What's the Big Idea?

Ben Riley: We Should Be Skeptical of AI

In which Dan chats with Benjamin Riley, founder of Cognitive Resonance, an organization dedicated to replacing AI hype with an understanding of how generative AI works using cognitive science. Ben's understanding of human cognition has him disturbed to see how some in education are running into the arms of big tech.  As always, I welcome comments and questions on Instagram @_dankearney_ Mentioned in the show: Cognitive Resonance [https://www.cognitiveresonance.net/], founded by Ben Riley Gary Marcus [https://garymarcus.substack.com/] on Substack 8 Things To Know About Large Language Models [https://arxiv.org/abs/2304.00612] by Sam Bowman Ex Machina [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470752/], a film by Alex Garland The Story of My Life [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_My_Life_(biography)] by Helen Keller Music by Soyb

2026 Can Be A Portal

In which Dan wonders if 2026 could be the year we really take students' interests in the wider world seriously. We’re living with creeping authoritarianism, AI disruption, climate change, social fragmentation, and a youth mental health crisis. Students feel it as much as the adults, but I worry that we’re not doing nearly enough to take on these issues in a way that matters to young people. If 2026 can be anything, maybe it's a portal into schools getting serious about how students get to interact with the world when they’re at school. As always, I welcome comments and questions on Instagram @_dankearney_

De-Mystifying AI with Eric Hudson

In which Dan chats with Eric Hudson, an educator and facilitator who's spent a lot time thinking and talking about AI in schools. Dan and Eric talk about why AI is so polarizing, the student-teacher divide on this new technology, and how schools can preserve critical thinking while not running in fear of AI.  As always, I welcome comments and questions on Instagram @_dankearney_ Mentioned in the show: School Leaders Innovation Forum: Los Angeles [https://www.toddleapp.com/learn/talk-post/school-leaders-innovation-forum-los-angeles/?utm_campaign=30349448-US_Pvt_LA%20Meetup_6th%20March%202026&utm_source=email&utm_content=comm1] presented by Toddle Learning on Purpose [https://erichudson.substack.com/] a Substack by Eric Hudson Nine AI Messages for Students [https://erichudson.substack.com/p/nine-ai-messages-for-students]by Eric Hudson The Augmented Educator [https://www.theaugmentededucator.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips] a Substack by Michael Wagner Verified: How to Think Straight, Get Duped Less, and Make Better Decisions about What to Believe Online [https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/V/bo207015182.html] by Mike Caulfield and Sam Wineburg What can you do as an educator? [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/veracubero_a-wonderful-post-from-dan-jones-link-in-activity-7298385942979985410-6iAw?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABAs9CsBoAuG0s2YnDCSIV8p462aGXg1gdU] A post and graphic by Vera Cubero Music by Pierce Murphy

Back to the Future of Learning in the AI Era with Michael Wagner

In which Dan chats with Michael Wagner, Professor and Department Head of Digital Media at the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design at Drexel University, about the implications for AI in education.  Back in July Michael posted a piece to his Substack with the provocative title, "The End of Cheating as We Know It." He posits that, yes, AI has the power to disrupt everything in education, but, ironically, it has also created the conditions for ancient practices  of teaching and learning to ascend, methods like socratic and oral examination, as well as design cycle iteration. Mentioned in the show: The End of Cheating As We Know It [https://substack.com/@michaelgwagner/p-168211941] by Michael Wagner Michael Wagner's Substack [https://substack.com/@michaelgwagner] Alpha School [https://alpha.school/] Music: Inspired by Lakey

Jennifer Berkshire on "The Education Wars"

In which Dan talks with education thinker and writer Jennifer Berkshire. Jennifer is the co-author of the recent release The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual and co-host of the outstanding podcast Have You Heard? Dan and Jennifer talk about some of the biggest issues facing education in 2025, namely the culture wars, local activism, and the snake oil salesman of educational technology.  As always, I welcome comments and questions on Bluesky (@dankearney) and Instagram (@_dankearney_) Mentioned in the episode: Have You Heard? [https://www.haveyouheardpodcast.com/] - a podcast by Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual [https://www.amazon.com/Education-Wars-Citizens-Defense-Manual/dp/1620978547] by Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider Alpha Schools [https://alpha.school/] Private school vouchers are now law in Texas [https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/03/texas-school-vouchers-greg-abbott-signs/] from the Texas Tribune The Wire [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0306414/], a television show by David Simon Music by Lakey Inspired