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How AI Transforms Learning - with former Harvard professor and dean Stephen Kosslyn

Oct 16, 2024

Stephen Kosslyn, a former Harvard professor and dean, now leads AI-driven educational startups. He discusses the transformative potential of AI in learning, emphasizing 'learning by using' for better retention and creative application. Kosslyn explains how AI acts as a cognitive amplifier but notes its limitations in handling complex, open-ended problems. He also highlights the enduring importance of the humanities, offering insights from his upcoming book on flourishing in the age of AI, where human creativity and technology intersect in education.

01:00:19

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Episode guests

Stephen Kosslyn

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Quick takeaways

Stephen Kosslyn emphasizes that active learning, through engaging methods like debates and problem-solving, significantly enhances knowledge retention compared to passive learning methods.

AI serves as a cognitive amplifier in education, enabling learners to manage complex tasks and optimize their critical and creative thinking skills.

Kosslyn highlights the enduring value of the humanities, advocating for an integrated educational approach that fosters creativity and critical thinking alongside technological advancements.

Deep dives

Active Learning Redefined

Active learning is best described as learning by using rather than simply learning by doing. The concept emphasizes the need for learners to engage with material in a purposeful manner to achieve specific learning objectives. Through activities such as debates, problem-solving, and role-playing, learners can make information come alive and be more applicable in real-world situations. This approach contrasts sharply with passive learning, which often fails to create lasting understanding and retention, resulting in a significant loss of information soon after the initial exposure.

Intro

4min

The Evolution of AI in Education

5min

AI as Cognitive Amplifiers: Enhancing Learning and Creativity

27min

Exploring Disinterest in Genuine Learning

3min

AI-Driven Learning Strategies

11min

Enhancing Learning Through AI and Deep Processing

8min

Leveraging AI for Enhanced Context in Entrepreneurship

2min

In this episode, we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Stephen Kosslyn, former Harvard professor and dean, who has spent decades at the forefront of psychology, neurology, and educational sciences. Kosslyn shares his journey from academia to leading AI-driven educational startups, highlighting the critical differences between passive and active learning. He emphasizes the importance of 'learning by using'—a method where knowledge is applied in real-world, open-ended situations, which leads to better retention and creative application.
Kosslyn discusses how AI can serve as a cognitive amplifier, helping learners by storing vast amounts of information and enhancing critical and creative thinking. He also addresses the limitations of AI in handling context-specific, open-ended problems, which humans still navigate better. Drawing from his extensive experience, Kosslyn shares insights from his upcoming book, 'Learning to Flourish in the Age of AI,' set to be released in December. He underscores the enduring value of the humanities in an AI-driven world. This episode offers deep insights into the future of learning, where AI and human creativity intersect, fostering a new era of education.

00:00 Introduction to Stephen Kosslyn and His Career
01:01 Active Learning
02:08 Retention in Learning
03:40 AI's Impact on Learning
04:18 Early AI Experiences
09:56 Cognitive Amplifier Loop
15:09 AI in Learning: Challenges & Potential
23:18 AI Personalization Complexity
28:45 Transfer Problem in Learning
30:55 Problem-Solving & Cognitive Limits
31:58 Evolutionary Learning & AI in Creativity
35:45 AI Context Switching Challenges
37:34 Student Motivation
39:50 Innovative Teaching Methods
42:22 Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation
54:11 Humanities in Learning
55:36 Final Thoughts & Reflections

📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of How AI Transforms Learning - with former Harvard professor and dean Stephen Kosslyn |

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Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.

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