Class Disrupted

Michael and Diane sit down with Neerav Kingsland, a longtime education leader now at Anthropic, to explore the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and education. Neerav shares his journey from working in New Orleans’ public school reform to his current role at one of the leading AI companies. The conversation covers the promise of AI tutors and teacher support tools, the key role of application “wrappers” for safe and effective student interaction with AI, and the need for humility and caution, especially with young learners. The episode also delves into the broader societal impacts of AI, the future evolution of sch...

Class Disrupted is back for season 7! In this kickoff episode, Diane Tavenner and Michael Horn reconnected after the summer to reflect on how artificial intelligence is shaping the education landscape. They discussed lingering skepticism about AI’s current use in schools and shared their evolving feelings about the technology. The hosts described their plans for the new season, which starts with a broad look at AI’s development both inside and beyond education, before narrowing in on entrepreneurs and real-world applications that could reinvent learning. https://archive.org/download/107817-v-1/107817_V1.mp3 Episode transcript: Transcript_ Class Disr...

In this end-of-season episode, Michael and Diane come together in person to reflect on the arc of their AI-focused sixth season. They discuss key themes and takeaways, including the enduring importance of foundational knowledge, skepticism around the speed and impact of AI-driven change within traditional schools, and how transformative innovation is more likely to emerge from new educational models outside the mainstream. Their conversation explores the challenges and opportunities AI brings, particularly in developing curiosity as a critical habit for learners, and revisits how their own perspectives shifted throughout the season. https://archive.org/download/end-of-season-episode-edited/End%20of%20...

Diane and Michael talk through what they’ve learned from their recent miniseries on AI in education. They discuss how AI offers unprecedented access to expertise, but also highlight concerns about its effectiveness for young learners. Throughout, Diane and Michael grapple with skepticism, optimism, and the practical challenges of embedding AI in educational systems, all while looking ahead to what meaningful, student-centered innovation could look like. https://archive.org/download/96905-future-of-education-processing-ai-in-education-out-loud-v-2/96905_Future%20of%20Education_Processing%20AI%20in%20Education%20Out%20Loud_v2.mp3 Episode transcript: Title_ Processing AI in Education Out LoudDownload

In this episode of Class Disrupted, hosts Michael Horn and Diane Tavenner chat with Rebecca Winthrop, a senior fellow and director at the Brookings Institution, about the impact of AI on education. The conversation kicks off by highlighting Rebecca’s idea of a premortem approach, which involves anticipating the negative impacts of AI before they occur and strategizing ways to mitigate these risks. They identify key concerns such as cognitive offloading, manipulation, and the effects on socialization and consider how this technology might catalyze a rethinking of the purpose of education. https://archive.org/download/winthrop-video/Winthrop%20Video.mp...

In this episode, Diane Tavenner and Michael Horn delve into the role of AI in writing education with Jane Rosenzweig, director of the Harvard College Writing Center. Jane underscores the importance of writing as a process of thinking and warns against the “deskilling” of students because of an overreliance on AI. The conversation explores how AI may aid resource shortages in education, while also pondering if AI’s efficiency overshadows the importance of deep learning and authentic writing skills. https://archive.org/download/93863-v-2/93863_V2.mp3 Episode transcript: Jane RosenzweigDownload

On this episode, Diane and Michael welcome guest Julia Freeland Fisher, a distinguished researcher from the Clayton Christensen Institute, whose work delves into the intersection of AI and education. The conversation explores the potential and challenges AI presents in the educational landscape. Julia shares her insights on the importance of using AI to enhance personalized learning experiences and facilitate real-world connections for students. She also voices her concerns about AI’s impact on human connection, emphasizing the risk of AI replacing genuine interpersonal relationships. https://archive.org/download/92929-future-of-education-julia-freeland-fisher-on-class-disrupted-with-intro-v-01/92929_Future%20of%20Education_Julia%20Freeland%20Fisher%20on%20Class%20Disrupted%20wi...

In this episode of Class Disrupted, Michael and Diane chat with Siya Raj Purohit, who works on education initiatives at OpenAI, about the transformative potential of AI in education. Siya shares her career journey and how it led her to focus on bridging the gap between education and workforce development. Highlighting the immense value of AI tools like ChatGPT, particularly in university settings, she underscores its potential to personalize learning, reduce teacher burnout, and enhance classroom interactions. Siya also addresses concerns around AI by emphasizing that while AI can elevate thinking and productivity, the irreplaceable human element in teaching—su...

Techno-optimists have high hopes for how AI will improve learning. But what’s the merit of the “bull case”, and what are the technology’s risks? To think through those questions, Michael and Diane sit down with Ben Riley of Cognitive Resonance, a “think and do” tank dedicated to improving decisions using cognitive science. They evaluate the cases made for AI, unpack its potential hazards, and discuss how schools can prepare for it. https://archive.org/download/ben-riley-ai-audio/Ben%20Riley%20AI%20-%20Audio.mp3 Episode transcript: Ben Riley on AIDownload

On this episode, John Bailey, who advises on AI and innovation at a number of organizations, including the American Enterprise Institute, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and more, joins Michael and Diane. They discuss AI’s potential to democratize access to expertise, weigh the costs and benefits of its efficiency-boosting applications, and consider how it will change skills required for the workforce of the future. https://archive.org/download/john-bailey-audio/John%20Bailey%20-%20Audio.mp3 Episode transcript: Transcript – Democratizing Access to Expertise_ AI in EducationDownload

At the outset of an AI-themed season, our hosts take stock of their prior assumptions, hopes, and concerns about the technology’s applications in education. They dive into where they see it being used to make adjustments to the current educational model and envision how it could be applied to revolutionize learning. https://archive.org/download/our-biases-about-ai-audio/Our%20%27Biases%27%20about%20AI%20-%20Audio.mp3 Episode transcript: Our ‘Biases’ about AI – TranscriptDownload

As Diane and Michael launch a sixth season of Class Disrupted, they talk through Michael’s newest book, the bestseller Job Moves: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career, and map its implications back to K12 schools and students through Diane’s startup, Futre.me. https://archive.org/download/class-disrupted-s-6-e-1-final/Class%20Disrupted%20S6%20E1%20final.mp3 Episode transcript: Transcript – Class Disrupted 11_27_2024Download

On their first ever summer episode, Michael and Diane are joined by David Yeager, psychology professor at University of Texas Austin and author of 10 to 25, a new book on youth development. They discuss lessons on healthy youth development tackled in his book, including the science of mentorship, importance of transparency, and strategies for how to help youth reframe stress. https://archive.org/download/80125-future-of-education-what-the-science-shows-a-mentorship-mindset-can-do-for/80125_Future%20of%20Education_What%20the%20Science%20Shows%20a%20Mentorship%20Mindset%20Can%20Do%20for%20Student%20Motivation_v2.mp3 Episode transcript: Transcript – Class Disrupted with David YeagerDownload

Michael and Diane welcome Stacey Childress, Senior Education Advisor at McKinsey & Co., back to the show to discuss the world of education philanthropy. Stacey draws from her previous experience at New Schools Venture Fund and the Gates Foundation to analyze troubling trends in the sector. The three discuss what funders and operators can do to grow philanthropic investment in education and better deploy those funds. https://archive.org/download/76806-future-of-education-concerning-trends-in-philanthropy-for-education-reform/76806_Future%20of%20Education_Concerning%20Trends%20in%20Philanthropy%20for%20Education%20Reform.mp3 Episode transcript: transcript-concerning-trends-in-philanthropy-for-education-reform-Download

Michael and Diane welcome back Stacey Childress, Senior Education Advisor at McKinsey & Co., for the second episode of a two-part series on the challenges facing K-12 education and promising strategies for addressing them. In this episode, each of them makes the case for one high-impact reform to address the challenges laid out in the previous episode. They discuss reforming how schools evaluate and recommend students, unbundling the core education experience, and doing more to instill character in values through education. https://archive.org/download/future-of-education-k-12-solutions-part-2-audio/Future%20of%20Education%20-%20K12%20solutions%20part%202%20-Audio.mp3 Episode...

Michael and Diane welcome back Stacey Childress, Senior Education Advisor at McKinsey & Co., for the first of a two-part series on the challenges facing K-12 education and promising strategies for addressing them. In this episode, they outline the nine roles of K–12 education systems in the U.S. and the problems they face in playing each. They highlight the disconnect between current teaching models and the latest learning sciences, unravel the operational challenges schools face, stress the importance of intentionally teaching character and values, and more. https://archive.org/download/75340-future-of-education-what-k-12-education-tries-to-do-and-where-it-misses/75340_Future%20of%20Education_What%20K12%20Education%20Tr...

Stacey Childress, Senior Advisor on Education at McKinsey, joins Michael and Diane for the second episode of a two-part series weighing in on Marc Andreseen and Ben Horowitz’s recent analysis of higher education. In this second episode, they react to the venture capitalists’ proposed solutions for higher education. They evaluate the investors’ recommendations and added their own prescriptions along the way. https://archive.org/download/in-conversation-on-college-part-ii/In%20Conversation%20on%20College%20Part%20II.mp3 Episode transcript: in-conversation-on-college-part-iiDownload

Michael and Diane welcome Stacey Childress, Senior Advisor on Education at McKinsey, to the podcast for a two-part series weighing in on Marc Andreseen and Ben Horowitz’s recent analysis of higher education. In this first episode, they react to the venture capitalists’ diagnosis of the problems with higher education. They give their vote of where the investors got it right, called out points of disagreement, and added their own insights along the way. https://archive.org/download/in-conversation-on-college-part-i/In%20Conversation%20on%20College%20Part%20I.mp3 Episode transcript: in-conversation-on-college-part-iDownload

Michael and Diane discuss why America’s approach to math class isn’t adding up. They analyze the outcomes produced under the status quo, consider the current system’s alignment with workforce needs, and propose a personalized approach to teaching each student the math that is meaningful for their path. https://archive.org/download/class-disrupted-episode-9-audio/Class%20Disrupted%20Episode%209%20Audio.mp3 Episode transcript: class-disrupted-episode-9-transcriptDownload

Michael and Diane sit down with Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, a cognitive scientist, researcher, professor, and author focused on intelligence, creativity, and human potential. They discuss the importance of placing all students – not just those that are in gifted or special education programs – at the center of their learning. They also apply nuance to popular concepts in education psychology, consider how intelligence became taboo, and illustrate the importance of seeing the middle way and other sides of the issues.  https://archive.org/download/human-first-redefining-intelligence-and-self-actualization-in-education/Human%20First_%20Redefining%20Intelligence%20and%20Self-Actualization%20in%20Education.mp3 Episode transcript: class-disrupted-episode-8Downl