AI and the Natural Impulses for Learning

10 snips

Mar 18, 2025

Join Sean and Andrew as they dive into the fascinating intersection of AI and education, emphasizing the crucial role of educators in this tech-driven landscape. They tackle the hype surrounding AI subscriptions, cautioning against overpromising its capabilities. Drawing inspiration from philosopher John Dewey, they advocate for authentic learning experiences over traditional assessments. The duo also discusses how AI can enhance natural learning impulses, promoting curiosity and creativity while shaping more engaging classrooms.

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ANECDOTE

No Case

Sean Leahy never uses a phone case and has never broken a phone screen, despite drops.
He questions why many people encase their phones, hiding the design.

ANECDOTE

New Immersive Camera

Blackmagic is releasing a new $30,000 immersive camera, the URSA.
This will allow for easier creation of high-quality VR content.

INSIGHT

High AI Subscription Costs

OpenAI's rumored new premium AI service tiers cost up to $20,000 per month.
This raises questions about AI's value proposition and cost-effectiveness.

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In this episode, Sean Leahy and Andrew Maynard explore the impact of technology on everyday life and education. They discuss the rising costs and exaggerated hype surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) subscription services, and reflect thoughtfully on the potential consequences of overpromising on AI capabilities, emphasizing the need to strike a healthy balance between innovation and practical usefulness.

A significant focus of the conversation revolves around the transformative potential of AI in education. Sean and Andrew discuss how AI can enhance learning experiences, rather than merely replacing traditional methods. They highlight the crucial role educators play in thoughtfully integrating technology into the classroom and advocate for a care-centered approach to innovation, while briefly touching on TPACK and SAMR as existing frameworks for integrating emerging technology into educational environments.

Drawing inspiration from philosopher John Dewey and the four natural impulses of learners (1899), they emphasize the importance of shifting from traditional assessments toward performance-based, authentic learning experiences. Ultimately, this episode highlights the exciting possibilities AI offers for creating more engaging, meaningful, and human-centered educational environments.

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Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.edu

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @ModemFutura

Host Bios:

Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU Bio
Sean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.

Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU Bio
Andrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.

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