ChatEDU – The AI & Education Podcast

ChatEDU Episode 41: AI Whisperers in the Classroom – Teachers Already Have the Tools In this episode of ChatEDU (AI Whisperers in the Classroom – Teachers Already Have the Tools), Matt and Liz explore AI hallucinations in science, OpenAI’s O3 reasoning model and its implications for coding education, and why teachers are uniquely equipped to master generative AI in the classroom. Getting Started: Matt and Liz reflect on January blues and share a fun wintertime AI prompt to beat the seasonal doldrums. Liz gives rapid-fire reactions to winter activities suggested by ChatGPT, and Matt claims the term "cognitive onboarding" while exploring how AI is enhancing critical thinking rather than offloading it. The Big Three: 1. AI Hallucinations in Science • AI hallucinations spark creativity in scientific research, leading to breakthroughs like new protein designs and medical innovations. • Highlighted examples include Dr. David Baker’s work on designing proteins for cancer treatments and infection-fighting tools. • Discussion on balancing the promise of AI in science with its risks, like misinformation. 2. O3 Model: Redefining Software Development • OpenAI’s O3 model excels at reasoning, adaptability, and solving complex problems, with a transformative impact on coding and math. • Matt and Liz discuss its implications for education, particularly how it aligns with the Connecticut Lieutenant Governor’s Computing Challenge and its emphasis on “coding for good.” 3. Teachers as Natural AI Experts (Beneath the Surface) • Teachers’ classroom strategies—context-setting, specificity, and critical thinking—translate seamlessly to AI prompting. • Matt and Liz connect these innate teaching skills to the fundamentals of AI use, showcasing how teachers are already well-positioned to succeed with generative AI. Short Stack Chat Back: John Dewey on teachers as “AI whisperers”.  Announcements: • The new winter cohort for ChatEDU’s AI in K-12 Education Micro-Credential is full. Join the waiting list for the spring cohort at skills21.org/ai/micro  • Customized versions of the micro-credential are available for school districts. Email chatedu@edadvance.org for more information. Our Episode Sponsor • National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing - https://www.nextgenmfg.org  Related Links: • Tom’s Guide on Emotionally Supportive AI Prompts - https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/chatgpt/7-chatgpt-prompts-that-have-helped-me-avoid-the-winter-blues-heres-why-i-like-them  • Barbara Zhilanka’s AI Advisory Boards - https://aiadvisoryboards.wordpress.com/blog-2/  • AI and Cognitive “Offloading” - https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/15/1/6  • Dr. David Baker’s Protein Research - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/23/science/ai-hallucinations-science.html  • 03 and Coding - https://www.itp.net/edge/future-tech/goodbye-coding-openais-o3-model-is-changing-software-creation  • Connecticut Lieutenant Governor’s Computing Challenge - https://ltgovcc.org  • 13 Reasons Why Teachers Are Already AI Experts by Jack Dougal - https://www.ecmtutors.com/13-reasons-why-teachers-are-already-ai-experts/  • Skills21’s Prompts Page - https://www.skills21.org/prompts  • Micro-Credential Info: https://skills21.org/ai/micro Have a question or comment? Email Matt and Liz at chatedu@edadvance.org. Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform.

Distributed Cognition: The Human-AI Partnership Transforming Healthcare Learning | Ep. 40 In this episode of ChatEDU, hosts Matt Mervis and Liz Radday explore the significant impact of AI-powered assistive technology for students with disabilities, presenting inspiring stories and emphasizing the ethical considerations of AI in education. Additionally, the duo features an intriguing segment on AI-enabled human-whale “communication” led by Dr. Brenda McCowan's Whale SETI team. They even highlight the potential implications for interspecies and extraterrestrial communication. The episode concludes with a deep dive into how the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UT Health in Houston integrates AI into their healthcare education curriculum, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and AI literacy. Finally, they wrap up with a humorous Short Stack Chat Back featuring a Mark Twain-inspired commentary on whale communication. You’ll hear:  Matt and Liz’s Podcast AI Wedding Vows AI Transforming Education for Students with Disabilities Talking to Whales: AI and Animal Communication UT Houston’s Integrated AI Model Program Examples of AI Integrated HS Projects Short Stack Chatback Sponsored by the National Center for Next Gen Manufacturing - https://www.nextgenmfg.org/ Episode Links Skills21 AI in Education Micro-Credential - https://www.skills21.org/ai/micro  Skills21 Personal Interest Projects - https://www.skills21.org/pip  AI is a game changer for students with disabilities. Schools are still learning to harness it - https://www.wishtv.com/news/ai-helps-students-disabilities/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_WISH-TV Groundbreaking AI Enables Humans to Hold a 20-Minute ‘Conversation’ with a Humpback Whale - https://dailygalaxy.com/2024/12/groundbreaking-ai-enables-humans-to-hold-a-20-minute-conversation-with-a-humpback-whale/ Preparing healthcare education for an AI-augmented future - https://www.nature.com/articles/s44401-024-00006-z

Flipping the Script: English Class Post-ChatGPT In this episode of ChatEDU (Flipping the Script: English Class Post-ChatGPT), Matt Mervis and Liz Radday kick off 2025 with special guest Jonathan Costa. They unpack a fascinating story about alignment faking by the Claude AI model from Anthropic, drawing parallels to personal life decisions and their long-term impacts. Next the hosts also explore a new study about AI and conspiracy theories and then a second meta study about the efficacy of genAI in higher ed (with connections to K-12). For Beneath the Surface, Matt and Liz talk through a great op-ed from a veteran English teacher and how he plans to navigate the road ahead in an AI dominated world. The episode wraps up with a fun Short Stack Chat Back with the late Ray Bradbury regarding these educational shifts. You’ll hear:  Anthropic's Alignment Faking Experiment AI's Role in Reducing Conspiracy Beliefs New Study on ChatGPT in Education Adapting English Teaching - The Road Ahead Short Stack Chat Back Episode Links Skills21 AI in Education Micro-Credential - https://www.skills21.org/ai/micro  Skills21 Personal Interest Projects - https://www.skills21.org/pip  Anthropic Alignment Faking - https://www.anthropic.com/news/alignment-faking  Durably Reducting Conspiracy Theories - https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adq1814Does ChatGPT enhance student learning? A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131524002380  ChatGPT Can Make English Teachers Feel Doomed. Here’s How I’m Adapting- https://www.edweek.org/technology/opinion-chatgpt-can-make-english-teachers-feel-doomed-heres-how-im-adapting/2024/10

The hosts dive into the exciting future of AI in education by 2025, exploring how emerging technologies might revolutionize student learning experiences. They share humorous moments, including a prank call challenge. The conversation shifts to ethical concerns around AI monitoring of student well-being, balancing safety with privacy issues. They discuss the potential of immersive technologies and geospatial models, inspired by Pokémon Go, to enhance education. Wrapping up, inspiring resolutions and aspirations for leveraging AI in classrooms take center stage.

The AI Firehose - End of Year News and Updates Join Matt and Liz in this episode of ChatEDU as they explore critical AI developments. They dive into the potential of AI as a brutally honest mentor, discuss new tools like Google's Gemini 2.0 and Harvard's free AI dataset, and address serious concerns such as the rise of non-consensual intimate imagery in schools and the environmental costs of AI. They also unpack OpenAI's '12 Days of Shipmas' while reflecting on how AI impacts policy, literacy, and education. 00:00 Introduction and AI's Flattery 00:52 The Brutally Honest AI Mentor 01:38 Liz's Book Editing Challenge 02:15 ChatGPT's Tough Love 04:23 Reflections on AI's Impact 06:00 AI in Education: News and Updates 07:17 Deep Research, AI Literacy & Policy 14:25 Environmental Concerns of AI 16:55 Clean Energy Solutions for AI 18:55 Challenges in K-12 Schools 20:13 The Challenges of Preventative Education 21:05 A Troubling Lawsuit Against Character AI 22:00 Character AI's Controversial Influence 27:11 AI Literacy and Gen Z 31:21 The 12 Days of Shipmas by OpenAI Prompt from Forbes: You are now my brutally honest mentor who calls out my self-deception. Ask me what goal I'm struggling to achieve. After I respond, mercilessly point out the lies I'm telling myself. Challenge every excuse. Mock my weak justifications. Make me defend my position until I admit the real reason I'm not taking action. Don't let me off easy - keep pushing until I reach complete honesty about what's truly holding me back. Then help me create an action plan based on this new truth.

In this episode of ChatEDU, co-hosts Matt Mervis and Liz Radday dive into the evolving landscape of AI's capabilities and its implications on human tasks. They discuss the growing reliability of AI memory, and whether AI can offer surprising personal insights. The discussion touches on three recent studies, exploring AI's edge in medical diagnoses, neuroscience predictions, and the surprising preference for AI-generated poetry over classic literature. The episode raises questions about the future roles of humans in AI-integrated tasks, emphasizing the need for empathy and creativity. Additionally, it features an intriguing segment where AI mimics Shakespearean style to compose a sonnet about a recent football game. The show concludes with their popular 'ShortStack Chat Back', highlighting the interplay between AI and human creativity. 00:00 Introduction: Memory and AI 00:38 Chatting with ChatGPT 02:25 AI's Role in Memory and Productivity 04:33 Podcast Introduction and Episode Overview 05:25 AI in Medical Diagnosis 12:01 AI in Neuroscience 15:52 AI and Poetry 25:50 Implications for Teaching and Learning 30:18 ShortStack Chat Back: Isaac Asimov New Micro-Credential Cohort Launching January 2024! Learn more and sign up at skills21.org/ai/micro.

