AI Through a Teen’s Eyes with Sofia Alvarez

AI Through a Teen's Eyes

383: AI Through a Teen’s Eyes with Sofia Alvarez de la Hoz

In this episode, Meryl talks with Sophia Alvarez de la Hoz, a former student in Meryl’s AI for Teens class. Sophia shares what she knew about AI before taking the course, what surprised her, and how her understanding changed as she learned about topics such as large language models, AI ethics, red teaming, and responsible use.

Sophia also explains how she currently uses AI tools for schoolwork and personal projects. She discusses using NotebookLM to study and an AI image generator to develop the design for her eighth-grade graduation cap.

The conversation addresses an important question for homeschool families: How can students use AI for support without allowing it to do the thinking for them? Sophia shares practical strategies, including asking AI to explain a concept without revealing the answer and recognizing when the tool is completing too much of the learning process.

Other topics discussed include:

  • Why using AI to cheat ultimately harms the student
  • The risk of becoming overly dependent on AI
  • How AI may affect future careers
  • The importance of understanding how AI works
  • Future AI tools that could assist people with disabilities
  • Why teens need a balanced understanding of AI
  • The skills students should develop as AI becomes more common

Sophia’s central message is that AI is a tool whose value depends greatly on how it is used. Students need opportunities to understand its capabilities, limitations, risks, and ethical implications so they can make informed decisions.

Resources Mentioned

AI for Teens class from FundaFunda Academy:
AI for Teens is a one-semester, half-credit elective designed for students in grades 7–12.

NotebookLM:
https://notebooklm.google.com/


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

AI Through a Teen's Eyes

 

AI Tips You Can Use This Week

AI Tips you can use this week

368: AI Tips You Can Use This Week

In this episode, Meryl shares a practical mix of AI tips you can implement right away.

What’s covered:

1. Ask Maps (Google Maps) Google Maps has a new AI feature called Ask Maps, currently rolling out. Instead of browsing categories, you can ask specific questions — gluten-free fast food nearby, a park within five minutes of a highway exit, a restaurant halfway between you and a friend. It understands your direction of travel and filters results accordingly.

2. Prompting — Where to Start If you’re new to AI tools and don’t know where to begin, start with purpose-built tools like Brisk (Chrome extension) or Magic School AI rather than jumping straight into ChatGPT or Claude. Both are designed for teachers but useful for homeschoolers, and they’ll give you a feel for what’s possible. Once you’re comfortable, you’ll likely want to move to the LLMs directly for more precise control.

3. Prompting — Leveling Up Be specific: give the AI a role, describe your outcome, set constraints (time, materials, age range, format). Then try this: tell it everything you can think of, and ask it what additional questions it needs answered. Letting the AI interview you often produces far better results than any prompt you’d write alone.

→ Grab the free list of 20 homeschool-specific prompts

4. Use One LLM to Prompt Another Before going into Gamma, Canva’s AI tools, NotebookLM, or any other AI-powered tool, go into ChatGPT or Claude first and ask it to write you the ideal prompt. Give it context, let it ask follow-up questions, then drop the finished prompt into your target tool. This works for custom Gems, vibe coding, slides — almost anything.

5. Connect Your LLM to Other Apps Both Claude and ChatGPT let you connect third-party tools like Canva and Gamma. Look for Connectors in Claude’s settings or the equivalent in ChatGPT.

6. Customize Your LLM’s Tone and Behavior Stop letting your AI flatter you. In ChatGPT, go to Settings → Personalization to adjust tone (Meryl chose “efficient,” turned down warmth and enthusiasm) and add custom instructions. In Claude, go to Settings → General and add your preferences.


Resources mentioned:


If you use any of these resources, come join the conversation in the Homeschooling with Technology Community on Facebook and let us know which ones your family enjoyed most!

Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes!

AI Tips you can use this week

What’s New in NotebookLM

What's New In NotebookLM

364: What’s New in NotebookLM

NotebookLM has graduated from Google Labs beta into a fully featured, standalone tool — and it has grown dramatically. In this episode, Meryl walks through all nine features currently available in the Studio panel, explaining how homeschool parents can use them to save time and how students can use them to study more effectively.


What Is NotebookLM?

