Sometimes there’s a fine line between “disruptive innovation” and “copyright violation.”

Today’s guest pushed pretty hard on that line.

Ariel Diaz is a serial entrepreneur who has co-founded companies in video education, B2B SaaS, and Health and Wellness. But he joined us to discuss his digital textbook company, Boundless Learning, which was at the center of a firestorm about copyright in the early 2010s.

Boundless Learning built a business that undercut the college textbook market by providing open source equivalents at much lower prices. They were sued by three major textbook publishers in a case that had the potential to reshape the interpretation of US copyright law through a court decision.

The publishers’ side of this story is widely available online and we recommend reading those links in the episode notes to round out your opinion of what happened. Our purpose at Ways We Learn is not to present Ariel’s view as fact, or to choose sides.

But today you get a very special Ways We Learn, Legal Edition: Boundless’ CEO, Ariel Diaz, shares his side of the story.

Contents:

• 04:35 The Genesis of Boundless Learning
• 07:04 Building the First Prototype
• 10:19 Challenges and Reactions
• 13:04 Marketing Strategy and Legal Issues
• 24:40 The Lawsuit
• 27:43 Copyright and Trademark Disputes
• 30:37 Settlement
• 37:50 Evolution
• 42:56 Acquisition
• 44:23 Legacy and Impact on the Textbook Market

Links and further reading:

• Ariel’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arieldiaz/
• Chart of textbook prices: https://www.aei.org/carpe-diem/chart-of-the-day-or-century-5/

Links and further reading:

• Ariel’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arieldiaz/
• Chart of textbook prices: https://www.aei.org/carpe-diem/chart-of-the-day-or-century-5/
• The complaint: https://www.insidehighered.com/sites/default/files/files/boundlesslearninglawsuit.pdf
• Motion to dismiss: https://casetext.com/case/pearson-educ-inc-v-boundless-learning-inc
• Docket report: https://dockets.justia.com/docket/new-york/nysdce/1:2012cv01986/393501
• Publishers Sue As Boundless Learning Grabs $8M (TechCrunch): https://techcrunch.com/2012/04/05/publishers-sue-as-boundless-nabs-8m/
• 4 Thoughts About Boundless, Publishers, and the Lawsuit (Inside Higher Ed): https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/technology-and-learning/4-thoughts-about-boundless-publishers-and-lawsuit

I've spent years in the field of ed tech. Along the way, I became disappointed by a lot of what I saw.

There has been way too much “shiny new object syndrome,” and way too little of the actual learning transformation that it promised. Starting with blackboards, then whiteboards, then radio, then film strips, then TV, then calculators, then computers, then many other EdTech things – they all promise transformative learning, but they don't always deliver.

So my question: is AI going to be different?

Thankfully, Steve Midgley and Whitney Whealdon have some answers!

Steve is the Founder and Managing Director of Learning Tapestry, and Whitney is the Director of Learning Innovation. Steve served as the Deputy Director of Educational Technology for Arne Duncan at the U. S. Department of Education and the Director of Education at the FCC. Whitney has worked in education for over 20 years, including 10 years at the Louisiana Department of Education, and led the creation of the ELA Guidebooks, which is an English language arts curriculum used in over 80 percent of Louisiana districts and other states nationwide.

Both of these folks really know education, and they’re perfect guests for my big question today: how do the affordances of AI lead to truly transformative learning?

Contents:

• 01:00 The Evolution and Challenges of EdTech
• 02:23 Learning Tapestry’s Purpose
• 03:43 Steve's Background and Vision
• 04:47 Whitney's Perspective on EdTech
• 10:46 AI's Potential in Education
• 21:08 AI in the Classroom
• 39:23 Academic Integrity
• 41:05 Practical AI for Teachers
• 43:52 AI as a Collaborative Partner
• 53:40 Quality Assurance in AI-Driven Learning
• 59:43 Ethical Considerations

Links and further reading:

• Learning Tapestry: https://www.learningtapestry.com

• Steve’s bio: https://www.learningtapestry.com/steve-midgley.html

• Whitney’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whealdon/

• And here’s the knowledge-building app they described! (Remember the frog > lily lad > chlorophyll example?) Wonderwood is an infinite digital encyclopedia and interactive learning app for children ages 3-8 to build their knowledge of the world: ⁠https://wonderwood.me/⁠

• And here's the quote Steve referenced, with his intro:

  Here's a quote that is old but, for me at least, informs where our expectations need to shift to in the age of AI. The movement from computational to concept-based math is parallel to a movement from expressive to concept-based ELA - and the skills below reflect what I think are valuable to students regardless of how much support they get from AI in their schooling.

