Class Disrupted

In this episode of Class Disrupted, hosts Michael Horn and Diane Tavenner chat with Rebecca Winthrop, a senior fellow and director at the Brookings Institution, about the impact of AI on education. The conversation kicks off by highlighting Rebecca’s idea of a premortem approach, which involves anticipating the negative impacts of AI before they occur and strategizing ways to mitigate these risks. They identify key concerns such as cognitive offloading, manipulation, and the effects on socialization and consider how this technology might catalyze a rethinking of the purpose of education. https://archive.org/download/winthrop-video/Winthrop%20Video.mp3 Episode transcript: The Premortem on AI by Rebecca WinthropDownload

In this episode, Diane Tavenner and Michael Horn delve into the role of AI in writing education with Jane Rosenzweig, director of the Harvard College Writing Center. Jane underscores the importance of writing as a process of thinking and warns against the “deskilling” of students because of an overreliance on AI. The conversation explores how AI may aid resource shortages in education, while also pondering if AI’s efficiency overshadows the importance of deep learning and authentic writing skills. https://archive.org/download/93863-v-2/93863_V2.mp3 Episode transcript: Jane RosenzweigDownload

On this episode, Diane and Michael welcome guest Julia Freeland Fisher, a distinguished researcher from the Clayton Christensen Institute, whose work delves into the intersection of AI and education. The conversation explores the potential and challenges AI presents in the educational landscape. Julia shares her insights on the importance of using AI to enhance personalized learning experiences and facilitate real-world connections for students. She also voices her concerns about AI’s impact on human connection, emphasizing the risk of AI replacing genuine interpersonal relationships. https://archive.org/download/92929-future-of-education-julia-freeland-fisher-on-class-disrupted-with-intro-v-01/92929_Future%20of%20Education_Julia%20Freeland%20Fisher%20on%20Class%20Disrupted%20with%20intro_V01.mp3 Episode transcript: Real Experiences, Real People with Julia Freeland FisherDownload

Siya Raj Purohit, an education initiatives specialist at OpenAI, sheds light on AI's transformative role in education. She discusses how tools like ChatGPT can personalize learning and alleviate teacher workload while emphasizing the importance of human connections in teaching. Siya also explores the evolution of educational assessments, highlighting critical thinking over rote learning. She shares innovative examples of AI integration in higher education and addresses concerns about dependency on AI, advocating for educators to guide effective use of technology.

Techno-optimists have high hopes for how AI will improve learning. But what’s the merit of the “bull case”, and what are the technology’s risks? To think through those questions, Michael and Diane sit down with Ben Riley of Cognitive Resonance, a “think and do” tank dedicated to improving decisions using cognitive science. They evaluate the cases made for AI, unpack its potential hazards, and discuss how schools can prepare for it. https://archive.org/download/ben-riley-ai-audio/Ben%20Riley%20AI%20-%20Audio.mp3 Episode transcript: Ben Riley on AIDownload

On this episode, John Bailey, who advises on AI and innovation at a number of organizations, including the American Enterprise Institute, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and more, joins Michael and Diane. They discuss AI’s potential to democratize access to expertise, weigh the costs and benefits of its efficiency-boosting applications, and consider how it will change skills required for the workforce of the future. https://archive.org/download/john-bailey-audio/John%20Bailey%20-%20Audio.mp3 Episode transcript: Transcript – Democratizing Access to Expertise_ AI in EducationDownload

At the outset of an AI-themed season, our hosts take stock of their prior assumptions, hopes, and concerns about the technology’s applications in education. They dive into where they see it being used to make adjustments to the current educational model and envision how it could be applied to revolutionize learning. https://archive.org/download/our-biases-about-ai-audio/Our%20%27Biases%27%20about%20AI%20-%20Audio.mp3 Episode transcript: Our ‘Biases’ about AI – TranscriptDownload

As Diane and Michael launch a sixth season of Class Disrupted, they talk through Michael’s newest book, the bestseller Job Moves: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career, and map its implications back to K12 schools and students through Diane’s startup, Futre.me. https://archive.org/download/class-disrupted-s-6-e-1-final/Class%20Disrupted%20S6%20E1%20final.mp3 Episode transcript: Transcript – Class Disrupted 11_27_2024Download

David Yeager, a psychology professor at the University of Texas Austin and author focusing on youth development, dives into the impact of mentorship on student motivation. He shares insights from his new book on how to foster a mentorship mindset that balances high expectations with strong support. The discussion highlights the importance of transparency and reframing stress as a growth opportunity. Yeager emphasizes cultivating purpose and belonging in education, showcasing how effective mentorship can transform challenges into motivation.

Michael and Diane welcome Stacey Childress, Senior Education Advisor at McKinsey & Co., back to the show to discuss the world of education philanthropy. Stacey draws from her previous experience at New Schools Venture Fund and the Gates Foundation to analyze troubling trends in the sector. The three discuss what funders and operators can do to grow philanthropic investment in education and better deploy those funds. https://archive.org/download/76806-future-of-education-concerning-trends-in-philanthropy-for-education-reform/76806_Future%20of%20Education_Concerning%20Trends%20in%20Philanthropy%20for%20Education%20Reform.mp3 Episode transcript: transcript-concerning-trends-in-philanthropy-for-education-reform-Download