Deep Learning Dialogues

Hosted by Katrina Gouett and Whitney McKinley

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Oct 2026

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Welcome to "Deep Learning Dialogues," the essential podcast for K-12 educators diving into the world of AI. In each episode, we bring you insights from experts at the forefront of this innovative technology. We will explore how GenAI can be used in a human-centered way. Follow us on Instagram @WCDSBInnovates or head over to https://innovate.wcdsb.ca/ for all things Innovation. This is a Waterloo Catholic District School Board podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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October 22, 202642 min

The Relationship Is the Reason

AI may be changing what we can do, but should it change what it means to be human? Inspired by a Catholic perspective but relevant far beyond it, this conversation with Fr. Raph invites listeners of all backgrounds to consider what we gain, and what we might unintentionally lose, as technology becomes more capable. From classrooms and parenting to vulnerability, mistakes, wisdom, and belonging, Katrina Gouett, Whitney McKinley, and Fr. Raph explore why efficiency isn’t always the goal and why some of our most imperfect human experiences may be the ones that connect us most deeply. You can read the summary article here. Fr. Raph is a Resurrectionist priest and Pastor of St. Mary Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Parish in downtown Kitchener. Raised in Markham as the only child of immigrant parents from Hong Kong, he studied Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph before discerning a call to religious life and the priesthood. He was ordained in 2019 at St. Mary’s, where he now serves as Pastor. A returning guest to Deep Learning Dialogues , Fr. Raph brings curiosity, humour, and a deeply relational perspective to conversations about faith, education, technology, and our shared humanity. Episode Resource Links: Magnifica Humanitus by Pope Leo XIV St. Mary Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Parish Tiny Home Takeout The Globe and Mail article The people filming their chores to train humanoid robots Want to know more? You can check out our: WCDSB GenAI Guidelines, infographics, and Innovation website: https://innovate.wcdsb.ca/ Want to get in touch? Contact Katrina & Whitney by email at: katrina.gouett@wcdsb.ca and whitney.mckinley@wcdsb.ca or on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 25, 202640 min

The Power of AI And...

In this episode of Deep Learning Dialogues, we sit down with Rayna Carmichael, Digital Solutions Lead at AECOM, to explore what happens when artificial intelligence meets data, decision-making, and human expertise. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in GIS, environmental consulting, and data stewardship, Rayna shares how the explosion of data has transformed her industry and why the quality of information matters more than ever in an AI-powered world. Together, we unpack the importance of workflows, critical thinking, and responsible data practices, while drawing powerful connections to K-12 education. From cognitive atrophy and digital literacy to career readiness and transferable skills, Rayna offers a thought-provoking perspective on why the future isn't just about AI. It's about AI and the uniquely human abilities that make technology meaningful. You can read a summary article here. Rayna Carmichael is the Digital Solutions Lead for AECOM's Environmental Business Line in Canada. With more than 20 years of experience, she has grown from a GIS technician into a leader focused on data stewardship, digital transformation, and the integration of technology across complex environmental projects. Passionate about spatial data since childhood, Rayna specializes in helping teams collect, manage, analyze, and communicate information in ways that support informed decision-making. Her work sits at the intersection of technology and people, where she advocates for strong data practices, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of the human skills that remain essential in an increasingly AI-driven world. Connect with Rayna Carmichael on LinkedIn Learn more about AECOM Canada Explore WCDSB cooperative education opportunities Want to know more? You can check out our: WCDSB GenAI Guidelines, infographics, and Innovation website: https://innovate.wcdsb.ca/ Want to get in touch? Contact Katrina & Whitney by email at: katrina.gouett@wcdsb.ca and whitney.mckinley@wcdsb.ca or on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 18, 202641 min

Leading for Human Flourishing in the Age of AI

As Deep Learning Dialogues launches Season 4, Whitney McKinley and Katrina Gouett welcome Dr. Tom D'Amico, former Director of Education for the Ottawa Catholic School Board and President of AI Leadership Consulting. Together, they explore what it means to lead for human flourishing in an age of artificial intelligence. Drawing on his experience scaling AI across one of Canada's most recognized school districts, Tom shares practical insights on change management, AI literacy, assessment, student well-being, and the importance of keeping human relationships at the centre of educational decision-making. This thoughtful conversation challenges educators to move beyond tools and focus on the knowledge, ethics, and leadership needed to help both students and staff thrive in an AI-enabled world. You can read a full episode summary here. Dr. Tom D'Amico is an educator, speaker, and consultant with more than 35 years of experience in education. He served as Director of Education and Secretary-Treasurer of the Ottawa Catholic School Board until his retirement in 2025. Throughout his career, he has worked as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and system leader, while also serving as the Canadian co-lead for New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL). Today, Tom is President of AI Leadership Consulting, Vice-Chair of C21 Canada, and a volunteer advisor with Amii's AI for All initiative. He works with educational leaders across Canada to support responsible AI adoption, leadership development, and human flourishing in an increasingly AI-driven world. You can connect with Tom on LinkedIn , X @TDOttawa , or on his website https://www.aileadership.ca/ Episode Resource Links Amii educator AI Literacy modules AI for All WCDSB Zero to Infinity Assessment Scale Want to know more? You can check out our: WCDSB GenAI Guidelines, infographics, and Innovation website: https://innovate.wcdsb.ca/ Want to get in touch? Contact Katrina & Whitney by email at: katrina.gouett@wcdsb.ca and whitney.mckinley@wcdsb.ca or on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 10, 20266 min

