Short answer: Discussing the American Federation of Teachers' AI training hub, Sam Nadler says AI can accelerate learning, as with his five year old learning space facts from ChatGPT voice mode, but fears it replacing critical thinking.
Watch this answer from Episode 3 (starts at 23:57) · Episode 3 notes and transcript
From Episode 3: Auto-Marketing for Podcasts? Let’s Build It!, starting at 23:57.
Sam Nadler [23:56]: The last story I wanted to cover, which is, I believe, within the last day, is about the American Federation of Teachers who says it will open an AI training hub with Microsoft OpenAI Anthropic. I have two children. So, I do think about the impact of AI on their early education and, high school education. They're not there yet. But I'll give you my take from a parent, but what's your immediate reaction?
Jordan Metzner [24:30]: I mean, it's so obvious that AI has such a potential impact on, the education complex. I mean, whether it's from early education to late stage education to you know, I'm obviously far outside of school, and I use, AI to educate myself on a daily basis. How we're gonna see AI impact the classroom, I mean, who knows? But, I mean, it seems like it's a wide open space right now. But, it's one of these things that obviously can be hyper customized to each student and their learning abilities and what their interests are, and that sounds like right up the alley of, proper education, I would say. I'm I'm no education expert. Don't really know much about it. But, we do know that, like, students are at all different paces, have all different interests, learn in all different ways. And, AI's ability to customize that, seems like a home run, but I'm sure there's probably some drawbacks too that could come with this.
Sam Nadler [25:26]: Yeah. I mean, just having two young children and being, I would say maybe compared to the average human, I'm pretty exposed to AI tools. I'm very AI forward in the classroom. With that being said, I do have some concerns. Would say kind of my mentality is to be proactive and proceed with caution. I think it can just be such an huge accelerant to so many different kids, different learning profiles, personalities. They all kind of learn at different rates, even with my own daughter in subject she likes, which is math. She has different parts of math she likes more than other parts of math. And she prefers, of course, to do the things she's good at. But in reality, she should probably focus a bit more on the things she struggles with at this time. So I think it I guess my biggest fear with AI in the classroom, and this may be a little bit higher level at high school or college is, I would want to make sure that in the implementation of AI in the classroom, it doesn't replace students' critical thinking to really, thinking, is this, just because I got the answer, does that mean that this is the right approach? Not just kind of a copy and paste approach and how to like weave in the critical thinking, really strong critical thinking skills. And I wouldn't call it mistrust, but, having that level of critical eye to anything you read online or anything generated by AI and having kind of the wherewithal to investigate on your own, I think, is a really important piece to this puzzle. But it's kind of like I see AI is kind of like the Internet, twenty years ago in the classroom. Like my daughter's entering in fifth grade in her fourth, third and fourth grade costume, they're already using iPads and different online tools.
Sam Nadler [27:42]: So, you can't avoid it. It's going to be there. How do we use it safely? How do we use it in a way that actually greatly benefits the students? I'm not an expert here, but I think, you can't ignore it. And I think it's really important to be proactive in looking for those solutions, and, proceeding with caution as mentioned before.
Jordan Metzner [28:03]: It seems like ChatGPT so far has been great as kind of like a companion. And it seems like AI is very good at being companion like in that sense. And that seems like an area where there's a lot of opportunity, especially for children, kind of in supporting their learning and education. But just look at something like Suno. Like, how hard is it for a child in fifth grade to make an entire song? And now she can just speak it out, and she has a song, exactly what she wanted to make her song about. And, that that is incredibly liberating, I think.
Sam Nadler [28:37]: Yeah. And for instance, my five year old's really interested in space. And a couple times, I've just put on voice mode with ChatGPT and let her talk to ChatGPT about space. And my five year old can rattle off more space facts than I'm guessing most five year olds. So, just having, like, probably five space related conversations, You know, it's been a very valuable learning experience for her, and she's five years old. So I think it's very interesting. I think it's needed. Obviously, I think it's it's normal to have concerns, and we should have those concerns. But I'm, excited that it can actually accelerate and expose students to way more than they would have been in like a traditional curriculum. And that's kinda it. Jordan, anything else to wrap up the show?
Jordan Metzner [29:34]: No. Great episode. Fun to talk. Lots of things going on in the AI space. Again, crazy week. And, yeah. Hope you guys like the products we built and what we showed off. And looking forward to catching up with you again next week, Sam.
Sam Nadler [29:47]: Likewise. Take care, everyone.
Jordan Metzner [29:49]: Bye.
