Smarter Campus Podcast

Zach Kinzler
  • 5.0 (60)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Changing education one conversation at a time. The Smarter Campus Podcast dives into the future of learning, spotlighting how students, educators, and innovators around the world are using AI to reshape education. Hosted by Zach, Head of Academic Sales Strategies at BoodleBox.ai, each episode features real conversations with passionate voices—from student leaders to professors—about what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s next. Whether you're curious about AI in the classroom, how schools are adapting, or what students actually want from their education, this podcast keeps it honest, inspiring, and practical. Tune in weekly for powerful ideas, global perspectives, and a smarter take on the campus experience.

  1. Dr. Michelle Kassorla on Inverting Bloom’s Taxonomy: Teaching for Thinking in the Age of AI

    40M AGO

    Dr. Michelle Kassorla on Inverting Bloom’s Taxonomy: Teaching for Thinking in the Age of AI

    In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, Zach sits down with Michelle Kassorla to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping pedagogy, assessment, and what it truly means to learn. Dr. Kassorla introduces a powerful reframing of Bloom’s Taxonomy for the AI era. If AI can now create first, then the real intellectual work for students begins afterward—through evaluation, analysis, application, and reflection. Rather than resisting this shift, she argues that educators should redesign learning to emphasize process over product. Together, they discuss: Why AI should be treated as a starting point, not an endpointHow “Inverted Bloom’s Taxonomy” changes assignment designWhy grading the journey eliminates the incentive to cheatThe limits of AI detection and the harm of adversarial classroomsHow shared vulnerability between faculty and students builds trustPractical ways to scaffold assignments and assess AI transparencyThis episode offers a concrete, actionable framework for educators ready to move beyond detection and toward learning environments that reward thinking, iteration, and human judgment.

    25 min
  2. Dr. Jose Bowen on Teaching with AI: When Knowledge Is Free and Thinking Is the Work

    6D AGO

    Dr. Jose Bowen on Teaching with AI: When Knowledge Is Free and Thinking Is the Work

    In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, Zach sits down with Jose Bowen, author of Teaching with AI and longtime higher-education leader, to explore one of the most important shifts education has ever faced. Dr. Bowen argues that while the internet changed our relationship with knowledge, AI is changing our relationship with thinking itself. As information becomes abundant—but increasingly unreliable—educators are no longer just teaching content. They’re teaching how to think, how to evaluate, and how to work alongside intelligent systems. In this conversation, they discuss: Why AI should be viewed as a thinking partner, not just a toolWhat it means to teach when you’re no longer the “expert in the room”How AI reshapes writing, feedback, and learning processesWhy metacognition and bias awareness are now core educational skillsHow faculty can prepare students for a world where thinking itself is augmentedThis episode is essential listening for faculty, instructional designers, and academic leaders navigating what teaching looks like when AI is embedded into how humans reason, write, and decide.

    33 min
  3. Judith Cardenas on Leading Through AI: Guardrails, Courage, and Embracing Ambiguity

    12/29/2025

    Judith Cardenas on Leading Through AI: Guardrails, Courage, and Embracing Ambiguity

    In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, Zach sits down with Judith Cardenas, a higher-education leader and consultant who has been working on AI strategy long before generative AI went mainstream. Judith shares what she’s learned from more than a decade of consulting with institutions and leadership teams—and why AI leadership today has far less to do with being technical and far more to do with curiosity, courage, and comfort with ambiguity. Together, they explore: Why AI leadership is not about being a “techie”How fear (not technology) is the biggest blocker to adoptionWhy faculty need guardrails, not bansWhat it means to lead when no one has all the answers yetHow institutions can balance integrity, innovation, and trustThis conversation is especially relevant for presidents, provosts, deans, CIOs, and faculty leaders navigating AI strategy at the institutional level. Rather than focusing on tools, this episode focuses on mindset, governance, and human leadership in an era of rapid change. If you’re responsible for guiding others through AI adoption—and feel the weight of that responsibility—this episode is for you.

    28 min
  4. AI, Equity, and Rural Education: Matt Newlin on Leveling the Playing Field

    12/22/2025

    AI, Equity, and Rural Education: Matt Newlin on Leveling the Playing Field

    In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, host Zach Kinzler is joined by Matt Newlin, a higher education consultant with over 20 years of experience in financial aid, equity, and student success. Matt brings a powerful rural perspective to the AI conversation, framing artificial intelligence as a democratizing force—one that has the potential to level the playing field for rural, first-generation, and low-income students if implemented thoughtfully. The conversation explores why many rural educators feel hesitant to adopt AI, the risks of blanket bans, and how institutions can build faculty capacity while still prioritizing critical thinking, equity, and durable skills. Matt also shares practical examples of how AI can support admissions, recruiting, faculty workflows, and student learning—without replacing human judgment. This episode is a grounded, honest look at how AI can expand access and opportunity in higher education, especially in communities that are often left out of emerging technology conversations. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why AI can be a leveling force for rural and underserved studentsThe real fears educators have about “getting AI wrong”How AI can build faculty capacity instead of adding workloadWhy institutions need nuanced AI policies—not blanket bansThe importance of teaching critical thinking alongside AI literacy

