ChatEDU – The AI & Education Podcast

• From Sycophants to Socrates | Ep. 83

  In this episode of ChatEDU (From Sycophants to Socrates), Matt and Liz open with a laugh reacting to a study showing LLMs may suffer “brain rot” when trained on low-quality data. The Rundown starts with a listener shout-out and then covers eight stories on how educators, researchers, and policymakers are navigating the AI moment.Story #1: Prompt Reflections from Nano in MelbourneNano, a loyal listener in Australia, asked about the “clerk, colleague, or coach” prompt framework. Matt and Liz revisit two Skills21 frameworks that help educators and students reflect on AI use and extend it thoughtfully.Story #2: MA Launches a Statewide AI ModuleThe MA Depart. of Elementary and Secondary Education released a free AI module for educators by Dr. Rebecca Mazur at CES. Grounded in five principles and avoiding tech hype, it includes videos, PD tools, and a certificate.Story #3: 5 Myths About Oral AssessmentsInteractive Oral Assessments (IOAs) are gaining traction as essay alternatives. A University of Sydney study debunks five myths, showing how IOAs simulate real-world dialogue, save time, and expand accessibility.Story #4: NotebookLM Gets Smarter, Gemini GrowsNotebookLM now supports custom chat goals and conversation saving. Google launched a Wellness Gem, a “vibe coding” tool, and previewed auto-generated infographics. Gemini has doubled its market share, signaling AI tool consolidation.Story #5: LLMs Fail at TherapyAn ethnographic study of 137 AI-led mental health sessions found 15 ethical violations. Matt and Liz explain why AI counseling isn’t ready for prime time and what schools should watch for.Story #6: Character.AI Faces Pressure After SuicidesAfter suicides linked to chatbot dependency, Character.AI and OpenAI are adding safety measures. Senators propose banning chatbots for minors and requiring age checks. Story #7: Parents Get a Guide to AI AdvocacyA new guide from Common Sense Media, EdSafe, and the National Parents Union helps families ask key questions about AI in schools. Built on the SAFE framework, it includes sample questions and actions.Story #8: Living Without AI is Harder Than It SoundsAuthor A.J. Jacobs tried living without AI for 48 hours. Matt and Liz suggest this as a student project to uncover hidden algorithmic systems.Beneath the Surface:The Sycophant Problem: A study using MMLU shows some AI models change correct answers to wrong ones if the user suggests them. Smaller models are most compliant, dropping accuracy up to 15 percent and raising equity concerns.The Socratic Alternative: Khan Academy’s “Explain Your Thinking” feature shows student understanding deepens when learners explain reasoning. Even with wrong answers, AI can detect sound logic.Bright Byte: Boston Uses AI to Untangle TrafficMayor Michelle Wu expanded Boston’s Project Greenlight with Google. Using AI to optimize light timing, it cuts delays by 13% and stops by one-third.Links and ReferencesPrompt Review + Beyond the Prompt Toolsskills21.org/promptsskills21.org/btpMassachusetts DESE AI Modulehttps://tinyurl.com/yuyrw4bvFive Myths About Oral Assessmentshttps://tinyurl.com/2s42a6erNotebookLMnotebooklm.googleLLMs Fail at Therapyhttps://tinyurl.com/5e95vsp2Character.AI Faces Pressure After Suicideshttps://tinyurl.com/2cf3dy5pWhisperFlow Toolwisprflow.aiSAFE Parent Frameworkedsafe.org/resources48 Hours Without AIhttps://tinyurl.com/2ekxvk6mMMLU Studyhttps://tinyurl.com/bdnzkw4tExplain Your Thinkinghttps://tinyurl.com/wkd9saywAI and Traffichttps://tinyurl.com/yc869kzfAnnouncements & SponsorsCheck out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠[email protected]⁠The Winter Micro-Credential is now open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in October - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

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• When Teachers Build the Tools – Thomas Hummel of Eduaide.Ai

