CTE LAB AI Development

New podcast · CTE Vibe Lab

One big idea. One tool. One live build.

AI app-building for career and technical educators. Each episode, Michael Mino teaches one mindset or technique for working with AI, shows the tool that fits it, then uses both to build a working solution to a real problem from a CTE program. You hear every prompt, every bug and every fix. No coding background required.

Episode 1, "Hello, World," premieres October 5, 2026.

RSS feed

Mindsets, techniques, tools

Tools change every month. The way you think about AI is what lasts.

Five mindsets

How to think about working with AI

  • Intent, not instructions. Describe what you want; AI handles the steps.
  • Partner, not shortcut. AI helps you think and create, not skip the work.
  • Direct and check. The real skill is guiding, checking and improving.
  • From answers to systems. Build processes that run every time.
  • Learn to learn AI with AI. Use AI to master the next tool. Start small.

Five techniques

How to do the work

  • Vibe coding. Describe, generate, iterate.
  • Research with receipts. Real questions, answers tied to verified sources.
  • Agentic thinking. Give AI a goal and steps, not a single request.
  • Skills. Package your expertise so AI applies it the same way every time.
  • Creative critique. Experiment fast, then judge quality, ethics and audience.
The AI Project Loop runs through every episode
  1. Ask
  2. Research
  3. Create
  4. Critique
  5. Improve
  6. Reflect

How an episode works

Thirty minutes: ten of release notes, twenty of building.

Changelog

Two items from the week in AI tools and vibe coding, filtered for what matters to a CTE teacher with a school account.

The Big Idea

One mindset or technique for working with AI: the old way, the new way, and one classroom example.

Tool Spotlight

The tool that fits the big idea: what it is, what it costs, what a school needs, and a quick first look.

The Build

A ticket from a real CTE program, closed live in 15 minutes while practicing the big idea out loud. Then Code Review and one thing to try with students on Monday.

Season 1

Ten episodes. Ten big ideas. Ten tickets from real programs.

  1. Ep 1 Mindset

    Intent, not instructions

    Tool
    Google AI Studio
    Build
    The show's ticket submission page
    Ticket from
    The host
  2. Ep 2 Mindset

    Partner, not shortcut

    Tool
    Gemini Canvas
    Build
    Project brief and unit workflow
    Ticket from
    Any pathway
  3. Ep 3 Technique

    Describe, generate, iterate

    Tool
    Google AI Studio
    Build
    Recipe scaling and food-cost app
    Ticket from
    Culinary
  4. Ep 4 Technique

    Research with receipts

    Tool
    NotebookLM
    Build
    Certification study guide and quiz
    Ticket from
    Health science
  5. Ep 5 Mindset

    Direct and check

    Tool
    Claude Design
    Build
    Program website and lab dashboard
    Ticket from
    Any pathway
  6. Ep 6 Mindset

    From answers to systems

    Tool
    Google Opal
    Build
    Repair estimate mini-app
    Ticket from
    Automotive
  7. Ep 7 Technique

    Goal plus steps

    Tool
    OpenAI Codex
    Build
    Equipment checkout tracker
    Ticket from
    Digital media
  8. Ep 8 Technique

    Teach it once

    Tool
    Claude Skills
    Build
    Job sheet skill for safe operating procedures
    Ticket from
    Manufacturing
  9. Ep 9 Technique

    Experiment fast, reflect hard

    Tool
    Google Labs: Flow, Whisk, MusicFX
    Build
    60-second program promo
    Ticket from
    Communications technology
  10. Ep 10 Mindset

    Learn to learn AI with AI

    Tool
    The full AI Project Loop, run by students
    Build
    Student dev-team template and rubric
    Ticket from
    Students

Episodes

Listen here, or in any podcast app.

The first episode is on its way. Subscribe with the feed link above and it will arrive automatically.

Open a ticket

What does your program need that nobody sells?

A food-cost calculator for one kitchen. An equipment checkout for one media lab. A practice quiz for one certification. Send the problem, your pathway, and what you have tried. The best tickets become builds on the show.

Submit a ticket