In this episode of ChatEDU (Motion Rejected - The AI Cheating Case That Surprised Everyone - Including Us), Matt and Liz reflect on AI’s evolving role in schools and classrooms. They unpack two new studies on AI adoption among teachers, a timely toolkit from the U.S. Department of Education, and a controversial AI cheating case that’s testing the limits of academic integrity policies. They revisit the story of "Daisy," the AI modeled as a 90-year-old woman, and discuss a holographic AI Jesus confessional booth in Switzerland. Matt and Liz share updates on the ChatEDU AI Micro-Credential program and highlight the need for balance in all modes of AI professional learning. 1. Teacher Studies: AI Adoption and Skepticism Insights from new studies on how teachers are navigating the challenges and opportunities of AI in their classrooms. Matt and Liz explore the gap between teacher readiness and the demands of modern classrooms. 2. U.S. Department of Education AI Leadership Toolkit The DOE's latest guidance emphasizes privacy, ethical use, and practical implementation. Key takeaways include the need for AI planning teams, audits, and addressing algorithmic bias. Matt shares the challenges of balancing privacy risks with powerful tools like real-time translation. 3. Beneath the Surface: Motion Rejected – The Hingham AI Cheating Case A follow-up to last week's pre-recorded story: A federal court denied a preliminary injunction requested by the student’s family. New details emerge, including the student using Grammarly to generate inaccurate citations (e.g., books by “Jane Doe”). Matt and Liz discuss what this case teaches about the AI ethics and policy debate moving forward. Johnny Cochran (AI Edition) summarizes the Hingham AI case with wit and legal flair. Hingham Court Ruling: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/11/school-did-nothing-wrong-when-it-punished-student-for-using-ai-court-rules/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email  U.S. Department of Education AI Toolkit: https://blog.ed.gov/2024/10/new-ai-toolkit-to-empower-educational-leaders-on-safe-ethical-and-equitable-ai-integration/  ChatEDU Micro-Credential Info: skills21.org/ai/micro New Micro-Credential Cohort Launching January 2024! Learn more and sign up at skills21.org/ai/micro. This updated version reflects the correct episode title. Let me know if you need any more tweaks! Getting StartedThe Big ThreeShort Stack Chat BackReferenced Links and ResourcesAnnouncements

In this pre-recorded Thanksgiving episode of ChatEDU (Banned or Boosted? AI's Mixed Signals in Education and Work), Matt and Liz reflect on gratitude, share updates on their AI micro-credential program, and dive into a compelling trifecta of stories that highlight the evolving relationship between generative AI, education, and the workplace. Getting Started: Matt and Liz reconnect after a brief hiatus, reflecting on the podcast’s journey, their collaborative work, and appreciation for their listeners. They share personal "thankful" moments related to generative AI: Liz appreciates ChatGPT's practical value in productivity and daily tasks. Matt highlights ElevenLabs Reader, with a nostalgic twist involving Jerry Garcia reading AI-related content. The Big Three: 1. Honor Codes and Generative AI at Haverford and Bryn Mawr These liberal arts colleges rely on longstanding honor codes to guide responsible AI use without imposing strict policies. Students self-schedule exams and adhere to deep trust-based systems, avoiding widespread AI misuse. Matt and Liz discuss whether such frameworks could be scaled to larger institutions with more diverse student populations. 2. The Massachusetts AI Lawsuit (please note - this was pre-recorded and Matt/Liz cover the lawsuit update in Episode 35 - December, 6th) A Hingham High School student was disciplined for using generative AI to assist with a project, sparking a lawsuit over unclear AI policies. Matt and Liz discuss the necessity for nuanced AI guidelines that clearly define appropriate use and emphasize proactive policy creation. Insights include EdWeek and Common Sense Media data highlighting gaps in district-level AI policies and parent awareness. 3. Generative AI in Industry (Beneath the Surface) A Wharton study reveals skyrocketing generative AI adoption in workplaces, particularly in HR and marketing. Businesses struggle with measurable ROI but show promise with tools like real-time translation and custom bots. Matt reflects on parallels between schools and businesses, emphasizing adaptable organizational cultures as the key to successful integration. Referenced Links and Resources: Higher Ed Honor Codes - https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/10/the-schools-without-chatgpt-plagiarism/680407/  Hingham High School Lawsuit Coverage: https://www.edweek.org/technology/parents-sue-after-school-disciplined-student-for-ai-use-takeaways-for-educators/2024/10  Wharton & GBK Study on Gen AI Adoption: https://ai.wharton.upenn.edu/focus-areas/human-technology-interaction/2024-ai-adoption-report/  ElevenLabs Reader App: https://elevenlabs.io/blog/introducing-elevenlabs-reader-app  Ethan Mollick's Post - "AI's Impact Long Before Superintelligence": https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/the-present-future-ais-impact-long?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1180644&post_id=151140006  Skills21 AI Micro-Credential Details: https://www.skills21.org/ai/micro Short Stack Chat Back: A lighthearted moment featuring AI Charlie Brown reflecting on gratitude, tying into the themes of AI and Thanksgiving. Announcements: A new cohort for their AI in Education Micro-Credential launches in January. Learn more and sign up at https://www.skills21.org/ai/micro 

In this NEW episode of ChatEDU (Google’s Learn About – Innovation Amid AI Turbulence), Matt and Liz explore Google’s new generative AI tool and its implications for education, content publishers, and AI-guided self-directed learning. Getting Started:Matt and Liz reflect on their hiatus and the success of their recent AI in Education micro-credential launch. They also have a fun look at Daisy AI from 02. An AI tool designed to capture the time and attention of phone scammers.  The Big Three: OpenAI’s A Student’s Guide to Writing with ChatGPT A comprehensive guide for ethical and productive use of ChatGPT in education. Key features include automating citation formatting, research roadmaps, Socratic dialogue, and iterative feedback. Matt and Liz debate its utility and timeliness, two years post-ChatGPT launch. Leon Furze’s Take on Generative AI and Grading Furze argues against using AI for high-stakes grading due to inherent biases and variability in outputs. Discussion of experiments showing racial and cultural biases in AI-assigned grades. Emphasis on generative AI as a tool for formative feedback rather than summative assessment. Google’s Learn About (Beneath the Surface) Launched against the backdrop of some troubling AI outputs from Google’s Gemini model. A new AI tool focused on enhancing learning with interactive, visually engaging, and research-grounded content. Features include vocab building, contextual explanations, and integrated resources like YouTube videos and articles. Matt and Liz explore its potential for PIPs (Personal Interest Projects), capstones, and self-guided learning. Short Stack Chat Back:Matt and Liz respond to a listener’s question about the ethics of teachers using AI for grading. They emphasize the importance of transparency, minimizing bias, and adhering to data privacy laws when integrating AI into assessment processes. Announcements: Matt and Liz are launching a new cohort for their AI in K-12 Education Micro-Credential in January. Upcoming live appearances at AESA and the release of more exciting episodes this December. Related Links: OpenAI's A Student’s Guide to Writing with ChatGPT: https://openai.com/chatgpt/use-cases/student-writing-guide/ Leon Furze’s blog on AI and Grading: https://leonfurze.com/2024/05/27/dont-use-genai-to-grade-student-work/ Google’s LearnAbout Experiment: https://learning.google.com/experiments/learn-about/signup AI in K-12 Micro-Credential Info: Skills21.org/ai/micro  Diasy AI from o2: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lesliekatz/2024/11/15/introducing-daisy-an-ai-granny-outwitting-scammers-one-call-at-a-time/  Have a question or comment? Email Matt and Liz at chatedu@edadvance.org

While Matt and Liz continue to roll out their AI micro-credential, ChatEDU is revisiting some episodes from our past lineup. In the coming weeks, we’ll continue to bring back listener favorites that sparked conversations and insights. If you’re new to ChatEDU, welcome! We hope these episodes offer you a great starting point. For our long-time listeners, it’s a chance to revisit an episode or check out other AI and education podcasts. In this Encore Episode – A Talk with the Boss, Matt and Liz sit down with Jonathan Costa, the Executive Director of EdAdvance. They dive into a wide-ranging conversation that covers Jonathan’s journey from high school history teacher to agency leader. They discuss his unique perspective on the role of AI in education, from improving operational efficiencies to supporting schools in navigating the profound instructional changes AI brings. Jonathan explains his vision for AI’s role in reshaping school administration and explores how AI might impact everything from back-office functions to strategic educational planning. They also tackle challenging topics like how AI will influence job structures in education, the skills students truly need for future success, and why adaptive leadership is more critical than ever. Expect new episodes later this fall, including a special new episode the day after Thanksgiving (in the US)! In the meantime, you can email us with questions at chatedu@edadvance.org. And if you’d like to learn more about the AI in K-12 education micro-credential, visit skills21.org/ai/micro. Thanks as always for tuning in!