#07 - Educating with AI: Lucas Ames (GOA) on Curiosity, Cheating, and What Schools Must Do Next

How does AI transform learning without killing curiosity? In this episode, I sit down with Lucas Ames of Global Online Academy (GOA) to unpack what actually works—and what doesn’t—when bringing AI into K-12 classrooms.

*Core themes*

Curiosity first: Tech should increase student curiosity. If tools switch off active thinking, you’ve gone too far.

From rote to higher-order: Like calculators, AI shifts what we assess—less memorization, more evidence, analysis, and synthesis.

Cheating isn’t the real problem: The goal isn’t “gotcha” detection; it’s ensuring students still learn the skills that matter.

Detectors and watermarking: Current AI detectors are unreliable; watermarking text isn’t a silver bullet.

Policies that breathe: One size won’t fit all. Department-level “green / yellow / red” guidance beats blanket bans. GOA de-identifies student data before AI use and avoids over-policing while the field evolves.

AP vs. IB signals: Early AI stances differed; the deeper story is how content-heavy vs. application-heavy models adapt.

Teachers need empathy—and time: Start AI as a teacher’s “intern” (draft emails, map curriculum, find gaps) to free time and improve practice.

Personalized tutoring that works: Tools like Khanmigo can level access when paired with a human teacher who sets the course and culture.

Wellness with care: Use early signals (attendance, notes, behavior) to start human conversations, not trigger automated punishment.

Micro-schools and iteration: Expect faster learning from smaller, experimental models that can adapt quickly.

Humans are the differentiator: Relationships—teacher↔student and student↔student—predict good experiences more than any tool. Teachers who adopt AI thoughtfully will outpace those who don’t.

Why watch:

If you’re a teacher, school leader, parent, or edtech builder, this conversation gives practical, classroom-level ways to use AI that protect curiosity, reduce busywork, and keep the human center intact.

Key topics:

AI in education, personalized learning, cheating and assessment, standardized testing, policy design, teacher workload, AI tutors, student wellness signals, micro-schools, GOA practices.

Hashtags:

#AIinEducation #EdTech #PersonalizedLearning #K12 #GlobalOnlineAcademy #llm #chatgpt