Cognitive Atrophy in the Time of AI
In today's show, we will be discussing Generative AI and productive cognitive struggle in schools. Alex's guests are listed below. Kath Murdoch is an experienced teacher, author, university lecturer and popular consultant who has worked for many years in schools throughout the world. With a focus on early childhood and primary education, she is widely respected as a leader in the field of inquiry based learning and integrative curriculum in which she has taught, researched and published for over 30 years. Kath began her professional life as a classroom teacher in Melbourne, Australia. Her fascination in how students' constructed their understandings - and her interest in the way questions and big ideas could drive curriculum soon led to a passion for integrative and inquiry based methodologies. This passion has become a career-long focus for teaching, research and writing and the methodologies in which Kath's specialities are now central to curriculum frameworks in many parts of the world - including the popular International Baccalaureate, PYP program. Kath's professional development offerings are diverse. They range from intensive partnerships with schools to develop inquiry programs and practices over several years through to one-day workshops for beginning or experienced inquiry teachers. Whether in her hometown of Melbourne or on the other side of the world, working with a team or speaking to a packed auditorium Kath's style is refreshingly practical, inclusive and always connected to the real world of teaching. More on Chapter's site. Nick Soentgerath is a Technology Learning Coach at Yokohama International School. Prior to working in education he was a consultant for Apple Inc in Canada and has since taught for a variety of international schools in Macau, Shanghai, and Japan. He is currently completing his Masters in Educational Technology with the University of British Columbia. Nick is passionate about learning and technology and very excited to see how AI will help push education into new areas. James Abela works at Garden International School as the Director of Digital Learning and Entrepreneurship. He has worked in computing since 1998, first, in industry then in education, then Garden International School. In 2012, he helped to create the UK computing curriculum, was an author of the Compute-IT series of books, and is now an author of the new IB Diploma Computer Science book (OUP). He is the founder of the Southeast Asia Computer Science Teachers Association (SEACSTA). He has received numerous awards, including Best Corporate Website (FTSE 100), 21st Century Teacher of the Year 2014, Apple Distinguished Educator, Google Certified Innovator, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, BETT Trailblazer in Inclusion Award Nominee, Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award Finalist 2023, and Replit Mini Curriculum Jam 2022 Winner. His students have gone on to prestigious universities, including Harvard, Cambridge University, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, Imperial, and UCL. Host: Alex McMillan is a High School Tech Coach with over a decade of experience in education and a background in commercial photography/advertising. Co-author of “Designing for Understanding” and “Saigon Artbook”, Alex loves to integrate design and technology to enhance teaching and learning. His interests include digital music, Generative AI, photography, drones, and volcano hunting. He frequently speaks at conferences like 21st Century Learning HK, ISTE, and Vietnam Tech Conference about AI and other edtech-related themes. Connect with Alex on Twitter/X: @MrAlexEdTech or visit www.Alexmcmillan.co.
