In which Dan chats with Michael Wagner, Professor and Department Head of Digital Media at the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design at Drexel University, about the implications for AI in education. 

Back in July Michael posted a piece to his Substack with the provocative title, "The End of Cheating as We Know It." He posits that, yes, AI has the power to disrupt everything in education, but, ironically, it has also created the conditions for ancient practices  of teaching and learning to ascend, methods like socratic and oral examination, as well as design cycle iteration.

Mentioned in the show:
The End of Cheating As We Know It by Michael Wagner
Michael Wagner's Substack
Alpha School

Music: Inspired by Lakey

In which Dan talks with education thinker and writer Jennifer Berkshire. Jennifer is the co-author of the recent release The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual and co-host of the outstanding podcast Have You Heard? Dan and Jennifer talk about some of the biggest issues facing education in 2025, namely the culture wars, local activism, and the snake oil salesman of educational technology. 

As always, I welcome comments and questions on Bluesky (@dankearney) and Instagram (@_dankearney_)

Mentioned in the episode:

Have You Heard? - a podcast by Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider
The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual by Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider
Alpha Schools
Private school vouchers are now law in Texas from the Texas Tribune
The Wire, a television show by David Simon

Music by Lakey Inspired

In which Dan chats with Jesse Hagopian about the urgent need to teach truthful history in America's classrooms. Jesse is the author of the excellent book Teach Truth: The Struggle for Antiracist Education and he's an eloquent speaker on the need to push back against right-wing whitewashing. Jesse and Dan talk about the return of colorblindness, the gentrification of history, and why grassroots action is the only way out. 

As always I welcome comments and questions on BlueSky @dankearney and on Instagram @_dankearney_

If you're in or near Los Angeles this summer, check out Learning Adventures Workshop with Dr. Gary Stager on June 30.

New podcast alert! Tune into But I Won't Do That, an irreverent look at the music, lyrics, and videos of some favorite pop hits.

Mentioned in the episode:

Teach Truth: The Struggle for Antiracist Education by Jesse Hagopian
"Oklahoma education standards say students must identify 2020 election 'discrepancies'", NPR, May 14, 2025
Zinn Education Project -- lots of incredible resources and lessons for teaching truth

Music: "Sunflower" by Soyb (Youtube Audio Library)

In which Dan chats with Dr. Gary Stager, teacher, professor, author, and consultant (among other things) and a true constructivist. Gary is the founder of the Constructing Modern Knowledge summer institute for educators and the co-author of Invent To Learn – Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom.

Dan and Gary talk about Gary's dear friend, the late Seymour Papert, and the meaning of a computer in a classroom, phones in schools, Gary's experience teaching in a prison in Maine, and why reading from actual books is so vital.

As always I welcome comments and questions on BlueSky @dankearney and on Instagram @BigIdeaEd

Mentioned in the episode:

Invent to Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom by Gary Stager
Twenty Things to Do with a Computer Forward 50 by Gary Stager
The Children's Machine: Rethinking School in the Age of the Computer by Seymour Papert
Seymour Papert Obituary from MIT News
Torture in a Maine Prison from Prison Legal News
Mathworlds, the Substack from Dan Meyer
From Lunchboxes to Laptops: How Maine Went One-to-One by Audrey Waters
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
The Most Compelling Argument Against Tech in Schools from Haidt's After Babel Substack

Music: 

SPEAKEASY STRUT
royalty free Music by Giorgio Di Campo for @FreeSound Music
http://freesoundmusic.eu

In which Dan chats with Anya Kamenetz, an author, speaker, and reporter who's done lots of big thinking on the most important issues facing our world. Anya writes The Golden Hour Substack; she covered education for many years for NPR; and her newest book is The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Children’s Lives, And Where We Go Now.

Dan and Anya talk discuss capitalism, measurement in education, climate change as school curriculum, Wikipedia, AI, and more. 

As always, I welcome comments and feedback on Bluesky (@dankearney) and Instagram (@BigIdeaEd).

Mentioned in the episode:

The Golden Hour on Substack
The Stolen Year: How COVID Changed Children's Lives, and Where We Go Now by Anya Kamenetz
The Test: Why Our Schools are Obsessed with Standardized Testing–But You Don't Have to Be by Anya Kamenetz
The U.S. Economy Is Racing Ahead. Almost Everything Else Is Falling Behind by David Leonhardt, NY Times
How to Raise Kids to Identify Misinformation by Anya Kamentez, The Integrity Project
NJ Climate Change Education Resources
An Educator's Guide to Climate Emotions
Tech Won't Save Us, a podcast from Paris Marx
The Generative AI Con by Ed Zitron

In which Dan chats with Cindy Blackburn, Director of Learning and Engagement at Toddle, about curriculum, that "dirty word" at many progressive schools. Cindy is also the host of the School Leaders Project podcast, where she interviews leading minds in progressive education. Dan and Cindy talk about why curriculum design and mapping can be so so sticky in schools, lessons from the International Baccalaureate, and the future of artificial intelligence in schools.

Mentioned in the show:
Toddle, a leading learning management system for IB and progressive schools
School Leaders Project, a podcast from Toddle and hosted by Cindy Blackburn
Streamlining the Curriculum: Using the Storyboard Approach to Frame Compelling Learning Journeys, by Heidi Jacobs Hayes and Allison Zmuda
11th Grader Takes An AI Tutoring Deep Dive, from Education Next
Two-Sigma Tutoring: Separating Science Fiction from Science Fact from Education Next

Connect with Dan on Instagram @BigIdeaEd and Blue Sky @dankearney

Music: Sunflower by Soyb (Youtube Audio Library)

In which Dan chats with Olina Banerji, a reporter for EdWeek who recently wrote a great article, "Schools Are Eerily Quiet About the Election Results, Educators Say." Dan and Olina talk about why "the impact never came" following Donald Trump's election, how different stakeholders are processing the results, and what Olina and her colleagues could be reporting on in the weeks leading up to inauguration day.

See also:

• EdWeek - The public education paper of record
• "Teachers toss their lesson plans, give students the floor to grapple with Trump win" from Chalkbeat
• "Moreno Valley teacher on administrative leave after making anti-Trump remarks in class" from ABC7

Music: Gingersweet from Massobeats

In which Dan sits down (in person!) with Oshri Hakak (@oshrihakak), children's author, mental health advocate, and all-around deep thinker about the world we live in. Oshri collaborates with NAMI Westside Los Angeles (@namiwla) to talk with students young and old about the importance of breaking the silence around mental health and strategies for taking care of ourselves and each other. He's also a prolific author whose books are beautiful and poignant for children and adults alike.

Mentioned in the show:
National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)
NAMI Westside Los Angeles
Oshri Hakak's books, including Harry and the Hamster Wheel
Oshri's Children's Mental Health Toolbox

Music: gingersweet by massobeats [via No Copyright Background Music]

In which Dan talks about addressing hard topics and fielding tough questions from our smallest students with Kat Nguyen, a Kindergarten teacher in California. How do early childhood teachers address the questions and comments that inevitably arise, especially in this hypermedia era when students of all ages are likely to notice, see, overhear and wonder?

Dan and Kat talk about being honest, authentic, and vulnerable with students, the perils of this election year, and her book recommendations for young students.

Books mentioned in the episode:
No Turkey For Thanksgiving by Jacqueline Jules and Kathryn Mitter
Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell and David Catrow

Music: Que Es Estraño by Molo

In which Dan talks about how teachers can feel prepared and empowered to teach and talk about the upcoming election. He's joined by Erica Hodgin from Facing History & Ourselves, truly the gold standard for approaching difficult history and civic topics in K-12 classrooms.

This election will bring unique opportunities and challenges for all teachers (not just social studies teachers!) and meeting this moment means thinking about ourselves, our classrooms, and how we'll foster civil discourse when emotionally charged topics come up.

Even more than that, Erica discusses why it's vital to engage young people in the democratic process and civic life beyond textbooks.

Mentioned in the episode:

From Facing History

• Civic education landing page
• Democracy in Action: Teaching about the 2024 Election & Educating for Civic Participation
• Teaching about Voting and Elections
• Back to School Toolkit
• Fostering Civil Discourse Guide
• Teaching Resources for US Elections Collection
• Democracy and Current Events Toolkit

Music: We Have a Tripod