ChatEDU – The AI & Education Podcast

While Matt and Liz continue rolling out their AI micro-credential, ChatEDU will be revisiting some of our past episodes. Over the next few weeks, we’ll bring back more listener favorites that sparked insightful discussions and questions. If you're new to ChatEDU, welcome! We hope these episodes offer a solid introduction. And for our loyal listeners, take this chance to revisit a past episode or check out other great AI and education podcasts. In this Encore Episode – From Solo to System: Elevating AI Across Our Schools, Matt and Liz tackle the shift from individual to systemic use of AI in education. First up, they explore the heavy investments labs like Google DeepMind are making to reduce “hallucinations” in large language models. From there, it's a dash of AI images and then AI agency. Finally, Matt and Liz look at the wider potential for AI in schools, advocating for a focus not only on teacher training but on comprehensive school-wide AI integration. They unpack how institutions can scale AI to enhance curriculum, assessment, administration, and more, moving beyond isolated cases to cohesive, strategic use. And, as always, they close with a Short Stack Chat Back. Expect new live episodes later this fall including a special 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!

While Matt and Liz are kicking off their new AI micro-credential course, we're taking a brief break from new ChatEDU episodes. During most of this month, we will be replaying some episodes that seem especially relevant or received lots of questions and comments. If you're new to ChatEDU, we hope you enjoy this recent trip down memory lane. If you're a long-time listener, feel free to have another listen, or kick back and enjoy one of the other amazing AI and education podcasts out there—or explore a whole new topic. Now, in this Encore Episode - You Gotta See This, The Potential of AI Vision in Education, Matt and Liz dive into how AI vision can be used in and out of our classrooms. First, they'll share how much they don't know about AI dating, and then the duo will chart new territory about the future of prompting and interactive games...with a Star Trek throughline of course. Finally, they will wrap up with a Short Stack Chat Back! Oh, and there's a whole lotta talk about Inflection AI's Pi, which is now reborn in Microsoft's Co-Pilot App. Be sure to check it out! It's close, but not quite there on the voice. Matt and Liz look forward to new live episodes in late fall, and as always, you can email us with any questions at chatedu@edadvance.org. Thanks!

While Matt and Liz are kicking off their new AI micro-credential course, we're taking a brief break from new ChatEDU episodes. During the rest of this month and next, we will be replaying some episodes that seem especially relevant or received lots of questions and comments. If you're new to ChatEDU, we hope you enjoy this recent trip down memory lane. If you're a long-time listener, feel free to have another listen, or kick back and enjoy one of the other amazing AI and education podcasts out there—or explore a whole new topic. Now, in this reprised episode titled Encore Episode - AI Guilt Trip: Why Educators Sometimes Feel Guilty and What to Do About It!, Matt and Liz riff on AI in music, from Google’s new tools like MusicLM to the unexpected success of AI-generated love songs at open mic night. They also dive into how students are leading AI efforts in Colorado and how New York and LA schools are tapping into AI to support teachers and students. In a plot twist, however, LAUSD’s chatbot “Ed” met an untimely demise when the company behind it went bust. For now, LAUSD had to hit the pause button on Ed, so he'll have to catch his bus elsewhere! Finally, we'll tackle guilt: why some educators feel uneasy using AI and how to embrace it as a tool to make their work easier. Tune in for practical tips and a few laughs along the way! Matt and Liz look forward to new live episodes in late fall, and as always, you can email us with any questions at chatedu@edadvance.org. Thanks!

In this live episode of ChatEDU recorded at an AI conference in Litchfield, Connecticut (More Common Sense - A New CSM Report on Teens and AI), Matt and Liz unpack Common Sense Media's latest report on teen AI usage, followed by an engaging Q&A session with educators. The episode explores the growing role of AI in education and the disparities in awareness between teens and parents. Getting Started: Matt and Liz kick off the episode from their AI conference in Litchfield, Connecticut, with an enthusiastic audience of educators. They share observations about the conference atmosphere and educators making the most of the beautiful fall day. Beneath the Surface: Teen AI Usage and Parental Awareness: Most teens are using AI tools, particularly AI-enhanced search engines Significant gap exists between teen usage and parental awareness Equity and Access Issues: Black and Latino youth show more optimism about AI's educational potential Concerns raised about bias in AI detection systems Need for balanced approaches to AI integration in education School Policy and Guidelines: Many schools lack clear AI policies Students often uncertain about allowed AI uses Need for more consistent guidelines across education Live Audience Q&A: Key discussions centered around data privacy in AI tools, strategies for parent education, and the intersection of gaming and AI access. Educators shared concerns and creative solutions for engaging both students and parents in AI education. Announcements: ChatEDU is taking a brief fall break!  Connecticut's community of practice for AI continues with national participation Check out the new AI micro-credential program Related Links: Common Sense Media Report: The Dawn of the AI Era - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/the-dawn-of-the-ai-era-teens-parents-and-the-adoption-of-generative-ai-at-home-and-school  Connecticut's Community of Practice for AI Registration - https://www.rescalliance.org/artificial-intelligence-ai  AI Micro-credential Program Information - https://www.skills21.org/ai/micro  Contact Us: Have questions or comments? Email Matt and Liz at chatedu@edadvance.org. Rate, review, and subscribe to ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform!