Season 3 Wrap-up!

80 episodes in the books! In our Season 3 finale, Whitney and Katrina pause to share a simple, heartfelt message: thank you. From staff meetings and PD sessions to individual word-of-mouth shares, this community has grown person-to-person. In this quick season-ender, we share a few ways to dive back into our archive over the break, how you can directly shape our upcoming content, and what to expect when we return in September. Plus, to help you navigate season 3, we’ve created a digital eBook that summarizes this season’s episodes and includes curated playlists for easy listening over the summer. Go back, share an episode with a colleague, send us your questions for Season 4, and we’ll see you in the fall! Want to know more? You can check out our: WCDSB GenAI Guidelines, infographics, and Innovation website: https://innovate.wcdsb.ca/ Want to get in touch? Contact Katrina & Whitney by email at: katrina.gouett@wcdsb.ca and whitney.mckinley@wcdsb.ca or on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 31, 202639 min

Finding the Balance: Environmental Realities, Data Sovereignty, and AI

How do you reform an entire education system without falling into the trap of hype, environmental neglect, or technological whiplash? New Brunswick Deputy Minister Ryan Donaghy joins us to pull back the curtain on Canada’s first province-wide AI initiative. From creating strict guardrails around data centers and cognitive offload to building a ground-up AI literacy framework, Ryan shares why true innovation isn't about moving fast and breaking things; it's about relationships, smart policy, and empowering educators to start small today. You can read a summary article of the conversation here . Ryan Donaghy is a senior executive and systems thinker who has spent more than two decades navigating reform across New Brunswick's public sector serving as Deputy Minister in Environment, Local Government, and now Education . Under his leadership, New Brunswick became Canada's first province to embrace a system-wide, human-centered approach to AI integration. Beyond his work redesigning complex public systems, Ryan is a proud Moncton native, UNB alumnus, dad, ringette coach, and hockey referee—a combination that arguably provides the ultimate training in managing competing priorities. You can reach Ryan by email at ryan.donaghy@gnb.ca Episode Resources The Brookings Institution Research A new direction for students in an AI world: Prosper, prepare, protect New Brunswick Curriculum Want to know more? You can check out our: WCDSB GenAI Guidelines, infographics, and Innovation website: https://innovate.wcdsb.ca/ Want to get in touch? Contact Katrina & Whitney by email at: katrina.gouett@wcdsb.ca and whitney.mckinley@wcdsb.ca or on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 18, 202645 min

Beyond the Trap: Why Hidden AI Prompts Fail Educators and Students

In this episode of Deep Learning Dialogues , hosts Whitney McKinlay and Katrina Gouett sit down with Dr. Adam Pacton to unpack the controversial practice of "prompt injection" or hiding invisible text in assignments to catch students using generative AI. Moving past the initial "ick" factor or ethical intuition that such tactics turn classrooms into policing environments rather than spaces of mutual trust, the conversation explores the concrete legal, technical, and pedagogical failures of these traps. Dr. Pacton explains how hidden instructions act as an accessibility nightmare under regulations like the ADA Title II and Ontario's AODA, because screen readers accidentally surface the invisible text, confusing students who rely on assistive technology. Rather than relying on flawed detection mechanisms, the episode advocates for a systemic paradigm shift toward "process over product," urging institutions to provide teachers with the cover and resources needed to meaningfully redesign assessments and foster relational intelligence. You can read the episode summary here. Dr. Adam Pacton is an associate teaching professor and Dean's fellow for AI literacy and integration at the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts at Arizona State University. Working at the intersection of pedagogy, ethics, and emerging technology, he focuses on institutional AI governance while helping educators move away from fear-based compliance toward thoughtful, human-centered classroom integration. With a PhD in rhetoric and composition, Dr. Pacton brings a deeply grounded perspective to language practices, change management, and student agency in the age of artificial intelligence. Outside of his academic and administrative leadership roles, he rounds out his human perspective as a father, an avid video game player, and a passionate fan of fantasy and sci-fi literature. Episode Link: - ASU Guidance on Hidden-Text/Prompt Injection Techniques in Assignments Want to know more? You can check out our: WCDSB GenAI Guidelines, infographics, and Innovation website: https://innovate.wcdsb.ca/ Want to get in touch? Contact Katrina & Whitney by email at: katrina.gouett@wcdsb.ca and whitney.mckinley@wcdsb.ca or on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 11, 202645 min

