A Common Sense AI Curriculum | Ep. 126

Banning AI in class doesn't stop it, it just drives it underground. Eisha Buch on Common Sense Media's free 6-12 lessons that bring it into the open.

This week…

• Matt and Liz examine a Wired article on an unexpected drawback of generative AI: the proliferation of AI-generated "cute animal" content. Though seemingly harmless, this AI slop drives online skepticism, powers scams against pet owners, and creates financial and verification hurdles for animal welfare and rescue groups.

• AI Slop Is Ruining Cute Animals on the Internet: https://tinyurl.com/yfbxbhnw

The Rundown

Notebook Books and Data

• Gemini/NotebookLM Just Became a Serious Tool for Data Analysis: https://tinyurl.com/48ev8en7

• Collaborate with Gemini in Google Sheets: https://tinyurl.com/4h8sjcwm

Previously On ChatEDU

• Claude for Teachers: https://tinyurl.com/2cdvd863

• Screen Use and Emotional, Behavioral, and Social Development in Children: https://tinyurl.com/yfb2wetz

• LME Global (Jared Cooney Horvath): https://tinyurl.com/utadxyrt

• Harvard Weighs Automatically Converting A's to A-'s to Enforce Grade Cap: https://tinyurl.com/33tf2xzd

AI Avatars

• Harvard Is Selling a $699 Course Taught by A.I. Clones of Its Faculty: https://tinyurl.com/29nbb36u

Process Built In

• The Socratic Challenger: a structured GenAI-assisted workflow for undergraduate research inquiry: https://tinyurl.com/y3eyr3p5

• AI in Ed Newsletter (Sidaard Gunasekaran): https://tinyurl.com/ye27th28

• UC Irvine School of Education to lead $10 million national center on AI and postsecondary writing: https://tinyurl.com/yc5z746w

Opt Out and More

• DeSantis Administration Moving to Regulate AI from Pre-K to Ph.D.: https://tinyurl.com/mrj26kzz

MIT Times 2

• How MIT Sandbox has turned student ideas into $8.7 billion in global impact: https://tinyurl.com/nhhak5p2

• MIT AI Report Calls for Alternative Grading, More Social Learning: https://tinyurl.com/bdvptm99

Beneath the Surface

• Matt and Liz talk with Eisha Buch from Common Sense Media about their new free AI literacy curriculum. Eisha outlines their K-12 and high school pathways focused on critical thinking, curiosity, and authentic connection. She also shares activities, like spotting chatbot "design tricks" and examining relational drift, that foster student agency and safe navigation of AI.

• AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 6–12: https://tinyurl.com/3s7s849j

Bright Byte

• Surgeons at University College London Hospital performed the world's first livAI-assisted brain surgery, removing a pituitary gland tumor. Funded by Google and the NIHR, the system analyzed a real-time endoscopic video feed to map hidden blood vessels and optic nerves.

• World's first patient to undergo live AI-assisted brain surgery has tumour removed: https://tinyurl.com/3arv4cps

Announcements

• Fall AI Conference: October 2, 2026: https://tinyurl.com/4k6x9scx

• Purchase Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77

• Check out our middle / high school Student AI Literacy course: ​​⁠⁠⁠www.skills21.org/ai/learnai⁠⁠⁠

• Explore Skills21’s FREE social media literacy curriculum: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.skills21.org/social

• Address Screen Time concerns: skills21.org/ai/screenshift

• Read From Panic to Proof: A Data-Driven Approach to Screen Time - Dr. Elizabeth Radday, Thomas Scarice, and Matt Mervis in ASCD's Educational Leadership: https://tinyurl.com/4pwdu68

Sponsor

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing: Your Gateway to Next Generation Advanced Manufacturing - https://www.nextgenmfg.org