Overview:

In this episode of ChatEDU ("Spring Tool Time with Abbe Waldron"), Matt and Liz welcome back one of their most popular guests: Abbe Waldron, a professional learning specialist at EdAdvance. Abbe shares her spring picks for the most effective AI tools in K–12 education. From lesson planning to curriculum development, she offers real-world insights into how teachers and students can meaningfully integrate AI.

In the News: UK Higher Ed Stress Test

Matt and Liz unpack a recent UK survey on generative AI in higher education:

92% of full-time university students report using AI.
88% use it specifically for assessments.
51% say it saves time; 50% say it improves work quality.
Students are split: some say they’d work harder if AI graded them, others say they’d work less.

They explore the idea of “curriculum stress testing,” where institutions evaluate whether assessments can be easily completed using AI. This connects to the need for “durable assessments”—tasks that require more than what AI can quickly generate.

Beneath the Surface: Tool Time with Abbe Waldron

Abbe returns with an updated toolkit of AI tools she’s using herself—and sharing with educators across the region:

NotebookLM

A go-to for curriculum development. Abbe uses it to write learning targets, connect units, and organize plans. Features like mind maps, podcast summaries, and clickable citations make it especially teacher-friendly—but it can be scaffolded for students too.

Diffit’s “Books” Feature

Now includes a wide range of popular student texts like 1984, Tuck Everlasting, and Diary of Anne Frank. Teachers can create differentiated resources, adjust reading levels, and align materials to standards. A built-in Google Form allows users to request additional titles.

Perlego

A professional learning platform with over a million academic and instructional texts. Its research assistant tool pulls together synthesized responses, highlights relevant books, and links directly to full texts. Great for educators working on curriculum or independent study.

Goblin Tools

A free suite of tools designed with neurodivergent users in mind, but helpful for all. Includes a tone adjuster for emails, a time estimator, and a “magic to-do list” that breaks down tasks step by step. Abbe recommends it for both students and teachers, particularly around communication and organization.

Bright Bytes: AI Detects Cancer with 99% Accuracy

Researchers at Charles Darwin University have developed an AI model that can detect endometrial cancer with 99.26% accuracy by analyzing microscopic images. It also shows high performance in detecting colorectal, breast, and oral cancers. This advancement could dramatically improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes in the near future.

Our Episode Sponsor

National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing –

https://www.nextgenmfg.org

Related Links:

HEPI UK Student Survey –
https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/02/26/student-generative-ai-survey-2025/
NotebookLM –
https://notebooklm.google/
Diffit –
https://web.diffit.me/
Perlego –
https://www.perlego.com/
Goblin Tools –
https://goblin.tools/
The Scale of AI Pirated Books - https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/03/libgen-meta-openai/682093/
Search the LibGen Library -
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/03/search-libgen-data-set/682094/

Cancer Detection Bright Bite (Charles Darwin University) -

https://www.cdu.edu.au/news/ai-diagnoses-major-cancer-near-perfect-accuracy

Have a question or comment?

Email Matt and Liz at ChatEDU@edadvance.org

Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform!

Taking a Career Break for Passion Projects: A Practical Approach [W&S 97]