The Messy Middle: Navigating Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom

In this episode of Deep Learning Dialogues , explore the "messy middle" of artificial intelligence in education with guest Jessica Rizk, PhD, OCT. Moving past the polarizing narratives of absolute tech adoption versus complete avoidance, the conversation examines how generative AI is actively reshaping the classroom from the ground up. Rizk highlights the urgent need for foundational AI literacy beginning in kindergarten, illustrating through personal anecdotes how young children form implicit relationships with technology long before formal instructions begin. Together, they explore the critical shift from viewing AI merely as a baseline productivity tool to utilizing it as a human springboard for deeper critical thinking, assessment restructuring, and meaningful conversation. The discussion culminates in a powerful look at public policy, evaluating Canada’s current ranking in AI literacy training and addressing the crucial systemic tension between maintaining agile institutional structures and empowering educators with a coherent, standardized, and supportive framework. Dr. Jessica Rizk is a senior research associate at Signal 49 Research, a pan-Canadian nonprofit applied research organization dedicated to tackling some of Canada’s largest systemic challenges. Deeply rooted in the education sector, she serves as an instructor at both Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo, and previously a former K–8 elementary classroom teacher. Jessica is a prominent voice in educational policy and tech literacy, authoring the impactful January op-ed, " Canada’s AI Strategy is missing kids, " which champions the creation of a national, comprehensive AI education strategy. Melding her extensive academic research with her firsthand experience as an educator and a parent, she provides a uniquely well-rounded perspective on what it truly means to build sustainable human agency and foundational skills in an AI-driven world. You can follow and learn more about Jessica on LinkedIn . Want to know more? You can check out our: WCDSB GenAI Guidelines, infographics, and Innovation website: https://innovate.wcdsb.ca/ Want to get in touch? Contact Katrina & Whitney by email at: katrina.gouett@wcdsb.ca and whitney.mckinley@wcdsb.ca or on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

June 4, 202649 min

Critical Thinking, AI Co-Authorship, and the Future of Academic Writing

In this episode of Deep Learning Dialogues , hosts Whitney McKinley and Katrina Gouett sit down with Dr. Christin Wright-Taylor, Manager of Writing Services at Wilfrid Laurier University, to explore the intersection of generative AI, academic writing, and the human voice. Shifting the conversation away from fear and toward hope, Dr. Wright-Taylor discusses why generative AI should be viewed as a "calculator for language" and argues that foundational writing skills are more critical than ever for guiding and assessing AI outputs. The conversation explores the necessity of protecting the "incubator of thinking" by encouraging students to embrace messy, authentic first drafts before turning to digital tools. By reframing writing as an iterative process rather than a transactional product, this episode challenges educators to evaluate their own implicit biases regarding academic tone and explore how rubrics can evolve to celebrate diverse cultural capital and unique student voices. Dr. Christin Wright-Taylor is the Manager of Writing Services at Wilfrid Laurier University, where she and her team specialize in helping students build self-efficacy and critical thinking through the writing process. She holds a PhD in Composition and Rhetoric from the University of Waterloo, as well as an MFA in Creative Writing. Over her 25-year career as an educator, writer, and scholar, Dr. Wright-Taylor has written books and contributed to national publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post . Dedicated to helping students cultivate a "writing state of mind," she is a passionate advocate for preserving human curiosity and individual voice in an increasingly automated landscape. You can find Christin on LinkedIn . Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Bad Ideas About Writing edited by Cheryl E. Ball and Drew M. Loewe: https://textbooks.lib.wvu.edu/badideas/badideasaboutwriting-book.pdf "Should Writers Use They Own English" by Vershawn Ashanti Young: https://artsci.tamu.edu/english/_files/_documents/research/use-they-own.pdf Antiracist Writing Assessment Ecologies: Teaching and Assessing Writin for a Socially Just Future by Asao B. Inoue: https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/antiracist-writing-assessment-ecologies-teaching-and-assessing-writing-for-a-socially-just-future Want to know more? You can check out our: WCDSB GenAI Guidelines, infographics, and Innovation website: https://innovate.wcdsb.ca/ Want to get in touch? Contact Katrina & Whitney by email at: katrina.gouett@wcdsb.ca and whitney.mckinley@wcdsb.ca or on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 22, 202652 min

