Learning Futures

Sean Leahy, Punya Mishra
Learning Futures

What if education systems were doing more and thinking differently about preparing learners to thrive in the future? Join hosts Dr. Sean Leahy, and Professor Punya Mishra of Arizona State University for conversations on improving education and the futures of learning. Each episode presents colleagues, researchers, education leaders, and other guests who share how they're thinking about and addressing the most pressing challenges in education.

  1. 07/30/2024

    Selects: Education Sustainability and Global Futures with Keri Facer and Iveta Silova (S5E7)

    Original Show Notes from April 18, 2023 ---- In this episode - Sean and Punya are joined by guest co-host Iveta Silova to talk with prominent futures scholar Keri Facer to discuss Futures education, futures literacy vs futures literacies, futures thinking, and cultivating a 'temporal imagination'.  In our conversation we learn about Keri's own academic and professional journey, and how studying the learning space of children became synonymous with studying the future. We discuss a recent publication from Arathi Sriprakash and Keri Facer on the pedagogic imperative to 'teach the future' in modern schools and the opportunities and challenges exist, and explore the importance of the differences between futures literacy and futures literacies. Guest Information:  Keri Facer – Professor of Educational and Social Futures at the University of Bristol, Visiting Professor in Education for Sustainable Development at the University of Gothenburg and August T Larsson Guest Professor at SLU, Sweden. Her work focuses specifically on cultivating the ‘temporal imagination’ – the capacity to work critically with ideas of time, rhythm, pasts and futures to open up possibilities for individual and collective agency - in conditions of environmental and technological change. Iveta Silova – Professor and Associate Dean of Global Engagement at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. She teaches graduate courses in comparative and international education, education policy and evaluation, research design, and post/decolonial approaches to education research.    Links & Resources:  Learning Futures Collaborative: Education, sustainability, and global futuresFuturelab, former UK educational research organizationFutures journal [publisher link]Jungk and Muellert’s future workshops [actioncatologue.eu link]Futures Literacy [UNESCO link]Coldwarchildhoods.org, Iveta’s work on childhood memoriesChen, K (2010). Asia As Method:Toward Deimperialization. Duke University Press. [publisher link]Teach the FutureWorld Futures Study FederationSardar, Z. & Sweeney, J. (2015). The Three Tomorrows of Postnormal Times. Futures 75 (2016) 1–13. [article link]Turn It Around!, socially engaged artAna Dinerstein’s ‘The Art of Organizing Hope’ [video link]Tsing, A., Bubandt, N., Gan, E., & Swanson, H. (2017). Arts of Living on a Damaged Planet. U of Minnesota Press. [publisher link]The Ecoversities NetworkFacer, K & Sriprakash, A. (2021). Provincialising Futures Literacy: A caution against codification. Futures, Volume 133, October 2021. [pdf link]Punya and Iveta’s past work together: https://punyamishra.com/2022/11/17/speculative-fiction-and-the-future-of-learning/Keri Facer (2011) Learning Futures: Education, Technology and Social Change, London: RoutledgeFacer, K (2022) The University and the Social Imagination, CGHE Working PaperIn this background paper for the UNESCO Futures of Education Commission,  I talk about five different ways of doing ‘futures’ in education – and the ethical choices these raise: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000375792.locale=enBlack Mountains College - https://blackmountainscollege.uk/The Ecoversities Network - https://ecoversities.org/Book Recommendations:Hospicing Modernity https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/675703/hospicing-modernity-by-vanessa-machado-de-oliveira/At Work in the Ruins https://www.amazon.com/At-Work-Ruins-Pandemics-Emergencies/dp/164502184XBruce Sterling – (2002). Tomorrow Now, Envisioning the Next Fifty Years. Random House. [Google Books link]Keri and Arathi’s article: Provincialising Futures Literacy: A caution against codificationHow Are the Children? - Wake Up Arcade Fire CoverSoutheast Asia collection of the Turn it Around! Youth Visions of Climate Futures

    51 min
  2. 07/16/2024 · BONUS

    Selects: AI in Education with Ryan Baker & Scotty Craig (S5E1)

    Original Show Notes ------ Sean and Punya welcome special guests Dr. Scotty Craig (ASU) and Dr. Ryan Baker (Penn) to discuss rapidly evolving field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and what implications it may have for education Guest Information Dr. Scotty Craig Is an associate professor of human systems engineering within The Polytechnic School of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. Dr. Craig is a learning engineer and has investigated research areas of emotion and learning, multimedia learning, and intelligent tutoring systems (ITS)in both laboratory and applied classroom settings. Scotty is also a fellow member of our own AI in Education Learning Futures Collaborative here at ASU. Dr. Ryan Baker Is a professor of education and computer science at the University of Pennsylvania, and also directs the Penn Center for Learning Analytics. Dr. Baker researches how students use and learn from educational games, intelligent tutors, and other kinds of educational software. Drawing on the fields of educational data mining, learning analytics, and human–computer interaction, he develops methods for mining the data that come out of the interactions between students and educational software. He then uses this information to improve our understanding of how students respond to educational software, and how these responses influence their learning. Topics discussed: UNESCO publications on Artificial Intelligence in educationMaturity of AI in Education from both a technical perspective and practical / pedagogical perspectiveParsing student behaviors in moocs and other environments, including one that caught our eye, what Dr. Baker called “wtf” behaviorsCalls for future developments of AI to be grounded in a human-centered approachAlgorithmic bias, challenges, pitfalls and opportunitiesHow does a system like ChatGPT from Open AI impact the possible future of online learning and behavior?Big picture idea, What are we gaining and losing in seeing ourselves as essentially streams of data?Resources and Links: -Chiou, E. K., & Lee, J. D. (2021). Trusting automation: Designing for responsivity and resilience. Human factors, 0018720821100999 -Penn Center for Learning Analytics -Algorithmic Bias in Education -U Penn Learning Analytics (Online) Master of Science in Education Degree Program   MS in Human Systems Engineering with a Concentration in Intelligent Systems at ASU The Intelligent Systems Concentration provides students with a Master of Science in Human Systems Engineering that prepares them with the skills needed to improve our world by creating innovative technology-based systems that integrate into human environments. Our faculty provide a guided experience with training in theory, development, and evaluation. For more information, check out our website or email  Dr. Craig Link: https://poly.engineering.asu.edu/hse/ms/

    51 min
  3. 07/02/2024 · BONUS

    Selects: Extended Reality with Dan Beaupre and Tom Schmidt (S5E8)

    In this special selects episode we re-listen to Sean and Punya talk about the journey and future developments of extended reality (XR) in education with Dan Beaupre and Tom Schmidt from One Giant Leap, LLC and ROAM respectively. We learn about the backstory and "origin story" from Dan and Tom and how they came together to join forces around their deep passion for education, storytelling, and emerging technologies.  Extended Reality (XR) is a term that encompasses all immersive technologies that merge the physical and virtual worlds, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). It offers a new way of experiencing digital content by combining the real world with digital elements, allowing users to interact with virtual objects in a natural and intuitive way.   Guest Information:  Dan Beaupre  - Dan is the founder and principal of One Giant Leap, LLC which is a production and consulting company that inspires and empowers children of all ages to be planetary stewards. [They] create transformational experiences, memorable events, and new media. We also provide strategic support to organizations who seek to add, refresh, or expand educational programming. / formerly, Vice President, Experiences, in the National Geographic Society's Education division Tom Schmidt –  Emmy winner for TV. Emmy nominated for VR. Producer for all those mediums / the CEO and Co-Founder of ROAM - ROAMcreates shared experiences for the emerging metaverse that provide understanding, empathy and awareness. And founder of Percolate Digital LLC   Episode Links National Geographic GeoBeeOculus Rift [video link]Dan’s giant maps projecteCYBERMISSION educational competitionGrasp, Dan and Tom’s immersive training companyPowers of Ten filmThe Gailer School [Wikipedia link]Flatland book [Project Gutenberg link]Midjourney, AI image generatorHypercard, Mac software [Wikipedia link]Jane Goodall InstituteSaul Perlmutter, 2011 Nobel LaureateReeducated: Inside Xinjiang’s Secret Detention Camps (360/VR). The New Yorker.ASU’s BioSense NetworkJacob Bronowski’s The Ascent of Man, BBC documentary television series [IMDb link] [British Film Institute link]John Dewey, “father of American progressive education” [Britannica link]MIX Center at ASUGuest Links Punya’s blog: Aesthetics and science education: Beauty at Work podcast

