https://simplecast.com Learning Curve What does it mean to teach and learn in the age of generative AI? Join host Jeff Young as he talks with educators, tech leaders and students, aiming to cut through the hype and inform a conversation about how education can adapt to AI — and about what kinds of learning need protecting amid the AI gold rush. 2025 en Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:12:05 +0000 Wed, 1 Apr 2026 00:53:04 +0000 https://learningcurve.fm Learning Curve https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/4d337cdf-5766-4690-9d97-2fe4d52f6bec/752f87ff-ca89-4eea-b328-36f39fe7a3d2/3000x3000/learning-curve-logo-ai.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://learningcurve.fm episodic What does it mean to teach and learn in the age of generative AI? Join host Jeff Young as he talks with educators, tech leaders and students, aiming to cut through the hype and inform a conversation about how education can adapt to AI — and about what kinds of learning need protecting amid the AI gold rush. Jeff Young false https://feeds.simplecast.com/zN3vEQsu ai, artificial intelligence, learning, teaching Jeff Young jeff@learningcurve.fm 9a33955b-e17c-4466-af92-5a6536a3cbc8 A Tale of Two AI Design Projects What does it mean to teach art and design when free AI tools can generate sophisticated images in just a few seconds? 

For this episode we’re diving into that big question. And to do that we’ll hear two stories where students used AI for design – one that led to celebration, and another that sparked controversy. 

And we’ll hear from a leader at one of the nation’s leading art and design colleges who is wrestling with how to integrate AI into the curriculum there.

"From Text Prompt to Furniture: The Story Behind Babson’s AI Dam Chair," in Babson University's Thought & Action. (With pictures of the chair.)

"After AI Allegations, Class of 2026 Picks a New Jacket," in the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

"Demand for Integrity for Class of 2026 Jacket," a petition on Change.org.

]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:12:05 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Cole Collins, Reece Gardner, Margaret Miao, Valarie Kite, Jeff Young) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/a-tale-of-two-ai-design-projects-MWwbPxGz What does it mean to teach art and design when free AI tools can generate sophisticated images in just a few seconds? 

For this episode we’re diving into that big question. And to do that we’ll hear two stories where students used AI for design – one that led to celebration, and another that sparked controversy. 

And we’ll hear from a leader at one of the nation’s leading art and design colleges who is wrestling with how to integrate AI into the curriculum there.

"From Text Prompt to Furniture: The Story Behind Babson’s AI Dam Chair," in Babson University's Thought & Action. (With pictures of the chair.)

"After AI Allegations, Class of 2026 Picks a New Jacket," in the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

"Demand for Integrity for Class of 2026 Jacket," a petition on Change.org.

]]> A Tale of Two AI Design Projects Cole Collins, Reece Gardner, Margaret Miao, Valarie Kite, Jeff Young 00:47:10 For this episode we hear the story of two design projects at colleges that involved AI — one that led to celebration, and another that sparked controversy. These two situations reveal the challenges colleges face as they teach subjects that involve design and creativity. After all, what does it mean to teach art and design when free AI tools can generate sophisticated images in just a few seconds? For this episode we hear the story of two design projects at colleges that involved AI — one that led to celebration, and another that sparked controversy. These two situations reveal the challenges colleges face as they teach subjects that involve design and creativity. After all, what does it mean to teach art and design when free AI tools can generate sophisticated images in just a few seconds? education, ai, teaching, design, artificial intelligence, creativity false full 18 6b0a85ad-a414-4a90-ba56-c6cd9a6fce18 How to Prepare Students For a World of AI Co-Workers For this episode Jeff connected with Evan Ratliff, who created what he calls “the world’s first AI-led startup” to see what happens when AI agents run a company.

Shell Game podcast, by Evan Ratliff.

"Silicon Valley’s New Obsession: Watching Bots Do Their Grunt Work," in The Wall Street Journal.

 

]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:06:33 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Evan Ratliff, Dominic Adkins, Daniel Dang, Mariah Reynolds, Jeff Young) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/how-to-prepare-students-for-a-world-of-ai-co-workers-dWf2yEXy For this episode Jeff connected with Evan Ratliff, who created what he calls “the world’s first AI-led startup” to see what happens when AI agents run a company.

Shell Game podcast, by Evan Ratliff.

"Silicon Valley’s New Obsession: Watching Bots Do Their Grunt Work," in The Wall Street Journal.