The Cognitive Death or Deeper Thinking? The AI Tug-of-War

In this episode of Deep Learning Dialogues , hosts Whitney McKinley and Katrina Gouett engage in a captivating conversation with educational scholars Dr. Julie Mueller, Dr. Avis Beek, and Dr. Keri Ewart from Wilfrid Laurier University to tackle the critical tension between cognitive offloading and cognitive replacement in the classroom. Grounded in recent literature on academic integrity, technological disruption, and equitable pedagogy, the panel discusses how generative AI is challenging traditional, colonial structures of higher education and redefining historical standards of "originality." From exploring the generational gap in digital fluency to questioning whether AI will stunt critical thinking or liberate educators to focus on foundational human skills, this discussion serves as an urgent call to prioritize transferable skills, problem-solving, and authentic, experiential learning over reactive, "whack-a-mole" tech policing. Read the episode summary here. Articles discussed in the episode: “ ChatGPT for good? On opportunities and challenges of large language models for education ” This Changes Everything: Originality, Academic Integrity, and Education in the Age of Generative AI ” How generative AI fixes what higher education broke: reframing the “colonization” of knowing and learning Guest Bios: Dr. Julie Mueller , Associate Dean: Graduate Programs and Research, Faculty of Education at Wilfrid Laurier University Dr. Mueller is a cornerstone of the EdTech research community. With a PhD in Developmental Psychology, her work centers on the "TPACK" framework—balancing technology, pedagogy, and content. She is a leading voice on Computational Thinking across the curriculum and has collaborated with the Canadian Space Agency to develop STEM modules like "Mission on the Moon." Julie brings decades of experience in understanding how digital tools can empower both teachers and students to navigate a digital world. Dr. Avis Beek , Assistant Professor & Chair of International Education Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University Dr. Beek’s perspective is truly global. Before her time in academia, she taught science and math in Nunavut and at international schools in Bahrain, Japan, and the Czech Republic. Her research explores International Mindedness and the "STEMovation" project, which focuses on making STEM education inclusive for underrepresented groups. Avis is an expert in interculturalism and is dedicated to decolonizing K-12 classrooms through experiential learning. Dr. Keri Ewart , Assistant Professor of Language and Literacy at Wilfrid Laurier University Dr. Ewart sits at the cutting edge of AI Literacy and culturally responsive pedagogy. With 17 years of K-12 experience, her research focuses on the ethical integration of AI in education, specifically how "micro-prompts" and generative AI can support inclusive teaching. A former coordinator of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization, and Anti-Racism (EDIDA), Keri is passionate about equipping the next generation of educators with the critical literacies needed for a social-justice-oriented future. Want to know more? You can check out our: WCDSB GenAI Guidelines, infographics, and Innovation website: https://innovate.wcdsb.ca/ Want to get in touch? Contact Katrina & Whitney by email at: katrina.gouett@wcdsb.ca and whitney.mckinley@wcdsb.ca or on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

April 2, 202638 min

The First Draft: Preserving the "Friction" of Human Thinking

In this episode of Deep Learning Dialogues , hosts Whitney McKinley and Katrina Gouett are joined by Dr. Alec Couros to discuss the vital role of "productive struggle" in an era of instant AI outputs. Dr. Couros breaks down the concepts from his viral article, "The Shortcut That Costs Us Everything," warning against a "reverse-Bloom’s Taxonomy" where students analyze AI text without ever learning to compose it themselves. The conversation explores how to "protect the first draft" as a sacred space for human thought and identity. From the risks of "Model Autography Disorder" (MAD) to practical classroom strategies like "Think-Pair-AI-Share," this episode offers a roadmap for using AI as a critical collaborator rather than a replacement for student voice. You can read the summary document here. Dr. Alec Couros is a Professor of Educational Technology and Media at the University of Regina and a globally recognized leader in open education and digital citizenship. Throughout his career, he has explored the intersection of technology and pedagogy, recently focusing on the ethical and cognitive implications of generative AI in the classroom. Through his research and popular Substack, Alec advocates for "protecting the human in the loop," emphasizing the importance of preserving the "friction of thinking" and the integrity of the student’s first draft in an increasingly automated world. You can follow his work on Substack or on social media at @courosa. Episode Links: LinkedIn Substack Think-Pair-AI Share Want to know more? You can check out our: WCDSB GenAI Guidelines, infographics, and Innovation website: https://innovate.wcdsb.ca/ Want to get in touch? Contact Katrina & Whitney by email at: katrina.gouett@wcdsb.ca and whitney.mckinley@wcdsb.ca or on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.