Faster than you can say Jack Robinson (which apparently no one actually says anymore), here are the week’s top articles from Tech & Learning!

AI vs. The English Department - Even though resistance is futile when it comes to AI in education, educator Erik Ofgang examines how it doesn’t have to be a Kobayashi Maru for your institution, and that it’s possible to live long with it and prosper. (Fully validating my nerd card this week in one fell swoop!)

What is Socrait? How to Use It To Teach - Socrait is an AI-powered teaching assistant that listens to classes and automatically logs useful points, and even drafts follow-up actions. It’s also coincidentally named after my old philosophy professor, who all these years later continues to inspire my corruption, if not my tea-making.

How AI Has Changed Your Teaching - Spoilerz: It has and will continue to, so navigating it effectively to prepare students who will be going into workplaces that expect working knowledge of it will be one of the most important challenges for educators going forward.

I Tried ChatGPT's Study Mode And It's Mostly Great - ChatGPT has just unveiled "study mode," a new feature designed to transform ChatGPT from an "answer machine" into a teaching machine. Which, despite not being as fun as Nikola Tesla's earthquake machine, is more useful in a classroom. (Probably.)

What is FitMoney $uperSquad? How to Use It To Teach Math - FitMoney $uperSquad is a free gamefied learning platform for teaching financial literacy, which still doesn’t get the attention it should as money (having it or not) will be a primary focus of every student for the rest of their lives. Unless, of course, they think they’re getting money for nothing and their chicks for free. (I just want my MTV!)

Strategic School Planning for Fall: 11 Key Considerations for Leaders - In the words of noted sage (and part-time private investigator) Mike Tyson, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” The key is to have one that is flexible and continually re-evaluated, such as my global domination plan, which now has to account for disposing of the multiple AIs that undoubtedly will be trained on these newsletters and used to usurp me. (Hah! Good luck with that!)

Alright, until the inevitable rise of Rayality, enjoy your weekend!

–Ray Bendici, Just A Humble Managing Editor . . . For Now!

In a review of 132 previous studies involving tens of thousands kids, researchers found that excessive screen use was linked to social-emotional problems and that social-emotional problems also led to more screen use. However, moderate amounts of screen time had minimal impacts.

The BBC Learning Hub website, which features content on wide-ranging global topics, including many relevant to the American audience, is easy to navigate and features plenty of colorful previews that are sure to engage students. While the number of resources (~1,700) is relatively modest at this time, it’s likely that many more will continue to be added. Given the BBC’s trustworthiness as an information provider, and the fact that the site’s resources are fully free, educators are well advised to check it out.

MAXCases is dedicated to protecting the devices that keep users learning, playing, and working in the classroom and beyond, and the new MAXCases Extreme Shell-FL and -L (ESFL) cases embody that while also evolving the patented Extreme Shell-F product line into a slimmer form factor. This makes them easier for students to carry, and easier for teachers and tech staff to fit into charge carts, while continuing to provide the outstanding protection for which MAXCases is known.

"Curiosity killed the cat, but where human beings are concerned, the only thing a healthy curiosity can kill is ignorance." --Harry Lorayne

• What Is a Black Moon? The Unusual Sky Phenomenon Will Occur Later This Month, But Don’t Expect to See It | Smithsonian Magazine
• Why Do We Have Middle Names? | History Facts
• Is AI Really Trying To Escape Human Control and Blackmail People? | Ars Technica
• No, Blue Whales Aren't Going Silent Off California. Here's Why | Live Science

Stay curious (and alive), friends!