🥔IdahoGEG Community Blog (sort of)

https://sites.google.com/idahogeg.com/cybercipher/home 

With the start of school comes the start of CYBERSECURITY EDUCATION!  We at IdahoGEG take cybersecurity very seriously.  It will be one of the focus points for our 26-27 year.  

Use this online tool to help teach about encoding and decoding concepts. Cyber Cipher Wheel Interactive

Drop Your Pin: Honor Our Values of AI in Education

Enjoy another FREE goodie made from Google Workspace Tools.  NotebookLM + Google Slides + Gemini in Slides + Vids = MAGIC

Source material includes: snippets from "This I Believe", Gemini created norms, UNESCO resources, ISTE resources

Who is this resource meant for?  Anyone who wants to lead a PD about knowing where you stand right now on AI in education.

What problem is this trying to solve?  GPS doesn't work until it drops a pin.  Once the pin drops and it is connected, the pin is your place in space right now.  Being able to honor where the pin is in the present sense provides the GPS with a starting point for all other intentional movement.  Today that GPS pin is YOU and your team. This will provide you with insight into people's values, build community, and vallidate the voices in the room. 

I personally led this PD once with new to the profession educators.  The exercise was a powerful, visual reminder of how differently we perceive things. When people in each group spoke of their values and perceptions, I was reminded of the power of our diversity of thought and how that sample of folks that day was representative of a larger set of perceptions in our communities when it comes to AI.  My POV is not the end all of how it should be; especially in a public school setting, where we have to consider the values base of a much larger community that just our own classrooms or schools.  

If you do use this resource, please let us know. We would enjoy any feedback you have~ 

ACCESS THE FREE SLIDES HERE 

This week's blog is the start of our shift to the V-log. Use these slides for your staff or students.  This is an adaptation from aiEDU's Stoplight Framework.  We reworked this framework to be useful for you in a mutitude of educational ecosystems and across all digital tools supporting AI use.   We included a slideshow, the source document, and an educational app as a package.  

Slides are linked here Red Light, Yellow Light, Green Light Slideshow

Source idea from aiEDU Spark The Future Course 

Red Light, Yellow Light, Green Light AI Use Case Webapp

Webapp Code

Idaho Embraces AI with New Statewide Framework (SB 1227)

Governor Brad Little signed Senate Bill 1227 (SB 1227) into law on March 26, 2026, marking a significant step for education in Idaho. This legislation directs the Idaho Department of Education to establish a comprehensive statewide framework for integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) into public school classrooms. Sponsored by Senator Kevin Cook and Representative Jeff Ehlers, the bill passed the Senate on February 5, 2026, and emphasizes preparing students for an AI-powered future while safeguarding privacy, preserving local control, and keeping teachers at the heart of learning.

The framework will guide schools in using emerging technologies thoughtfully, focusing on a 'human-centered, transparent, and safe' approach to AI. It is designed to be adaptable, acknowledging the rapidly evolving nature of AI. Generative AI is defined as models that primarily create new content (text, images, video), distinct from AI used for data classification. The Idaho Technology Council (ITC) supported the bill as crucial for addressing the state's talent gap in AI literacy. Key provisions include guidelines for student privacy, academic integrity, and procurement requirements for AI tools, alongside provisions for local school districts to adopt aligned policies.

Editor’s Note: In the spirit of this week’s topic, I used Gemini to help me draft the personas below. Ironically, one of these fake teachers hates that I did that. 🤣

Following our look at SB1227, we’re diving into the Staff Room Divide. How do we actually write anymore? We’ve created two distinct perspectives that represent the tug-of-war many Idaho educators are feeling right now.

🎙️ The Great Divide: Two Guest "Personas"

The "Augmented" Advocate: Writing with a Power Suit

"I love my own voice, but I love it even more when it’s sharpened. I use LLMs as a master editor. AI provides me with punchy metaphors I might not have considered and bridges my ideas to real-life situations I didn't know existed. For me, AI offers models of elevated vocabulary and perfect grammar that make my professional communication more impactful. It doesn’t replace my 'self'; it gives my 'self' a better set of tools to reach my community."

The "Handwritten" Purist: Guarding the Neural Pathways

"I will never use an LLM to communicate my thoughts, and I don't want my students to either. Research consistently shows that the physical act of writing—especially by hand—is vital to the development of the human brain. When we outsource our syntax to a machine, we are bypassing the cognitive struggle that creates deep learning. I am here to preserve the 'human' in the Humanities. If the word isn't forged in the mind, does it even count as communication?"

🎒 The Middle: The Student Experience

Imagine being a sophomore at an Idaho high school.

In Period 2, you are encouraged to use AI to brainstorm a hook for your essay and generate a custom image to represent your thesis (boosting your accessibility and visual literacy). In Period 3, you are required to leave your device in a bin and write a three-page analysis in a blue book with a Ballpoint pen.

How does this feel for the student?

• Cognitive Dissonance: Students are living in two different worlds. One prepares them for a high-tech workforce; the other trains their foundational neural pathways.

• The Home Factor: At dinner, parents are split. Some are worried their kids are losing their edge or cheating, while others, working in tech, agriculture, or Boise’s growing startup scene, are telling their kids they must master AI to stay competitive.

