Class Disrupted
Education & Explainer
About
The coronavirus pandemic disrupted education across the U.S. and changed our assumptions about what it means to go to school. When kids return to the classroom, things won’t be the same. Diane Tavenner and Michael Horn answer questions from parents and talk with educators and leading thinkers about how we can approach teaching and learning differently to better meet the needs of all students.
Episodes
- The AI App Seeking to Scale ‘Magic’ in the Classroom
MagicSchool has emerged as the breakout AI tool in education, with millions of teachers rapidly adopting it. But what’s behind that growth? How exactly does it use AI? And what does its adoption mean for teaching and learning? Its founder,…
- The AI Startup Aiming to Help All Students Find their ELA Mojo
Dacia Toll, Co-CEO of Coursemojo and the co-founder of Achievement First, joined Michael and Diane on our latest episode of Class Disrupted to learn about how Coursemojo is using AI to support students and teachers in English Language Arts…
- How AI Can Help Educators—and High Schoolers—Tutor Students So They Learn to Read
We’re turning from schools powered by AI to different AI-powered tools now on Class Disrupted! Matt Pasternak, founder and CEO of Once , an AI-powered software solution for early reading instruction, joined us to share the journey of creat…
- The Company Trying to Build the AI Operating System for Education
In the second episode of our miniseries on AI-powered tools in education on Class Disrupted, Andrea Passinetti, the co-founder and CEO of Kira Learning, joined me and Diane Tavenner to discuss the impact of AI on education with a focus on…
- Behind the Reinvention of Summit Public Schools with AI
Cady Ching, CEO of Summit Public Schools, and Dan Effland, Senior Director of Innovation, joined me and Diane on Class Disrupted to discuss Summit’s ongoing transformation from Summit 2.0 to a new, AI-native school model. This is the third…
- The AI Behind Flourish Microschools
John Danner, the cofounder of Rocketship Public Schools and now the founder of Flourish Schools, an emerging network of AI-native microschools, joined Michael and Diane to share what’s now possible when it comes to school design in the age…
- The AI Behind Alpha School
Many in education—and many beyond—are talking about Alpha School right now. Alpha has been featured in dozens of articles in the mainstream and education media outlets. Its leadership has appeared on countless podcasts to explain and disse…
- The Impact of AI Optimization on the Use of Time, Space, and Resources in Schools
Diane and Michael sat down with Paymon Rouhanifard, CEO of Timely , to explore how AI optimization can transform master scheduling in schools. The conversation unpacked the critical role that master schedules play in shaping student experi…
- Reflections on Whether AI is Actually Changing Schools—and Where
Michael and Diane stepped back from their interviews to have a one-on-one conversation and reflect at the midpoint of their season on AI in education. They dove into the evolving role of AI in education and questioned whether AI is truly t…
- DeepMind’s Learnings in Developing an AI Tutor
Irina Jurenka, the research lead for AI in education at Google DeepMind, joined Michael and Diane to discuss the development and impact of AI tutors in learning. The conversation delved into how generative AI, specifically the Gemini model…
- AI in K–12: Feedback, Curiosity, and the New Frontier of Teaching
Michael and Diane are joined by Laurence Holt to unpack the current landscape and future potential of AI in K–12 education. The discussion centers on the three main AI use cases emerging in schools: generating materials, providing feedback…
- What Does AI Readiness Mean
Michael and Diane sit down with Alex Kotran, founder and CEO of the AI Education Project (AIEDU), to dive into what true “AI readiness” means for today’s students, educators, and schools. They explored the difference between basic AI liter…
- Netflix’s Reed Hastings on the Impact of AI on Schools
Diane and Michael dive into the impact of AI on schools with guest Reed Hastings, founder of Netflix and a dedicated education advocate. The conversation explores Reed’s pragmatic optimism about AI’s potential to individualize learning, re…
- What AI in Healthcare Can Teach Us About Its Impact on Education
Diane and Michael sit down with Dr. Tom Lee, acclaimed physician and founder of One Medical and Galileo Health, to explore the parallels between healthcare and education in the age of AI. The conversation dives into how Dr. Lee’s mission t…
- From Education to Anthropic: What Impact Will AI Have?
