Hosted by John Mikton and Dan Taylor. Every two weeks we discuss all aspects of technology and life in International Schools.
Episodes
15 minutes ago
15 minutes ago
A conversation with Timothy Cook (Director, The Cognitive Privacy Project & Connected Classroom | Psychology Today Columnist, The Algorithmic Mind) on exploiting how AI may be changing the way children think, learn, and grow.
About Timothy Cook
Timothy Cook, M.Ed., is an international educator, AI researcher, and Director of the Cognitive Privacy Project. With more than a decade of teaching experience across four countries, he studies how AI and algorithmic systems are reshaping children’s thinking, learning, identity, and development. Timothy is also the founder of Connected Classroom and writes The Algorithmic Mind for Psychology Today, where he explores the impact of AI on cognition, creativity, student agency, and well-being. His current work focuses on cognitive privacy: the idea that children’s attention, judgment, reasoning, motivation, and developing sense of self need protection as AI becomes increasingly embedded in schools and society. In his recent writing, he argues that many young people are already sensing a contradiction: they are told AI may weaken learning, while also being told they must use it to prepare for the future.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-cook-092713138/
Resources
connectedclassroom.org
cognitiveprivacyproject.org
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-algorithmic-mind
John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org
Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt
Web: www.appsevents.com
Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube
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Tuesday Jun 30, 2026
Tuesday Jun 30, 2026
A conversation with Aylin Erengul Gregg and Ana Arana on supporting multilingual learners without mistaking English fluency for ability.
About Aylin Erengul Gregg
Aylin Erengul Gregg is an English Language Acquisition specialist with a passion for supporting multilingual learners in accessing meaningful and equitable education. Having taught in diverse international school settings, she brings a global perspective to language acquisition, identity, and classroom practice. Her work with students from a wide range of linguistic and cultural backgrounds is grounded in the belief that language learning should affirm rather than assimilate. She is the creator of the LEAVES Approach, which focuses on language, exposure, acquisition, validation, engagement, and scaffolding as a way to support multilingual learners and help educators become more language-aware in their practice. Currently based in Kuala Lumpur, Aylin continues to work with multilingual learners, supporting them to feel seen, capable, and confident as they develop English.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aylin-erengul-gregg-ma-tesol-w-app-ling-10b56915/
About Ana Arana
Ana Arana is an advocate for multilingual learners who challenges the assumption that language proficiency equals intelligence. With a Master's from the University of Exeter and over a decade of experience in IB schools, she builds classrooms where students' strengths are recognised, their voices are heard, and their academic potential isn't mistaken for their English fluency. Her approach is collaborative. She works alongside colleagues to ensure language learning is part of everyday learning, not a separate activity. This advocacy extends to every student conversation, team meeting, and classroom decision. Her driving motivation is simple: to help multilingual learners build confidence, fully access the curriculum, and thrive academically and personally.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msanaarana/
Resources
https://www.leaveseal.com/
John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org
Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt
Web: www.appsevents.com
Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube
Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com
Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial
Sunday Jun 14, 2026
Sunday Jun 14, 2026
From digital assessment to systems transformation, what's changing, and what it matters.
About Dr. Jenny Gillett
Dr. Jenny Gillett is a Senior Expert in the International Baccalaureate’s Education Innovation team, based in The Hague. She has worked with the IB for more than 15 years across curriculum and assessment, including leading reviews of the Diploma Programme philosophy, history, global politics and Theory of Knowledge. Her work has included curriculum development, assessment design, and supporting wider developments across IB programmes.
Before joining the IB, Jennifer taught at Oakham School and Bedford School in the UK. She brings a strong mix of classroom experience, curriculum leadership, and assessment expertise, making her well placed to discuss how assessment, curriculum, and international education are evolving.
Dr. Jenny Gillett on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-gillett-87a19b22/
Resources
https://ibo.org/
https://www.ibo.org/programmes/collaborative-review-of-the-dp-and-cp/systems-transformation/
https://www.ibo.org/programmes/collaborative-review-of-the-dp-and-cp/
https://www.mulgrave.com/senior-schoolgrades-10-12/ib-systems-transformation
John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org
Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt
Web: www.appsevents.com
Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube
Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com
Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial
Saturday May 30, 2026
Saturday May 30, 2026
Supporting gifted students with care and clarity.
