The Education Equation with Jeremy Singer

AI and the Future of Learning with Ethan Mollick Jeremy Singer sits down with Ethan Mollick, professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and author of Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI, a New York Times bestseller and a best book of the year from The Economist and Financial Times. Mollick is a defining voice in the AI space, testing generative tools in real-world classrooms and authoring the widely read newsletter One Useful Thing. He is the Ralph J. Roberts Distinguished Faculty Scholar, Rowan Fellow, and Associate Professor at the Wharton School, where he directs the Generative AI Lab and studies the effects of AI on work, entrepreneurship, and education. He was named one of TIME Magazine's Most Influential People in Artificial Intelligence. Despite the rapid pace of development, Mollick argues that the AI we use today is the worst it will ever be, necessitating a proactive shift from denial to engagement. In this episode, he explains why the "homework apocalypse" is already here and how the traditional writing assignment has been fundamentally disrupted. The discussion moves beyond simple prompt engineering to explore the "jagged frontier" of AI capability, where the technology excels at complex tasks while occasionally stumbling on simple ones. Mollick and Singer break down the varying impacts of AI on human performance, describing it as a leveler for those with skill gaps and a "king-maker" for experts who can leverage the tool to achieve massive productivity gains. The conversation also tackles the existential questions of human agency and the future of assessment. Mollick advocates for a "flipped classroom" model where AI serves as an infinitely patient universal tutor outside of school, leaving class time for active learning, debates, and creative projects. He and Singer discuss testing in the age of AI and how educators can teach students to develop "durable skills" like taste, judgment, and a unique personal style . By viewing AI as a teammate rather than just a tool, Mollick suggests that teachers can reclaim hours of their week and focus on the deeply human aspects of education. Featured References: Book: Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick Newsletter: One Useful Thing by Ethan Mollick Book: The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson (The "Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer") Research: Wharton AI Labs on student performance and AI interaction Data: Walton Family Foundation survey on teacher AI usage and time-savings Case Studies: AI-driven educational outcomes and tutor studies in Taiwan and outsourcing academic writing to Kenya Episode Timestamps: 00:00 — Introduction to Ethan Mollick and the pace of AI evolution 02:26 — The "homework apocalypse" and the shift in educational thinking 04:45 — Why today’s AI is the worst version we will ever use 09:15 — Lessons from the 1970s calculator debate for modern curricula 13:55 — AI literacy vs. a fundamental reshaping of human interaction 17:30 — Developing taste and agency as essential "durable skills" 19:00 — The Leveler, Elevator, and King-maker effects on human skill 29:10 — The promise of the universal tutor to close equity gaps 32:55 — Using AI to enable the flipped classroom and active learning 36:55 — Shifting from "tool" to "teammate" in teacher workflows 41:50 — Why AI detectors fail and the move toward in-class assessment 45:45 — Rapid Fire: Retirement of AI literacy, Neal Stephenson, and the importance of humanities 48:45 — A three-year vision for positive change in education Follow, Like, and Share The Education Equation wherever you get your podcasts.

Jeremy Singer, president of the ⁠College Board⁠, is joined by Jennie Magiera, Google’s Global Head of Education Impact, to discuss the transformative role of AI in schools. Magiera, who began her career as a math teacher and tech skeptic at Chicago Public Schools, explains her shift toward viewing technology as a powerful vehicle for educational equity when it is used to addressspecific instructional challenges. The discussion highlights ⁠LearnLM⁠, Google’s family of AI models fine-tuned specifically for education and grounded in five core learning science principles: active learning, managing cognitive load, adapting to learners, stimulating curiosity, and deepening metacognition. Magiera shares ⁠a study⁠ showing that students who used LearnLM for short tutoring sessions experienced a 5.5% performance boost on novel topics compared to those working with human tutors alone. ⁠A six-month Northern Ireland pilot⁠ further demonstrates AI's impact, with teachers reporting an average of 10 hours saved per week on administrative tasks like lesson planning, risk assessments, and parent outreach. This efficiency provides critical breathing room for educators, helping to reduce stress and prevent burnout while allowing them to reinvest time into professional learning and deeper student engagement. The episode concludes with an exploration of durable skills like empathy and critical thinking, which Magiera argues will only increase in importance as AI handles more routine technical tasks. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: ⁠Google for Education Communities and Tools⁠ ⁠Switch by Dan and Chip Heath⁠ ⁠Weekend Language by Andy Craig and Dave Faustino⁠ ⁠OECD AI Capability Indicators Report⁠ Google for Education Research in Northern Ireland Google Research with Eedi Labs about AI Tutoring Episode Timestamps: 00:00 — Jeremy Singer introduces the Education Equation 01:05 — Meet Jennie Magiera, Global Head of Education Impact at Google 05:43 — From tech skeptic to innovation leader 08:14 — The Lead with the Need philosophy 18:10 — Understanding LearnLM and learning science principles 22:30 — Research on AI tutoring and student performance boosts 29:25 — Saving 10 hours a week: The Northern Ireland Pilot 37:45 — Durable skills and what makes us uniquely human 43:15 — Rapid Fire: Book recommendations and the importance of empathy 48:10 — Hopes for education in the next three years Like, Share, and Follow ⁠The Education Equation⁠ wherever you get your podcasts.

