There's no opt-out button for AI. That's the reality Valerie Brock, Curriculum Lead at Day of AI, brings to this conversation, and it changes how we think about AI literacy in K-12. In this episode, Dr. Fonz sits down with Valerie to unpack what AI literacy actually means (hint: it's not prompt engineering), why early childhood classrooms belong in this conversation, and how Day of AI is building developmentally appropriate, tool-agnostic curriculum.

Episode 360: The #1 AI Governance Mistake Schools Are Making ft. Dr. Betsy Cooper What's the biggest mistake schools are making with AI right now? According to Betsy Cooper, it's not taking it seriously from day one. In this episode, Dr.Alfonso sits down with Betsy Cooper, Founder and Executive Director of the Aspen Policy Academy, for a powerful conversation on the AI governance decisions quietly reshaping schools — and what educators, leaders, and parents can do about it.

In this episode of My EdTech Life, Jeff Riley breaks down the mission behind Day of AI and the work of MIT RAISE to help schools, districts, families, and students understand artificial intelligence safely, ethically, and with purpose. Jeff brings 32 years of experience as a teacher, counselor, principal, superintendent, and former Massachusetts Commissioner of Education. His transition to MIT RAISE reveals why AI literacy, student safety, and clear policy matter more than ever. Timestamps 00:00...

How AiDigiCards Help Kids Learn AI Safely ft. Amber Ivey | My EdTech Life 343 In Episode 343 of My EdTech Life , I sit down with Amber Ivey to explore AiDigiCards , a new screen-free way to introduce kids to AI literacy, curiosity, and critical thinking. Amber breaks down the journey from her AI-for-adults work, to her children’s book AI Meets AI , to her new hands-on learning system for kids ages 4–8. We talk about parent concerns, privacy, LLM overreliance, ethical design, and why AI learning ...

How AI Is Transforming School Technology Planning ft. Robbie Cobbs | My EdTech Life Ep.342 In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Robbie Cobbs, the founder of Tech My School and creator of Tech Plan Genie, a groundbreaking platform built by tech directors for tech directors. We talk about how school leaders can create meaningful, data-driven technology plans that bring their vision to life, empower teachers, and make innovation sustainable. No hype, no buzzwords—just real stories ...

Teaching in an AI World ft. David L. Jackson | My EdTech Life Ep. 341 In this episode of My EdTech Life, Dr. Fonz Mendoza sits down with David L. Jackson of Digital Promise to talk about how educators can slow down, refocus, and bring humanity back to teaching in an AI-driven world. David shares insights from the upcoming Elevating Innovation: Thinking in an AI World conference, a research-based, human-centered event designed to help educators, leaders, and district teams move from surviving the...

La IA no reemplaza al maestro con Pedro Aparicio En este episodio de My EdTech Life, converso con Pedro Aparicio sobre un tema que nos toca a todos: el papel real de la IA en el aula y el rol insustituible del docente. Desde la mirada de Latinoamérica, Pedro nos comparte cómo la tecnología puede ser una aliada cuando se usa con intención, verificación y presencia humana. Hablamos del retroceso post-COVID, las falsas promesas de “2 horas al día”, el riesgo de caer en el hype y por qué el...

AI in Schools: Strategy Over Shiny Tools with Kyler Cheatham When it comes to AI in school districts, rushing in without a clear why can cost millions, crush teacher buy-in, and derail your entire tech strategy. In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Kyler Cheatham, a system architecture expert in AI and predictive analytics, to break down what districts are getting wrong and how to get it right. Kyler shares hard truths about AI adoption in K-12 and higher ed: Why CTOs must...

AI Optimism with Becky Keene In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sat down with author, educator, and thought leader Becky Keene to unpack her new book AI Optimism. We tackled everything from AI literacy and data privacy to the SAMR model, edtech skepticism, and what it really takes to shift classroom practice forward, not with hype, but with intention. Becky shares her “AI Optimism” framework, talks candidly about the realities of edtech implementation, and reminds us all that if AI can do y...

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....

What Does It Mean to Be Digitally Well? | with Teodora Pavkovic In this episode of My EdTech Life , I sit down with Teodora Pavkovic , psychologist, speaker, and digital wellness expert at Linewize , to unpack how technology shapes our emotions, identity, and relationships. From AI companions and algorithmic influence to parenting in the age of chatbots, Teodora offers practical wisdom and actionable strategies for families and schools seeking healthy digital habits. We dive into why digital pla...

Digital Dangers Facing Our Kids with Andy Murphy In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sat down with Andy Murphy, also known as The Secure Dad, to talk about the uncomfortable truth: kids are being targeted online, and it’s not a fair fight. We unpack how predators use everyday platforms like games and social media to groom and manipulate children, often right under their parents' noses. Andy drops powerful insights that every parent, educator, and EdTech leader needs to hear. Whether you’re a...

Episode 324 – Charlie Meyer: The AI Hype, EdTech Snake Oil & What Teachers Actually Want In this episode of My EdTech Life , I sit down with Charlie Meyer , small business owner and creator of Pickcode , to unpack the growing wave of AI solutionism in education. From being shouted at over not using AI to asking hard questions like, “Would you trust a vibe-coded site with your bank info?” , Charlie brings the heat, the honesty, and the humor. If you’re an educator, policymaker, EdTech builder, or...

