In this episode of ChatEDU (A Talk with the Boss - The Jonathan Costa Interview), Matt and Liz interview Jonathan Costa, the Executive Director of EdAdvance. They discuss the impact of AI on education and Jonathan's vision for the future of learning. The three have a great conversation on a range of topics including:
AI and Education
EdAdvance's approach: Using AI to improve service quality and efficiency internally, while helping districts rethink public education through an AI lens
Vision for AI in education: Improving quality of work rather than eliminating positions
Challenges: Adapting curriculum and assessment to an AI-integrated world
Rethinking Education
Need to reduce curriculum content by approximately 50%
Focus on teaching "durable" skills that can't be easily replicated by AI
Importance of self-directed learning and mastery of skills
Shift from "just in case" to "just in time" learning
Assessment and Accountability
Current assessment methods are a significant barrier to educational improvement
Need to align assessment with skills that matter most for future success
Challenge of changing public perception about educational accountability
AI in Personal Life
Jonathan discusses how AI has impacted his hobbies: golf, gym workouts, and cycling
AI tools can help set goals and track progress in various areas of life
Advice for Educators
Embrace AI and don't be afraid to make mistakes
Focus on where students are going rather than where education has been
Use AI to encourage student interest and skill development
Closing Thoughts
