explAInED

All right, welcome to  explAInED ! We are thrilled to host Adam Sparks, co-founder and CEO of Short Answer, back on the podcast for a deep dive into the evolving world of educational technology. We discuss the current pressures and aspirations surrounding edtech, exploring Adam's aspirational vision for a future that combines self-paced, mastery-based instruction with AI affordances like scala...

In this episode we welcomed AI and education expert Dawn Taylor to the explAInED Podcast. Drawing on her background with dyslexia, Taylor discusses the immense potential of AI to support individuals with special educational needs, emphasizing that AI fundamentally changes the learning process. We explored the challenge of education systems quickly adapting to AI shifts. Dawn talked about the chall...

Welcome to explAInED ! This week we sit down with Josh Blumberg of the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) to discuss the state’s newly released comprehensive guidance on Artificial Intelligence implementation in schools. This episode dives into: Grade-Band Recommendations:  Learn the AOE's specific framework for student AI use, which ranges from limited interaction (no direct contact) in PreK-2...

Today, we are diving deep into the intersection of literacy, pedagogy, and the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. Joining us is a scholar who has been at the forefront of educational technology for over a decade. He is a researcher and faculty member at Mount Saint Vincent University—where he also earned both his Master’s and PhD. You likely know him as the voice behind the widely...

In the latest explAInED episode, we’re joined by Vera Cubero, a visionary leader in AI and education at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, who discussed her role in leading the state’s AI framework after the 2022 launch of ChatGPT revealed the immediate need for educational change. We discussed the necessity of instructional redesign, shifting the focus from basic AI literacy to...

The Academic Platypus Will See You Now: Teaching  With  AI, Not Against It, with Dr. Michelle Kassorla ChatGPT-3 dropped and gave the academic world an existential crisis—but not for Dr. Michelle Kassorla, the "academic platypus" and Associate Professor of English at Georgia State University! Instead of panicking, Dr. Kassorla and her colleague Eugenia Novak Shinova completely redesigned...

Episode Summary: In this special episode, Michael, Shaun, and Renee bring together two deeply impactful national voices in AI + Education: Makiri Pugh and Kunal Dalal. Makiri Pugh shares his work building an AI-powered network based belief systems, culture, governance, and protecting people. His charter network scaffolds AI through mandatory FERPA/ COPPA cybersecurity-informed AI training, integra...

We’re back! Season Two of explAInED opens with Michael Berry, Shaun Langevin, and Renee Langevin diving into the realities of AI in education. Michael shares how he’s using AI to translate global frameworks into consistent standards and proficiency scales, while the group reflects on the challenges of time, teacher perceptions, and the often-confusing EdTech landscape when trying to incorporate AI...

Episode Title: What Is AI, Really?  Episode Summary In this special Caregiver Edition of the explAInED podcast, Renee Langevin, Michael Berry, and Shaun Langevin sit down to talk directly with parents and caregivers about one of the biggest questions in education right now: What is AI, really? With humor, honesty, and plenty of real-world examples, the team explores what AI is (and isn’t), how it...

Episode Summary: In this episode, the explAInED team is joined by Dr. Adam Phyall, Director of Professional Learning and Leadership at Future Ready Schools and co-host of the Undisrupted podcast. A former high school science teacher turned instructional technology leader and longtime advocate for equity-driven innovation, Adam shares how his journey into edtech began with a love for creative media...

In this episode, we welcome Al Kingsley MBE, self-described “man of two hats”, combining over 30 years as an edtech CEO with decades chairing multi-academy trusts and advising the UK Department for Education. Al brings a grounded perspective: AI is “just a tool”. Its impact depends on clear purpose, context, and thoughtful use. Reflecting on past edtech missteps, Al highlights how tools often fail...

In this episode of explAInED, the team welcomes Miriam Reynoldson, a Melbourne-based learning designer, educator, and PhD researcher whose interdisciplinary work blends education, sociology, and philosophy. Known for her thoughtful critique of generative AI in education, Miriam discusses why she chose to co-author an open letter refusing the mandated use of AI tools in teaching, and how her own ex...

