On today's episode of Roll Call, Brian and Josh welcome Dr. Alec Couros, professor of educational technology and media and director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning at the University of Regina, for a deep and timely conversation on the role of AI in education.

The conversation explores one of the biggest challenges facing schools today: how to integrate AI while maintaining strong pedagogy and human connection. Alec shares insights on cognitive offloading, critical thinking, misinformation, and why writing still matters more than ever in a world where AI can generate almost anything instantly.

They also unpack the risks of over-prioritizing efficiency in education, the future of personalized learning, and why educators need to be intentional about how these tools are used — not just what they can do, but what they should do.

00:00 — Introduction to Alec Couros

01:11 — Alec's background and how he found his path into education

04:16 — Balancing AI integration with strong pedagogy

05:27 — "Pedagogy first, technology second"

07:18 — Is critical thinking changing in the age of AI?

08:56 — AI grading, black-box processes, and bias in assessment

14:23 — Productive struggle, learning, and cognitive offloading

17:42 — When students should be introduced to AI tools

19:18 — Why writing is thinking

23:18 — Misinformation, deepfakes, and teaching digital discernment

28:22 — What keeps Alec up at night about AI in education

29:35 — Efficiency, teacher perception, and controlling the narrative

31:58 — Personalized learning, isolation, and protecting human connection

33:25 — AI tutors, non-certified guides, and the future of school models

36:31 — Curriculum upheaval and what is still worth learning

39:25 — The pace of AI development and whether educators need to keep up

44:52 — The future of personalized learning in the classroom

51:58 — Lightning round

55:11 — Final reflections on alignment, values, and what AI ought not do

On today's episode of Roll Call, Brian and Josh sit down with Gabriel Flacks, co-founder of Linkr and a humanities instructor at Champlain College in Saint-Lambert, Quebec, for a wide-ranging conversation about experiential learning, virtual exchange, and what happens when traditional institutional software no longer fits the way students actually learn. Gabe shares how his work as an educator — and his frustration with rigid academic tools — led him to build Linkr, a platform designed to make learning more collaborative, relevant, and connected to life beyond the classroom.

The conversation explores what meaningful experiential learning really looks like, from reflection and authentic audience to co-curricular programs, athletics, and global classroom partnerships. Gabe also digs into the challenge and opportunity of AI in education: why students are becoming more hesitant to use their own voice, why vulnerability matters more than ever, and why schools may need to rethink not just assessment, but relevance itself. It's a thoughtful episode for educators, school leaders, and anyone asking what learning should feel like in 2026 and beyond.

Show notes:

00:00 – Introducing Gabriel Flacks and the origin story behind Linkr

01:17 – Understanding Quebec's CEGEP system and why Gabe was drawn to it

05:06 – Why the 17-to-19 transition is such a powerful learning window

06:00 – Gabe's approach to experiential learning and why relevance matters

08:10 – From blogging and volunteer work to building a better platform

09:50 – Why Linkr was built as a safe, social, networked learning space

11:08 – Early adoption, virtual exchange, and Linkr's evolution into SaaS

16:22 – Reflection, virtual exchange, and what meaningful learning looks like in practice

20:42 – Co-curricular learning and the challenge of measuring growth

25:18 – Why reflection matters in athletics, wellness, and student development

30:08 – AI, vulnerability, and the growing importance of student voice

37:56 – Lightning Round + the future of Linkr, badging, and experiential learning at scale

Learn more about Linkr: https://app.linkreducation.com/

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding, an award-winning, feature-rich boarding school management tool used by over 400 schools in five continents to manage risk, increase efficiency, and improve communication in boarding school management.

To learn more about REACH Boarding, its features and integrations, visit www.reachboarding.com

Empowering the Future of Independent Education & Boarding School Management

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of Roll Call, don't forget to share your favorite episodes with your colleagues on social media to help us spread the word and help more education professionals stay at the forefront of independent education and boarding school management techniques to empower the future of the education environment.

On today's episode of Roll Call, Brian and Josh welcome Keith Krass, Vice President of Partnerships and Global Strategy at Veracross, for a real-world look at how technology has shifted inside independent schools over the last decade. What used to be a "necessary evil" has become central to operations, student safety, and decision-making — and the people leading technology are increasingly becoming true campus leaders.

The conversation gets practical fast: cloud vs. on-prem, risk and resiliency, the critical importance of multi-factor authentication, and why schools still struggle with silos — not just between systems, but between people. Keith also breaks down why institutional research is emerging in K–12, and why schools that don't learn to use their data to ask better questions may fall behind.

Show notes:

00:00 — Welcome + Keith Krass introduction

00:54 - Keith's background: educators, coaching, student development

03:00 - Biggest shifts in independent schools over the last decade (tech's role)

03:25 - Two buckets: cutting-edge schools vs. bare-minimum tech adoption

04:30 - "Outside the solar system to the sun": tech becomes central

05:13 - Cloud vs. on-prem: how the nature of work changed

06:45 - Risk & resiliency: fire, breach, backups, and operational continuity

07:33 - Cloud interdependence + the "expert team" tradeoff

08:27 - The false sense of control + why schools need the "why" explained

09:25 - Data ownership: the questions schools should ask vendors

10:01 - Data hostage stories + why access matters when switching systems

10:30 - The shift from IT director to CTO-level leadership in schools

12:17 - Tech's connection to student safety + thriving through data

13:50 - Tech leaders moving into head roles + why that pathway is growing

27:38 - Lightning round: AI hype, MFA security win, deepfakes, phones, and change management

Learn more about Veracross: https://www.veracross.com/

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding, an award-winning, feature-rich boarding school management tool used by over 400 schools in five continents to manage risk, increase efficiency, and improve communication in boarding school management.

To learn more about REACH Boarding, its features and integrations, visit www.reachboarding.com

Empowering the Future of Independent Education & Boarding School Management

Thanks for tuning into this week's episode of Roll Call, don't forget to share your favorite episodes with your colleagues on social media to help us spread the word and help more education professionals stay at the forefront of independent education and boarding school management techniques to empower the future of the education environment.