Summary

This podcast episode was recorded during the Watergrove Trust AI professional development workshop, delivered by Good Future Foundation and Educate Ventures. Dave Leonard, the Strategic IT Director, and Steve Lancaster, a member of their AI Steering Group, shared how they led the Trust's exploration and discussion of AI with a thoughtful, cautious optimism. With strong support from leadership and voluntary participation from staff across the Trust forming the AI working group, they've been able to foster a trust-wide commitment to responsible AI use and harness AI to support their priority of staff wellbeing.

Good Future Foundation

www.goodfuture.foundation

Summary

This episode features Thomas Sparrow, a correspondent and fact checker, who helps us differentiate misinformation and disinformation, and understand the evolving landscape of information dissemination, particularly through social media and the challenges posed by generative AI. He is also very passionate about equipping teachers and students with practical fact checking techniques and encourages educators to incorporate discussions about disinformation into their curricula. 

Good Future Foundation

www.goodfuture.foundation

Summary

With her extensive teaching experience in both mainstream and special schools, Bukky Yusuf shares how purposeful and strategic use of technology can unlock learning opportunities for students. She also equally emphasises the ethical dimensions of AI adoption, raising important concerns about data representation, societal inequalities, and the risks of widening digital divides and unequal access.

Good Future Foundation

www.goodfuture.foundation

Summary

In this enlightening episode, Dr Lulu Shi from the University of Oxford, shares technology’s role in education and society through a sociological lens. She examines how edtech companies shape learning environments and policy, while challenging the notion that technological progress is predetermined. Instead, Dr. Shi argues that our collective choices and actions actively shape technology's future and emphasises the importance of democratic participation in technological development.

Good Future Foundation

www.goodfuture.foundation

In this podcast episode, Daniel, George, and Ricky discuss the integration of AI and technology in education, particularly at Belgrave St Bartholomew's Academy.

They explore the local context of the school, the impact of technology on teaching and learning, and how AI is being utilised to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. The conversation also touches on the importance of community involvement, parent engagement, and the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the classroom. They emphasise the need for effective professional development for staff and the importance of understanding the purpose behind using technology in education.

In this episode, Becci Peters and Ben Davies discuss their work with Computing at School (CAS), an initiative backed by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, which boasts 27,000 dedicated members who support computing teachers. Through their efforts with CAS, they've noticed that many teachers still feel uncomfortable about AI technology, and many schools are grappling with uncertainty around AI policies and how to implement them. There's also a noticeable digital divide based on differing school budgets for AI tools. Keeping these challenges in mind, their efforts don’t just focus on technical skills; they aim to help more teachers grasp AI principles and understand important ethical considerations like data bias and the limitations of training models. They also work to equip educators with a critical mindset, enabling them to make informed decisions about AI usage.

Good Future Foundation

www.goodfuture.foundation

Summary

When generative AI first appeared on the scene, many educators had concerns about how students might misuse this technology. A lot of discussions focused on plagiarism. However, after hearing from the Good Future Foundation Student Council, you might be pleasantly surprised to discover that some students are actually much more critical and reflective on how generative AI can help their learning and influence their social and emotional wellbeing.  

In this episode, four members of our Student Council, Conrado, Kerem, Felicitas and Victoria, who are between 17 and 20 years old, share their personal experiences and observations about using generative AI, both for themselves and their peers. They also talk about why it’s so crucial for teachers to confront and familiarize themselves with this new technology.

Good Future Foundation

www.goodfuture.foundation

AI’s impact spans globally across sectors, yet attention and voices aren’t equally distributed across impacted communities. This week, the Foundational Impact presents a humanitarian perspective as Daniel Emmerson speaks with Suzy Madigan, Responsible AI Lead at CARE International, to shine a light on those often left out of the AI narrative. 

The heart of their discussion centers on  “AI and the Global South, Exploring the Role of Civil Society in AI Decision-Making”, a recent report that Suzy co-authored with Accentures, a multinational tech company. They discuss how critical challenges including digital infrastructure gaps, data representation, and ethical frameworks, perpetuate existing inequalities. Increasing civil society participation in AI governance has become more important than ever to ensure an inclusive and ethical AI development. 

Good Future Foundation

www.goodfuture.foundation

Summary

Think about how overwhelming it could be if you're driving at 70 miles per hour but have to rebuild the car as a whole. This is how Liz Robinson, CEO of Big Education Trust, describes her feeling as she started to realise the impact of AI in every aspect of education while managing daily school operations.

In this episode, Liz opens up about her path and reflects on her own "conscious incompetence" with AI - that pivotal moment when she understood that if she, as a leader of a forward-thinking trust, feels overwhelmed by AI's implications, many other school leaders must feel the same. Rather than shying away from this challenge, she chose to lean in, launching an exciting new initiative to help school leaders navigate the AI landscape.

Good Future Foundation

www.goodfuture.foundation

In this episode, Hult Prize CEO Lori van Dam pulls back the curtain on the global competition empowering student innovators into social entrepreneurs across 100+ countries. She showcases how young minds are tackling world challenges through creative solutions - like turning Hong Kong’s wasted bread into beer, and supporting indigenous Mexican communities through mindful tourism. 

Beyond the headline-grabbing $1 million prize, Lori shares a deeper story about reimagining education and social impact. She brings to light how donor-reliant nonprofits are often constrained by narrow focuses on expense ratios rather than actual impact and believes in sustainable models that combine social good with financial viability. Lori also explores how AI is becoming a powerful ally in this space, while stressing that human creativity and cross-cultural collaboration remain at the heart of meaningful innovation.

Good Future Foundation

www.goodfuture.foundation