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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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...
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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: ...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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Designing the Future: Learning Designers Meet AI
with Minh Huynh and Cory Dal Ponte
In this episode of the AI in Education Podcast, we bring you two powerful conversations that explore the evolving role of learning designers and their growing impact in the world of AI-enabled education. Together, these two interviews reveal the strategic and practical power of learning design in an AI-driven future.
First, we speak with Minh Huynh from The University of Sydney Education Innovation team, who shares her journey from being a student of AI to leading its integration within a large first-year biology course. She offers a compelling look into the behind-the-scenes work of learning designers—building trust with academics, identifying barriers to student learning, and co-creating feedback tools that make a measurable impact.
In the second half, we’re joined by Cory Dal Ponte from the University of Melbourne. Cory is both a learning designer and a PhD researcher focused on AI literacy. He walks us through some of the GPT-powered tools he’s built - from bots that rewrite learning outcomes in Bloom’s Taxonomy to AI-driven simulated patients for healthcare education - and unpacks what it really means to be AI literate in education today.
His custom GPTs are all available for you to use through ChatGPT
Bloomify – Converts unrefined learning goals into Bloom’s Taxonomy-aligned outcomes
Sim Patient Builder – Helps create simulated patient cases for healthcare education to use with Sim Patient
UnderstandMe: Supports creating key understandings from topic aims using the Understanding by Design framework.
Corey also mentioned two good resources for thinking about AI competency:
UNESCO’s AI Competency Framework for Educators
Conceptualizing AI literacy: An exploratory review, Ng et al. (2021)
And finally, you can find some other resources from Cory on his linktree