Posts Tagged ‘AI in education’
The Future of Education: AI, Accessibility, and Canvas
How will generative AI reshape the classroom? Ryan Lufkin, VP of Global Academic Strategy at Instructure, joins Marc Aflalo to discuss the new OpenAI partnership, how Canvas powers millions of students worldwide, and what this means for the future of education and accessibility.
Canvas has become the digital backbone of education, used by over half of North America’s college students and rapidly growing worldwide. In this conversation, Ryan Lufkin explains how Canvas and OpenAI are working together to embed AI into the classroom in ways that feel seamless, trustworthy, and genuinely useful for both teachers and students.
We explore why education shifted from “nice-to-have” to “must-have” technology after COVID, the eight global trends shaping academic strategy, and how AI can support personalized learning, accessibility, and lifelong education. Ryan also addresses big concerns around bias, data privacy, and misuse—highlighting Instructure’s “trust first” approach to rolling out AI features.
The discussion covers practical use cases, including AI study modes that encourage learning instead of cheating, accessibility tools that generate alt text and improve course design, and equity-focused strategies to ensure schools of all sizes can benefit from AI. Ryan also shares insights on how educators can build AI literacy and overcome fears by treating it like a “lazy graduate assistant”—a helpful starting point, not a replacement for human expertise.
[Chapters]
0:00 – Introduction and name banter
0:31 – What is Instructure and Canvas?
1:35 – Why Canvas is the “backbone” of education
3:09 – Key global education challenges
4:50 – The new OpenAI partnership explained
6:01 – How AI will show up in classrooms
7:29 – Why now? The timing of AI in education
8:21 – Addressing bias, hallucinations, and trust
9:59 – Real-world use cases and Harvard study
11:47 – Accessibility and universal design
13:34 – Equity, affordability, and global access
15:23 – Surprising outcomes from AI in education
16:52 – What success looks like in the next year
18:16 – Why educators still matter in the AI era
19:10 – Advice for educators hesitant about AI
20:54 – Final thoughts and closing
[Call to Action]
If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into technology, accessibility, and the future of learning.
[Relevant Links]
Canvas by Instructure: https://www.instructure.com/canvas
InstructureCon: https://www.instructure.com/events/instructurecon
Apple Event 2024 Preview, Assistive Tech Talk, and the Evolution of Accessibility with Steven Scott
In this episode of Your Tech Report, Marc Aflalo and special guest Steven Scott dive into all things Apple ahead of the highly anticipated September 9th event. They discuss the expected release of the iPhone 16, potential updates to AirPods Pro, and speculate about Apple Intelligence. Steven, host of Double Tap, shares his unique perspective on the evolution of assistive technology and how it empowers the blind and low vision community. From personal anecdotes about their history with Apple products to discussing the impact of AI on accessibility, this episode covers a wide range of topics tech enthusiasts will love.
AI’s Role in Education: Insights from Instructure’s Sidharth Oberoi
In this episode of YourTechReport, Marc Aflalo is joined by Sidharth Oberoi, VP of International Strategy at Instructure, to explore the evolving role of AI in education. With the new school year underway, they discuss the rapid development of AI tools in classrooms and how Instructure’s flagship product, Canvas, is helping educators and learners navigate this new landscape. Oberoi shares his insights on the importance of intentional AI integration, the challenges of balancing technology with traditional teaching methods, and how AI-powered tools like translation and discussion summaries are shaping the future of learning. Tune in for an in-depth look at the future of AI in education and its impact on students and teachers worldwide.
Takeaways
- AI in education requires intentional deployment and consideration of use cases.
- Instructure’s Canvas is a learning management system that facilitates teaching and learning in the digital world.
- Safety and equity are important considerations when integrating AI into education.
- Instructure provides nutrition facts for AI tools and educates institutions on the implications of deploying different technologies.
- Features like translation and discussion summaries enhance the learning experience.
- Educators can use AI-powered tools to analyze student performance and trends.
- Instructure actively engages with their community to gather feedback and improve their products.
Follow Marc Aflalo on social media @marcaflalo
Learn more about Canvas at Instructure
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