The American Compass Podcast The Tech Revolution in America's Schools with Brad Littlejohn
Nov 28, 2025
Brad Littlejohn, Director of Programs and Education at American Compass and a former educator, discusses the implications of AI in education and the rise of smart toys this holiday season. He explores how AI in classrooms often lacks evidence of effectiveness and can undermine essential learning skills. The conversation touches on the growing trend of phone-free schools, the allure of AI tutors, and the risks of emotional dependency on nonhuman companions. Ultimately, Littlejohn emphasizes the importance of human interaction in education and the need for thoughtful tech implementation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Rush Into Classroom Tech Driven By FOMO
- Parents and schools rushed into tech after COVID without evidence it improves learning outcomes.
- Brad Littlejohn attributes the rush to parental FOMO about kids' future job prospects and tech industry pressure.
Productivity Tools Clash With Learning
- AI tools aimed at adult productivity undermine learning by doing students' work for them.
- Littlejohn stresses adult productivity incentives clash with educational goals like building mental muscles.
Certify And Fund Only Purposeful AI Tools
- Prioritize AI that fosters collaborative learning and domain specificity in classrooms.
- Tie public funding to certification competitions that reward safe, effective educational AI products.
