AI, Literacy, and the Productive Struggle

In this episode we sit down with Carey Swanson, Chief Program Officer for Literacy at Student Achievement Partners, to explore what strong literacy instruction should look like in an age of rapidly advancing AI.In this episode we discuss why new technology should not distract schools from what research tells us about reading, writing, knowledge-building, and meaningful engagement with text.Topics covered:• Connecting education research with real classroom practice• The role of literacy in helping students understand themselves and others• Why reading and writing remain essential in the age of AI• Keeping texts at the center of instruction• The importance of knowledge-rich curriculum and background knowledge• Productive struggle, cognitive friction, and meaningful learning• The difference between AI feedback and AI-generated student work• What educators should look for when evaluating AI-powered instructional tools