Podcasts about edtech

In this episode, I share brain break ideas and strategies to help boost student focus, engagement, and energy levels throughout the school day. You'll also hear creative suggestions like AI-generated music, trivia challenges, movement-based exercises, and more that can easily fit into your routine. Tune in for practical tips on making brain breaks a seamless and impactful part of your teaching! Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2025/08/12/brain-break-ideas-332/ Sponsored by my free quiz, “Unlock the Best Way to Use Chatbots in Your Teaching”: https://classtechtips.com/quiz/ Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/  Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/   

Kgomotso Modise, standing in for Gugs Mhlungu, chats to Tshegofatso Dludla, Founder of AfriCAN Code, to discuss the organization's mission to provide technology-driven learning to every South African child. Since its inception in 2018, AfriCAN CODE has grown into a national program that trains teachers in coding and robotics, empowering them to integrate technology into their classrooms. 702 Weekend Breakfast with Gugs Mhlungu is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station, on Saturdays and Sundays Gugs Mhlungu gets you ready for the weekend each Saturday and Sunday morning on 702. She is your weekend wake-up companion, with all you need to know for your weekend. The topics Gugs covers range from lifestyle, family, health, and fitness to books, motoring, cooking, culture, and what is happening on the weekend in 702land. Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Weekend Breakfast with Gugs Mhlungu. Listen live on Primedia+ on Saturdays and Sundays from 06:00 and 10:00 (SA Time) to Weekend Breakfast with Gugs Mhlungu broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/u3Sf7Zy or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/BIXS7AL Subscribe to the 702 daily and weekly newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 AI in Schools: Strategy Over Shiny Tools with Kyler CheathamWhen it comes to AI in school districts, rushing in without a clear why can cost millions, crush teacher buy-in, and derail your entire tech strategy.In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Kyler Cheatham, a system architecture expert in AI and predictive analytics, to break down what districts are getting wrong and how to get it right.Kyler shares hard truths about AI adoption in K-12 and higher ed:Why CTOs must own their “I don't knows”How to avoid the “move fast and break things” trapThe real cost of chasing buzzwords without solving actual problemsWhy 50% of your implementation team should be end usersHow to keep vendors honest and ensure they meet your district's needsWhether you're a district leader, tech director, or educator navigating AI, this conversation will give you the questions, strategies, and fail-safes you need before signing that next contract. 00:00 – Welcome and introduction 02:17 – Kyler's background in AI and education technology 04:26 – The toughest challenges districts face with AI adoption 07:00 – Teachers as “speedboats, tugboats, and anchors” 09:14 – Advice for CTOs feeling overwhelmed 12:32 – The dangers of rushing into AI for the sake of hype 15:43 – Why vendor partnerships can make or break implementation 20:00 – Building a core team with 50% end users 22:58 – “Phase Zero” and defining your why before selecting tools 32:21 – The AI sticker joke—and why labels aren't strategy 35:15 – Two wins and two losses Kyler sees in AI adoption 40:42 – Final advice for districts, CTOs, and vendors 46:25 – Closing thoughts and how to connect with Kyler Big thanks to our sponsors for supporting these important conversations: 

In this episode, I'm joined by Amy Dujon, Vice President of Education at Community EDU and the force behind the Leadhership Network, to talk about how women in education can grow and thrive. You'll also hear Amy share practical advice for stepping into leadership, the importance of building a strong professional network, and how she navigated her own career path. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on building confidence, creating a support system, and empowering women in education. Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2025/08/08/women-in-education-bonus/ Sponsored by Community EDU/Leadhership Network for Women: http://www.leadhershipnetwork.com Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/  Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/   

“Seeing that you can get through the most difficult times in life, succeed, and then also return to your community and work in service to your community was a lesson that has stuck with me,” says Dr. Uche Blackstock, the Founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity and our guest on this inspiring episode of Raise the Line with Osmosis from Elsevier. It was a lesson the Harvard-trained physician learned from her own mother – also a Harvard trained physician – who overcame poverty, sexism and racial bias to forge an inspiring path.  In her bestselling book, Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine, Dr. Blackstock weaves her mother's remarkable story with her own and argues for systemic change in a healthcare system riddled with racially-biased practices and policies that impact patient outcomes. As she explains to host Lindsey Smith, Advancing Health Equity's work to drive measurable and sustainable change is focused on embedding equity as a core value in the leadership, strategy, and organizational practice of health systems. “We exist to challenge inequities, empower underrepresented communities, and help build a healthcare system where everyone can thrive.” Don't miss a thought-provoking conversation with a nationally respected voice that also addresses race correction factors that impact the care of Black patients, and the work required of health institutions to build trust in effected communities.Mentioned in this episode:Advancing Health EquityLegacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast

In this episode, discover how you can use AI-generated reader's theater to make learning come alive! I'll take you through the process of leveraging chatbots to craft scripts tailored to your content area and students' needs, and provide you with a handful of prompts to get your wheels spinning. No matter what subject you teach, if you're looking to boost fluency, deepen content knowledge, and ignite student enthusiasm with custom reader's theater, this episode has you covered! Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2025/08/05/custom-readers-theater-331/ Sponsored by Colorbliss: http://www.ColorBliss.com Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/  Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/   

In this compelling episode, Jeff Mains sits down with Daniel Nalesnik, founder of Hack Chinese, to unravel the journey of building a sticky SaaS product designed to master Mandarin through spaced repetition. Daniel shares how personal frustration and a deep love for language learning fueled his transition from a full-time student in China to the founder of a thriving EdTech platform. The conversation delves into balancing product development with founder sanity, the importance of passionate work, and actionable insights for solo founders navigating slow but steady SaaS growth. From onboarding masterclass to the nuances of AI in edtech, this episode is a quiet powerhouse for anyone looking to not only attract, but truly engage – and retain – users.Key Takeaways[00:04:43] From Hobbyist to Founder: Daniel's journey from taking a night class in Mandarin to full-immersion in China, falling in love with language learning methodology.[00:07:25] Power of Spaced Repetition: Why spaced repetition is optimal for memorizing vast amounts of information—a fundamental principle behind Hack Chinese.[00:13:56] Building for Your Own Pain: Daniel built Hack Chinese to address the complexity and inefficiency he experienced with generic SRS tools, focusing on a seamless vocabulary-learning workflow.[00:19:59] The Critical First 2 Minutes: Refining onboarding to deliver immediate value, inspired by Facebook's rigorous focus on first impressions, dramatically improved conversion and activation.[00:24:29] Finding Product-Market Fit: The breakthrough came after a Mandarin language school reviewed Hack Chinese, flooding the platform with its ideal users — proof that targeted partnerships trump broad, unfocused marketing.[00:41:33] Passion vs. Pressure: Founder passion cannot be outsourced, and allowing team members to gravitate towards projects they're passionate about results in better outcomes and happier teams.Tweetable Quotes"I can pay somebody to get work done, but I cannot pay somebody for their passion." — Daniel Nalesnik"Spaced repetition isn't just a learning hack—it's a retention machine for SaaS." — Daniel Nalesnik"Onboarding is so important. You need to show the value as soon as possible—there's no waiting on that." — Daniel Nalesnik"If you have the luxury to just keep going, don't underestimate how powerful that can be." — Daniel Nalesnik"Niche down incredibly small—and just keep hammering on making that the best in the world." — Daniel Nalesnik"The longer you're in business, the more credibility you have, and marketing just gets easier." — Daniel NalesnikSaaS Leadership LessonsRelentless Clarity of Purpose: Stay deeply connected to the "why" behind your product. Daniel's unwavering focus on solving his own learning pain points resulted in a tool with true product-market fit.Accelerate Early Value: The first moments in your app—or company—matter more than most founders think. Ruthlessly optimize for early wins in onboarding.Niche Down, Then Go Deep: Don't be afraid to focus tightly on a subset of user needs. Specialization breeds depth, loyalty, and real transformation.Embrace Slow, Steady Growth: Most overnight successes have years of invisible persistence behind them. Consistency and the willingness to keep going are more powerful than any growth hack.Hire for Passion: The energy, resilience, and innovation brought by passionate contributors cannot be bought. Structure your team so people work on what excites them.Continuous Iteration > Perfection:...

Reginald 'Reggie' Manning, the innovative CEO of Vista Data, joins us for an insightful chat about his remarkable journey from North Carolina to becoming a trailblazer in AI-enhanced education. With a unique background in special education and business, Reggie shares his inspiring path and how his passion for teaching led him to create AI solutions that bridge educational gaps, particularly those intensified by the pandemic. Reggie's transition from a special education teacher to a successful entrepreneur is filled with lessons on adaptability and perseverance, offering valuable insights into how technology can transform education for marginalized communities.The episode takes a fascinating turn as we explore the power of AI in revolutionizing English language arts, making learning both engaging and effective. Reggie discusses how AI tools can personalize education by incorporating students' interests, consequently fostering a more inclusive and tech-savvy learning environment. We delve into the significance of tech literacy, highlighting how skills like critical thinking and data interpretation are essential for students to thrive in today's digital world. Reggie's approach is all about enhancing human interaction with AI, ensuring that it supports cognitive development instead of replacing critical thinking.Beyond his entrepreneurial pursuits, Reggie embodies the spirit of community building and representation, particularly as a Black male educator and business leader. He shares anecdotes from his teaching days and the emotional weight of being a role model, while emphasizing the importance of addressing systemic issues within education. This conversation also touches on the power of networking and partnerships, with Reggie reflecting on his own experiences of building supportive networks and engaging in local community activities. This episode is a testament to the importance of creating opportunities and fostering growth through collaboration and community engagement.Support the showhttps://www.patreon.com/c/EA_BookClub

Send us a textKaty Knight is President and Executive Director of Siegel Family Endowment, where she leads bold, systems-focused philanthropy at the intersection of technology and society. Since 2017, she has advanced equity, flexible funding, and inquiry-driven grantmaking grounded in the scientific method, and centered on reframing big questions and learning alongside grant investments. Dr. Allison Scott is CEO of the Kapor Foundation, leading work at the intersection of racial justice and technology. She drives research, programs, and advocacy to expand equity in tech and entrepreneurship. A national PI on major CS equity grants, she also co-leads CSforCA, advancing access to K-12 computer science across California.

AI strategist and K-12 innovation consultant Merissa Sadler-Holder joins Hayley Spira-Bauer on "The Learning Can't Wait" podcast to share her journey from French teacher to tech advocate and founder. Merissa discusses how the pandemic and GameStop phenomenon sparked her move into edtech innovation, the empowering parallel between teaching students and guiding AI tools, and her call for educators to reject martyrdom and own their value. Tune in for a candid conversation about embracing change in education and building the future together.

In Episode 262 of the House of #EdTech, Chris Nesi explores the timely and necessary topic of creating a responsible AI policy for your classroom. With artificial intelligence tools becoming more integrated into educational spaces, the episode breaks down why teachers need to set clear expectations and how they can do it with transparency, collaboration, and flexibility. Chris offers a five-part framework that educators can use to guide students toward ethical and effective AI use. Before the featured content, Chris reflects on a growing internal debate: is it time to step back from tech-heavy classrooms and return to more analog methods? He also shares three edtech recommendations, including tools for generating copyright-free images, discovering daily AI tool capabilities, and randomizing seating charts for better classroom dynamics. Topics Discussed: EdTech Thought: Chris debates the “Tech or No Tech” question in modern classrooms EdTech Recommendations: https://nomorecopyright.com/ - Upload an image to transform it into a unique, distinct version designed solely for inspiration and creative exploration. https://www.shufflebuddy.com/ - Never worry about seating charts again Foster a strong classroom community by frequently shuffling your seating charts while respecting your students' individual needs. https://whataicandotoday.com/ - We've analysed 16362 AI Tools and identified their capabilities with OpenAI GPT-4.1, to bring you a free list of 83054 tasks of what AI can do today. Why classrooms need a responsible AI policy A five-part framework to build your AI classroom policy Define What AI Is (and Isn't) Clarify When and How AI Can Be Used Promote Transparency and Attribution Include Privacy and Tool Approval Guidelines Make It Collaborative and Flexible The importance of modeling digital citizenship and AI literacy Free editable AI policy template by Chris for grades K–12 Mentions: Mike Brilla – The Inspired Teacher podcast Jake Miller – Educational Duct Tape podcast // Educational Duct Tape Book

