Ryzing With AI

In this episode, Dr. Ben Wellenreiter, a professor in the Teaching & Learning department at Illinois State University, discusses how AI can be integrated into social studies classrooms. Drawing on his experience as a former middle school geography and U.S. history teacher, Ben offers practical insights on how teachers can leverage AI to enhance social studies instruction and engage middle school students.

In this episode, we explore AI's impact on career and technical education with Jeff Arnott, former director and current adjunct professor at Indian River State College. With over 20 years of experience in education, Jeff has held leadership roles in adult and career education across Florida and currently consults as the CEO of his firm, Lot 12 Education. How does Jeff think AI will shape the future of workforce readiness?

Wanda Terral, Director of Technology at Lakeland School System, brings 28 years of experience to Ryzing with AI to discuss practical applications of instructive technologies and generative AI for students and teachers. This episode explores AI-acceptable use policies and bias mitigation and identifies learning checkpoints across grade levels.

Can you imagine a classroom with AI at the forefront of instruction? Today, we welcome Patrick Hausammann, Supervisor of Instructional Technology at Clarke County Public Schools in Virginia, to delve into the differences between instructive and generative AI. From personalized tutoring to automated administrative tasks, we examine the practical applications, ethical implications, and concerns about bias, privacy, and the potential for misuse of AI in the classroom.

In this episode of Ryzing with AI, join Phil Alcock, an international educator and technologist, as we explore how AI can enhance project-based learning to reengage students and teachers. Phil shares practical applications of AI, drawing from his new book, "Transform Your Teaching with AI."

Welcome Charles Logan, educator, technologist, and author, who has come to speak about and against AI technologies. In this episode, we challenge the narrative of efficiency in AI, shining a light on the often-overlooked environmental and social impacts of machine learning.

Join us as we look for a pragmatic solution for equitable AI literacy frameworks.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Lisa Spencer, former Director of Instructional Technology at Prince George’s County Public Schools and current Tech Director at Prince George’s Community College, to compare AI implementation in K12 and Higher Education. 

The conversation dives into the initial resistance Dr. Spencer encountered around AI, highlighting the large-scale efforts of a task force bringing secure and equitable AI learning to classrooms and personal experiences with AI-assisted district leadership.

Welcome, Kara Thorstenson, Director of Digital Learning and Libraries at Chicago Public Schools. With over 20,000 educators district-wide, Kara brings a large-scale lens to this week's episode, discussing the quickly changing landscape of media literacy, curriculum design, and instructional practices around AI.

Today, we're joined by Andre Daughty, an educator, technology consultant, and inspirational speaker with over 20 years of experience surrounding differentiated learning.

Andre brings his unique focus on project-based learning—sharing how he's transformed difficult lessons into applicable real-world scenarios, leveraging AI as a thought partner. Additionally, Andre and Ryze AI team cover their uncertainties about representation and bias regarding AI.

Welcome our first guest, Yip Kapui, a technology consultant for the Lost Angeles County of Education. In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges and opportunities of implementing AI in a large district like Los Angeles County.

Join us as we speak with Yip to learn about his comprehensive approach to AI adoption. Discover how he balances innovation with equity, addressing privacy concerns, and preparing teachers to uphold academic integrity with new technologies.