UCET Elements: Bennett Borden

Welcome back to the UCET podcast, where we talk all things Utah, education, and technology. In this special series, we ask the following questions to our featured guests:

• How has educational technology changed what it means to be a great teacher, and what timeless teaching qualities remain unchanged?
• What do you believe are the three most essential elements every classroom needs to thrive in today’s world?
• Which one of our UCET Elements are you drawn to the most and why?

The Conversation

In this episode, host Kiera Beddes sits down with UCET conference keynote speaker Bennett Borden, the founder and CEO of Clarion AI Partners. As a leader in AI-focused law, strategy, and development, Bennett brings a profound perspective on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of human knowledge and instruction.

Bennett identifies three classroom essentials for the AI era: psychological safety so students can take intellectual risks, purpose and meaning so they understand why learning matters, and a skilled, trusted teacher to guide responsible AI use. He argues that in a world where AI makes "answers" cheap, the teacher's role shifts from being a primary source of information to a shaper of meaning—acting as a curator, sense-maker, and ethical anchor for their students.

UCET Elements

When exploring our conference strands, Bennett chooses Grounded as his key element. He believes that while innovation is vital, it must be balanced with foundational principles to keep technology from destabilizing what truly matters in education.

He describes AI as a "super suit" for educators—a tool that can personalize learning and amplify a teacher's impact rather than replace it. This conversation offers a fascinating sneak peek into his keynote address on leading transformative AI in education and how we can maintain our human "grounding" in a high-tech world.

Episode Timeline

00:00 Welcome to UCET

00:47 Meet Bennett Borden: Founder and CEO of Clarion AI Partners

01:47 Why AI in Education?

02:36 Three Classroom Essentials: Safety, Purpose, and Guidance

06:06 Teachers as Meaning Makers in an AI Era

06:46 How EdTech is Redefining the Teaching Profession

09:30 AI as the Teacher's "Super Suit"

10:51 Choosing the Elements: Why "Grounded" Wins

11:29 Navigating Grounded Innovation

12:30 Keynote Sneak Peek: Leading Transformative AI

13:36 Conference Wrap-Up

Conference Details

This year's conference is March 16 & March 17th at the Salt Palace. Our theme is "UCET Elements." Don't miss Bennett Borden's keynote address, where he will dive deeper into the strategies for integrating AI with purpose and judgment. Find more info at: ucet.org/conference/

Special thanks to Kayla Towner for the podcast producing & editing and Kiera Beddes for hosting.