AI in Education: Kevin Shindel on #UMustLearn Radio Show

This is a segment from #UMustLearn Radio Show featuring Kevin Shindel, a 25-year social studies teacher at Montgomery Blair High School, discussing artificial intelligence in education with host Dr. Daryl Howard.Topics Discussed:Evolution of Technology in EducationKevin traces his journey from observing MySpace in 2005 to launching a "Digital Detox" program in 2012 after discovering over 50% of teens wake up at night to textSocial media initially connected students but became weaponized once platforms monetized attention through AI algorithmsClassrooms transformed from one screen (2002) to 2+ screens per student, fundamentally altering learning environmentsAI as Ecosystem, Not ToolDrawing on Neil Postman's work, Kevin argues AI isn't a simple tool like a hammer—it's an ecological system that transforms entire environmentsAI will impact student relationships, communication, attention spans, memory, and critical thinking abilitiesThe shift from social connection to attention capture has had devastating academic and cognitive effectsImplementation ConcernsRelationships: Half of students report AI has harmed their teacher relationships, particularly when approached from a cheating-investigation stanceTraining & Policy: Schools lack adequate training and policies for responsible AI integrationStudent Agency: Students are already fluent in technology's impacts and must have a seat at decision-making tablesNon-Negotiable Criteria for AI AdoptionPurpose Alignment: Educators, students, and teachers must align goals before adopting technologyCognitive Engagement: Design features must keep students doing the "heavy cognitive lifting"—no shortcuts to learningDe-humanization: Strip AI of anthropomorphic features; remind students it's "just crunching numbers"Privacy Protection: Verifiable checks to prevent student data exploitationEquity: Ensure tools don't widen the opportunity gap We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL. Learn more about Renaissance: As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers’ timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.