Reach Every Student with Jon Bergmann

Jon
  • 3.0 (2)
  • COURSES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Stop the stupefaction and reclaim your students' cognition in the age of AI. Reach Every Student with Jon Bergmann is the ultimate guide to edtech for teachers and navigating the frontier of digital education AI. Whether you are looking for practical educational AI solutions, evaluating the latest educational AI apps, or wrestling with the future of education vs. AI, veteran educator Jon Bergmann delivers the real-world strategies you need. Discover how to leverage an AI engine while anchoring your classroom in analog roots to ensure true mastery learning. jonbergmann.substack.com

  1. 6D AGO

    Mr. Bergmann Changed My Life": The Echo of Impact in the Age of AI | Episode 73

    The Story of the Echo Teaching is a delayed harvest profession. This week, I received a message from a student I taught four years ago that reminded me why the 'Human Check' is more important than any AI in education tool Yesterday, I received a message from a friend in Kansas that stopped me in my tracks. He had been talking to a former student of mine—now a sophomore in college—who told him, “Mr. Bergmann really impacted my life.” I didn’t hear that four years ago when he was sitting in my Chemistry class. I didn’t see it on a course evaluation. I am hearing it now, vicariously, through an “echo.” If you are a teacher in the middle of “Manic May,” feeling exhausted and wondering if you’re actually getting through, this episode is for you. Teaching is a delayed harvest profession. You are planting seeds today that you might not see bloom until 2030. The Year in Review: Reclaiming the Classroom As I sat through my final teacher evaluations this week, I looked back at the journey we’ve been on since September. * The AI Pivot: We started the year trying to figure out how to “enmesh” AI into Physics. But as the months went by, the goal changed. I found myself warning students about “Stupefaction.” If we offload our thinking to the machine, we lose the “productive struggle” that actually grows the brain. * The Letters to Students: I wrote two letters to students. The first is more personal to my students, and the second is a joint effort with a consortium of STEM professors across the United States. * The Mastery Flip: This year gave birth to a new framework: AI Engines, Analog Roots, and Human Checks. My wife actually helped me name it: The Mastery Flip. * Analog Roots: In a world of “digital glaze,” I actually went out and bought used physical textbooks for the fourth quarter. We moved away from online platforms and back to paper, pencil, and face-to-face conversation. Why? Because the “Analog Root” is what keeps the student grounded in their own thinking. The “Motor” Moment The payoff for all this “Analog” work happened this week during our electricity unit. I watched a student—one who has struggled with traditional work all year—build an electric motor from scratch. He was so proud that it spun for 30 minutes straight. In that moment, I wasn’t just a teacher; I was a Vision Caster. I told him, “You need to be an electrical engineer.” That’s the “Human Check” that no AI can provide. The Final Word: Stay for the Echo I’ve been doing this for 40 years, and I still get tired. But then I get a message from Kansas. To the “Village” of teachers listening: Don’t judge your success by how you feel today. Judge it by the echo that is coming. Stay in the fight. Episode Timestamps: * 00:00 - The Message from Kansas: A 4-Year Echo * 02:51 - Is AI Stupefying Our Students? * 06:44 - The Mastery Flip: AI Engines & Analog Roots * 08:11 - Why I’m Returning to Physical Textbooks in 2026 * 11:45 - The Motor Project: When a Student “Comes Alive” * 15:01 - Parent Feedback: The Power of Being Seen * 16:17 - Year 40 Encouragement: Stay for the Echo P.S. If you're watching this on YouTube, please hit the 'Hype' button on the video! It helps the algorithm push this encouragement to other tired teachers who need to hear it this week This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

    19 min
  2. Sal Khan’s Treadmill Problem: Why AI Tutors are "Non-Events" Without You | Episode 72

    MAY 4

    Sal Khan’s Treadmill Problem: Why AI Tutors are "Non-Events" Without You | Episode 72

