Teach Smarter Podcast · Guest

Sabba Quidwai

Founder of Designing Schools · Former Apple Education executive, researcher, and course designer

About Dr. Sabba Quidwai

Dr. Sabba Quidwai is a former Apple Education executive, researcher, and course designer who helps schools and organizations use design thinking to shape their future with AI.

She built a pioneering iPad program at USC, completed research on AI and design thinking in 2020, released a documentary in 2022, and teaches technology and media literacy at UC Irvine.

About This Episode

Student Agency and Design Thinking with Dr. Sabba Quidwai

October 23, 2025 · 55 min

Peter talks with Dr. Sabba Quidwai about how educators keep agency with AI. Sabba explains why design thinking is action rather than PDFs, and how her SPARK interview turns vague goals into five-day wins.

They dig into teaching AI as habits and mindsets, the leap from desktop thinking to mobile thinking, what to automate, and what to stop doing.

They also cover the skills schools need next: learning to learn, taking initiative, listening well, and shipping work.

Learn More