The Ethical, Open-Source Standard for AI in the Classroom
We challenge the black box paywalls and 'quick fix' promises of commercial EdTech. Connected Classroom is a non-profit research initiative dedicated to providing transparent, privacy-first tools that empower the teaching profession, not replace it.
Our Philosophy: Pragmatism Meets Idealism
Timothy Cook, M.Ed., is an educator first, and a builder second.
Like many teachers, I grew frustrated with the "black box" solutions and corporate promises that failed to address the core challenges of AI in the classroom: student apathy, the erosion of teaching critical thinking, and the sheer anxiety of administrative burnout.
Connected Classroom was born from that frustration. It is an open-source project built to protect the human connection in learning. We acknowledge the reality of AI (the pragmatism) but insist on maintaining human-centered practices (the idealism).
Why trust this code?
For Psychological Safety: My column, "The Algorithmic Mind" in Psychology Today, serves as the philosophical foundation for our tools. It explores the critical psychological questions: How does AI dependency affect developing minds? That directly inform how we design our tools to protect cognitive and emotional development and re-center human connection.
For Academic Rigor: Our advisory work with organizations and the Coaching Ethics Forum ensures that every algorithm is hard-coded with proven pedagogical frameworks, not random corporate hallucinations.
For Transparency: We believe in AI ethics for schools. We believe in building trust. You will always know the model, the data policy, and the pedagogy behind every solution we offer. This is how we restore student agency strategies and empower the teacher's expertise.
