Authenticating Intelligence Podcast with Stephen Aguilar

How do digital tools actually shape how students think about their own learning? In this episode, learning analytics expert Dr. Matt Bernacki joins Dr. Stephen Aguilar to reveal how digital footprints and trace data can be transformed into powerful windows into student metacognition and agency—starting as early as middle school. We discuss: Beyond the Clicks: How feature engineering and learning m...

How do we teach the craft of writing when a chatbot can draft an essay in seconds? This week, Dr. Dan Pecchenino (Associate Director of the USC Writing Program) joins me for a candid look at how educators are moving past "AI panic" toward intentional, critical pedagogy.

Is your AI strategy built on substance or just better prompts? Dr. Stephen Aguilar and Elvin Fortuna dive into the evolving landscape of workforce training and adult learning. From the technical friction of moving past traditional LMS systems to the ethical challenges of AI integration, this conversation outlines a framework for understanding how AI impacts users and systems alike. Learn why frict...

In this episode of Authenticating Intelligence , host Stephen Aguilar sits down with the University of Florida’s Dr. Rob Moore to map the "semi-formal" middle ground of modern education. From the misunderstood "failure" of MOOC completion rates to the rise of MicroMasters, this conversation dives into how we can better serve the millions of learners who have "some college" but no clear path to car...

Most animators are unprepared for the AI wave quietly reshaping their industry. This week, we go behind the curtain with Dan O’Brien , a veteran lighting lead and former animator from Blue Sky Studios ( Ice Age , Robots ), to discuss the high-stakes evolution of digital art. Is AI a collaborator or a competitor? Join us for an honest, no-hype look at the future of craftsmanship and how to keep you...

American schools are facing an AI revolution with a fractured map. In this episode, host Dr. Stephen Aguilar and Professor Morgan Polikoff dive into why "local control" is creating total chaos for AI policy among U.S. schools. From historical roots to widening inequality, they explore why a decentralized system struggles to handle rapid tech shocks. Can we turn AI from a disruptive threat into a t...

In this episode, Dr. Stephen Aguilar and Dr. Gale Sinatra explore the impact of AI on conceptual change, discussing how AI can both support and hinder our understanding of complex ideas. They delve into the barriers to conceptual change, such as emotional and identity factors, and consider how AI might influence these processes.

In this episode, Dr. Stephen Aguilar and Dean Pedro Noguera examine the dual nature of AI in education, discussing its capacity to either amplify human potential or create problematic shortcuts. They delve into the systemic risks of unregulated AI and corporate influence, considering how policy and pedagogy must evolve to prioritize equity and well-being over profit.

Dr. Stephen Aguilar (USC Rossier) and Vincent Venturella explore the collision of AI and professional worth—from the disruption of traditional billing models to a new framework for career progression. They argue that while AI has the potential to raise the educational baseline, this is only possible if we reject flawed digital incentives and adopt tools that genuinely support learning rather than...

Dr. Stephen Aguilar (USC Rossier School of Education) and Dr. Jeff Green (UNC School of Education) investigate the tension between GenAI’s speed and the cognitive struggle required for deep learning. They warn that reliance on digital shortcuts threatens to erode critical thinking, urging educators to prioritize "informed skepticism" and human connection over efficiency. Dr. Aguilar's forthcoming...