The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

by Mike Pearson and Pat Burns

Mike Pearson & Pat Burns explore AI's impact on teaching, learning, and EdTech. Discover innovative tools, strategies, & real-world examples of artificial intelligence transforming education in the classroom. Join Mike and Pat and their guests and join the conversation.

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Podcast episodes

  • Season 2

  • Fit to Purpose or Ever-Loving Translation?

    Fit to Purpose or Ever-Loving Translation?

    Mike Pearson and Pat Burns talk with Bob Miller, a former Buddhist monk and translator specializing in ancient Buddhist texts. The show not only discusses Buddhism and Bob's experiences but also the art of translation. What goes into translating Tibetan and Sanskrit into English? How does a human do this? Moreover, how would AI do this? And what would AI miss? Today's show is about language, thought, thinking, and feeling and what might we gain and/or lose when AI translates or generates for us? Mike's GPTs: Rhetorica: AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Tutor AP Diction Detective Maggie Magpie: Text Set Curator Copenhagen Cool Cyclist Other Links Contact Us Mike Pearson Pat Burns The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators Website thebotbrothersai@gmail.com Facebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators @TheBotBrothers You Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

  • AI and Writing: What Problem Are We Trying to Solve?

    AI and Writing: What Problem Are We Trying to Solve?

    Hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns welcome Jane Rosenzweig, director of the Harvard College Writing Center. Jane, an experienced educator and writer, delves deep into the implications of using AI in educational settings. Jane discusses her initial skepticism and gradual exploration of AI tools. She talks about an op-ed she wrote just prior to the release of ChatGPT, which foreshadowed the current discourse around AI in writing. The conversation shifts to Jane's course titled "To What Problem is ChatGPT the Solution?", which encourages critical thinking about the role of AI in writing. She underscores the importance of understanding AI's capabilities and limitations, advocating for an informed use rather than outright dependency. Jane and the hosts discuss the students' divided opinions on AI's utility in writing. They agree that understanding the workings of AI instills confidence in its appropriate use. A significant part of the discussion focuses on the challenges high school educators face in teaching writing and how AI might complicate or assist this process. Jane provides valuable insights into encouraging authentic writing and critical thinking over formulaic approaches. Mike and Pat share their classroom experiences, reflecting on how they navigate the intersection of AI, writing, and student engagement. Show Links: Jane Rosenzweig Writing Hacks Substack Twitter Mike's GPTs: Rhetorica: AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Tutor AP Diction Detective Maggie Magpie: Text Set Curator Copenhagen Cool Cyclist Other Links Contact Us Mike Pearson Pat Burns The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators Website thebotbrothersai@gmail.com Facebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators @TheBotBrothers You Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

  • AI and AP: This is What I Believe Right Now

    AI and AP: This is What I Believe Right Now

    In this episode of The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators, hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns engage with veteran social studies teacher Peter Paccone to discuss the transformative effects of AI on teaching methodologies, particularly in the context of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Key themes explored include the adaptation of AP exam rubrics to accommodate the complexities of AI integration in educational settings. Paccone emphasizes the nuanced relationship between student's writing skills and their ability to express complex thoughts, advocating for a shift in rubrics that value simplicity in prose as a valid demonstration of complex thinking. Mike, Pat and Peter ponder the shift from traditional teaching methods to ones that prioritize understanding and critical thinking over the quality of written product. They share personal experiences and strategies they've employed in their classrooms to harness AI effectively while ensuring that the core educational values are upheld. They also discuss the teaching of controversial topics and fostering civil discourse among students. It highlights the importance of encouraging skepticism without cynicism, offering various pedagogical approaches to engage students in meaningful discussions. The conversation underscores the potential of AI to revitalize teaching practices and the importance of equipping students with the skills to navigate and critically assess the information-rich world shaped by AI. Peter Paccone Links https://x.com/PeterPaccone?s=20 Blog Class Companion Mike's GPTs: Rhetorica: AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Tutor AP Diction Detective Maggie Magpie: Text Set Curator Other Links Contact Us Mike Pearson Pat Burns The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators Website thebotbrothersai@gmail.com Facebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators @TheBotBrothers You Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

  • If Only Cybernetics Was as Cuddly as AI

    If Only Cybernetics Was as Cuddly as AI

    In this episode of "AI for Educators," the hosts, Pat and Mike, discuss their experience with Ray Naylor, a well-regarded science fiction author known for his book "The Mountain and the Sea," and his latest work, "The Tusks of Extinction." Ray, who also serves as a Foreign Service Officer, shares insights from his diverse global experiences and his perspective on AI, cybernetics, and large language models. He emphasizes the difference between AI and human consciousness, underscoring the limitations of AI in capturing the human experience. The conversation also delves into Ray's unique background, including his time in the Peace Corps and various global postings, and how these experiences influenced his writing. Ray criticizes the current state of information access and the reductionist approach of reducing literature to mere ratings, as seen on platforms like Goodreads. The dialogue extends to education, with a focus on the qualitative aspects of learning and teaching, and how AI might impact this domain. Ray's insights into consciousness, the essence of being human, and the role of AI offer a thought-provoking discussion on the intersection of technology, literature, and education. Show Links Ray Naylor Mike's GPTs: Rhetorica: AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Tutor AP Diction Detective Maggie Magpie: Text Set Curator Copenhagen Cool Cyclist Other Links Google's DeepMind Lyria Contact Us Mike Pearson Pat Burns The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators Website thebotbrothersai@gmail.com Facebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators @TheBotBrothers You Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

  • The Effed Up Show: The Hiatus, Personal GPTs, and Google's DeepMind's Lyria

    The Effed Up Show: The Hiatus, Personal GPTs, and Google's DeepMind's Lyria

    Mike Pearson and Pat Burns are back after an unplanned hiatus. In this episode the hosts discuss many things effed up, including the F word, the rapid and continuous changes brought about by AI and how that can feel effed up. This show focuses first on Pat's hiatus, shifts to the F word, then gets in depth with personalized GPts that OpenAI released in mid-November. Mike and Pat narrate some example GPTs. Mike shows Pat a few that he has written for students and schools, including a School Secretary GPT, and some Language ones for Rhetoric and analytical writing. Then, Mike takes Pat through building his own personalized GPT. Spoiler: Pat's GPT is a personalized tour guide for biking Copenhagen. They discuss the positives and negatives as well as uses. They then shift to Google Deep Mind's Lyria, a program that creates music via a voice or text prompt. Please join Mike and Pat for this show as they again discuss the latest AI programs and news and work their way through how they work and why they may or may not be useful. Show Links: Mike's GPTs: Rhetorica: AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Tutor AP Diction Detective Maggie Magpie: Text Set Curator Copenhagen Cool Cyclist Other Links Google's DeepMind Lyria Contact Us Mike Pearson Pat Burns The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators Website thebotbrothersai@gmail.com Facebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators @TheBotBrothers You Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators