Podcasts
Grounded Conversations About AI in Education
Foundational Impact is bi-weekly conversations about responsible AI in education, grounded in pedagogy, evidence, equity and student experience. Each episode asks what the evidence actually shows, what it looks like in practice, and what school leaders should do next.
Produced for school leaders, educators and the people making decisions about how young people learn with AI.
Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith: Stop Buying Tools Before You’ve Answered This
Our guest in this episode is Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith, an independent researcher who studies the relationship between pedagogy and digital tools, and the lived experience of students in the classroom.
Fiona opens by explaining why identical classroom practices can produce completely different outcomes depending on the belief system behind them. Her example of two teachers greeting students at the classroom door in seemingly the same way, but for very different underlying reasons, shows how policies alone don't determine impact; the intent behind them does. The conversation moves into belonging and dignity, including research showing that struggling students typically ask for help only 1-3 times in a lesson regardless of how much support they need, while confident students almost never ask to be pushed further. Daniel and Fiona discuss the tension between protecting a student's dignity and the value of productive vulnerability.
Dr Lulu Shi: A Sociological Lens on Educational Technology
In this enlightening episode, Dr Lulu Shi from the University of Oxford, shares technology’s role in education and society through a sociological lens. She examines how edtech companies shape learning environments and policy, while challenging the notion that technological progress is predetermined.
George Barlow and Ricky Bridge: AI Implementation at Belgrave St Bartholomew’s Academy
In this podcast episode, Daniel, George, and Ricky discuss the integration of AI and technology in education, particularly at Belgrave St Bartholomew's Academy. They explore the local context of the school, the impact of technology on teaching and learning, and how AI is being utilised to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
Becci Peters and Ben Davies: AI Teaching Support from Computing at School
In this episode, Becci Peters and Ben Davies discuss their work with Computing at School (CAS), an initiative backed by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, which boasts 27,000 dedicated members who support computing teachers. Through their efforts with CAS, they've noticed that many teachers still feel uncomfortable about AI technology, and many schools are grappling with uncertainty around AI policies and how to implement them.
Student Council: Students Perspectives on AI and the Future of Learning
In this episode, four members of our Student Council, Conrado, Kerem, Felicitas and Victoria, who are between 17 and 20 years old, share their personal experiences and observations about using generative AI.
Suzy Madigan: AI and Civil Society in the Global South
AI’s impact spans globally across sectors, yet attention and voices aren’t equally distributed across impacted communities. This week, the Foundational Impact presents a humanitarian perspective as Daniel Emmerson speaks with Suzy Madigan, Responsible AI Lead at CARE International, to shine a light on those often left out of the AI narrative.
Liz Robinson: Leading Through the AI Unknown for Students
In this episode, Liz opens up about her path and reflects on her own "conscious incompetence" with AI - that pivotal moment when she understood that if she, as a leader of a forward-thinking trust, feels overwhelmed by AI's implications, many other school leaders must feel the same. Rather than shying away from this challenge, she chose to lean in, launching an exciting new initiative to help school leaders navigate the AI landscape.
Lori van Dam: Nurturing Students into Social Entrepreneurs
In this episode, Hult Prize CEO Lori van Dam pulls back the curtain on the global competition empowering student innovators into social entrepreneurs across 100+ countries. She believes in sustainable models that combine social good with financial viability. Lori also explores how AI is becoming a powerful ally in this space, while stressing that human creativity and cross-cultural collaboration remain at the heart of meaningful innovation.
Laura Knight: A Teacher’s Journey into AI Education
From decoding languages to decoding the future of education: Laura Knight takes us on her fascinating journey from a linguist to a computer science teacher, then Director of Digital Learning, and now a consultant specialising in digital strategy in education. With two decades of classroom wisdom under her belt, Laura has witnessed firsthand how AI is reshaping education and she’s here to help make sense of it all.
Richard Culatta: Understand AI's Capabilities and Limitations
Richard Culatta, former Government advisor, speaks about flying planes as an analogy to explain the perils of taking a haphazard approach to AI in education. Using aviation as an illustration, he highlights the most critical tech skills that teachers need today. The CEO of ISTE and ASCD draws a clear parallel: just as planes don't fly by magic, educators must deeply understand AI's capabilities and limitations.
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