I recently had the pleasure of interviewing William Grube for the 211th episode of my podcast, My EdTech Life. William joined me about six months ago when AI tools like ChatGPT started taking off in education. At the time, he had begun consulting with local school districts on implementing AI ethically and effectively. I was thrilled to have him back to get an update on how things have progressed over the past half year.
William shared that in the last six months, he has presented on AI in education at over 35 schools nationwide. Based on feedback from these presentations, he developed a full AI in Education training program that numerous districts have adopted. William has seen a major shift in mindset - from fear of AI replacing teachers to excitement about how AI can assist them. As he put it, teachers realize AI is "beneficial" and can "better prepare their students for a future where AI is more prevalent."
A key focus for William is developing critical thinking skills in students. With short attention spans and tools like ChatGPT readily available to provide answers, he is concerned many students are losing the ability to think profoundly and form their own opinions. William aims to help educators adapt assignments and curricula to account for AI's existence, finding ways to stimulate critical analysis instead of rote information regurgitation. As he compellingly put it, "Their ability to create their own thoughts, ideas, and opinions when they are older is huge."
I love William's focus on using AI to free up teachers for more human-centric education. By automating administrative tasks like writing emails and lesson plans, teachers can devote more time to meaningful student connections. William gave the example of a new construction project manager efficiently handling planning with AI tools. This enabled him to interact more with and lead his on-site team. William envisions a similar transformation in teaching - utilizing AI for efficiency so teachers can be more present.
Watching William's passion project over the past six months has been incredible. When we first connected, he had just begun his quest to bridge the gap between computer science and education. He has spoken at dozens of schools, created a training program, and continues refining his offerings based on teacher feedback. William embodies the entrepreneurial learner mindset.
I highly recommend educators check out William's website, www.gruvyeducation.com. It contains free AI teaching resources like a Prompt Library with ready-made ChatGPT prompts on topics like creating discussion questions, lesson planning, and more. I sincerely appreciate William's unwavering support in navigating the fast-paced educational transformations with ease, passion, and a focus on students' growth. Witnessing his progression is thrilling, and I'm eager to stay updated on his journey. His dedication to cultivating critical thinking skills and prioritizing human-centered teaching is a powerful reminder of why I pursued a career in education.
Listen to the full episode https://www.myedtech.life/grube2/
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