  "At school you are engaged not so much in acquiring knowledge as in making mental efforts under criticism... You go to a great school not so much for knowledge as for arts and habits; for the habit of attention, for the art of expression, for the art of assuming at a moment's notice a new intellectual position, for the art of entering quickly into another person's thoughts, for the habit of submitting to censure and refutation, for the art of indicating assent or dissent in graduated terms, for the habit of regarding minute points of accuracy, for the art of working out what is possible in a given time, for taste, for discrimination, for mental courage, and for mental soberness."

  - William Johnson Cory, 19th Century Headmaster at Eton

Think about your experience with education. What was that experience like? For many of us, organized learning was sort of like a factory. A bunch of students along for the ride, not necessarily wanting to be there, but ingesting a lot of information that was handed down by a teacher, and waiting for a big scary test at the end.

Now think about a time you've played a game. You may have found the game more enjoyable than some of your learning experiences. You’re more active in a game. You get quick feedback in a game. A game is really meant to be fun, even in that big scary test at the end.

Seth Trudeau is someone who thinks education can and should be more like games. He is the founder and managing director of Routine Chaos, where he works with companies to build transformative products through deep product discovery and rigorous product development. He's built games, simulations, and applications for learners from primary school up through postgraduate studies.

We sat down to discuss the potential benefits of gamification in education from classics like “Oregon Trail” to modern games like “Minecraft,” and the importance of creating engaging, skill-building environments in games. We talked about Pokemon tournaments and how such community-driven, game-based learning can be applied to educational contexts. And we looked at project-based and self-directed learning, and how teachers can foster meaningful motivation and interest in students.

Contents:

• 00:58 Games vs. Traditional Learning
• 02:45 The Evolution of Gamification
• 09:09 Challenges in Educational Gaming
• 11:27 Effective Educational Games Today
• 13:48 The Value of Games in Learning
• 20:18 Gamification in Professional Training
• 24:17 Leveraging LLMs for Scenario-Based Learning
• 27:42 The Pokemon Company and Education
• 36:36 Mixed-Age Communities and No Age-Based Hierarchies
• 37:07 The Pokemon Tournament Experience
• 40:36 Rethinking Traditional Education Hierarchies
• 42:43 The Role of Critical Thinking in Education
• 53:45 Conceptual Exposure in Math Education
• 58:11 Project-Based and Interest-Driven Learning
• 01:04:26 Advice for Traditional Classrooms

Links and Further Reading:

• Seth’s writing on gamification: https://routinechaos.substack.com/p/what-if-the-pokemon-company-took
• More of Seth’s thoughts: https://routinechaos.substack.com/p/a-bit-more-on-gamification
• Marc LeBlanc's 8 kinds of fun: http://algorithmancy.8kindsoffun.com
• Jesse Schell's Art of Game Design: https://schellgames.com/art-of-game-design
• The Importance of Play: https://www.routine-chaos.com/introducing-pursuit-of-play/

It’s the day before Election Day.

We’ve got two challenges for you:

1. Vote
2. Talk

Quick but important episode today.

Links and further reading:

https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/2074791/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1200x800+0+0/resize/840x560!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F94%2Fa2%2F652b525841fc9355463860f2bf49%2F080622.op.dnt.covertoon2.jpg

We covered AI as early as the second episode of this show. It’s so central to the education landscape today and it's something that all of us are really interested in just personally and professionally. So we were very excited when our friend Rob Cobb reached out to us about the work he's doing and how he's thinking about AI and education these days.

We all worked professionally with Rob back at Flatiron school. Joe hired him as an instructor there, he was a member of my team of instructor trainers, and he was on Brian’s Curriculum Design team as well. We also know him as a great thinker and practitioner about education as well as a superstar programmer and a software developer. Plus Rob has worked for more than a decade in high tech education, including a stint at one of Brian's startups, Schoolhouse.

Rob thinks deeply about building software and building educational experiences, which is just awesome, and he recently co-founded Kibo School, an affordable online bachelor's degree in computer science for students in Africa.

We got to talk with Rob about his work at Kibo School, how the reality of AI influenced his curricular design, and how the educational landscape should adjust to the changes inherent in AI.

Contents:

• 02:27 Rob's Journey in Computer Science
• 06:12 Founding Kibo School
• 10:41 Challenges and Innovations
• 16:37 Exploring AI and Cognitive Science
• 26:24 Designing Curriculum with Surprising Situations
• 27:08 Creating Purposeful Surprises in Education
• 28:28 The Role of AI in Curriculum Content
• 30:41 AI as a Writing Assistant: Impacts on Thought
• 33:13 Empowering Students with AI Tools
• 39:16 Integrating AI into Program Design at Kibo
• 48:12 Balancing Accreditation and Affordability
• 51:10 Connecting Education with the Job Market

Links and further reading:

• Kibo School: https://kibo.school/
• Rob’s Blog: https://rob.co.bb/
• Play in Predictive Minds (summary) https://rob.co.bb/posts/2022-07-08-review-play-in-predictive-minds-a-cognitive-theory-of-play/

Three steps to create a human-centric business:

✅ Create a healthy work environment

✅ Build an amazing team

✅ Trust them

Piece of cake, right? 😅

No way it was easy, but Elizabeth Henries did it. And today you get to learn how.

