Who Needs Distance Learning?

What Does Philosophy Have to Do with AI?

Dean interviews high school philosophy teacher Marcus Blair about how discovering a student had used ChatGPT shifted his initial curiosity into fear and urgency, prompting questions about AI’s impact on classrooms, education, and society. Blair explains how his philosophy background helps him ground AI decisions in critical thinking and ethics, drawing on thinkers like Descartes and approaches like utilitarianism and virtue ethics to move beyond policing toward student integrity. He describes practical classroom systems—AI integration “stamps,” a signed student AI agreement, and QR-code disclosure forms—plus strategic cognitive offloading so students can focus on intended learning outcomes. Blair shares examples including AI-supported reporting followed by in-class ethical judgment, emphasizing standards-based assessment, process-focused writing instruction, reduced homework, and district leadership supporting capacity-building and dialogue. 00:00 Caught Using ChatGPT 01:06 Meet Marcus Blair 03:25 First Encounter Fear 05:30 Existential Classroom Shift 07:23 Why Philosophy Matters 10:53 Integrity Over Policing 12:53 Student Win With AI 14:31 Classroom AI Guardrails 19:20 Cognitive Offloading Example 22:46 Standards Based Assessment 24:51 Process Over Product 27:17 Rethinking Homework 29:43 District Leadership Pride 32:35 Finding Common Ground 35:13 Gratitude And Rapid Fire 37:03 Books Shows Hidden Gems 40:59 Closing Thanks

Do You Just Tweet All Day?

Ryan Strang on the Evolution of School Communications: Strategy, Storytelling, Crisis, and Trust Dean interviews Ryan Strang, Senior Manager of Communications and Community Relations for Ontario’s Grand Erie District School Board and president/executive director of CASE, about how school communications has evolved beyond “just tweeting” into strategic advising, storytelling, brand ambassadorship, customer service, and crisis management. Ryan describes how social media shifted communications from one-way to fast, two-way engagement, increasing pressure for rapid response and amplifying challenges like polarization and misinformation. They discuss choosing channels based on metrics and audience (including stepping back from X, focusing on Facebook/Instagram, and monitoring/responding on Reddit), balancing playful brand voice with professionalism, and the emerging opportunities and risks of AI—especially around privacy and student images. Ryan shares a career highlight: quickly organizing a maple-syrup outdoor education experience for Syrian newcomer families in Peel, showing communications’ impact through relationship-building and storytelling. 00:00 Comms Role Defined 00:50 Why Comms Emerged 01:28 Meet Ryan Strang  04:28 Beyond Social Media  10:45 CASE Growth Post Pandemic 14:11 Storytelling Versus Risk  19:58 Finding Brand Voice 23:30 Playful Comms Examples 25:50 Snow Day Trust Building 28:40 Big District Complexity 30:06 Strategic Comms Value 30:52 Digital Customer Service 31:54 Choosing Social Channels 33:39 Metrics Over Hype 35:20 Facebook Instagram Reddit 38:44 New Platforms Playbook 40:37 AI Opportunities Risks 44:07 Authenticity Versus Automation 45:28 Career Success Story 47:10 Syrian Families Maple Trip 53:22 Hidden Gems Hamilton Brantford 55:13 Closing Reflections

What Is AI Literacy?

Dean interviews Kate Arthur about what it means for a skill to become a “literacy” and why AI literacy must build on foundational reading, writing, and numeracy alongside access to networks, tools, and skills. Arthur shares her nontraditional education path, 25 years at the intersection of tech, communications, and education, and how classroom moments like students using Siri pushed her to connect literacy with AI’s growing presence. They discuss integrating AI learning across subjects rather than isolating it, the risk of focusing on tools over outcomes like critical thinking, and concerns about widening divides when basic literacy gaps persist. Arthur describes a shift from an attention economy to an attachment economy in generative AI, the ethics of human–machine relationships, and the need to democratize AI knowledge currently concentrated among a few leaders. She also recounts lobbying that secured $6M for youth skills education and emphasizes community-driven change.  00:00 What Makes Literacy  01:06 Meet Kate Arthur 03:06 Kate’s Education Journey 04:57 Stumbling Into AI 07:09 Defining AI Literacy 11:17 Frameworks And Gaps 14:35 Teaching Across Subjects 16:52 Tools Versus Skills 19:17 Best Case AI Future 22:25 Screens Bans And Balance 26:37 From Attention To Attachment 30:33 AI Relationship Guilt 31:39 Depth Versus Shallow 33:11 Humans Versus Chatbots 38:50 Innovation At Risk 40:41 Proudest Career Moments 42:00 Lobbying For Education 45:35 How Lobbying Works 48:45 Leadership And Mentors 54:37 Montreal Hidden Gem

What's Good About the Internet in 2026?

