Jacob Pleasants
@jbpleasa.bsky.social
Technoskeptical STEM Educator
Co-Director, Civics of Technology
Co-Director, Civics of Technology
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
Today, learn from activists who have resisted data centers and other exploitative projects.
Sue Kasun and Erin Anderson interview Omar Lázaro García and Aurora Gómez.
You can also read their conversation in Spanish!
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/activis...
Sue Kasun and Erin Anderson interview Omar Lázaro García and Aurora Gómez.
You can also read their conversation in Spanish!
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/activis...
Activists who challenged Industry Inevitability Myths — Civics of Technology
Civics of Technology Announcements New! Technology Audit Curriculum: This activity provides a structured way to surface the ethical dimensions of technology tools. Drawing on four analytic ap...
www.civicsoftechnology.org
February 8, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Today, learn from activists who have resisted data centers and other exploitative projects.
Sue Kasun and Erin Anderson interview Omar Lázaro García and Aurora Gómez.
You can also read their conversation in Spanish!
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/activis...
Sue Kasun and Erin Anderson interview Omar Lázaro García and Aurora Gómez.
You can also read their conversation in Spanish!
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/activis...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
February Tech Talk tonight!
8:00 Eastern Time
Register below to join the conversation!
oklahoma.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
8:00 Eastern Time
Register below to join the conversation!
oklahoma.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: February CoT Tech Talk. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: February CoT Tech Talk. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
oklahoma.zoom.us
February 4, 2026 at 3:04 PM
February Tech Talk tonight!
8:00 Eastern Time
Register below to join the conversation!
oklahoma.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
8:00 Eastern Time
Register below to join the conversation!
oklahoma.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
Today, Michelle Ciccone shares some of her recent work on Digital Advertising Literacy with 6th grade students. How do these students navigate the onslaught of ads, influencers, and marketing?
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/introdu...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/introdu...
Introducing the Ethics of Actors in SYstems (EASY) approach to digital advertising literacy — Civics of Technology
Civics of Technology Announcements Next Tech Talk: Please join us for our next Tech Talk where we meet to discuss whatever critical tech issues are on people’s minds. It’s a great way to connect, l...
www.civicsoftechnology.org
February 1, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Today, Michelle Ciccone shares some of her recent work on Digital Advertising Literacy with 6th grade students. How do these students navigate the onslaught of ads, influencers, and marketing?
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/introdu...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/introdu...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
A little weekend listening while you shovel: Silicon Valley has been selling the same failed #edtech, schools-on-screens vision for decades. The latest @haveyouheard.bsky.social features the brilliant Audrey Watters soundcloud.com/haveyouheard...
#211 Silicon Valley’s Vision for Schools is Trapped in a Cold War Fantasy
In the schools of the (near) future, teachers will be replaced by robots and learning will be personalized, allowing each student to move at their own pace. AI refuser and self-described ‘ed tech Cass
soundcloud.com
January 24, 2026 at 5:03 PM
A little weekend listening while you shovel: Silicon Valley has been selling the same failed #edtech, schools-on-screens vision for decades. The latest @haveyouheard.bsky.social features the brilliant Audrey Watters soundcloud.com/haveyouheard...
The common response to this piece (myself included) has been "yeah, obviously."
I wonder how school leaders think about this. Are they aware of the bargain they're striking and figure it's worth it? Are they fooling themselves? Leaning on plausible deniability?
www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-...
I wonder how school leaders think about this. Are they aware of the bargain they're striking and figure it's worth it? Are they fooling themselves? Leaning on plausible deniability?
www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-...
Google’s work in schools aims to create a ‘pipeline of future users,’ internal documents say
A major lawsuit revealed details of Google's business motivations to get its products into schools. A Google spokesperson said the documents "mischaracterize our work."
www.nbcnews.com
January 24, 2026 at 1:40 PM
The common response to this piece (myself included) has been "yeah, obviously."
I wonder how school leaders think about this. Are they aware of the bargain they're striking and figure it's worth it? Are they fooling themselves? Leaning on plausible deniability?
www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-...
I wonder how school leaders think about this. Are they aware of the bargain they're striking and figure it's worth it? Are they fooling themselves? Leaning on plausible deniability?
www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-...
