EdTech Bites Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 306 | How One Microphone Can Improve Student Public Speaking w/ Tambra Clark Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Today’s episode is sponsored by WeVideo, the interactive video platform for educators. With WeVideo, you can easily assign projects, collaborate in real-time, and embed interactive questions into your videos to boost classroom engagement. Meet students where they are and develop crucial 21st-century skills. Try WeVideo today at wevideo.com/education.

Why do traditional speech assignments make middle schoolers freeze up and read off slides like robots? In this episode I’m joined by Tambra Clark, District Technology Innovation Facilitator. She reveals how swapping oral presentations for student-led podcasting fixes public speaking anxiety, improves grammar, and builds real articulation.

Learn how to launch a classroom audio show using basic equipment, guide students through self-critiques, and set up simple privacy boundaries that protect kids while giving their voices a real audience.

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

EdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.com
EdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.social
EdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbites
EdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites

About Tambra Clark

Tambra Clark is the Technology Integration Facilitator for Birmingham City Schools, supporting innovation district-wide. An Apple Distinguished Educator and EdSurge Voices of Change Fellow, she focuses on student agency through digital media and emerging technologies. Currently a doctoral student in Educational and Organizational Leadership at Samford University, she specializes in the ethical integration of AI in K-12. She also serves as the K-12 Outreach Board Chair for Birmingham Women in Technology.

Connect With Tambra Clark

Tambra On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tambra-clark-ed-s-941a398a/

Ep. 305 | How To Fix Student Disengagement In One Day w/ Jon Arguello Sep 13, 2026

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by TWT Audio, creators of durable classroom headsets designed by educators to survive real student use. Stop wasting your school budget replacing cheap headphones every year and head to TWTAudio.com to hear the difference.

In this episode, I’m joined by former school board member Jon Arguello to break down how sensory disconnects impact student engagement and academic outcomes. We dive into the reality of competing with smartphones, navigating district-level policies, and using TWT’s dynamic audio gear to create focus in noisy learning environments. Buen provecho!

Key Takeaways

How sensory isolation using low-cost headsets can recreate a 1-on-1 teaching environment in a 30-student room.
Why district tech spending often misses basic physical needs like student hearing and focus.
Strategies for using dynamic headsets to support ESL learners and student podcasters.
Navigating phone bans and distraction management in secondary schools.

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

EdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.com
EdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.social
EdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbites
EdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites

About Jon Arguello

Jon H. Arguello, J.D. is a leader in the education world who has been at the forefront of modern education policy. Today he helps districts solve complex problems by matching them with manufacturers and companies that can efficiently and effectively address gaps in technology, security, and the delivery of education. He is a former school board member in Central Florida and testified before the Florida Senate on education.

Connect With Jon

Jon On LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/jonarguello

Ep. 304 | Why Your Strict Reading Rules Are Backfiring With Dr. Sawsan Jaber Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

Remember being told comic books did not count as real reading? That same rigid mindset is still shutting down student engagement in classrooms today. In this episode, Dr. Sawsan Jaber walks us through her revolutionary human centered framework designed to transform instructional practice. Learn the exact Name, Notice, and Interrupt process that moves learning from cold mechanics into heart, mind, and global community connection. Stop accidentally deflating student curiosity and start building a culture where every learner feels seen.

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

EdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.com
EdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.social
EdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbites
EdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites

About Dr. Sawsan Jaber

Dr. Sawsan Jaber, NBCT, is an award-winning global educator, keynote speaker, and founder of Dr. Sawsan Jaber Consulting. With over 20 years of experience in leadership and equity strategy, she created the Human-Centered Pedagogy Framework to reimagine teaching around dignity, agency, and social change. A university professor and coauthor of the bestselling book Pedagogies of Voice, Dr. Jaber equips educators to dismantle systemic barriers and build inclusive, humanizing classrooms where every student thrives.

Connect With Dr. Sawsan Jaber

Dr. Sawsan Jaber’s Website: https://drsawsanjaber.com
Dr. Sawsan Jaber On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjeducate/?hl=en
Dr. Sawsan Jaber On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sawsan-jaber-nbct-5835ab242/

Ep. 303 | Stop Dictating Answers and Start Building AI Agents w/ Sharo Dickerson Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

In this episode recorded at ISTE 2026, Sharo Dickerson breaks down how district leaders can use custom AI agents to automate support, save time, and coach teachers effectively.