Dean records an on-the-road podcast in Moose Jaw with his friend Alan Levine.. They discuss what’s still good about the internet in 2026, emphasizing curiosity, surprises, creativity, and niche communities that share knowledge, alongside the shift of social media from creation to consumption and parasocial influence. Alan describes teaching curiosity through hands-on activities and the value of low-stakes connection and storytelling. He explains his work at Open Education Global, the roots of open education and OpenCourseWare, its worldwide reach, and how openness supports quality through adaptation, educator involvement, and open pedagogy with students co-creating resources. They also cover Alan’s storytelling tools (Five Card Flickr Stories and PechaFlickr), mixed feelings about AI, and brief personal topics including his Canadian citizenship, reading about AI and photography, favorite shows, and Moose Jaw highlights. 00:00 Internet Still Surprises  01:27Why This Interview Exists 03:47 Coffee Shop Setup 04:19 Family Archives and Voices 05:11 What’s Good Online 07:09 Teaching Internet Curiosity 08:31 Social Media Then Now 11:11 Micro Communities and Fixes 13:23 Becoming Canadian 16:14 Open Education Explained 21:00 Quality and Open Pedagogy 23:36 Digital Storytelling Today 26:55 Beyond Video Storytelling 28:02 Five Card Flickr Stories 30:10 PechaFlickr Improv Talks 33:41 Why These Tools Work 34:41 AI Thoughts and Tradeoffs 37:39 Practical AI Use Cases 42:32 Reading on AI Photography 47:50 Binge Watch Favorites 48:55 Moose Jaw Hidden Gems 50:46 Wrap Up and Thanks

How Many Episodes Do You Need to Record to Get Good?

Dean interviews Tim Cavey, an elementary vice principal at an independent school in Vancouver and host of the Teachers on Fire podcast, discussing how growth mindset helped Tim persist in podcasting and why he committed to publishing at least 100 episodes—now reaching about 325. Tim shares his path into education (25 years), explains how BC independent schools receive about 50% per-student funding, and describes how his master’s program at Vancouver Island University and a thesis on podcasting’s influence on professional practice fueled his work. They explore podcasting as an accessible, underrated form of professional learning, the shift to video on YouTube, guest-driven impacts on Tim’s health and school practices, limited but meaningful listener feedback via metrics and LinkedIn, and a leadership misstep during COVID pushing Seesaw too soon without building trust. Tim offers advice to lead through service before title and start a master’s earlier, recommends The Digital Delusion, mentions Love is Blind, and shares the Lift Bar and Grill as a Vancouver hidden gem. 00:00 Growth Mindset to 100 Episodes 01:07 Why Podcasting Matters for Teachers 03:18 Meet Tim Cavey 03:57 Tim’s VP Role and Career 04:45 How BC Independent Schools Work 07:23 Why Tim Started Teachers on Fire 11:37 From Audio to Video Podcasting 13:57 Memorable Guests and Personal Impact 16:08 Feedback, Metrics, and LinkedIn 19:29 Master’s Thesis on Podcasting 20:38 Podcasting as Professional Learning 25:16 Lessons for School Leadership 27:47 Students Discover the Channel 28:57 Leadership Misstep During Covid 30:10 Trust Before Change 32:06 Advice for Aspiring Admins 35:38 Growth Mindset Breakthrough 38:35 Applying Mindset to AI 39:22 Gratitude Shoutout Mentor 40:30 Book Pick Digital Delusion 43:08 Guilty Pleasure TV Binge 44:10 Hidden Gem Coal Harbour 45:24 Closing Thanks and Wrap