Really enjoyed this conversation, especially the discussion of "AI Literacy." Been following Justin Reich's work for a while now and always thought-provoking.
silverliningforlearning.org/episode-258-...
silverliningforlearning.org/episode-258-...
Episode 258 | A guide to AI in schools: Perspectives for the perplexed
Episode #257 at 5 pm Saturday January 17 “A guide to AI in schools: Perspectives for the perplexed.” AI literacy is perplexing, everyone seems to want it taught, but few people can adequately descr…
silverliningforlearning.org
January 19, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Really enjoyed this conversation, especially the discussion of "AI Literacy." Been following Justin Reich's work for a while now and always thought-provoking.
silverliningforlearning.org/episode-258-...
silverliningforlearning.org/episode-258-...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
Today, from Jamie Taylor:
"...the best we can do, often, to maintain the kind of privacy library we have long told readers they can expect is to browbeat vendors into acting right, and that it only rarely works."
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/sleight...
"...the best we can do, often, to maintain the kind of privacy library we have long told readers they can expect is to browbeat vendors into acting right, and that it only rarely works."
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/sleight...
Sleights of hand: What library patron data is PII (and what isn’t) — Civics of Technology
An overview of privacy scholarship from one of the speakers from our first webinar during Privacy Week! Register to learn more!
www.civicsoftechnology.org
January 18, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Today, from Jamie Taylor:
"...the best we can do, often, to maintain the kind of privacy library we have long told readers they can expect is to browbeat vendors into acting right, and that it only rarely works."
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/sleight...
"...the best we can do, often, to maintain the kind of privacy library we have long told readers they can expect is to browbeat vendors into acting right, and that it only rarely works."
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/sleight...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
To hear more from Jamie and others, come to our Privacy Week Webinars!
Day 1, January 22, 6:00-7:30 EST: maritime-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Day 2, January 29, 6:00-7:30 EST: maritime-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/privacy
Day 1, January 22, 6:00-7:30 EST: maritime-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Day 2, January 29, 6:00-7:30 EST: maritime-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/privacy
Privacy — Civics of Technology
www.civicsoftechnology.org
January 18, 2026 at 7:04 PM
To hear more from Jamie and others, come to our Privacy Week Webinars!
Day 1, January 22, 6:00-7:30 EST: maritime-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Day 2, January 29, 6:00-7:30 EST: maritime-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/privacy
Day 1, January 22, 6:00-7:30 EST: maritime-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Day 2, January 29, 6:00-7:30 EST: maritime-edu.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/privacy
@marcwatkins.bsky.social gives a list of 10 great scenarios worth discussing and thinking through with higher ed colleagues - I will be using this gift!
marcwatkins.substack.com/p/what-we-gi...
marcwatkins.substack.com/p/what-we-gi...
What We Give Up When We Let AI Decide
Automation Is Easy. Judgment Is Not.
marcwatkins.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:07 PM
@marcwatkins.bsky.social gives a list of 10 great scenarios worth discussing and thinking through with higher ed colleagues - I will be using this gift!
marcwatkins.substack.com/p/what-we-gi...
marcwatkins.substack.com/p/what-we-gi...
The latest story about the "Mississippi Miracle"
I'd be interested to hear @jenniferberkshire.bsky.social's take on this one!
And I continue to wonder how my own state (OK) might try to chase that same "miracle"
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/u...
I'd be interested to hear @jenniferberkshire.bsky.social's take on this one!
And I continue to wonder how my own state (OK) might try to chase that same "miracle"
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/u...
January 11, 2026 at 2:04 PM
The latest story about the "Mississippi Miracle"
I'd be interested to hear @jenniferberkshire.bsky.social's take on this one!
And I continue to wonder how my own state (OK) might try to chase that same "miracle"
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/u...
I'd be interested to hear @jenniferberkshire.bsky.social's take on this one!
And I continue to wonder how my own state (OK) might try to chase that same "miracle"
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/u...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
What's the scarier prospect?
That chatbots are analyzing people's data? Or that this practice is seen as unremarkable?
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/when-co...
That chatbots are analyzing people's data? Or that this practice is seen as unremarkable?
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/when-co...
When Copilot is the Data Analyst — Civics of Technology
Civics of Technology Announcements Next Tech Talk: Please join us for our next Tech Talk where we meet to discuss whatever critical tech issues are on people’s minds. It’s a great way to connect, l...
www.civicsoftechnology.org
January 11, 2026 at 12:54 PM
What's the scarier prospect?
