Why Coraltalk Conversational Learning Beats AI Cheating ft. Melissa Morgan | My EdTech Life 352

Is critical thinking becoming a lost skill in the age of AI?In Episode 352 of My EdTech Life, Dr. Alfonso Mendoza sits down with Melissa Morgan, Founder of Coraltalk , to explore why conversation, not content consumption, is the key to real learning.This episode dives deep into why oral assessment, dialogue-based learning, and conversational AI may be the most effective way to combat AI-assisted cheating while actually improving student understanding. Melissa shares the origin story of Coraltalk , inspired by teaching Buddhist monks through dialogue, and explains how speaking out loud strengthens retention, metacognition, and critical thinking.Chapters0:00 Welcome And Guest Introduction1:45 Melissa’s Path To Edtech3:42 Dialogue Over Monologue Insight6:51 Coraltalk  Mission And Approach10:25 Combating AI Cheating With Orals13:22 Teacher Setup And Voice Options15:45 Student Growth And Learning Artifacts18:42 Assessment Modes And Adaptive Difficulty22:37 Classroom Feedback Loops And Data25:47 Practice, VR Potential, And Efficacy28:47 Stats On Retention And Critical Thinking31:02 Teacher Sentiment And Adoption33:52 Privacy, Compliance, And Trust36:37 Efficiency Gains And Small-Group Teaching39:57 Misconceptions: AI Replacing Teachers42:29 Human Connection And Lasting Impact44:39 Lightning Round: Kryptonite, Billboard, Swap47:44 Closing, Thanks And ResourcesSponsor ShoutoutThank you to our sponsors: Book Creator, Eduaide.AI, and Peel Back Education for supporting My EdTech Life.Get 3 Months of Book Creator Premium Access Free! Use Code: MyEdTechLifeStay Techie ✌️Peel Back Education exists to uncover, share, and amplify powerful, authentic stories from inside classrooms and beyond, helping educators, learners, and the wider community connect meaningfully with the people and ideas shaping education today. Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator.Support the show