Michael and Diane sit down with Neerav Kingsland, a longtime education leader now at Anthropic, to explore the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and education. Neerav shares his journey from working in New Orleans’ public sc…
- Class Disrupted Returns with More Questions About AI
Class Disrupted is back for season 7! In this kickoff episode, Diane Tavenner and Michael Horn reconnected after the summer to reflect on how artificial intelligence is shaping the education landscape. They discussed lingering skepticism a…
- Artificial Intelligence in Human Learning: Risks, Opportunities, and What’s Next
In this end-of-season episode, Michael and Diane come together in person to reflect on the arc of their AI-focused sixth season. They discuss key themes and takeaways, including the enduring importance of foundational knowledge, skepticism…
- Processing AI in Education Out Loud
Diane and Michael talk through what they’ve learned from their recent miniseries on AI in education. They discuss how AI offers unprecedented access to expertise, but also highlight concerns about its effectiveness for young learners. Thro…
- The Premortem on AI in Education with Rebecca Winthrop
In this episode of Class Disrupted, hosts Michael Horn and Diane Tavenner chat with Rebecca Winthrop, a senior fellow and director at the Brookings Institution, about the impact of AI on education. The conversation kicks off by highlightin…
- The Challenges AI Poses for Learning How to Write
In this episode, Diane Tavenner and Michael Horn delve into the role of AI in writing education with Jane Rosenzweig, director of the Harvard College Writing Center. Jane underscores the importance of writing as a process of thinking and w…
- Needed: Real Experiences, Real People
On this episode, Diane and Michael welcome guest Julia Freeland Fisher, a distinguished researcher from the Clayton Christensen Institute, whose work delves into the intersection of AI and education. The conversation explores the potential…
- How AI Could Lead to a Massive Productivity Boost in Education
In this episode of Class Disrupted, Michael and Diane chat with Siya Raj Purohit, who works on education initiatives at OpenAI, about the transformative potential of AI in education. Siya shares her career journey and how it led her to foc…
- Why AI Doesn’t Think Like Us
Techno-optimists have high hopes for how AI will improve learning. But what’s the merit of the “bull case”, and what are the technology’s risks? To think through those questions, Michael and Diane sit down with Ben Riley of Cognitive Reson…
- Democratizing Access to Expertise: AI in Education
On this episode, John Bailey, who advises on AI and innovation at a number of organizations, including the American Enterprise Institute, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and more, joins Michael and Diane. They discuss AI’s potential to democra…
- Our ‘Biases’ About AI
At the outset of an AI-themed season, our hosts take stock of their prior assumptions, hopes, and concerns about the technology’s applications in education. They dive into where they see it being used to make adjustments to the current edu…
- We’re Back—with Job Moves
As Diane and Michael launch a sixth season of Class Disrupted, they talk through Michael’s newest book, the bestseller Job Moves: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career , and map its implications back to K12 schools and students throug…
- What the Science Shows a Mentorship Mindset Can Do for Student Motivation
On their first ever summer episode, Michael and Diane are joined by David Yeager, psychology professor at University of Texas Austin and author of 10 to 25 , a new book on youth development. They discuss lessons on healthy youth developmen…
- Concerning Trends in Philanthropy for Education Reform
Michael and Diane welcome Stacey Childress, Senior Education Advisor at McKinsey & Co., back to the show to discuss the world of education philanthropy. Stacey draws from her previous experience at New Schools Venture Fund and the Gates Fo…
- Tackling All That K12 Schools Try to Do: The Solutions (Part 2)
Michael and Diane welcome back Stacey Childress, Senior Education Advisor at McKinsey & Co., for the second episode of a two-part series on the challenges facing K-12 education and promising strategies for addressing them. In this episode,…
- Tackling All That K12 Schools Try to Do: The Challenges (Part 1)
Michael and Diane welcome back Stacey Childress, Senior Education Advisor at McKinsey & Co., for the first of a two-part series on the challenges facing K-12 education and promising strategies for addressing them. In this episode, they out…
- In Conversation on College: Weighing in on Two Investors’ Diagnoses and Proposals for Higher Ed Part II
Stacey Childress, Senior Advisor on Education at McKinsey, joins Michael and Diane for the second episode of a two-part series weighing in on Marc Andreseen and Ben Horowitz’s recent analysis of higher education. In this second episode, th…
- In Conversation on College: Weighing in on Two Investors’ Diagnoses and Proposals for Higher Ed Part I
Michael and Diane welcome Stacey Childress, Senior Advisor on Education at McKinsey, to the podcast for a two-part series weighing in on Marc Andreseen and Ben Horowitz’s recent analysis of higher education. In this first episode, they rea…
- Changing the Equation: How to Make Math Class More Meaningful
