Teach Smarter Podcast · Guest
Elliot Hedman
Founder of Build Empathy · Learning experience researcher
About Elliot
Elliot Hedman is the founder of Build Empathy, a research practice that studies how people actually experience learning products. He has designed and tested digital learning tools for companies including LEGO, McGraw-Hill, and i-Ready.
His current work focuses on watching how students really use generative AI, and on building free tools that make AI a partner in thinking rather than a shortcut around it.
About This Episode
Why Banning AI Might Backfire with Elliot Hedman
Elliot Hedman shares insights from his research on how students are using generative AI in schools, often in ways that go unnoticed by educators.
Drawing on his experience designing digital learning tools for companies like LEGO, McGraw-Hill, and i-Ready, Elliot discusses the limitations of AI detection tools, the rise of paraphrased outputs, and why banning AI may be doing more harm than good.
He emphasizes the need to focus on student thinking over polished output, and shares healthier, more authentic ways to integrate AI into classroom practice. The conversation also highlights two of Elliot’s free tools, Level Up and Wonder.io, which help students engage more meaningfully in writing and reading through collaborative AI use.