    “Manic May” is here. We are in the “Long Sprint”—that exhausted, emotionally spent stretch where the finish line is visible, but the legs are heavy. Technology is supposed to save us time, but I’ve found that the most important work we do in 2026 doesn’t come from a processor; it comes from the heart. In this episode, I dive into a recent, shocking admission from Sal Khan. He noted that despite all the billions invested, AI tutoring (Khanmigo) has been a “non-event” for most students. The “Grandpa” Letter Insight: “Your words remind me that I don’t need to be loud like others to be influential... You kind of remind me of my grandpa... it has been a long, long time since I earned appreciation from an elderly person. Now, I feel like my grandpa is watching me from heaven...” Why? Because access does not equal action. I break down the “Treadmill Problem”: Why having an AI tutor is like having a high-end treadmill in your basement—it’s objectively great, but without a “Personal Trainer” (you), it usually just ends up hanging your laundry. I also share the emotional payoff of the 150 individual “Vision Videos” I just finished recording. You’ll hear the letters my students sent back—including one that reminds us that while AI can explain Chemistry, it can never replace the “Grandpa” factor in a child’s life. Key Highlights in This Episode: * The Motivation Gap: Why Sal Khan realized that a “teacher in the back of the room” (even a digital one) isn’t enough. * The Personal Trainer Metaphor: Why students do the “extra rep” of mastery for a human, but never for an algorithm. * Scaling the Heart: How I managed to “see” each of my students individually during an exhausting week. * The “Grandpa” Letter: A raw look at a student response that proves why the “Human Check” is our true superpower. * Key Moments * 00:00 – Introduction: Heart over Technology * Jon reflects on why the most important work in 2026 comes from the heart, not just a processor. * An update on the seven-year tradition of “Vision Videos” and the surprising responses they generate. * 01:13 – The Sal Khan “Non-Event” Admission * Discussing Sal Khan’s admission that AI tutoring (Khanmigo) has been a “non-event” for most students. * The problem with AI acting as a “teacher in the back of the room” that students never visit. * 01:44 – The Treadmill Metaphor: Access vs. Action * Why having an AI tutor is like having a treadmill in your basement—always there, but often just used to hang laundry. * The need for a “Personal Trainer” who is invested in student progress and encourages that “extra rep”. * 04:18 – Legacy: “He Never Let Me Get Away With Anything” * A powerful story from Senior Chapel about a student being influenced by high expectations and accountability. * 05:13 – Scaling the Personal Trainer for 150 Students * How to act as a personal trainer at scale without burning out. * Holding 150 students accountable through “Human Checks” and Mastery Vivas. * 05:54 – AI as Your Chief of Staff * Turning Gemini into a “Chief of Staff” to handle behind-the-scenes executive assistant work. * Instructing AI to push your thinking rather than just agreeing with you. * 09:00 – The “Grandpa” Letter: Why Being Seen is the Superpower * Jon reads a deeply emotional student response that compares him to a late grandfather. * Why AI can never replace the feeling of being “seen” and validated by a human mentor. * 11:45 – The Motivation Gap & The Human Solution * How teachers serve as the “personal trainers” who make kids run on the treadmill. * Reflecting on 40 years in the classroom and encouraging teachers to stay in the profession. * 14:00 – Teaser: The Grief of the Launch * Reflecting on the coming end of the school year and the emotional weight of saying goodbye. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

    15 min
  3. The Exhaustion of Excellence: How to Scale the "Human Check" |Episode 71