🎧 The Education Equation: Dr. Janice Jackson on Scaling Solutions On this episode of The Education Equation, host Jeremy Singer speaks with Dr. Janice Jackson, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and Executive Director of the Aspen Institute's Education and Society Program. Dr. Jackson, a CPS alumna, discusses her journey leading one of the nation’s largest school districts. She notes that her time as a principal provided the best preparation for the superintendency. Under her leadership, CPS boosted its graduation rate from 55.8% in 2010 to 82.5% in 2020. This dramatic turnaround was driven by intentional work, including making students take a college entrance exam to graduate and implementing the Freshmen on Track system, which was informed by data from the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research. This success was built on data transparency, accountability, principal empowerment, and strong public-private partnerships. The conversation moves to Hope Chicago, the two-generation debt-free scholarship model she founded. Hope Chicago provides debt-free support (tuition, books, fees, and a stipend) to students from neighborhood high schools. By reducing financial risk, the model has significantly increased matriculation rates from about 57% to about 85% today. First-year persistence also increased from 61% to about 75%, demonstrating that removing debt and providing one-on-one support boosts college success. Now at the Aspen Institute, Dr. Jackson is exploring the future of student outcomes on a national level. She emphasizes the need for leadership to address major challenges like economic preparedness, the impact of AI and EdTech, and the rise of alternative schooling models. Her goal is to translate her lessons from Chicago to a national context, advocating for a return to non-political accountability to ensure every child can succeed. Dr. Jackson's education book recommendation: "It's Being Done": Academic Success in Unexpected Schools Key Takeaways: - Principal Power: The principalship is the single best leverage point for large district change. - Data-Driven Turnaround: CPS used the "Freshmen on Track" indicator to drive a dramatic increase in its graduation rate from 55.8% to 82.5%. - The Affordability Barrier: Hope Chicago's debt-free scholarship model significantly increases college matriculation and persistence rates for low-income students by eliminating financial risk. - National Education Gaps: At Aspen, Dr. Jackson is focusing on creating a new course for education that addresses economic preparedness, AI integration, and the regulation of alternative schooling models. Why You Should Listen: Dr. Jackson offers a rare perspective, having led one of the country's largest school districts through a period of significant positive change. Her work provides clear, data-backed examples of how systemic improvements can be achieved. Listen for her insights on transforming a large school system and why her work now focuses on setting a new, accountable course for American education. Like, Follow, and Share The Education Equation wherever you get your podcasts. Time Stamps [00:00:54] Introduction to Dr. Janice Jackson's background [00:05:37] The principalship as the best preparation for CEO [00:14:15] Achieving CPS’s historic graduation rate increase [00:29:21] Launching and scaling Hope Chicago [00:36:06] Setting a new course at the Aspen Institute

A Reimagined Internship with Dan Gonzalez Welcome to the Education Equation, a new podcast focused on what the evidence says actually moves the needle in education. In this episode,Jeremy Singer talks with Dan Gonzalez, co-founder and co-CEO of District C, a national nonprofit reimagining the internship experience. Dan's career spans engineering, the classroom, and corporate leadership, In 2016, Dan and his wife, Ann Jones, launched District C to address a crucial gap between academic learning and the collaborative skills students need for the modern workforce. Their solution, called Teamship, offers a new internship model where student teams solve real-world problems for real businesses. Referenced in the Episode: Dan C talking about the "3-point economy" - https://www.districtc.co/point-of-view/ Dan’s Education Book: Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol: https://www.amazon.com/Savage-Inequalities-Children-Americas-Schools/dp/0060974990 Finding Purpose: Dan explains how he found purpose in the "unlikeliest of places"—a crisis at Manhattan Prep—where a team rallied together to protect the company they had built after a major security breach. This experience taught him the importance of a common purpose in professional life. The Problem with Traditional Education: Dan argues that the education system often prepares "two-point players" for a "three-point economy" by focusing on individual achievement rather than essential collaborative and problem-solving skills. Teamship aims to develop these "three-point skills" that are valued by every employer. Teamship's Model: The Teamship program involves teams of three to four students who work on a real business problem over four to six weeks. The time commitment for the business partner is intentionally light—just five hours total—with an educator trained by District C serving as the coach. Dan provides examples of typical projects, which fall into categories such as operations, marketing, or human resources. Challenges of Scaling: The biggest challenge for scaling District C is getting school districts to adopt the program, as it doesn't have an existing "vessel" or a specific class where it easily fits. Dan hopes to solve this by creating a dedicated space for this type of programming within the school day. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of education and workforce development. Dan Gonzalez offers a compelling look at how to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the skills students need to succeed in the real world. He discusses the benefits of Teamship, the power of a shared purpose, the challenges of scaling educational innovation, and the importance of preparing the next generation with essential collaborative skills. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the Education Equation podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Visit us at ⁠TheEducationEquation.org ⁠for more.

