Podcast
AI in Education Podcast
Hosted by Dan Bowen and Ray Fleming · EN
Dan Bowen and Ray Fleming are experienced education renegades who have worked in many various educational institutions and educational companies across the world. They talk about Artificial Intelligence in Education - what it is, how it works, and the different ways it is being used. It's not too serious, or too technical, and is intended to be a good conversation.
Please note the views on the podcast are our own or those of our guests, and not of our respective employers (unless we say otherwise at the time!)
32episodes
Episodes
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Pasi Sahlberg on AI and Flourishing in education
5d ago00:31:56Tap to summarizeWhat is the purpose of education in an AI-driven world? In this thought-provoking episode of the AI in Education Podcast, Ray and Dan sit down with Pasi Sahlberg to explore one of the biggest questions facing schools, universities, and society today. Drawing on global research, OECD trends, and decades of educational leadership, Pasi explains why traditional measures of success - achievement, credentials, and test performance - may no longer be enough in the age of AI. The conversation explores: Human capital vs human flourishing Why wellbeing and agency matter more than ever The future of assessment and PISA AI's impact on work, learning, and society Why "hope is not a strategy" What schools should prioritise over the next decade The episode also reflects on parenting, teacher accountability, screen time, and the human skills that may become most valuable as AI capabilities accelerate. Referenced in this episode: OECD Education for Human Flourishing. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/education-for-human-flourishing_73d7cb96-en.html An accidental guru: The making of an education warrior https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S073805932600060X Sir Ken Robinson at TED - Do Schools Kill Creativity? https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_do_schools_kill_creativity .
Transcribe →Flourish: The Human Role in AI and Education
2w ago00:33:26Tap to summarizeThis special live episode of the AI in Education Podcast was recorded at the CEnet Future:Forward Conference "Flourish 2026", where Dan and Ray explored one of the biggest questions facing education today: how do schools find the "happy middle" with AI? The conversation dives into the shifting narrative around AI and jobs, the growing role of human agency in education, and why wellbeing, flourishing and trust must remain central as AI adoption accelerates. Along the way, they unpack new research on AI bias, AI detectors, cognitive debt, student safety, and the widening gap between individual innovation and organisational readiness. The episode also reflects on keynote insights from Pasi Sahlberg and discussions around OECD flourishing metrics, parent engagement, and what schools can do now to bring entire communities along on the AI journey. This is a thoughtful, practical and deeply human conversation about balancing opportunity, risk and responsibility in education's AI future. Topics covered: AI and the future of work Human flourishing and wellbeing AI bias in education Safe AI use in schools Parent and community engagement AI detectors and academic integrity The "happy middle" approach to technology adoption Research Papers, and links to things we discussed The changing tune of the AI leaders: The Jobs Apocalypse no more...See these tweets for last year's story: Jensen Huang, Sam Altman, and Mustafa Suleyman And this year's story: Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg and Jensen Huang Microsoft's Work Trend Index report 2026 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/agents-human-agency-and-the-opportunity-for-every-organization Pasi Sahlberg His website: https://pasisahlberg.com/ OECD research he discussed: https://www.oecd.org/en/data/dashboards/pisa-education-and-skills/digital-leisure-outside-school.html (the chart was from Figure 2.4 here) Victoria Hedlund, the "AI Bias Girl' https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriamhedlund/ and on Substack at https://victoriahedlund.substack.com/ Her LinkedIn post that kicked off the SquashMallow test: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/victoriamhedlund_biasgirl-biasaware-stem-activity-7454786540133584896-E64 The retracted Nature research paper on AI in Education: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-025-04787-y Think U Know: https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/
Transcribe →Inside Sydney's AI Hub: Building University Automation That Works
3w ago00:22:12Tap to summarizeInside Sydney's AI Hub: Building University Automation That Works In this episode, Dan and Ray are joined by Dan Hart, now leading the Automation and Innovation Hub at the University of Sydney. Dan shares how the Hub has evolved from a robotic process automation team into a university-wide service using automation and AI to improve everyday work. With around 400 automated processes running across the university, the team helps staff remove repetitive, time-consuming tasks without taking away the human parts of their roles. The conversation explores practical examples, including AI-powered invoice processing, and how generative AI is changing the software development lifecycle. Dan explains how tools like Cursor and AI-assisted coding are speeding up development, while also raising important questions about security, code quality, workload intensity, and developer wellbeing. The episode also dives into vibe coding, what it means for enterprise systems, and why the future of software development may depend less on hand-writing code and more on communication, problem-solving, and understanding users.
