1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 On today’s episode of Roll Call, Brian and Josh welcome Dr. Alec Couros, professor of educational technology and media and director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning at the University of Regina, for a deep and timely conversation on the role of AI in education. The conversation explores one of the biggest challenges facing schools today: how to integrate AI while maintaining strong pedagogy and human connection. Alec shares insights on cognitive offloading, critical thinking, misinformation, and why writing still matters more than ever in a world where AI can generate almost anything instantly. They also unpack the risks of over-prioritizing efficiency in education, the future of personalized learning, and why educators need to be intentional about how these tools are used — not just what they can do, but what they should do. Show notes: 00:00 — Introduction to Alec Couros 01:11 — Alec’s background and how he found his path into education 04:16 — Balancing AI integration with strong pedagogy 05:27 — “Pedagogy first, technology second” 07:18 — Is critical thinking changing in the age of AI? 08:56 — AI grading, black-box processes, and bias in assessment 14:23 — Productive struggle, learning, and cognitive offloading 17:42 — When students should be introduced to AI tools 19:18 — Why writing is thinking 23:18 — Misinformation, deepfakes, and teaching digital discernment 28:22 — What keeps Alec up at night about AI in education 29:35 — Efficiency, teacher perception, and controlling the narrative 31:58 — Personalized learning, isolation, and protecting human connection 33:25 — AI tutors, non-certified guides, and the future of school models 36:31 — Curriculum upheaval and what is still worth learning 39:25 — The pace of AI development and whether educators need to keep up 44:52 — The future of personalized learning in the classroom 51:58 — Lightning round 55:11 — Final reflections on alignment, values, and what AI ought not do Roll Call Podcast http://rollcall.libsyn.com/website <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/40745650/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/200487865