    APR 27

    The Exhaustion of Excellence: How to Scale the "Human Check" |Episode 71

    Summary It is April, the “Long Sprint,” and I’m exhausted. Over the last few days, I have been pouring my heart into Vision Videos. These are individual, raw, high-energy recordings for every single one of my students where I look them in the virtual eye and tell them exactly who they are becoming. It takes a massive emotional toll—it’s draining, it’s hard, and it’s arguably the most taxing thing I do all year. But I do it because it builds the “Relational Cache” I need for the rest of the year. When I sit down with a student for a Mastery Viva, they know I see them, they know I care, and they are far less likely to push the “Easy Button” of AI cheating. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how I manage the logistics of the Mastery Viva (oral assessments) with lots of students. I share my playbook for “clumping” students to speed up check-ins and how I use AI Proxies (like Flint K12) as a “Safety Valve” when I simply can’t be in ten places at once. This is how we scale the soul of teaching without losing our own. Inside the Episode: Key Timestamps * [0:34] – The “Vision Video” Reality Check: Why making individual videos for every student is emotionally draining, yet the most important relational work I do. * [2:01] – The Mastery Flip in the Age of Cheating: How I answered a colleague’s plea for help after catching students using AI to “dial in” their math homework. * [3:21] – Scaling the Viva: The “Clumping” Strategy How to handle a large class by bringing 3–4 students together for a rapid-fire oral check-in. * [4:38] – The “JB” Signature: The low-tech, high-impact psychological win of a physical mark on a student’s paper. * [6:57] – Using AI as a “Proxy” Coach: When you can’t get to all of your students, how tools like Flint K12 act as your “assistant coach” to perform the human check. * [8:49] – Looking Toward Next Year: The 3 vs. 4 Scale: My “spitballing” session on distinguishing between base-level mastery and the ability to extend a concept to the “next level”. * [11:24] – Final Call: Don’t Push the Coast Button: A reminder that your students will remember your April more than your August—finish the year “in the arena”. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

    13 min
  4. The April Burnout: Why I’m Not Pushing the "Coast Button"|Episode 70

    APR 20

    The April Burnout: Why I’m Not Pushing the "Coast Button"|Episode 70

    If you were to look at me right now, you’d see one tired teacher. You’d see the mid-April exhaustion. And if you’re a teacher, I know you’re feeling it too. We are currently in the “Long Sprint.” The finish line is in sight, and there is a massive temptation to push what I call The Coast Button. It’s that internal switch that tells us to just “mail it in,” put on a movie, and cruise until June. But here is the hard truth: How you finish the last 10% of the year defines the version of you that your students will remember ten years from now. In this episode, I’m sharing why I’m fighting the urge to check out and providing a tactical playbook for staying in the arena with your students—even when you’re running on fumes. Inside the Episode: A Guide for the Tired Teacher [0:00] – The Temptation to Coast I’m being vulnerable: I want to push the button. I describe the specific mid-April fatigue that makes “letting it ride” feel like the only option, and why our students are often rooting for us to check out right along with them. [1:45] – The 10% Rule: Why the work we do in the final weeks matters more than the first few months. I discuss the danger of “ruining” a year of built bridges by becoming a ghost in your own classroom during the final stretch. [3:10] – Shifting to Discovery Mode: When the “Industrial Model” of teaching feels too heavy, it’s time to pivot. I share how my Physics students are building motors and my Geology students are creating their own instructional videos. This isn’t just “busy work”—it’s high-level engagement that re-energizes the room. [4:31] – “But I Don’t Teach Physics...” I address the English, History, and Elementary teachers. The “Stay in the Arena” playbook isn’t subject-specific. It’s about human presence. [5:40] – Tip 1: The Vulnerability Pivot: How to model grit by simply being honest. I share the exact script I use to tell my students: “I’m tired too, but I’m choosing to be here for you.” [6:45] – Tip 2: The 3-Minute Desk Sit A simple tactical move to reclaim your presence. Get out from behind the computer and spend three minutes just sitting with a student. It’s the ultimate “Human Check.” [7:35] – Tip 3: Micro-Visioning If you’re too tired for big projects, try this. I explain how 60-second handwritten notes can act as a “Relational Cachet” deposit that students keep for years. [8:15] – Tip 4: Finding Your Passion Pivot: How to fight boredom by finding one thing in your subject that still makes you curious, and leaning into that for a day to break the monotony. [9:05] – The Final Word: Stay in the Arena: My closing charge to the Village. We are building bridges, and we aren’t going to stop until the final bell rings. The Takeaway You don’t have to be perfect in April, but you do have to be present. Don’t let the Coast Button win. Your students are worth the last 10%. Let’s finish strong. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