NotebookLM is a free AI tool from Google that works differently from chatbots like ChatGPT or Claude:

  • You upload your own sources (PDFs, videos, audio, website links, handwritten notes, pasted text)
  • The AI only draws on those sources — dramatically reducing hallucinations
  • Free version supports up to 50 sources per notebook
  • Linked to your Google account — no separate sign-up needed
  • A paid version exists, but the free version is sufficient for most users

New Feature: Fast Research

If you realize mid-project that you need more sources, you can now use Fast Research to ask NotebookLM to find sources on a specific topic. It returns a list of suggested sources you can preview and selectively add — keeping you in control of what goes into your notebook.


The Studio Panel: 9 Features Explained

The right-hand Studio panel gives quick access to all of NotebookLM’s output formats. You can also make any of these requests directly in the chat.

1. Audio Overview (Podcast)

  • Generates a podcast-style audio summary of your sources
  • Now customizable: choose format (Deep Dive, Brief, Critique, or Debate), language, and length
  • Specify what the hosts should focus on, and select which sources to include
  • New Interactive Mode: click Join to interrupt the hosts and ask your own questions in real time
  • Short format = ~90 seconds, single speaker. Deep Dive = two speakers

2. Mind Map

  • Generates a visual mind map of your sources

3. Flashcards

  • Creates study flashcards from your sources
  • Choose quantity (fewer, standard, more) and difficulty (easy, medium, hard)
  • Narrow the topic by typing a specific focus area
  • Shareable via URL — students can study from their phone without a laptop

4. Infographic

  • Creates a graphical/visual representation of your material
  • Text rendering on graphics has improved significantly
  • Great for timelines and visual overviews  

AI History Timeline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Slide Deck

  • Generates presentation slides from your sources
  • Choose between Detailed Deck or Presenter Slides (less text on screen)
  • Useful when your child needs to give a presentation and already has their research in a notebook

6. Data Table

  • Organizes information from your sources into a structured table
  • Works even when your sources aren’t strictly numerical data

7. Video Overview

  • Generates a short explainer video from your sources
  • Choose format: Full Explainer or Brief overview
  • Visual styles include: Custom, Classic, Whiteboard, Kawaii, Retro Print, Anime, and more

8. Reports

  • Generates formatted reports from your sources
  • Study Guide format includes: short-answer quiz, answer key, essay prompts, and a glossary of key terms
  • Great for supplementing curriculum or prepping students for AP-style exams

9. Quiz

  • Generates an interactive multiple-choice quiz from your sources
  • Choose quantity and difficulty level
  • Questions are presented one at a time; incorrect answers include an explanation

Bonus Tips

  • You can share an entire notebook with others
  • Use the chat for custom requests — e.g., “Give me a 10-question quiz with 3 multiple choice and 3 matching” and ask for a separate answer key
  • Non-homeschool tip: Drop in any large document (like a medical insurance policy) and ask specific questions to find information fast

Links & Resources


If you use any of these resources, join the conversation in the Homeschooling with Technology Community on Facebook and let us know which ones your family enjoyed most!

Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes!

 

What's New In NotebookLM

Vibe Coding

Vibe Coding for homeschoolers

355: Vibe Coding – What It Is and How Homeschoolers Can Use It

Vibe coding is a brand-new term, coined in early 2025 by former OpenAI researcher Andrej Karpathy, and it describes a radically different way of creating software—by describing what you want instead of writing traditional code.

In this episode, you will learn what vibe coding is, why it’s possible now thanks to large language models, and how homeschoolers can use it creatively and practically with their teens.

You’ll hear real examples, student-created projects, and two free tools you can try immediately.

What is Vibe Coding?

Vibe coding is the process of building apps, games, or tools by talking to AI instead of manually writing code. You describe what you want, refine it step by step, and let the AI handle the programming behind the scenes.

This approach lowers the barrier to entry while still rewarding logical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity—especially when students understand how computers work at a basic level.

Tools Featured in This Episode

Canva Code
Canva isn’t just for graphics anymore. Using Canva Code, students can:

  • Create interactive games

  • Build matching activities and flashcards

  • Design simple browser-based games

Examples of Canva Code games:

AI term matching game

Emoji Drawing Game by  Lukas F

Wave Survival Game  by  Zander F

 

Base44
Base44 is a more “serious” vibe-coding platform designed for building usable apps.

Examples discussed include:

Teaching Tip: How to Prompt Effectively

Instead of giving AI one massive instruction, treat it like an intern:

  • Start with a simple request

  • Add features one at a time

  • Refine visuals, logic, and functionality step by step

How Homeschoolers Can Use Vibe Coding

  • Create educational games to reinforce learning

  • Let students design games for each other

  • Build trackers, organizers, and productivity tools

  • Encourage creativity while still developing computational thinking

FundaFunda Academy Classes mentioned (show sponsor)


Join the Conversation

Pick one tool from this list and commit to learning it this year. Then join the Homeschooling with Technology Facebook group and share which tool you chose and why.

Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any episodes!

 

 

Vibe Coding

An AI-Powered Holiday Season

An AI-Powered Holiday Season

353: An AI-Powered Holiday Season

 

Learn how to make this an AI-Powered Holiday Season! If the holidays feel overwhelming, especially for moms carrying the mental load, AI can help you offload decisions, plan your days, generate gift ideas, create activities, and more.

1. Use AI to Create a Manageable Holiday Schedule

Tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can turn a long, overwhelming to-do list into a structured plan.

You can:

  • Use voice mode to quickly offload everything you need to do

  • Include specific tasks like preparing guest rooms, decorating, errands, cleaning, or cooking

  • Ask AI to assign age-appropriate chores to kids

  • Request a day-by-day schedule or detailed breakdown of today’s tasks

2. Stress-Free Gift Shopping with AI

AI can help generate highly personalized, budget-conscious ideas.

Tips:

  • Provide detailed information: age, hobbies, interests, personality, budget

  • Ask for alternatives to expensive gifts

  • Request price comparisons; Perplexity is especially good for this

  • Use AI to help brainstorm DIY gift options

For personalized items, Canva’s AI tools can help quickly create bookmarks, calendars, cards, or certificates. You can also add an AI-generated poem, story, or even a custom song using SUNO.

3. AI for Holiday Meal Planning and Leftovers

AI can plan holiday meals, weekly menus, grocery lists, and leftover transformations.

You can request:

  • Meal plans with specific time limits

  • Menus without certain allergens or ingredients

  • A holiday dinner with detailed restrictions

  • A shopping list pulled from your own uploaded recipes

  • After large holiday meals, list your leftover ingredients and ask AI for several creative recipes. Kids can vote on their favorite.

4. Travel Planning with AI

AI can streamline travel planning during the holidays:

  • Suggest scenic detours

  • Recommend kid-friendly stops

  • Create packing lists based on your destination’s weather

For long drives, you can request car-friendly games tailored to your children’s ages.

Travel Bingo

  1. Ask AI to generate 30–40 things you might see along your route.

  2. Have it create customized 5×5 bingo cards.

  3. Print and enjoy.

5. Creative Family Activities Powered by AI

When the family gathers and needs something fun to do, AI can generate:

  • Indoor or outdoor scavenger hunts

  • Custom trivia nights

  • Choose-your-own-adventure stories

  • Coloring pages

  • Mini unit studies

  • Simple STEM projects using household materials

  • Holiday-themed coding activities

FundaFunda Academy’s Christmas Coding Contest

FundaFunda Academy is holding a Christmas Coding Contest for grades 4–12.
Cost: $5 (includes instructional materials)

Levels:

  • Beginner: No coding experience necessary; step-by-step Scratch instructions included

  • Veteran: For students already familiar with Scratch

Students create an interactive Christmas scene with a mini-game.

Deadline: December 23

Prizes: Amazon gift cards in both Beginner and Veteran categories


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

 

An AI-Powered Holiday Season

Hour of AI: A Free Intro to Artificial Intelligence for Kids

Hour of AI activities reviewed

352: The Hour of AI

Code.org has transformed its annual Hour of Code into the Hour of AI, offering a wide variety of free, interactive activities that help students understand artificial intelligence—not just coding. Some of the resources we tried out are:

1. AI Quests

An interactive, story-driven adventure that teaches real-world Artificial Intelligence applications. Meryl tested the natural-disaster quest on flooding and found it highly engaging and educational.

2. Design a Custom Product (Adobe Express)

Students use text prompts inside Adobe Express to design a custom product. A great introduction to generative AI tools—and perfect for creative learners.

3. Two Truths and an AI

A game where students identify real vs. generated images. Available in versions for younger and older students, with multiple difficulty levels.

4. Coding + AI Activities

For students who love programming, the Hour of AI still includes options that blend artificial intelligence concepts with familiar platforms such as:

  • Minecraft

  • Roblox

  • Python

  • And more

5. AI Quest Bot (by Magic School)

From the team behind Magic School AI, this quest-style activity lets students answer questions, earn points, and deepen AI understanding.

6. Multiplayer Puzzle Game Creator

A standout for puzzle-lovers and game designers: students can build a multiplayer puzzle game in under an hour.