 

]]> How to Prepare Students For a World of AI Co-Workers Evan Ratliff, Dominic Adkins, Daniel Dang, Mariah Reynolds, Jeff Young 00:55:25 As companies start to replace employees with AI agents, how are human workers adjusting? For this episode Jeff connected with Evan Ratliff, who created what he calls “the world’s first AI-led startup” to see what happens when AI agents run a company. He’s been documenting the sometimes comic results on his podcast Shell Game. What advice does Ratliff have for educators trying to prepare students for this strange new world of work? As a bonus, three college students with very different majors weigh in on what they think of all this. As companies start to replace employees with AI agents, how are human workers adjusting? For this episode Jeff connected with Evan Ratliff, who created what he calls “the world’s first AI-led startup” to see what happens when AI agents run a company. He’s been documenting the sometimes comic results on his podcast Shell Game. What advice does Ratliff have for educators trying to prepare students for this strange new world of work? As a bonus, three college students with very different majors weigh in on what they think of all this. ai agents, education, higher education, ai false full 17 9cb4f1be-cfb0-41ef-a7e0-bee4bdaa9871 The Case for Memorization in the AI Era A growing number of experts are making the case for requiring students from middle school to college to do more rote memorization — of poems, dates, capitals, and more — to respond to rise of generative AI.


"2024 USA Memory Championship (LIVE STREAM)," on YouTube.

"Everyday Genius," by Nelson Dellis.

"The Memory Paradox: Why Our Brains Need Knowledge in an Age of AI," on ArXiv.

]]> Tue, 3 Mar 2026 19:45:52 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Barbara Oakley, Nelson Dellis, Jeff Young) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/the-case-for-memorization-in-the-ai-era-3x5mtBf4 A growing number of experts are making the case for requiring students from middle school to college to do more rote memorization — of poems, dates, capitals, and more — to respond to rise of generative AI.


"2024 USA Memory Championship (LIVE STREAM)," on YouTube.

"Everyday Genius," by Nelson Dellis.

"The Memory Paradox: Why Our Brains Need Knowledge in an Age of AI," on ArXiv.

]]> The Case for Memorization in the AI Era Barbara Oakley, Nelson Dellis, Jeff Young 00:38:47 Competitive memory athlete Nelson Dellis has won multiple national championships, and he’s used AI to help him train for competitions. But as he turned to chatbots more and more, his thinking began to change. It fits into what Oakland University professor Barbara Oakley, an expert on how humans learn, calls the “Memory Paradox.” They’re among those making the case for requiring students from middle school to college to do more rote memorization — of poems, dates, capitals, and more. Competitive memory athlete Nelson Dellis has won multiple national championships, and he’s used AI to help him train for competitions. But as he turned to chatbots more and more, his thinking began to change. It fits into what Oakland University professor Barbara Oakley, an expert on how humans learn, calls the “Memory Paradox.” They’re among those making the case for requiring students from middle school to college to do more rote memorization — of poems, dates, capitals, and more. education, ai, learning, teaching false full 16 3ceb51a7-c2ec-485e-9660-f1cdc9d5f5b0 What Do Self-Driving Cars Teach Us About AI in Education? Can thinking the public narrative around robot cars help educators think about the fast-rising trend of generative AI? For this episode, Jeff talked with two experts with books on how to think about teaching and AI — and put them in debate about key differences in their approaches.

Books, articles and podcasts mentioned:

“Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning,” by José Antonio Bowen and C. Edward Watson.

“More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI,” by John Warner. 

“What Is Culture in the Age of A.I.?” by Joshua Rothman in The New Yorker.

My interview with writer John McPhee from 2018 on the EdSurge Podcast.

“Chemistry Nobel goes to developers of AlphaFold AI that predicts protein structures,” in Nature.

]]> Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:16:51 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Jose Bowen, John Warner, Jeff Young) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/what-do-self-driving-cars-teach-us-about-ai-in-education-0elxr6xm-hPTBiyvT Can thinking the public narrative around robot cars help educators think about the fast-rising trend of generative AI? For this episode, Jeff talked with two experts with books on how to think about teaching and AI — and put them in debate about key differences in their approaches.

Books, articles and podcasts mentioned:

“Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning,” by José Antonio Bowen and C. Edward Watson.

“More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI,” by John Warner. 

“What Is Culture in the Age of A.I.?” by Joshua Rothman in The New Yorker.

My interview with writer John McPhee from 2018 on the EdSurge Podcast.

“Chemistry Nobel goes to developers of AlphaFold AI that predicts protein structures,” in Nature.