    10 min
  5. [Special Edition] Tom Daccord: The "Mastery Viva" and the Future of AI Integrity | Episode 69

    APR 16 ·  BONUS

    [Special Edition] Tom Daccord: The "Mastery Viva" and the Future of AI Integrity | Episode 69

    Summary I know it is not Monday morning, but sometimes a conversation is so timely and important that it demands a special mid-week release . Today, I am joined by my long-time friend and educational technology legend, Tom Daccord . Tom has been a pioneer in our field for decades, and right now, he is doing some of the most grounded work regarding AI in the classroom. In this extended conversation, we move past the Silicon Valley hype to discuss the “Great Bifurcation”—the growing gap between students who use AI as a crutch and those who use it to enhance their learning. We dive into the “Mastery Flip” framework, exploring how to maintain productive struggle and human connection in an age of instant answers. The “Big Rock”: The Mastery Viva If you only have ten minutes to listen today, jump to [16:23]. Tom and I discuss the “Mastery Viva” (or the Human Check), a short, 2-to-3-minute verbal assessment where the teacher and student have a focused conversation about the learning process. In a world where AI can generate a perfect paper or lab report, the only way to truly verify mastery is to look a student in the eye and ask, “How did you get here? Tell me why this works”. Inside the Episode: Practitioner Show Notes * [0:00] – The Mid-Week Drop & Intro Jon explains why this conversation with Tom Daccord couldn’t wait until Monday and provides a sneak peek at the upcoming “Coast Button” episode. * [1:36] – Meet Tom Daccord Tom and Jon reflect on their shared history in edtech since 1986 and Jon’s role as the co-founder of the global flipped classroom movement. * [7:39] – The “Great Bifurcation” A warning about the two paths students are taking: using AI as a crutch that “stupefies” or using it to become leaders of the new world. * [11:05] – The Mastery Flip Framework Jon breaks down his three-step model: AI Engines for content introduction, Analog Roots for classroom practice, and Mastery Vivas for verification. * [14:41] – Analog Roots: High Brain, Low Tech What Jon’s classroom looks like today—paper, pencils, and physical circuits while laptops stay in bags to preserve cognition. * [19:01] – Why We Need “Wrappers” Around AI The problem with AI built for efficiency instead of education. We need systems that prioritize productive struggle over instant answers. * [23:29] – The “Easy Button” vs. The Gym Why you can’t “bring a forklift to the weight room.” Students need the intellectual “reps” to grow. * [31:13] – Preparing for a World of AI Agents How companies are hiring fewer graduates because AI agents are taking entry-level roles—and how students must learn to use AI to teach themselves anything. * This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

    38 min
  6. "I See You": Spending the Relational Cachet You’ve Banked All Year #68