About Dr. Michael Cascianelli
Dr Michael Cascianelli is Head of Secondary Years, Diploma Programme at the International Baccalaureate, and a University of Cambridge-trained researcher, school leader, and author specialising in Gifted Education. His doctoral research pioneered the first implementation of a Schoolwide Enrichment Model in Italy, translating Renzulli's scholarship into a bilingual international school context and establishing a replicable framework for gifted provision across cultures.
He is co-author of Understanding Giftedness: A Guide for Parents and Educators (Routledge), a practitioner-focused resource equipping educators and families with evidence-based strategies for identifying and nurturing high-potential learners. With leadership experience spanning schools in Europe, Asia, and the United States, Dr Cascianelli is a passionate advocate for systemic, research-informed approaches to talent development in international education.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcascianelli/
About Marijin Bergsma
Marijn Bergsma is the founder of BrightPath, an enrichment and gifted education consultancy working with international schools to close the readiness gap, the distance between a child's potential and their capacity to act on it. Having attended international schools across three continents, he knows firsthand what the readiness gap looks like and what it costs. As a father of three gifted kids, he sees it up close every day.
Before BrightPath, Marijn spent fifteen years founding and leading companies across Africa, Asia, and Europe, raising millions in funding and building teams from the ground up. Today he brings that same hands-on, whole-person approach to gifted education, working directly with students as an enrichment class educator in the Netherlands, while supporting school leaders and teachers to close the readiness gap across their schools.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marijn-bergsma/, https://www.linkedin.com/services/page/0a873633a74693a3b5/
Resources
National Center for Research on Gifted Education
https://ies.ed.gov/use-work/awards/national-center-research-gifted-education-0?ID=4406
Understanding Giftedness: A guide for parents and educators - 1st Edit
https://www.routledge.com/Understanding-Giftedness-A-guide-for-parents-and-educators/Zanetti-Gualdi-Cascianelli/p/book/9781138321175
Exploring Giftedness: Implementing and Re-designing a Schoolwide Enrichment Model
https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/items/bcafe684-4f0a-4bda-a94c-debe7b9d9e3f
Adapting to Giftedness
https://consiliumeducation.com/itm/2026/04/29/adapting-to-giftedness/
What’s Going on With Gifted Education?
https://today.uconn.edu/2026/01/whats-going-on-with-gifted-education/
BrightPath Education
http://www.brightpath.nl
National Center for Research on Gifted Education
https://ncrge.uconn.edu/
John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org
Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt
Web: www.appsevents.com
Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube
Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com
Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial
Monday May 18, 2026
Monday May 18, 2026
What schools must understand now as AI reshapes learning, leadership, and decision-making.
About Corey Layne Crouch
Corey is the Chief Program Officer at AI for Education and a former high school English teacher, a founding public charter school principal, and edtech executive. With over 20 years of experience leading innovation in school design focused on equity and access, she now specializes in helping educational institutions strategically and responsibly integrate generative AI.
As a strategy leader and practitioner, Corey has partnered with institutions worldwide ranging from independent international schools and large public districts to colleges, universities, and education nonprofits to navigate the complex landscape of generative AI in education. She provides strategic consulting on AI policy and adoption roadmap development, grounding her work in the realities of competing institutional priorities and the fast-paced evolution of emerging technologies. A frequent keynote speaker, panelist, and workshop presenter, Corey addresses both the transformative opportunities and critical risks AI presents. Through engaging and provocative professional learning experiences, she equips leaders, educators, and students with AI literacy leading to safe, ethical and effective use.
She holds an MBA from Rice University and a BA from Rowan University.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-crouch/
Resources
https://www.aiforeducation.io/
https://www.aiforeducation.io/the-see-framework-for-generative-ai-literacy
https://www.aiforeducation.io/ai-course
https://www.aiforeducation.io/ai-literacy-training
John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org
Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt
Web: www.appsevents.com
Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube
Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com
Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial