My 1st AI Generated Podcast

Hello, my name is Mark Taylor and welcome to the Education on Fire podcast, the place for creative and inspiring learning from around the world.

Listen to teachers, parents and mentors share how they are supporting children to live their best, authentic life and are proving to be a guiding light to us all.

Hello, welcome back to the Education on File podcast.

Today we have something slightly different.

I've been playing around with AI and some of the new tools that are out there, and today I've generated my first AI podcast.

Now, this was generated in Notebook lm and it was a fascinating experiment for me to do.

I basically fed in the educationonfire.com website.

I fed in some of the latest recordings and asked it to do like a recap show of what we've been doing over the last few weeks and to see exactly what they were going to come up with.

Now, to my amazement, they managed to create this sort of 20 something minute episode in less than five minutes.

Now, is it perfect?

It's not exactly accurate in every single thing, but this, I've left it as the raw podcast.

It refers to Phil Burr, who was actually Phil Bur.

So there's a couple of elements in there which are actually not quite right, but I think the overall sound of it, the overall format, there's some amazing takeaways that come through.

They kind of talk around as to people about what they've learned based on what I've given it.

And I think bearing in mind this is a new tool and it's going to be out, you know, and only getting better as we move forward.

I think it's just an incredible thing and I just wanted to do it as an experiment.

I wanted you to have the experience of what it, what it's like as an audience person, someone who's listening.

Is it something you like to listen to?

What do you think of the content?

Having listened to previous episodes, do you think it really sort of captures what it is that we've been talking about?

And yeah, it's just an amazing thing, which of course is here to stay.

So I think it's never the same as doing it yourself.

And obviously this part of the podcast is just me talking into the microphone and talking directly to you as I always do.

But the rest of the podcast is very, very different and I really hope you enjoy it.

Let me know what you think.

MarkEducationOnFire.com I'd be fascinated to get your feedback, not in terms of doing this all the time, but as a tool, how well you think it comes across.

And actually maybe as Something which is helpful if you're just wanting to do some kind of recap in some kind of oversight of what it is that some content that maybe you've produced.

So let me know.

This is my first AI podcast created with Notebook lm.

Welcome to our deep dive into the world of education.

I'm so excited to share some fascinating stuff with you today.

You shared some really cool sources about how stories and immersive learning can, like, revolutionize education.

And I'm already, like, geeking out a bit over here.

We've got interviews and articles featuring educators and researchers from Education on Fire and a peek at their website, which is honestly a treasure trove of resources.

Yeah, it's amazing.

They clearly share our passion for learning, and they've got some interesting perspectives on how to tap into that innate curiosity we all have, for sure.

And get this, we're going to hear from teachers who swear by the power of storytelling, a scientist who figured out how to get kids hooked on math through games, and even a tech innovator who's making immersive experiences that are, like, straight out of Sci Fi.

It's going to be quite the journey through the past, present, and future of learning.

Absolutely.

Okay, so first up, let's talk about the magic of stories.

Lucinda Sage McGordon, a veteran educator and the host of Education on Fire, shared this quote from cognitive scientist Roger Shank, and it just, like, blew my mind.

He said, humans are not ideally set up to understand logic.

They are ideally set up to understand stories.

Crazy, right?

It really makes you rethink learning, doesn't it?

We tend to put logic and reason, like, on a pedestal, but maybe stories speak to something deeper inside of us.

Totally.

And McGordon's background, by the way, is a story in itself.

She has degrees in religious studies, theater, a speech.

She's like a living, breathing example of how stories connect different worlds.

Exactly.

And you can see how her diverse background shaped her teaching.

She wasn't just, like, lecturing.

She was using theater techniques to engage students, especially those learning English as a second language.

Imagine her classroom students talking, brainstorming, acting out scenes.

It sounds so dynamic.

And that's where things get even more interesting.

McCordon is a huge advocate for teaching emotional intelligence through stories.

Yeah.

You mentioned in your notes how much you value soft skills, and I totally agree.

In a world that's often obsessed with technical skills, people forget about emotional intelligence.

Being able to understand and manage our own emotions, empathize with others, and handle social situations.

You know, those are essential for success in all parts of life.

And she even shared this amazing story.

An organization that was hiring for a space project.

They needed scientists, obviously, but they also brought in artists.

They realized that teamwork, communication, and creative problem solving require more than just technical smarts.

That's such a powerful example of how STEM fields, which are often seen as purely logical, actually need that human touch.

It's like that famous Einstein quote.

Logic will get you from A to B.

Imagination will take you everywhere.

Okay, so get ready for a mind shift, because next we're going to talk about something that literally sheds light on learning.