Michael and Diane discuss why America’s approach to math class isn’t adding up. They analyze the outcomes produced under the status quo, consider the current system’s alignment with workforce needs, and propose a personalized approach to t…
- Providing a Human-Centered, Self-Actualizing Education to Every Student
Michael and Diane sit down with Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, a cognitive scientist, researcher, professor, and author focused on intelligence, creativity, and human potential. They discuss the importance of placing all students – not just thos…
- The Future of DEI: A Humanity-, Freedom-, and Dreams-Based Approach
Diane discusses Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with Antonio Saunders, co-founder of Kriseles , a DEI and Business Innovation services provider. The two consider the growing opposition to DEI in American politics and media, Antonio’…
- Beyond ‘College or Bust’: Apprenticeship as a Postsecondary Path to Opportunity
Diane and Michael are joined by Ryan Craig, author of Apprentice Nation to discuss the earn-and-learn alternative to the traditional tuition-based higher education pathway. They address the current state of apprenticeship in the US, its ro…
- 2023 in Review: AI, New Assessments, “The American Dream,” and More
Diane and Michael look back on the past three episodes of Class Disrupted’s fifth season through the lens of disruption. They discuss the future of AI education tools; consider the opportunities and challenges as the Carnegie Foundation em…
- How America’s Oldest Nonprofit Aims to Drive the Future of Education
Timothy Knowles, President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, joins Diane and Michael to discuss how this historic foundation looks to drive the future of American education. On K–12, they discuss why Carnegie has…
- A Student’s View on the Challenges and Possibilities of AI in Education
AI expert and Minerva University senior Irhum Shafkat joins Michael and Diane to discuss where AI has been, where it’s going, and the rate at which it’s moving. We also discuss the many forms the technology takes, its implications for huma…
- Does America have a new definition of success?
Todd Rose returns to share compelling findings about what Americans do and don’t want from their schools, institutions and lives. Spoiler alert! They are rejecting fame, fortune and higher ed as markers of success, and instead want communi…
- Back in Conversation: New Beginnings on Class Disrupted
Back for Season 5, Michael and Diane catch up on their summers and book reading, Diane’s new entrepreneurial venture, PointB, the season ahead—and then offer some hot takes on the reading wars and Lucy Caulkins, four-year college-for-all,…
- Season 4, Episode 18: Anxiety, Fear, and the Importance of Listening
In their last episode of the season, Diane and Michael delve into the role fear and anxiety may be playing behind the community outbursts that have bedeviled so many school leaders. And they suggest a path forward that doesn’t seek to show…
- Season 4, Episode 17: Learning in Public
Michael and Diane grapple with a concept that pushes their understandings of the test-and-learn approach in education innovation and see the beauty of embracing a child-like approach to learning and exploring boundaries to understand where…
- Season 4, Episode 16: Is Legislation the Best Way to Finish the ‘Reading Wars’?
Michael and Diane talk about one of the biggest things to come out of the pandemic: the groundswell movement from parents and others to finally teach children how to read in line with the best evidence from the science of reading. And they…
- Season 4, Episode 15: How Hardening Schools Could Harm Students
In the aftermath of horrific school shootings across the country, schools have instituted a range of security measures. Diane and Michael argue that these steps likely have a cost in eroding mental health, which may further contribute to v…
- Season 4, Episode 14: How to Design a College Alternative
With declining enrollment becoming a staple in American higher education and more students and families souring on the expense of a college education, Diane points out that this can an opportunity—and then puts Michael to the entrepreneuri…
- Season 4, Episode 13: Reflections, Insights, and Lessons Learned from Leading Summit
As Diane Tavenner prepares to step down from 20 years of founding and leading Summit Public Schools, she shares some of her lessons from which educators, policymakers, and parents can all learn. Hint: It’s all about the students. https://a…
- Season 4, Episode 12: It’s Time We Talked Money
All too often money is a taboo subject in schools—or at least any discussion that doesn’t talk about how schools need more of it. In this episode, Diane and Michael think through how that limits innovation on behalf of students and what co…
- Season 4, Episode 11: Scaling the New, Sunsetting the Old
Diane updates Michael on the latest progress on one of Summit’s pilots from this year and the two then delve into a discussion of how to bring the new innovation that’s working and scale it up inside the organization—and what to do about t…
- Season 4, Episode 10: Education Reflections from Trips to Sierra Leone, Liberia, and India
Back from their trips abroad, Michael and Diane reflect on what they saw in the countries and what that means for shaping educational opportunities for each and every child worldwide. https://archive.org/download/class-disrupted-s-4-e…