In this milestone episode of PodcastPD (Episode 150!), Chris and AJ welcome longtime friend and educator, Kathy Kersznowski, author of The Educator's Guidebook for Teaching AI Literacy and Ethics. Kathy shares why AI literacy is the new literacy and how educators can navigate AI responsibly and confidently. She dives into the motivation behind her book, the importance of ethics, and why scenarios and discussions—not fear—are key to helping students use AI well.

Listeners will learn practical ways to introduce AI concepts in any classroom, discover strategies for modeling ethical AI use, and explore why transparency and discussion matter more than ever. Plus, Kathy reveals her favorite AI tools, tips for overwhelmed teachers, and the behind-the-scenes story of her book cover design.

Topics Discussed

The inspiration behind Kathy’s book and why educators need AI literacy now.
What AI literacy means and why it’s as critical as digital literacy.
Scenarios and discussion prompts: engaging students in real-world AI dilemmas.
How teachers can model ethical AI use in the classroom.
Overcoming misconceptions and fears about AI.
Graphic organizers and resources included in the book.
Why transparency and modeling AI use is a game-changer for educators.
Kathy’s personal favorite AI tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and more.
The story behind the symbolic book cover design.

What We’re Listening To

Me Here, You There – Steve Somers’ legendary monologues and New York sports talk.
The Mindset Advantage – JW Hillier on leadership, resilience, and personal growth.
Teacher Nerdz Podcast – Educational conversations on maker spaces, STEM, global education, and more.