Student Voices, AI, and the Science of Learning with Special Hosts Fatou, Gabriela, and Leana

LIVE! from The Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice In this unique crossover episode, the host becomes the guest as David Adams, CEO of The Urban Assembly, joins the student-led podcast "Beyond the Sports." Recorded on-site at the Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice (LGJ), an Urban Assembly school, David sits down with student hosts Fatou, Gabriela, and Leana, for a deep dive into the intersections of psychology, school culture, and the role of artificial intelligence in the modern classroom. Applied Psychology in the Classroom Drawing on his background in educational psychology, David explains to the hosts why education is essentially "applied psychology" in action. He shares how his early observations of student-athletes—specifically the discipline and goal-setting of cross-country runners—shaped his belief that social and emotional skills like delaying gratification are often more predictive of success than traditional IQ. 🔹 The Relational Heart of Teaching: David discusses why great teaching requires a high level of attunement to student motivation and efficacy, helping students feel seen during moments of frustration or understimulation. 🔹 Skills vs. Character: The conversation explores how social-emotional skills—such as conflict resolution and self-management—can be explicitly taught and practiced to support a student's broader character development. AI as a Tool for Teacher Judgment The students challenge David on the "scary" side of AI, leading to a candid discussion on the Urban Assembly’s approach to technology. David details the design of Project Cafe, emphasizing that the goal is not to replace human thinking but to provide teachers with the same "game film" opportunities that athletes use to refine their positioning and reactions. 🔹 AI Literacy over Automation: David outlines the importance of educating staff and students on AI capabilities so they can use the tools to solve problems for themselves rather than relying on them for structured thinking. 🔹 The Risk of Homogenization: A warning on why students must maintain their unique voices and perspectives, rather than allowing AI to "homogenize" their writing and reasoning. Building a Culture of Connection Reflecting on the school culture at LGJ, David and the hosts discuss how high-quality relationships drive academic struggle and deep learning. David defines a positive school climate through visible signs of connection: the frequent use of names, shared laughter, and physical proximity between peers and mentors. 🔹 Listening as a Hard Skill: The group explores why listening is a difficult but essential social-emotional skill that prevents emotional "carjacking" and allows for true problem-solving in the community. 🔹 The Power of Student Insights: Through the lens of LGJ's Youth Court and PAC programs, David illustrates how restorative justice allows students to reach their own conclusions and develop long-term responsibility. Make sure to like, follow, and subscribe to Innovations in Education with David Adams wherever you get your podcasts to stay updated on the leaders—and student voices—making things work in public education. Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome to a special student-led edition of Innovations in Education 02:45 - How psychology provides the blueprint for human behavior in schools 04:00 - Lessons from the track: Why grit outpaces IQ 10:30 - Project Cafe: Using "game film" for teacher professional development 15:45 - The "Criminal" side of AI: Distinguishing support from replacement 22:30 - Why learning is a social, not isolated, activity 25:40 - Identifying the visible signs of a healthy school culture 38:30 - Emotional carjacking and the power of high-quality listening 42:15 - Restorative justice: Moving from punishment to insight