In Part 1 of a two-part interview, host Kathleen Vail sits down with Dr. Rick Ginsberg and Dr. Yong Zhao—professors at the University of Kansas and frequent Kappan contributors—to discuss their provocative article on America’s obsession with reading instruction and why it may be time to broaden our definition of literacy for today’s world.

The episode tackles critical questions:
• Why is the U.S. so uniquely focused on reading test scores?
• How are international comparisons and political forces shaping the narrative?
• What does reading proficiency actually mean—and who decides?

Ginsberg and Zhao challenge long-held assumptions, noting that many education systems around the world produce literate populations without the same level of anxiety around reading instruction. They suggest that the U.S. focus on basic reading skills often overshadows deeper educational goals like creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability.

New Literacies Introduced in the Episode:
1. Information Access Literacy – Navigating the vast landscape of tools and sources to find reliable information.
2. Prompt Cultivation – Learning how to interact effectively with AI through iterative, refined communication.
3. Truth and Ethical Literacy – Developing the capacity to discern truth, handle bias, and understand ethical use of digital tools.
4. AI Literacy – Understanding the capabilities and limitations of generative AI, including how to integrate it into learning and work.

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