Learn how to go beyond basic chatbots and use tools to build targeted, pedagogically grounded AI agents. Sharo shares her exact framework for gathering teacher feedback, building capacity across school sites, and monitoring real-time sentiment so you know when educators need a human touch.

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

EdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.com
EdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.social
EdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbites
EdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites

About Sharo Dickerson

Sharo Dickerson serves as the Director of Assessment, Accountability, Research, and School Improvement at Las Cruces Public Schools. With extensive experience in public school education, digital and AI literacy, technology integration, STEM, coaching, professional development, and innovative best practices, she founded INNOVATEed by sharodickerson, an education consultancy dedicated to empowering creativity, leadership, and educational excellence, and serves as its Chief Education Officer. She is a forward-thinking education consultant and leader who supports educational institutions, educators, and learners through active learning, critical thinking, culturally responsive and sustaining practices, creative problem-solving, and meaningful leadership development. Sharo is a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Fellow, Apple Learning Specialist, and Google practitioner. She is also a professional development provider, conference presenter, digital creator, podcast producer, and published co-author.

Connect With Sharo Dickerson

Sharo On X: https://x.com/sharodickerson
Sharo On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsharodickerson/
Sharo On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharo-dickerson-1225491a9

Ep. 302 | Beginning Of The Year Keynote: Stop October Burnout With This 3-Step Check Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

Are you setting yourself up for October burnout before the school year even begins? In this annual Beginning of the Year Keynote, I’m breaking down the three massive traps holding educators back and how to fix them with a practical reality check.

In this episode, you will learn:

Why chasing a perfectionist classroom layout leads straight to early burnout (and what to focus on instead)
How to manage an endless teacher to-do list without sacrificing your homelife and personal boundaries
Simple strategies to select 2 to 3 educational technology tools with true instructional intentionality
Key takeaways from my 20-plus year K-12 career and a major announcement in my next EdTech career chapter

Stop letting perfectionism drain your energy. Tune in to build a functional, sustainable approach to the 2026-2027 school year. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

EdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.com
EdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.social
EdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbites
EdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites

Ep. 301 | 3 Steps to Hook Distracted Students w/ Tara Martin Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

Engagement isn't about flashy tools, it is about the hook. When students feel connected to a topic, they retain more and take ownership of their learning. In this episode, I sit down with Tara Martin to explore how commercial modeling agency secrets can revolutionize literacy and content delivery across any grade level. And you thought Derek Zoolander was the only one who was able to teach you anything about modeling agencies…

What you will learn in this episode:

The 3-step "Feel It, See It, Want It" engagement framework
How short-form video trailers drive library checkouts and deep literacy
Strategies to help students turn classroom assignments into real-world creator skills
How to apply 30-second commercial hooks across non-tested content areas

Give this a shot in your classroom this school year and let us know how it goes. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

EdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.com
EdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.social
EdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbites
EdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites

About Tara Martin

Tara Martin is a nationally recognized educator, speaker, and author known for inspiring educators to lead with authenticity, courage, and heart. With experience as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and district administrator, she brings practical strategies that ignite engagement, build strong relationships, and create meaningful learning experiences.

She is the author of Be REAL: Educate from the Heart and Cannonball In, and the creator of #BookSnaps, a global reading strategy used in classrooms across seventeen countries.

Tara challenges educators to embrace innovation, prioritize human connection, and Cannonball In to their full potential.

Connect With Tara Martin

Tara’s Website: https://www.tarammartin.com/
Tara On X: https://x.com/TaraMartinEDU
Tara On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarammartin.real/
Tara On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taram.martin.1
Tara On Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarammartinreal/

Ep. 300 | The 3 Big Mistakes I Made Over 300 Episodes And The Future Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

This is it! Episode 300!

