Tara Koehler

STEAM Professional Development Specialist | Speaker/Presenter | Co Author| The Tapas Approach to PBL | | #STEAMmachineinnovations

[Tara Koehler @TKtalksSTEAM]

Holding this moment in my hands… literally.

From The Tapas Approach to Project-Based Learning to Beyond the Algorithm: Reimagining STEAM and Project-Based Learning for a Human-Centered AI Future, this journey has been about one thing: creating learning experiences that truly matter.

Two books. Years of learning, collaboration, risks, revisions, and growth.
But more importantly, countless students, educators, and partners who brought these ideas to life in real classrooms and communities.
@SammonSTEAM and I are forever grateful.

Beyond the Algorithm is more than a book, it’s a call to rethink how we design learning in a world shaped by AI, while keeping humanity at the center.
@WCSDEmpowers @jmattmiller @DitchThatTxtbk @steammachinepd

#PBL #STEAM #AIinEducation #HumanCenteredLearning #BeyondTheAlgorithm #EdLeadership #FutureReady

[John Sammon @SammonSTEAM]

One thing I’ve learned about myself as an educator is that I love practical ideas.

I appreciate the big theories, frameworks, and research, but what I really find myself looking for is the simple strategy that I can use tomorrow. Because of that, when I work with teachers, I try to offer practical suggestions they can immediately apply to their own classrooms.

Here’s one PBL + AI suggestion that is very practical:

The Triple Alignment Hack

Before launching a project, ask AI three questions:

1. Standards Check
“What standards are naturally addressed by this project idea?”

2. Content Check
“What knowledge, skills, and common misconceptions will students need to understand to be successful?”

3. Creativity Check
“What are multiple ways students could demonstrate mastery through authentic public products?”

The third question is where things get interesting.

Instead of defaulting to a poster, slide deck, or essay, AI can help generate possibilities such as:

Podcasts
Community proposals
Children’s books
Museum exhibits
Public service announcements
Websites
Prototypes
Civic awareness campaigns

The standards don’t change.

The learning goals don’t change.

The opportunities for student creativity expand.

For me, this captures the best use of AI in Project-Based Learning. Not creating the project for us, but helping us see possibilities we may not have considered on our own.

Use AI to widen the pathways, not lower the expectations.

That’s a practical workflow adjustment that can save planning time while creating more opportunities for student voice, choice, and authentic demonstration of learning. @TKtalksSTEAM @levelupsophie @DitchThatTxtbk @steammachinepd

[Tara Koehler @TKtalksSTEAM]

Iteration in Action 🔄❤️

The fidget boards now being used in pediatric treatment room at MidHudson Regional Hospital didn’t appear overnight.

Elementary students learned life science concepts and created initial prototypes. High school manufacturing students refined and built the designs. The prototypes then returned to the elementary students for testing and feedback before final revisions were made.

Design. Test. Revise. Improve.

What started as a classroom idea became a product that is now supporting real pediatric patients.

That’s the power of authentic PBL—learning that extends beyond the classroom and creates impact in the community.
@SammonSTEAM @WCSDEmpowers @drbonkwcsd @steammachinepd @dailystem

#PBL #DesignThinking #Iteration #AuthenticLearning #PortraitOfAGraduate

[Tara Koehler @TKtalksSTEAM]

A Portrait of a Graduate isn’t built through memorization alone.

It’s developed when students solve authentic problems, collaborate, think critically, communicate effectively, and learn to navigate emerging technologies responsibly.

📘 The Tapas Approach to Project-Based Learning

https://t.co/wGm5rR9gk2

🤖 Beyond the Algorithm: From Niche to Necessity: Project-Based Learning in the Age of AI (PBL-AI)

https://t.co/BEAOqyGGKo

Together, they offer practical strategies for helping students develop the competencies needed for the future.

📚 Available on Amazon today.

@SammonSTEAM @steammachinepd @jmattmiller @levelupsophie
#PortraitOfAGraduate #PBL #AIinEducation #FutureReady #DeeperLearning #StudentAgency

[Tara Koehler @TKtalksSTEAM]

PBL is all about heart.

When students know their work will help, support, or bring joy to someone else, the learning becomes deeper, more meaningful, and more memorable.