Daylighting.

Daylighting.

It seems so simple, but it's fascinating how something like natural light can really affect our ability to learn and just thrive in general.

Right?

Dr.

Doug Milburn, the founder of Advanced Glazings, shared this statistic on education on fire.

And this blew me away.

Students in naturally daylight classrooms score 20% higher on tests.

I remember you mentioned how much you can't stand working in artificial light.

Well, Dr.

Milburn emphasizes that daylight's not just about aesthetics.

It directly affects our ability to think.

Imagine if every classroom felt bright and invigorating, like a sunny day.

Yeah, it really makes you wonder why we haven't focused more on this, doesn't it?

Totally.

And Millburn shared a story about a teacher who is totally against daylighting.

Turns out her only experience with it was in a poorly designed classroom that had terrible glare.

It just shows how even the best ideas can fail if they're not well executed.

It's a good reminder that the environment we learn in has a huge impact on our ability to focus and learn.

Everything from the lighting to the air quality can make a real difference.

Okay, get ready.

Cause we're about to enter the world of math and AI.

Dr.

Aditya Nagrath, the founder of Elephant Learning Mathematics Academy, wants to change how kids learn math.

And his secret weapon, games.

Not just any games though.

We're talking about games created by mathematicians and powered by artificial intelligence.

You mentioned you want your kids to love learning the same way they love their video games.

Well, elephant learning might be the answer.

It's pretty clever, right?

Instead of forcing kids to memorize formulas, which is boring and can cause anxiety, Elephant Learning teaches math as a language, helping kids kids understand those core concepts in a fun, intuitive way.

And the results are insane.

Students are learning an average of 1.5 years of math in just 10 weeks.

It's basically a fast forward button for math education.

It really makes you wonder how much potential we can unlock when we let kids learn through Play and exploration.

Totally.

And Nagrath told this funny story about a computer science professor who saw his program and said, this is computer science, not computer guesswork.

Haha.

I love that.

It's a reminder that while trial and error is important, a solid understanding of the basics is crucial, no matter what you're doing.

Okay, so now for something totally different.

Get ready to explore a world where learning feels like you're actually in a video game.

Yes.

Let's talk immersive learning with Phil Burr, the immersive content expert from Discovery Education.

This guy paints a picture so vividly, you feel like you're right there in the scene.

He said, imagine stepping into ancient Rome through augmented reality or having a virtual dinosaur appear in your living room.

That's the power of immersive learning.

It's mind blowing when you think about it, isn't it?

Imagine if history class was like, actually experiencing those events.

I know, right?

And Discovery Education is creating these experiences that combine storytelling, curiosity, and hands on creation.

It's not just about entertainment, though, but really emphasizes how important it is to balance engagement with educational rigor.

He says content rules, but context is king.

He's right.

You can't just throw some fancy technology at students and call it a day.

The content has to be solid, and it has to be delivered in a way that's meaningful.

Absolutely.

And get this.

He told this hilarious story about a teacher who was using one of their augmented reality apps, and she was so shocked by A World War I scene appearing on her iPad that she looked underneath it to see if it had actually materialized in real life.

Oh, I can totally see that.

VR can be so realistic.

Sometimes you forget you're not actually in a different place.

Right.

It shows how immersive learning can blur the lines between the virtual and the real, making learning truly unforgettable.

Makes you wonder, how do we recreate those aha moments for students today?

You know what makes learning really stick?

What makes it exciting?

Yeah, it feels like we're on the verge of like, a learning revolution.

Right.

It's not about memorizing facts anymore.

It's about creating those experiences that spark a passion for knowledge.

Speaking of passion, you know Lucinda Sage McGordon, she had this infectious energy when she was talking about how stories can teach us these crucial life skills like emotional intelligence and empathy.

I know you mentioned you were a big reader growing up.

Well, mcordan says that even in her religious studies classes, it was the stories, the myths, the parables that really caught her attention.

Stories have that universal power to Connect with us.

Right.

They go beyond cultures and time periods, giving us glimpses into the human experience that we can all relate to.

Definitely.

And she thinks that understanding human emotions is key to tackling mental health issues.

She even said a lot of mental health issues aren't really mental health issues, they're emotional health issues.

It makes you think.

It really does.

Imagine if we could equip people with the tools to understand and manage their emotions.

The impact that would have on their well being would be huge.

I know, right?

And she talked about how stories teach us to read body language, understand facial expressions, interpret tone of voice.

These are skills that we use every single day, whether we're at work, with friends, with family.

Yeah.

It's like stories provide this safe space to practice those skills, to develop emotional intelligence without the fear of real world consequences.

