Welcome to Simon Says: Educate!, the podcast where we explore the latest trends and best practices in teaching and learning. Join us each week as we interview faculty members and students, and dive deep into the issues that matter most to our community.
Hosted by the Teaching and Learning Center at Clover Park Technical College, the podcast offers a fresh and engaging perspective on all aspects of education, from the latest teaching strategies and classroom technologies, to the challenges and opportunities of online learning, and the impact of education on students' lives and careers.
With Simon as your guide, you'll get an inside look at the people and programs that make CPTC one of the most dynamic and innovative technical colleges in the region. So sit back, relax, and tune in to Simon Says: Educate!
In Episode #62 of Simon Says: Educate!, Ronald Lethcoe and Kristin Copeland discuss the upcoming AI + OER Institute 2026, a free virtual event hosted by Clover Park Technical College on August 7 and 8, 2026. Together, they reflect on how the institute has evolved from its original focus on open educational resources to include generative AI, accessibility, academic integrity, open pedagogy, and the future of teaching and learning. Using questions generated by Simon AI from past keynote summaries, Ronald and Kristin revisit key ideas from previous speakers and discuss what they hope to see in 2026, including practical classroom strategies, student-centered sessions, guiding principles, and industry perspectives. The episode also serves as a call for presenters, keynote recommendations, and anyone doing meaningful work at the intersection of AI and open education. Register, submit a proposal, or access recordings from previous years here: https://cptc.libguides.com/TLC/Events (https://cptc.libguides.com/TLC/Events)
23 Feb 2026
Episode #61: Unpacking the Ethics of AI in Education w/Stephen Downes
In Episode #61 of Simon Says: Educate!, Geoff Cain (https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffcain/) interviews Stephen Downes (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stdownes/), Researcher at the National Research Council Canada and pioneer of Connectivism and the modern MOOC. Stephen examines nine commonly cited AI ethical principles and makes the case that what gets labeled "ethical" in AI policy is often a reflection of political perspectives and underlying assumptions rather than genuine consensus.
The conversation covers the contested nature of foundational principles like fairness, transparency, and accountability, and why each one dissolves under scrutiny into competing values rather than universal ethics. Stephen introduces the cultural and contextual variability of AI guardrails, the dominance of risk-based ethics in education policy, and feminist Duty of Care theory as a largely overlooked alternative framework. The episode also explores a compelling medical AI case study to illustrate why a working technology is not automatically an ethical one.
This episode is a must-listen for educators, instructional designers, and administrators who read AI ethics frameworks and want sharper tools for questioning the assumptions baked into them.
Shownotes: On Ethical AI Principles (https://www.downes.ca/post/77971)
5 Jan 2026
Episode #60: Zines in Higher Ed w/ Meredith Tummeti
In Episode #60 of Simon Says: Educate!, Geoff Cain interviews Meredith Tummeti (https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredith-tummeti-58bbbb4/overlay/about-this-profile/), librarian at Centralia College and leader of a growing zine initiative on campus. Meredith shares how a simple mini-zine evolved into a thriving culture of student-created work, research-based assignments, and a full zine makerspace in the college library.
The conversation covers creative integration of zines into English, sociology, art, and communication courses, including how students demonstrate mastery, research skills, and media literacy through this accessible and expressive format. Meredith also discusses the hands-on logistics of building a zine collection, promoting campus-wide adoption, and ensuring inclusive access for students with diverse needs.
This episode is a must-listen for educators interested in open pedagogy, multimodal assignments, and low-tech creativity in a high-tech world.
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