How can we maximize our school library space for students? What can we do if we have limited library resources? Our librarians answer all of these questions and more!

In the second episode featuring our librarians, Michelle and Michael tell us all about the wonder of TextQuest. This versatile tool is a lifesaver for research and, in the opinions of our librarians, is a must-use for teachers and students!

In this episode, we interview some of the amazing teachers and students at Elkhart ISD who have been using podcasting in their classrooms. It was a lot of fun getting to meet and talk with these educators and kids. You can bring podcasting into your class as well! We can help you get it set up.*Special Thanks to Kaysie Woody for setting up these interviews.*

Ozobots, Squishy Circuits, & Sphero! On this episode of the learning curve we are joined by Michelle Cooper and Michael Pettiette, the resident librarians of the Digital Learning department. We discuss some of the ways you can gamify your classroom!

In this week's episode, BJ and Carl continue the discussion on the use of AI in the classroom. Can AI be used for good or should it be avoided? Join us in the conversation!

In this episode of The Learning Curve, join us as we interview Danieli Parker, the Director of Innovation at Hallsville ISD. We talk about innovation, AI, the future of education, and how to leverage best practices in education. This is our second interview episode, but our first conversation with an education leader in Region 7. We look forward to this being the first of many interviews with educational practitioners in our Region.

FITT 2024 is in the books. Thank you to everyone who came to the conference this year! It was a rousing success and we're looking forward to seeing you back in 2025!

This week on The Learning Curve, BJ and Carl talk about developing learner-centered classrooms. Far from being just a buzzword or a standard on our TTESS evaluations, learner-centered is where we need our classrooms to be. Join us for a sometimes-philosophical, occasionally practical conversation about how we can lean into learner-centered pedagogy and maximize the learning potential of our students.

On this special episode of The Learning Curve, BJ and Carl interview Dr. Dwayne Harapnuik about all things education. Listen in as Dr. Harapnuik discusses learning in the modern world, AI in the classroom, and the future of education.

Some learning strategies are a traditional part of the education landscape. Quizzes, research papers, group work, and other assessments will always be a part of the learning experience. With digital tools we can maximize the learning experience for our students and make our work more efficient as teachers. In this episode of the Learning Curve, BJ and Carl discuss pedagogy in the digital age, how to level up your effectiveness and efficiency as an educator.

In this episode of The Learning Curve we highlight two of our favorite tech tools. MyShortAnswer will help you bring writing into any content area and MagicSchool is truly that, magic! Join us as we talk about two powerful tools that can help you level up your tech game in the classroom!

In this episode of The Learning Curve BJ and Carl discuss Discovery Education Experience (DEX). This powerful learning platform can help you find TEKS aligned content, engaging interactive activities, formative assessment tools, and learning strategies (among many other things)! It's truly a one-stop-shop for learning content!

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere! It seems like every program and website has a new AI tool for us to use. But what is it really? Is AI going to take over the world or drain the creativity out of our students? Should it be used in a learning environment? In episode 5 of The Learning Curve, BJ and Carl discuss what is going on behind the scenes with AI and how educators can think about incorporating the tools in the classroom.

Are new tech tools really necessary in the classroom? In the second episode of The Learning Curve BJ and Carl discuss the challenges of adopting new technology in the classroom. With the advent of every new initiative, there is always a bit of trepidation. If we work through the frustration of dealing with something new, though, we can help our students be more efficient and effective in their learning.

The Learning Curve is a podcast produced by the Digital Learning department of Region 7 Education Service Center. Our goal is to point you toward digital tools and innovative learning strategies to help you improve your student outcomes.