And here's a little nugget of wisdom from McGordon.

She's a big believer in journaling.

One of her mentors in college told her, go buy a notebook and start writing.

He encouraged her to just let her thoughts flow onto the page.

No judgment.

Journaling is a powerful stuff.

Right.

It's like having conversation with yourself.

You sort through your thoughts and feelings and sometimes you even discover some pretty surprising things.

Yeah.

It's a practice that artists, writers and thinkers have used for centuries.

There's something so freeing about putting pen to paper and letting your mind just wander.

Okay, so let's shift gears and talk about how the spaces we learn in can impact our well being.

Dr.

Milburn from earlier, he shared some pretty mind blowing insights about how daylighting can actually improve student performance.

Remember that statistic we talked about?

The one where students in naturally daylit classrooms score 20% higher on tests?

Yeah.

It's pretty incredible, right?

It really highlights that something as simple as natural light can have a huge impact on our ability to concentrate and learn.

Exactly.

Milburn talked about how our bodies are wired to respond to natural light.

And when we're stuck with dim lighting or artificial light, it can make us feel sluggish and mentally foggy.

He even compared it to being stuck in one of those stuffy meeting rooms, no windows, terrible fluorescent lighting.

I can totally relate to that.

It's like all the energy just gets sucked out of the room.

And there's a scientific reason for that feeling too.

High levels of carbon dioxide can build up in poorly ventilated spaces.

And those can actually impair our cognitive function and make us drowsy.

Exactly.

And Milburn even mentioned that his company monitors CO2 levels in their buildings.

To make sure that their employees have a healthy and stimulating environment to work in.

It shows how much they value the well being of their people, for sure.

And he shared this great anecdote about his son's teacher who was skeptical about daylighting at first, but then she experienced a well designed, naturally lit classroom and her entire attitude changed.

It's amazing how personal experiences can be so much more powerful than abstract ideas or statistics.

Yeah.

Sometimes you just have to see it to believe it.

And speaking of seeing it to believe it, Milburn's company has developed this incredible type of glazing called Solara.

It transforms harsh sunlight into this soft, diffused natural light.

It's like the best of both worlds.

You get the benefits of daylight without the glare or the overheating.

It's such a game changer, especially for classrooms where glare on computer screens or whiteboards can be really distracting.

Absolutely.

Millburn really emphasized the importance of having a view, that connection to the outside world.

He even said, people just don't feel right unless there's a view.

But with traditional windows, you have to choose between view and comfort.

You're either blasted by direct sunlight and glare, or you're shutting the blinds and blocking out the view entirely.

Yeah.

It's like you're constantly battling between wanting natural light and a comfortable space.

And that's where Solara comes in.

It acts like a guardian of you.

It lets natural light in, but it blocks the harsh glare and heat.

It's a great example of how innovative design can solve real world problems and create spaces that are both beautiful and functional.

Milburn is so passionate about daylighting, it's contagious.

He really sees daylight and fresh air as the two most important things for a great building.

He's advocating for a more holistic approach to building design, one that prioritizes human health and well being, along with energy efficiency and aesthetics.

And he's not alone in this thinking.

There's a growing movement in architecture and design that's all about creating spaces that support our physical and mental health.

Okay, so let's go back to Lucinda Sage McGordon and her inspiring approach to teaching.

She had this way of making every student feel like they had something special to offer, like they each had their own genius, as she called it.

Yeah, it's so important for teachers to believe in their students, isn't it?

When students feel seen and valued, it makes all the difference in their motivation and engagement.

Absolutely.

And she had this great story about a student who had always struggled with public speaking, but then in her drama Class.

Through acting and improvisation exercises, she found her voice.

Her confidence just blossomed.

That's beautiful.

It shows how the arts can empower students and help them discover these hidden talents.

Sometimes all it takes is the right environment and the right kind of encouragement.

And here's a piece of advice from McGordon that really made me think.

She said nothing matters.

At first, it sounds kind of bleak, right?

Yeah, it does.

But she explained that she doesn't mean it in a nihilistic way.

What she's saying is that in the grand scheme of things, we're all just here to learn and grow.

And every experience, whether we see it as a success or a failure, is an opportunity.

Yeah.

It's like that saying, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Or maybe a less intense version, like, what doesn't kill you makes for a good story later.

Exactly.

It's all about embracing the journey, learning from our mistakes, and not being afraid to take risks.

Speaking of learning from mistakes, let's go back to elephant learning.

Remember Dr.

Nay Graff?

He had some interesting insights into how their system helps students overcome math anxiety.

He had a really unique perspective on where that fear of math even comes from.

Okay.

Yeah.

He thinks it often comes from traditional teaching methods.

You know, the ones that focus on rote memorization over actual understanding.

Yeah.

It's like being forced to learn the rules of a game, but you never get to actually play.

No wonder so many kids just hate math.

Exactly.

Dr.

Nograth believes that when students don't understand the reasoning behind the math, it leads to that feeling of helplessness and a fear of failure.

Right.

And he made this brilliant comparison to illustrate his point.

He compared learning math to playing basketball.

He said the coach can't physically shoot the ball for the player.

The player has to develop their own skills and understanding through practice and experience.

Okay, I like that analogy.

Yeah.

It highlights how important it is to let students struggle a little bit, let them make mistakes, and then let them learn from those mistakes.

When we field them from failure or do the work for them, we actually rob them of that opportunity to learn and build confidence in what they can do.

That's where elephant learning comes in.

Their system uses these adaptive algorithms to tailor the learning to each student's pace.

So it's like they each have their own personal tutor guiding them and challenging them at just the right level.

It's that personalized learning approach, recognizing that every child learns differently and at their own pace, meeting them where they are and giving them the support they need to succeed.

And here's another thought provoking idea from Dr.

Nagareth.

He sees math as more than just a subject.

It's a fundamental tool for solving problems in every area of life, even communication problems.

He said that when there's a misunderstanding in a conversation, we need to look for the X.

You know, identify the missing piece that's blocking that understanding.

It's like math gives us a framework for thinking critically and approaching problems in a logical way, breaking things down, looking for patterns, searching for those solutions.

So it's not just about numbers and equations.

Yeah.

It's about developing a way of thinking that can help us deal with the complexities of life.

Exactly.

And this idea of transferring skills from one area to another, you see that popping up in a lot of different fields.

For instance, problem solving skills that you learn in a coding class.

Those can actually be really helpful in writing, music, even cooking.

I love that.

It's like we all have these hidden superpowers inside us waiting to be unlocked.

Speaking of unlocking potential, let's circle back to Phil Burr from Discovery Education.

His excitement about immersive learning is contagious.

He truly believes that it can transport us to different times and places.

He talked about how their augmented reality apps can bring history to life.

Imagine students walking through the streets of ancient Rome or witnessing a World War I battle happening right in front of them.

It's like stepping into a time machine.

I know, it's amazing.

He emphasized how important it is to create those experiences that trigger feelings, you know, that tap into our natural curiosity and our desire to explore.

He doesn't think immersion is just about the technology, but creating something that makes you feel something sparked that sense of wonder.

Yeah.

It's about engaging not just our minds, but also our hearts and imaginations.

Remember that funny story about the teacher who was so into that World War I augmented reality experience that she looked under her iPad to see if it was real?

It just shows how powerful immersive tech can be.

It blurs the lines between the virtual and the real, making learning really stick with you.

It's like a glimpse into the future of learning.

It's not stuck in textbooks and classrooms anymore.

It can happen anywhere, anytime, through experiences that are both educational and entertaining.

But Bert also points out that it's not just about throwing cool tech at something.

He emphasized how important it is to balance engagement with educational rigor.

He said, content rules, but context is king.

Basically, technology is just a tool.

The real magic happens when we use it to deliver good content and in a way that's relevant to the person learning.

Yeah, he's absolutely right.

You can't just dazzle students with fancy graphics.

You need to make sure they're learning something valuable.

And that takes careful planning and thoughtful design.

And speaking of thoughtful design, Bursch shared some advice from his own journey.

He said he wished he had taken more risks, embraced failure as a way to learn.

He talked about how studying something called complexity analysis and the failure paradigm at the Open University helped him understand how important it is to learn from our mistakes.

That message speaks to everyone, doesn't it?

We often fear failure so much, but it's through our mistakes that we actually learn and grow totally.

It's like you either win or you learn.

Seeing failure as a part of learning allows us to be more creative, innovative, and just more resilient overall.

And he also mentioned how important it is to be mindful of the language we use as educators, avoiding phrases that can make students afraid of trying new things or making those mistakes.

It's such an important reminder that our words have a huge impact on the people we teach.

We have a responsibility to create learning environments that are supportive, encouraging, and empowering, for sure.

And he shared this really touching story about his mentor, Patricia Lee.

She was a headteacher who gave him the space to try new things and learn from his mistakes.

He called her his second mother.

That's how much of an impact she had on him.

Yeah.

It highlights how important mentorship is.

One person's belief and support can completely change someone's life totally.

And then he shared a resource that really shaped him as a kid.

It was look and Learn magazine.

He described it as a learning junkie's dream, filled with colorful illustrations and fascinating stories and tons of information.

