The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

Hosted by Mike Pearson and Pat Burns

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Feb 2024

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Mike Pearson & Pat Burns explore AI's impact on teaching, learning, and EdTech. Discover innovative tools, strategies, & real-world examples of artificial intelligence transforming education in the classroom. Join Mike and Pat and their guests and join the conversation. Discuss with us: @TheBotBrothers Contact Us/Suggestions Resources thebotbrothersai@gmail.com Mike Pearson

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25 recent

February 21, 202456 min

Fit to Purpose or Ever-Loving Translation?

Mike Pearson and Pat Burns talk with Bob Miller, a former Buddhist monk and translator specializing in ancient Buddhist texts. The show not only discusses Buddhism and Bob's experiences but also the art of translation. What goes into translating Tibetan and Sanskrit into English? How does a human do this? Moreover, how would AI do this? And what would AI miss? Today's show is about language, thought, thinking, and feeling and what might we gain and/or lose when AI translates or generates for us? Mike's GPTs:Rhetorica: AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis TutorAP Diction DetectiveMaggie Magpie: Text Set CuratorCopenhagen Cool CyclistOther LinksContact UsMike PearsonPat BurnsThe Bot Brothers: AI for Educators Websitethebotbrothersai@gmail.comFacebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators@TheBotBrothersYou Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

January 8, 202451 min

AI and Writing: What Problem Are We Trying to Solve?

Hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns welcome Jane Rosenzweig, director of the Harvard College Writing Center. Jane, an experienced educator and writer, delves deep into the implications of using AI in educational settings.Jane discusses her initial skepticism and gradual exploration of AI tools. She talks about an op-ed she wrote just prior to the release of ChatGPT, which foreshadowed the current discourse around AI in writing.The conversation shifts to Jane's course titled "To What Problem is ChatGPT the Solution?", which encourages critical thinking about the role of AI in writing. She underscores the importance of understanding AI's capabilities and limitations, advocating for an informed use rather than outright dependency.Jane and the hosts discuss the students' divided opinions on AI's utility in writing. They agree that understanding the workings of AI instills confidence in its appropriate use.A significant part of the discussion focuses on the challenges high school educators face in teaching writing and how AI might complicate or assist this process. Jane provides valuable insights into encouraging authentic writing and critical thinking over formulaic approaches.Mike and Pat share their classroom experiences, reflecting on how they navigate the intersection of AI, writing, and student engagement.Show Links:Jane RosenzweigWriting Hacks SubstackTwitterMike's GPTs:Rhetorica: AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis TutorAP Diction DetectiveMaggie Magpie: Text Set CuratorCopenhagen Cool CyclistOther LinksContact UsMike PearsonPat BurnsThe Bot Brothers: AI for Educators Websitethebotbrothersai@gmail.comFacebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators@TheBotBrothersYou Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

January 1, 202459 min

AI and AP: This is What I Believe Right Now

In this episode of The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators, hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns engage with veteran social studies teacher Peter Paccone to discuss the transformative effects of AI on teaching methodologies, particularly in the context of Advanced Placement (AP) courses.Key themes explored include the adaptation of AP exam rubrics to accommodate the complexities of AI integration in educational settings. Paccone emphasizes the nuanced relationship between student's writing skills and their ability to express complex thoughts, advocating for a shift in rubrics that value simplicity in prose as a valid demonstration of complex thinking.Mike, Pat and Peter ponder the shift from traditional teaching methods to ones that prioritize understanding and critical thinking over the quality of written product. They share personal experiences and strategies they've employed in their classrooms to harness AI effectively while ensuring that the core educational values are upheld.They also discuss the teaching of controversial topics and fostering civil discourse among students. It highlights the importance of encouraging skepticism without cynicism, offering various pedagogical approaches to engage students in meaningful discussions.The conversation underscores the potential of AI to revitalize teaching practices and the importance of equipping students with the skills to navigate and critically assess the information-rich world shaped by AI.Peter Paccone Linkshttps://x.com/PeterPaccone?s=20BlogClass CompanionMike's GPTs:Rhetorica: AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis TutorAP Diction DetectiveMaggie Magpie: Text Set CuratorOther LinksContact UsMike PearsonPat BurnsThe Bot Brothers: AI for Educators Websitethebotbrothersai@gmail.comFacebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators@TheBotBrothersYou Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

