EdTech Bites Podcast

The EdTech Bites Podcast, hosted by Gabriel Carrillo.

Basic Member

Latest Episodes

Ep. 274 | 2025-2026 Beginning Of The Year Keynote

Ep. 274 | 2025-2026 Beginning Of The Year Keynote

What do your classroom and sourdough bread have in common? In this inspiring keynote episode, we explore how patience, preparation, and purposeful pedagogy are the secret ingredients to a thriving school year. From pro tips on using ChatGPT and Google Gemini in the classroom to mindset shifts that set the tone for student success, this episode is packed with real talk and relatable strategies for teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators. Learn how to harness AI as your teaching assistant—not your replacement—and discover why carbs (yes, really) might be the secret to your classroom culture. Let’s make this school year manageable and memorable, together.

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

Ep. 273 | Free99 For Districts: Scaling ClassDojo Beyond Elementary w/ Chad Stevens

Ep. 273 | Free99 For Districts: Scaling ClassDojo Beyond Elementary w/ Chad Stevens

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at classdojo.com/districts.

What if your favorite classroom behavior tool scaled across an entire district—for free? In this episode, Chad Stevens, Head of Product at ClassDojo, reveals how the platform is evolving beyond K–5. Discover new features that boost district-wide communication, integrate seamlessly with student information systems, and help bridge the middle school gap. This conversation is packed with practical insights and future-ready strategies to engage students and families at scale.

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Chad Stevens

Chad A. Stevens, Ph.D. has established a distinguished career in education technology, most recently serving as Head of K12 Engagement at ClassDojo. In 2024 he was inducted into the CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking) Volunteer Hall of Fame. In 2023 Dr. Stevens was recognized as EdTech Chronicle's Best C-Level Officer in Education/EdTech, and he was named a Top 100 Influencer in EdTech by EdTech Digest. His strategies have left a significant mark on educational technology and students.

Connect With ClassDojo For Districts

Ep. 272 | Stations: The Secret Ingredient To Differentiation w/ Melanie Rhode and Bernadette Zamora

Ep. 272 | Stations: The Secret Ingredient To Differentiation w/ Melanie Rhode and Bernadette Zamora

This episode is sponsored by MagicSchool AI. With over 6 million users worldwide, MagicSchool offers more than 80 educator-friendly tools that support everything from AI literacy instruction to smarter lesson planning. To learn more and get started, visit www.magicschool.ai.

Differentiation doesn’t have to feel like chaos! In this episode recorded live at the TCEA Elementary Technology Conference, I chat with Melanie Rhode and Bernadette Zamora, two incredible educators, who break down how they use station rotations to meet the needs of every learner. We unpack what differentiation really means, how they plan rotations, manage tech tools, and handle off-task behavior. You’ll also hear practical tips on grading, station setup, and how to kick off your school year with strong routines. If you're looking to spice up your instruction and streamline your workflow, this one’s for you!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Melanie Rhode

Melanie is a third grade teacher at an independent school in Houston. She’s taught for 28 years. She’s taught 1,2,3,4,and 5th grade and loves anything ELA.

About Bernadette Zamora

Bernadette has been in education for almost 16 years. She has taught 3rd grade, 4th grade and 5th grade and was an instructional specialist for two years. She is currently teaching 2nd grade and teaches all subject areas.

Ep. 271 | How To Run A School Makerspace With Cari Orts

Ep. 271 | How To Run A School Makerspace With Cari Orts

This episode is sponsored by MagicSchool AI. With over 6 million users worldwide, MagicSchool offers more than 80 educator-friendly tools that support everything from AI literacy instruction to smarter lesson planning. To learn more and get started, visit www.magicschool.ai.

What does it really mean to run a makerspace? In this episode, recorded live at the TCEA Elementary Technology Conference, I chat with a Cari Orts who runs two school makerspaces. She shares the must-haves (and nice-to-haves), what a makerspace is not, and how to thrive if you're suddenly handed the makerspace keys. Whether you're a tech coach, a teacher, or an administrator, this episode is packed with practical tips and inspiration to bring creativity, collaboration, and curiosity to life in your school.

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

Ep. 270 | Debunking The Myths of STEM, Coding, and Gaming w/ Kathryn Hofman

Ep. 270 | Debunking The Myths of STEM, Coding, and Gaming w/ Kathryn Hofman

This episode is sponsored by MagicSchool AI. With over 6 million users worldwide, MagicSchool offers more than 80 educator-friendly tools that support everything from AI literacy instruction to smarter lesson planning. To learn more and get started, visit www.magicschool.ai.

Think coding is just for techies and gaming is a waste of time? Think again. In this episode, I sit down with STEM extraordinare, Kathryn Hofman to debunk the myths that are associated with coding, gaming, and STEM in the classroom. Kathryn discusses how these tools fuel communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving and how play can be a powerful way of learning. If you’re on the fence about STEM education, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and inspire new classroom possibilities. Especially if you just got a call from your admin this summer stating “Guess what? You’re teaching STEM next year”

About Kathryn Hofman

Kathryn is a STEM teacher and Digital Integrationist at Timbers Elementary in Humble ISD. She just finished her 15th year of teaching. A fun fact about her is she started in Deaf education and then moved to STEM. She also has an 8 year old daughter that will be going into 4th grade next year!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

Connect With Kathryn Hofman

Ep. 269 | Using MagicSchool AI For Planning and AI Literacy with Jeni Long

Ep. 269 | Using MagicSchool AI For Planning and AI Literacy with Jeni Long

This episode is sponsored by MagicSchool AI. With over 6 million users worldwide, MagicSchool offers more than 80 educator-friendly tools that support everything from AI literacy instruction to smarter lesson planning. To learn more and get started, visit www.magicschool.ai.