This year marks our 5th year partnering with MidHudson Regional Hospital, creating opportunities for students to use their learning to make a difference for others. From digital resources to hands-on creations, every project begins with a simple idea: empathy… who are our users?

There’s something powerful about making something for someone. ❤️
@SammonSTEAM @drbonkwcsd @WCSDEmpowers

#PBL #AuthenticLearning #MakingSomethingForSomeone #PurposeDrivenLearning #CommunityPartnerships #MHRH #WCSDEmpowers

[WCSDEmpowers @WCSDEmpowers]

Another fantastic project-based learning collaboration: very proud to partner with Mid Hudson Regional Hospital again! This year, a total of 733 students participated: grades 1,3,4,5, and 6 worked with RCK high school students to create fidget boards that will entertain pediatric patients. These projects don’t just teach STEAM concepts: they develop empathy and build meaningful connections. PBL projects are a priority in our district, and we are very proud to offer them to our students! @drbonkwcsd @WMCHealth @SammonSTEAM @TKtalksSTEAM

[Tara Koehler @TKtalksSTEAM]

What looked like a rocket launch event was actually something much deeper.

As students loaded their rockets and prepared for launch, conversations were unfolding around circuitry, conductors, energy sources, and energy transfer. They weren’t just “doing an activity” — they were applying science concepts in real time with purpose and excitement.

That’s the power of PBL.
It’s more than an event. It fundamentally shifts how students interact with knowledge — from memorizing concepts to using them authentically.
#PBL #Authentic
@SammonSTEAM @WCSDEmpowers @steammachinepd @drbonkwcsd @GayheadWCSD

[WCSDEmpowers @WCSDEmpowers]

Rocket Launch today at Gayhead ES! Board members, administrators and staff joined our students and families for this exciting morning! @drbonkwcsd @SammonSTEAM @TKtalksSTEAM @GayheadWCSD

[John Sammon @SammonSTEAM]

Last week, @WCSDEmpowers students at @sheaferoadrocks launched their rockets, and this morning the skies were perfect as students at @GayheadWCSD took flight as well. Every rocket was powered by @EstesRockets, and while the launches themselves were exciting, the real power was in the learning behind them. Students explored energy concepts, collaborated through their own Rocket Companies, and partnered with @MandT_Bank to connect their work to real-world thinking and problem solving. The launch may last only seconds, but the collaboration, creativity, and learning leading up to that moment are what truly matter. @TKtalksSTEAM @drbonkwcsd @steammachinepd #PBL

[Tara Koehler @TKtalksSTEAM]

Iteration is where learning comes to life. 🔄

Today, Grade 3 students at Kinry Road and Sheafe Road tested the interactive designs that our high school manufacturing students brought to life for pediatric patients at MidHudson Regional Hospital.

Their feedback helped answer an important question:
Is this design truly doable for young patients?

This is design thinking in action — testing, revising, improving, and designing with empathy and purpose. 💡🛠✨
@SammonSTEAM @WCSDEmpowers @drbonkwcsd @sheaferoadrocks @KetchamNation

#PBL #DesignThinking #Iteration #STEAM #AuthenticLearning #HumanCenteredDesign #PBLTapas

[Tara Koehler @TKtalksSTEAM]

The biggest AI adoption mistake schools make?

Starting with tools instead of pedagogy.

Tools change constantly.
Good instructional design lasts.

Our goal isn’t to teach students one specific AI platform.
It’s to teach them how to think critically, ethically, and purposefully about AI — no matter what tool exists next year.

Human-centered.
Purpose-driven.
Future-ready.

We want students to:
• Question AI outputs
• Evaluate accuracy and bias
• Understand when AI should and shouldn’t be used
• Use AI to deepen learning — not replace thinking
• Transfer these habits across any platform or technology

Because the future isn’t about mastering one tool.
It’s about developing thoughtful humans who can navigate an AI-powered world responsibly.

@SammonSTEAM @steammachinepd
#PBLAI #Humancentered

Check out some of our freebies at https://t.co/nyqiRecskF

[Tara Koehler @TKtalksSTEAM]

What’s next for us?

More conversations.
More workshops.
More writing.
More helping educators design for what’s next.

Because the future isn’t just about preparing students for careers.
It’s about preparing them to think critically, collaborate meaningfully, solve real problems, and lead with empathy.

