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
🙏 Big thanks to our amazing sponsors:
🔹 Book Creator
🔹 Eduaide.AI
🔹 Yellowdig
💬 Visit www.myedtech.life to explore more episodes and support the show.
👋 Stay curious. Stay critical. And as always—Stay Techie.
Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator.
Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission.
See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today!