Anchoring EdTech in the Learning Sciences with Emma Venetis

In this episode of The AI Educator, Andrea Claver from EDSAFE AI speaks with Emma Venetis, Senior Research Analyst at the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution. Emma sees AI's greatest potential in transforming student assessment beyond traditional point-in-time testing, envisioning interactive, multimodal tools that support students, while also tracking soft skills, progress, and specific areas of mastery. She also broadens the definition of AI safety beyond data privacy and content filters to include cognitive safety, and that implementation decisions must be rooted in the learning sciences. Additionally, Emma urges educators to prioritize preserving foundational skills and integrating AI only once there is a clear understanding of how it truly enhances core goals.