Hosts reflect with Chris Dede, Yong Zhao, Lydia Cao & Punya Mishra 

Join researchers Thomas Breideband, William R. Penuel, and Mai T. Vu as they envision the future of classrooms through AI collaboration. They discuss the transition from traditional learning to interactive, collaborative environments where students and AI partners tackle real-world challenges together. Insights include how AI can empower students, enhance critical thinking, and promote diverse, engaging educational experiences. The trio also examines innovative assessment methods that align with modern education goals, urging educators to embrace AI as a valuable ally.

Charity Freeman, an advocate for inclusive educational technologies, H. Chad Lane, an AI education expert, and researcher Blair Lehman discuss the INVITE AI Institute's mission to tackle education inequities. They explore the integration of emotional intelligence in learning for marginalized students and how teachers can co-design AI tools. The conversation emphasizes fostering persistence in learners and the significance of human-AI collaboration. Their vision aims to create personalized, culturally responsive educational experiences to enhance engagement and success for all.

Open Education at Scale: Stories from the Open University of ChinaAnyone seeking a degree from a higher education institution today realizes that learning is more open and available (often for free) with the push of a button or blink of an eye. Not surprisingly, there are seemingly countless words that have sprung up to describe this increasingly "open" world. There are open access journals, open educational resources (OER), opencourseware (OCW), open teaching, open pedagogy, open educational services, open education practices, open-source software, and open universities. Clearly, there is a push toward open forms of education. This newfound sea of openness is moving us from an age of information scarcity to one of information abundance. Enter the Open University of China (OUC). The OUC is one of the largest open universities in the world, with an enrollment of five million adult learners for higher education and 20 million elderly learners. The OUC is dedicated to providing its learners with a wide range of educational opportunities and learning resources. The advance of digitalization has brought many opportunities for the development of the OUC, and challenges as well. We will share our understanding of these opportunities and challenges in this episode. We will also present an AI-supported language English teaching innovation project initiated by the Faculty of Foreign Languages at OUC. The project aims to promote large-scale and personalized learning with the integration of AI technologies. Join us for Episode #206 of Silver Lining for Learning and discover what makes OUC so unique and important in the lives of millions of people.Dr Li Wei is an associate researcher and serves as Director of Department of Learning Resources of the Open University of China, and Deputy Secretary General of the Scientific Research Institute Working Committee of the Chinese Association of Adult Education. Her research areas include lifelong learning, online education, and digital resources. Dr. Li Wei has published five monographs, including "OECD and the Development of Lifelong Learning for All" and "Comparative Study of the World Open Universities." She has published more than 30 SSCI and CSSCI papers, led 6 national projects from the Ministry of Education, and participated in the drafting of more than 10 policies on lifelong education and continuing education. Dr. Li Wei won the Best Paper Award of the 26th ICDE World Congress and the National Young Adult Education Academic Scholar in China. She can be reached at: liwei@ouchn.edu.cn.Dr. Qi Li is Vice-Chair of the Department of English, Faculty of Foreign Languages, at the Open University of China. She is a lecturer of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). She teaches EFL courses to both English and non-English majors at college levels. Qi Li’s research focuses on technology-enhanced language teaching and learning, CALL teacher education, and AI and open education. Before that, she received her PhD from Indiana University Bloomington, U.S.A., where she majored in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education, and minored in Instructional System Technology. Her dissertation project was a design-based research study of building an optimal language learning environment by integrating multiple technologies to support authentic input, sufficient output, timely feedback, and personalized learning. Dr. Qi Li can be reached be at sophia.liqi@hotmail.com or at liq@ouchn.edu.cn.  

Dr. Shameem Farouk, Executive Vice-President at Maybank, discusses the transformative power of AI in workforce development. She highlights the importance of digital inclusion to close the skills gap, and shares Maybank's initiatives to reskill employees in the face of digital banking challenges. The conversation delves into empowering women in tech, emphasizing the role of inclusive training programs. Dr. Farouk also explores innovative approaches to create a growth mindset among employees, ensuring they adapt to rapid technological changes.