 Learning, Agency, and EdTech | Erik ParsonsIn this episode of My EdTech Life, I reconnect with the brilliant Erik Parsons, better known as The PhDad on TikTok, for a bold conversation on what really matters in education. We dig into behaviorism vs. developmentalism, and how too many classrooms are still operating on compliance over collaboration.From Chromebooks as babysitters to the over-promise of AI-powered personalized learning, we question the transactional mindset that keeps students locked out of agency. Erik shares how improvisational theatre, playground culture, and student discourse can reshape how we think about learning and how the classroom should feel more like a community than a factory.We also break down the risks of cognitive offload when students rely on AI to do the thinking for them. Are these tools helping or harming? What does it really mean to teach with students, not to them?Whether you're a K-12 teacher, higher ed faculty, or policy maker, this episode challenges you to stop, think, and ask yourself: Are we preparing learners or performers? 00:00 – Welcome Back, Erik Parsons: The PhDad Returns 02:45 – The Story Behind "The PhDad" and TikTok Content 06:00 – Behaviorism vs. Developmentalism Explained 12:30 – The Power of Play, Agency, and Classroom Discourse 18:00 – What Developmentalism Looks Like in a Tech-Rich Classroom 24:00 – Are We Managing Students or Empowering Them? 30:00 – When Tech Becomes a Distraction Instead of a Tool 35:15 – Rethinking the Teacher's Role in EdTech 38:30 – Improvisation in Learning: From Theater to Classroom 43:00 – Personalized Learning or Programmed Learning? 48:20 – What Happens When Students Only Care About the Grade 51:00 – The “Banking Model” of Education and Why It Fails 55:00 – The Real Dangers of AI: Cognitive Offload and Student Dependency 01:01:00 – Supporting Neurodivergent Students with Ethical AI 01:05:00 – Final Thoughts: From Performers to Learners 

In this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark dives into the AI revolution in corporate learning with special guest Josh Bersin. Together, they explore the transformative potential of AI-powered tools like the Galileo HR Agent, which are reshaping talent development, HR systems, and learning and development (L&D). Discover how dynamic content, AI tutors, and virtual agents are creating “super workers” and revolutionizing workplace learning. Tune in to learn how these innovations are not just about efficiency but also about empowering humans to thrive in the workforce of the future. Outline (00:00) Introduction to AI Revolution in Corporate Learning (05:35) Introducing Galileo: The AI HR Agent (08:04) AI in Education: Opportunities and Challenges (10:04) Revolutionizing Learning and Development with AI (15:12) The Future of Corporate Training (20:36) Practical Steps for Implementing AI in Education (25:26) Conclusion and Final Thoughts Links Watch the full video here Read the full blog here Linked In Does AI Stunt Learning? In Some Cases Yes. Josh Bersin Academy Galileo Learn

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they break down a pivotal week in EdTech, from AI breakthroughs to Roblox's education push and the future of personalized learning.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:00:33] Quizlet report shows 85% of students and nearly 90% of teachers using AI, with different adoption patterns.[00:02:24] International Math Olympiad highlights AI's reasoning advances, earning a gold medal and raising assessment questions.[00:11:16] OpenAI agents and AI-native browsers signal a major shift in tech workflows and task automation.[00:16:58] Roblox launches a centralized learning hub featuring educational games from Google, Sesame, and others.[00:20:55] Pearson unveils an AI and XR innovation lab, sparking debate on whether incumbents can truly innovate.[00:29:13] U.S. Department of Education outlines new AI funding priorities for instruction, tutoring, and career navigation.[00:36:12] Preply challenges Duolingo with “Better Duo” campaign, framing human vs. AI tutoring as a key market battle.[00:37:31] McGraw Hill IPO and new funding rounds for Honor Education and Galaxy Education mark a busy week in EdTech finance.Plus, special guests:[00:39:50] Brad Carson, President of Americans for Responsible Innovation on AI policy and its impact on education.[01:04:44] Ryan Trattner, CTO and Co-Founder of StudyFetch on personalized learning tools and their rapid user growth.

Sonal Jain joined EPL in June, 2023 as the Global CHRO. She has more than 19 years of diverse experience in FMCG, Health Care, Information services and EdTech sector. Prior to this role, Sonal was Head of People, Asia Pacific at Coursera. Sonal has also worked in various capacities for Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and Wipro Technologies.A well-known name in the HR community, Sonal has been recognized as one of the “10 Best CPOs in India 2023” by TradeFlock and was honoured as a “Top 100 HR Leader for 40under40” by Bombay in 2018. She was facilitated as “Inspirational Women Leader 2024 by Transformance Forum”. She was featured as Top 10 Best Women CHRO by Women Entrepreneur Magazine 2024" along with Most Iconic HR Leaders 2024 by World HRD Congress" She is a core member of CII National Committee for Leadership and HR and Forbes Council 2024. Her expertise extends beyond borders, as she has held roles and engaged teams across markets such as the Americas, Japan, Europe, Middle East, South East Asia, Africa, Australia and South Asia. Sonal holds a graduate degree in Civil Engineering for Jamia Millia Islamia and MBA in Human Resources from University Business School, Panjab University.She hold certifications and accreditations such as ICF ACC Certified Coach, Hogan Assessor, Hays Assessor, and Chartered MCIPD

“Pandemics are a political choice. We will not be able to prevent every disease outbreak or epidemic but we can prevent an epidemic from becoming a pandemic,” says Dr. Joanne Liu, the former International President of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders and a professor in the School of Population and Global Health at McGill University. You are in for a lot of that sort of frank and clear-eyed analysis in this episode of Raise the Line from Dr. Liu, whose perspective is rooted in decades of experience providing medical care on the frontlines of major humanitarian and health crises across the globe, as well as wrangling with world leaders to produce more effective responses to those crises and to stop attacks on medical facilities and aid workers in conflict zones. Firsthand accounts from the bedside to the halls of power are captured in her new book Ebola, Bombs and Migrants, which focuses on the most significant issues during her tenure leading MSF from 2013-2019.  The book also contains insights about the geopolitical realities that hamper this work, including lax enforcement of international humanitarian law, and a focus on national security that erodes global solidarity. Join host Lindsey Smith as she interviews this leading voice on our preparedness to meet the needs of those impacted by violent conflict, forced migration, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and other grave challenges. If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast

The chatbot boosters are looking for educators to play brand ambassador for more intrusion of so-called "AI" into the classroom. From the American Federation of Teachers' new partnership with OpenAI and Microsoft for a "national academy for AI instruction" to yet more articles extolling the alleged time-saving and future-proofing virtues of LLM-powered ed tech, the hype can feel relentless. Charles Logan joins Alex and Emily for a critical look at the latest propaganda for "AI" in the classroom.Charles Logan is a former English teacher and current PhD candidate in Learning Sciences at Northwestern University.References:Welcome to Campus. Here's Your ChatGPT.AI isn't replacing student writing – but it is reshaping itAFT to Launch National Academy for AI Instruction with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic and United Federation of Teachers Also referenced:Tressie McMillan Cottom on "predatory inclusion"Daniel Greene's "The Access Doctrine"The Group Chats that Changed AmericaFresh AI Hell:Missouri AG investigating why chatbots don't like TrumpGig workers calling ICE on other undocumented gig workersTech billionaire Trump adviser Marc Andreessen says universities will ‘pay the price' for DEIUSF makes a PTSD detector...trained on childrenPeople falling in love with Replika chatbotsElon Musk thirsting over xAI anime constructCheck out future streams at on Twitch, Meanwhile, send us any AI Hell you see.Our book, 'The AI Con,' comes out in May! Pre-order now.Subscribe to our newsletter via Buttondown. Follow us!Emily Bluesky: emilymbender.bsky.social Mastodon: dair-community.social/@EmilyMBender Alex Bluesky: alexhanna.bsky.social Mastodon: dair-community.social/@alex Twitter: @alexhanna Music by Toby Menon.Artwork by Naomi Pleasure-Park. Production by Christie Taylor.

In an era where the average job tenure in the U.S. hovers under four years and industries are evolving faster than academic curricula can keep up, the need for a new approach to workforce development has never been more urgent. Companies like Amazon and McDonald's are responding by investing in “education as a benefit” programs, but the bigger challenge lies in designing learning experiences that are agile, job-relevant, and deeply integrated with workplace needs.So how do we prepare people for jobs that don't even exist yet—and how do employers and educators collaborate to build the future-ready workforce we need?Welcome to DisruptED. In the second episode of this two-part series, host Ron J. Stefanski dives deep into these questions with two powerhouse guests: Michael Horn, a leading author on education and business, and Jason Aubrey, the CEO of Skilltrade. Together, they explore the shifting dynamics between workers, employers, and educators—and why traditional workforce pipelines are falling short.Highlights from the conversation:The evolving definition of a “job”: Workers are no longer just being hired—they're hiring the job to serve their goals, and job descriptions are increasingly becoming co-created and personalized.Education as a recruitment and retention strategy: Companies like Amazon and Starbucks are leveraging education benefits to improve employee tenure and upskill workers for more complex roles.The rise of tightly coupled partnerships: Employers and educators must work hand-in-hand to build programs that align with real-time labor market needs, moving away from the outdated, arms-length models of the past.Michael Horn is a renowned education strategist and thought leader known for pioneering work in disruptive innovation and workforce development. He is the co-founder of the Clayton Christensen Institute and author of several influential books, including the bestseller Job Moves: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career, and serves as an advisor and board member for numerous education and training organizations. With degrees from Yale and Harvard Business School, Horn also teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and co-hosts top education podcasts, making him a central voice in rethinking the future of learning and career pathways.Jason Aubrey is a seasoned EdTech and workforce development executive with a proven track record of scaling mission-driven organizations and leading successful exits, including MedCerts' acquisition by Stride, Inc. He is currently the Founder and CEO of Skilltrade, and has previously served as CEO of ClearGage and co-founded LectureTools, an active learning platform used by hundreds of universities globally. Aubrey brings deep experience in organizational transformation, education technology, and public-private workforce partnerships, and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.

In this episode, I share a powerful conversation with Jen Roberts, high school English teacher, author, blogger, and speaker, all about how educators can best respond when students use AI. You'll also hear Jen share actionable ideas on proactively addressing AI and cultivating a sense of curiosity around it. Tune in for strategies you can use tomorrow to navigate the world of AI in student work! Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2025/07/29/when-students-use-ai-330/ Sponsored by my Easy EdTech Club: https://www.EasyEdTechClub.com Follow Jen Roberts on social: https://bsky.app/profile/jen.litandtech.com Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/  Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/     

Today's guest is Ryan Delk, cofounder and CEO of Primer, a fast-growing platform helping top teachers to launch microschools in their communities. He's spent the last decade building tech companies (like Square, Gumroad, and Omni), and was homeschooled from kindergarten through 8th grade. Ryan lives in San Francisco with his wife and three kids. ***   Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Steve Mesler returns to the Art of Fatherhood podcast. We talk about he and his wife were blessed with another child. We talk about the different stages of fatherhood. Steve opens up a lot about the different challenges he has experienced since the last time we spoke. After that we talk about him and his Bobsled teammates getting into the US Olympic Hall of Fame. Lastly, we finish the interview with the Fatherhood Quick Five.  About Steve Mesler  Steve is a leader that helped push his team to Olympic gold and now pushes his organization and others to succeed. With that same push, Steve and his sister, Dr. Leigh Mesler Parise founded Classroom Champions, an international EdTech non-profit organization that is improving student achievement and promoting school culture change with the help of hundreds of Olympians, Paralympians, NFL, NHL, and NCAA (student-) athletes. Classroom Champions Olympians, Paralympians, and college student-athletes mentor over 50,000 students annually, while the organization reaches more than 1,000,000 students through programs, online events, and online education content. Mesler graduated with honors from the University of Florida in 2000 with a degree in exercise and sport science. He was a Division I scholarship track and field athlete, competing primarily in the decathlon. Mesler is an All-SEC and an All-SEC academic award winner.  Mesler enjoys the mix of fear and adrenaline that he gets on a daily basis when bobsledding. After retiring from the sport, Mesler founded Classroom Champions, a non-profit organization that shares the Olympic ideals with young students across the nation using today's most cutting edge technology. Make sure you follow Steve on Instagram at @steve.mesler. In addition, check out his website at classroomchampions.org. Sunseeker Is This Week's Podcast Sponsor Sunseeker was founded with one goal in mind. It is to merge cutting-edge technology with innovative landscaping solutions. They believe that effortless lawn care should be accessible to everyone, and we continuously push the boundaries of what lawn care technology can achieve. As a leader in green innovation, Sunseeker delivers advanced products that elevate lawn care to new heights. Their diverse product portfolio features intelligent robotic mowers and professional-grade garden tools, designed to simplify maintenance while maximizing performance. From residential yards to commercial landscapes, Sunseeker empowers users to take control of their outdoor spaces with ease and precision. About The Art of Fatherhood Podcast  The Art of Fatherhood Podcast follows the journey of fatherhood. Your host, Art Eddy talks with fantastic dads from all around the world where they share their thoughts on fatherhood. You get a unique perspective on fatherhood from guests like Bob Odenkirk, Hank Azaria, Joe Montana, Kevin Smith, Danny Trejo, Jerry Rice, Jeff Foxworthy, Patrick Warburton, Jeff Kinney, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Kyle Busch, Dennis Quaid, Dwight Freeney and many more.