In this episode of explAInED, we sit down with Dr. Sara Baker, AI strategist, education advisor, and founder of VBI Education, for a thoughtful conversation about how schools can move from confusion to clarity when it comes to AI. Drawing on her decades of experience in education and edtech, Dr. Baker shares how her personal and professional journey, including launching teen AI camps and framework...

In this episode of explAInED , co-hosts Michael Berry, Renee Langevin, and Shaun Langevin examine the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in education. They explore Google’s surprise rollout of Gemini and Notebook LM to K–12 institutions, shifts in U.S. federal education funding, and the growing influence of big tech companies in shaping national AI professional learning efforts. The conversation foc...

Victoria Hedlund, researcher, lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London, founder of GenEd Labs.ai, and widely known as The Bias Girl , joins the explAInED podcast for a deep dive into the intersection of AI, equity, and education. Together, we explore how generative AI tools can both empower learners and risk deepening systemic inequities if not implemented thoughtfully. Victoria shares insight...

In this episode, hosts Michael Berry, Renee Langevin, and Shaun Langevin talk with Leon Furze, a writer, researcher, former English teacher, and creator of the AI Assessment Scale. They explore how generative AI is reshaping education. Leon urges educators to move beyond vague "AI" labels and instead focus on specific tools and impacts. He contrasts Australia’s national Framework for Gen...

Episode Summary On our first live taping of explAInED, we are on location at Hula Lakeside for the aiVermont 2nd Annual Education and AI Summit. This episode features three rich conversations about the evolving role of artificial intelligence in Vermont’s schools and communities. We begin with Burlington High School’s ethics debate team students Iris and Mac, who share thoughtful perspectives on A...

Michelle Ament, co-founder of the Human Intelligence Movement, joins explAInED to discuss how we can keep humans at the center in an AI-driven world. She shares the movement’s framework focused on three essential domains of human intelligence: EQ (emotional), IQ (cognitive), and AQ (adaptability), with a strong emphasis on adaptability as the most underdeveloped but critical skill for the AI era....

Champlain College President Alex Hernandez joins the explAInED podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on preparing students for a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. From AI access and workforce readiness to ethics and creativity, Hernandez offers a grounded, human-centered perspective on higher education’s role in navigating technological transformation. We discuss Champlain&#3...

Makiri Pugh joins explAInED with a powerful case for bringing systems thinking to AI in education. Makiri reframes AI as an opportunity to scale wisdom, not offload judgment. He advocates for educator-designed AI that reflects local values and context, and shares how district-owned large language models can help personalize learning while reinforcing culture and priorities. Makiri explains why les...

Episode Summary “AI is not replacing cognition, it’s extending it.” Our latest guest, Patrick Dempsey, educational thought leader and Director of Teaching and Learning at Loyola University Maryland reframes the common belief that AI is disrupting education by arguing that it’s simply revealing long-standing systemic cracks. Rather than resisting the change, he suggests it’s a moment for reflection...

This week we’re joined by Michael Morrison, CTO of Laguna Beach Unified School District, where AI is not just a tool but a catalyst for trust, creativity, and human connection. Morrison shares the story behind AI Trust You , a free Google extension that helps students disclose how they’ve used AI in their work, while giving teachers clear, customizable guidance. What began as a response to a cultu...

Episode Summary: In the latest episode of explAInED , we’re joined by Giselle Fuerte - adult learning architect, youth advocate, and founder of the interactive digital program, Being Human with AI . Giselle shares how she’s turning her focus to a critical group in the AI conversation: middle school students. Giselle is helping kids and the adults around them understand what AI is, how it works, an...

Episode Summary: In this episode of explAInED, we are thrilled to welcome back Adam Sparks, co-founder and CEO of Short Answer to discuss how AI is reshaping the landscape of writing instruction in K-12 education. Sparks explores the dual impact of AI — its potential to both elevate critical thinking and unintentionally homogenize student voices. He also tells us about some recent and upcoming AI...

Episode Summary: In this reflective episode, hosts Michael Berry, Shaun Langevin, and Renee Langevin revisit key moments from guests of the podcast, delving into themes that have shaped their conversations around AI, education, and lived experiences. The episode also touches on the hosts' desire for more reflection time, the significance of diverse guest voices, and the persistent issue of AI...