]]> What Do Self-Driving Cars Teach Us About AI in Education? Jose Bowen, John Warner, Jeff Young 01:04:03 Driverless cars have been *just* about to arrive – for more than a decade now. Yet most teenagers today still take driving lessons. Still, some wonder whether we’re heading to a future where most people won’t need to know those skills. Can thinking the public narrative around robot cars help educators think about the fast-rising trend of generative AI? For this episode, Jeff talked with two experts with books on how to think about teaching and AI — and put them in debate about key differences in their approaches. Driverless cars have been *just* about to arrive – for more than a decade now. Yet most teenagers today still take driving lessons. Still, some wonder whether we’re heading to a future where most people won’t need to know those skills. Can thinking the public narrative around robot cars help educators think about the fast-rising trend of generative AI? For this episode, Jeff talked with two experts with books on how to think about teaching and AI — and put them in debate about key differences in their approaches. education, ai, teaching, artificial intelligence false full 15 16092207-1b7a-43d4-b575-85641b4d8ded Lessons From Minneapolis About AI and Misinformation During the ICE surge in Minneapolis, AI is playing a role in this tense and unfolding story, specifically how it is contributing to misinformation. What can educators do to prepare students, and any of us, for this new information landscape where AI is increasingly a factor. Jeff visited the University of Minnesota’s journalism school and talked with a professor who is exploring the role of AI in news, as well as three student journalists covering protests and ICE activity.

Links mentioned:

Photos, videos and other coverage from The Minnesota Daily, the student newspaper at the University of Minnesota.

Trump social media post showing AI generated image of him attacking protesters, and an article about it. 

"White House shares an altered photo of arrested Minnesota protester Nekima Levy Armstrong," in NBC News.

 

 

]]> Wed, 4 Feb 2026 16:27:06 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Regina McCombs, Ceci Heinen, Jeff Young, Hannah Reynolds, Leslie Bleess) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/lessons-from-minneapolis-about-ai-and-misinformation-auaBgobe During the ICE surge in Minneapolis, AI is playing a role in this tense and unfolding story, specifically how it is contributing to misinformation. What can educators do to prepare students, and any of us, for this new information landscape where AI is increasingly a factor. Jeff visited the University of Minnesota’s journalism school and talked with a professor who is exploring the role of AI in news, as well as three student journalists covering protests and ICE activity.

Links mentioned:

Photos, videos and other coverage from The Minnesota Daily, the student newspaper at the University of Minnesota.

Trump social media post showing AI generated image of him attacking protesters, and an article about it. 

"White House shares an altered photo of arrested Minnesota protester Nekima Levy Armstrong," in NBC News.

 

 

]]> Lessons From Minneapolis About AI and Misinformation Regina McCombs, Ceci Heinen, Jeff Young, Hannah Reynolds, Leslie Bleess 00:51:14 During the ICE surge in Minneapolis, AI is playing a role in this tense and unfolding story, specifically how it is contributing to misinformation. What can educators do to prepare students, and any of us, for this new information landscape where AI is increasingly a factor. Jeff visited the University of Minnesota’s journalism school and talked with a professor who is exploring the role of AI in news, as well as three student journalists covering protests and ICE activity. During the ICE surge in Minneapolis, AI is playing a role in this tense and unfolding story, specifically how it is contributing to misinformation. What can educators do to prepare students, and any of us, for this new information landscape where AI is increasingly a factor. Jeff visited the University of Minnesota’s journalism school and talked with a professor who is exploring the role of AI in news, as well as three student journalists covering protests and ICE activity. education, ai, artificial intelligence false full 14 f51a2286-89fc-444a-b5d9-3a1914e94711 Is It Possible to Put Age Limits on AI Tools? Last week the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing about potential legislation banning kids under 13 from using social media. Australia has a new law keeping kids under 16 off the technology. What about new AI tools? Should regulations enforce age limits — and is that even possible given how embedded the tech is becoming?

Senate Commerce Committee Hearing, "Plugged Out: Examining the Impact of Technology on America’s Youth."

]]> Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:49:11 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Emily Cherkin, Robbie Torney, Alex Beattie, Jeff Young) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/is-it-possible-to-put-age-limits-on-ai-tools-V2sBwnhs Last week the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing about potential legislation banning kids under 13 from using social media. Australia has a new law keeping kids under 16 off the technology. What about new AI tools? Should regulations enforce age limits — and is that even possible given how embedded the tech is becoming?

Senate Commerce Committee Hearing, "Plugged Out: Examining the Impact of Technology on America’s Youth."

]]> Is It Possible to Put Age Limits on AI Tools? Emily Cherkin, Robbie Torney, Alex Beattie, Jeff Young 00:51:25 Is It Possible to Put Age Limits on AI Tools? Last week the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing about potential legislation banning kids under 13 from using social media. Australia has a new law keeping kids under 16 off the technology. What about new AI tools? Should regulations enforce age limits — and is that even possible given how embedded the tech is becoming? Is It Possible to Put Age Limits on AI Tools? Last week the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing about potential legislation banning kids under 13 from using social media. Australia has a new law keeping kids under 16 off the technology. What about new AI tools? Should regulations enforce age limits — and is that even possible given how embedded the tech is becoming? screentime, policy, schools, parenting, education, ai, tech, artificial intelligence false full 13 46524e1d-76df-40d8-b899-6626c13ec393 What Guardrails Should AI Companies Build to Protect Learning? In the past few months new AI tools known as “Agentic AI” have emerged. These new browsers let users deploy AI assistants that can surf the web on their behalf. While they were designed to do things like book airline tickets or schedule meetings, students can use the tools to have the bot log into learning management systems to take quizzes for them. Anna Mills, a longtime English instructor, has called on AI companies to add a simple guardrail to keep these tools from assisting in academic fraud, just as they refuse to help with hacking or other unethical acts. The situation raises questions about how AI companies are responding to calls by educators to add safeguards to protect learning.

LinkedIn post by Anna Mills calling for AI companies to add guardrails to protect learning. 

“Statement on Educational Technologies and AI Agents” by the Modern Language Association.

Video demo by Anna Mills showing an Agentic AI browser taking quizzes in the name of a student.

“Tech companies don’t care that students use their AI agents to cheat,” in The Verge.

Perplexity ad on social media.

"The Adoption and Usage of AI Agents: Early Evidence from Perplexity," in ArXiv.

]]> Tue, 6 Jan 2026 21:22:41 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Anna Mills, Jeff Young) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/what-guardrails-should-ai-companies-build-to-protect-learning-vgyHfhtU In the past few months new AI tools known as “Agentic AI” have emerged. These new browsers let users deploy AI assistants that can surf the web on their behalf. While they were designed to do things like book airline tickets or schedule meetings, students can use the tools to have the bot log into learning management systems to take quizzes for them. Anna Mills, a longtime English instructor, has called on AI companies to add a simple guardrail to keep these tools from assisting in academic fraud, just as they refuse to help with hacking or other unethical acts. The situation raises questions about how AI companies are responding to calls by educators to add safeguards to protect learning.

LinkedIn post by Anna Mills calling for AI companies to add guardrails to protect learning. 

“Statement on Educational Technologies and AI Agents” by the Modern Language Association.

Video demo by Anna Mills showing an Agentic AI browser taking quizzes in the name of a student.

“Tech companies don’t care that students use their AI agents to cheat,” in The Verge.

Perplexity ad on social media.

"The Adoption and Usage of AI Agents: Early Evidence from Perplexity," in ArXiv.

]]> What Guardrails Should AI Companies Build to Protect Learning? Anna Mills, Jeff Young 00:46:11 In the past few months new AI tools known as “Agentic AI” have emerged. These new browsers let users deploy AI assistants that can surf the web on their behalf. While they were designed to do things like book airline tickets or schedule meetings, students can use the tools to have the bot log into learning management systems to take quizzes for them. Anna Mills, a longtime English instructor, has called on AI companies to add a simple guardrail to keep these tools from assisting in academic fraud, just as they refuse to help with hacking or other unethical acts. The situation raises questions about how AI companies are responding to calls by educators to add safeguards to protect learning. In the past few months new AI tools known as “Agentic AI” have emerged. These new browsers let users deploy AI assistants that can surf the web on their behalf. While they were designed to do things like book airline tickets or schedule meetings, students can use the tools to have the bot log into learning management systems to take quizzes for them. Anna Mills, a longtime English instructor, has called on AI companies to add a simple guardrail to keep these tools from assisting in academic fraud, just as they refuse to help with hacking or other unethical acts. The situation raises questions about how AI companies are responding to calls by educators to add safeguards to protect learning. policy, higher education, ai, tech, artificial intelligence false full 12 f652b4d8-7116-47e8-8673-4d4b8bb117ed Is Your Mechanic Using AI? Matt Boudinot’s AI explainer videos and his Auto Service Soft Skills Garage.

A super-short version of this episode that ran on APM’s Marketplace.

"The Best of Car Talk: Some Noises Are Better Than Others,” on NPR.

]]> Tue, 23 Dec 2025 20:37:02 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Matt Boudinot, Jeffrey Copeland, Michael Connet, Julia Perinne, Izzy Toth, Tyler Bjorkstrand, Jeff Young) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/is-your-mechanic-using-ai-GyFXuiM7 Matt Boudinot’s AI explainer videos and his Auto Service Soft Skills Garage.

A super-short version of this episode that ran on APM’s Marketplace.

"The Best of Car Talk: Some Noises Are Better Than Others,” on NPR.

]]> Is Your Mechanic Using AI? Matt Boudinot, Jeffrey Copeland, Michael Connet, Julia Perinne, Izzy Toth, Tyler Bjorkstrand, Jeff Young 00:36:57 Skilled trades are typically seen as professions that won’t be permeated by AI. But that’s starting to change. Jeff visited auto tech classes at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minn., where the instructors built an AI mentor tool to help students troubleshoot car repairs. But the biggest win for AI for budding mechanics turns out to involve not fixing cars, but helping explain their repairs to customers. Skilled trades are typically seen as professions that won’t be permeated by AI. But that’s starting to change. Jeff visited auto tech classes at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minn., where the instructors built an AI mentor tool to help students troubleshoot car repairs. But the biggest win for AI for budding mechanics turns out to involve not fixing cars, but helping explain their repairs to customers. false full 11 3be1400d-8385-4682-bb19-e5fd9085b86a Why Do So Many Students Have AI Friends? "1 in 5 high schoolers has had a romantic AI relationship, or knows someone who has," NPR. 

“How many hours does it take to make a friend?,” research by this week’s guest Jeff Hall.

“Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here’s How It Happens,” in The New York Times.

Talk out the Thomas Jefferson chatbot discussed on this episode.

“Programmed for Love,” an article I wrote for The Chronicle of Higher Education about Sherry Turkle’s work back in 2011.

]]> Tue, 9 Dec 2025 16:45:32 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Jeffrey Hall, Christa Davis Acampora, Jeff Young) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/why-do-so-many-students-have-ai-friends-DeURyyZS "1 in 5 high schoolers has had a romantic AI relationship, or knows someone who has," NPR. 

“How many hours does it take to make a friend?,” research by this week’s guest Jeff Hall.

“Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here’s How It Happens,” in The New York Times.

Talk out the Thomas Jefferson chatbot discussed on this episode.

“Programmed for Love,” an article I wrote for The Chronicle of Higher Education about Sherry Turkle’s work back in 2011.

]]> Why Do So Many Students Have AI Friends? Jeffrey Hall, Christa Davis Acampora, Jeff Young 00:44:47 More than 40 percent of high school students have AI friends or know someone who does, according to a recent survey. What does this phenomenon mean for how students and teachers view the AI tools used in education. What are the risks and potential benefits of turning to a bot for companionship? Hear from a researcher who has studied AI friends, and from a college dean who developed an unexpected relationship with a bot. More than 40 percent of high school students have AI friends or know someone who does, according to a recent survey. What does this phenomenon mean for how students and teachers view the AI tools used in education. What are the risks and potential benefits of turning to a bot for companionship? Hear from a researcher who has studied AI friends, and from a college dean who developed an unexpected relationship with a bot. tech trends, education, edtech, ai, teaching, technology, artificial intelligence false full 10 c64c6cfa-5461-4850-8735-6159455a7748 Can Colleges ‘AI-Proof’ the Core Curriculum? “Editorial: AI-proof the Core Curriculum The Core Curriculum is an essential part of a Catholic education that must be saved from AI,” in The Observer, the student newspaper at Notre Dame.

LinkedIn post by David Griffith about the student newspaper editorial.

AI Is Coming for the Consultants. Inside McKinsey, ‘This Is Existential.’ in The Wall Street Journal

"Should Instructors Ask Students to Show Document Histories to Guard Against AI Cheating?” in EdSurge.

]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (David Griffith, Mark McCready, Jeff Young, Redmond Bernhold) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/can-colleges-ai-proof-the-curriculum-G_XgVAaT “Editorial: AI-proof the Core Curriculum The Core Curriculum is an essential part of a Catholic education that must be saved from AI,” in The Observer, the student newspaper at Notre Dame.

LinkedIn post by David Griffith about the student newspaper editorial.

AI Is Coming for the Consultants. Inside McKinsey, ‘This Is Existential.’ in The Wall Street Journal

"Should Instructors Ask Students to Show Document Histories to Guard Against AI Cheating?” in EdSurge.

