In this segment, Hector shares practical and thoughtful strategies for introducing artificial intelligence in the engineering classroom. He describes how he uses practical, approachable projects—such as building simple classifiers or experimenting with basic machine learning models—to make AI concepts feel accessible. By connecting AI to foundational engineering and mathematical ideas—and encouraging play, experimentation, and systems thinking—Hector suggests an approach for educators and students to meaningfully engage with this transformative technology.

To listen to the full interview, visit:

https://www.reflectiveteachinginadigitalage.com/criticalthinking

In this episode, Dr. Kristen DiCerbo explains how AI tools like Khan Academy’s Khanmigo are being integrated into classrooms to support both students and teachers, offering personalized feedback and assistance while streamlining educational tasks. In our discussion, Kristen emphasizes the need for ethical implementation, highlighting issues of data privacy, safety, and trust as central to responsible use. She also makes it clear that while AI is a valuable tool for enhancing education, teachers remain irreplaceable for guiding, motivating, and socially engaging students.

Bio:

Dr. Kristen DiCerbo is the Chief Learning Officer at Khan Academy, a nonprofit dedicated to providing a free world class education to anyone, anywhere. In this role, she is responsible for the research-based teaching and learning strategy for Khan Academy’s offerings. She leads the content, assessment, design, product management, and community support teams. Time magazine named her one of the top 100 people influencing the future of AI in 2024. Dr. DiCerbo’s work has consistently been focused on embedding what we know from education research about how people learn into digital learning experiences. Prior to her role at Khan Academy, she was Vice-President of Learning Research and Design at Pearson, served as a research scientist supporting the Cisco Networking Academies, and worked as a school psychologist in an Arizona school district. Kristen received her Bachelor’s Degree from Hamilton College and Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at Arizona State University.

In this segment, Leslie Bondaryk shares practical strategies for building technological literacy, fostering critical thinking about AI and its outputs, integrating AI‑focused activities into everyday instruction, and positioning AI as a collaborative learning partner. Whether you’re just beginning to explore AI or refining your classroom approach, these highlights offer clear, actionable guidance for today’s K–12 educators.

To listen to the full interview, go to: https://www.reflectiveteachinginadigitalage.com/exploring-ai-in-education