Transcribe →What we learned from teachers at Sydney's Day of AI
4w ago00:33:52Tap to summarizeWe kick off Series 17 with a multi-interview episode! Recorded live at the The Anglican Schools Corporation "Day of AI" in Western Sydney, this episode brings together three educators who are reshaping teaching, assessment and student learning in real classrooms with AI. You'll hear from Maria Mertzanakis at Oran Park Anglican College on how teachers are building shared "Brains" in NotebookLM to save time, improve differentiation and support pedagogy, while reducing workload by more than 50 hours a week across staff workflows. Nathan Jones from Marsden Park Anglican College shares how AI is opening new creative possibilities for students and teachers alike, and why schools needed to guide students toward using AI well rather than trying to ban it. And Patrick Ell from Roseville College explores what happens in a "post-product world", where assessment can no longer rely on trust in the final submission alone. His focus? Designing learning experiences that value process, thinking and cognitive craft. We had a lovely grounded, practical and optimistic conversation with these teachers, who are leading from the front as schools navigate the realities of AI in education. Really great to have been invited to attend and participate by Julian Ridden, the TASC Head of AI.
Transcribe →The Castlereagh Moment: Education at a Turning Point with AI?
Apr 3000:38:21Tap to summarizeThis week's episode explores a defining moment for education in the age of AI. Fresh from a week of major events in Sydney, including the Microsoft AI Summit, Dan and Ray unpack the newly released Castlereagh Statement - a collaboration between 70+ education leaders calling for urgent change across schools, universities, and training systems. Their message is clear: education isn't ready for the speed and scale of AI disruption. But that's only part of the story. We're also seeing a growing pushback on technology in classrooms, with schools limiting screen time and universities questioning device use; while, at the same time, new AI-first models like AI-led tutoring and mastery-based learning are emerging rapidly. Add to that a widening gap between what employers expect and what graduates can actually do with AI, plus billions being invested in infrastructure and skills, and it's clear: something has to change. We also dive into the latest research on AI in teaching, from new peer learning models to rethinking assessment and feedback. This episode connects the dots across policy, practice, and innovation. Resources discussed this week Castlereagh Statement https://castlereagh.ai/ California schools introduce tech limits https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/22/los-angeles-school-district-screen-time Yale considering banning all electronic devices https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/device-free-classrooms-mooted-yale-plan-rebuild-public-trust Khan TED Institute announced https://blog.khanacademy.org/introducing-the-khan-ted-institute-a-new-approach-to-higher-education/ https://khanted.org/Home LSI: The world's first AI-led university https://lsi.ac.uk/ Pearson/AWS survey of employers re students https://www.pearson.com/en-us/power-of-learning/ai-readiness.html The Pedagogical Promptbook https://edtechbooks.org/promptbook/ Microsoft's $25 billion AI in Australia announcement https://news.microsoft.com/source/asia/features/investing-in-australias-ai-future/ Harvard adds mandatory AI courses to English writing course https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2026/4/23/expository-writing-ai/ Research Papers Think–Pair–Chatbot–Share: AI-Facilitated Peer Learning in Chemistry https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c00438 Identifying what our students have learned: a framework for practical assessment validation https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2026.2620053 Using generative artificial intelligence to reimagine feedback in higher education: a collaborative autoethnography https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02602938.2026.2653889#abstract
Transcribe →From Classroom to Impact: How Dawn Knight Uses AI to Help Students Thrive
