Common Grounds

Lindsey Douglas
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Education

Common Grounds is a podcast from the School District of Pickens County Instructional Technology where conversation creates community. Each episode brings educators, students, leaders, and community members around the table to explore the ideas shaping teaching and learning today. Through thoughtful questions, diverse perspectives, and authentic conversations, Common Grounds creates space to learn from one another, challenge our thinking, and discover the common ground that moves us forward. Follow us on Instagram @sdpctechsavvy

Episodes

  1. 11h ago

    Steeped in Research: Rethinking Inquiry in the Age of AI

    ☕ Steeped in Research: Knowledge Constructors in the Age of AI When answers are just a click or prompt away, how do we help students move beyond finding information to constructing knowledge? 🤔 In Episode 3 of Common Grounds, Lindsey Douglas and Dr. Jessica Preisig sit down with middle school librarians: Tracy Brady, Amy McGuinn, and Emily Curry to explore how research, inquiry, and information literacy are evolving in the age of AI. With information more accessible than ever, the challenge isn't simply helping students find answers. It's teaching them to ask meaningful questions, evaluate sources, think critically, and use information to develop new understanding. Together, they explore the important role educators and school librarians play in helping students become thoughtful, curious, and responsible knowledge constructors. When information is everywhere and answers are instant, how do we ensure students are still doing the thinking? 💭 🎧 In This Episode What it means to be a knowledge constructor in the age of AIHow AI is changing research and information literacyEvaluating the accuracy, validity, bias, origin, and relevance of informationMoving students beyond finding facts to synthesizing ideasThe importance of curiosity, questioning, and meaningful inquiryHow school librarians support critical thinking and researchWhy human judgment and evidence-based reasoning matter more than ever🔗 Resources ISTE Standards for Students — Explore the Knowledge Constructor standard and its emphasis on evaluating information, curating resources, and building knowledge. AASL National School Library Standards — A framework for inquiry, information literacy, and knowledge creation. Digital Inquiry Group: Civic Online Reasoning — Research-based resources for teaching students to evaluate online information. ISTE+ASCD: AI in Education — Resources for responsible, purposeful AI integration in teaching and learning. 🎙️ About Common Grounds Common Grounds is a podcast from the School District of Pickens County Instructional Technology where conversation creates community. Each episode brings educators, students, leaders, and community members around the table to explore ideas shaping teaching and learning today. Follow us on Instagram: @sdpctechsavvy 🧡 Special Thanks This episode was fueled by Coyote Coffee, proudly serving communities across Pickens County, South Carolina. ☕ Thank you to our guest librarians for sharing their expertise and passion for empowering students as researchers and critical thinkers. Pour yourself a cup, and join us as we find some common ground.

    Steeped in Research: Rethinking Inquiry in the Age of AI

  2. Sep 29

    Pouring into Design: Designing Authentic Learning with AI

    ☕ Pouring into Design: Designing Authentic Learning with AI How can AI help educators design more authentic learning experiences without taking away the thinking that makes learning meaningful? 🤔 In Episode 2 of Common Grounds, Lindsey Douglas and Dr. Jessica Preisig sit down with Alyson Peoples, instructional coach at R.C. Edwards Middle School, and Dr. Courtney Wood, teacher at Forest Acres Elementary School, to explore what intentional lesson design looks like in the age of AI. Together, they unpack the difference between using AI simply to make planning faster and using it as a thought partner to create learning that is more relevant, purposeful, engaging, and responsive to students. The conversation moves beyond the question of whether teachers should use AI and toward a more important one: How can AI help us design better learning not just faster assignments? 💭 🎧 In This Episode What makes a learning experience feel authenticWhy purpose, relevance, and student ownership matterHow AI can serve as a thought partner during lesson designThe difference between generating an activity and intentionally designing learningHow teachers can use AI to remove barriers without removing productive struggleWhat parts of instructional decision-making should remain deeply humanWhy context, professional judgment, and knowledge of students still matterHow small shifts in a task can create greater opportunities for thinking, creating, and transfer🔗 Resources ISTE+ASCD: Artificial Intelligence in Education Resources for purposeful, responsible, and effective AI integration in teaching and learning. Empower by John Spencer and A.J. Juliani A practical look at designing learning experiences that increase student ownership, voice, choice, and agency. Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick A practical exploration of working with AI as a collaborator while preserving human judgment, creativity, and expertise. AI Literacy in Any Classroom by John SpencerA practical resource for helping educators build students’ understanding of AI, think critically about how it works, and use it responsibly and purposefully across content areas. 🎙️ About Common Grounds Common Grounds is a podcast from the School District of Pickens County Instructional Technology where conversation creates community. Each episode brings educators, students, leaders, and community members around the table to explore ideas shaping teaching and learning today. Follow us on Instagram: @sdpctechsavvy 🧡 Special Thanks This episode was fueled by Extended Cup Coffeehouse & Cafe in Easley, South Carolina. ☕ Thank you to Alyson Peoples and Dr. Courtney Wood for sharing their experiences, perspectives, and ideas about designing learning with intention. Pour yourself a cup, and join us as we find some common ground.

