AI Can't Steal Your Voice | My EdTech Life 370

Can AI take away a student's voice or help protect it? In this episode of My EdTech Life, host Dr. Alfonso Mendoza, a top voice in the ed tech space, sits down with virtual education leaders Larisa Black and LaKeshia Brooks to dig into artificial intelligence in education, digital literacy, virtual teaching, and the growing backlash against ed tech in K-12 schools.With a combined 34 years in education, Larisa and LaKeshia share their personal journeys from classroom teachers to virtual education leaders, and how their approach to generative AI shifted from early excitement to grounded, cautious advocacy. This conversation covers what actually matters when selecting AI and ed tech tools (accessibility and accommodations first), how to assess student work honestly in a virtual classroom, why authentic assessment beats AI-generated worksheets, and why lumping every ed tech tool into today's "AI backlash" narrative puts students who need accommodations at risk.If you're an educator, instructional coach, virtual school leader, or ed tech decision-maker trying to navigate AI adoption, digital citizenship, and screen-time policy debates in 2026, this episode is packed with practical, classroom-tested insight.What You'll Learn:1. How virtual teachers moved from "move fast, break things" to cautious AI advocacy2. Why accessibility and accommodations should drive ed tech tool selection3. How to talk with students about AI use without a power struggle4. Why authentic, process-based assessment matters more in the AI era5. The risk of lumping every ed tech tool into the AI backlash narrative6. What personalized AI tutoring could mean for educational equity7. Why teacher training must come before student AI training8. The future of virtual schooling in an AI-driven education landscapeChapters:00:00 Introduction to the Conversation02:59 The Role of AI in Education05:57 Personal Journeys in Virtual Teaching09:05 Mindset Shifts in Using Generative AI12:00 Digital Literacy and Student Engagement14:51 Navigating EdTech Backlash17:50 Selecting Effective EdTech Tools20:56 Assessing Student Work in a Virtual Environment23:41 Empowering Student Voices26:46 Future of EdTech and Student Learning30:54 Navigating AI in Virtual Education36:21 The Role of Educators in AI Adoption41:26 Reflections on AI Integration41:55 Future of Virtual Schooling and AI47:49 Connecting with Educators and Resources50:28 Edu Kryptonite and Growth Mindset53:13 Kindness and Perspective in EducationConnect with our guests: LaKeshia Brooks — @msmathminded (TikTok)Larisa Black —  ⁨@TeachWiseAI⁩  (TikTok)A huge thank you to our sponsors who make this show possible:☕ Comeback Coffee📖 Book Creator-Use code MYEDTECHLIFE for premium access.Love the show? Support us and get exclusive perks: https://buymeacoffee.com/myedtechlife/membershipInterested in sponsoring My EdTech Life? Reach out — we'd love to partner with you.Stay Techie ✌🏼Support the show