    APR 13

    "I See You": Spending the Relational Cachet You’ve Banked All Year #68

    The COVID Tradition That Stuck In March of 2020, we sent our students home and never saw them again. I realized then that I needed a way to find closure—a way to let them know they weren’t just a row in a Zoom grid. So, I made a personalized video for every single student. What started as a pandemic necessity has become a seven-year tradition and, quite honestly, the most important thing I do every year. The “Long Sprint” and Your Relational Bank Account I know you’re exhausted. We are deep in the “Long Sprint,” and the finish line feels like a mirage. But here is the truth: Right now, you have more relational cachet with your students than you will ever have again. You have spent a year building a bridge of trust. You’ve banked “Relational Capital” through every lab, every conversation, and every JB Signature. Now is the time to spend that capital to speak life into their future. The “Vision Video” Blueprint Yes, this is a significant time commitment. It is a heavy lift at a time when you are already carrying a lot. But the ROI is eternal. Here is the workflow: * The Mastery of the List: Use a physical list. Check off names as you go. Don’t skip anyone. Every child needs to be “seen” before they walk out your door. * Beyond the Grade: This isn’t a recap of their GPA. It’s a casting of a vision. You are looking at the student they are today and telling them who you see them becoming tomorrow. * The Universal Blessing: In my setting, this includes a prayer. In yours, it might be a “wish for the future.” Whatever the form, the intent is the same: A formal, human acknowledgment of their worth. Does it actually work? Just ask Claudia. I reached out to one of my former students, Claudia Moore, to ask if I could share her story. Her response tells you everything you need to know about why we do this: “I have your video saved on my phone and I watch it every now and then when I need some extra encouragement. Your words were so kind and I think it would be so cool for other teachers to start doing it too!” — Claudia Two Lives Changed: Samuel & Claudia In this episode, I share the actual “Vision Videos” I sent to two of my students (with permission): * Claudia: A high achiever who moved from “Achievement Mode” (checking boxes) to “Discovery Mode” (curiosity and heart). * Samuel: The star of my recent keynote. I celebrate the Grit and “consistent obedience” that led to his 100% mastery. Key Timestamps * 00:00 — The “most important video” question * 01:08 — The COVID-2020 origins of the tradition * 01:46 — Why you have “Relational Cachet” right now * 03:02 — Logistics: Why I still use a physical paper list * 04:42 — Framing the “Blessing” and the Prayer angle * 05:58 — Claudia’s Video: Achievement vs. Discovery * 09:44 — Samuel’s Video: Grit and 100% Mastery * 14:18 — The Eddie Anderson Legacy: Why I became a teacher Socratic Challenge: I became a teacher because my chemistry teacher, Eddie Anderson, believed in me. Who was the teacher that “spoke life” into your context? Know a teacher who needs a reminder of why we do this “hard thing”? Send them this post. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

    16 min
  7. The Most Important Video Your Students Will Watch This Year (And You Didn't Record It) |Episode 67

    APR 7

    The Most Important Video Your Students Will Watch This Year (And You Didn't Record It) |Episode 67

    The “GPS on Black Ice” Problem We’ve all seen it. On Day One in August, new students walk in looking for the “Easy Button.” They want a path that is smooth, effortless, and frictionless. I call this the GPS on Black Ice—it tells them exactly where to go, but they have zero traction. They glide toward a grade without ever building the cognitive muscle they need to actually learn. The Solution: The Expert-Novice Bridge As teachers, we can preach about “grit” until we’re blue in the face, but students often tune us out. However, they hang on every word from the peer who sat in their exact chair just a few months prior. This week, I’m launching the Time Capsule Project. I am asking my current “Experts”—the ones who survived the Analog Reset—to record 60-second “Survival Guides” for the incoming class of 2026-27. Building Your Time Capsule (The “How-To”) If you want to build your own “Expert-Novice Bridge,” here is the Analog Roots workflow I’m using in Room 229: * Don’t Just Record the “A” Students: The most powerful mentors are the ones who struggled, tried to use the “Easy Button,” and eventually found their way to the “Aha!” moment. * The Three-Question Script: I ask them specifically: * Where did you try to “glide” using AI, and when did you realize it was actually hurting you? * What was the most satisfying “JB Signature” you earned this year? * What is one piece of advice for the person sitting in this chair next year? * The “Gemini” Editing Hack: I’m using a new workflow to save time. I upload the raw videos to a Google Drive folder and then use Gemini to scan the transcripts. I ask the AI to “Find the best 10-second clip where a student talks about the Mastery Viva.” It turns hours of editing into minutes. Why This Matters When you play these videos in August, you aren’t just giving advice; you are transferring culture. You are showing the new “novices” that the struggle isn’t a bug—it’s the feature. In the podcast episode above, I talk about why I’m recording this from my chair while home sick and how the “Grit” of this year is the best gift we can give to next year’s class. Socratic Challenge: If your students were giving a “Survival Warning” to next year’s class right now, what is the one thing they would tell them to stop doing? [Button: Share the Reset] Know a teacher in the “Manic May” trenches who needs to hear this? Send them this post. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