7. BrainPOP – AI Dilemma: Helper or Hero

Includes a video plus downloadable teacher resources. Some materials note limited-time free educator access.

8. Vibe Coding

Several activities highlight “vibe coding.” Meryl will cover this in depth next week, so stay tuned for a full explanation!

9. Mastering Prompt Engineering

A short activity designed to help students learn how to prompt Artificial Intelligence tools more effectively.

10. How Does AI Work? (Girls Who Code)

A mini-course that goes deeper than a typical one-hour activity—perfect for students wanting more detail on AI fundamentals.


Want to Go Beyond the Hour of AI?

 

Intro to AI Unit Study (Grades 6–12) — $20

A complete, self-paced unit study covering:

  • What AI is

  • Ethical concerns

  • Responsible use

  • How AI systems are trained

  • Hands-on activities

  • Built-in answer keys

Purchase once—use with the whole family.

Full-Semester AI Class (Grades 7–12)

A 16-week, asynchronous, half-credit high school course with:

  • Weekly deadlines

  • Virtual discussions

  • Tool-based exploration starting around Week 5

  • Graded assignments

  • A deep dive into how AI works, how to use it responsibly, and how to evaluate tools

Links Mentioned

 


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

Hour of AI activities reviewed

 

AI Companions: The Hidden Danger for Teens

Ai companions - the hidden danger for teens

349: AI Companions: The Hidden Danger for Teens

We explore the alarming rise of AI companion usage among teenagers and the serious risks these tools pose. While AI can be incredibly useful for education and productivity, AI companions designed to fulfill emotional and social roles present unique dangers that most parents are unaware of.

What Are AI Companions?

Chatbots are designed to serve roles traditionally filled by friends, family, or mental health professionals. Key platforms discussed include Character.AI, Grok (on X/Twitter), and general LLMs like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and Gemini.

Key Topics Covered

  • Shocking statistics about teen AI companion usage and parental awareness
  • Real-world tragedies involving AI chatbots (multiple ongoing lawsuits discussed)
  • Why teens are drawn to AI companions: 24/7 availability, anonymity, agreeable responses
  • Design features that make these platforms compelling and potentially dangerous
  • How easily current platform safety measures are bypassed

What Parents Should Do

Communication Strategies

  • Talk openly about AI and its risks
  • Ask how they’re using AI in a non-judgmental way
  • Request to see chat histories
  • Discuss privacy and data concerns

Set Boundaries

  • Limit which AI apps can be used
  • Establish tech-free times and zones
  • Monitor for red flags like withdrawal or reluctance to discuss AI use

Encourage Human Connection

Find activities where your child can make friends: robotics teams, Science Olympiad, chess clubs, gaming cafes, anime clubs, or start your own interest-based group.

AI Literacy Education

Understanding how AI works helps teens use it responsibly. Very few students receive formal AI training, yet those who do find it extremely helpful.

Platform Updates Discussed

Recent policy changes from Character.AI, ChatGPT/OpenAI, and Grok regarding minor safety and content restrictions.

Resources Mentioned

  • Center for Democracy and Technology Report (survey of 1,000+ students, teachers, and parents) and slideshow (from p 28)
  • Bright Canary monitoring tool
  • NotebookLM and Claude (tools used to help prep for this episode)
  • FundaFunda Academy’s AI classes – Use code HWTAI for $10 off either class (valid through the end of 2025)

Self-paced AI Unit Study (Grades 6–12)

Semester-long AI Class for High School Credit


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

Ai companions - the hidden danger for teens

AI and Critical Thinking

AI and Critical Thinking

346: AI and Critical Thinking


In this episode, Meryl is joined once again by Critical Thinking in the Digital Age instructor Stephanie Simoes to explore how AI is impacting students’ ability to think deeply and critically. The two discuss an MIT study that sparked widespread concern, the concept of cognitive offloading, and how parents can teach their teens to use AI responsibly without losing their own reasoning skills.

