Episodes

  • Fit to Purpose or Ever-Loving Translation?
    Feb 21 2024

    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

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    57 mins
  • AI and Writing: What Problem Are We Trying to Solve?
    Jan 8 2024

    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
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    51 mins
  • AI and AP: This is What I Believe Right Now
    Jan 1 2024

    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
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    1 hr
  • If Only Cybernetics Was as Cuddly as AI
    Dec 18 2023

    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
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    1 hr
  • The Effed Up Show: The Hiatus, Personal GPTs, and Google's DeepMind's Lyria
    Nov 27 2023

    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
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • CriticalAI and The Probably Machines: What We Don't Know Just Might Hurt Us.
    Sep 25 2023

    Hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns welcome Distinguished Professor Lauren Goodlad of CriticalAI to discuss AI, AI hype, and Critical Thinking in a time of AI. Although Professor Goodlad respects those working in AI, she also offers critical insight into problematic AI industry claims and emphasizes the lack of ethical oversight or ethical planning in the AI industry. This episode offers context and answers to these questions:

    • Why is public understanding of AI lacking?

    • How can humanities disciplines contribute to AI development?

    • Are claims about AI transforming education overhyped?

    • How exactly do systems like ChatGPT work?

    • What is needed to build critical AI literacy?

    @CriticalAI

    10/6/23 Critical AI Literacy in a Time of Chatbots: A Public Symposium for Educators, Writers, and Citizens

    "On the Dangers of Stochastic Parrots: Can Language Models Be Too Big?"

    "ChatGPT is a Blurry JPEG."

    AINOW Institute

    Critical AI (Rutgers University)

    The Lifecycle of Software Objects

    The Dair Institute

    • Contact Us

    • Mike Pearson

    • Pat Burns

    • thebotbrothersai@gmail.com

    • Facebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

    • @TheBotBrothers

    • You Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

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    53 mins
  • Policy, Privacy, and Student Learning: AI in Secondary and Higher Ed.
    Sep 18 2023

    Hosts Mike Pearson and Pat Burns talk with Anna Mills about her work with OpenAI, college writing, students, education, plagiarism and policy. Anna Mills is an experienced college writing instructor and the the author of an Open Educational Resource (OER) textbook, How Arguments Work: A Guide to Writing and Analyzing Texts in College, Additionally, Anna is one of the leading voices in the discussion of AI, higher education, and writing.

    In this show, Mike Pearson, Pat Burns and Anna Mills discuss to what extent AI is impacting education at both secondary and university levels and how educators might approach AI and its use in the classroom. The hosts and Anna touch on OpenAI, aspirational policies, plagiarism and academic honesty, writing with and without AI, and critical voices. Join us for a peak into the world of writing, education, and AI.

    • Anna Mills

      • @EnglishOER; linkedin.com/in/anna-mills-oer/

      • "Chat GPT Just Got Better: What Does that Mean for Our Writing."

    • MLA-CCCC Working Paper on Writing and AI

    • "A Blue Print for an AI Bill of Rights for Education"

    • Critical AI (Rutgers University)

    • Contact Us

    • Mike Pearson

    • Pat Burns

    • thebotbrothersai@gmail.com

    • Facebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

    • @TheBotBrothers

    • You Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

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    49 mins
  • What Flamingos and Writing Teachers Have in Common
    Aug 28 2023

    In this episode, Mike Pearson and Pat Burns talk with Eric Kean, creator of MyEssayFeedback.ai, which is a website designed to provide feedback on student essays in order to help them to develop their writing and critical thinking skills. The tool's design offers features for instructors to customize feedback, monitor student progress, and guide essay direction. The discussion also touches upon data privacy and plagiarism concerns and the importance of AI literacy. The conversation also showcases the tool's potential for integration with established Learning Management Systems, such as Canvas and Blackboard, showing the broader adaptability of this tool in the educational sector.

    For more AI education tips and discussions, visit the Bot Brothers AI for Educators podcast on various platforms. Don't hesitate to reach out to Mike and Pat on Twitter, Facebook, or via email at botbrothersai@gmail.com. Have a fantastic school year and keep exploring the possibilities of AI in education!

    • Myessayfeedback.ai

    • Contact Us

    • Mike Pearson

    • Pat Burns

    • thebotbrothersai@gmail.com

    • Facebook: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

    • @TheBotBrothers

    • You Tube: The Bot Brothers: AI for Educators

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    51 mins