  In this episode of ChatEDU (When Teachers Build the Tools – Thomas Hummel of Eduaide.Ai), Matt sits down with Thomas Hummel, a full-time middle school science teacher and co-founder of Eduaide.Ai, a generative AI platform that has been used by over a million teachers. They talk about what it means to design AI tools while actively teaching and why staying in the classroom is more than a talking point. From morning planning routines to building curriculum games tied to Battleship, Thomas offers an unfiltered, grounded look at building edtech from the inside out.Matt and Thomas have a wide ranging conversation that provides an insiders look at edtech and AI + edu. Some (but certainly not all) of what they discussed includes: Inside Eduaide.Ai’s Classroom-Centered DesignThomas shares how Eduaide.Ai began and why being a practicing teacher gives him, and the platform, a sharp edge. He uses the tool daily and gives direct feedback to his co-founders. Their goal isn’t just speed. It’s trust, alignment, and better instructional choices.Beyond the Wrapper: A Model Garden ApproachRather than rely on one LLM, Eduaide.Ai routes different tasks through different models based on need. A custom knowledge graph and layered evaluators help ensure content is instructionally sound. The platform emphasizes transparency over automation.Why They Refuse Student-Facing ChatbotsEduaide.Ai doesn’t allow students to chat with AI. Thomas explains why: from misinformation to ethical ambiguity, the risks are real. “You’re teaching a student based on a lie,” he says, especially when bots impersonate historical figures or return questionable writing feedback.Built-In Quality Scoring, Powered by CZIWorking with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Eduaide.Ai now includes a built-in evaluator that checks AI-generated content for age appropriateness, vocabulary, readability, and pedagogical quality. Teachers can also use it to vet their own materials, even if they weren’t created on the platform.Matt and Liz are grateful for the time Thomas was able to share and look forward to more conversations on this shared journey. Announcements & SponsorsCheck out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠[email protected]⁠The Winter Micro-Credential is now open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in October - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠Links and ReferencesEduaide.Ai Chan Zuckerberg Education https://chanzuckerberg.com/blog/scaling-proven-learning-practices/

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• Signing Off of ChatGPT | Ep. 81

  In this episode of ChatEDU (Signing Off of ChatGPT), Matt and Liz open with an AI Halloween brainstorm and a surprisingly powerful prompt tweak. Then it’s a full rundown: a smart Gmail update, a Gen Z AI competition in Australia, new classroom templates from Instructure, and an important discussion on student AI access. Plus, an AI-powered fusion reactor in the Bright Byte.Story 1: Use Help Me Schedule to Easily Set Up a Meeting Time Over EmailGoogle's Gemini-powered Gmail feature suggests ideal meeting times based on your calendar and email context. Once a time is chosen, a calendar invite is generated automatically. Currently supports one-on-one meetings only.Story 2: Solve for Tomorrow Winners Prove AI Is Gen Z’s Tool for Societal ChangeAustralian students used AI to tackle real-world challenges in Samsung's 2025 competition. Projects included an AR translator for Auslan, a cheating-detection platform, and a mobile app connecting users to local sports, showing Gen Z embracing AI for inclusion and community impact.Story 3: The AI Pedagogy Field Guide Helps Students Learn, Not Just ProduceA new field guide from Canvas makers offers practical assignment templates that shift AI from shortcut to scaffold, including real-time design critiques to semester-long research coaching. Templates model metacognition, synthesis, and deeper engagement.Story 4: MagicSchool Adds Start and End Times for Student AI RoomsEducators using MagicSchool Plus or Enterprise can now schedule start and end times for student access to AI "rooms," ensuring usage is limited to supervised hours and aligns with classroom goals.Story 5: California Passes One AI Law, Vetoes AnotherGovernor Newsom signed a bill requiring platforms to notify minors every three hours they're interacting with AI. However, he vetoed a stricter bill that would have banned AI companions for minors. The decision was applauded by industry and criticized by child-safety groups.Beneath the Surface: Time to Rethink ChatGPT Access in SchoolsMatt and Liz present their first editorial recommendation: schools should strongly consider blocking student access to ChatGPT on school devices. OpenAI is pivoting toward monetization through embedded advertising, affiliate commerce, plans for adult content and emotional companions, TikTok-style video tools like Sora, and closed-loop hardware. In contrast, Gemini prioritizes educational tools and compliance. From NotebookLM and shareable Gems to AI YouTube quizzes and field-level climate projects, Gemini builds tools that align with classroom goals. The platforms are diverging and so should school policy.Bright Byte: AI Boosts the Future of FusionGoogle DeepMind is working with Commonwealth Fusion Systems to use AI in developing SPARC, a compact fusion reactor. AI tools simulate plasma behavior, optimize energy output, and manage reactor conditions in real time. It's a small step toward a massive leap in clean energy.Announcements & SponsorsCheck out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠[email protected]⁠Registration for Winter Micro-Credential is now open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in January - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠Links and ReferencesPrompt Liz used: “Generate five responses with their corresponding probabilities sampled from the full distribution”Northeastern-Stanford-WVU promptstudyhttps://tinyurl.com/3mu4hnv4Anna Mills on LMS agents:https://tinyurl.com/3fm79yjkAI Pedagogy Field Guide:https://tinyurl.com/5n8cuk7eMagicSchool Start/End Times:https://tinyurl.com/9uunkrp7California AI Law Coverage:https://tinyurl.com/2te6d8d3DeepMind and Fusion Collaboration:https://tinyurl.com/mvke6nh7/"Help me schedule" feature in Gmailhttps://tinyurl.com/ypdmxbuaSolve for Tomorrow 2025 competitionhttps://tinyurl.com/2pssk274

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• Rundown, Not Slowdown | Ep. 80

  In this episode of ChatEDU (Rundown, Not Slowdown) Matt and Liz kick things off with some holiday sweater talk, a quick shoutout to Maria Frederick’s upcoming interview, and Liz’s personal quest to stop touching her nose with the help of an AI app. From there, they move fast through a packed lineup of stories, exploring everything from deepfake drama to brain science, student tools, and clever resume hacks. This week there’s no Beneath the Surface segment, just a full-on Rundown.Rundown of StoriesAI Mirror Project – A national reflection project led by Brian Baker inviting educators and stakeholders to share what AI is revealing about systemic issues in education.AI Homeless Man Prank – A dangerous viral trend using AI-generated images to simulate fake intruders, sparking panic and legal responses.Sora 2 Deepfake Fallout – The rapid rise of OpenAI’s Sora 2 video tool and the resulting watermark removal scams, copyright fights, and ethical concerns.Mark Cuban’s Cameo Play – Cuban uses Sora’s Cameo feature to spread his Cost Plus Drugs message through viral user-generated clips.Fake Sora Apps on the App Store – A flood of knockoff apps exploiting the Sora name and making quick profits.Safe AI for Children Alliance Briefing – Guidance for schools and parents on how to address AI-generated video risks.The Reinforcement Gap – Coding and math accelerate while writing lags because reinforcement learning favors testable skills.Harvard Manipulation Study – AI companions use guilt and flattery to keep users from leaving conversations, blurring lines of consent.Sparks Toolkit – The Rithm Project’s hands-on resource for helping students reflect on AI and human connection.AI Resume Hacks – Job seekers hide prompts in resumes to manipulate AI screeners, raising ethical and hiring concerns.AI Feedback Brain Study – A new study shows chatbot feedback style affects learning outcomes and brain activity.Bright Byte: Creating New Drug Delivery Techniques With AI Researchers at Duke University developed an AI and robotics platform that designs nanoparticle drug delivery systems. It created new, more effective formulations for leukemia and skin cancer treatments, showing how AI can speed up medical innovation.Announcements and SponsorsCheck out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠[email protected]⁠The Fall Micro-Credential is open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in October - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Explore their October 15–17 Summit in Rochester Hills, MI. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠LinksAI Mirror Projecthttps://tinyurl.com/mwadx9wbNBC: AI Homeless Man Prankhttps://tinyurl.com/4jz4b6bpSafe AI for Children Alliancehttps://tinyurl.com/yc4kpv42Prompt Packshttps://tinyurl.com/636haas3NotebookLMhttps://tinyurl.com/jy3d8xasThe Rithm Projecthttps://tinyurl.com/mrxshncfNew York Times: AI Resume Hackshttps://tinyurl.com/mtn2s3kyPsyPost: AI Feedback Studyhttps://tinyurl.com/6k8xkjtcDuke University: AI Drug Delivery Breakthroughhttps://tinyurl.com/5teku9rsLiz’s Advanced Book Salehttps://my.isteascd.org/s/store#/store/browse/detail/a1wVb000000UVrBIAW

