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Episode 319: AI, Education, and Moving at Human Speed with Rob Nelson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/erob-nelson)
In this powerful episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with educator, writer, and higher ed tech veteran Rob Nelson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/erob-nelson) to explore the real story behind AI in education. Rob (https://www.linkedin.com/in/erob-nelson) challenges the “move fast and break things” mentality and calls for a more human-paced, thoughtful approach to integrating AI in classrooms.
We explore what it really means to Tinker Toward Utopia (https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674892835) , how large language models are reshaping student learning (when used intentionally), and why educators must resist pressure from hype-driven platforms. This episode is packed with clarity, caution, and hope for anyone navigating the fast-moving world of AI in education.
Links to the publications I mentioned.
Henry Farrell's blog, Programmable Mutter (https://www.programmablemutter.com/)
Tinkering Toward Utopia by David Tyack and Larry Cuban (https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674892835)
A Voice from the South by Anna Julia Cooper (https://uncpress.org/book/9781469633312/a-voice-from-the-south/)
And, of course, Rob's Blog
Website: ailogblog.com (http://ailogblog.com/)
👇 Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome & Rob’s background in higher ed
04:00 – AI adoption: Hype vs. reality
09:00 – Duck-Rabbit duality: Two ways to see AI
12:00 – Using LLMs to support—not replace—teaching
25:00 – The danger of humanizing AI too much
28:00 – The AI Fight Club: Polarization in the space
33:00 – Why rushing into AI contracts can backfire
38:00 – Tinkering toward utopia: A better path forward
44:00 – Final reflections & rapid-fire Q&A
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💬 Let’s keep changing education—at the speed of people.
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