Unleashing Student Potential Through AI: A Young Innovator’s Story
Nate Corona on Transforming Education Through Creative Technology
The Ruckus Report
Quick take: A compelling look at how embracing AI and creativity can transform education, told through the journey of a young entrepreneur who went from feeling constrained by traditional schooling to teaching others how to innovate.
Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker
Today’s episode features two innovators in education:
Nate Corona is a Santa Cruz entrepreneur who’s redefining what’s possible for students in the AI age. Starting with a sneaker cleaning business in his hometown, Nate chose the “harder route” over traditional paths, leading him to d’Skills where he transformed a random thought into a successful logo design business. Now part of d’Skills’ business development team while also working in auto advertising, Nate exemplifies how embracing different thinking styles can lead to unexpected opportunities.
Hannah Williams is the founder of d’Skills, a VC-backed startup shifting students from test prep to life prep. Her own unorthodox journey began at age 12 when her father handed her a phone to close a real estate deal from a blue pickup truck. She went on to enroll in college at 14 and graduated with a degree in international business at 18. Now at 25, Hannah leads d’Skills in equipping motivated teens with digital and AI skills, helping them convert these skills into paid, real-world projects with small businesses. Her vision is to help 1M high schoolers build impact portfolios that give them more experience and connections than most college graduates. Christopher Lochhead calls her “a pioneer of our time.”
Breaking Down the Old Rules
In this episode, Nate Corona challenges traditional education paradigms:
Key Insight #1: Embracing Technology as an Ally
- What’s broken: Schools often fear and restrict technology use
- The shift: Viewing AI and tech as tools for enhanced learning and creativity
- Impact: Students develop practical skills while maintaining engagement
Key Insight #2: Learning Through Creation
- What’s broken: Traditional test-based assessment and rigid curriculum
- The shift: Allowing students to drive their own learning through creative projects
- Impact: Middle school students voluntarily creating additional learning spaces and refusing to leave class
Key Insight#3: Redefining Success
- What’s broken: One-size-fits-all approach to education and career paths
- The shift: Embracing different thinking styles and entrepreneurial mindsets
- Impact: Students discovering profitable opportunities and meaningful work before finishing traditional education
Quotable Ruckus
“Don’t be scared to be different. Be different. I think being different is awesome.”
Your Do School Different Challenge
Ready to implement these ideas? Start here:
- Tomorrow: Begin exploring how AI tools could enhance one lesson or activity
- This Month: Create a space for students to pursue creative projects using technology
- This Semester: Develop a program that connects student creativity to real-world opportunities
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Today’s RUCKUScast in Partnership with:
Class Composer: Want to know why Ruckus Makers love Class Composer? Because it turns the dreaded end-of-year class placement meetings into a streamlined, data-driven process. Your teachers will save hours of time while ensuring that nothing is overlooked, including student separations.
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Quest Food Management Services: Creating joyful learning environments starts in the cafeteria. Quest brings 40 years of expertise in crafting scratch-made meals that nurture both body and community spirit through innovative student engagement programs.
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ODP Business Solutions®: Most schools botch STEAM implementation because they’re missing 3 critical elements. Here’s the wild part: it’s not about fancy tech or massive budgets. ODP Business Solutions® has researched many successful programs to identify what actually works (and what’s just burning cash).
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