AI Ethics, Overreliance & Honest Talk with Jen Manly In this episode of My EdTech Life, Fonz sits down with returning guest Jen Manly, a computer science educator, TikTok powerhouse, and advocate for ethical tech use, to unpack the complex relationship between AI, teaching, and critical thinking. From data privacy concerns to AI detectors that fail our students, this conversation gets real about what’s hype, what’s helpful, and what needs more scrutiny. Whether you're cautiously curious o...

Episode 322: ¿Instrucciones o experiencias? El nuevo rol del educador en tiempos de IA | Dr. José R. Ferrer ¡Bienvenidos a un nuevo episodio de My EdTech Life ! Hoy tengo el honor de conversar con el Dr. José R. Ferrer López sobre su libro Cómo Diseñar Experiencias de Aprendizaje en la Era de la Inteligencia Artificial . Hablamos de pensamiento crítico, diseño centrado en el estudiante, el verdadero rol de la IA en educación, y la importancia de diseñar vivencias reales de aprendizaje. Prepárat...

Episode 317: Why Ethics Must Lead Our AI Conversations with Amber Ivey In this powerful episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Amber Ivey—data expert and host of the AI for Kids podcast—to unpack one of the most urgent topics in the world of AI: ethics. Amber shares how her journey in government data and policy led her to become a passionate advocate for AI literacy among kids. From her edutainment platform AiDigiTales to her bestselling children's book AI Meets AI, Amber is on a mis...

Why Transparency Matters Now More Than Ever with Ken Patterson In this hard-hitting episode of My EdTech Life , I sit down with Ken Patterson , a former principal turned AI consultant, who pulls no punches on how AI is really being used in schools. Ken saw firsthand how AI transformed a struggling school into a top performer, but the system pushed back hard instead of celebrating. 💡 Here’s what we dive into: ✅ How AI helped Ken’s school thrive—before the system shut it down. ✅ Why so many EdTech...

AI Safety, Ethics, and the SHIELD Conference with Angeline Corvaglia The future of AI safety is unfolding fast—and we need to be ready. In this episode of My EdTech Life , I sit down with Angeline Corvaglia , a global leader in online safety, AI ethics, and digital literacy. We dive into some of the most pressing issues in AI today , including: 🛑 AI-powered predators and chatbots —are they automating child grooming? 🔍 The hidden dangers of AI relationships —a shocking story of a 13-year-old's fi...

Episode 299: Guardrails for Growing Minds with Dr. Sonia Tiwari In this episode of My EdTech Life, I had the pleasure of talking with Dr. Sonia Tiwari, an innovative researcher diving deep into the impact of AI and parasocial relationships on children. We discuss her unique career journey from character design in gaming to focusing on AI’s ethical design for young learners. Together, we explore essential guardrails, the concept of parasocial relationships with AI, and the implications of unr...

In this episode of My EdTech Life, I welcome Michael Copass, an experienced science teacher and AI education advocate. We discuss the rapid integration of AI in education, its potential benefits, and the critical need for responsible implementation. 0:00 - Introduction and welcome 1:31 - Michael's background in education and initial excitement about AI 4:54 - The need for AI literacy and responsible implementation in schools 11:51 - Discussion on AI as a "humble classroom servant" 15:36 - Concer...

AI Hype Exploits Educator Expertise with Sophie Theodorou In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Sophie Theodorou to unpack the complex relationship between educators and EdTech companies in the age of AI. From the allure of "ambassador" programs to the ethical concerns surrounding data privacy, we delve deep into the challenges facing teachers as we navigate the rapidly evolving world of educational technology. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction and welcome 2:44 - Sophie's backgroun...

Join me as I welcome Ken Shelton and Dee Lanier, authors of the new book "The Promises and Perils of AI in Education: Ethics and Equity Have Entered The Chat." In this insightful discussion, Ken and Dee share their experiences writing the book, their critical analysis of the current AI landscape in education, and the urgent need to address issues of equity, access, and ethics as AI becomes more widespread in schools. Key topics and timestamps: 0:00 - Introductions 2:36 - Dee's background in ...

Teachers as Guardians: Responsible AI Use in the Classroom with Marce Lancioni Join me as I welcome Marce Lancioni, a passionate English teacher with over 30 years of experience from Argentina, to discuss the impact of AI on education. Marce shares her journey, from her initial excitement about AI to her growing concerns about responsible use and the need for informed decision-making in the classroom. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 02:13 - Marce's background and teaching experience 03:2...

Book Creator" Igniting Summer Reading with Stevie Frank Join me in this engaging episode of My EdTech Life as he catches up with two-time guest Stevie Frank! Stevie, a digital innovator and tech coach from Indiana, shares her exciting project with Book Creator aimed at igniting summer reading. She also dives into the importance of creativity in the era of AI and discusses her adventurous approach to life. 🔥 Stevie's Book Creator Project for Summer Reading [16:24] Discover how Stevie collabora...