In this compelling episode, Bob speaks with Lisa Yokana, a pioneering educator and global consultant, about how AI is reshaping the education landscape. Lisa shares her journey from traditional art and architecture teacher to building an experiential design lab, STEAM program, and social entrepreneurship course. Bob and Lisa explore how AI can serve as a catalyst for changing not just what we teach, but how we teach and why. With a focus on student agency, lifelong learning, and the shifting expectations of the future workforce, Lisa offers practical insights and inspiration for educators, parents, and community leaders looking to bring relevance, equity, and innovation into the classroom.

Keywords

AI in education, student agency, maker-centered learning, design thinking, STEAM, lifelong learning, workforce readiness, future of education, educational disruption, personalized learning, human skills, ethical AI, K-12 innovation

Takeaways

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  AI is a disruptor that can serve as a catalyst for rethinking teaching and learning.

  
  


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  Student agency—not content mastery—is the core skill for future-ready learners.

  
  


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  Traditional education systems are misaligned with the skills needed for the future workforce.

  
  


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  Hands-on, project-based learning nurtures creativity, empathy, and real-world problem solving.

  
  


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  Educators must experiment, fail forward, and reimagine their roles.

  
  


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  Community support is critical for educational transformation.

  
  


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  Ethics, responsible use, and digital literacy must be part of AI education, and must start early.

  
  


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  AI levels the playing field for diverse learners but must be designed and used thoughtfully.

  
  

Quotes

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  “I never ask for permission. I just ask for forgiveness—and sometimes not even that.”

  
  


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  “The big question is: what content is truly important for students to learn—and what can they master on their own?”

  
  


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  “Agency is the kernel. If students have it, they can be resilient, adaptive, and self-directed.”

  
  


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  “We want to create curious, empathetic humans who know they can change the world.”

  
  


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  “AI doesn’t live a life—it can’t replace the embodied experience of being human.”

  
  


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  “Schools need community conversations, not mandates, to adopt AI responsibly and equitably.”

  
  

Chapters

00:00 – Lisa Yokana’s background and the early signs of educational misalignment

02:35 – Leaving the classroom to consult globally on innovation and mindset

03:25 – Reframing education: Skills vs. content

06:20 – Nurturing student agency and tackling big problems

09:01 – The disconnect between education and workforce needs

12:56 – How Lisa gained support and built the Scarsdale Design Lab

17:29 – Parent engagement and community buy-in

20:59 – Integrating AI in meaningful, ethical ways

24:06 – Educator mindsets and reframing pedagogy around AI

27:26 – AI use starts younger than we think

29:24 – Rethinking college in the age of AI

35:33 – Global patterns in AI adoption across education systems

39:20 – Addressing neurodiverse needs and accessibility

42:24 – Broadening community engagement and “thinking out loud”

43:38 – Responsible AI use and responsible design

49:11 – Big Tech’s role and thoughtful AI adoption in schools

53:03 – Final advice for parents, educators, and students

Lisa Yokana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-yokana-81787ba

Next World Learning Lab: https://nextworldlearninglab.com

For advisory work and marketing inquiries:

Bob Pulver:⁠⁠ ⁠https://linkedin.com/in/bobpulver⁠⁠⁠

Elevate Your AIQ:⁠⁠ ⁠https://elevateyouraiq.com⁠⁠⁠

Substack: ⁠https://elevateyouraiq.substack.com⁠