EdTech Connect – Ep. 69

Gerry White: From Shakespeare to Cyborgs: Teaching the Human Side of Humanity
Host: Jeff Dillon | Guest: Gerry White, Dean of Academic Technology at ECPI University
Release Date: January 9, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Jeff Dillon interviews Gerry White, an award-winning educator, technologist, and creative visionary. White discusses his journey from English literature and music to AI, exploring how intersectional, ethical, and human-centered approaches can reshape the future of learning. The conversation highlights White’s pioneering projects (including MyTutor Plus, Project Virgil, and Code and Quill Review) and offers practical advice on leveraging AI in education while sustaining the importance of the humanities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gerry White’s Interdisciplinary Roots

Timestamps: 02:04 – 03:59

• White’s upbringing combined English, music, philosophy, and religious studies.
• Early inspiration for teaching came from a 6th-grade English class (“Rikki Tikki Tavi”) that celebrated diverse perspectives.
• Transitioned from teaching literature at Old Dominion University to engaging with technology at ECPI University.
• Embraced web, app, and game development, driven by curiosity and a passion for experimentation.
  • “I get bored really easily... I dove head first into web development, and then app and game development. So it’s just been so much fun.” (03:38, Gerry White)

2. The Genesis and Impact of MyTutor Plus

Timestamps: 03:59 – 06:09

• Stemmed from exploring AI for music and writing, especially after the launch of ChatGPT.
• Designed as a “kitchen sink app” to personalize learning, adapting to student’s learning styles and connecting knowledge across domains.
• Offers audio-based, and soon video-based, tutoring experiences.
  • “It connects every single tiny thing they learn to every single other thing they’ve learned... I’ve always wanted that to be with assignments and papers and theories.” (05:11, Gerry White)

3. AI’s Role in Closing Educational Gaps

Timestamps: 06:09 – 07:49

• White envisions AI as a means to democratize learning, especially for underrepresented communities, provided access to technology is ensured.
• Envisions “narrow AI” agents tailored for skills like literacy and digital literacy.
  • “You can meet students where they’re at with a teacher that’s built just for them.” (06:46, Gerry White)

4. Ethical Tech & Project Virgil

Timestamps: 07:49 – 09:27

• Project Virgil: Collaboration with students to use quadrupedal robots for school safety.
• Prioritizes human oversight—robots only act as recon or deterrents, not autonomous actors.
  • “You would never make something that could harm a person autonomous.” (08:14, Gerry White)
• Emphasizes close partnerships with local police and criminal justice programs to ground innovations in real-world needs.

5. Collaboration Across Education, Business, and Government: AIM Hampton Roads

Timestamps: 09:27 – 11:14

• Project surprises: Even technologists are siloed and often reluctant to explore role of AI across disciplines.
• Teachers are intrigued but hesitant—fearful of potential misuse.
• Sees government and education sectors increasingly integrating AI into various layers, raising ethical and governance questions.
  • “People hear AI and all they hear is doom and gloom... Teachers seem to get it, but they're hesitant to play with it because they're afraid of what it might take away.” (10:02, Gerry White)

6. Preparing Students for the AI-Driven Workforce

Timestamps: 11:23 – 12:45

• Key skill for students: adaptability and the ability to pivot in rapidly changing industries.
• Emphasizes the age-old, but increasingly crucial, skill of asking the right questions.
  • “The right question might be way more important than the right answer... because you get what you put in.” (12:10, Gerry White)

7. Code and Quill Review: Bridging Humanities and Computational Science

Timestamps: 13:35 – 14:42

• This interdisciplinary journal publishes creative writing alongside technical, scientific, and mathematical works.
• Aims to break down silos between “tech” and “arts,” fostering Renaissance-like innovation.
  • “Every interesting time [in history] is when those two [creativity and analytics] have really come together.” (14:37, Gerry White)

8. AI as a Superhumanizing Tool, Not a Replacement

Timestamps: 14:42 – 16:31

• Host shares observation: subject matter experts get more from AI tools.
• White notes initial resistance in creative fields like music but champions AI as a powerful creative and prototyping tool.
  • “Most [musicians] hate it right now... But you can dial it in, just like if you were writing the sheet music out, then push the button and you’ve got it.” (15:54, Gerry White)

9. Keeping the Humanities Alive

Timestamps: 16:31 – 18:07

• White strives to maintain discussion about technology’s impact on humanity, encouraging agency and active participation in shaping the role of AI.
  • “If we in this room don’t decide what’s going to happen, nobody else will. So... nobody is off the hook. If you want to live in a world where humans are valued... then we need to create that world.” (17:01, Gerry White)

10. Augmented Reality for Memory and Education

Timestamps: 18:07 – 19:55

• White’s early AR innovations included campus and zoo tours using positional data.
• Dreams of augmenting every grave in Arlington Cemetery to preserve stories with interactive technology.
  • “I want to augment every grave in Arlington Cemetery so that when people go there, they could see the person, look at their record... and help them find their loved ones.” (19:40, Gerry White)

11. Practical Advice for School Leaders

Timestamps: 20:09 – 21:26

• Recommends hands-on, live demonstrations for faculty and students to demystify AI and foster meaningful application.
  • “Everybody needs to actually try it—administrators, teachers, students. The best way to use it is to model it.” (20:22, Gerry White)

12. Looking 10 Years Ahead: Human-Centric Technology

Timestamps: 21:26 – 23:09

• Hope for technology that enhances education while defending core human interactions and relationships.
• Cautions against systems that erode the “human in the loop”—the direct, personal impact of educators and learners.
  • “I hope that we can build technologies that can do what we want... and leave the human things to the humans. The key is humans.” (21:36, Gerry White)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Interdisciplinary Innovation:

  • “That’s kind of where arts and sciences meet. That’s where I like to be.” (02:17, Gerry White)

• On Ethics in Tech:

  • “The highest human ideal—you would never make something that could harm a person autonomous.” (08:14, Gerry White)

• On Overcoming Siloed Thinking:

  • “People are so in their silos... They only know their particular language of tech, not a broader picture.” (09:45, Gerry White)

• Prompt Engineering as a Vital Skill:

  • “The right question might be way more important than the right answer in some situations.” (12:10, Gerry White)

• AI as an Amplifier, Not a Replacer:

  • “AI isn’t here to replace us, it’s here to make us superhuman.” (15:24, Host quoting Mitch Joel)

• Preserving Humanity's Value:

  • “If you want to live in a world where humans are valued... we need to create that world and not cede our agency to something else.” (17:01, Gerry White)

Suggested Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------|-----------| | Gerry’s Background and Passions | 02:04 | | MyTutor Plus and AI in Learning | 03:59 | | AI for Closing Educational Equity Gaps | 06:09 | | Ethics & Project Virgil | 07:49 | | AIM Hampton Roads & Intersectoral Collaboration | 09:27 | | Preparing Students for the AI Future | 11:23 | | Code & Quill Review & Interdisciplinary Education | 13:35 | | AI as Creative Partner (Music, Art) | 14:42 | | Keeping Humanities Central in Tech-Driven Classrooms | 16:31 | | Augmented Reality and Memory | 18:07 | | Advice to School Leaders on Implementing AI | 20:09 | | Looking 10 Years Ahead in EdTech | 21:26 |

Summary Takeaway

Gerry White argues for a balanced, human-centered approach to educational technology: that curiosity, creativity, and empathy must remain at the core of innovation. For White, technology—whether AI, AR, or robotics—should enhance rather than replace human connection. The future of education lies not only in the tools we build, but also in the questions we ask and the values we uphold.