Check it out, it’s a bonus episode of Ways We Learn!

Amin Shaykho stuck around a bit longer after our main conversation about Kadama (https://open.spotify.com/episode/646angy3O2xLe38y8YlrqF) to discuss AI in education. We talked about prior learning revolutions in STEM fields, AI's potential across all subjects, the importance of AI specialists in schools, and overall the need for educational institutions to adapt and evolve teaching methodologies to better equip students for the future.

Contents:

• 00:53 The Role of AI in Modern Curriculum
• 02:41 Challenges and Risks of AI in Schools
• 05:15 Real-World Examples and Implications
• 06:48 The Future of AI Integration in Education
• 13:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Links and further reading:

• https://www.aminshaykho.com/
• https://www.kadama.com/

We’re living in the gig economy. Uber and Lyft are verbs, you’ve stayed at an Airbnb, bought groceries from Instacart… but have you tried a tutoring-on-demand service?

Meet Amin Shaykho, Founder and CEO of the innovative education platform Kadama. Amin details his journey from immigrant roots to becoming a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, with help from his TikTok and Instagram wizardry that garnered 2.5 million followers and over 1 billion views.

Amin discusses building Kadama, his unique approach to making learning fun for Gen Z through social media and personal connection, and how Kadama approaches the tricky topic of cheating. Along the way, he shares valuable insights on perseverance, entrepreneurship, and the evolving landscape of education in the digital age.

Contents:

• 01:48 Meet Amin: From Apple Engineer to Forbes 30 Under 30
• 04:56 Early Challenges and Lessons
• 08:09 The Pivot
• 09:55 Cracking Social Media
• 19:44 Kadama's Impact
• 21:46 Popular Subjects and Use Patterns
• 22:52 Personal Connections
• 27:37 Cheating
• 38:37 Tutor Quality Control
• 43:33 Future Plans

Links and further reading

• https://www.aminshaykho.com/
• https://www.kadama.com/

Eric Hudson is serious about creating meaningful learning, and his recent work has focused on AI in education. He says:

“How we frame AI for ourselves as educators will affect how we frame it for our students, and I believe strongly that how we talk to students about AI will have a lasting impact on how they see its role in their own lives.”

A few of our conversation topics:

• Students want to produce authentic and meaningful work (not just use ChatGPT for cheating).
• AI can serve as a tool for sparking ideas and offering 'positive friction' in the thinking process, ultimately enhancing the quality of student work.
• We should reimagine AI technologies as academic assistants rather than solely cheating mechanisms.
• AI has potential to empower students and enhance their work.

Eric is a facilitator and strategic advisor who supports schools in making sense of what’s changing in education. He specializes in learner-centered assessment, human-centered leadership, and strategic program design. Most recently, Eric spent a decade at Global Online Academy (GOA), first as an instructional coach and ultimately as Chief Program Officer, working with schools around the world to rethink where, when, and how learning happens. Prior to GOA, he spent 12 years in the classroom, where he developed his passion for designing learning experiences. Eric serves on the board of the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS) and writes the newsletter "Learning on Purpose" on Substack.

Highlights:

• 02:17 Eric’s Journey in Education and AI
• 03:43 Defining AI and Its Impact on Education
• 05:10 Exploring the Spectrum of AI in Education: From Skepticism to Empowerment
• 09:24 Navigating Academic Integrity and the Power of Productive Struggle with AI
• 12:30 Benefits of AI
• 18:42 Redefining Assistance: AI as a Tool for Enhancing Learning
• 21:39 Assessment in the Age of AI: Rethinking Educational Goals
• 23:16 Exploring AI in Education: A Model for Learning
• 24:01 Positive Uses of AI in Classroom Settings
• 24:13 AI as a Catalyst for Inquiry-Based Learning
• 25:23 AI in Language Learning: Bridging Gaps and Building Tools
• 26:35 Integrating AI into Academic Content
• 27:46 The SAMR Model: Revisiting Educational Technology Frameworks
• 28:29 AI and Creativity: Enhancing the Brainstorming Process
• 33:39 Addressing Concerns: AI, Copyright, and Equity
• 37:24 Strategic AI Integration: Policies and Flexibility for School Leaders
• 39:48 Concluding Thoughts on AI's Role in Future Learning

Links and further reading

• Eric’s Substack: Learning on Purpose: https://erichudson.substack.com/
• Eric on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ejhudson/
• Po (Japanese translation bot: https://poe.com/JapaneseTutor
• SAMR model ed tech: https://www.edutopia.org/article/powerful-model-understanding-good-tech-integration/
• Article on AI being trained on writers’ work: https://crosscut.com/culture/2023/10/wa-authors-are-teaching-ai-how-write-without-their-consent
• Bloomberg study - racial bias in AI: https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2023-generative-ai-bias/

Ways We Learn is going even deeper into some of our topics by examining them in some short series! We'll start with AI.

Actually, we've already started! Our last episode was the first in this series: AI in Higher Ed with James Genone!  Next week's episode will feature Claire Zau on What's Next in AI.  And then we'll have Eric Hudson on to talk about AI policy and implementation in schools.

Find the next episode wherever you found this one, subscribe at welearn.fm, and always keep learning!

In our latest episode, Joe, Sean, and Brian welcome James Genone, former Head of Innovation at Minerva Project and now Head of Product and Operations at Atypical AI.

James shares his perspective on integrating AI into education. He discusses Minerva University's approach to adopting AI, highlighting its potential to take on the labor-intensive parts of education such as grading and providing consistent formative feedback, and emphasizing that the role of human guidance will still be important. He forecasts the future of AI in education, applauds its potential advantages, and shares his views on the challenges the industry may face. The conversation also explores how AI can help improve a student's learning and overall educational experience, and discusses the importance of familiarizing oneself with AI. And along the way we learn more about the unusual and innovative Minerva University.

From 2015 to 2023 James led product strategy for Minerva's academic partnerships, overseeing general education and curriculum development. He was formerly a philosophy professor, teaching and conducting research in the philosophy of mind and cognitive science.

00:54 Introduction and Background

01:46 James' Journey into Education

03:05 Transition from Academia to Minerva

04:39 Understanding Minerva's Vision and Approach

06:49 Exploring AI and its Potential in Education

09:42 The Impact of Generative AI on Education

10:15 The Role of AI in Higher Education Strategy

13:05 The Future of AI in Education

15:57 The Role of AI in Minerva's Education Approach

19:32 The Challenges and Opportunities of AI in Education

31:18 Getting Started with AI in Education

32:55 The Speed of Learning Generative AI

34:41 The Power of AI in Education

36:14 The Limitations of AI as a Tutor

43:27 The Future of AI in Education

55:11 The Role of AI in Writing and Thinking

58:30 Wrap-up

01:01:30 Bloopers!

Links and further reading:

https://www.minervaproject.com

https://www.minerva.edu

https://www.minervaproject.com/integrating-ai-white-paper/

https://www.atypicalai.com/

James Genone leads innovation at The Minerva Project. He joins us in our next episode to talk about Minerva University, his work with AI in education, and teaching today's students.