News & Research: The Global Shift from Policy to Practice
Release Date: 03/20/2025
Simon Breakspear on AI - Slow Down: AI, Learning, and the Cognitive Escalator
AI in Education Podcast
In this weeks podcast Dan and Ray have a conversation about education with Dr Simon Breakspear. Simon is a globally respected expert in educational leadership and innovation, known for his insightful work on transforming learning environments. His forward thinking ideas around education are reshaping the way schools and school systems are thinking about teaching, learning and leadership. In this episode we talk about: Distinction Between Productivity and Pedagogical Uses of AI: Simon, Dan, and Ray discussed the critical distinction between...
info_outline
7 Surprising Truths About How Students Really Use AI
AI in Education Podcast
Introduction: Beyond the Hype and Panic For the past couple of years, the conversation around students and artificial intelligence has been dominated by a palpable sense of anxiety. We’ve all heard the headlines and the hallway chatter - fears of widespread, undetectable cheating, the slow erosion of critical thinking, and the looming threat of a "cognitive debt" where students outsource their learning and forget how to think for themselves. But in Series 12 of the we spent time listening to a wide range of students, from curious middle schoolers to ambitious university...
info_outline
AI Study Buddies, Compliance Cheaters, and the Rise of Corella
AI in Education Podcast
In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, Ray and Dan dive into the latest news, tools, and research transforming education through AI. From ChatGPT’s agent and study modes to Google’s new Nano Banana image tool and Grammarly’s army of AI agents, there’s no shortage of innovation—or controversy. They unpack OpenAI’s ambitious Learning Accelerator in India and explore how Australian schools are rolling out Corella, an AI assistant aimed at reducing teacher workload. The duo also discuss new research including the Microsoft 2025 AI in Education report, the Tech Council of...
info_outline
Be Human First: Leading with Purpose in an AI World - Dr Sophie Fenton
AI in Education Podcast
What does it really mean to lead in the age of AI? In this deeply insightful episode, from joins us to explore the human side of AI adoption in education and the workplace. From her unique background spanning classroom teaching, school leadership, university strategy, and corporate consulting, Sophie offers a compelling case for starting with the human, not the tool. We talk about what it means to create intentionally human contexts for AI, how leadership styles need to adapt, and why soft skills are quickly becoming our most powerful asset. Sophie unpacks the concept of "human...
info_outline
AI Tutors, Bias & GPT-5: What Just Happened?
AI in Education Podcast
In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, Dan and Ray dive into the latest developments shaping the future of AI in learning environments - from vocational colleges to elite universities. All the links to items and research discussed are below! News Australia's Future Skills Organisation and Microsoft launched the FSO Skills Accelerator-AI partnership Microsoft Elevate Google commits US$1bn for AI training at US universities CAUDIT Top Ten 2025 South Korea pulls plug on AI textbooks Consumer news reporting on AI in Education ABC ...
info_outline
Gen Z to Gen AI: What Students Really Think – with Dr Anna Denejkina
AI in Education Podcast
In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, hosts Dan and Ray welcome back one of their favourite researchers, , to unpack her latest study, "". This and research collaboration, on the use and attitudes to AI by students, explores how young Australians are adopting generative AI, and what they really think about it. From career pivots and skill confidence gaps to plagiarism misconceptions, Dr Denejkina shares powerful insights into the realities behind the headlines. Discover why 30% of Gen Z students are rethinking their career plans, how gender influences AI confidence, and why...
info_outline
AI Study Mode, Super Tools & Future Jobs
AI in Education Podcast
This episode covers a massive amount of AI-related news and research, especially developments over the past week, including ChatGPT's new "study mode," major platform announcements from Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, generative video and music tools, and the implications of AI on jobs and education. The episode also highlights a new Stanford GenAI for Education hub and discusses current AI policy and access initiatives globally. News ChatGPT Study Mode: Simon Willison info on the system prompt for Study Mode: Dr Philippa Hardman's LinkedIn post on Study Mode: ...