    1h 16m
  4. 06/18/2024

    GenAI: Hype vs. Reality

    The AI Revolution Is Already Losing SteamIn this final episode of Season 6, hosts Sean and Rachna discuss new advancements in generative AI, reflecting on its journey and the hype surrounding it. The episode begins with a light-hearted conversation about screen visibility issues and transitions into more serious topics, including the rapid adoption of AI technologies and the varied spectrum of understanding across different environments. Rachna shares her experiences with AI guidelines developed in collaboration with Northern Arizona University, highlighting the importance of understanding and cautious adoption of AI in K-12 education. Sean emphasizes the concept of "arrival technology," where new innovations like ChatGPT appeared suddenly, challenging traditional adoption curves and readiness. The hosts express their frustrations with the overhype of GenAI, discussing the unrealistic promises made by tech companies and the potential backlash this could create. They explore Amara's Law, which states that we tend to "overestimate the impact of technology in the short run and underestimate it in the long run", urging listeners to maintain a balanced perspective. The conversation also covers the ethical implications of GenAI, the importance of maintaining human agency, and the role of leadership in guiding responsible AI adoption. They conclude with a forward-looking discussion about the next school year, expressing excitement for the potential of AI to enhance personal productivity and support educators. Links: AI Guidance for Arizona SchoolsRoy Amara [Amara's Law]The AI Revolution Is Already Losing SteamGartner Hype Cycle (general description of model)

    55 min
  5. 05/07/2024

    ASU FOLC Fest 2024 Part 4

    In this episode Sean and Jake keep the conversation rolling from the first annual ASU FOLC Fest through highlights from our conversations with Megan Workmon and Medhansh Garg. Throughout this episode we explore insightful discussion on the intersection of technology, education, and creativity.  Key Highlights:  Insights from the first ever Future of Learning Community Festival held at ASUTalking with Megan we learn a lot about her role at ASU and her influence on learning experience designWe learn about projects blending technology and education, focusing on ethical considerations and the human element in learningImportance of balancing technological efficiency with the human touchPotential future of interdisciplinary collaborations and emphasis on mental health and wellness in educational settingsMedhansh shares his experiences on coding, offering a unique perspective of how foundational knowledge intersects with advanced technological tools like ChatGPT. His story is a testament to the impact of technology on personal growth and the crucial balance between embracing innovation and grounding in core principlesExploration of using AI as a thought partner in educational contexts.Ethical implications of AI in crafting educational materials and the necessity of maintaining a human-centered approachGuest Information:  Megan Workmon – Director Learning Experience Design, Enterprise TechnologyMedhansh Garg – Computer Science graduate, Seeking Full-Time Data Analytics, and or Project Management Jobs Other links:  ASU Tech Hub: https://lx.asu.edu/techhub

    54 min

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What if education systems were doing more and thinking differently about preparing learners to thrive in the future? Join hosts Dr. Sean Leahy, and Professor Punya Mishra of Arizona State University for conversations on improving education and the futures of learning. Each episode presents colleagues, researchers, education leaders, and other guests who share how they're thinking about and addressing the most pressing challenges in education.

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