]]> Can Colleges ‘AI-Proof’ the Core Curriculum? David Griffith, Mark McCready, Jeff Young, Redmond Bernhold 00:53:11 Students at the University of Notre Dame are calling for professors to redesign all the classes in the core curriculum so that AI can’t be used for assignments. It’s a matter of fairness, and a call to make sure every student is actually doing the hard work of reading complex texts and expressing their own ideas in writing so they learn the basic skills they’ve come to campus for. The argument, made by editors of the student newspaper, has sparked a discussion about if that should be done — and if so, how? Students at the University of Notre Dame are calling for professors to redesign all the classes in the core curriculum so that AI can’t be used for assignments. It’s a matter of fairness, and a call to make sure every student is actually doing the hard work of reading complex texts and expressing their own ideas in writing so they learn the basic skills they’ve come to campus for. The argument, made by editors of the student newspaper, has sparked a discussion about if that should be done — and if so, how? policy, college, humanities, education, higher education, ai, curriculum, tech, artificial intelligence false full 9 06f5e0e4-34a2-44a1-93fe-45ccf5ba9bcd How Does AI Fit Into Broader Disruptions to Higher Ed? More on Bryan Alexander’s forthcoming book, “Peak Higher Education.”

“The Diamond Age,” by Neal Stephenson. 

“Dual Enrollment Leads to More College Acceptances, Greater Financial Awards,” in Inside Higher Education.

“Should College Become Part of High School?” on the EdSurge Podcast.

Bryan Alexander’s Future Trends Forum.

]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2025 22:54:31 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Bryan Alexander, Jeff Young) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/how-does-ai-fit-into-broader-disruptions-to-higher-ed-LA_tg2lt More on Bryan Alexander’s forthcoming book, “Peak Higher Education.”

“The Diamond Age,” by Neal Stephenson. 

“Dual Enrollment Leads to More College Acceptances, Greater Financial Awards,” in Inside Higher Education.

“Should College Become Part of High School?” on the EdSurge Podcast.

Bryan Alexander’s Future Trends Forum.

]]> How Does AI Fit Into Broader Disruptions to Higher Ed? Bryan Alexander, Jeff Young 00:58:07 AI is not the only disruptive force facing colleges these days. In fact, we may have already passed the peak of higher education’s size and role in American society. That’s the argument by futurist Bryan Alexander in his new book “Peak Higher Education,” which notes that AI is a huge part of what might be a sector at a crossroads. But he is looking for ways to harness AI to improve and rebuild colleges. AI is not the only disruptive force facing colleges these days. In fact, we may have already passed the peak of higher education’s size and role in American society. That’s the argument by futurist Bryan Alexander in his new book “Peak Higher Education,” which notes that AI is a huge part of what might be a sector at a crossroads. But he is looking for ways to harness AI to improve and rebuild colleges. education, edtech, politics, ai, technology, artificial intelligence false full 8 c9fedd74-ba72-445a-8d9e-12b178f90fb6 How Do Students Feel About Their AI Use? It's Complicated In the Know, the podcast of the University of Minnesota's student newspaper, The Minnesota Daily.

"Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College," in New York magazine.

 

]]> Tue, 4 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Ceci Heinen) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/why-are-honest-students-afraid-of-ai-0IruIiW0 In the Know, the podcast of the University of Minnesota's student newspaper, The Minnesota Daily.

"Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College," in New York magazine.

 

]]> How Do Students Feel About Their AI Use? It's Complicated Ceci Heinen 00:40:27 We set up a table at the University of Minnesota and asked students to share how they use AI in their studies — and how they feel about the technology. Fear was the common thread — Fear of being caught, fear of not learning, and fear of AI taking away jobs or making their degrees less valuable. And in some cases the students shied away from trying AI tools even in productive ways, for fear of being accused of academic misconduct. This special episode of Learning Curve was co-produced with Ceci Heinen, podcast producer of the university’s student newspaper, the Minnesota Daily. We set up a table at the University of Minnesota and asked students to share how they use AI in their studies — and how they feel about the technology. Fear was the common thread — Fear of being caught, fear of not learning, and fear of AI taking away jobs or making their degrees less valuable. And in some cases the students shied away from trying AI tools even in productive ways, for fear of being accused of academic misconduct. This special episode of Learning Curve was co-produced with Ceci Heinen, podcast producer of the university’s student newspaper, the Minnesota Daily. higher education, ai, teaching, technology, artificial intelligence, colleges false full 7 a3131052-9187-4d07-aec1-04d8ee5e39e8 Can AI Avatars Make Class Time More Human? Demo of Sara Cochran’s AI avatar, University of Virginia website

Sora and Vibes: AI Video Now Officially Going After Social Media, Platformer

]]> Tue, 28 Oct 2025 18:36:51 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Rob MacCleod, Sarah Cochran, Derek Bruff) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/can-ai-avatars-make-class-time-more-human-4EVXAthc Demo of Sara Cochran’s AI avatar, University of Virginia website