Apr 2300:36:04Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we're joined by Dawn Knight, a sustainability lead and specialist support educator working with deaf students in a UK secondary school (Epsom and Ewell High School). Dawn shares how she's using AI in simple, practical ways to make learning more accessible - not just for students with additional needs, but for everyone in the classroom. From generating transcripts and differentiated resources to using AI as a planning "checklist," Dawn explains how these tools are helping her save time and reinvest it where it matters most: supporting students directly. The conversation explores how technology originally designed for accessibility - like captions and transcription - is now benefiting all learners, and why inclusive approaches to AI can unlock better outcomes across the board. We also dive into the realities of AI adoption in schools: what works, what doesn't, and why starting small is often the best approach. Dawn offers a refreshingly grounded perspective, showing that you don't need to be a technical expert to make a real impact. If you're looking for practical ways to use AI to support students and improve classroom experiences, this episode is full of ideas you can start using today. This might also be the ideal episode to share with any colleagues who are at the beginning of their AI in teaching journey
Transcribe →Australia's AI moment: Fast adoption, slow policy, big questions
Apr 1600:35:43Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dan and Ray explore how AI is rapidly reshaping education, workplaces, and policy - often faster than institutions can respond. They unpack new guidance from NSW's NESA on student AI use, highlighting the growing tension between rules, real-world behaviour, and the need for clearer, more consistent policies across education systems. The conversation expands globally with insights from the 2026 Stanford AI Index Report, revealing that while over 80% of students are already using AI, formal education and policy frameworks are struggling to keep pace. The distinction between 'AI in education', 'AI literacy', and 'AI education' becomes critical for understanding what schools and universities could actually be building. They also discuss emerging tools like Adobe Student Spaces, evolving AI workflows using tools like Claude and Copilot, and new data showing Australians are among the most advanced AI users globally. Finally, they revisit "real AI" use cases - specifically wildlife (crocs, turtles and quokkas) detection in Australia - as a reminder that AI's impact extends far beyond chatbots. News items discussed NSW NESA's "Use of Artificial Intelligence by students" rules https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/hsc/rules-and-procedures/artificial-intelligence Adobe Student Spaces https://acrobat.adobe.com/studentspaces/home The 2026 AI Index Report from Stanford University Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence (HAI) centre https://hai.stanford.edu/ai-index/2026-ai-index-report Anthropic came Down Under https://www.anthropic.com/research/how-australia-uses-claude https://www.anthropic.com/news/australia-MOU AI crocodile detection trials begin in north Queensland https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-26/ai-crocodile-detection-trials-begin-in-the-wild/106492460 Related stories from the past: Scientists use drones, cloud, and AI to protect Australia's Quokkas https://news.microsoft.com/apac/features/preserving-diversity-with-ai/ Indigenous knowledge and AI help protect baby turtles from predators on Australia's remote Cape York https://news.microsoft.com/apac/features/indigenous-knowledge-and-ai-help-protect-baby-turtles-from-predators-on-australias-remote-cape-york/ Strengthen your research workflow with generative AI https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/skills-hub-blog/strengthen-your-research-workflow-with-generative-ai/4501740
Transcribe →Jocelyn Brewer - How schools and parents rethink student wellbeing in the age of AI
Apr 900:35:32Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dan and Ray are joined by psychologist and cyber psychology expert Jocelyn Brewer, founder of Digital Nutrition, to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing education today: how schools and parents can support student wellbeing in an AI-driven world. Jocelyn introduces the concept of "digital nutrition" - a more balanced, intentional approach to technology use that moves beyond simplistic ideas like screen time limits. Together, they explore how young people are already using AI for everything from homework to navigating friendships, often in ways adults don't fully understand. The conversation dives into the risks and opportunities of AI as a companion, why banning technology rarely works, and how schools can shift from restriction to risk minimisation. Jocelyn also challenges educators and parents to engage more openly with young people, positioning them as experts in their own digital lives. This episode is a powerful reminder that there are no simple answers - but doing nothing isn't an option. We recommend you follow or connect with Jocelyn on LinkedIn to keep topping up with her fantastic advice!
