AI in Schools: Innovation or Illusion? | Ep. 328 with Job Christiansen

Is AI making classrooms smarter—or just noisier?

In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Job Christiansen, a fellow cautious advocate, educator, and instructional technology specialist, to ask the hard questions about AI’s role in education. From privacy concerns to the illusion of “safe use,” we unpack what most educators, tech leaders, and decision-makers aren’t being told about the tools flooding our schools.

Job doesn’t just read privacy policies, he tests them, creating teacher and student accounts to see what’s really happening behind the interface. This episode dives into why most AI tools may still be stuck in the substitution phase and what it’s going to take to truly shift toward responsible, innovative, human-centered use.

🎧 Whether you're in K–12 or Higher Ed, this one will challenge your thinking.

 TIMESTAMPS:
 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
 02:00 Job’s Journey Into EdTech
 06:00 First Reactions to ChatGPT in 2022
 10:00 Early Adoption vs. Caution in Schools
 13:30 AI's Substitution Trap & SAMR Concerns
 19:00 Redefining “Safe” in AI Tools
 24:30 What Job Found Testing Student-Facing AI Apps
 30:00 Historical Accuracy and the AI “George Washington” Problem
 36:00 The Concept of AI Pollution and Knowledge Dilution
 43:00 Transparency, Trust, and Teacher Responsibility
 47:00 Final Takeaways and Reflective Advice
 50:00 Where to Connect with Job
 54:00 EdTech Kryptonite, Billboards, and Historical Curiosity

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👋 Stay curious. Stay critical. And as always—Stay Techie.

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