Podcast: The IDEMS Podcast
288 – Putting Our Open Textbook Vision to the Test – Lessons from the STACK Conference
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Following the first STACK Conference to be held in Africa, David and Kate reflect on what the event revealed about IDEMS’ vision for open textbooks. They discuss growing interest in adapting the approach across different African contexts, and explore the importance of local ownership, collaboration, and working with existing education systems to bring open resources…
287 – Putting Our Open Textbook Vision to the Test – Lessons from ICOTS
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Following the International Conference on Teaching Statistics (ICOTS), David and Kate reflect on how IDEMS’ vision for open textbooks was received by the statistics education community. They explore how rapid developments in AI are changing what students need to learn, and why adaptable resources, carefully designed assessment, and meaningful human decision-making are becoming increasingly important.…
286 – Rethinking Mathematics Education in Kenya – An Interview with Mike Obiero
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David and Mike reflect on a period of change and opportunity for mathematics education in Kenya. They discuss the upcoming launch of a new MSc in Mathematical Innovation, lessons from bringing open textbooks into classrooms, and the importance of putting teachers at the centre of educational innovation. Recorded just before the first STACK Conference to…
285 – ICOTS 3 – Building Communities Around Open Textbooks
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In the final episode of this three-part series reflecting on the International Conference on Teaching Statistics (ICOTS), David and Lily discuss the reception of IDEMS’ open textbook initiative within the statistics education community. They explore how new approaches to adaptation, accreditation, and collaboration could strengthen open educational resources, enabling communities to build on one another’s…
284 – ICOTS 2 – Statistics Education in the Age of AI
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In the second of three episodes reflecting on the International Conference on Teaching Statistics (ICOTS), David and Lily discuss the growing influence of AI on statistics education. They reflect on how the community is responding to rapid technological change, and explore why educators should play an active role in shaping AI tools that support responsible,…
283 – ICOTS 1 – The Statistics Education Community
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In the first of three episodes reflecting on the International Conference on Teaching Statistics (ICOTS), David and Lily discuss the statistics education community itself. They explore why data literacy deserves to be recognised as a distinct educational priority, reflect on the longstanding relationship between statistics and mathematics, and consider why so many well-established ideas from…
282 – The Farm Hack Box and New Possibilities
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David and Kate discuss the Farm Hack Box and the new possibilities it suggests for community-owned digital infrastructure. While conceived for farming communities, they explore how the same ideas could reshape education and other social impact contexts, enabling local AI, greater digital sovereignty, and technologies that communities can truly own and adapt.
281 – Rethinking Digital Sovereignty for Communities
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David and Kate examine the idea of digital sovereignty through the lens of communities rather than nation states. Reflecting on recent discussions around AI governance and digital infrastructure, they explore why community ownership, local adaptation, and collaboration may be just as important as national strategies in shaping the future of technology.
280 – Open App Builder, PLH and AI agents
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David and Michele discuss how recent advances in AI are opening new possibilities for the Open App Builder and the authoring of digital tools for social impact. Drawing on IDEMS’ work with Parenting for Lifelong Health, they explore how AI agents can help reduce barriers to authoring while keeping people in control of the decisions…
279 – AI agents and STACK Authoring
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David and Michele discuss how advances in AI are opening new possibilities for STACK question authoring. Using this practical example, they reflect on the design of multi-agent systems, the role of specialised models, and why building efficient, interoperable AI tools may be just as important as building ever more powerful ones.

