Teach Smarter Podcast · Guest

Nik Janos

Professor of Sociology, California State University, Chico

About Dr. Nik Janos

Dr. Nik Janos is a professor of sociology at California State University, Chico, where he teaches and writes about cities, environment, and the social life of institutions.

He writes at Melts Into Air about how AI is reshaping teaching and assessment in higher education, and about what colleges owe students in a period of rapid change.

About This Episode

AI Won’t Fix Higher Ed but It Might Force Us To with Dr. Nik Janos

April 29, 2025 · 50 min

AI is not just changing how students complete assignments. It is forcing colleges to rethink everything from course design to institutional purpose.

Dr. Nik Janos, sociology professor at California State University, Chico, joins Pete and Stephanie to talk about what higher ed needs to confront in the age of AI.

From assessment systems written before the internet to the collapse of the TA pipeline, they explore what is becoming obsolete, what still matters, and how backward design can help educators rebuild with intention.

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