December 18, 202359 min

If Only Cybernetics Was as Cuddly as AI

In this episode of "AI for Educators," the hosts, Pat and Mike, discuss their experience with Ray Naylor, a well-regarded science fiction author known for his book "The Mountain and the Sea," and his latest work, "The Tusks of Extinction." Ray, who also serves as a Foreign Service Officer, shares insights from his diverse global experiences and his perspective on AI, cybernetics, and large language models. He emphasizes the difference between AI and human consciousness, underscoring the limitations of AI in capturing the human experience. The conversation also delves into Ray's unique background, including his time in the Peace Corps and various global postings, and how these experiences influenced his writing. Ray criticizes the current state of information access and the reductionist approach of reducing literature to mere ratings, as seen on platforms like Goodreads. The dialogue extends to education, with a focus on the qualitative aspects of learning and teaching, and how AI might impact this domain. Ray's insights into consciousness, the essence of being human, and the role of AI offer a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of technology, literature, and education.Show LinksRay NaylorMike's GPTs:Rhetorica: AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis TutorAP Diction DetectiveMaggie Magpie: Text Set CuratorCopenhagen Cool CyclistOther LinksGoogle's DeepMind LyriaContact UsMike PearsonPat BurnsThe Bot Brothers: AI for Educators Websitethebotbrothersai@gmail.comFacebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators@TheBotBrothersYou Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

November 27, 20231 hr 9 min

The Effed Up Show: The Hiatus, Personal GPTs, and Google's DeepMind's Lyria

Mike Pearson and Pat Burns are back after an unplanned hiatus. In this episode the hosts discuss many things effed up, including the F word, the rapid and continuous changes brought about by AI and how that can feel effed up. This show focuses first on Pat's hiatus, shifts to the F word, then gets in depth with personalized GPts that OpenAI released in mid-November. Mike and Pat narrate some example GPTs. Mike shows Pat a few that he has written for students and schools, including a School Secretary GPT, and some Language ones for Rhetoric and analytical writing. Then, Mike takes Pat through building his own personalized GPT. Spoiler: Pat's GPT is a personalized tour guide for biking Copenhagen. They discuss the positives and negatives as well as uses. They then shift to Google Deep Mind's Lyria, a program that creates music via a voice or text prompt. Please join Mike and Pat for this show as they again discuss the latest AI programs and news and work their way through how they work and why they may or may not be useful.Show Links:Mike's GPTs:Rhetorica: AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis TutorAP Diction DetectiveMaggie Magpie: Text Set CuratorCopenhagen Cool CyclistOther LinksGoogle's DeepMind LyriaContact UsMike PearsonPat BurnsThe Bot Brothers: AI for Educators Websitethebotbrothersai@gmail.comFacebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators@TheBotBrothersYou Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

September 25, 202353 min

CriticalAI and The Probably Machines: What We Don't Know Just Might Hurt Us.

Hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns welcome Distinguished Professor Lauren Goodlad of CriticalAI to discuss AI, AI hype, and Critical Thinking in a time of AI. Although Professor Goodlad respects those working in AI, she also offers critical insight into problematic AI industry claims and emphasizes the lack of ethical oversight or ethical planning in the AI industry. This episode offers context and answers to these questions:Why is public understanding of AI lacking?How can humanities disciplines contribute to AI development?Are claims about AI transforming education overhyped?How exactly do systems like ChatGPT work?What is needed to build critical AI literacy?@CriticalAI10/6/23 Critical AI Literacy in a Time of Chatbots: A Public Symposium for Educators, Writers, and Citizens"On the Dangers of Stochastic Parrots: Can Language Models Be Too Big?""ChatGPT is a Blurry JPEG."AINOW InstituteCritical AI (Rutgers University)The Lifecycle of Software ObjectsThe Dair InstituteContact UsMike PearsonPat Burnsthebotbrothersai@gmail.comFacebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators@TheBotBrothersYou Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

September 18, 202349 min

Policy, Privacy, and Student Learning: AI in Secondary and Higher Ed.

Hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns talk with Anna Mills about her work with OpenAI, college writing, students, education, plagiarism and policy. Anna Mills is an experienced college writing instructor and the the author of an Open Educational Resource (OER) textbook, How Arguments Work: A Guide to Writing and Analyzing Texts in College, Additionally, Anna is one of the leading voices in the discussion of AI, higher education, and writing.In this show, Mike Pearson, Pat Burns and Anna Mills discuss to what extent AI is impacting education at both secondary and university levels and how educators might approach AI and its use in the classroom. The hosts and Anna touch on OpenAI, aspirational policies, plagiarism and academic honesty, writing with and without AI, and critical voices. Join us for a peak into the world of writing, education, and AI.Anna Mills@EnglishOER; linkedin.com/in/anna-mills-oer/"Chat GPT Just Got Better: What Does that Mean for Our Writing."MLA-CCCC Working Paper on Writing and AI"A Blue Print for an AI Bill of Rights for Education"Critical AI (Rutgers University)Contact UsMike PearsonPat Burnsthebotbrothersai@gmail.comFacebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators@TheBotBrothersYou Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

August 28, 202351 min

What Flamingos and Writing Teachers Have in Common

In this episode, Mike Pearson and Pat Burns talk with Eric Kean, creator of MyEssayFeedback.ai, which is a website designed to provide feedback on student essays in order to help them to develop their writing and critical thinking skills. The tool's design offers features for instructors to customize feedback, monitor student progress, and guide essay direction. The discussion also touches upon data privacy and plagiarism concerns and the importance of AI literacy. The conversation also showcases the tool's potential for integration with established Learning Management Systems, such as Canvas and Blackboard, showing the broader adaptability of this tool in the educational sector.For more AI education tips and discussions, visit the Bot Brothers AI for Educators podcast on various platforms. Don't hesitate to reach out to Mike and Pat on Twitter, Facebook, or via email at botbrothersai@gmail.com. Have a fantastic school year and keep exploring the possibilities of AI in education!Myessayfeedback.aiContact UsMike PearsonPat Burnsthebotbrothersai@gmail.comFacebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators@TheBotBrothersYou Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

August 14, 202353 min

What's a Department Chair to Do?

Hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns have a conversation with high school Department Chair Dr. Lauren Katzman (PhD) on a variety of topics, ranging from educators' varying perspectives on AI, the challenges of defining plagiarism in the AI era, and the potential of AI in streamlining administrative tasks, and developing school policies for AI. The conversation later delves into specific areas like senior dual credit writing classes, where they emphasize the importance of fostering student originality and voice amidst the rise of AI tools. Comparisons are made between modern music production and potential future writing practices in order to offer a unique lens and to highlight a shift towards a more composite creative process. The podcast also addresses the challenges EL students might face with AI and underscores the ethical considerations of AI's broader integration into education.

August 8, 202347 min

The Importance of Training Teachers on AI

Hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns meet with founder of Gruvy Education, William Grube, who is currently working on a Masters of Computer Science degree at North Dakota State. Grube discusses the workshops he has given to over 30 schools where he educates teachers about AI and cybersecurity. The conversation also covers the need for teachers to understand evolving technologies, the importance of utilizing AI as a tool without allowing it to inhibit students' development of critical thinking skills, and data security.Contact UsMike Pearsonthebotbrothersai@gmail.comFacebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators@TheBotBrothersYou Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators