Books Archives - Enabling Learning LLC

Illustration of a nineteenth century explorer overlooking a South American rainforest with Chimborazo volcano in the distance, evoking Alexander von Humboldts expeditions

Books

The Invention of Nature: Humboldt and the Planet We Share

I grew up in Venezuela, where Alexander von Humboldt is not just a historical figure, he is part of the landscape itself. Reading Andrea Wulf’s The Invention of Nature reopened that chapter for me completely and revealed how much I did not know about the man whose name I had heard since childhood. This is a book about exploration, about the interconnectedness of the planet, and about why Humboldt’s way of seeing nature feels more urgent than ever. I keep recommending it, and I am sharing it here because I think it belongs on many more bookshelves.

AI in Education

A New “Chapter”: AI-Guided Teacher Support

I’m proud to share that my co-authored chapter with Dr. Uvaldina Janecek, AI-Guided Professional Development: A Vygotskian Approach for Teachers in Multilingual Classrooms, is now published in the new IGI Global volume, Harnessing AI’s Potential to Support Student Success and Teaching Excellence. In our chapter, we introduce Verónica, an AI-powered virtual tutor designed to support bilingual and ESL educators through personalized, scenario-based guidance. Grounded in Vygotsky’s theory, our approach shows how AI can serve as a mentoring tool—scaffolding teacher growth, easing planning demands, and enhancing support in multilingual classrooms. This chapter is part of a larger volume filled with practical, research-based strategies for using AI to empower educators and improve student learning.

A cowboy and horse overlook a sunset-lit mountain valley, symbolizing a reflective journey into literature, parenting, and moral exploration.

Books

Violence, Literature, and the Power of Shared Curiosity

When my teenage son asked to read Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy (a novel known for its extreme violence and literary acclaim) I wasn’t sure what to do. In this blog post, I share how we turned a controversial American classic into a shared father-son reading project. We explored history, moral choices, and the connection between the novel and the video game Red Dead Redemption. This post reflects on parenting, literature, and the power of reading together in a world that demands critical thinking and emotional growth.

Books

Lessons in Resilience and Leadership

In 2007, I discovered the incredible story of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition, a journey that exemplifies resilience and leadership. Shackleton’s mission to cross Antarctica ultimately failed, but his legacy lives on as one of the greatest examples of endurance. After first watching a documentary about his story, I explored further through the book The Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition, and recently watched the new National Geographic documentary with my kids. Shackleton’s leadership style was remarkable. Despite facing months of isolation, brutal cold, and constant setbacks, he refused to give up. His understanding of his crew’s needs and his insistence on keeping morale high turned a potential tragedy into a story of survival. Shackleton’s example shows that true leadership balances strength with empathy, a lesson that resonates for anyone guiding others through tough times. For me, Shackleton’s journey is a powerful teaching tool for my own children. His story reminds us all that resilience, perseverance, and hope can carry us through even the most overwhelming challenges.

Books

Using “The Martian” to Boost STEM Skills for ESL Learners

In this blog post, I explore how The Martian can be a powerful educational tool, especially for teaching STEM and problem-solving skills to younger audiences. For educators, I recommend using the classroom edition of The Martian. It maintains the heart of the story while simplifying the language and concepts for younger readers. This version makes it easier for middle and high school students to understand how subjects like chemistry, biology, and physics can apply to real-world problems. With the help of AI tools, teachers can also make the content more accessible for emergent bilingual students, ensuring everyone gets to experience the book’s valuable lessons on critical thinking and creativity.

AI in Education

Bridging Harari’s Nexus and Teacher Preparation with AI

As an instructional designer and educator, I’ve been deeply involved in leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. Over the last two years, we have invested considerable time researching and testing artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to revolutionize the preparation of pre-service bilingual and ESL teachers, as well as engage and support parental involvement. These new technological tools, powered by powerful large language models, promise a transformative impact not only on teacher preparation but also on family engagement in multilingual learner communities. This aligns with the ideas in Yuval Noah Harari’s Nexus, where the evolution of information networks and the rising influence of AI provide critical insights into how we can rethink educational strategies in an era dominated by technology.

Category: Books

The Invention of Nature: Humboldt and the Planet We Share

A New “Chapter”: AI-Guided Teacher Support

Violence, Literature, and the Power of Shared Curiosity

Lessons in Resilience and Leadership

Using “The Martian” to Boost STEM Skills for ESL Learners

Bridging Harari’s Nexus and Teacher Preparation with AI