Year in review: Merriam-Webster word 'slop'

In this episode of ChatEDU (Signals in the Noise – The Stories That Kept Popping Up on ChatEDU), Matt and Liz reflect on 2025’s defining AI themes, invite listener voice memos as ChatEDU nears episode 100, and close with a sharp Bright Byte editorial.

Rundown

School AI Flags Clarinet as Gun

A Florida school locked down after an AI system mistook a student’s clarinet for a rifle. Matt and Liz unpack what happens when AI surveillance gets it wrong.

How Students Are Using AI Agents

Data from 100M queries shows students use agentic AI for real academic work, not entertainment.

Wrong Answers Only

Anna Mills sparked a playful thread on AI doing your coursework. Liz shares the best replies and five agentic browser–proof ideas.

Portfolio Defense and the Rise of Real Assessment

Matt and Liz explore a shift toward student-led defenses, supported by tools like NotebookLM.

NotebookLM Chat History

The new chat history feature allows students to track AI conversations across devices.

NotebookLM May Soon Work Inside Gemini

Google may integrate NotebookLM into Gemini, enabling grounded notes in broader chats.

AI Literacy for All Majors

LSU’s student government is pushing for a free, noncredit AI certificate open to all students.

The One-Chatbot Classroom?

Niral Shah challenges “one bot per child,” with Matt and Liz pointing to collaborative AI learning instead.

AI Storytelling and Student Projects

From AI storytellers to student-built health apps, Matt and Liz show what meaningful AI learning looks like.

Beneath the Surface

Matt and Liz revisit key stories and themes from 2025, with help from Ethan Mollick and their custom NotebookLM.

Bright Byte: AI Hype Distracts Us from Important Breakthroughs

Flashy AI grabbed headlines, but Margaret Mitchell points to predictive AI as the real progress. Matt and Liz highlight why it matters.

Announcements and Sponsor

Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday

ASCD: https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn - discount code RADDAY30

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77

Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zw

The Winter Micro-Credential launches in January. Join educators from around the world for a six-week dive into AI literacy, pedagogy, assessment, and ethics. www.skills21.org/ai/micro

EdAdvance is offering their Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district. ​​www.skills21.org/ai/learnai

Interested in Skills21’s FREE social media literacy course? Check it out here - https://www.skills21.org/social-balance

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing is proud to partner with the National Applied Artificial Intelligence Consortium. Join educators at the NAAIC AI Summit:

February 19–20, 2026Miami Dade College, Downtown Miami⁠

www.naaic.ai⁠

Listener Call-Out

As ChatEDU approaches its 100th episode, Matt and Liz want to hear from you!Send in a short audio message: How has ChatEDU impacted your thinking or work?

Email your clip to: chatedu@edadvance.org

Links

AI Saw a Gun. It Was a Clarinet.

https://tinyurl.com/pvaxys3j

AI Agents: Early Evidence from Perplexity

https://tinyurl.com/mpd6yrx4

Anna Mills: AI Agents Wrong Answers

https://tinyurl.com/mvurrtzk

5 AI-Proof Assessment Ideas

https://tinyurl.com/5n7eah2v

Phillip Alcock on Notebook LM

https://tinyurl.com/5xz863u4

NotebookLM rolls out chat history, adds AI Ultra tier

https://tinyurl.com/2t4h8u8a

NotebookLM Comes to Gemini

https://tinyurl.com/47pmxa7b

LSU Students Push for AI Education

https://tinyurl.com/ytaumrmy

Why “One Chatbot per Child” Doesn’t Work

https://tinyurl.com/366s3fbc

Storyteller Is the Hottest New Job Title

https://tinyurl.com/3zmt4y6w

“AI Slop” Is Merriam-Webster’s 2025 Word

https://tinyurl.com/2s3up4yc

Wrapped Prompt

https://tinyurl.com/2eaxfy57

Mollick Year in Review

https://tinyurl.com/yhw7trav

The Shape of AI

https://tinyurl.com/ya2a4j6z

AI Hype Hides Real Breakthrough

hshttps://tinyurl.com/m36udesr