Episode 332: Becky Keene

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 your job, maybe it’s time to teach differently. Whether you"re a classroom teacher, district leader, or edtech developer, this conversation is for you. Dive in and walk away with clarity, strategy, and a renewed sense of agency. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & Becky’s background 03:10 – Why she wrote AI Optimism 07:00 – The SAMR model & AI’s role 11:30 – From substitution to redefinition 15:00 – Empowering student agency with AI 17:30 – Rethinking PD for meaningful AI use 23:30 – Higher ed vs. K–12 AI needs 28:30 – Data privacy concerns 31:30 – Equity, access & the freemium problem 35:45 – Can AI replace teachers? 40:00 – Encouraging teacher reflection 42:00 – Final questions & takeaways  📚 Grab Becky’s book AI Optimism + free study guide: 🌐 https://beckykeene.com 🎉 Shoutout to our amazing sponsors: 📘 Book Creator – Create, read, and publish student work with ease 🤖 Eduaide – AI tools designed to empower teachers, not replace them 🟠 Yellowdig – Social learning built for real engagement Visit our site for more great episodes! 🔗 Website: https://www.myedtech.life 💛 Support the show: Become a Podcast Partner 👇 Like, comment, and share this episode with your network. Let"s keep growing together.  🎤 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! Support the show