Listen to get  insights on:

  • What the “Your Brain on ChatGPT” study actually found—and why it’s been misunderstood

  • What cognitive offloading means and when it’s useful vs. harmful

  •  The critical thinking and fact-checking skills students need before using AI tools

  • How expertise and intellectual humility affect our ability to evaluate AI responses

  •  Recognizing bias—both in AI training data and in our own prompts

  •  Strategies to overcome confirmation bias when using ChatGPT

  • How to use AI to strengthen critical thinking through debate and challenge-based prompts

Mentioned Resources:

Where to find Stephanie  (@critikid)


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

AI and Critical Thinking

Homeschool AI Hacks: How to Write Prompts That Work

Homeschool AI Hacks: how to write prompts that work

337: Homeschool AI Hacks: How to Write Prompts That Work

In today’s episode, learn how to write better AI prompts for homeschooling—tips, examples, and hacks to save you time and spark creativity in your lessons.

Core Elements of a Strong Prompt

  • Role – “Act like a veteran homeschool mom with 10 years of experience.”

  • Grade level – Tailor to 3rd vs. 9th grade.

  • Time – “Should take 20 minutes to complete.”

  • Vibe – “Make it fun and silly” vs. “Make it serious and academic.”

  • Theme – Legos, Star Wars, Taylor Swift, history tie-ins, etc.

  • Format – PDF, quiz, table, chart, or outline.

  • Question type – Multiple choice, open-ended, discussion prompts.

  • Answer key / rubric – Included separately


Advanced Prompt Hacks

  • Length constraints – “Give me 10 problems” or “200 words.”

  • Scaffolding style – Step-by-step, increasing difficulty.

  • Differentiation – Ask for modifications for struggling, average, and advanced learners. – great for families with multiple ages

  • Integration – “Create a math problem that uses our history topic.”

  • Output organization – Request bullet points, tables, or charts.

  • Constraints – “No screen time,” “Only household supplies,” “15 minutes max.”

  • Iteration – Show moms how to refine: “Give me three variations.”

  • Critique mode – “Pretend you’re a homeschool evaluator—what’s missing?”

  • Reverse prompting – “What info do you need from me to make this lesson better?”


Using Multiple LLMs Together

  • Some examples:

    • Use Perplexity for sources, Notebook LM for summary / outlines

    • Fact-check with one model, add creativity with another.

    • Compare outputs from two LLMs to choose the best fit.


Real-Life Homeschool Applications

Quick scenarios moms can try today:

  • Create spelling lists or math word problems themed around a child’s favorite hobby.

  • Turn a video or book into discussion questions.

  • Adapt info into multiple-choice quizzes with answer keys.

  • Generate three versions of an activity: fun, serious, and quick-prep.


Sample Prompts

“Act as a homeschool mom who has been teaching for 10 years. Create a 20-minute writing activity for a 7th grader who loves Star Wars. Make it fun but still educational, and give me both the student instructions and a teacher’s answer guide.”

“Create a 10-question multiple-choice quiz on the American Revolution for 9th graders. Provide the questions and four answer choices each. At the end, list the correct answers in a separate section so I can print it as an answer key.”

“Design a math lesson on fractions for 5th graders. Provide three versions: one hands on, one story based, and one with clear instructions. Each version should take no more than 15 minutes and require only household supplies.”

“Make a table with 8 spelling words for a 3rd grader. In the first column list the word, in the second column give a kid-friendly definition, and in the third column write a silly sentence that also includes a science fact.”

“I want to create a fun history activity about Ancient Egypt for my children in grades 4, and 7. What details do you need from me to design the best possible activity?”


Resources related to this episode:


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode


Homeschool AI Hacks: how to write prompts that work

How Homeschoolers Can Use Brisk AI

How Homeschoolers can use Brisk AI

335: How Homeschoolers Can Use Brisk AI

In this episode, we look at  Brisk Teaching, a powerful ( free for most things) AI Chrome extension designed for educators — and incredibly helpful for homeschoolers.

You’ll discover how to:

  • Use Brisk’s “Inspect Writing” tool to check your child’s writing history and detect copy/paste

  • Create auto-graded quizzes from websites, documents, or YouTube videos

  • Generate student-friendly podcasts based on age-appropriate content

  • Simplify or adapt reading material with the Change Level feature

  • Automatically create rubrics and give effective AI-assisted feedback

  • Get guided notes, exemplars, and even design science labs with household items

Brisk is like having an AI assistant just for homeschoolers — without the overwhelm. Tune in to learn how to integrate it easily into your homeschool routine.


Take a look at show sponsor, FundaFunda Academy to see what they offer for online classes and web-based unit studies.

Join our Facebook Group, especially for the listeners of this podcast! You can ask questions and get advice as you try integrating technology in your homeschool.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and give a rating and maybe even a review! Subscribing will help you make sure you never miss an episode

How Homeschoolers can use Brisk AI