Episode #204 of Silver Lining for Learning will explore global citizenship education (GCE) broadly, and education on the Thai/Myanmar border specifically. Andrew Swindell and Wanida Lertvorapreecha Chong will discuss how migrant and ethnic-minority communities access quality and inclusive education on the Thai/Myanmar border as well as a few specific projects that they have worked on together. During their collaborations, they have examined how global, national, and local citizenship themes are represented in curriculum materials being used in schools with migrant students along the Thai/Myanmar border. In their research, they have found that Thai government school materials are strongly oriented towards national Thai citizenship whereas the internationally produced Open Education Resources (OERs) digital materials are more oriented towards global citizenship. In addition, they have written a digital GCE K-6 curriculum that is currently being used in migrant learning centers (MLCs) along the border. Importantly, during the SLL episode, Wanida and Andrew will talk about the curriculum development process and what GCE looks like in the context of migration. In addition, they will discuss mixed-methods program impact research they collaborated on over the past year on Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) initiatives across northern Thailand. Finally, Wanida wrote her dissertation on multicultural education and GCE focusing on this region, and will speak to the larger education situation there, particularly around migrant and ethnic-minority access to quality and inclusive education.Andrew Swindell has over 15 years of experience in international development, education, and research, and is passionate about advancing inclusive and quality education for all learners. He holds a PhD in Social Science and Comparative Education from UCLA and has worked in both online and in-person settings across the USA, Bangladesh, Liberia, Thailand, and Myanmar, specializing in emergency and forced migration contexts. He has published on topics like AI, digital literacy, education in emergencies, and curriculum studies in both popular and academic outlets, demonstrating an ability to convey rigorous evidence-based findings and complex ideas in varied formats for different audiences. He currently serves as a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) consultant with education NGOs based in Thailand where he investigates multilingual education for migrant and ethnic-minority students. He has also worked as a K-12 teacher and his other research interests include online and digital learning, AI, and global citizenship. His career has been driven by a commitment to making education work better for all people, guided by principles of compassion and human dignity. More on Andrew can be found in LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/swindellandrew/ and he can be contacted at: aswindell@ucla.edu.Wanida Lertvorapreecha Chong is currently a part-time lecturer at Maejo University, in the North of Thailand with seven years of full-time position teaching experience working at the Faculty of Liberal Arts. She is from Thailand and earned her PhD in Multicultural Education from Chiang Mai University. Her work focuses on the study of migrant education and global citizenship education on the border of Thailand and Myanmar. She enjoys collaborating with migrant teachers in designing the Thai curriculum that is meaningful and relevant to the migrant community. She has served as a board member for Child Dream Foundation and been actively coordinating with any projects related to migrant education. Wanida aspires to work as an International Student and Scholar Services Advisor (ISSS) in Florida. You can find out more about Wanida at https://www.linkedin.com/in/wanida-chong-58aa13255/ and she can be contacted at: wanida.lertchong@gmail.com.

Explore a revolutionary educational model that prioritizes real-world, project-based learning. Discover the founders' journeys from traditional methods to creating a nurturing environment for diverse students. Learn about innovative alternative education approaches showcased at a conference and the significance of community-centered teaching. Hear insights on the importance of personalizing education and fostering emotional growth. Plus, the impact of global experiences on student learning is highlighted, emphasizing the power of meaningful connections in education.

Ep 202 | Hosts reflect with Chris Dede, Curt Bonk & Lydia Cao

The discussion features Merve Basdogan, an expert in educational technology; Marie Heath, a visionary in innovative learning; Seyedahmad Rahimi, a thought leader in tech education; and Priyank Sharma, a professional enhancing learning experiences. They explore how technology will reshape classrooms and the importance of creativity in education. Topics include fostering civic engagement, rethinking assessments for personal growth, and envisioning future learning technologies by 2030, all while advocating for equitable approaches in education.