Darron Vigliotti, a middle school principal and former high school science teacher, shares insights on balancing technology in classrooms. He discusses the benefits of tech-free spaces, which enhance student engagement and attention. Darron also addresses distractions in 1:1 Chromebook settings and offers strategies for using traditional journals to foster deeper learning. The conversation explores the SAMR model for effective tech integration and the evolving role of AI in education, alongside his experiences with innovative tools like NotebookLM.

In this conversation, Abbe Waldron, a staff member at EdAdvance known for her engaging workshops on AI tools, joins to discuss the evolving landscape of educational technology. They dive into popular AI tools like Magic School AI, which provides tailored prompts, and School AI, designed for interactive learning experiences. The group also examines an intriguing study highlighting ChatGPT's role in easing student cognitive load while sparking conversations about critical thinking. It's a blend of humor, insight, and practical applications for today's classrooms.

In this live episode of ChatEDU (Live Comp Sci - AI in Computer Science Education), Matt and Liz dive into the future of computer science education in an age dominated by AI, The episode was recorded in front of a live audience with the Connecticut Computer Science Teachers Association and features discussions on AI's impact on teaching and learning in computer science, insights from a new Teach AI and CSTA report, and live Q&A with educators. Getting Started:Matt and Liz kick off the episode by thanking the Connecticut Computer Science Teachers Association team for hosting their first live recording. They joke about the large crowd and share their excitement about the evening's discussions on AI in education.Matt introduced Google’s Notebook LM, a tool that transforms PDFs into engaging NPR-style interviews. Matt uploaded the evening’s feature story on AI and CS which became a short podcast. He joked that they could now retire (which Liz objected to streneously).  Beneath the Surface: AI is Changing Computer Science Education:Matt and Liz explore the shifting landscape of computer science education, including the controversial idea that coding may become obsolete as AI advances. They discuss the Teach AI and CSTA report, "Guidance on the Future of Computer Science Education in an Age of AI," which outlines how computer science teaching must adapt to new AI technologies in the following briefs:  Whether kids still need to learn to code. How AI can support teachers in teaching and feedback. How to teach students to be ethical, critical consumers of AI. The Importance of "Code Sense":The episode unpacks the Teach AI report's emphasis on "code sense"—the foundational understanding of programming that remains crucial despite AI’s capabilities. They discuss the need for students to learn coding to understand, debug, and critically assess AI-generated outputs. Live Audience Q&A: AI and Ethical Use:The audience engages with the topic of ethics in AI education, including the role of middle school educators in teaching students to use AI responsibly. Liz highlights the importance of starting these conversations early to help students develop critical thinking skills around technology. AI in Assessment:Discussion on Code.org’s AI Teaching Assistant, designed to support computer science teachers with real-time feedback and assessment. Teachers share their experiences and the potential benefits of integrating AI into the classroom. Short Stack Chat Back:Matt and Liz end the episode with their "Short Stack Chat Back," featuring an imagined response from Alan Turing on the importance of learning to code, emphasizing that students must be creators, not just consumers, of intelligent systems. Announcements:Matt and Liz announce upcoming live ChatEDU sessions with other organizations and tease future episodes focusing on AI in various educational settings. They invite listeners to join the conversation by emailing their thoughts and questions at chatedu@edadvance.org  Related Links: Teach AI and CSTA Report on the Future of Computer Science Education.https://www.teachai.org/cs  Google’s Notebook LM: https://research.google.com/notebook-lm/  Code.org AI Teaching Assistant: https://code.org/ai  Netflix Documentary "Coded Bias" https://www.netflix.com/title/81328723  Contact Us:Have questions or comments? Email Matt and Liz at chatedu@edadvance.org. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform!

The discussion starts with alarming insights from a Surgeon General report on parental stress in modern society. They delve into exciting advancements like Google's new AI tools to enhance education and the results of a Harvard study showing dramatic learning gains with AI tutors. The show tackles the intriguing challenges of detecting AI-generated content and addresses the ethical implications surrounding these technologies. Finally, they mix humor with a thoughtful perspective on global warming, promoting kindness and community engagement throughout.

Matt and Liz dive into the fascinating collaboration between AI and humans in creative problem-solving, revealing insights from a Harvard study. They discuss the intriguing results of AI as an assignment evaluator, where students expressed a mix of approval and concerns about AI grading. The conversation shifts to a London private school's groundbreaking 'teacherless' AI classroom, highlighting its challenges. Tune in for a fun demo of AI-generated sound effects and to explore how technology can reshape education!

Matt and Liz dive into the need for holistic AI training in schools, moving beyond just teacher learning. They discuss the innovative capabilities of Ideogram 2.0, revealing its impact on educational imagery. Insights into generative AI highlight its benefits for students with executive functioning challenges. The conversation also sheds light on transformative investments like Yale's $150 million in AI, showcasing how this technology can innovate projects and streamline educational processes. Emphasizing systemic approaches is key for future advancements.