27 | January | 2026 | Learning as I go: Reflections & lessons learned

In collaboration with Kira

FETC, the Future of Education Technology Conference, recently held in Orlando, was a great opportunity to learn about new tools, share ideas, network, and more. After moving around the expo and talking with educators, I continued to hear more about Kira, which I have been using since last summer. I also had a chance to do a demo at the booth and see demos being done. What educators explored at FETC offered a preview of where Kira is heading next and what’s coming with Kira 2.0.

I’ve done and seen a lot of booth demos, but Kira did something I haven’t seen before. Instead of showing all of the features and what could be done, teachers were invited to try it out on their own. I watched educators create lessons, design interactive ChatPods, think of real classroom scenarios, and find ways to leverage Kira meaningfully. Definitely a shift that enabled attendees to move from consumers to creators, just as we want for our students. Shifting from being shown to the one showing the possibilities, and it was amazing!

One of the things I love is when an educator asks me how they can use AI tools because sometimes they don’t see the connection. During my demos and sessions, I had questions from special education educators, ELL educators, CTE teachers, and more. How could they use Kira in their roles and, more importantly, help students build AI Literacy skills?

What I have learned and tell others is that AI works when it aligns with what teachers actually need. It becomes embedded into real workflows (not something extra added on).

[Sharing Kira in my AI workshop]

Educators as Lesson Builders!

When I arrived at the Kira booth, I noticed something different. Educators didn’t just sit and learn about Kira’s features from the team and the demos; instead, they were invited to take the lead!

Educators took the lead, and:

Built full lessons aligned to relevant standards
Created interactive ChatPods for discussion, review, and formative assessment
Tested how AI feedback would look for different students
Adjusted reading levels to match learner needs
Fine-tuned AI assistance to support learning rather than replacing learning opportunities
Tested out the AI Content and Plagiarism Detector and had conversations about how to utilize the results with discernment

By the end of the conference, teachers had created more than 100 lessons at the booth! When tools are intuitive and used purposefully, educators don’t need to be convinced; they just need the opportunity to explore and share!

Choice, Control, and Trust: The Kira Difference

One of the most frequent reactions I heard and observed among educators regarding Kira, whether at the booth or during my workshops, was appreciation for choice and control over what is created. Flexibility matters because it shifts AI from something teachers must monitor to something they can intentionally design around and leverage for their benefit and that of their students.

ChatPods, Creativity, and a Little Friendly Competition

ChatPods have become a favorite of mine and a quick favorite among attendees. Educators loved how easy it was to create interactive experiences that encouraged thinking, discussion, and engagement in learning without feeling overwhelmed.

A highlight was when Gabriel Carrillo was at the booth sharing Chatpods. In a unique way that made it so much fun, Gabriel showed educators how ChatPods could be used for food trivia (a favorite of his). He turned learning into a live trivia showdown with a twist, which was to try to stump the presenter. He engaged in three rounds, all food-themed questions, and educators created their own trivia prompts in real time.

It was such a great idea! So, creative and yet instructional all at once. A perfect example of how AI-supported tools can increase engagement without sacrificing rigor.

Beyond Lessons: Extra standout features

What I have shared and recognized also stood out at FETC: educators’ response to Kira’s end-to-end support, not just lesson creation.

Educators explored and tested features such as:

Lesson Studio: Building full, standards-aligned courses in minutes, and can assist in modifications, additions, and more.
AI Grader: Instant grading with teacher review and one-click release
Plagiarism Checker: Identifying copied content from peers, external sources, or AI-generated text with clear reports and source links
AI Tutor: Meets students where they are and can provide real-time insights on where they are struggling
AI-powered intervention suggestions: Targeted recommendations for reteaching, scaffolding, or enrichment
Interactive video lessons: Embedded questions, polls, and discussions with real-time analytics

Sometimes it can feel like there is too much to learn and not enough time. But what I captured from attendees was that using Kira didn’t feel like “one more thing.” It was easy to use and fun to explore how educators and students can use AI.

Innovation Requires a Community

My biggest takeaway from FETC, and from time spent with the Kira team, wasn’t about sharing a particular tool’s feature. It was about community and the support their team offered.

Whether in a packed session, during the EdTech Share led by Vicki Davis, when I had an opportunity to highlight Kira, or in one-on-one conversations at the booth, FETC reinforced something I have said for a while, which is that we don’t innovate alone.

Looking Ahead to TCEA and Building Even More

I’m excited to be at the Texas Computer Education Association Conference (TCEA), another fantastic conference where you’ll find me at the Kira booth, sharing ideas, running demos, and, most importantly, building with educators.

At FETC, teachers built over 100 lessons at the booth.

At TCEA… I am thinking that they can double it? 👀 Maybe even triple it??

Want to learn more? Head over to → Booth #1638 (Sign up for Kira’s happy hour here)

Here’s what you can expect:

Dive into Kira: Create a lesson, assign it to a group of mock students, and see it from both the teacher and learner side
Experience more than a demo: You will have the chance to think about and try something you would do in class
Grab some swag: Who doesn’t love swag?? But at KIRA, you earn the swag by building, so it’s a win-win!! And trust me, their swag is awesome!!
Community & conversation: Connect with other educators and the Kira team to work together and provide everything we can for our students!

Nothing beats building with teachers. Sometimes educators, including myself, can feel overwhelmed by the abundance of tools. Here is a secret: Kira just might be the lifesaver you’ve been looking for. Trust me! Get started today!

Stop by the booth to find out for yourself. Let’s build something meaningful together.

See you at TCEA!

About Rachelle

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth is a Spanish and STEAM: What’s Next in Emerging Technology Teacher. Rachelle is also an attorney with a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law and a Master’s in Instructional Technology. Rachelle received her Doctorate in Instructional Technology, with a research focus on AI and Professional Development. In addition to teaching, she is a full-time consultant and works with companies and organizations to provide PD, speaking, and consulting services. Contact Rachelle for your event!

Rachelle is an ISTE-certified educator and community leader who served as president of the ISTE Teacher Education Network. By EdTech Digest, she was named the EdTech Trendsetter of 2024, one of 30 K-12 IT Influencers to follow in 2021, and one of 150 Women Global EdTech Thought Leaders in 2022.

She is the author of ten books, including ‘What The Tech? An Educator’s Guide to AI, AR/VR, the Metaverse and More” and ‘How To Teach AI’. In addition, other books include, “In Other Words: Quotes That Push Our Thinking,” “Unconventional Ways to Thrive in EDU,” “The Future is Now: Looking Back to Move Ahead,” “Chart A New Course: A Guide to Teaching Essential Skills for Tomorrow’s World, “True Story: Lessons That One Kid Taught Us,” “Things I Wish […] Knew” and her newest “How To Teach AI” is available from ISTE or on Amazon.

Contact Rachelle to schedule sessions about Artificial Intelligence, AI and the Law, Coding, AR/VR, and more for your school or event! Submit the Contact Form.

Follow Rachelle on Bluesky, Instagram, and X at @Rdene915