The Future of AI is Authenticity with Erik Francis

In this episode of A Vision for Learning, host Jethro Jones interviews Erik Francis, an expert in educational leadership and the creator of Maverik Education AI. Francis discusses the role of AI in education, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and critical thinking. Key points include:

• AI's Limitations: ChatGPT and other AI tools can sometimes produce inaccurate information due to the nature of their sourcing and synthesis processes.
• Depth of Knowledge (DOK):  Francis highlights the need for students to deeply understand their learning, moving beyond surface-level comprehension. He outlines how different levels of DOK correspond to various question types (e.g., "whether" questions indicate DOK 1, while "how" questions indicate DOK 2).
• AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement: Francis argues that AI should be used as a stimulus for learning, not a source of definitive answers. It can offer suggestions, but educators and students must ultimately use their own judgment and critical thinking skills.
• The Importance of Authenticity: Francis believes that the future of AI in education lies in authenticity. Educators and students should "be the brain" and use AI as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, their own thinking and decision-making processes.

• Misinterpretation about DOK and 
• We don’t know the source that chatGPT Is using. 
• OpenAI synthesizing all those hits in Google that gives back information that is not accurate. 
• How deeply do students have to comprehend their learning?
• You can’t just rely on a calculator. 
• The technology doesn’t make things less complex, it makes it easier to do that work.
• There are people who are going to say, “It’s good enough.” 
• Circle the verbs and underline the standards. 
• Assessing on skills and stuff (old way)  vs context (new way) 
• Whether - DOK 1
• How - DOK 2
• Supports - DOK 3
• Two or more - DOK 4
• “Worksheets don’t grow dendrites” - Marcia Tate
• Created this to help teachers expand their instructional talent. 
• AI is a stimulus, not a source. 
• Suggestions, not decisions. 
• Teaching is not just a science, it’s an art. 
• Rogers’ diffusion of innovation. 
• How do we know that our AI stuff is actually good? 
• The Future of AI is authenticity. 
• “Be the brain and make the impact.” 

About Erik Francis:

Erik Francis specializes in providing guidance, support and training to academic leaders and classroom teachers on how to develop rigorous learning environments and deliver engaging educational experiences that engage and encourage students to demonstrate different levels of thinking and understand and use their Depth of Knowledge (DOK) through inquiry and by questioning with good questions. He created Maverik Education AI.

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 technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve 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.