Simon Says: Educate!

Episode #62: The AI+OER Institute 2026

In Episode #62 of Simon Says: Educate!, Ronald Lethcoe and Kristin Copeland discuss the upcoming AI + OER Institute 2026, a free virtual event hosted by Clover Park Technical College on August 7 and 8, 2026. Together, they reflect on how the institute has evolved from its original focus on open educational resources to include generative AI, accessibility, academic integrity, open pedagogy, and the future of teaching and learning. Using questions generated by Simon AI from past keynote summaries, Ronald and Kristin revisit key ideas from previous speakers and discuss what they hope to see in 2026, including practical classroom strategies, student-centered sessions, guiding principles, and industry perspectives. The episode also serves as a call for presenters, keynote recommendations, and anyone doing meaningful work at the intersection of AI and open education. Register, submit a proposal, or access recordings from previous years here: https://cptc.libguides.com/TLC/Events [https://cptc.libguides.com/TLC/Events]

Episode #61: Unpacking the Ethics of AI in Education w/Stephen Downes

In Episode #61 of Simon Says: Educate!, Geoff Cain [https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffcain/] interviews Stephen Downes [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stdownes/], Researcher at the National Research Council Canada and pioneer of Connectivism and the modern MOOC. Stephen examines nine commonly cited AI ethical principles and makes the case that what gets labeled "ethical" in AI policy is often a reflection of political perspectives and underlying assumptions rather than genuine consensus. The conversation covers the contested nature of foundational principles like fairness, transparency, and accountability, and why each one dissolves under scrutiny into competing values rather than universal ethics. Stephen introduces the cultural and contextual variability of AI guardrails, the dominance of risk-based ethics in education policy, and feminist Duty of Care theory as a largely overlooked alternative framework. The episode also explores a compelling medical AI case study to illustrate why a working technology is not automatically an ethical one. This episode is a must-listen for educators, instructional designers, and administrators who read AI ethics frameworks and want sharper tools for questioning the assumptions baked into them. Shownotes: On Ethical AI Principles [https://www.downes.ca/post/77971]

Episode #60: Zines in Higher Ed w/ Meredith Tummeti

In Episode #60 of Simon Says: Educate!, Geoff Cain interviews Meredith Tummeti [https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-tummeti-58bbbb4/overlay/about-this-profile/], librarian at Centralia College and leader of a growing zine initiative on campus. Meredith shares how a simple mini-zine evolved into a thriving culture of student-created work, research-based assignments, and a full zine makerspace in the college library. The conversation covers creative integration of zines into English, sociology, art, and communication courses, including how students demonstrate mastery, research skills, and media literacy through this accessible and expressive format. Meredith also discusses the hands-on logistics of building a zine collection, promoting campus-wide adoption, and ensuring inclusive access for students with diverse needs. This episode is a must-listen for educators interested in open pedagogy, multimodal assignments, and low-tech creativity in a high-tech world.

Episode #59: AI Essentials w/ Joni Gutierrez

In Episode #59 of Simon Says: Educate!, Ronald Lethcoe is joined by Joni Gutierrez, co-chair of the Washington State ELC AI Task Force and accessible technology specialist at Tacoma Community College. Together, they reflect on the launch of the new AI Essentials course created for Washington’s community and technical college system. They discuss the urgent need for shared AI vocabulary, the course’s accessibility and practical design, and the guiding framework known as the A-E-I-O-U ethos (Accessible, Equitable, Inclusive, Open, and Universal). Joni and Ronald highlight how the course empowers faculty and staff to engage with AI responsibly, explore its use as a collaborator, and consider when to integrate or avoid it based on human values and context. The episode also explores AI’s potential to support personalized learning, multimedia content creation, and accessibility in higher education, while urging educators to stay informed, intentional, and energy-conscious. Preview the course here: AI Essentials Course (Canvas) [https://sbctc.instructure.com/courses/2684965] Check out Joni's blog post on AI Essentials: Gutierrez & Lethcoe’s AI Essentials in Education (AI-Ed): Responsible AI Literacy Course for a Human-Centered Future [https://jonigutierrez.com/2025/11/02/gutierrez-lethcoes-ai-essentials-in-education-ai-ed-responsible-ai-literacy-course-for-a-human-centered-future/] Connect with Joni on LinkedIn: Joni Gutierrez, Ph.D. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joni-gutierrez-phd/overlay/about-this-profile/]

Episode #58: STEAM, SEL, and OER w/ Dr. Natasha Maria Gomes

In Episode #58 of Simon Says: Educate!, Geoff Cain interviews Dr. Natasha Maria Gomes, author of Keep Calm and STEAM Ahead: A Handbook for Educators [https://pressbooks.justwrite.in/keepcalmandsteamahead/]. Natasha shares her journey from French instructor to open education advocate, and how her work combines arts-based learning with STEM and social-emotional learning (SEL). The conversation explores creative teaching strategies such as doodling, music, and theater, and how they can be integrated into traditional subjects. Natasha also highlights the importance of accessibility, explaining how the book was designed for both high-tech and low-tech learning environments. She shares how augmented transcripts, offline access, and Pressbooks formatting make the resource usable in diverse educational settings. This episode offers practical insights for educators looking to bring more joy, rigor, and inclusivity into their classrooms. It also touches on how AI can support curriculum design without replacing meaningful, hands-on learning.