Sora and Vibes: AI Video Now Officially Going After Social Media, Platformer

]]> Can AI Avatars Make Class Time More Human? Rob MacCleod, Sarah Cochran, Derek Bruff 00:39:36 Colleges are experimenting with making online teaching videos featuring AI avatar versions of professors. Some students find the simulated likenesses of their instructors a bit creepy, but proponents say the technology could be key to making college courses more active and human. The idea is that AI will make it easy to make personalized teaching videos so that more teachers can adopt a “flipped classroom” approach — where students watch video lecturers as homework so class time is spent on discussion or projects. Colleges are experimenting with making online teaching videos featuring AI avatar versions of professors. Some students find the simulated likenesses of their instructors a bit creepy, but proponents say the technology could be key to making college courses more active and human. The idea is that AI will make it easy to make personalized teaching videos so that more teachers can adopt a “flipped classroom” approach — where students watch video lecturers as homework so class time is spent on discussion or projects. education, openai, ai, tech, teaching, colleges false full 6 b5ff5c25-45f4-4f3b-9a36-585901decff1 Is My Professor Using AI? “The Professors Are Using ChatGPT, and Some Students Aren’t Happy About It,” by Kashmir Hill in The New York Times.

Northeastern University’s AI use policy.

“Automated Essay Writing: An AIED Opinion,” by Mike Sharples in the International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education.

]]> Wed, 15 Oct 2025 05:36:41 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Jeff Young) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/is-my-professor-using-ai-s2Yt4cDe “The Professors Are Using ChatGPT, and Some Students Aren’t Happy About It,” by Kashmir Hill in The New York Times.

Northeastern University’s AI use policy.

“Automated Essay Writing: An AIED Opinion,” by Mike Sharples in the International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education.

]]> Is My Professor Using AI? Jeff Young 00:37:02 Ella Stapleton noticed something unusual in lecture notes her professor handed out to students. Coverage of what happened next sparked discussion about misuse of AI in education – not by students trying to cheat, but by professors using AI to outsource parts of their jobs. Ella Stapleton noticed something unusual in lecture notes her professor handed out to students. Coverage of what happened next sparked discussion about misuse of AI in education – not by students trying to cheat, but by professors using AI to outsource parts of their jobs. false full 5 878173dc-0206-4933-8568-917eead24a57 Should Colleges Provide AI Tools? DukeGPT

“Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College” in New York Magazine

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]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:02:03 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Evan Levine, Michael Faber) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/should-colleges-provide-ai-tools-nbRvVxV1 DukeGPT

“Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College” in New York Magazine

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]]> Should Colleges Provide AI Tools? Evan Levine, Michael Faber 00:49:46 A growing number of colleges are giving their students and professors free access to pro versions of AI tools, even as some professors and students worry about potential negative consequences of the technology. Jeff traveled to Duke University to talk to Evan Levine, senior director of IT services and support, and Michael Faber, assistant director of the Innovation Co-Lab to hear their philosophy behind their DukeGPT initiative. And he chats with a student as well, Muke Akume. A growing number of colleges are giving their students and professors free access to pro versions of AI tools, even as some professors and students worry about potential negative consequences of the technology. Jeff traveled to Duke University to talk to Evan Levine, senior director of IT services and support, and Michael Faber, assistant director of the Innovation Co-Lab to hear their philosophy behind their DukeGPT initiative. And he chats with a student as well, Muke Akume. college, education, higher education, ai, tech, higher ed, teaching, artificial intelligence false full 4 7c9518c6-e50a-4350-9b59-8b4d218d7bf9 Will AI Bring More Student Disengagement? The Disengaged Teen, by Rebecca Winthrop and Jenny Anderson 

“Minnesota high school student weighs the benefits and pitfalls of AI,” Minnesota Now

“I’m a High Schooler. AI Is Demolishing My Education,” The Atlantic

Brookings Global Task Force on AI in Education website

‘We Have to Really Rethink the Purpose of Education,’ The Ezra Klein Show

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]]> Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:18:40 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Rebecca Winthrop) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/will-ai-bring-more-student-disengagement-8fXu0QJa The Disengaged Teen, by Rebecca Winthrop and Jenny Anderson 

“Minnesota high school student weighs the benefits and pitfalls of AI,” Minnesota Now

