Technology and ethics: AI and the classroom

Technology and ethics: AI and the classroom

Author: Ethical Schools September 29, 2025 Duration: 1:03:26
Robbie Torney, director of AI Programs at Common Sense Media, analyzes teachers' use of AI. We focus on AI teaching assistants, their uses and abuses, and how teachers' judgment and skills remain central. We discuss the need for school- and district-wide education and policies on using AI in teaching and learning.   OverviewIntros Common Sense media and its AI work Evaluation principles for AI risk What teachers use AI for What happens with users’ data AI teacher assistants, risks, and advantages AI and cultural sensitivity AI as assistive or adaptive technology Recognition of AI as enhancements not replacements? Special risks of AI teacher assistants for IEPs and behavior plans How teachers can protect against “invisible influence” risks AI and complex historical events such as California missions or slavery “Tools,” “functions,” and prompts Four specific steps teachers should take when using teacher assistants Purchasing AI: Consultation and training Role of school boards, administrators, and state departments of education Legislation to protect students Importance of discussion of values and ethical questions OutroTranscriptClick here to see the full transcription of this conversation. ReferencesCommon Sense Media AI Initiatives: click here  Soundtrack by Poddington Bear

Conversations about education often focus on test scores and curriculum, but there’s a deeper layer that truly shapes a student’s experience. Ethical Schools digs into that layer, exploring what it means to build a learning community grounded in integrity and care. Each week, hosts Amy and Jon sit down with educators and innovators who are actively reimagining schools. You’ll hear specific, grounded discussions about the practical work of creating environments where every student feels safe and respected. The dialogue frequently addresses how to support young people dealing with trauma, moving beyond theory to share actionable strategies that teachers are using right now. More than just problem-solving, this podcast highlights how to empower students themselves to become advocates and changemakers in their own communities. It’s a series that connects philosophy with daily practice, looking at the social and cultural structures within schools through a lens of ethics. For anyone invested in the future of education-whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or simply a concerned community member-this podcast offers a thoughtful and necessary perspective on the foundational values that make education meaningful.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Ethical Schools
Podcast Episodes
Literature as identity-affirming, teaching as liberatory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:08
Dr. Chantal Francois and Dr. Jen McLaughlin Cahill, co-authors of Identity-Affirming Literacies in Schools, discuss their time at the school they call Pearl Street Collaborative, a progressive secondary school on Manhatt…
Upskilling teachers: Elements of social justice-focused teaching [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:46
We welcome back Dr. Anthony Johnston to speak about his new book, "Introduction to Secondary Teaching: Blending Wisdom, Research, and Social Justice.” Dr. Johnston explores teacher wisdom of practice, social justice peda…
Global Conversations: Nature, Place, and Education, Salon #3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:41
We share brief presentations from the third of the “Saturday Salons” that Ethical Schools is sponsoring with three international partners. Kerry Kirk Pflugh is the executive director of the New Jersey School of Conservat…
School Choice: Who Does the Choosing? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:01
We welcome back Dr. Ujju Aggarwal, assistant professor at The New School, to speak about her book, Unsettling Choice: Race, Rights, and the Partitioning of Public Education. In Unsettling Choice, Dr. Aggarwal focuses on…
Global Conversations: Nature, Place, and Education, Salon #2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:46
We share brief presentations from the second of the “Saturday Salons” that Ethical Schools is sponsoring with three international partners. Sherry Johnson, Tribal Education Director of the Sisseton-Wahpeton-Oyate (South…
Trump cutbacks and policies: stripping minority student protections [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:18
We speak with Derek Black, Constitutional law professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, about the impact of Trump administration’s policies on students’ civil rights. Department of Education offices me…
Global Conversations: Nature, Place, and Education [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:16
We share brief presentations from the first of the “Saturday Salons” that Ethical Schools is sponsoring with three international partners. Juan Mora of the Center for Artistry and Scholarship and Ramji Raghavan of Agasty…
Pop culture literacies: Engaging students in critical analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:41
We speak with Dr. Mia Hood, author of Pop Culture Literacies: Teaching Interpretation, Response, and Composition in a Digital World, about analyzing popular music and films along with more traditional literature. Dr. Hoo…
Join our Global Saturday Salons! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46
Collaborate with teachers and learners worldwide! LEARN MORE AND REGISTER AT GLOBALCONVERSATIONS.NET Along with our partner organizations – Agastya International Foundation, Center for Artistry and Scholarship, and Think…