Transcribe →Inside the latest AI in education research: tutors, bias, and impact
Apr 200:46:40Tap to summarizeThis week's episode dives into a wave of new research shaping how AI is actually being used in education. We explore what works (and what doesn't) when it comes to AI-generated feedback, including why blended, "hybrid" feedback may be the most effective approach - and why more feedback doesn't always lead to better outcomes. The conversation then turns to one of the most important emerging issues: bias in AI systems. From subtle differences in tone to stereotyping based on student characteristics, the research highlights why educators need to be cautious about the data they provide AI tools. "If you use AI to write feedback, it does not treat every student the same way equally." We also talk about the growing evidence around AI tutors - where they outperform humans, where they fall short, and what actually drives meaningful learning gains. Along the way, we tackle major questions around detection, student use, teacher workload, and whether AI can ever replace human connection. The big takeaway? AI is powerful. And how we design, guide, and use it in education matters more than ever. Research Papers discussed this week AI for Feedback Directive, metacognitive, or a blend of both? A comparison of AI-generated feedback types on student engagement, confidence, and outcomes https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2026.100553 AI assistance in peer feedback provision: Pedagogically sound, but minimally adopted https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131526000291 Marked Pedagogies: Examining Linguistic Biases in Personalized Automated Writing Feedback https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.12471 AI and Bias The Life Cycle of Large Language Models: A Review of Biases in Education https://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjet.13505 AI Tutors AI tutoring can safely and effectively support students: An exploratory RCT in UK classrooms https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.23633v1 LearnMate: Enhancing Online Education with LLM-Powered Personalized Learning Plans and Support https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3706599.3719857 Effective Personalized AI Tutors via LLM-Guided Reinforcement Learning https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6423358 Unifying AI Tutor Evaluation: An Evaluation Taxonomy for Pedagogical Ability Assessment of LLM-Powered AI Tutors https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.09416v1 AI Detection Trusting AI to detect AI? A systematic evaluation of the reliability and robustness of current AIGC detection tools for student academic work (paywalled) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360131526000540 Teacher Workload Shiksha Copilot: Teacher-AI Collaboration for Curating and Customizing Lesson Plans in Low-Resource School https://arxiv.org/pdf/2507.00456v3 Student use The Secret Life of Students project - WonkHE Feb/March 2026 https://wonkhe.com/wp-content/wonkhe-uploads/2026/03/Wonkhe_SLOS2026_Jim_slides.pdf Is a random human peer better than a highly supportive chatbot in reducing loneliness over time? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103126000417?dgcid=rss_sd_all
Transcribe →UnBlooms: Tina Austin on thinking well with AI and rethinking Bloom's
Mar 2600:38:25Tap to summarizeTina Austin joins Ray and Dan for a wide-ranging conversation about what AI adoption really looks like in US education beyond the hype, the headlines and the endless frameworks. Tina is an educator, consultant, policy adviser and the founder of GAInable. She works with schools, colleges and faculty teams on responsible AI adoption. In this episode, she shares how her work evolved from teaching bioethics and AI ethics into supporting educators across the US as they grapple with policy, privacy, assessment, tools, and changing classroom practice. The conversation explores the fragmented reality of AI in education, why many teachers are feeling "frameworked out", and why Tina believes the best place to start is not with the tool, but with the problem you are trying to solve. We also dig into Tina's "UnBlooms" framework - a challenge to linear interpretations of Bloom's Taxonomy in the age of generative AI - and discuss critical thinking, student reflection, equity, privacy, and why educators should stay sceptical of easy answers. A thoughtful episode on using AI well, asking better questions, and meeting learners where they are. Here's all the links you need: Tina's new venture, Gainable AI Gainable.ai The UnBlooms™ model: A Problem-Centered Framework for Learning Design in the AI Era https://zenodo.org/records/17298679 The UnBlooms™ Workbook: How to Design, Teach, and Assess Human Reasoning in the AI Era Tina's Custom GPT for UnBloom: Unbloom-it You can contact Tina on email at tina@tinaaustin.com
Transcribe →