Edufuturists

What if AI could think more like a human - and what would that mean for education, teams, and leadership?In this episode, Ben and Steve sit down with Kathryn Jablokow, Dean of Engineering at Manhattan University, to explore one of the most fascinating ideas in AI right now: cognitive diversity. With 34 years in engineering education and groundbreaking research into how AI agents can mimic different thinking styles, Kathryn brings a perspective you won't hear anywhere else.We cover:- Why AI struggles to find what you actually want- Adaption-Innovation Theory and what it means for AI development- Using AI as a genuine team member not just a productivity tool- What engineering education needs to look like post-ChatGPT- Why understanding how your team thinks is the real unlock for AI- The problem with how schools teach teamwork (and why exams are part of the problem)Whether you're a school leader, educator, or just someone trying to make sense of where AI is heading - this one's for you.Chapters00:00 Introductions01:21 Kathryn Jablokow's Journey in Engineering Education06:38 Transforming Engineering Education at Manhattan University13:04 AI's Role in Education and Engineering20:06 Integrating AI as a Team Member24:09 The Future of AI in Education30:42 Navigating Disagreement in AI Development32:15 The Human Element in AI Interaction34:11 Cultural Perspectives on AI and Robotics36:33 Data Privacy and Environmental Concerns38:32 Job Displacement and Creation in the Age of AI43:28 Preparing Future Generations for an Evolving Job Market47:26 Mental Well-Being and Critical Thinking in EducationCheck out all about Edufuturists

This podcast episode is a brilliant conversation with Patrick Cozier, who shares his extensive experience in education leadership. The conversation goes into the challenges of decision-making, managing external pressures, leading with humanity, and the impact of paranoia in leadership.We also dig into the importance of consultation and feedback in decision-making, the CALM framework, authentic leadership, the journey and maturity of leaders, Patrick's role on the roundtable, and involvement with Show Racism the Red Card. The themes emphasise the significance of collaboration, internal and external calm, authenticity, reflection, influence, and anti-racism work in leadership and education.Takeaways- Leadership requires resilience and the ability to manage external pressures effectively.- Leading with humanity involves recognising the human side of leadership and building trust through honest and real interactions.- Paranoia in leadership can be challenging, and leaders must learn to cope with the varying opinions and perceptions of others. Consultation and collaboration are crucial in decision-making- Calm leadership involves maintaining focus, awareness, and authenticityChapters00:00 Introductions06:30 Managing External Pressures13:37 Leading with Humanity20:42 Paranoia in Leadership29:29 Consultation and Decision-Making34:35 The CALM Framework44:17 Journey and Maturity51:02 Show Racism and Red CardGrab a copy of Patrick's book

In this episode of the podcast, we reflect on another rich run of recent conversations from across the series in Review #14.We revisit key ideas from episodes featuring Nici Foote, Rita Bateson, Iain MacRitchie, Dr Emily Musil, Dr Robin Harwick, Danielle Finlay, and a wide range of voices captured at BETT.

Across the discussion, a number of themes begin to emerge clearly: the value of messy learning, the growing importance of AI literacy, the need to focus on meaningful uses of technology rather than superficial adoption, and the enduring importance of human connection in education.

The conversation also explores democratic schooling, pedagogy, lifelong learning, inclusion, mentorship, and the challenge of creating more time and space for curiosity, compassion, and deeper thinking in schools and colleges.As ever, this review episode is a chance to step back, spot the patterns, and reflect on what these conversations might be telling us about the future of education.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:20 Nici Foote and Messy Learning
04:45 Rita Bateson and AI Literacy
07:55 Iain MacRitchie and Human Intelligence
12:50 BETT Reflections and Meaningful AI
17:45 Dr Emily Musil and Lifelong Learning
20:10 Dr Robin Harwick and Democratic Schooling
23:20 Danielle Finlay and Pedagogy
26:35 Final Reflections
Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touch Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2026

In this episode of the Edufuturists podcast, we are joined by Danielle Finlay, former headteacher, senior leader and now Head of Operations, Client Delivery and Change Management at Progress Teaching. Danielle reflects on her journey through education leadership, her deep commitment to pedagogy, and the difficult decision to step away from headship in order to prioritise family life without stepping away from her impact on the sector.

The conversation explores the relationship between pedagogy, leadership, behaviour, feedback and data, with Danielle making the case that better teaching starts with better insight rather than more judgement. We discuss why pedagogy remains the beating heart of great schools, why relationships matter more than compliance, and how leaders can use data intelligently without becoming overwhelmed by numbers that tell them very little.

Danielle also shares thoughtful reflections on Ofsted, trust accountability and the difference between feedback as insight and feedback as judgement. It is a rich conversation about courage, clarity and the importance of building school cultures where challenge is humane, evidence-informed and rooted in genuine care for both staff and students.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction And Welcome
03:17 Danielle Finlay’s Background And Journey Through Education Leadership
06:38 Moving From School Leadership Into The Commercial Sector
12:25 Choosing Family, Leadership And A Different Kind Of Impact
15:09 Why Pedagogy Still Matters Most
19:15 Challenge, Change-Makers And The Limits Of Compliance
21:12 Behaviour, Relationships And Partnership In Schools
24:51 Why Culture Starts With Care And Clarity
29:09 Radical Candour, Feedback And Leadership Judgment
33:23 Ofsted, Accountability And The Problem With Snapshot Judgments
38:16 Trust, Support And What School Improvement Should Really Look Like
43:15 Why Data-Rich Schools Make Better Decisions
48:06 Data-Rich Versus Data-Heavy Thinking
52:08 Lessons In Leadership, Courage And Conviction
55:45 Quickfire Questions
Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touchGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2026

In this episode of the Edufuturists podcast, we are joined by Dr Robin Harwick, educator, research scientist and founder of the Pearl Remote Democratic High School in central Mexico. Robin shares her journey into education, her frustration with the long gap between research and classroom practice, and why she felt compelled to build a school that puts democracy, inclusion and student agency at its core.

The conversation explores what it really means to create a democratic school, from co-creating curriculum with students to building classrooms where voice, choice and critical thinking are non-negotiable. Robin argues that too much of mainstream education is still built around control, compliance and conformity, rather than helping young people become informed, engaged and competent citizens.

We also discuss why student voice is so often reduced to tokenism, how schools can move beyond rigid planning, and why educators need to relearn how to listen. The episode is a powerful challenge to inherited assumptions about schooling and a reminder that if education is meant to prepare young people for democracy, it cannot continue to be run like an authoritarian system.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction And Welcome
01:24 Robin Harwick’s Background And Route Into Education
05:16 Introducing The Pearl Remote Democratic High School
05:43 The Origins Of The Pearl And Art Pearl’s Influence
07:53 Democracy, Inclusion And Informed Citizenship
08:39 Why This Work Matters In The World Today
11:37 Civic Participation, Responsibility And Student Voice
15:25 What A Democratic School Looks Like In Practice
17:41 Co-Creating Curriculum And Following Student Curiosity
22:03 Relearning How To Teach In A Democratic Model
25:17 Supporting Teachers To Let Go Of Control
29:31 Why Most Schools Still Prioritise Compliance
31:44 Moving Beyond Tokenistic Student Voice
37:20 Autism, Masking And Resisting Unjust Systems
39:21 Quickfire Questions
Find out more about the Pearl Remote Democratic High School Robin also references The Democratic Classroom

Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2026 at: edufuturists.com/uprising26