Education Innovations and The Charter School Impact In this episode, Jeremy talks with Jim Manly, Chief Schools Officer at the KIPP Foundation, about his over 30-year career in education, his insights on charter schools, and his vision for the future of learning. Jim's career spans more than 30 years and includes roles as a teacher, school leader, and system leader at innovative organizations like Teach for America and Success Academy. Jim shares his journey from a struggling teacher to a founding principal of Success Academy Harlem Two, where the school became the top-performing school in its district. In talking about evidence of KIPP and charter school impact he highlights this CREDO study: https://ncss3.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Credo-NCSS3-Report.pdf His favorite Education book: Why Don't Students Like School? by Daniel Willingham Key Takeaways: > The Power of High Expectations: we discuss how Success Academy’s early success was driven by an "unwillingness to listen to old conceits of what necessarily had to happen in public schools." Jim notes that when they challenged the notion that students couldn't handle a rigorous curriculum, the kids responded with curiosity and eagerness. He learned that it was the adults, not the students, who were holding back academic achievement. > The Importance of Systems in Education: Jim highlights the shift at KIPP from relying on individual, dynamic school leaders to implementing strong, consistent systems. Jim explains that the COVID-19 pandemic made it clear that a lack of robust systems meant new staff didn't have the necessary tools to succeed when faced with a major disruption. KIPP's new strategy includes academic progress meetings and a specific coaching model that focuses on intellectual preparation, real-time feedback, and analyzing student work. > AI's Role in the Classroom: While skeptical of past educational innovations, Jim sees tremendous potential for AI as a productivity tool for teachers. He believes AI can handle tasks like grading papers, freeing up teachers to spend more time working directly with students. This shift allows teachers to focus on "the human relationship" and "real time coaching and feedback," which is where true learning happens. > A "Devastating Loss of Conversation": Jim laments the current state of education policy, noting that despite proven successes in charter school networks like KIPP, Success Academy, and Uncommon Schools, these models are not being adopted more widely. He believes that we know the answers to improving schools, and the failure to implement them at a larger scale is a "giant win for our country" that is being missed. Why You Should Listen: This conversation offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the high-stakes world of charter schools and the philosophies that drive their success. Jim provides candid insights into the challenges and opportunities of scaling educational excellence and explains why a focus on foundational skills and data-driven instruction is critical for student success. Jeremy and Jim also delve into criticisms of charter schools. Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to The Education Equation with Jeremy Singer wherever you listen to podcasts. Visit us at TheEducationEquation.org for more.

The People Systems Behind Educational Change In this episode, host Jeremy Singer speaks with Sari Factor, Vice Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer at ⁠Imagine Learning⁠, a company dedicated to providing high-quality educational experiences. Factor, who began her career as a math teacher, has over 40 years of experience in the education sector and has held leadership positions at major companies such as Kaplan, McGraw Hill, and Houghton Mifflin. Sari and Jeremy discuss the significant challenges of implementing change in K–12 education, which Factor describes as "people systems" that are inherently difficult to change. The conversation also touches on the sobering results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which showed a widening performance gap in both math and reading. Factor shares her insights from ⁠a Forbes piece she wrote in Marc⁠h, where she advocated for rethinking K–12 curricula to improve student outcomes. They also delve into the effectiveness of knowledge-based literacy programs and problem-based math curricula, and the challenges of getting them implemented successfully. Here’s the link to the research referenced in the episode: https://www.imaginelearning.com/research-library/ Sari mentions that her favorite education book is Disrupting Class by Clay Christensen. Key Takeaways: > Curriculum and Pedagogy: Knowledge-building literacy and problem-based mathematics programs are effective because they are based on the evidence that people learn by making connections to what they already know. > The Challenge of Change: Schools are "people systems" and are difficult to change due to factors like the short tenure of school leaders and high teacher turnover rates. Implementing new curricula can be overwhelming for educators, especially seasoned ones, as it asks them to change their practice. > The Role of Teachers: Effective educational programs position teachers as facilitators and modelers rather than deliverers of instruction. The learning happens more through student inquiry and peer collaboration. > The Promise of AI: Artificial intelligence can help reduce teachers' time-consuming tasks, like grading short writing assignments or drafting communications to parents, freeing them up to build more meaningful relationships with students. > Looking Forward: Factor is hopeful that parental engagement and the school choice movement will drive innovation in education. She also believes AI will enable schools to move beyond traditional assessments and focus more on evaluating students' growth in durable skills like communication, resilience, and problem-solving. Why You Should Listen: This episode is for anyone interested in the real-world complexities of education reform. Whether you're a teacher, a school leader, a parent, or simply a curious listener, Sari Factor’s depth of experience provides a clear-eyed view of what works and what doesn't. She offers valuable insights into the "why behind the what" of curriculum design and implementation , highlighting how strong leadership and a focus on evidence can lead to positive change, as seen in the Philadelphia School District and Los Angeles Unified. Factor also shares a compelling personal anecdote about her time at McGraw Hill, demonstrating the courage required to make difficult decisions for long-term success. We're just getting started! Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. Visit us at ⁠TheEducationEquation.org ⁠for more.