In a world increasingly shaped by AI, automation, and rapid change, schools must intentionally design experiences that help students become adaptable thinkers, ethical decision-makers, creative communicators, and compassionate humans.

We believe this work is only becoming more urgent.

Want to see what this looks like in action? Explore our past STEAM/PBL work on our website — and stay tuned for our 2025–2026 showcase. We’re just getting started.
@SammonSTEAM @WCSDEmpowers

#PBL #STEAMEducation
#FutureReady #AIinEducation
#HumanCenteredLearning
#PortraitOfAGraduate

https://t.co/kp66Wwqb1y

[John Sammon @SammonSTEAM]

From the classroom to the hospital ward, this is learning in action. 

Project-based learning is fundamentally shifting how students interact with their knowledge.

Fifth graders at @MyersTigersRoar drew on their food web knowledge to draft fidget board designs and create videos, sending both to @KetchamNation, where manufacturing students fabricated the boards and added QR codes linking to those videos. Today, they returned to Myers for testing, ensuring everything is ready for donation to the pediatric ward at Mid Hudson Regional Hospital, where the boards will comfort kids during treatment. 

Previous years’ tabletop games and musical instruments were also on hand for students to explore.

This is what it looks like when students use their knowledge to create something meaningful for someone else, bridging the gap between elementary and high school, and showing what #PBL can truly be. @TKtalksSTEAM @WCSDEmpowers @drbonkwcsd

#ProjectBasedLearning #BridgingTheGap #StudentMakers #MidHudson

[John Sammon @SammonSTEAM]

5 years of partnership with @CentralHudson, and it keeps getting better! Today 160 students from 6th grade at Evans Elementary, 4th grade @FishkillFrogs & Brinkerhoff Elementary built virtual breakout rooms to present their PBL work. CH’s VP said: “It’s been a wonderful community partnership.” Our Superintendent noted students came in with index cards, nervous at first, then relaxed and owned the room. One student admitted nerves presenting to adults, but loved the chance to show what he created. Their work is now housed on Central Hudson’s Kids Corner for all to see! 🙌 This is the power of Innovative School Boards, Superintendents, and Community Partners committed to making a difference in students’ lives in the age of AI through PBL. @TKtalksSTEAM @WCSDEmpowers @drbonkwcsd #PBL #CentralHudson #StudentSuccess #FutureReady #AIinEducation

[Tara Koehler @TKtalksSTEAM]

Authenticity changes everything.

Students work differently when:
• The audience is real
• The stakes are real
• The problem is real

Authenticity is not a PBL add-on.
It’s a design principle.

Today, our 4th and 6th grade students presented their learning experiences and final products to Central Hudson and WCSD personnel. Students taught adults about the role energy concepts play in a utility company and how those ideas connect to the real world.

This wasn’t students completing an assignment.

This was students using their voices, their thinking, and their learning to contribute something meaningful.
@SammonSTEAM @WCSDEmpowers @drbonkwcsd @CentralHudson @j_sammon

[John Sammon @SammonSTEAM]

Today I became an editor.

A sixth grader is the reason why.

Full story → https://t.co/xbrJxRUEn2 @TKtalksSTEAM @WCSDEmpowers @drbonkwcsd

[John Sammon @SammonSTEAM]

Coverage pressure doesn’t win because teachers are lazy or resistant. It wins because choosing depth over coverage is a professional risk most teachers can’t afford.

The system isn’t irrational. It’s optimizing for the wrong thing.

That’s a harder truth than most PBL advocates want to sit with.

Start with one unit, not a whole course. Find the standards that cluster naturally around a real problem worth solving. You’re not abandoning coverage,  you’re being strategic about where depth earns its keep. @TKtalksSTEAM @steammachinepd

[Tara Koehler @TKtalksSTEAM]

Productive struggle is one of my favorite parts of PBL.

Not because it’s easy.
Because it’s real.

When the going gets tough, students learn something bigger than content:
They learn they can keep going.

PBL creates space for revision, persistence, problem-solving, and resilience , the moments where growth actually happens.

[John Sammon @SammonSTEAM]

Productive struggle isn’t a technique.