It sparked his curiosity and ignited his passion for learning.

Love it.

It's a reminder that learning can happen anywhere, anytime.

And it's often those unexpected resources that capture our imaginations and get us hooked on learning.

And in a way, that's what we're trying to do here with the deep dive.

We're gathering info, connecting the dots, and hopefully inspiring that same sense of wonder and excitement in our listeners.

I love that we're all on this big learning adventure together, right?

Constantly exploring, asking questions, discovering new ways to understand the world.

Okay, so we've covered stories, daylight, all this cutting edge tech.

But what about giving students more say in, like, how they learn?

You're noticing a theme here.

Giving students that agency is something Phil Burr talked a lot about.

Okay.

Yeah.

He mentioned Discovery Education's Sandbox AR app.

Imagine kids building their own virtual Worlds and learning by creating.

Remember that note you had about wanting your kids to be more than just passive consumers of all this media?

Well, this seems like it would be perfect for that.

It's totally different.

Right?

Like reading a book versus writing your own.

It's so much more engaging when you're the one actually doing the work.

Exactly.

Burr believes that hands on learning is really the key to unlocking real curiosity.

And once those kids are curious, they're way more likely to really dive in and actually learn.

And speaking of diving in, remember Burr's story about the teacher who was so blown away by that World War I ar experience, she literally checked under her iPad?

It just shows you how impactful these tools can be.

Imagine.

Right?

Like, what if every history lesson felt like time travel?

Or every biology class was a journey through the human body?

Who knows what we'll be able to do in 10 years?

It's like the future of education is happening right now.

But Burr also gave this really important reminder.

He said, content rules, but context is king.

So even with all this incredible tech, it can't just be flashy.

It has to be a good learning experience based on, like, actual educational principles.

He's so right.

Yeah.

You can't just wow them with fancy visuals.

Right.

We need to make sure they're learning something useful.

And that takes planning and good design.

Definitely.

And Bert actually shared some advice from his own experiences.

He said he wished he'd taken more risks and been more okay with failure.

He studied something called complexity analysis and the failure paradigm.

It sounds super complicated, but basically it helped him realize that making mistakes isn't a bad thing.

It's actually how we grow.

That's something we can all learn from.

Right.

I tend to be so afraid of messing up, but those mistakes, they're how we learn and get better.

Exactly.

It's not about never failing.

It's about changing how we think about it.

Like, okay, that didn't work, but what did I learn?

That takes the pressure off and makes it easier to try new things for sure.

And it also makes you think about how we talk to kids about learning.

Burr said we need to be mindful of the words we use, avoiding phrases that make them scared to try new things or make those mistakes.

It's all about creating that safe space where they feel supported and encouraged to, like, go for it, you know, even if they mess up along the way.

But Ro actually talked about his mentor, Patricia Lee.

She was a head teacher who gave him the freedom to experiment and learn from his mistakes.

He called her his second mother.

That's how big of an impact she had.

Wow.

It reminds us how powerful mentors can be.

Right?

Those people who believe in you even when you don't believe in yourself.

Sometimes that's all it takes to, like, spark that passion and set you off on a path of learning.

Totally.

And Burry even talked about something that really influenced him as a kid.

Look and Learn magazine.

He said it was a learning junkie's dream, full of illustrations, stories, and cool facts.

It just goes to show that inspiration can come from anywhere.

It really can.

It reminds me of what we try to do here with the deep dive.

Right.

Taking all these different sources, connecting the dots, and hopefully making our listeners feel that same curiosity.

I love that.

So what were your biggest takeaways from all this?

We talked about so much.

Stories, daylight games, immersive experiences.

It's like a whole new world of learning possibilities is opening up.

You know, for me, it always comes back to that human connection, whether it's through a powerful story playing or going on an immersive adventure together.

It's that human element that really makes learning impactful.

Absolutely.

This has been an amazing exploration with you.

We learned so much from these incredible educators, like about the importance of storytelling, fresh air and daylight, the potential of technology, and how to embrace failure as part of the learning process.

And of course, we can't forget about encouraging curiosity, playfulness, and those crucial skills like empathy and emotional intelligence.

And this is just the beginning.

It's up to all of us to keep learning and asking questions to keep that fire for knowledge burning strong.

Yes.

And we want to hear from you.

What resonated most with you today?

What are you going to try out in your own life or even with your kids?

Share your thoughts with us on social media or send us an email.

We love hearing from fellow learners.

Thanks for joining us on this deep dive.

Thanks for listening to the Education on Fire podcast.

For more information of each episode and to get in touch, go to educationonfire.com Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.