info_outline
Not Cheating - Learning: Students on Using AI Ethically
AI in Education Podcast
In this eye-opening episode of the podcast, hosts Ray and Dan are joined by a remarkable group of students from . Part of the student-led series 12, this conversation dives into how teens are really using AI in their schoolwork. And it’s far more sophisticated than you might think. From using Gemini and ChatGPT to find historical sources and generate study guides, to marking their own assignments with AI before submission, these students aren’t cutting corners. They talk openly about how they’re finding smarter ways to learn. The discussion explores ethical concerns like plagiarism,...
info_outline
From Harvard bots to Aussie classrooms: the state of AI in education
AI in Education Podcast
From Harvard bots to Aussie classrooms: the state of AI in education In this solo news and research roundup, Ray covers some of the biggest recent stories in AI and education – from high-profile case studies to practical tools for teachers and real concerns from students. Links for what’s in this week's episode: New AI training modules for Australian teachers Education Services Australia has released a set of lesson-ready resources to help teachers guide students in safe, effective AI use – including interactive activities and a certificate aligned with AITSL standards. Harvard...
info_outline
AI, Assessments & A-Graders: A Student's POV
AI in Education Podcast
AI, Assessments & A-Graders: A Student's POV What happens when AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s VEO3 land in the hands of curious, creative high schoolers? In this episode, we talk with Caitlyn, a Year 11 student from Sydney, who gives us a front-row seat to how students are really using AI in school right now. From refining English essays with high-modality language to producing eye-catching videos that bring creative writing to life, Caitlyn shows how AI has become her on-demand study buddy, grammar coach, and even a research assistant. She unpacks how her school’s “traffic light...
info_outlineNews Stories Covered in the Episode
AI Typing Like a Human? – Graham Clay’s LinkedIn post on ChatGPT Operator mimicking human keystrokes
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7292163775963557888/
The Vatican on AI Ethics – “Antiqua et Nova” report on AI, human intelligence, and ethics in education
Sacerdotus: Vatican's New Document on AI: Ethical Guidelines and Human Responsibility
Australian Government’s AI Study – Treasury report on Microsoft 365 Copilot, estimating it pays for itself if it saves 13 minutes per week
Treasury M365 Copilot review estimates 13-minute efficiency gain needed to justify licence cost - Software - iTnews
California State University & AI – Providing 500,000 stuents access to ChatGPT Edu
https://openai.com/index/openai-and-the-csu-system/
Estonia’s AI Strategy – National AI policy giving all students access to AI tutors https://openai.com/index/estonia-schools-and-chatgpt/
Australia’s New National AI Centre Director – ex-podcast co-host Lee Hicken appointed to lead the centre. For those keeping count, that's the second of the podcast hosts that's now at NAIC, with current hosts Dan & Ray still waiting for the call 😂
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7306940399086903296/
Manus AI Release – A new AI system focused on reasoning and conversation
McKay Wrigley's X post
Research Papers Discussed
"From chalkboards to chatbots: Transforming learning in Nigeria, one prompt at a time" – World Bank blog on AI tutoring in Nigeria, claiming two years of learning gains in six weeks.
https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/education/From-chalkboards-to-chatbots-Transforming-learning-in-Nigeria
We discussed Ethan Mollick's LinkedIn post focusing on the multiple controlled experiments showing that students can be helped or harmed based on how they use AI
“AI Meets the Classroom: When Does ChatGPT Harm Learning?” – Study on ChatGPT’s impact on learning; found that using AI without explanations led to weaker long-term retention.
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2409.09047v1
“Generative AI Can Help Learning” – AI tutors improve test results but can hinder deeper learning if students rely too much on direct answers
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4895486
“Effective and Scalable Math Support: Experimental Evidence on the Impact of an AI- Math Tutor in Ghana” – AI tutor via WhatsApp in Ghana increased learning by the equivalent of one extra school year at $5 per student
https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/2402/2402.09809.pdf
“Generative AI in higher education: A global perspective of institutional adoption policies and guidelines” – Study on university AI policies worldwide; most encourage AI use but lack clarity on inclusivity and transparency
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666920X24001516