AI in Education Podcast

In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, hosts Dan and Ray welcome Peta-Anne Toohey, Social Reciprocity Manager at Indigital, Australia's first Indigenous-owned digital training company. Together they explore how generative AI intersects with Indigenous knowledge systems, and why cultural safety, data sovereignty, and community-led design must be central to any tech or education initiative. Peta shares powerful stories from her work in Cape York, where communities are building digital skills on Country through augmented reality, drones, and caring-for-country technologies. She unpacks what it means to create culturally safe technologies, how free, prior and informed consent should shape AI use, and why decolonising how we think about technology is essential for equity in education. It's a fascinating discussion on how AI can empower, or endanger, Indigenous communities, and what educators and universities can learn from truly collaborative design. Find Peta on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peta-anne-toohey/ Links - Organisations, people and projects mentioned InDigital - https://www.indigital.net.au/ Local Contexts - https://localcontexts.org/ Terri Janke - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terri_Janke Google's Indigenous Language Projects Google and language researchers team up to teach AI Aboriginal English https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/google-and-researchers-are-teaching-ai-aboriginal-english/1uuqtjkf8 Woolaroo: a new tool for exploring indigenous languages https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/arts-culture/woolaroo-new-tool-exploring-indigenous-languages/ Microsoft's Indigenous AI Projects Modis delivers first-of-its-kind Aboriginal language app to help break down communication barriers https://news.microsoft.com/en-au/features/modis-delivers-first-of-its-kind-aboriginal-language-app-to-help-break-down-communication-barriers/ AI technology helps protect sea turtle nests from feral pigs in north Queensland https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-18/turtle-feral-pig-threat-artificial-intelligence-science/13162536 AI transforms Kakadu management https://news.microsoft.com/en-au/features/ai-transforms-kakadu-management/

Inside the AI Classroom: Dan & Ray's Big AI-in-Education Download In this fast-paced news roundup, Dan and Ray dive head-first into the latest research and developments shaping AI in education. From MIT's Perspectives for the Perplexed guide for schools, to McKinsey's take on "agentic AI," to Google's LearnLM experiments with AI-powered textbooks, the duo unpack what every educator needs to know right now. They explore what's happening inside classrooms, universities, and edtech labs — including new findings on AI literacy, evolving assessment design, and why "policing AI use" misses the point. Plus, they debate the rise of AI-integrated browsers like ChatGPT Atlas, what it means for assessment integrity, and how tools like Microsoft Copilot are reshaping both teaching and admin work. It's the ultimate AI-in-education briefing — thoughtful, fast, and full of insights (and laughs) from two of the field's most passionate voices. Here's all the links to news and research mentioned in the podcast (and, most importantly) the Two Ronnies Fork Handles sketch! Fork Handles https://youtu.be/sO6EE1xTXmw?si=5Iix8Jo_xiZCRVCn News MIT "Guide to AI in Schools: Perspectives for the Perplexed" https://tsl.mit.edu/ai-guidebook/ https://tsl.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GuideToAIInSchools.pdf One year of agentic AI: Six lessons from the people doing the work https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/one-year-of-agentic-ai-six-lessons-from-the-people-doing-the-work OpenAI Atlas (and Perplexity Comet) https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-atlas/ An Opinionated Guide to Using AI Right Now https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/an-opinionated-guide-to-using-ai Google "Learn Your Way" pilot https://learnyourway.withgoogle.com/ Towards an AI-Augmented Textbook https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.13348 Experimentally Testing AI-Powered Content Transformations on Student Learning https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.18664 PEW Research into AI attitudes around the world https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/10/15/how-people-around-the-world-view-ai/ Copilot in Windows https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2025/10/16/making-every-windows-11-pc-an-ai-pc/ Copilot consumer updates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4jXM8yTdnQ&feature=youtu.be M365 Copilot Education updates https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/blog/2025/10/designing-microsoft-365-copilot-to-empower-educators-students-and-staff/?msockid=0a3b30f5f88b6061226e245bf9b96140 BBC: The lecturers learning to spot AI misconduct https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2kn3gn8vl9o UNE are rolling out their Madgwick AI system to all students https://www.linkedin.com/posts/aaronbdriver_aiineducation-highered-enterpriseai-activity-7378920493543845888-aZ3I Research The Bubble and Burner Model of AI-Infusion: A Framework for Teaching and Learning https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5501341 Firm or Fickle? Evaluating Large Language Models Consistency in Sequential Interactions https://aclanthology.org/2025.findings-acl.347/ GASLIGHTBENCH: Quantifying LLM Susceptibility to Social Prompting, https://openreview.net/forum?id=0BYRYwGCbK What does 'good teaching' mean in the AI age? https://journals.sfu.ca/jalt/index.php/jalt/article/view/3649 How university students work on assessment tasks with generative artificial intelligence: matters of judgement https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02602938.2025.2570328 AI Knows Best? The Paradox Of Expertise, Ai-Reliance, And Performance In Educational Tutoring Decision-Making Tasks http://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.16772v1