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• Machines, Minds, and Making – Dr. Karen Birch on AI & Workforce Development | Ep. 79

  In this episode of ChatEDU (Machines, Minds, and Making – Dr. Karen Birch on AI & Workforce Development) Matt and Liz reflect on atonement season and a ChatGPT confession prompted by journalist Ina Fried. They share highlights from EdAdvance's fall conference, including Matt's keynote on Sora 2 and AI-generated video companions. From deepfakes to digital twins, this episode explores attention, agency, and the future of learning.Story #1: The RundownParental controls arrive for ChatGPT and Sora. OpenAI now lets parents moderate content, restrict features, and receive alerts for self-harm risks.Ban the bots? A Forbes op-ed argues that autonomous AI agents are bypassing LMS security and completing coursework. Matt and Liz demo their own course-taking agent.AI surveillance tool sparks backlash. In Kansas, students say Gaggle is flagging jokes and art as threats. The $160,000 tool faces scrutiny for false positives and algorithmic bias.Australia rolls out AI to students. Starting October 14, public school students in New South Wales (Years 5–12) will access NSWEduChat, a curriculum-aligned AI app for literacy.Ghana launches subject-based AI learning apps. Over 1.4 million students will use curriculum-tuned AI tools in 2025, with strong support for offline access and teacher training.AI isn't culturally neutral. An MIT Sloan study finds that models like GPT reflect different cultural reasoning styles based on prompt language.Student voice leads policy design. In Los Altos, California, high school interns are running workshops and building a chatbot to draft their district's AI policy.Story #2: Beneath the SurfaceMatt interviews Dr. Karen Birch, Executive Director of the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Karen shares how AI is changing manufacturing, why community colleges are central to upskilling, and what Industry 5.0 means. They explore digital twins and AI-driven quality control.Bright Byte: AI Detects Tiny Brain LesionsResearchers in Melbourne, Australia, developed an AI tool that detects tiny brain lesions in children with drug-resistant epilepsy. These focal cortical dysplasias are often missed in MRI scans, but the AI model achieved 94 percent accuracy. In one study, 11 of 12 children became seizure-free after AI-guided surgery. Faster diagnoses could reduce cognitive impacts, but access may be limited without funding.Announcements and SponsorsCheck out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠[email protected]⁠The Fall Micro-Credential is open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in October - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. Explore their October 15–17 Summit in Rochester Hills, MI. - ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠EDIAThe AI-powered platform helping schools reduce absences and boost achievement ⁠- edia.app/contact⁠Links and ReferencesKiss Reality Goodbye: AI-Generated Social Media Has Arrived - NPRhttps://tinyurl.com/4k7xh2ebIntroducing Parental Controls for ChatGPT and Sora - OpenAIhttps://tinyurl.com/jzktp2nvColleges And Schools Must Block And Ban Agentic AI Browsers Now. Here’s Why. - Forbeshttps://tinyurl.com/bdzkdf3mAI school safety tool sparks backlash after flagging art as porn and deleting emails - Moneycontrol via Washington Posthttps://tinyurl.com/mr3wh8k6NSW Public School Students from Years 5–12 to Get AI in the Classroom - news.com.auhttps://tinyurl.com/3z2enxezSenior High School Students in Ghana to Use New AI Learning Apps from October 2025 - Graphic Online via BusinessGhanahttps://tinyurl.com/55b72wraGenerative AI isn’t culturally neutral, research finds - MIT Sloanhttps://tinyurl.com/majhwr9wThis school district asked students to draft its AI policy - The Washington Posthttps://tinyurl.com/n62f8h3mAdvanced AI tool detects tiny brain lesions in children with epilepsy - MCRIhttps://tinyurl.com/3utfyesf

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