If Everything Is AI… Why Are We Here? | With Dave Blanchard

Designing for the Needs of Every Learner.

If generative AI is everywhere, what’s the point of school… of teaching… of learning? In this episode, Jeremy and David sit down with Dave Blanchard to talk about what’s real (and what’s messy) when AI hits actual classrooms and institutions. From learning-space design (yes, “podium optional”) to faculty development, UDL, digital accessibility, and the gap between AI policy vs. AI practice, Dave brings a grounded, human-first take: AI can help, but learning still has to lead.

In this conversation, we dig into:

• Why “policy” often lags behind what people are already doing
• AI as a collaborator for feedback, clarity, and communication
• Equity + access realities (infrastructure gaps, tool availability)
• UDL as the lens for designing options and removing barriers
• Digital accessibility as more than a checkbox

Resources & Links:

Dave Blanchard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsonblanchard/

MNGAIA / AI4MN: https://www.ai4mn.org/