Send us a textVijay Thakkar is a visionary entrepreneur, educator, and the CEO & Co-founder of FotonVR. He's transforming the way children learn by bringing immersive Virtual Reality experiences into classrooms around the world. With a deep passion for innovation in education, Vijay has pioneered immersive Virtual Reality solutions designed specifically for school learning. Nisha Panchal is the Head of Global Business Development at fotonVR. With a strong focus on international business development and global expansion, Nisha plays a pivotal role in bringing fotonVR's innovative classroom technology to schools across the world.

Workforce training is undergoing a radical transformation as industries face critical talent shortages and rapid technological change. Building a future-ready workforce requires rethinking traditional higher education models. These models emphasize broad academic development over targeted skill-building and struggle to keep pace with employer demands. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, roughly 59 out of every 100 workers will require reskilling or upskilling to meet evolving job demands. This shift has pushed innovative training models and community-based approaches to the forefront of workforce development.What will it take to create a workforce that is agile, future-ready, and aligned with the needs of employers in fast-changing industries? How can new models of education and skills training bridge the growing gap between job seekers and the roles that remain unfilled?In this episode of DisruptED, host Ron Stefanski speaks with Jason Aubrey, Founder and CEO at SkillTrade, and Michael Horn, a leading voice on disruptive innovation in education. Together, they explore how education and workforce training must evolve, the role of community-based initiatives, and the partnerships required to meet urgent labor demands.Key Points from the Episode:Outdated Pathways - Traditional higher education pathways are failing to produce job-ready graduates, particularly in healthcare and other high-demand sectors.Community Partnership- Employer-aligned, community-driven training programs are delivering faster and more effective results for both learners and organizations.Innovative Solutions – Apprenticeships, online active learning, and loan repayment partnerships are reshaping workforce pipelines and improving career readiness, creating a sustainable path toward a future-ready workforce.Jason Aubrey is a workforce development and EdTech leader with extensive experience scaling tech-enabled businesses and driving organizational innovation. As CEO of MedCerts, he led the company to its acquisition by Stride, Inc., expanding its impact in healthcare and IT certification training. He is now the founder and CEO of SkillTrade, building community-driven, employer-aligned training programs to address critical workforce gaps, particularly in healthcare.Michael Horn is a leading expert on disruptive innovation in education, known for shaping future-focused learning strategies and workforce development. He co-founded the Clayton Christensen Institute, teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and advises organizations like Guild Education and Minerva University. Horn is also a bestselling author of several influential books, including Job Moves: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career and Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns, and is a sought-after speaker and podcast cohost.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Claire Zau, a Partner and AI Lead at GSV Ventures as they explores the latest developments in education technology, from AI agents to teacher co-pilots, talent wars, and shifts in global AI strategies. ✨ Episode Highlights [00:00:00] AI teacher co-pilots evolve into agentic workflows.[00:02:15] OpenAI launches ChatGPT Agent for autonomous tasks.[00:04:24] Meta, Google, and OpenAI escalate AI talent wars.[00:07:38] Privacy guardrails emerge for AI agent actions.[00:10:20] ChatGPT pilots “Study Together” learning mode.[00:14:40] Teens use AI as companions, sparking debate.[00:19:58] AI multiplies both positive and negative behaviors.[00:29:11] Windsurf acquisition saga shows coding disruption.[00:37:18] Teacher AI tools gain value through workflow data.[00:42:48] DeepMind's rise positions Demis Hassabis as key leader.[00:45:32] Google offers free Gemini AI plan to Indian students.[00:49:39] Meta builds massive AI data centers for digital labor. Plus, special guests: [00:52:42] Matthew Gasda, a writer and director, on how educators can rethink writing and grading in the AI era. [01:13:30] Marc Graham, founder of Spark Education AI, on using AI to personalize reading and engage reluctant readers.

“As parents dedicated to getting a treatment for our children in their lifetimes, we have turned the rare disease drug development landscape upside down and created a new model,” says Nicole Johnson, co-founder and executive director of the FOXG1 Research Foundation.  That's not an exaggeration, as the foundation is on track to make history as it begins patient clinical trials on a gene replacement therapy next year. The former TV news producer and media executive unexpectedly entered the world of patient advocacy and drug research after her daughter, Josie, was born with FOXG1, a genetic disorder which causes severe seizures and impedes normal movement, speech, and sleep among other problems. Johnson is also making an impact in another important dimension of the rare disease space in her efforts to educate parents, teachers, and students about disability inclusion through her Joyfully Josie book series and “Live Joyfully” education programs. Tune-in to this fascinating Year of the Zebra conversation with host Lindsey Smith to find out how the foundation is aiming to bring a drug to market in less than half the time and at a fraction of the cost than the industry standard, and how this model might impact research on other rare disorders. Mentioned in this episode:FOXG1 Research FoundationJoyfully Josie Book If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast

Professor Gunter Saunders sits down with Keypoint Intelligence's Mark Davis to discuss his position as a leader in technology and innovation at the University of Westminster, London. As the riveting conversation unfolds, the pair consider the role digital transformation (DX) has played in higher education over recent years, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), and how higher ed will evolve over the coming years.

Joining us today is Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, the current Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, with decades of experience leading Pakistan's education reform. Dr. Mukhtar offers an unfiltered view on the gaps in our current system and what needs to change.In this episode, we dive deep into why Pakistan's degrees are becoming irrelevant, how outdated policies are killing innovation, and what steps HEC is taking to fix this broken system. We also explore future plans for AI, local internet infra, EdTech, and what a truly skilled youth could look like by 2050.This episode answers:Why are our degrees not helping us build careers?How does HEC plan to bridge the talent gap?What's the future of higher education in Pakistan?Is EdTech the answer?Stay till the end to understand how Pakistan's education system can evolve and what's holding it back.Don't forget to subscribe and press the bell icon to catch more unfiltered conversations like this!#thoughtbehindthings #muzamilhasan #hecpakistan #pakistanieducation #degrees Socials:TBT's Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtbehindthings/TBT's Official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbtbymuzamilTBT's Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtbehindthingsMuzamil's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muzamilhasan/Muzamil's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muzamilhasan/Dr. Mukhtar's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-mukhtar-ahmed-046408247/

In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Lane, founder of Data-Informed Impact, to unpack the critical role of data in K-12 education—and how to use it responsibly, effectively, and equitably. Jessica shares her expertise on building a strong data culture in schools, improving data literacy, and creating clear, ethical data visualizations that empower—not overwhelm—educators and leaders.We explore the often-overlooked human side of data: how to build trust around data use, avoid duplicative processes that drain educators' time, and leverage data to evaluate systems. Jessica also offers insights into how different stakeholders—teachers, administrators, district leaders—use data from both micro and macro lenses, and how EdTech plays a role in the broader data landscape.Whether you're a classroom teacher, building leader, or part of a district team, this conversation will help you think critically about using data as a tool for improvement—not just compliance.Key Topics Covered:✔️ Building a positive and ethical data culture in schools✔️ Improving data literacy for educators and leaders✔️ How to design accessible, meaningful data visualizations✔️ Strategies to streamline administrative processes and reduce redundancy✔️ Student data use and privacy✔️ Understanding the micro vs. macro data needs across K-12 stakeholdersAbout Our Guest:As the founder of Data-Informed Impact, Jessica Lane is known for turning webs of data into easy-to-leverage visual dashboards, systems, and training for K-12 schools – fully equipping leaders and teachers to close the student success gap together. Having created custom solutions for 160 schools across the United States and Canada since 2020, she's an educational data expert. With 10+ years of experience from all angles of the classroom, Jessica's a former data coach, instructional coach, certified math teacher, and holds a Master of Education in learning and technology. Proudly data-informed and people-driven, she believes that data can tell great student success stories, if we let it guide, not decide, how to lead education forward.Jessica currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she can often be found excitedly exploring spreadsheets, brain studies, Brené Brown books, and puzzles. And when she's not partnering with schools, she's caring for her darling daughter, Emmy, or one of her 50 houseplants.You can connect with Jessican on her website at: https://www.data-informedimpact.com/Learn about her Data Culture Framework here: https://www.data-informedimpact.com/3-domains-of-diiLearn about her Re-Teaching Cycle Template and other Templates here: https://www.data-informedimpact.com/templatesConnect with Jessica on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/informedimpact/ We're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

In this episode, I share creative back-to-school bulletin board ideas for teachers to welcome students and set a positive tone for the year. You'll also hear ways to incorporate technology, like AI-generated images and QR codes, to make your displays more interactive. If you want to create engaging, informative, and visually appealing bulletin boards that spark curiosity and excitement, this episode has you covered! Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2025/07/22/bulletin-board-ideas-for-teachers-329/ Sponsored by my Easy EdTech Club: https://www.EasyEdTechClub.com Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/  Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/   

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It's the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at classdojo.com/districts. What if your favorite classroom behavior tool scaled across an entire district—for free? In this episode, Chad Stevens, Head of Product at ClassDojo, reveals how the platform is evolving beyond K–5. Discover new features that boost district-wide communication, integrate seamlessly with student information systems, and help bridge the middle school gap. This conversation is packed with practical insights and future-ready strategies to engage students and families at scale. Connect With Gabriel Carrillo EdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.com EdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.social EdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbites EdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbites EdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbites EdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbites EdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites About Chad Stevens Chad A. Stevens, Ph.D. has established a distinguished career in education technology, most recently serving as Head of K12 Engagement at ClassDojo. In 2024 he was inducted into the CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking) Volunteer Hall of Fame. In 2023 Dr. Stevens was recognized as EdTech Chronicle's Best C-Level Officer in Education/EdTech, and he was named a Top 100 Influencer in EdTech by EdTech Digest. His strategies have left a significant mark on educational technology and students. Connect With ClassDojo For Districts ClassDojo For Districts: https://www.classdojo.com/districts ClassDojo For Districts Essentials Blog: https://essential.classdojo.com ClassDojo For Districts On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/classdojofordistricts/

Send us a textTammy Wincup has served for over 25 years as a business executive at the intersection of technology and education. Tammy is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Securly, the leading digital safety and wellness company serving over 22,000 K-12 schools globally to keep students safe, secure, and ready to learn. Before Securly, Tammy was a partner at Rethink Education, an impact venture fund investing in global education technology. For almost a decade, Tammy was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at EVERFI, a leading education technology company. She also served as the President of Revolution Foods and the Founding President of Protocol, a media company covering the intersection of technology and policy.

Over 1,500 parents spoke up — and the results are in. In this episode, Scrolling 2 Death host Nicki Petrossi breaks down brand-new national survey data that reveals what parents really think about technology, screen time, and AI in K–12 schools. From overwhelming concerns about excessive screen use and digital safety to a stunning 91% of parents saying they don't want their kids using AI at school, the findings are impossible to ignore. Nicki covers it all: data privacy, inappropriate content on school-issued devices, and the growing disconnect between parent values and EdTech policy. If you've ever felt powerless watching your child glued to a Chromebook or iPad— this episode will inform, empower, and equip you to start changing the conversation at your school.Full survey summary + email template for school outreach available here.

On this episode of Digital Squared, Tom is talking to Steven Walters, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Breakout Learning, an educational technology company. Steven shares his fascinating journey from theater and storytelling to the world of ed-tech. He provides a unique perspective on the intersection of storytelling, technology, and education, showcasing how AI can enhance and scale certain aspects of learning while maintaining the crucial human elements of inspiration and connection.Together they discuss how Breakout Learning uses AI-powered discussion platforms to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and critical thinking in both higher education and workforce training. Steven emphasizes the importance of discussion as "the soul of learning" and explains how their platform aims to spark meaningful conversations that continue beyond the classroom. 

