Today's guest blog is brought to you by an outstanding educator--Andrew Easton! Andrew is the Chief Learning Officer for the Nebraska ESU Coordinating Council, author of the DBC Inc. book Empowered to Choose: A Practical Guide to Personalized Learning, and host of The Good Life EDU Podcast. A passionate advocate for teaching, learning, and innovation, Andrew serves as a speaker, consultant, and national leader on initiatives related to AI integration, digital learning, and educator support. In 2025, he was selected as a Regional Trainer for CoSN’s Building Capacity for Generative AI in K–12 Education Project, where he helps school districts develop strategic plans for generative AI implementation.

Guest Blog by Andrew Easton

Each year, near the end of May, as the pace of work begins to slow and the space for reflection opens up, I find myself returning to a conversation I had in the summer of 2021 with my longtime friend and colleague, Tara Martin. We were recording an episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, and—true to form—Tara brought a message about what it means to be real as an educator: relatable, vulnerable, approachable, and committed to learning through life.

In that episode, we talked about the importance of using the summer months to try something new—something outside the familiar rhythms of daily work and life. This wasn't a call to step away from rest or recovery. Rather, it was about a kind of intentional experimentation that can both energize and stretch us in new ways. The beautiful thing, which Tara and I both acknowledged, is that returning to the role of learner is refreshing and often sparks new perspectives. And you never quite know when that new experience will unlock ideas that shape how we serve students in the future.

As Tara put it so well, Innovation often comes from learning something new in one context and then applying it in another.

That insight challenges me—especially at this time of year—to look beyond the usual goals of rest and relaxation and ask a different question: What will I explore or experiment with in this season to grow personally or professionally?

This summer, I have a few goals: spend more time with extended family, be more intentional about connecting with friends, finally learn how to do double-unders (that jump rope move that keeps eluding me), and explore new ways to integrate AI into the rhythms of my aspirations. That last one—my AI challenge—comes with a twist: I'm aiming to expand my use cases for AI by better leveraging voice mode.

Why voice mode? Earlier this semester, during a two-hour work drive, I decided to try ChatGPT's voice mode—a feature I'd previously overlooked in favor of typed interactions. I was under a time crunch to send out some communication, so I began drafting an email using voice mode. I was surprised by how natural and effective it felt to verbally relay ideas and later retrieve them as text—ready to be copied, revised, and sent.

After that success, it didn't take long for me to start testing other use cases. Voice mode became a helpful prewriting tool, a brainstorming partner, and—most notably—a tutor. It's now a favorite practice of mine to upload a document or background information via text on my laptop the night before a trip, and then ask ChatGPT to teach me that content via voice mode while I'm driving the next day.

It's approachable, efficient, and well-suited to how I process ideas. There's something about having a sounding board for your thoughts that truly sparks new connections.

So, here's my goal: intentionally explore new ways of using voice mode this summer to support both my personal and professional growth. Whether it's while driving, doing yard work, taking a long walk, or sipping coffee on the porch, I plan to try one new voice-mode use case each week. I don't know yet what all of those will end up being, but as Tara noted, the point isn't perfection—it's experimentation.

That said, I often heed the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: "A goal without a plan is just a wish." So here's the plan: I'm going to document each week's attempt to use voice mode and reflect on the experience. I'm curious to explore how this modality can be meaningfully integrated into the everyday rhythms of life—especially when my hands are literally or figuratively full.

In the spirit of this challenge, I want to invite you to try it too. Use your own voice to engage AI this summer and see how it might support your growth. To help you get started, I've created a one-pager with prompts, weekly checkboxes, and a few starter ideas to help you stick to the plan. (See the accompanying document that's shared with this post.)

On one final note to all the educators reading this: thank you for the important work you do. I hope this summer brings you rest, joy, and moments that recharge your spirit. And if you're up for it, a little growth, too—because there's real energy in stretching yourself and trying something new.

Let's make it a summer to remember, one conversation at a time.

Voice-First AI Summer Challenge Tracker

Click images below to access your Voice First AI Summer Challenge Tracker.

Thanks, Andrew!