    Pouring into Design: Designing Authentic Learning with AI

  3. Aug 30

    Brewing Better Thinkers: Student Agency in the Age of AI

    ☕ Brewing Better Thinkers: Student Agency in the Age of AI How do we find the right balance using AI to expand student agency, while preserving the thinking, questioning, and creating that fuels learning? 🤔 In the first episode of Common Grounds, Lindsey Douglas and Dr. Jessica Preisig sit down with educator Lisa Furr and student Arjun to explore learner agency in the age of AI. Lisa brings more than 20 years of classroom experience and now serves as the library media specialist at Pickens High School. Arjun is a Daniel High School student, president of the AI & Machine Learning Club, and creator of The Arjun Report. Together, they discuss productive struggle, academic support, confidence, discernment, and the difference between using AI to strengthen thinking and allowing it to replace thinking. At the center of the conversation is one question: Is AI helping students become stronger, more independent thinkers—or is it doing the thinking for them? 💭 🎧 In This Episode What learner agency looks likeHow AI differs from other academic supportsWhy productive struggle still mattersHow AI can increase confidence and accessThe difference between support and shortcutWhy students need discernment, not just rules⏱️ Jump In 00:00 — Welcome + the first sip 09:10 — What learner agency means 33:45 — Support or shortcut? 48:30 — Finding the common ground 🤝 💬 Continue the Conversation Before turning to AI, ask: What am I supposed to learn?Which part of the thinking should remain mine?Am I using AI to deepen my thinking or avoid it?Can I explain and defend the final product?Am I more capable after using the tool?🔗 Resources The Arjun Report Explore Arjun’s writing and perspectives on AI, technology, and the future. AI4K12 A K–12 framework for helping students understand artificial intelligence. Empower by John Spencer and A.J. Juliani A practical look at designing learning experiences that give students greater voice, choice, ownership, and agency. ISTE+ASCD: Artificial Intelligence in Education Resources for thoughtful and responsible AI use in schools. 🎙️ About Common Grounds Common Grounds is a podcast from the School District of Pickens County Instructional Technology where conversation creates community. Each episode brings educators, students, leaders, and community members around the table to explore ideas shaping teaching and learning today. Follow us on Instagram: @sdpctechsavvy 🧡 Special Thanks This episode was fueled by Mug Shot Coffee in downtown Central, South Carolina. ☕ Thank you to Lisa Furr and Arjun for sharing their perspectives. Pour yourself a cup, and join us as we find some common ground.

    Brewing Better Thinkers: Student Agency in the Age of AI
  • 3 Episodes

About

Common Grounds is a podcast from the School District of Pickens County Instructional Technology where conversation creates community. Each episode brings educators, students, leaders, and community members around the table to explore the ideas shaping teaching and learning today. Through thoughtful questions, diverse perspectives, and authentic conversations, Common Grounds creates space to learn from one another, challenge our thinking, and discover the common ground that moves us forward. Follow us on Instagram @sdpctechsavvy

Information

  • Creator
    Lindsey Douglas
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lindsey Douglas 2026
  • Show Website
    Common Grounds