In today's episode, we sit down with Shawn McCusker, Senior Manager at the Bill & Rights Institute and former Senior Director of Professional Learning at EdTechTeacher, to talk about what it really means to prepare students for active citizenship in an AI-driven world. From questioning technology to embracing experiential learning, Shawn shares how civic education and AI education both build the same essential skill: student agency. Together, we explore the shift from passive content delivery to hands-on learning, the surprising power of cell phones in the classroom, and why teaching students to be skeptical of AI creates the critical thinkers our democracy needs. Shawn's perspective offers a hopeful and practical roadmap for turning today's challenges into tomorrow's opportunities.
“Thinking Difference” brings together educators, innovators, nonprofits, and industry leaders to explore how collaborative action can solve our most pressing challenges—from workforce readiness to equity in opportunity.