Hitting episode 300 meant looking in the mirror, literally and figuratively. After nine years, 100 pounds down, and hundreds of conversations, I am opening up about the biggest mistakes I made along the way. From fighting imposter syndrome to dumping the illusion of perfectionism, this episode breaks down three hard truths every content creator and educator needs to hear. Plus, I am sharing why I am cutting the fluff, ditching the endless AI hype, and pivoting back to raw, human centered connection and in person conversations. Grab a smoothie and let us celebrate this major milestone together. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

EdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.com
EdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.social
EdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbites
EdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites

Ep. 299 | Why This Ex-Rockstar Audio Engineer Built Student-Proof Headsets w/ Mark Howlett Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

Tired of watching your school tech budget get chewed to pieces? We all know the heartbreak of “that bin” filled with broken classroom headphones. In this episode, I chat with Mark Howlett, Chief Operating Officer at TWT Audio to learn his thought process while designing student-proof tech. He went from being an audio engineer and working with music legends to working with our most important artists… students! He has a passion for making audio crystal clear for our students while maintaining safety for them as well, without breaking the bank. Learn how TWT’s modular headphone designs allow you to swap a single cord in seconds for a fraction of the cost, saving schools thousands of dollars. We break down the hidden costs of cheap equipment and how to adapt classroom gear without buying entirely new setups every time ports change. Stop throwing budget money in the trash.

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

EdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.com
EdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.social
EdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbites
EdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites

About Mark Howlett

Mark Howlett is TWT Audio VP Director of Research & Development, as well as the sound engineer and developer of ThinkWrite’s products. He is an award winning Los Angeles recording engineer and studio designer credited with multiple gold and platinum albums, Emmy Awards with over 45 years experience in sound design. Mark has been instrumental in creating a sound curve for the ThinkWrite products that is both safe for the ears, as well as high quality in its sound reproduction.

Connect With TWT Audio

TWT Audio Website: https://www.twtaudio.com
TWT Audio On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/twtaudio/

Ep. 298 | 3 Big Lies High School Seniors Believe May 27, 2026

Show notes

High school graduation brings intense pressure to have the next decade completely mapped out by the time graduates walk the stage. In this episode, I tear down the three biggest myths the Class of 2026 is believing right now regarding career paths, college majors, and life after high school. If you are a stressed-out senior trying to navigate the unknown, or a parent attempting to support them through the anxiety, this raw and personal discussion delivers crucial perspective. Discover why lacking a ten-year plan is actually an advantage, how to handle the fear of making the wrong choice, and a special message on the true definition of success. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

EdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.com
EdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.social
EdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbites
EdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites

Ep. 297 | Most Assignments Were Broken Even Before AI w/ Annie Kim Sytsma Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

This episode is sponsored by TWT Audio. Are your students dealing with broken headsets, poor audio quality, or unreliable microphones at moments that matter most? TWT Audio was built for educators, by educators, designing headsets specifically for real classroom environments, durable enough to last, and comfortable for all-day use. With over 5 million headsets and headphones sold, schools trust TWT because they just work, delivering consistent performance while simplifying technology.

Instead of replacing cheap headsets year after year, invest in a solution that schools nationwide trust every day.

TWT Audio — hear the difference.

AI isn’t going away but the way schools are handling it might be doing more harm than good. In this episode, I chat with Annie Kim Sytsma from Michigan Virtual to unpack what’s really happening inside schools right now. From districts banning AI to others fully embracing it, the reality is messy and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

We dive into:

Why banning AI is no longer realistic
How teachers are redesigning assignments to outsmart shortcuts
What students are actually doing with AI (hint: it’s changing)
How to build transparency instead of fear in your classroom

If you’ve been unsure how to approach AI with your students or feel like you're already behind, this episode gives you practical, honest strategies you can start using immediately. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

EdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.com
EdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.social
EdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbites
EdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbites
EdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites

About Annie

Annie Kim Sytsma serves schools across the state of Michigan as an AI Strategist with Michigan Virtual. With over 13 years of experience in education and dual Master’s degrees in Educational Technology and Instructional Design, she brings a balanced, ethical, and thoughtful approach to integrating AI in teaching and learning. Her background as an English and Psychology teacher, District Technology Specialist, District Intervention Coordinator, and school administrator gives her deep instructional and systemic insight into how intentionally designed technology can transform education. Annie focuses on creating learning experiences that harness AI to deepen thinking, strengthen metacognition, and expand student agency while supporting responsible engagement with emerging technologies.