Elizabeth is the founder and CEO of Henries PLLC, an award-winning boutique law firm.

She discusses her unique approach to creating a human-centered law firm, focusing on flexibility, empathy, and a shared love for documentation and standard operating procedures. We cover her professional background, her transition from corporate law to founding her own firm, the challenges and successes of maintaining a boutique law firm, and key considerations like the importance of work-life balance, strategic hiring, documentation, and creating an efficient yet flexible work environment.

Contents:

• 03:12 Elizabeth's Origin Story

• 06:10 Creating a Human-Centered Law Firm

• 09:00 Balancing Work and Life

• 15:12 Innovative Work Models

• 25:36 Client Requests and Standard Documents

• 26:02 Expanding Business Models and Humanistic Approach

• 26:43 Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Control

• 27:32 Pace of Growth and Job Sharing

• 29:16 Pitfalls

• 29:31 Overcoming Self-Esteem Issues in Leadership

• 30:37 Workplace Flexibility and Talent Retention

• 33:44 Low Overhead and High Compensation

• 36:28 Independent Contractors vs. W2 Employees

• 41:37 Balancing Flexibility and Productivity

Links and further reading:

• Elizabeth’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-henries-502a4769

• Henries PLLC: https://www.linkedin.com/company/66913140/

It's so hard to change. We love doing things the same way because it's much more comfortable and easier than doing new things differently. 😅

But if you've lived in this world for more than a few minutes, you know that change is a constant and we need to learn how to cope with it. Much of our experience in life is learning how to cope with change. Ideally not just cope, but thrive in it.

Luckily, there are people who can help us thrive in change. 💪

Today’s guest, Caitlin Harper, is the founder of Commcoterie, an organizational change consultancy that helps leaders of small and midsize purpose-driven companies and nonprofits ideate, navigate, and communicate change, untangle challenges, design strategies that catalyze change, and create compelling communication that engages stakeholders for change that sticks. And it’s worth noting that Commcoterie is proud to be a women-owned, queer-owned, and disability-owned business.

We sat down to talk about the nature of change, why recognizing change as an integral part of learning helps us support it, and some strategies for creating learning experiences and presentations that create meaningful change.

Turns out creating effective change isn’t out of reach after all! 💪💪

Contents:

• 1:00 Why Change is Difficult
• 2:30 Caitlin’s Origin Story
• 5:22 Change is Hard
• 9:10 Change is Harm
• 14:15 Techniques For Managing Change
• 28:50 Applying Curiosity, Compassion, and Clarity
• 37:00 The Process: Before, During, and After
• 1:04:10 The Why

Links and further reading:

• Join Caitlin for Commcoterie's free monthly Organizational Change Office Hours at https://www.commcoterie.com/office-hours
• Or get in touch at https://www.commcoterie.com/contact

Two things to know before you listen:

First: in the business world, the notion of “scale” means expanding your operations and profit without sacrificing performance or efficiency. It’s a big deal for companies who get it right. Think Amazon, for example.

Second: our guest says attempts to scale nearly always fail. Which is one reason there aren’t a lot of Amazons.

Mike Goldstein brings years of thinking about scale to today’s Ways We Learn on the complexities and challenges of scaling educational practices. He talks about his own successes and failures and the difficulties of extending even successful initiatives to larger contexts. We cover AI in education, dissecting its impressive capabilities in subject matter assistance alongside the critical human elements that foster motivation and engagement. With an eye on future learning landscapes, the episode also investigates creative solutions for analyzing student attrition.

It’s a rich conversation that, unlike most efforts to scale, actually succeeds!

Contents:

• 01:37 Understanding Scale in Business and Education
• 03:18 Challenges in Scaling Educational Practices
• 06:33 Teacher Autonomy and Buy-In
• 09:18 Improvement Science and Local Contexts
• 19:08 Teacher Evaluation and Accountability
• 29:41 Scaling Vision and Culture in Schools
• 39:14 Real-World Testing and Teacher Feedback
• 52:36 Redistributing Average Teachers for Better Alignment
• 54:51 Hiring Teachers Interested in Improvement
• 59:30 The Talk Meter Experiment
• 01:06:34 Match Tutoring Program Structure
• 01:08:57 Challenges and Successes of Scaling Tutoring Programs
• 01:16:55 AI in Education: Potential and Limitations
• 01:26:19 Addressing Attrition in Schools

Links and further reading:

• Mike’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-a-goldstein/