🧠 Does it Matter?

The short answer: Yes. If we move entirely to AI, we risk losing the grit of original thought. If we ignore AI entirely, we leave our students unprepared for a world that now writes in images and prompts.

The impact on the learning experience is a shift from Product to Process. Whether a student is using a Ticonderoga #2 pencil or a sophisticated prompt, the goal remains the same: Did they synthesize information and create something meaningful?

🖼️ Writing in Pixels

We also have to acknowledge that writing isn't just text anymore. By using AI to generate images, we are making our content more accessible to diverse learners. A student who struggles with dyslexia might find their voice through a generated visual that perfectly captures their intent. This isn't lazy, it's Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in action.

What are you seeing in your hallways? Are your students confused by the split between tech-heavy and tech-lite classrooms, or are they successfully code-switching?  More importantly, how do you plan to actually find out if they are successful in their learning ventures with AI in 2026?

Writing and AI in 2026.   Why bother with it?   

If AI can write for me, why should I bother?  And use AI with my students!?! No way - the ability to cheat is too tempting to those lacking full frontal-lobe development.  What if we are wrong and AI has the opportunity to make our writing better than it ever has been?  

The metacognitive powers of AI when writing are truly the super power of the digital tools in 2026.  Substack articles written by Jessica Johnson and Theresa McSweeney, hosted by Serena Morales on her Prompt Wise page, address this chance to use AI tools to our benefit - more importantly, our student's benefit.  Jessica writes about how Gems are getting her students communicating more effectively with their written words, in a piece titled What My Students Taught Me About AI (That We are Getting Wrong).  She writes about the surprisingly engaging nature of AI (dopamine hit, anyone?), how her students DID NOT use the AI tool to cheat, but instead created share-worthy Gems for their peers.  

Based on another project in Jessica's room, Theresa wrote about The Great Digital Regret.  Theresa partnered with Jessica and her Computer Science classes for Semester 2, seventh and eighth graders, and a few ninth graders too, to bring MinecraftEDU chat and coding lessons into the classroom.  The first Learning Intention was to learn how to effectively utilize a chat space to remain respectful, communicate your needs with your team, and use language responsibly - with academic language being the main focus.  Students co-crafted a decree, using NotebookLM as a thinking partner, then used MinecraftEDU as a space to communicate via chat; in other words, they were writing like they do on social media, but in an academic environment.  Find the video for our MinecraftEDU decree here.  

We really wanted to share our articles with you, and direct to the Prompt Wise Substack.  While getting to be a guest writer on someone's page does not deserve a toot of the horn here, Serena and her work as a Boise State University professor & accomplished writer deserves a nod. She influences our work by promoting responsible, ethical, timely advice and considerations in our 2026 AI world.  Her work aligns with the topic of the blog - what is happening to authentic writing in the age of AI?

Let's loop Dan Fitzapatrick into this topic of the week.  He has a podcast, AI for Educators, that I listen to daily.  Each episode is no more than 10 minutes (mostly) and he references new and timely published research each day of the week, Monday through Friday.  Since his content is academia-based, he seemed the next perfect reference for this week's topic about writing.  What if we could eliminate the Blank Page Syndrome so many students (and adults!) face when starting a project; espcially writing.  Ever see a student throw a chair because they were so frustrated they could not think of the right thing to day?  Ever see a student cry because they just can't think right now, and their writing is due in like 10 minutes?  Dan addresses this concept in the idea that Canva AI 2.0 is helping people get the Blank Page Syndrome a boost to the Blank Page Possibilities.  As a teacher, I have spent many a minute consulting these frustrated students on what topic or what start might be the one that inspires their writing.  Is it bad to take the human aspect of this out of the loop in the classroom?  Maybe - maybe not.  It depends on a lot of things, and this is not the topic of this week's blog post.  Let's consider that not-cheating might also look like, "Hey, I need help!" and that seems like a clever way to utilize a digital tool.  Find Dan on Linkedin here.

All of this to say - let's slow our role when we are judging these digital tools and their place in writing.  Let's not slow the roll on preserving the human voice, the chance to speak our minds and hearts fully with our own words.  There is a balance and because this is so new, there is a lot of fine tuning to do as we decide how to use these tools.  

What are some creative ways you use AI tools to enhance your writing?  We feel inspired by Serena's Prompt Wise and Dan's notion of reducing frustration, and ready to give a few things a try.  As Theresa mentions, it is our turn to teach how to do the writing in the year 2026, how to write so your audience hears you (and wants to hear you!), and preserve the human voice while also getting the benefit of any-time writing support.  

Want to write for the IdahoGEG Blog?  Let us know! 

May has always held a sacred, exhausting power over teachers.

When I was in the classroom, I would never even consider going out on a “school night” for fear of not having enough energy to give to the little humans the next day. Afterward, I’d take my own children to their games and practices, hauling a giant tote or a rolling cart full of things to cut out, sign, prepare, and seal for my students. I was always careful to never call them "my kids," because I knew they would leave too quickly.

The sacred time of May was always fraught with endless to-do lists, last-minute brainstorms, and the frantic hope of inspiring my students one last time.

But now, in my new role as a tech coach, May looks a little different.

The Weight of a Smaller Bag

To be honest, it feels a little bit lonesome. A little bit displaced. There are fewer to-do lists. My school nights are no longer sacred, and my backpack full of supplies has turned into a small satchel that holds just my device and headphones.

Coincidentally, my own children are cresting the same cycle of leaving that my students did year after year, and it feels much heavier. Somehow, this smaller bag carries more weight. It weighs more from missed opportunities than from hopes and dreams.

As the song Closing Time says, "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." It feels appropriate. My Mays come and go in a different way now, and I’m finding that this new space is giving me a fresh perspective on what lies before me—and within me.

The Promise of June

I can appreciate that after May comes June, which brings the promise of sunshine, regrowth, rest, and opportunity. My last two Mays have felt melancholy, but now that June is here, I’m finding nuggets of newness everywhere around me. New friendships are blooming. New connections are forming.

We just left the Googleplex, and my inspiration to move forward organically with the ticking of time doesn’t feel as heavy anymore. It feels like I can finally put that big bag down—even the little bag down—for a moment, look up, and see that the faces of innovation are fresh and eager.

I don’t want a May that holds me down with endless to-do lists and cutting the lamination off badges to honor time served in a classroom. I don't want a May that lingers while my own child graduates and moves out of my home.

What I want is June. I want the bright-light movements that come after you close the door and walk into a fresh room. As Ralph Waldo Emerson beautifully put it:

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

The grief has passed. It’s time to grab the reins and engage in the process of discovering what we can do when we band together with something new.

A Metaphor for Digital Integration

Consider this a metaphor for how we might integrate digital tools into our worlds.

There is absolutely no reason to linger on our past failures, our past missed opportunities for learning, or the old habits that won't leave our memories anytime soon.

Think about it: how many of us had Tom from MySpace as our first social media friend? Do we realize the error of our digital ways today? Would we want our students to have an anonymous "Tom" in their lives now? Absolutely not.

But should we lament our past ignorance? Absolutely not.

We must move forward and do better with what we know today. When you didn’t know what you didn’t know, how can you be mad at yourself? Maya Angelou said it best: "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."

Looking Forward

May is over and June is here, which means now we can do better. We are here to serve our community and move forward in the world we live in today.

We won’t forget what May looked like or felt like, but it certainly shapes how June takes hold in our lives. Let's put down the heavy bags of the past, step into the fresh room of the future, and innovate together.

*AI use disclaimer - These words are my own.  The prompt given to AI was "clean up my grammar and make sure the thoughts are coherent".  I used Gemini. 

Today Is the Day: Solstice, Nostalgia, and the Digital Balance

The solstice has always been a special day for my family. We love enjoying the gifts of nature and appreciating the cyclical events that shape our day-to-day lives, as well as our year-to-year development. In our old neighborhood, we used to host BANGER get-togethers; think live music, inflatable playgrounds, block-wide BBQs, and one year, we even threw a massive chili cook-off for the guests.

This day is incredibly symbolic. As the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, we are given a beautiful gift: more light than dark, more warmth than cold, and more waking hours than sleep. Carpe diem! This is the day! What can we accomplish with all of this light, this warmth, and this heightened awareness of our own being?

The Sting of Time Passing

Of course, the end of this day always brings a little tinge of sadness. Once it's over, we have to wait a whole year for its return. Every day after this one means a little less light, less warmth, and less "awake-awareness."

Why does that feel sad? Well, as we get older, we realize it means one more of those precious days has passed. When we are young, we just assume next year will come and bring more of everything. But as we mature, we become hyper-cognizant of the passing of time. We can’t help but feel a little sting that today was the peak, and now it is gone.

As Dr. Seuss, one of my favorite figures, famously said, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

Bringing the Light into the Digital World

Now, why on earth am I getting so deep on a day of joy? Especially on a website meant for tech support and digital growth?

Because if you are as deep into this digital evolution as we are, you are well aware of what is behind us and what lies ahead. You remember those long, bright days in the sun; playing in the neighborhood with your pals until the sun finally went down and you were summoned inside by the glow of porch lights.

Today is not the day to dig into the digital divide, digital dilemmas, or the breakneck pace of digital evolution. Today is the day to get outdoors, be the neighbor who brings light to others, and just enjoy the awareness of time. It is all about balance.

A Delicate Balance

This balance is both delicate and cyclical. It’s a time to marinate in the ideas, innovation, and creativity we’ve been soaked in over the past year. Can you even recall what June 2025 held for us in the digital world? What about June 1980? What was that like? And... does it even matter?

Of course it matters! It has made us all who we are today. But what matters even more are the choices we make today to ensure a better tomorrow. This day is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to soak in the light, embrace the warmth, and preserve that energy for whatever comes next.

What does come next? We don’t get to know that today. But as my favorite guy also said, "Today is the day!" Those simple words are the most powerful.

Now, get out there and make it a great day. The choice is yours.

AI disclaimer:  NO AI was used in this final version of the blog post.  Today, I went all natural.