That chatbots are analyzing people's data? Or that this practice is seen as unremarkable?
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/when-co...
That chatbots are analyzing people's data? Or that this practice is seen as unremarkable?
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/when-co...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
First Tech Talk of 2026 this Thursday, Jan 8 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time.
Join in for some conversation about... whatever is on your mind!
Register here: oklahoma.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Join in for some conversation about... whatever is on your mind!
Register here: oklahoma.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
January 6, 2026 at 12:39 AM
First Tech Talk of 2026 this Thursday, Jan 8 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time.
Join in for some conversation about... whatever is on your mind!
Register here: oklahoma.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Join in for some conversation about... whatever is on your mind!
Register here: oklahoma.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
2025 - What a year it was!
Here's our roundup of 2025's most-read blog posts, new curriculum resources, reviews, and more.
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/2025-a-...
Here's our roundup of 2025's most-read blog posts, new curriculum resources, reviews, and more.
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/2025-a-...
2025: A Year of Civics of Tech — Civics of Technology
Civics of Technology Announcements Next Tech Talk: Please join us for our next Tech Talk where we meet to discuss whatever critical tech issues are on people’s minds. It’s a great way to connect, l...
www.civicsoftechnology.org
January 4, 2026 at 1:28 PM
2025 - What a year it was!
Here's our roundup of 2025's most-read blog posts, new curriculum resources, reviews, and more.
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/2025-a-...
Here's our roundup of 2025's most-read blog posts, new curriculum resources, reviews, and more.
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/2025-a-...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
Today, Bruna Damiana Heinsfeld examines recent "partnerships" between universities and big tech. Who do such deals serve?
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/when-ed...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/when-ed...
When Education Serves the Machine: The Technocapitalist Capture of Universities — Civics of Technology
Civics of Technology Announcements Next Tech Talk: Please join us for our next Tech Talk where we meet to discuss whatever critical tech issues are on people’s minds. It’s a great way to connect, l...
www.civicsoftechnology.org
December 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Today, Bruna Damiana Heinsfeld examines recent "partnerships" between universities and big tech. Who do such deals serve?
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/when-ed...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/when-ed...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
Book Club Day! 10:30 AM Eastern Time
Join us to talk about Dan McQuillan's Resisting AI
Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/resisting-ai
Join us to talk about Dan McQuillan's Resisting AI
Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/resisting-ai
Resisting AI
Resisting AI - An Anti-fascist Approach to Artificial Intelligence; Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere, yet it causes damage to society in ways that can’t be fixed. Calling for the restructuri...
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk
December 3, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Book Club Day! 10:30 AM Eastern Time
Join us to talk about Dan McQuillan's Resisting AI
Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/resisting-ai
Join us to talk about Dan McQuillan's Resisting AI
Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/resisting-ai
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
Today, Evan Shieh shares the work of the Young Data Scientists League. Data is power!
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/data-is...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/data-is...
Data is Power: Teaching Critical AI Literacy in K-12 — Civics of Technology
Data is Power is seeking applications from schools, districts, and classrooms for the 2025-26 school year. Learn more and apply by December 8th, 2025 (it’s a short application). Read more a...
www.civicsoftechnology.org
December 3, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Today, Evan Shieh shares the work of the Young Data Scientists League. Data is power!
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/data-is...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/data-is...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
EdTech is in our lives from the very beginning. Michelle Ciccone writes about becoming a Civics of Tech parent and bearing witness to tech mediation in the first year of life.
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/reflect...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/reflect...
Reflecting on Daycare (Ed)Tech and Being a New “Civics of Tech Parent” — Civics of Technology
Civics of Technology Announcements Curriculum Crowdsourcing : One of the most popular activities in our Curriculum is our Critical Tech Quote Activity because the lessons offers a quick way to int...
www.civicsoftechnology.org
November 23, 2025 at 2:27 PM
EdTech is in our lives from the very beginning. Michelle Ciccone writes about becoming a Civics of Tech parent and bearing witness to tech mediation in the first year of life.
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/reflect...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/reflect...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
We've got a book club coming up on Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET!
Come talk about @neilselwyn.bsky.social's Digital Degrowth, led by @charleswlogan.bsky.social
Register on our events page!
www.civicsoftechnology.org/events
www.wiley.com/en-us/Digita...
