Everyone has an opinion about "screen time" right now. Politicians. Pediatricians. Parents. Your neighbor. The internet. ALL of them.

And honestly? Some of these opinions are worth listening to. Some of them... need to be changed to a different channel.

Think about it this way: a TV is just a TV. You can watch a David Attenborough documentary or a reality show where people eat bugs for money. Same screen. Completely different experience. One has learning potential. The other... well, I'll let you be the judge. Nobody is out here saying we should ban televisions because of bad reality TV; we just change the channel.

The same logic applies in your classroom. A device is just a device. What's on it is what matters. Passive scrolling, addictive platform design, digital worksheets dressed up as learning? Not powerful learning experiences. If you want to pull that stuff, pull it.

Educators are the ones holding the remote. You decide what goes on the screen in your classroom. And blanket bans and minute limits don't put better content on the screen. They just shut the TV off entirely and send kids home without the skills to make good choices when nobody's watching.

The kids who need technology to access learning opportunities they wouldn't otherwise have. The teachers who are putting powerful digital learning tools in the hands of their students to empower them to create, evaluate, and share. They're the ones who get hurt most when we make policy based on panic instead of evidence.

This month, I'm handing you the remote. Because this debate desperately needs more educators who know the difference between what harms kids and what empowers them.

Here's what's on this month:

• 📺 Change the Channel on the Screen Time Debate: Podcast series
• 🎙️ Grab the Mic: I want to elevate your voice
• 🔍 Is AI Worth Putting on the Screen?: AI safety framework + resources
• 🎥 A Channel Worth Trusting: Boclips Classroom
• 🗓️ Tune In This Summer: PD schedule
• 🍿 More Worth Watching: Learning opportunities

📺 Change the Channel on the Screen Time Debate

The national conversation about screen time and device bans is happening right now—in state legislatures, in school board meetings, and likely in your teacher lounge. And most of it is lumping all "screen time" under one umbrella.

Not all screen time is created equal.

I've been building a whole podcast series breaking down this debate. This series isn't a defense of technology. It's a defense of kids. And what is best for kids.

Here's the episodes that are live so far:

More episodes are dropping in the next few weeks:

• Why we should be questioning *some* screen time
• Regulating algorithms vs. devices
• Going even deeper into the research
• More educator voices

This series is my most important work right now. If you haven't listened yet, start with Episode 13 and go from there.

If you prefer reading over listening, watch for a blog post that will summarize the highlights of the podcast series.

🎙️ Grab the Mic

This conversation around screen time needs educator voices. Educator voices are getting lost among policy makers, pundits, and the guy next door.

If you have a story about how access to technology in your classroom has contributed to student learning in positive ways, I want to hear it.

Email me and I'll have you on the podcast. Or share your story with me and I will share it out: lindy@lindyhoc.com

Educators: Don't watch this debate from the sidelines!

🎥 Is AI Worth Putting on the Screen?

In the March newsletter, I shared what research is saying about AI use with students.

The short version: it depends, and it's all in the tool design.

This is a hot button topic with lots and lots of feelings. So I have lots and lots of resources!

To break through the hype on both ends of the spectrum, I've been building a framework for using AI as a learning tool, grounded in both research and real field testing with learners of all ages. Here's everything in one place:

Then, I continued with practical dos and don'ts for both teachers and parents in the part 2 podcast episode:

And to dig even more into the practical, I have created two videos to walk you through in detail how to create and use SchoolAI Spaces:

If you are a Brisk user, I joined Brisk to share my framework and what that looks like to use Brisk Boost. The beginning of the video focuses on the framework and why and then the end gives a hands-on demo of how to get started using Brisk Boost.

📡 A Channel Worth Trusting: Boclips Classroom

Video can be a powerful learning tool. But finding videos aligned to your learning outcomes and appropriate for your age group can be time consuming.

And let's not talk about the woes of YouTube. The rabbit holes. The ads. The autoplay feature that somehow always ends up at something you didn't ask for.

Boclips is what happens when someone actually solves these challenges for educators. It's a library of videos built specifically for education: curriculum-aligned, distraction-free, and sourced directly from educational content creators. No ads. No rabbit holes.

And finding what you need is actually easy. You can search by subject, age, pedagogical use case, and more. So instead of scrubbing through footage hoping it's classroom-appropriate, you can find exactly what you're looking for in seconds. I am already saving a ton of time using it!

You hold the remote. Boclips just makes sure every channel on it is worth watching.

Boclips has provided me a link to share with you where you can sign up for a limited free account!

🗓️ Tune In This Summer

I'm hitting the road this summer on a learning tour! I have several opportunities where you can join me IRL:

• ​ISTELive 26: I will be in Orlando June 28-July 1. I am presenting several sessions throughout the four days. Registration fee required.
• ​Gateway AI in EDU Summit: I am a featured speaker at this FREE event on July 23 in Woodbury Heights, New Jersey. NJ and Philly educators: I hope to see you there!
• Calling all rural Oregon educators: I am facilitating three days of AI in education training in Bend in August. Reach out to me if you are a rural Oregon teacher and interested in attending. Registration is very full but we will see if we can get you in!

If you aren't able to travel to these locations, I am once again joining Shake Up Learning's virtual Summer Learning Series to present two sessions:

• June 19: Video Is Not Optional for Educators…And You’re More Ready Than You Think (Requires an All Access Pass)​
• July 9: Tired of Student AI Slop? Solve It with the Assessment Puzzle Toolkit (Free to all!)

Sessions are recorded so you can catch the recordings any time after the launch date.

🍿 More Worth Watching: Learning Opportunities

• On Demand—In 2026, Video Is Not Optional for Educators... And ScreenPal Makes It Possible: If you missed the live session, you can catch the recording any time.
• On-Demand—Search Smarter: Teaching Research Skills in the Age of AI: I am getting lots of requests from educators (especially ELA teachers and school librarians) to learn how research is changing in the age of advanced AI. I presented a webinar for Fobizz on this exact topic. It has over 200 five star reviews including, "Best teacher education I ever attended!" What an honor! I have been telling everyone to start here if you are interested in this topic (and you should be!).
• On Demand—Students Are Already Using AI: Now What?: I was one of six powerhouse panelists. It was a really a great discussion and you can catch the recording!

• ​Jack Churchill on Why Assistive Tech Isn’t Cheating—It’s Access​

• Video—How Teachers Can Use NotebookLM​: Google's NotebookLM is one of the best educational tools on the market. I made this video to help educators get started.
• Podcast—There's No Such Thing as Digital Citizenship: I joined the Unscripted Intelligence podcast to talk teaching responsible use.

The screen time debate isn't going away. And I genuinely think some screen time should be questioned. (That's a whole podcast episode coming soon!)

Some screen time should go. Some of it should stay. And the difference between those two things matters enormously for the students sitting in front of you.

You've got the remote. Use it wisely.

See you next month!

❤️ Lindy

Lindy Hockenbary K–12 EdTech Advisor she/her 406-853-2661 ​lindyhoc.com​