“I’m a High Schooler. AI Is Demolishing My Education,” The Atlantic

Brookings Global Task Force on AI in Education website

‘We Have to Really Rethink the Purpose of Education,’ The Ezra Klein Show

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]]> Will AI Bring More Student Disengagement? Rebecca Winthrop 00:56:12 If students are already prone to check out in school, it really doesn’t help to look over and see students secretly having ChatGPT do their work for them. The co-author of the new book on student disengagement in school, Rebecca Winthrop, is encouraging debate on how to adopt AI in a way that turns more kids into “explorers” rather than “passengers” in their learning. If students are already prone to check out in school, it really doesn’t help to look over and see students secretly having ChatGPT do their work for them. The co-author of the new book on student disengagement in school, Rebecca Winthrop, is encouraging debate on how to adopt AI in a way that turns more kids into “explorers” rather than “passengers” in their learning. schools, education, ai, tech, teaching, artificial intelligence, colleges false full 3 de6a6be7-1626-4e27-8eba-31e14bd42dce What If College Teaching Was Redesigned With AI In Mind? Watch Matter and Space's video discussed in this episode,  "Butterflies"

Read Maha Bali's blog.

]]> Tue, 2 Sep 2025 20:51:40 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Paul LeBlanc, Maha Bali) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/what-if-college-teaching-was-redesigned-with-ai-in-mind-whG_v_dA Watch Matter and Space's video discussed in this episode,  "Butterflies"

Read Maha Bali's blog.

]]> What If College Teaching Was Redesigned With AI In Mind? Paul LeBlanc, Maha Bali 01:10:09 A former university president is trying to reimagine college teaching with AI in mind, and this year he released an unusual video that provides a kind of artist’s sketch of what that could look like. For this episode, I talk through the video with that leader, Paul LeBlanc, and get some reaction to the model from longtime teaching expert Maha Bali, a professor of practice at the Center for Learning and Teaching at the American University in Cairo. A former university president is trying to reimagine college teaching with AI in mind, and this year he released an unusual video that provides a kind of artist’s sketch of what that could look like. For this episode, I talk through the video with that leader, Paul LeBlanc, and get some reaction to the model from longtime teaching expert Maha Bali, a professor of practice at the Center for Learning and Teaching at the American University in Cairo. education, ai, tech, teaching, artificial intelligence false full 2 233e93fc-3651-49ee-a115-bbe1a0f6565a What Kind of Intelligence Is AI? The viral research paper that started it all: “Attention Is All You Need.”

Mutlu Cukurova's paper discussed in this episode, “The Interplay of Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence in Education: A Vision for Hybrid Intelligence.”

Brian Christensen's “The Most Human Human.”

Apple Intelligence ad discussed in this episode: Writing Tools.

]]> Tue, 19 Aug 2025 16:40:28 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Mutlu Cukurova, Jeff Young) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/what-kind-of-intelligence-is-ai-P3jlbs0K The viral research paper that started it all: “Attention Is All You Need.”

Mutlu Cukurova's paper discussed in this episode, “The Interplay of Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence in Education: A Vision for Hybrid Intelligence.”

Brian Christensen's “The Most Human Human.”

Apple Intelligence ad discussed in this episode: Writing Tools.

]]> What Kind of Intelligence Is AI? Mutlu Cukurova, Jeff Young 01:01:48 To suss out the best way to use AI in education, it’s important to figure out what makes ChatGPT and other new AI tools tick. After all, the ‘thinking’ that generative AI does is different than human thinking. That’s the argument of Mutlu Cukurova, who wrote a paper calling for building ‘hybrid intelligences’ that blends the strengths of humans and AI, rather than quickly replacing tasks that teachers and tutors do with AI models. To suss out the best way to use AI in education, it’s important to figure out what makes ChatGPT and other new AI tools tick. After all, the ‘thinking’ that generative AI does is different than human thinking. That’s the argument of Mutlu Cukurova, who wrote a paper calling for building ‘hybrid intelligences’ that blends the strengths of humans and AI, rather than quickly replacing tasks that teachers and tutors do with AI models. learning science, education, research, learning, teaching, technology, artificial intelligence false full 1 5d68bbc4-876e-4117-be10-8c703b941e0f Introducing Learning Curve Tue, 12 Aug 2025 02:46:56 +0000 jeff@learningcurve.fm (Jeff Young) https://learningcurve.fm/episodes/introducing-learning-curve-8ww_n6cu Introducing Learning Curve Jeff Young 00:02:25 Teachers and students can't help wondering ... what are we doing here? What's the role of education when AI seems able to do tasks that once seemed uniquely human. The goal of Learning Curve is to inform a conversation about what it means to learn, whether AI could improve education, and which learning needs protecting amid the AI gold rush. Look for the first episode August 20. Teachers and students can't help wondering ... what are we doing here? What's the role of education when AI seems able to do tasks that once seemed uniquely human. The goal of Learning Curve is to inform a conversation about what it means to learn, whether AI could improve education, and which learning needs protecting amid the AI gold rush. Look for the first episode August 20. false trailer