Taking the Wheel – How Students and Teachers Are Driving AI in Schools | Ep. 45

Overview:

In this episode of ChatEDU (Taking the Wheel – How Students and Teachers Are Driving AI in Schools), Matt and Liz explore how educators and students are leveraging AI to enhance learning, rather than being passive recipients of AI-driven tools. From workforce trends to assessment feedback, they break down the latest research and real-world applications of AI in classrooms.

In the News:

- AI in the Workforce: A new study reveals how AI is reshaping productivity, benefiting younger, highly-educated, and high-income workers the most. How should schools respond to this shift?

- AI and Feedback in Education: Generative AI can provide instant, data-driven feedback, but is it missing the critical human element of recognition? A new study explores the distinction between AI-driven and human-driven feedback.

Beneath the Surface:

Educators Leading the Charge in AI Adoption

- Schools across the country are banding together to explore best practices for AI integration.

- Projects in Denver, the Bronx, Wisconsin, and Boston showcase how AI is supporting civics education, multilingual learners, and student interview preparation.

- A major takeaway? AI is most powerful when students and teachers actively shape its use, rather than being passive users.

Short Stack Chat Back:

FDR on Smart Leadership: "I’m not the smartest fellow in the world, but I sure can pick smart colleagues."

Bright Bytes – AI for Good:

- AI & Healthcare: AI-assisted screening speeds up clinical trials for heart failure treatments without introducing demographic bias.

- AI & the Environment: AI-powered sonar helps locate and remove abandoned "ghost nets," reducing harm to marine life.

Related Links:

AI in the Workforce Study –https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5136877

AI and Feedback Study –
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02602938.2025.2459641?af=R

Educators Leading the Charge in AI Adoptionhttps://www.edsurge.com/news/2025-02-10-these-schools-are-banding-together-to-make-better-use-of-ai-in-education

Learning Accelerator Blog on AI in Schools –
https://learningaccelerator.org/ai-powered-teaching-voices-from-the-school-teams-ai-collaborative/

Mass General Brigham Study on AI in Healthcare –
https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/newsroom/press-releases/ai-screening-for-clinical-trial-speeds-up-enrollment

Ghost Nets & AI-Powered Sonar –
https://digital.ecomagazine.com/articles/ai-sonar-technology-shines-in-ghost-net-recovery-efforts

Guardian Article on UK universities and ‘deepfake’ applicants – https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/feb/12/uk-universities-automating-interviews-face-deepfake-applicants

Older AI Models Study:

https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/older-ai-models-show-signs-of-cognitive-decline-study-shows

Announcements:

Join the next cohort of ChatEDU’s AI in K-12 Education Micro-Credential starting April 14th. Visitskills21.org/ai/micro for details and group discounts.

Our Episode Sponsor: National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing –https://www.nextgenmfg.org

Get in Touch:

Have a question or comment? Email Matt and Liz at ChatEDU@edadvance.org. Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform.