Join us for an inspiring conversation with Babak Mostaghimi, Founding Partner at LearnerStudio and the former Assistant Superintendent who led Gwinnett County Public Schools' pioneering AI readiness initiative. Babak guides us through the necessary shift from using AI merely to make broken systems faster, to using it as a tool that unlocks human potential. He shares LearnerStudio’s "Three Horizons" model of innovation, explaining why schools are stuck in an industrial past and how we can re-architect them for a future focused on life, career, and democracy.

We dive into practical strategies, like the difference between "snorkeling" and "scuba diving" in AI literacy, and why we must "Marie Kondo" our curriculum to make space for what truly matters: our shared humanity. From 7th graders using AI to tackle food insecurity to teachers building their own feedback bots, this episode offers a compelling vision for how we can ensure technology serves the human experience rather than replacing it.

Key Discussion Points:

• Pro-Human AI: Babak’s argument against using AI solely for efficiency, "Nobody likes the current system. Why are we making it faster?" and the case for using tools to unlock creativity and connection.

• The Three Horizons Model: A framework for understanding education's evolution from the industrial model (Horizon 1) to the efficiency/equity movement (Horizon 2), and finally to a learner-centered ecosystem (Horizon 3).

• Marie Kondo-ing the Curriculum: The necessity of clearing out antiquated content standards to create the psychological safety and time for relationship-driven, real-world learning.

• Snorkeling vs. Scuba Diving: Why AI readiness cannot be a niche magnet program but must be a universal skill set that allows every student to navigate ("swim"), explore ("snorkel"), or deeply master ("scuba dive") the technology.

• Agency in Action: Real-world examples of students and teachers taking control, including a 7th grader using the Inkwire tool to investigate food insecurity and educators designing bespoke feedback agents with PlayLab.The Three Horizons of Learning: A Conversation with Babak Mostaghimi

Join us for a candid debate between two colleagues who view the future of AI in education through very different lenses. We are joined by Dr. Jason Margolis, an AI skeptic who worries about the atrophy of critical thinking, and Dr. Nicole Schilling, an AI optimist who sees these tools as essential scaffolds for complex problem-solving.

Together, they model the concept of "Critical Friends," engaging in respectful but challenging dialogue on a polarizing topic. We dive deep into the ethics of the "8-minute dissertation," the tension between efficiency and the learning process, and why we might need flexible guidelines rather than rigid policies in this rapidly changing landscape. Whether you are an educator, a leader, or just someone trying to figure out where the human ends and the machine begins, this conversation offers a roadmap for navigating the grey areas of innovation.

Key Discussion Points:

• Skeptic vs. Optimist: Jason’s concern about "outsourcing our brains" versus Nicole’s vision of AI as a partner in social constructionism.

• The "8-Minute Dissertation": A critical look at what is lost when we prioritize the product (the degree) over the process (the struggle of learning).

• Ethical AI Use: Examples of high-level use, such as training an AI model to act as a rigorous dissertation committee rather than writing the paper for you.

• Bias and Power: Addressing the "racist undertones" in algorithms and questioning whose interests are really served by the rapid adoption of AI.

• Policy vs. Guidelines: Why creating rigid policies for fast-moving tech is often futile, and the argument for developing ethical "guidelines" instead.

• The Critical Friends Model: How to disagree productively and maintain professional relationships in an era of polarized viewpoints.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Dana Riger, UNC's inaugural Faculty Fellow for Generative AI, as she guides us through the rapid paradigm shift brought on by AI in higher education. Dr. Riger shares her journey from a "fear-driven" assessment redesign, after discovering ChatGPT, to developing a nuanced, values-driven framework for integrating and avoiding AI in the classroom.

We dive into practical strategies, like redesigning traditional research papers into creative, AI-avoidant multimedia projects, and intentionally integrating AI for skills development, such as using chatbots for practice dialogues on polarizing topics. Dr. Riger also addresses the institutional challenge of avoiding "one-size-fits-all" AI policies and underscores the importance of fostering an open dialogue. Ultimately, this episode offers a compelling vision for the future of teaching, emphasizing that the human educator's unique value lies in fostering empathy, presence, and critical dialogue, not just imparting knowledge.

Key Discussion Points:

• The AI Paradigm Shift: Dr. Riger's initial reaction to ChatGPT and her immediate, fear-driven assessment redesign in 2022.

• The Nuanced Approach: Distinguishing between AI-avoidant (experiential, creative) and AI-integrated (intentional skill-building) assessments.

• Practical Examples: How a multimedia project replaces a traditional paper, and using AI to practice difficult, emotionally laden conversations.

• Leading with Collaboration: Why policing AI use is ineffective and the importance of respecting student autonomy and ethical objections.

• Institutional Guidance: The missteps of mandated, uniform AI policies and the need for a thoughtful "middle ground" approach.

• The Value of Process: Shifting assessment focus from the final product to the process of learning (drafts, revisions, process logs).

• The Core Question: What are the unique, human-centered qualities (empathy, presence) that educators must prioritize in the age of AI?