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

• Importance of collaboration and goodwill in navigating the AI transition in education

• Excitement about the potential for positive change in education through thoughtful AI integration