AI can give students a confident answer in seconds. But who teaches them to question it, verify it, and decide whether to trust it?

In Episode 375 of My EdTech Life, Dr. Alfonso Mendoza welcomes back Dr. Karina Quilantan-Garza (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kquilantangarza/) , also known as Dr. Q, for a conversation about school librarians, AI literacy, and protecting the thinking students need to do for themselves.

A former middle school librarian and now an assistant professor at Sam Houston State University, Dr. Karina (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kquilantangarza/) challenges the idea that libraries are simply places to find books. As AI makes convincing information easier to create, she explains why librarians’ expertise in research, source evaluation, and ethical information use matters more than ever.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and guest introduction
01:01 Dr. Q's background and transition to higher education
07:12 The importance of libraries as central learning hubs
09:04 Libraries' role in the age of technology and information evaluation
11:55 AI's impact on information literacy and teaching strategies
15:13 Teaching verification and critical thinking in the AI era
17:59 The concept of AI literacy and its integration into existing curricula
20:55 The librarian's role in policy, tool selection, and professional development
27:13 Embedding AI literacy into standard library instruction
42:00 Innovative library programs and future space design
47:02 Changing perceptions of librarianship and leadership roles
48:57 Final advice for librarians and closing remarks

Dr. Karina (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kquilantangarza/) also challenges educators: before using AI, ask what part of the thinking and learning process you are asking the machine to do.

If you’re a teacher, librarian, instructional coach, school leader, or higher education educator, this conversation invites you to reconsider who should help lead AI literacy and what students actually need to learn.

💬 What role does your school librarian play in your AI conversations? Share your experience in the comments.

Connect with Dr. Karina:
Instagram: @cuethelibrarian (https://www.instagram.com/cuethelibrarian/)
LinkedIn: Dr. Karina Quilantan-Garza  (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kquilantangarza/)

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