As we prepare to return to school and with all of the announcements over the summer, what are the things we should do right away to prepare. Should we really enable all of the things or how can we slow down and test what really needs to happen to ensure the safety of our students and the educational value we want to offer? Teacher and IT Director, Vicki Davis, gives an overview of the summer's hottest AI announcements and some tips that schools are using to keep kids safe and cover their bases when it comes to implementing this cascade of change in ways that protect learning and kids. As always, each school must make these decisions for themselves to keep kids safe as the responsibility is on each of us to do so but here are some tips that might make sense for you. Show notes and links: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e908 

If you're not ready to dive into anything heavy but still want to stay a little connected to your teaching brain, this one's for you. In today's episode, we're sharing low-key ways to dip into PD—stuff you can explore between naps, walks, or iced coffee refills. No pressure, no big goals—just light, helpful ideas to keep you inspired while still enjoying your break. Show Notes: www.DIESOL.org/123 

Why are kids using so much tech at school?A hint: the year was 2020.It started when COVID shut the world down and EdTech became an emergency measure. One-to-one devices kept learning going while schools were closed. It was necessary. But the pandemic ended- and the screens stayed.At first, digital learning seemed full of promise. In a tech-driven world, it felt like the future. But now, the harms are becoming harder to ignore.British actress and children's advocate, Sophie Winkleman, noticed how agitated her kids became after hours of screen-based learning. She gave them permission to read books instead. Her instinct was right – and the research backs her up: too much screen time in schools is harming students' focus, memory, and academic performance. Sweden has become the first country to reverse its digital-first education policy– replacing screens with printed textbooks and handwriting, especially for young learners. Sophie hopes more countries will follow.In this episode of Scrolling 2 Death, Sophie joins Nicki to explore the data behind screen harm and why parents need to start asking schools tough questions: Is EdTech really helping our kids learn? Or is it putting them in danger?

From scaling PSI through 30+ acquisitions to reshaping assessment delivery, Assessment Industry Executive Steve Tapp joins John Kleeman for a powerful conversation. Steve offers powerful reflections on leadership, company culture, and the importance of keeping both your clients and your people at the center of every strategic decision.

Chanakya Yerneni didn't want another promotion. He wanted freedom—and the chance to build something of his own.After a decade in enterprise SaaS, he quit corporate, browsed Acquire.com, and bought a small AI grading tool for teachers. It had $5K MRR, no SEO, and no real growth engine.Twelve months later, that product—EssayGrader—is on track to hit $1M ARR.In this episode, Chanakya shares how he evaluated listings, rebuilt the product from scratch, and scaled an EdTech SaaS with product-led growth and word of mouth.You'll learn:How he picked the right SaaS to acquireWhy talking to 400+ customers changed everythingWhat made the product go viral in schoolsHow to approach SEO from zero and winWhy founder fit matters more than perfect metrics3 lessons from Chanakya's exit journey:Start with PMF, not just profitBuild for a customer you deeply understandA clean, focused process beats complexity every timeWhether you're buying your first startup or scaling your next, this episode is a playbook in clarity, conviction, and customer-first growth.Follow Chanakya's journey on LinkedIn.

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they explore the latest developments in education technology, from AI showdowns to immersive learning pilots and funding updates.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:02:00] OpenAI announces $28M K-12 AI training initiative with AFT, UFT, and Microsoft[00:04:34] Gallup-Walton poll reveals 68% of teachers lack AI training despite high usage[00:07:11] OpenAI takes a bottom-up approach as teachers criticize Google's AI rollout[00:23:41] Meta forms Superintelligence Labs, aggressively hiring AI talent across the industry[00:36:17] Senate blocks AI regulation ban, states retain power to legislate AI in education[00:37:31] Higher Ground Education files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, prompting edtech funding debate[00:42:05] Honor Education raises $38M to enhance asynchronous social learning[00:42:45] Teaching Lab merges with Relay Graduate School of Education to scale AI-aligned PDPlus, special guests:[00:44:17] Josh Reibel, CEO of Dreamscape Learn and Dr. Jennifer Cruz, Superintendent of the Pendergast Elementary School District discuss VR and immersive learning with Dreamscape Learn[01:46:15] Eduaide.Ai founders Thomas Thompson and Thomas Hummel on empowering teacherpreneurs with AI

Today on Raise the Line, we bring you the unlikely and inspiring story of a woman who was afraid of blood as a child but became an accomplished nurse; who struggled with learning disabilities but became an effective educator; and who, despite lacking business experience or knowledge of graphics, built a successful company that produces visually rich educational materials for nurses and other providers. “I think the theme of my life has been I have struggled with learning, and I didn't want other people to struggle,” says Jennifer Zahourek, RN, the founder and CEO of RekMed which has developed a sequential, interactive learning system that includes illustrated planners, books, and videos used by millions of students and providers. The initial focus was to provide nurses with everything they needed to know from “the basics to the bedside” but RekMed now offers content for medics, respiratory therapists, medical assistants, and veterinarians as well. Driven by her belief in the power of visual learning and her “just freakin' do it” attitude, Jennifer overcame her fear of launching a business and quickly realized just how well nursing had prepared her for the hard work and unpredictability of entrepreneurship. “Nursing teaches you how to just be resilient, to pivot, to delegate, to work on a team and to handle high stress. I think nurses could literally be some of the best entrepreneurs on the planet,” she tells host Lindsey Smith. Tune in to this lively and valuable conversation as Jennifer shares lessons from bootstrapping a publishing company, insights on the evolving landscape of healthcare education, and advice on embracing change in nursing, especially with the expanding role of AI. Mentioned in this episode:RekMed If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast

In this final episode recorded live from Transact 360, Dustin chats with Derek Bierman, CIO at Doane University, for a candid, future-focused, and wide-ranging conversation about what it really takes to lead digital transformation on campus. From AI overload to cloud sticker shock to the very real challenge of prioritizing hundreds of tech contracts, Derek offers a rare look behind the scenes of modern campus IT leadership.This is the episode for anyone who's ever tried to balance innovation with budget constraints—or wondered how CIOs are juggling AI, cybersecurity, and the relentless pressure to do more with less.Guest Name: Derek Bierman, Chief Information Officer at Doane UniversityGuest Social: LinkedInGuest Bio: Derek Bierman is a strategic technology leader and Chief Information Officer at Doane University, where he drives digital transformation to enhance student success, service excellence, and institutional efficiency. With a passion for innovation in higher education, he has led key initiatives, including an award-winning service center, a multi-institutional shared services consortium, and a Salesforce-powered student success platform recognized as a model for higher education. Under his leadership, Doane has modernized operations through enterprise service management, cloud transformation, and cybersecurity advancements, ensuring a future-ready institution. A frequent speaker on innovation, analytics, and digital transformation, Derek is particularly curious about the evolving role of AI in higher education and its potential to revolutionize learning, operations, and student success. He remains dedicated to bridging technology and strategy to create lasting impact in the field. - - - -Connect With Our Host:Dustin Ramsdellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/About The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