    7 min
  8. The GPS Trap: Why I’m Hitting the Analog Reset in Room 229

    MAR 30

    The GPS Trap: Why I’m Hitting the Analog Reset in Room 229

    The “Long Sprint” Confession We’re officially in the “long sprint”. The honeymoon phase of the school year is over, and we are in that difficult haul between Spring Break and the end of May. It is a hard time for teachers and students alike. I have a confession to make: I haven’t been practicing what I preach. Lately, I realized I was letting my students stare at screens too much. I was using a digital platform that was incredibly efficient—it gave students instant dopamine hits with green checks for right answers and red checks for wrong ones. But while the platform was efficient, the learning was stalling. I saw the Digital Glaze setting in. The GPS vs. The Friction Think of AI and these high-efficiency platforms as a GPS on a road made of Black Ice. The GPS tells the students exactly where to go, making the journey look effortless. But because the road is black ice, there is no traction. They are “gliding” toward a grade, but their brains aren’t doing the heavy lifting of cognition. Smooth surfaces are easy to walk on, but they are impossible to climb. Real learning requires friction. A match won’t light on a smooth glass table; it needs the grit of a striking surface to create a spark. In my physics lab, I realized I had removed too much resistance. I had to hit the Analog Reset. Returning to Analog Roots For the fourth quarter, I’ve moved the cognitively complex work back into the classroom and onto paper. The “ship has sailed” on sending complex work home where AI can simply do the homework for them with a single prompt. Here is what the “Mastery Flip” looks like in Room 229 right now: * The Paper Packet: I’ve traded the online platform for big packets of paper. I even survived the “worst thing in a teacher’s life”—the inevitable copier jams—to make it happen. * The Red Marker: I walk around the room with a red marker, checking notes and signing off with my “JB” initials. It sounds small, but the students love the physical “stamp” of progress. * The Mastery Viva: This is the magic. Instead of digital grading, I have 2-minute conversations with small groups. If they get a problem wrong on their paper, they have to explain to me why it’s wrong and how they would solve it. The Result: Reclaiming the “Aha!” The atmosphere in the lab has changed. Laptops are in backpacks, cell phones are away, and students are actually talking to each other about physics. They are enjoying class more because of that human-to-human connection. We are preserving the “Aha!” moments. We are teaching them that they can’t just push the “easy button” and have the work done for them. We are reclaiming the grit. In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the first two weeks of this reset—the copier jams, the Mastery Vivas, and the reason why I’m never going back to the “Glaze.” Key Timestamps: * 00:00 – The March Slog: Navigating the most difficult time of the school year. * 01:05 – The Confession: Why Jon realized he wasn’t practicing what he preached. * 02:30 – Identifying the “Digital Glaze”: How efficient platforms can actually hinder student cognition . * 04:15 – The Analog Switch: Dealing with paper packets and the “worst thing in a teacher’s life”—copier jams. * 05:45 – The 3-Step Mastery Cycle: Flipped videos, paper assignments, and self-grading. * 07:45 – The “Mastery Viva”: How a 2-minute conversation replaces hours of grading at home. * 09:30 – AI as the Safety Net: Using Flint K12 as a backup when the clock runs out * 11:30 – Preserving the “Aha!”: Why moving complex work into the classroom is non-negotiable in the AI age This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

    11 min
See All (75)

Ratings & Reviews

3
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Stop the stupefaction and reclaim your students' cognition in the age of AI. Reach Every Student with Jon Bergmann is the ultimate guide to edtech for teachers and navigating the frontier of digital education AI. Whether you are looking for practical educational AI solutions, evaluating the latest educational AI apps, or wrestling with the future of education vs. AI, veteran educator Jon Bergmann delivers the real-world strategies you need. Discover how to leverage an AI engine while anchoring your classroom in analog roots to ensure true mastery learning. jonbergmann.substack.com

Information