It’s a relationship between a teacher who holds the difficulty and a student who learns they can tolerate more than they thought. @TKtalksSTEAM @DitchThatTxtbk

[Tara Koehler @TKtalksSTEAM]

We are just 3 days away!! We have limited copies available the day of the event. Get your copy from Amazon TODAY 😁 We appreciate all of the support!!!! @SammonSTEAM @steammachinepd

[Tara Koehler @TKtalksSTEAM]

⏰📚 ONE WEEK AWAY! 🍻

Our Book Signing Event is almost here!

Join us Friday, May 15th starting at 6pm for an evening of conversation around PBL, AI, innovation in education, and the future of learning.

✅ Get your books now on Amazon
The Tapas Approach: https://t.co/CNo8iRboAe
Beyond the Algorithm: https://t.co/bPf57WldUA
✅ Limited copies will also be available the day of the event

Special thanks to Sloop Brewing Co. for hosting and offering:
🍺 $5 beers
🍴 Discounted appetizers

Don’t wait — we’d love to see you there!
@SammonSTEAM @steammachinepd @j_sammon @sloopbrewing

#PBL #AIinEducation #BookSigning #ProjectBasedLearning #BeyondTheAlgorithm #EdTech #TeacherCommunity #FutureReadyLearning

[John Sammon @SammonSTEAM]

What if AI literacy in schools started with thinking?

Over time, a set of free PBL+AI classroom resources has been taking shape to help educators move beyond:
“Write a better prompt.”

https://t.co/c9ntZzxCWt

So incredibly lucky to explore this work within @WCSDEmpowers alongside innovative educators, students, administrators, and community partners who continue to push thinking forward in meaningful and human-centered ways.

Making these resources free is important because this conversation belongs in as many classrooms as possible.

These tools focus on:
• Critical evaluation
• Revision cycles
• Human-centered decision making
• Reflection and reasoning
• Keeping students meaningfully in the loop

Included in the toolkit:
1AI Prompting Progression Ladder (Students)
2Traffic Light Evaluation (Students)
3Keep–Fix–Question Revision Protocol (Students)
4PBL + AI Planning Placemat (Teachers)
5“Should AI Be Used Here?” Decision Path (Teachers)
The goal is not to make AI the thinker.

The goal is to help students:
ask better questions, think deeper, evaluate critically, and make human-centered decisions.

Because in PBL+AI classrooms, AI should support learning, not replace the thinking that matters the most. @TKtalksSTEAM @drbonkwcsd @DitchThatTxtbk @steammachinepd

[John Sammon @SammonSTEAM]

This weekend, I found myself reflecting on how grateful I am to experience these moments in education.

Watching students from @FishkillFrogs and Brinckerhoff Elementary learn alongside professionals from @CentralHudson on Friday brought so much joy. You could feel the excitement, curiosity, and energy as students asked questions, explored ideas, and connected classroom learning to the real world.

In PBL+AI classrooms, teachers are not just answer keys.

They become:
 • Designers
 • Coaches
 • Facilitators
 • Curators
 • Critical thinking partners 

And community partners help make that transformation possible.

In a world where AI can provide information instantly, the human side of teaching matters even more. The relationships. The experiences. The guidance.
The moments that help students make sense of the world around them.

PBL+AI is about students using knowledge with people, for people, in authentic ways that truly matter. @TKtalksSTEAM @WCSDEmpowers @drbonkwcsd @jmattmiller
#PBL #PBLAI

[Tara Koehler @TKtalksSTEAM]

⏰📚 ONE WEEK AWAY! 🍻

Our Book Signing Event is almost here!

Join us Friday, May 15th starting at 6pm for an evening of conversation around PBL, AI, innovation in education, and the future of learning.

✅ Get your books now on Amazon
The Tapas Approach: https://t.co/CNo8iRboAe
Beyond the Algorithm: https://t.co/bPf57WldUA
✅ Limited copies will also be available the day of the event

Special thanks to Sloop Brewing Co. for hosting and offering:
🍺 $5 beers
🍴 Discounted appetizers

Don’t wait — we’d love to see you there!
@SammonSTEAM @steammachinepd @j_sammon @sloopbrewing

#PBL #AIinEducation #BookSigning #ProjectBasedLearning #BeyondTheAlgorithm #EdTech #TeacherCommunity #FutureReadyLearning