The Signal (formerly the EdTech Connect Podcast)

Helen Norris, CIO at Chapman University, discusses her journey to becoming a CIO and the evolving role of CIOs in higher education. She emphasizes the importance of integration and change advocacy in the current complex IT environment.  Norris also explores the potential of AI in various areas, such as advising, research, and administrative tasks. She highlights the need for explainability and privacy in AI implementation. Additionally, she discusses the challenges of managing content and data in higher education websites. Takeaways The role of CIOs in higher education has evolved from being service providers to being integrators and change advocates. AI has the potential to enhance various areas in higher education, such as advising, research, and administrative tasks. The strategic value of legacy systems should be considered before deciding to replace them, and integrating new tools with these systems can be a more practical solution. AI implementation should prioritize explainability and privacy to ensure ethical and effective use. Managing content and data in higher education websites can be challenging due to the proliferation of information and the presence of stale and duplicate content. Sound Bites "Now it's about, oh, all these systems are there. And what I need to do is bring them together, make sure they're secure, make sure they're used well, make sure that we're always scanning that environment and seeing what we need to change." "Putting new tools in front of legacy systems to enhance their capabilities and provide better outcomes for students and faculty." "Ensuring explainability in AI decision-making, especially in high-stakes areas like advising." Chapters 00:00: Introduction and Background of Helen Norris 04:43: The Changing Role of CIOs in Higher Education 08:26: Balancing Process and Outcome in Decision-Making 12:56: Managing Change and Legacy Systems 16:21: The Potential of AI in Higher Education 19:40: Use Cases of AI in Higher Education 21:53: Academic Advisory Guidelines and Policies 22:10: Priorities at Chapman University 24:15: The Importance of IT Strategic Planning 25:08: Challenges of Content Management in Higher Education Websites 27:27: Advice for Upcoming IT Leaders in Higher Education  

Ardis Kadiu, founder and CEO of Element 451, discusses the evolution of AI in education and the importance of personalization in student engagement. He shares the inspiration behind the name Element 451 and the journey of starting the company. Kadiu emphasizes the need for education institutions to embrace AI and prioritize student-centric experiences.  He also addresses concerns about job security and highlights the potential of AI to enhance productivity and eliminate menial tasks. Kadiu provides insights on how campuses can prepare for AI implementation and emphasizes the importance of data privacy and security. Takeaways AI has the potential to transform education by enabling personalization and improving student engagement. Education institutions should prioritize student-centric experiences and embrace AI to enhance the student journey. AI can eliminate menial tasks and enhance productivity, allowing professionals to focus on higher-value work. Campuses can prepare for AI implementation by identifying areas where AI can remove friction from the student experience. Data privacy and security should be prioritized when implementing AI solutions in education. Sound Bites "We don't have enough time today to do our jobs properly. The fear of AI taking our jobs is so far away. AI is going to eliminate tasks we don't want to do and amplify what we're able to do." "Think about where you're having deficiencies and friction in the student experience today and invest in AI solutions there." "Think about the AI capabilities that are being embedded in current tools that you're using that already have the data security layer and governance in place." Chapters 00:00: Introduction and Background of Ardis Kadiu 02:23: Ardis Kadiu's Founder Story 06:01: The Evolution of Element 451 08:02: User Experience and Personalization in Element 451 10:47: Addressing the Fear of AI Taking Jobs 13:09: Enhancing Productivity and Eliminating Menial Tasks with AI 15:45: Prioritizing Data Privacy and Security in AI Solutions 17:53: The Future of AI in Education and Personalization 20:31: Closing Remarks Links Element 451 Ardis Kaidu Element 451 on LinkedIn EdTech Connect Jeff Dillon