Celebrating our 200th episode of the Silver Lining for Learning (SLL) webinar series is a milestone that speaks for itself. Over the past four years, we've had the privilege of hosting educators, students, and innovators from around the world, sharing insights on the future of learning and the role of technology in education. Guests have come from countries around the world and every educational sector with many utilizing forms of digitally enhanced learning and instruction to make a significant local or global impact. Notably, these podcast episodes are now more accessible to people on the go, since they can be listened to while engaging in other tasks, rather than watched over YouTube. This expansion in educational delivery formats has allowed for greater visibility for SLL across the globe.Thus far, the guests have included prominent educators, educational leaders, practitioners from Facebook (now Meta), Google for Education, the World Bank, UNESCO, Sesame Street, Contact North in Ontario, Quality Matters, several open universities, and many others. These guests have come from places like Italy, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Bhutan, Myanmar, Antarctica, Finland, the UK, France, Bangladesh, Egypt, China, Canada, Chile, Afghanistan, Australia, Greece, Peru, New Zealand, Korea, Israel, Gaza, Mexico, Malaysia, Puerto Rico, Nepal, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Thailand. SLL has touched on a broad range of topics including student autonomy and self-determination, remote learning, novel learning organizations, pioneering curricula and programs, school reform, grassroots innovations in teaching and learning, cross-cultural collaboration, and assorted ground-breaking pedagogical and technological inventions. No matter the location, topic, or initiative featured, each episode has contributed to a rich tapestry of knowledge and experience.Some of the most exciting shows have featured passionate students working on meaningful projects while others have shown the spotlight on award-winning educators pioneering creative teaching methods and emerging digital technologies in challenging environments. Each conversation has offered a unique perspective on transforming education, making these 200 episodes a valuable resource for anyone interested in the evolving landscape of learning. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to continuing these important conversations and inspiring change in the education community.We feel most fortunate to have had SLL recognized for several awards and recognitions over the past couple of years. It is hard to believe that we are in the fifth season of SLL. Each episode requires extensive planning, networking, coordination, and creativity.This episode is also a testament to the dedication and synergy of our hosting team: Chris Dede, Curt Bonk, Punya Mishra, and Yong Zhao. Not to be forgotten are two of our starter members Shuangye Chen and Scott McLeod. And last but not the least, our newest co-host Lydia Cao. Over these four years, we've thoroughly enjoyed collaborating on this entirely unfunded project, driven by our shared passion for education and curiosity about the future of learning. Each episode has been a labor of love, reflecting our commitment to exploring and sharing innovative ideas in education.For our 200th episode, we are thrilled to welcome two distinguished emeritus faculty members, David Berliner from Arizona State University and Tom Reeves from the University of Georgia. David is renowned for his extensive research in educational psychology and has significantly contributed to understanding teaching and learning processes. Tom Reeves, a leading figure in educational technology, has dedicated his career to improving educational practice through innovative research and development. Their participation will not only help us celebrate this milestone but also provide valuable insights and wisdom, enhancing our discussions on the future of education.About our guests David BerlinerDavid Berliner is a Regents Professor Emeritus in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College in the division of educational leadership and policy studies. He has taught at the universities of Arizona and Massachusetts, and Stanford University, as well as at universities in Australia, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. Professor Berliner is a member of the National Academy of Education, a fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, and a past president of both the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the Division of Educational Psychology of the American Psychological Association (APA). He is the recipient of awards for distinguished contributions from APA, AERA, and the National Education Association (NEA). He received the AERA's Outstanding Public Communication of Education Research Award in 2016.Professor Berliner has authored more than 200 published articles, technical reports, and book chapters.  Among his well-recognized works is the best seller "The manufactured crisis,"  coauthored (with B. J. Biddle). He was also of the coauthor (with Ursula Casanova) of "Putting research to work," and coauthor (with N. L. Gage) of the textbook "Educational psychology," now in its 6th edition. He is coeditor of the first "Handbook of educational psychology" and the books "Talks to teachers, and Perspectives on instructional time." His book, "Collateral damage" (with Sharon Nichols) is about the corruption of professional educators through high-stakes testing. His most recent book, "50 Myths and Lies that Threaten American's Public Schools," was co-authored with Gene V. Glass and students in 2014.Tom ReevesThomas (Tom) C. Reeves, PhD is Professor Emeritus of Learning Design and Technology in the Mary Frances Early College of Education at The University of Georgia. Professor Reeves has designed and evaluated numerous interactive learning programs and projects. In recognition of these efforts, in 2003 he received the AACE Fellowship Award, in 2010 he was made an ASCILITE Fellow, and in 2013 he received the AECT David H. Jonassen Excellence in Research Award. He was a Fulbright Lecturer in Peru and has given invited presentations in the USA and more than 30 other countries, including Australia which is one of Tom's favorite places. He is the former editor of the Journal of Interactive Learning Research, and the author of nearly 200 scholarly papers. His co-authored books include Interactive Learning Systems Evaluation (with John Hedberg), A Guide to Authentic E-Learning (with Jan Herrington and Ron Oliver), Conducting Educational Design Research (with Susan McKenney; two editions), MOOCs and Open Education Around the World (with Curt Bonk, Mimi Lee, and Tom Reynolds), and MOOCs and Open Education in the Global South (with Ke Zhang, Curt Bonk, and Tom Reynolds). His research interests encompass educational technology in developing countries, authentic tasks for learning, educational design research, medical and public health education, and prison education. Tom currently lives at The Spires at Berry College in Rome, Georgia with his wife, Patricia M. Reeves, Professor Emerita of Social Work at The University of Georgia, and their West Highland Terrier, Button. He can be reached at treeves@uga.edu and his homepage can be found at http://www.evaluateitnow.com/.