In this special episode recorded live at the TCEA Elementary Technology Conference in Galveston, Texas, I sit down with Jeni Long from MagicSchool to explore how this all-in-one platform is revolutionizing classrooms around the globe.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • How MagicSchool evolved into a trusted tool for educators and students
  • What makes its AI literacy features safe, student-friendly, and effective
  • Why customization is key to saving teachers time and boosting creativity
  • Real-life examples of how teachers are using MagicSchool in their classrooms

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

Connect With MagicSchool

Ep. 268 | 3 Things To Do at the End of the School Year (That Future You Will Thank You For)

Ep. 268 | 3 Things To Do at the End of the School Year (That Future You Will Thank You For)

Today's episode is sponsored by my book, "Cooking Up Experiences In The Classroom: Focus On Experiences, Not Just Lessons." Pick up your copy and get inspired for next school year...this summer!

In this short and smoothie-fueled episode (yes, I’m sipping on a chocolate, peanut butter, and banana protein shake as we speak), I walk you through three things every teacher should do before fully checking out for summer. We’re talking bite-sized reflection with big-time payoff: revisit one memorable lesson, do a brain-dump of this school year, and write a quick note to your August self. No clipboards. No admin. Just real talk, a blender whir in the background, and a few simple actions that will make next year a whole lot easier.

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

Ep. 267 | Why You Should Attend The Elementary Technology Conference w/ Jeannine Freeman

Ep. 267 | Why You Should Attend The Elementary Technology Conference w/ Jeannine Freeman

What do flip-flops, beachfront views, and cutting-edge edtech have in common? They’re all part of the Elementary Technology Conference in Galveston, Texas! In this episode, Jeannine Freeman from TCEA joins us to dish on why this event is a must for educators looking to blend sunshine with professional growth. In this special episode, you'll find out what makes this conference unlike any other—and why it might just become your favorite PD getaway.

Learn More And Register For The Elementary Technology Conference

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Jeannine Freeman

As TCEA's partnerships and events manager, Jeannine Freeman plays a vital role in planning many of the events the organization's 85,000 members know and love. Each year, Jeannine manages speakers and their content for the System and Network Administrators Conference, the TCEA Convention and Exposition, and the Elementary Technology Conference (ETC). As a previous elementary educator, her heart beats for this niche population, which makes ETC one of her favorite events to plan and attend.

Connect With Jeannine and TCEA

Ep. 266 | I Have the Runs... in ASL: Language, Laughter & Lessons with Melanie Cochrill

Ep. 266 | I Have the Runs... in ASL: Language, Laughter & Lessons with Melanie Cochrill

This episode is sponsored by Knowt — the AI-powered classroom tool that goes way beyond plug-and-chug. From turning your lessons into notes and practice to creating a custom chatbot based on your lecture, Knowt helps you and your students work smarter and stay privacy-compliant. To get started, visit www.knowt.com

What happens when a sign language teacher drops deep wisdom, witty moments, and some poop jokes all in one conversation? You get this episode! Join us as we sit down with Melanie Cockrell — high school ASL and computer science teacher from New Haven, Michigan — to explore what it really means to teach American Sign Language in today’s tech-savvy classrooms. From the misconceptions of ASL to how tech tools like Flipgrid (RIP) and ASLdeafined help students express themselves without the stage fright, Melanie brings clarity and passion to a language often misunderstood. Bonus: you’ll find out how body language is basically punctuation in ASL and why Melanie signs at graduation... even when no one asks her to.

If you’ve ever wondered how educational technology meets a visual language — or just want to hear a teacher talk about “having the runs” with a straight face — this episode is for you.

About Melanie Cochrill

Melanie is finishing her 20th year of teaching. She has taught at every level from kindergarten through college, and charter, parochial, and public schools. She currently teaches ASL and Computer Science classes in person at New Haven High School, in New Haven, Michigan, and online for Michigan Virtual. Melanie and her husband of over 20 years have 4 children ranging from tenth grade down to second grade, and three little kittens they adopted.

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

Bio of EdTech Bites Podcast

The EdTech Bites Podcast, hosted by Gabriel Carrillo, is a unique show that combines two passions: educational technology (EdTech) and food. Gabriel interviews teachers, leaders, and innovators in the education field, engaging in insightful conversations about the latest trends and developments in EdTech.

What sets EdTech Bites apart is the intimate and relaxed atmosphere of the interviews. Gabriel often shares a meal with his guests, creating a welcoming and enjoyable environment for meaningful discussions. By breaking bread together, he fosters a sense of connection and camaraderie, resulting in great conversations and valuable insights.

Gabriel's interviews with a diverse range of education professionals provide a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for educators looking to enhance their instructional practices through technology.

Similar Podcasts

Podcasts

United States

"Product Magic - Stories from everyday product makers" is a monthly podcast hosted by Ronke Majekodunmi.

Podcasts

United States

Everyday Wellness podcast, hosted by Cynthia Thurlow, NP.

Podcasts

United States

Explores the stories behind top brands.

"Women Helping Women Entrepreneurs," a podcast hosted by Christina Rowe.

"Innovators Can Laugh - The Fun Startup Podcast" hosted by Eric Melchor.

Podcasts

United States

Marketing Over Coffee is a marketing podcast hosted by John Wall and Christopher Penn.

Podcasts

Germany

Venturing Women, hosted by Darya Kamkalova.

Podcasts

United States

The Mike O'Hearn Show, hosted by bodybuilder and fitness personality Mike O'Hearn.

Podcasts

Japan

Lawyer on Air, hosted by Catherine O'Connell.

back-to-top