In episode 5 of Eh I, Ryan and Melissa are joined by Dr. Jessica Rizk, who is a senior research associate for education and skill with Signal 49. Jessica talks about the transition from fear to optimism when leveraging AI as a learning tool in schools. The trio talk about prioritizing the learning process as opposed to the final product, and about how it’s important to define “AI literacy” for future workforce readiness.

Dr. Jessica Rizk is a Senior Research Associate at Signal49 Research, where she focuses on education, skills, and workforce development in the age of artificial intelligence. Her work explores how post-secondary institutions, educators, and learners are adapting to rapid technological change, with a particular emphasis on AI literacy and workforce readiness across Canada.

She is also a lecturer at the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, where she teaches courses in education and sociology. With experience spanning both K–12 and post-secondary settings, she brings a systems-level perspective to her work. She holds a PhD in Sociology and is passionate about bridging research, policy, and practice to support a more inclusive and future-ready education system.

Show Credits

Hosts: Ryan Oliver, Melissa Sariffodeen

Producer: Zac Miller

Editors: Zac Miller, Kyle Gordon

Composition: Warren Frank