#35 Aaron Baughman Schools Us on AI in Education

Make It Mindful: An Education Podcast

In this episode of "Make It Mindful," Seth Fleischauer converses with Aaron Baughman, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services at Northville Public Schools in Michigan. Aaron delves into his district's progressive integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational settings, overcoming significant logistical and political challenges to harness AI's potential for personalized and differentiated instruction.

Aaron shares his journey from the initial AI training for educators to implementing student-facing tools like Magic Student and School AI, and details his strategies for fostering broad-based acceptance of AI among educators and parents. He emphasizes the importance of proactive communication and education to combat the skepticism and fear surrounding AI, while showcasing the transformative impacts of AI on teaching methodologies and student engagement.

The discussion also covers the critical role of digital citizenship in the age of AI, ensuring students understand the biases and ethical considerations associated with AI technologies. Aaron’s approach to policy development is cautious yet innovative, aiming to keep pace with the rapid advancements in AI while ensuring student safety and privacy.

This episode provides a deep dive into the practical implications of AI in education, offering valuable insights for educators looking to navigate this new frontier. Aaron's experiences illustrate the potential of AI to not only enhance educational outcomes but also to revolutionize instructional practices by equipping teachers with powerful tools to meet diverse learner needs effectively.

Products Mentioned:

1. Brisk - A tool used for monitoring students' writing processes.
2. Magic Student and School AI - AI tools mentioned as being used for student interactions and lesson management.
3. CuriPod - Another student-facing tool mentioned alongside Magic Student and School AI.
4. Copilot and Gemini - Described as large language models that were accessed in a more private way by the district as enterprise clients.
5. Suno - Used for creating songs, which was mentioned in a specific example of welcoming a new student.
6. Canva Magic Studio - Mentioned in the context of changing how marketing is taught.
7. Co-Pilot - Included in a discussion about using various AI platforms for educational purposes.

Co-Host Links:
Seth Fleischauer
Founder and President of Banyan Global Learning
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-fleischauer/
Website: https://banyangloballearning.com/

Lauren Pinto
Cofounder of Ambitious Ed, Educational Technology Specialist
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-s-pinto/
Website: https://www.ambitioused.com/