Becoming More Human in the Age of AI at University What happens when AI knows everything - and humans must rediscover what makes us unique? In this episode, host Ray Fleming sits down with Carlo Iacono, University Librarian at Charles Sturt University, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping not just libraries, but the very identity of education itself. Carlo shares how librarians are helping students and academics navigate AI's rapid rise - guiding them to think critically, question deeply, and find their authentic voice in an age of infinite information. Together, they unpack how AI is pushing universities to move beyond expertise and towards empathy, collaboration, and humility, and why becoming "more human" may be the most important skill of all. Read Carlo's writing on Hybrid Horizons: Exploring Human–AI Collaboration https://hybridhorizons.substack.com/ Follow Carlo on Twitter https://x.com/carloiaconowork You may also find the Charles Sturt University Library website on Generative AI at University really useful https://libguides.csu.edu.au/generativeAI

In this week's episode of the AI and Education Podcast, Ray and Dan dive into one of the most chaotic – and entertaining – weeks in AI news so far. From councils losing millions to AI-powered scams to the idea of having a "family safe word," this one swings between hilarious and hair-raising. They unpack what's new in AI assessment research - including TEQSA's AI guidance for universities, the "wicked problem" of AI and assessment, and why Turnitin's detection tools are under fire (again). You'll hear how South Australia's EdChat report shows teachers and students deepening their learning with AI, and which countries are quietly leading the world in classroom AI use (spoiler: it's not who you think). Plus, a few surprise stats on politeness and prompt-writing - turns out being rude to AI might actually get better results. We've just arrived on YouTube and TikTok! YT Channel - the podcast in video form, and Shorts https://www.youtube.com/@aiineducationpodcast TikTok https://tiktok.com/@aipodcast.educati Links to news items discussed AI Safety https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-14/noosa-council-scam-mayor-blames-ai-imitation/105887962 Mike Tholfsen's Microsoft 365 Copilot Tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbOJliF-Cn4 South Australia's Edchat Insights Report https://www.education.sa.gov.au/docs/ict/edchat-insights-report.pdf Enacting assessment reform in a time of artificial intelligence https://www.teqsa.gov.au/guides-resources/resources/corporate-publications/enacting-assessment-reform-time-artificial-intelligence And the link to 'Assessment reform for the age of artificial intelligence' - https://www.teqsa.gov.au/guides-resources/resources/corporate-publications/assessment-reform-age-artificial-intelligence Syracuse University gives Claude Education to all students and staff https://news.syr.edu/2025/09/22/syracuse-university-among-first-universities-to-provide-campuswide-ai-access-to-anthropics-claude-for-education/ Jordan - the whole country, one man chat app for education https://x.com/cryptoprio/status/1974040334737846279?s=46&t=p57lLRpTCXGNBiwhIjsl7Q California Community Colleges also rolling out Nectir to staff and students https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/10/06/california-community-colleges-ai-nectir-tutors 2025 "State of AI" report https://www.stateof.ai/ Oxford University Press report on AI use by UK school students https://fdslive.oup.com/www.oup.com/oxed/secondary/Teaching_the_AI_Native_Generation.pdf?internal=true OECD's latest Teaching and Learning International Survey https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/results-from-talis-2024_90df6235-en.html University wrongly accuses students of using artificial intelligence to cheat https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-09/artificial-intelligence-cheating-australian-catholic-university/105863524 ACU's checklist for spotting AI written text: https://staff.acu.edu.au/our_university/news/2025/march/turnitin-ai-indicator-tool And in researching this, I also stumbled across the Wikipedia page "Signs of AI Writing" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signs_of_AI_writing And that includes things like "LLMs overuse the rule of three - 'the good, the bad and the ugly'"; the use of Title Case; and our old friends em dashes and emojis. And if you really want to go down the rabbit hole, read the 'Talk' tab on that page, were people are discussing their own opinions/beliefs on this. Research The wicked problem of AI and assessment https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02602938.2025.2553340 Reimagining the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale: A refined framework for educational assessment https://open-publishing.org/journals/index.php/jutlp/article/view/1707 Assessment Twins: A Protocol for AI-Vulnerable Summative Assessment https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.02929 Heads we win, tails you lose: AI detectors in education. https://osf.io/preprints/edarxiv/93w6j_v1 What Does YouTube Advise Students About Bypassing AIText Detection Tools? A Pragmatic Analysis https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s10805-025-09675-3? sharing_token=kzKMqOrKt2K7wqe8A4GjkPe4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY4_QVVFXJUooOb6QsKcPKSMAsHQtQeY4Cum-OXBICfYzSVfT9TAv2Z95XVx8D3vm13plNOq1vh5iCbse0XidDrUCW182PR7BzDUTrlz7Gv1UGB5U-ao_gJKy9vc-WRHd_U%3D Mind Your Tone: Investigating How Prompt Politeness Affects LLM Accuracy https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.04950

Dr. Rebecca Marrone, a lecturer and researcher from the University of South Australia, dives into the intersection of AI, creativity, and wellbeing in education. She discusses how AI can alleviate teacher burnout by enhancing autonomy and building literacy. The conversation highlights the dual-use potential of AI for wellbeing, while addressing ethical concerns like data privacy. Marrone critiques studies on creativity, shares insights on automating assessments of soft skills, and emphasizes the importance of teaching responsible AI use in schools to navigate its complexities.

This week, Dan and Ray bring a whirlwind of AI news, research, and reflection from across the education world. From South Australia and New South Wales announcing state-wide AI chatbot rollouts for schools, to Oxford University embracing ChatGPT Education for all staff and students, the scale of adoption is hard to ignore. The hosts explore what these bold moves mean for schools, universities, and the future of assessment. They highlight contrasts between Australia's rapid school-level deployments and the slower university approach, and compare these with global examples such as Arizona State University's 158,000-student rollout. The conversation doesn't stop at institutions. Ray and Dan unpack new releases from Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google - including multi-model Copilot, parental controls in ChatGPT, and the startling realism of Sora 2 videos. They also reflect on recent surveys showing student demand for clearer AI guidance. Packed with insights, surprises, and a few laughs, this episode shows why AI in education is evolving faster than ever. Links and References News SA High Schools get EdChat for all students https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-15/education-chat-gpt-style-ai-app-to-roll-out-to-sa-high-schools/105772944 NSW EduChat for all staff and students in Years 5 to 12 in NSW government schools https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO7VOVNiAGA/?igsh=YzdlOHlvajFsMmMw ASU signs up for ChatGPT Edu for every staff member, researcher and student https://tech.asu.edu/features/asu-and-openai-expand-collaboration-scaling-ai UNSW signs Australia's biggest education deal with OpenAI to roll out ChatGPT to staff https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2025/09/unsw-sydney-inks-australias-biggest-chatgpt-edu-deal-with-openai Oxford University in the UK just announced they'd do it for all staff and students https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-09-19-oxford-becomes-first-uk-university-offer-chatgpt-edu-all-staff-and-students Google signs up 2 million students and staff via California Community Colleges https://www.cccco.edu/About-Us/News-and-Media/Press-Releases/2025-ai-partnership-with-google Microsoft M365 Copilot Chat now free in Office apps https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/use-copilot-chat-in-microsoft-365-apps-676db5e8-9568-4bdb-bf0b-e207e29e056b Copilot now allows Claude/Anthropic models for Researcher & Agents https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/blog/copilot-studio/anthropic-joins-the-multi-model-lineup-in-microsoft-copilot-studio/ OpenAI launch parental controls for ChatGPT https://x.com/openai/status/1972604360204210600?s=46&t=p57lLRpTCXGNBiwhIjsl7Q OpenAI release Sora2 OpenAI on X: https://t.co/QHDxq6ubGt OpenAI Prompt Packs https://academy.openai.com/public/tags/prompt-packs-6849a0f98c613939acef841c Prompt Guides for education: K12 IT Managers https://academy.openai.com/public/blogs/k-12-prompt-pack-for-it-staff Faculty https://academy.openai.com/public/clubs/higher-education-05x4z/resources/prompt-pack-for-faculty School administrators https://academy.openai.com/public/clubs/higher-education-05x4z/resources/prompt-pack-for-administrators Google Homework Help story https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/09/18/google-homework-help-ai-cheating-schools-colleges/ Google is indexing ChatGPT conversations, potentially exposing sensitive user data https://www.fastcompany.com/91376687/google-indexing-chatgpt-conversations IPSOS Education Monitor https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2025-08/Education_Monitor_AU_country_2025_v1.pdf You gov survey on UK student use of AI https://yougov.co.uk/society/articles/52855-how-are-uk-students-really-using-ai Exam Hack AI https://examhackai.site/ Arden University students get AI detector shut down https://www.ardenstudents.org/news/article/6013/Turnitin-AI-Detector-Shut-it-down/ Research Prompt Injection Attacks on LLM Generated Reviews of Scientific Publications https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.10248v2 The Transparency Dilemma: How AI disclosure erodes trust https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597825000172

David Yip, a former Salesforce Director for Education in APAC and founder of alumly, discusses the crucial intersection of education and AI. He emphasizes the need to adapt educational models to integrate learning with earning, advocating for earn-while-you-learn initiatives. David highlights the importance of embedding inquiry skills in K-12 education and argues for bold reforms to scale educational impact. He also addresses the challenges of unpaid internships, promoting micro-internships to enhance real-world experience for students.

In this news and research episode, Ray and Dan unpack a whirlwind of global developments in AI and education. From major US announcements, like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon offering free AI tools and training for students, to Australia's push for sovereign AI infrastructure, it's clear the AI education landscape is shifting fast. They explore the massive copyright settlement involving Anthropic and the controversial Books3 dataset, dig into what AI is actually trained on, and consider the implications of training data transparency. They also spotlight Georgia Tech's Jill Watson project and a new study comparing different RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) strategies (essential reading for anyone building AI tutors or educational bots?) Plus: Google's AI Quests, Australia's new social media ban for under-16s, OpenAI's new certifications, and a growing global interest in culturally specific AI models. News - Links White House AI Education Task Force https://www.theverge.com/policy/772084/amazon-google-microsoft-white-house-ai-education Key tech company commitments announced: Microsoft: https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2025/09/04/new-white-house-commitments/ Google: https://ai.google/literacy https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/ai-education-efforts/ Amazon: https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/policy-news-views/how-amazon-is-supporting-the-white-houses-ai-education-initiatives Digital Education Council's "AI in the Workplace 2025" report https://www.digitaleducationcouncil.com/post/ai-in-the-workplace-2025 Microsoft becomes best buddies with Anthropic https://www.computerworld.com/article/4054738/microsoft-to-tap-anthropic-for-office-365-as-enterprises-weigh-risks-of-ai-lock-in.html https://developers.slashdot.org/story/25/09/17/1927233/microsoft-favors-anthropic-over-openai-for-visual-studio-code Anthropic settled copyright lawsuit https://www-pbs-org.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/nation/anthropic-to-pay-authors-1-5b-in-landmark-settlement-over-pirated-chatbot-training-material OpenAI announces new certification https://openai.com/index/expanding-economic-opportunity-with-ai/ Greece give ChatGPT Edu to high school students https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/greece-openai-agree-deal-boost-150237148.html OpenAI's Global Faculty AI Project https://academy.openai.com/public/resources/the-global-faculty-ai-project-2025-09-04 Some of the ideas that are there include: Brinnae Bent, PhD (Duke University) on "Hack Your Grade," an experiential assignment where students try to outsmart a chatbot, building AI literacy and critical thinking through hands-on practice. David J. Malan (Harvard University) on creating a "virtual rubber duck" (Dan, do you know what 'rubber ducking' is?) debugging system that guides computer science students instead of giving them the answers. andre j. hermann (Houston City College) on using AI in the photo studio to design real-world assignments that teach both technical craft and career skills like creative briefs, brainstorming, and execution. Marcos Rojas Pino, MD (Stanford University) on Clinical Mind AI, which grew from a custom GPT into a multilingual simulation platform to run realistic patient encounters, making high-quality clinical reasoning training accessible to all health professions students. Google launches AI Quests to teach AI literacy to students aged 11 to 14 https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/ai-quests/ https://research.google/ai-quests/intl/en_gb Australian eSafety changes on social media (and potentially AI) https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/age-assurance-technology-needed-to-protect-teens-from-ai-chatbots-20250909-p5mtln Sovereign Australia AI launch https://www.afr.com/technology/we-can-do-it-for-under-100m-start-up-joins-race-to-build-local-chatgpt-20250908-p5mt5o Research - Links Georgia Tech's Jill Watson Outperforms ChatGPT in Real Classrooms https://research.gatech.edu/georgia-techs-jill-watson-outperforms-chatgpt-real-classrooms Aligning LLMs for the Classroom with Knowledge-Based Retrieval -- A Comparative RAG Study https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.07846

In this weeks podcast Dan and Ray have a conversation about education with Dr Simon Breakspear. Simon is a globally respected expert in educational leadership and innovation, known for his insightful work on transforming learning environments. His forward thinking ideas around education are reshaping the way schools and school systems are thinking about teaching, learning and leadership. In this episode we talk about: Distinction Between Productivity and Pedagogical Uses of AI: Simon, Dan, and Ray discussed the critical distinction between using AI for productivity tasks in education (such as administrative work and report summarisation) and for pedagogical purposes, emphasising that while AI can greatly enhance productivity for adults, its use in learning processes for students requires careful consideration to avoid undermining cognitive development. Human Development and the Role of Analogue Learning: Simon argued that foundational human development—such as reading, writing, and critical thinking—should precede the use of AI in learning, with Dan and Ray supporting the view that analogue learning experiences are crucial for building the cognitive and personal skills necessary for effective future use of AI. Guidance for School Leaders and Teachers on Navigating AI Integration: Ray and Dan sought practical advice from Simon for school leaders and teachers facing pressure to adopt AI, with Simon recommending a cautious, evidence-based approach that prioritises human development, leverages AI for productivity gains, and introduces AI into learning processes only where it demonstrably enhances educational outcomes. Changing Role of Teachers in the Age of AI: Ray questions whether the role of teachers must change with AI, and Simon responded that while some administrative tasks may be automated, the core human functions of teaching—motivating, engaging, and forming students—will become even more critical, with teachers needing to exercise professional judgement about when and how to use AI in the classroom. Ethical and Equity Considerations in AI Adoption: Dan and Simon discussed the ethical implications and potential inequities arising from AI adoption in education, highlighting concerns that uneven access and premature augmentation could disadvantage certain groups of students and create disparities in skills and opportunities. Practical Strategies for Selective AI Integration: Simon provided practical strategies for integrating AI into education, recommending that schools focus on specific, evidence-based learning processes where AI can add value, such as feedback and retrieval practice, and to avoid being overwhelmed by the proliferation of AI tools. Long-Term Purpose of Education Amidst Technological Change: Simon concluded that the ultimate goal of education is not solely economic productivity but the holistic formation of human beings, arguing that enduring human skills, identity, and community are essential for resilience in an unpredictable future, regardless of technological advancements. Links: Dr Simon Breakspear | Speaker. Author. Researcher. The pruning principle: The Pruning Principle: Mastering the Art of Strategic Subtraction Within Education : Breakspear, Dr Simon, Rosenbrock, Michael: Amazon.com.au: Books Research and Historical References Mentioned • Learning Science & Cognitive Development: Simon referenced the work of Kirschner and Sweller on learning as a change in long-term memory, including declarative and procedural knowledge. Rethinking Cognitive Load Theory for Collaborative Learning - kirschner-ED • Lindy Effect (Nassim Taleb): Simon discusses the Lindy effect, suggesting that things valuable for a long time (like bicycles or spoons) are likely to remain valuable, as a way to think about educational priorities amid rapid technological change. Lindy effect - Wikipedia • Daisy Christodoulou: Simon cites Daisy Christodoulou's perspective that while AI may be a better writer, it cannot know what you actually think, emphasizing the importance of writing as a way to learn how to think. Welcome - Daisy Christodoulou | 21st century skills: what are they and how can we teach them? Daisy Christodoulou • Historical Technology Adoption in Education: Simon refers to the rollout of one-to-one devices and mobile phones in schools, highlighting unintended consequences for attention and learning, and drawing lessons for AI adoption. NSW Government begins mobile phone ban in public high schools • Mathematics Education Practice: Simon references the established practice of delaying calculator use in mathematics until foundational skills are developed, as an analogy for AI use in learning. Calculator Use - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics • DeepMind CEO on Coding: Simon mentions a recent interview with the CEO of DeepMind, who argues that understanding how things work is necessary, even if AI can code better than humans. Google's DeepMind CEO says there are bigger risks to worry about than AI taking our jobs

Delve into the fascinating world where AI tools meet education. Discover how features like study modes raise ethical questions on academic honesty. Explore Google's innovative NanoBanana image editor and its potential to shape perceptions of reality. Learn about Corella, the AI assistant designed to lighten teachers' workloads in Australia. Plus, hear about groundbreaking research predicting that a staggering 95% of AI projects fail and how students might leverage AI tools like Grammarly to challenge traditional grading.