What If You Could Actually See Your Thoughts? How AI Is Transforming Learning

What if you could literally see the way your mind works?In this episode of the Building Thinkers podcast, I’m diving into one of my 12 favorite problems: How might we make thinking visible? And I couldn’t think of a better person to explore this with than Kevin Alster.Kevin is a strategic advisor at Synthesia, an AI video platform that turns text into instructional videos, and his perspective on learning, tech, and design is incredibly insightful. We talk about how using visual, concrete, and even abstract representations can help learners better grasp complex ideas.We also dig into what it means to have a product design mindset in education, and how an experimental approach (especially when integrating AI) can lead to more meaningful learning experiences. Plus, we explore how storytelling might just be one of the most powerful tools we have for making our thinking visible.Key Takeaways:Making thinking visible involves using concrete, pictorial, visual, and abstract representations to help learners understand complex concepts.A product design mindset and an experimental approach are crucial when incorporating AI and technology in learning experiences.Leveraging AI tools, such as large language models or custom models, can enhance the learning experience and improve outcomes.The process of learning and growth involves going broad, diving deep, and trusting your brain to make connections.Resources Mentioned:Sinead Bovell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sinead-bovell-89072a34/Synthesia Academy - https://www.synthesia.io/academyAI Video (FOCA) Certification - https://rise.articulate.com/share/3RUx1hiDtyl6wuBT9OaRy330gRVwUmpd#/Vanderbilt’s Open Source AI - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jules-white-5717655_an-advanced-open-source-enterprise-generative-activity-7209676778439675904-Z3oi/ Books:Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg- https://amzn.to/4fY89jOMade to Stick by the Heath Brothers - https://amzn.to/4edu6K7Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel - https://amzn.to/3XiEgSTSlow Productivity by Cal Newport - https://amzn.to/3MhPm5h Podcasts:Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend - https://www.earwolf.com/show/conan-obrien/Acquired - https://www.acquired.fm/Kurzgesagt - https://www.youtube.com/@kurzgesagtConnect with Kevin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinalster/More About Building Thinkers: I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.