    27 min
  5. Intelligence Having Fun: Pravin Kaipa on Creativity, AI, and Rethinking Assessment

    12/15/2025

    Intelligence Having Fun: Pravin Kaipa on Creativity, AI, and Rethinking Assessment

    In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, host Zach Kinzler sits down with Pravin Kaipa to explore creativity, artificial intelligence, and what it truly means to support learning in modern classrooms. Grounded in the idea that “creativity is just intelligence having fun,” this conversation challenges traditional grading models and reframes AI as a guide on the side—not a replacement for educators, but a powerful creative and pedagogical partner. Together, Zach and Pravin unpack how AI can democratize creativity, support differentiated instruction, and open new possibilities for students who have historically been underserved by traditional systems. The episode also dives into how educators can move away from “gotcha” teaching moments and instead use AI to foster curiosity, engagement, and deeper understanding. 🎨 In this episode, you’ll hear: Why traditional grading often fails to reflect real learningHow AI can support creativity without replacing human judgmentPractical classroom uses for visual, audio, and multimodal AI toolsThe role of AI in differentiated instruction and special educationWhy AI literacy is becoming essential for educators and students alikeThis episode is a thoughtful reminder that when used intentionally, AI can make learning more human—not less.

    33 min
  6. Technology Doesn’t Change Education — Teachers Do.

    12/08/2025

    Technology Doesn’t Change Education — Teachers Do.

    This week, I sat down with Dr. Betty Chandy, Director of AI & Technology Enhanced Learning Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education — and this conversation is a masterclass in what real AI integration should look like. Betty’s journey is incredible.  She grew up in classrooms without even chalkboards… and now leads AI literacy and professional development initiatives at one of the top schools of education in the world. The through-line in her story is powerful: “The key to change is the teacher.”In this episode, Betty breaks down the core tension in education right now: Teachers are being asked to teach in a world that looks nothing like the one they were trained for.Professional development is still treated as “one-and-done,” even though classrooms evolve daily.AI is accelerating change, but teachers often feel unprepared, undervalued, or afraid of being replaced.And yet — she brings a refreshing, grounded optimism. We talk about how to build ongoing professional learning communities, how to teach AI literacy through real-world examples students actually care about, and why IT departments and educators must collaborate instead of working in silos.

    27 min
  7. The Fingerprint of Learning: Austin Levinson on AI, Critical Thinking, and the Future of Education

    12/01/2025

    The Fingerprint of Learning: Austin Levinson on AI, Critical Thinking, and the Future of Education

    In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, host Zach Kinzler is joined by Austin Levinson, an award-winning international educator with over two decades of teaching experience and a deep commitment to rethinking how we teach critical thinking in the age of AI. From dissecting a Gulf War headline to launching programs that merge design thinking, ethics, and artificial intelligence, Austin’s approach to education is all about creating “learners who wonder.” This conversation explores how educators can maintain the human fingerprint in a world increasingly shaped by technology—and why AI literacy isn’t optional anymore. In this episode, we cover: Why “Unexpected Resistance” became the foundation of Austin’s teaching philosophyHow to teach students to analyze, not just consume, informationThe “fingerprint” method — using AI as a thought partner, not a replacementHow to prepare students (and teachers) for an AI-enhanced worldWhy failure, questioning, and curiosity matter more than everAustin’s work reminds us that education isn’t about creating workers—it’s about developing thinkers who are ready to question, adapt, and create meaning in an AI-driven future.

    27 min
  8. Curiosity as a Competitive Advantage: Luca Caniato on AI, Education, and the Future of Work

    11/24/2025

    Curiosity as a Competitive Advantage: Luca Caniato on AI, Education, and the Future of Work

    n this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, host Zach Kinzler talks with Luca Caniato, an 18-year-old freshman at CU Boulder studying finance and management information systems — and already an AI consultant and fly-fishing guide. Luca’s story is a perfect example of what happens when curiosity meets opportunity. From using AI to study, to teaching peers, to landing early consulting work, he shows how students can turn experimentation into real-world impact. 🎧 In this episode, we discuss: How curiosity and initiative led Luca to consulting at just 18Why time-saving is the biggest benefit of AI for students and professionalsHow education is failing to teach ethical and effective AI useWhat it means when the job market shifts “from a triangle to a diamond”How students can stand out by knowing what’s up in a changing worldLuca’s message is clear: AI isn’t about shortcuts — it’s about amplifying your curiosity and preparing for a future where those who adapt fastest thrive.

    25 min
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5
out of 5
60 Ratings

About

Changing education one conversation at a time. The Smarter Campus Podcast dives into the future of learning, spotlighting how students, educators, and innovators around the world are using AI to reshape education. Hosted by Zach, Head of Academic Sales Strategies at BoodleBox.ai, each episode features real conversations with passionate voices—from student leaders to professors—about what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s next. Whether you're curious about AI in the classroom, how schools are adapting, or what students actually want from their education, this podcast keeps it honest, inspiring, and practical. Tune in weekly for powerful ideas, global perspectives, and a smarter take on the campus experience.

Information

  • Creator
    Zach Kinzler
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Zach Kinzler
  • Show Website
    Smarter Campus Podcast