Extraordinary Learning with AI
A Library 2.0 / Learning Revolution Workshop with Steve Hargadon
OVERVIEW:
We have more access to information than at any point in human history, and less ability to make sense of it. AI is changing that equation. Tools available right now allow anyone to absorb entire YouTube channels, have spoken conversations with research materials, generate custom books and audiobooks from deep investigation, and even build personal learning applications--all without writing a line of code. These aren't future possibilities; they're things I do every day.
In this 90-minute session, you'll see what's possible when you stop being a passive consumer of content and start building your own learning systems. The key idea: find a problem you care about, and let that drive everything.
The Power of Audio for Learning: One of the most transformative (and underappreciated) shifts in AI-powered learning is the role of audio. You can now listen to PDFs read aloud, have voice conversations with AI research tools like Grok and Perplexity, and build your own audio-based learning tools, like a talking encyclopedia or a conversational news program that reads to you, takes your spoken questions, and goes deeper. Audio turns your commute, your walk, and your kitchen into a classroom. This theme runs throughout the session.
Synthesizing Content with NotebookLM: Import entire YouTube channels, playlists, browser tab groups, books, websites, and audio into a single research environment. Then use NotebookLM's features to generate AI podcasts, briefing documents, mind maps, video presentations, infographics, narrative reports, and custom Q&A--all from your collected sources. We'll cover smart prompting techniques and how to use Gemini to query your notebooks for further research (an amazing new feature).
Creating Custom Books and Audiobooks with Deep Research: Use multiple AI research tools to investigate any topic in depth, then synthesize findings into a polished PDF book tailored to your needs. Convert it to audio for learning on the go. We'll also look at creating daily news digests and topic-based reports, in both text and audio.
Building Your Own Learning Tools (No Coding Required): Through what's called "vibe coding, "describing what you want in plain language and letting AI build it, you can create personalized learning applications. I'll demonstrate tools I've built for myself: a daily news program I can talk to, an "interview me" tool that helps me outline what I know, a talking encyclopedia I can query by voice, and a personal book-building system. You'll see how to get started making your own.
How to Read a Book (or Watch a Video, or Listen to a Podcast) with AI: We'll explore a mindset shift in how to approach any content, whether it's text, video, or audio, using AI to deepen your understanding rather than just consuming passively.
The recording and presentation slides will be available to all who register. You'll also receive a reference guide to the extraordinary learning techniques with detailed instructions and advice.
DATE: Friday, February 27th, 2026, 2:00 - 3:30 pm US - Eastern Time
COST:
- $149/person - includes live attendance and any-time access to the recording and the presentation slides and receiving a participation certificate. To arrange group discounts (see below), to submit a purchase order, or for any registration difficulties or questions, email admin@library20.com.
TO REGISTER:
Use the payment box above to register and pay. You can pay by credit card. You will receive an email within a day with information on how to attend the webinar live and how you can access the permanent webinar recording. If you are paying for someone else to attend, you'll be prompted to send an email to admin@library20.com with the name and email address of the actual attendee.
If you need to be invoiced or pay by check, if you have any trouble registering for a webinar, or if you have any questions, please email admin@library20.com.
NOTE: Please check your spam folder if you don't receive your confirmation email within a day.
SPECIAL GROUP RATES (email admin@library20.com to arrange):
- Multiple individual log-ins and access from the same organization paid together: $129 each for 3+ registrations, $99 each for 5+ registrations. Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
- The ability to show the webinar (live or recorded) to a group located in the same physical location or in the same virtual meeting from one log-in: $399.
- Large-scale institutional access for viewing with individual login capability: $699 (hosted either at Learning Revolution or in Niche Academy). Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
STEVE HARGADON
Steve is the founder and director of the Learning Revolution Project, the director of Library 2.0, the host of the Future of Education and Reinventing School interview series, and has been the founder and chair (or co-chair) of a number of annual worldwide virtual events, including the Global Education Conference and the Library 2.0 series of mini-conferences and webinars. He has run over 100 large-scale events, online and in person.
Steve's work has been around the democratization of learning and professional development. He supported and encouraged the development of thousands of other education-related networks, particularly for professional development, and he pioneered the use of live, virtual, and peer-to-peer education conferences. He popularized the idea of "unconferences" for educators, and for over a decade, he ran a large annual ed-tech unconference, now called Hack Education (previously EduBloggerCon).
Steve himself built one of the first modern social networks for teachers in 2007 (Classroom 2.0), developed the "conditions of learning" exercise for local educational conversation and change, and inherited and grew the Library 2.0 online community. He may or may not have invented an early version of the Chromebook which he demo'd to Google. He blogs, speaks, and consults on education, educational technology, and education reform, and his virtual and physical events and online communities have over 150,000 members.
His professional website is SteveHargadon.com.