Come talk about @neilselwyn.bsky.social's Digital Degrowth, led by @charleswlogan.bsky.social
Register on our events page!
www.civicsoftechnology.org/events
www.wiley.com/en-us/Digita...
Digital Degrowth: Radically Rethinking our Digital Futures
We are fast approaching the point of “peak digital”, with the continued mass production and excessive consumption of digital technologies set to become a key driver of climate crisis, ecol...
www.wiley.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:41 PM
We've got a book club coming up on Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET!
Come talk about @neilselwyn.bsky.social's Digital Degrowth, led by @charleswlogan.bsky.social
Register on our events page!
www.civicsoftechnology.org/events
www.wiley.com/en-us/Digita...
Come talk about @neilselwyn.bsky.social's Digital Degrowth, led by @charleswlogan.bsky.social
Register on our events page!
www.civicsoftechnology.org/events
www.wiley.com/en-us/Digita...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
How can we make GenAI an object of critique in the K-12 classroom? Samantha Serrano shares a lesson from her teaching practice in today's blog:
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/meet-al...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/meet-al...
“Meet alt+Sam.” A GenAI Exercise in Civic Literacy — Civics of Technology
Cross post of a social studies lesson on digital ethics featuring an uncanny valley guest speaker, creepy chat bot alt+Sam (yeah, you know who we mean).
www.civicsoftechnology.org
November 9, 2025 at 2:39 PM
How can we make GenAI an object of critique in the K-12 classroom? Samantha Serrano shares a lesson from her teaching practice in today's blog:
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/meet-al...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/meet-al...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
November 6, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
Today for the blog: If EdTech is the hero, is the teacher the villain?
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/edtechs...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/edtechs...
In EdTech's Hero's Journey, Is the Teacher the Villain? — Civics of Technology
Civics of Technology Announcements Next Tech Talk (NOTE THE NEW TIME): We will now be alternating our meeting time for our Tech Talks so that we can connect with different people in our community. ...
www.civicsoftechnology.org
November 2, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Today for the blog: If EdTech is the hero, is the teacher the villain?
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/edtechs...
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/edtechs...
Great article by Natasha Singer. The appearance of Matter and Space was particularly wild!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/t...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/t...
October 26, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Great article by Natasha Singer. The appearance of Matter and Space was particularly wild!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/t...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/t...
💀
"With all the video games, the cellphones you have to compete against, the kids are always saying, 'I'm bored.' Everything is boring," Aguirre said. "If you can find ways to engage them with new technology, you've just got to do that."
www.ksl.com/article/5139...
"With all the video games, the cellphones you have to compete against, the kids are always saying, 'I'm bored.' Everything is boring," Aguirre said. "If you can find ways to engage them with new technology, you've just got to do that."
www.ksl.com/article/5139...
Big Tech is paying millions to train teachers on AI in push to bring chatbots into classrooms
For the nation's 4 million teachers to stay relevant and help students use the technology wisely, teachers unions have forged an unlikely partnership with the world's largest technology companies.
www.ksl.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:44 PM
💀
"With all the video games, the cellphones you have to compete against, the kids are always saying, 'I'm bored.' Everything is boring," Aguirre said. "If you can find ways to engage them with new technology, you've just got to do that."
www.ksl.com/article/5139...
"With all the video games, the cellphones you have to compete against, the kids are always saying, 'I'm bored.' Everything is boring," Aguirre said. "If you can find ways to engage them with new technology, you've just got to do that."
www.ksl.com/article/5139...
Reposted by Jacob Pleasants
Today, Jean Ryoo and Jane Margolis share the story of translating their graphic novel Power On!
They write about their process as well as the profound significance of this translation work.
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/why-tra...
They write about their process as well as the profound significance of this translation work.
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/why-tra...
Why Translation Matters: Transforming Power On! Into ¡Conectados! — Civics of Technology
Jean Ryoo & Jane Margolis, authors of ¡Conectados! discuss the power of translation, technology, and standing together in dignity, safety, and belonging for all.
www.civicsoftechnology.org
October 19, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Today, Jean Ryoo and Jane Margolis share the story of translating their graphic novel Power On!
They write about their process as well as the profound significance of this translation work.
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/why-tra...
They write about their process as well as the profound significance of this translation work.
www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/why-tra...