The International Classroom

What makes a lesson successful—and how do we know the learning lasts?Emily Folorunsho joins Alex Gray to explore high expectations, classroom relationships, teacher development and AI. A former Head of History and co-author of Succeeding as a History Teacher, Emily shares how moving from London to Dubai challenged her approach, and why some of her most exciting lessons taught her to look more closely at what pupils actually remembered.We discuss:• Seeing potential beyond a pupil’s starting point• Moving from busy activities to lasting understanding• Combining warmth, boundaries and academic challenge• Protecting teacher judgement as AI becomes more capable• Choosing CPD that changes classroom practice• Making teaching sustainable and enjoyableAlex also shares the AI planning workflow he is developing, while Emily raises a familiar dilemma: when technology saves us time, why do we give ourselves more to do?GUEST AND RESOURCESConnect with Emily on LinkedInSucceeding as a History Teacher — Emily Folorunsho and Laura GladwinThe Learning Rainforest — Tom SherringtonPrinciples of Instruction — Barak Rosenshine, PDFEffective Professional Development — EEFTeaching History journal — Historical AssociationClaude · ChatGPTMORE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL CLASSROOMWatch on YouTubeSubscribe to The Deep Dispatch newsletterFollow the podcast for more conversations about teaching, leadership and the future of education.

What can a student still do six weeks after using an AI tool, without its help?In this solo episode of The International Classroom, Alex Gray examines how schools are being asked to judge AI. He compares the GEMS Education and Napster partnership with Sir Anthony Seldon and Tim Bunting’s Public First report, and asks what usage and engagement figures can tell us about learning.The episode covers young people’s trust in AI, teacher avatars and digital personas, consent, safeguarding, pupil data, and the move from Google Gems to Skills. Alex also considers what always-on AI relationships could mean for children.He closes with a practical six-week check for a tool your school already uses or is about to pilot: name the independent learning you want to see, then decide how to check it.Follow The International Classroom for more conversations about teaching, AI and what students learn.- [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@deepeducationnetwork)- [Spotify show](https://open.spotify.com/show/2zGUdthbVSYIYNRySzXUSY)- [Episode archive](https://www.deepeducationnetwork.com/podcast)- [DEEP Education Network](https://www.deepeducationnetwork.com/)- [The DEEP Dispatch](https://www.deepeducationnetwork.com/newsletter

WHO’S DOING THE WORK?Teacher Effort, Student Thinking & Back-to-School RealityTwo weeks into the new school year, one thing has become very clear:I’m tired.And that has led me to a more important question:How much work am I doing in the classroom compared with how much thinking my students are actually doing?In the first Sprint episode of Season 5 of The International Classroom, I reflect on the first two weeks back in school in Dubai — the speed of lessons, the pressure to fit new priorities into already packed classrooms, differences in student independence and written work, and how easy it is to slip back into familiar habits when time is tight.The question I’m taking into the rest of the term is simple:WHO IS CARRYING THE COGNITIVE LOAD?Am I doing the explaining, organising, creating and thinking while students become increasingly passive?Or am I creating enough space for them to read, struggle, retrieve, write, make decisions and think for themselves?This episode also introduces the new direction for Season 5: shorter Sprints, recurring voices, long-form conversations when they matter, and real questions coming directly from what’s happening in schools.🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE• Teacher effort versus student effort• Why the first two weeks back feel so intense• How quickly we return to old teaching habits• Fitting AI literacy and wider priorities into real lessons• Student independence, writing and quality of thought• Why teacher activity does not necessarily equal student learning📱 DUXADUXA Tutors helps independent tutors manage students, lessons, payments and session notes from one place.https://apps.apple.com/id/app/duxa-tutors/id6757354523🤖 DEEP AI READINESS AUDITHow ready is your school for AI?The DEEP AI Readiness Audit helps schools examine current AI practice, confidence, governance and next steps.https://audit.deepeducationnetwork.com🧠 AI LITERACY WORKSHOPAlex Gray and Matthew Wemyss are running a practical live workshop exploring AI literacy, human judgement and how schools can prepare staff and students to use AI well.Saturday 3 October 2026https://www.deepeducationnetwork.com/ai-literacy🌍 DEEP EDUCATION NETWORKhttps://www.deepeducationnetwork.com/📲 FOLLOWInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/deepeducationnetwork/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@ticpodcastLinkedIn — Alex Gray:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergray84/If this episode resonates, follow The International Classroom and send it to someone who has reached the end of Week 2 wondering why they are doing quite so much of the work.Season 5 starts here.

