Eddie Chats S1.E2: William Triska

What happens when a school becomes a laboratory for educational innovation?In this episode of Eddie Chats, David Blumenthal sits down with William Triska, Director of Technology at St. Jude International School in Costa Rica, and a leader within the International Schools Partnership (ISP) network.William shares how St. Jude operates as a "lab school," testing educational technologies in authentic classroom settings and evaluating them through a lens of learning outcomes, student impact, and what he calls "screen value"—the idea that technology should provide meaningful learning opportunities beyond what would otherwise be possible.The conversation explores some of the biggest questions facing education today:How can schools responsibly evaluate AI tools?What role should data play in educational decision-making?Why is there often a gap between educational research and classroom reality?How can AI support personalization and differentiation without increasing teacher workload?What responsibilities do educators have in preparing students for an AI-enabled future?William discusses his experience as part of the Mark Cuban Foundation 2025 Teacher Fellowship, where educators from across the United States explored practical applications of artificial intelligence in schools. He also shares an ambitious vision for AI-powered curriculum design that could help teachers align resources, collaborate across classrooms, and build more responsive learning experiences.Perhaps most importantly, the conversation turns toward the human side of education. Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for teachers, William argues that technology's greatest value may be in helping people spend more time on the things that matter most: relationships, creativity, collaboration, and personal growth.Key TopicsLab schools and educational innovationEvidence-informed EdTech adoptionAI and personalized learningData privacy and student informationResearch literacy in educationCurriculum design and alignmentTeacher workload and time-saving technologiesAI fellowship experiencesHuman-centered technology implementationThe future of education and life competenciesAbout William TriskaWilliam Triska serves as Director of Technology at St. Jude International School in San José, Costa Rica. His work focuses on educational technology, innovation, AI implementation, and supporting schools in identifying technologies that meaningfully improve teaching and learning.Explore EddieEddie helps educators find and apply high-quality education research without spending hours searching through journals and websites.Create your free account: https://eddieai.net/mvp-sign-up/Follow Eddie:FacebookInstagramYouTubeAbout Eddie ChatsEddie Chats features conversations with educators, researchers, school leaders, and parents exploring the intersection of research, technology, and classroom practice.