Are your workplace wellbeing initiatives just a tick-box exercise? If your organization relies on free pizza and one-off yoga sessions to cure burnout, this episode is for you.In this episode, Alex Gray sits down with Clare Martin, a former educator turned wellbeing and positive psychology expert. Clare breaks down exactly why traditional corporate wellbeing fails and how leaders can build sustainable systems that actually work. We explore the critical difference between mental health policies and proactive wellbeing, how to shift your mindset from "I should" to "I could," and why true psychological safety is the foundation of a thriving team.CONNECT WITH CLARE MARTINWebsite: https://www.goldcresttraining.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-martin-coaching/ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL CLASSROOMThe International Classroom explores the intersection of education, technology, and leadership. Hosted by Alex Gray, a school leader and educator based in Dubai, the podcast features deep-dive conversations with global educators, innovators, and thinkers working to shape the future of teaching and learning.FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL🌐 Website: https://www.deepeducationnetwork.com/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepeducationnetwork/🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ticpodcast💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergray84/

Can AI help students learn more deeply — or does it just make it easier to avoid thinking?Alex Gray sits down with Ryan Trattner, co-founder and CTO of StudyFetch, the AI learning platform that turns course materials into personalised flashcards, quizzes, summaries, study plans, and one-on-one tutoring through its AI tutor, Spark.E.This conversation goes beyond the product. It's about the question now facing every classroom: what kind of learner does AI create, and where does the human teacher become even more important?What we cover:Why the real question isn't whether students use AI, but howThe behaviours AI tools quietly reward — and the ones they erodeHow StudyFetch designs Spark.E to encourage thinking, not shortcut itWhat schools get wrong when they try to "police" AIWhere great teachers become irreplaceable in an AI-saturated worldGuest: Ryan Trattner, co-founder & CTO of StudyFetch (launched 2023).Host: Alex Gray, The International Classroom Podcast — exploring how educators can lead with confident humility in a changing world.If this episode made you think, follow the show and share it with an educator who needs to hear it.

What is the single most dangerous misconception schools have about artificial intelligence right now?In this episode of The International Classroom, host Alex Gray sits down with educator, school leader, and edtech innovator Matthew Wemyss to unpack why siloing AI into computer science departments is a critical mistake. As tech giants embed predictive models directly into everyday search engines, AI has become ambient. Our students are interacting with chatbots by default, meaning AI literacy is no longer just a technical skill—it is an ethical, societal, and pedagogical imperative that touches every single subject.Matthew shares his journey of building the AI Lit Kit (ailitkit.com), a revolutionary platform designed to help teachers seamlessly embed AI literacy into their existing lesson plans without increasing their workload. We also dive deep into the technical realities of "vibe coding," red-teaming for security, GDPR compliance, and why the human element must always come first in a digitized world.Whether you are a school leader navigating AI integration, a teacher looking to build your confidence, or an aspiring digital entrepreneur, this conversation offers an essential roadmap for the future of education.Explore the Platform: Visit ailitkit.com to try the platform and access the built-in AI literacy course.Follow Matthew Wemyss: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewwemyss/If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! It helps other educators find the show.Host: Alex GrayConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergray84/Subscribe to the Show: Hit follow on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode.

We talk about time like it's the most precious thing we have. We manage it. We protect it. We read books about it. But I've come to think we've got it wrong.Time isn't the scarce resource. Attention is.In this episode, I explore why attention — not time — is the most important thing we own, how modern life has structurally degraded our capacity to focus, and why giving someone your full presence might be the most generous thing you can do.Drawing on Oliver Burkeman, Daniel Kahneman, and Cal Newport, plus honest reflections from my own life as a teacher, writer, and builder.If you've ever been caught half-listening to someone you love, this one's for you.—This is a podcast about how humans learn and how we get better. Hosted by Alex Gray.

Can You Learn to Be Inspirational?In this first-ever solo episode of The International Classroom, Alex Gray tackles a question that most of us assume has a fixed answer: Is inspiration a gift you're born with, or a skill you can build?Prompted by a candid (and slightly humbling) conversation with his daughter, Ava, Alex explores why genuine inspiration has nothing to do with Instagram quotes or polished TED Talks. Instead, it’s about the "thousand small things" and the "walk" we choose to take every day.Inside the Episode:The Inspiration Myth: Why we mistake charisma for character and how to pivot toward "genuine inspiration."The Research: Breaking down Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory and Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset through the lens of a modern classroom.The Paradox of Performance: Why "trying" to be inspirational is the fastest way to fail—and what to do instead.Modeling in the Age of AI: The rising value of authenticity and visible effort in an increasingly automated world.The 5 Pillars of the "Inspirational Walk":Visible Curiosity: Being a lifelong learner in front of your students and peers.Honest Struggle: Why the "messy middle" of problem-solving is more powerful than a polished answer.High Standards + Warmth: Why "Clear is Kind" (Brené Brown) is the ultimate leadership framework.Storytelling: Framing ideas through human experience to make the hypothetical real.Consistency: The unsexy, cumulative power of showing up exactly the same way, day after day."Inspiration is not a speech. It’s not a trait. It’s not a gift. It’s a walk that other people want to join."Connect with the Show:Follow Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergray84/The DEEP Network: https://www.deepeducationnetwork.com/Subscribe: If this episode sparked a thought, hit follow and leave a review to help us grow the community.

Does starting a task with AI inherently mean you are cheating the learning process?In this episode of The International Classroom, Alex Gray sits down with Ben Whitaker—co-host of Edufuturists, author, and "The Ideas Guy"—for one of the most deeply reflective conversations of the AIDUCATION26 conference in Bucharest. Ben openly discusses how he had to fundamentally reconsider his own stance on AI, shifting from viewing it as a "shortcut" to embracing it as an essential starting (or finishing) block for modern learners.They also dive into the profound impact of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), exploring how AI can shift neurodivergent and EAL students from being a "secondary thought" to the absolute center of the educational conversation.Plus, discover why Ben created physical AI Cards to force educators to slow down, why he abandoned ChatGPT for Claude, and why navigating the EdTech landscape right now feels a lot like being in the Big Brother house.Jump to a section:00:00 – Intro & Kicking off the Bucharest Conference01:41 – The "Lone Wolf" Problem & Building the Edufuturists Pack04:04 – AI Cards for Educators: Why We Desperately Need to Slow Down08:53 – UDL & Radical Inclusion: Empowering "People of Determination"12:41 – The "Cheating" Mindset Shift: Reconsidering Core AI Principles14:17 – Beyond Prompt Engineering & Why Ben Switched to Claude16:19 – Holding Opinions Lightly & The Value of Divergent Thinking19:59 – If AI was a Reality TV Show (I'm a Celeb & Big Brother)Key Takeaways from this episode:The Cheating Misconception: Going to AI first doesn't necessarily mean you are short-cutting the work. Sometimes it is the perfect starting point; other times, it is the perfect finishing tool for proofreading and editing. We have to be willing to reconsider our rigid rules around its use.Slowing Down in a Fast World: In an industry that rewards speed and constant output, sometimes the most powerful tool is a physical set of cards that forces you to stop, step back, and ask the deep philosophical questions about why you are using the tech.Radical Inclusion via UDL: AI allows for personalisation at scale. By using it properly, we can build environments where learners with additional needs (or "People of Determination") are no longer an afterthought, but the central focus of lesson design.The Death of the Lone Wolf: Trying to innovate in education on your own is exhausting. The strength of the EdTech wolf is the pack—we need communities to challenge our thinking and "sharpen the axe."Connect with the Guests:Alex Gray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergray84/Ben Whitaker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsbenwhitaker/Don't forget to Subscribe for more conversations on the future of education, EdTech, and classroom innovation!#TheInternationalClassroom #AIinEducation #EdTech #Edufuturists #UDL #AIDUCATION26 #FutureOfLearning #EducationPodcast

In a world where every fact is instantly available, why are we still testing students on knowledge retention? 📉On the latest episode of The International Classroom, I sat down with EdTech veteran Al Kingsley at AIDUCATION26 to discuss exactly that.We dove into his session, "AI as a Catalyst for Education Reform & Digital Equity," and tackled the awkward questions school leaders are actively trying to avoid.The reality? Employers no longer care who the "smartest" kid in the room is. They want the most skilled. AI isn't going to replace the human element of teaching; it is going to force us to value those human skills—like oracy, literacy, and empathy—more than ever before.Are we finally ready to move past the knowledge-retention model of education?#TheInternationalClassroom #AIinEducation #EdTech #EducationReform #AlKingsley #FutureOfLearning #AIDUCATION26