In this episode, I chat with fellow ASCD author and Manager of Coaching and Improvement, Jennifer Ciok, all about innovative strategies to amplify student voice in the classroom through multimedia projects. You'll also hear tips from Jennifer's new book, The Meaningful Middle School Classroom, on the significance of authentic audiences, the impact of student choice in storytelling, and how to tap into students' passions to encourage engagement. Tune in to explore creative, tech-infused ways to empower your students and make their voices heard! Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2025/07/15/student-voice-in-the-classroom-328/ Sponsored by my Easy EdTech Club: https://www.EasyEdTechClub.com Follow Jennifer Ciok on social: http://jenc20.bsky.social Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/  Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/   

Description In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Sheena O'Connell, an educator and developer from South Africa who has been making waves in the Python education community. Sheena shares her journey from electrical engineering to founding Prelude, where she runs advanced Django learning sprints and teamwork training courses. We explore the critical importance of soft skills in technical education, diving into Google's Project Aristotle and the five key factors that make teams effective: psychological safety, dependability, structure and clarity, meaning, and impact. Sheena provides fascinating insights into how cultural concepts like Ubuntu ("I am because we are") influence collaborative learning and professional development. The conversation covers practical strategies for teaching both technical and soft skills to adult learners, the challenges of helping students transition from learning to professional environments, and how to build psychologically safe spaces that promote growth and learning. We also discuss upcoming events including Django Con Africa in Tanzania and PyCon Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa, which Sheena is chairing. Whether you're an educator, team leader, or developer interested in fostering better collaborative environments, this episode offers valuable insights into the intersection of technical education, cultural awareness, and team dynamics. Key Topics Discussed Transitioning from technical roles to education Building effective coding bootcamps and adult learning programs The importance of soft skills in technical careers Google's Project Aristotle and team effectiveness Psychological safety and stereotype threat Cultural influences on learning and teamwork (Ubuntu philosophy) Managing the "desperation mindset" in learning environments Professional development and career transitions PyCon Africa and Django Con Africa Cross-cultural team dynamics and communication Guests Sheena O'Connell - Founder of Prelude, former educator at Umuzi, and chair of PyCon Africa 2025 Resources Mentioned Google's Project Aristotle (https://rework.withgoogle.com/en/guides/understanding-team-effectiveness) The Culture Map (book on cultural differences in teams) Prelude Tech (https://prelude.tech) - Sheena's platform for Django courses and teamwork training PyCon Africa 2025 (Johannesburg, South Africa) Django Con Africa (Arusha, Tanzania) Ubuntu philosophy Umuzi (South African coding bootcamp) Connect with Sheena Personal blog: sheenaoc.com (https://sheenaoc.com) Courses and training: Prelude TV PyCon Africa 2025: October, Johannesburg, South Africa Wins and Fails of the Week Sheena Win: Successfully running a teamwork course for Canonical with an international team Fail: All her plants fell onto the couch (and the subsequent cleanup) Kelly Win: Attending ISTE conference in San Antonio, meeting previous podcast guests, and co-hosting a presentation Fail: Losing momentum on Anthony Shaw's GitHub course due to summer break Sean Win: Being interviewed by media about AI coding tools and AWS Amazon Q Fail: Home server power supply failure during a lightning storm, breaking all home automations Episode Notes This episode provides valuable insights for educators at all levels, from K-12 teachers to corporate trainers. The discussion of soft skills, cultural awareness, and team dynamics offers practical strategies that can be applied in classrooms, coding bootcamps, and professional development settings. The conversation highlights how technical education must go beyond coding skills to prepare students for successful careers, emphasizing the importance of communication, collaboration, and cultural competency in today's global technology landscape. Special Guest: Sheena O'Connell.

Send us a textIn this special episode, we speak with the founder of Edthena and five outstanding educators who were honored as 2025 Teacher Leader Impact Award winners. Each guest shares how they're shaping the future of professional learning, using technology in smart and supportive ways, and leading from the classroom and beyond.

This presentation explores responsible AI implementation in K-12 education, focusing on enhancing learning while protecting student data. Topics include the benefits and risks of AI, best practices for data privacy and security, compliance with legal standards, and practical AI applications that ensure student privacy. Learn how to use AI responsibly to create a safe and effective educational environment.Key Take Aways:How to implement AI technologies responsiblyBenefits and risks associated with using AI technologies in schoolsAI data privacy and security best practices.The Sessions Everyone Was Talking About Webinar SeriesMissed CoSN2025 in Seattle or couldn't attend every session? Don't worry—we're bringing the most popular, standing-room-only presentations to you in a special webinar series. Learn from top EdTech leaders from across the country—no travel needed!In our professional advancement webinars, education technology experts from across the country and worldwide present their specialties. During each interactive session, experts engage in dialogue to address the challenges and opportunities facing educators. Webinars are FREE for members and $59 for non-members. Partner webinars are free for all.For a complete listing of all CoSN's webinars, please visit:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.cosn.org/Produced in partnership with edCircuit.

Send us a textSam Whitaker is the Senior Director of Social Impact and Institutional Development at StudyFetch, an all-encompassing AI learning platform for students. His primary focuses are bringing advanced AI education to underserved communities around the world and developing safe and responsible K-12 AI solutions.

Education research, from technology to instruction to design, too often uses an instrumentalist approach that assumes the right tool or trick will simply solve a problem. Jason McDonald joins to talk about the need for entangled research that actually changes both the researcher and the system for the better. Later, we read The Opportunity Makers and reflect on how some important flaws put key findings at odds with most other educational research.

“Very often, doctors try to suppress what they feel or don't even have the vocabulary to describe their emotions,” says Professor Alicja Galazka of the University of Silesia, an observation based on decades of work with physicians to enhance their emotional intelligence and resilience. Galazka, a psychotherapist, psychologist, lecturer and coach, believes this deficit is rooted in part in a lack of instruction in the internal and external psychological dimensions of being a medical provider. “There is not enough space created in medical school for teaching and training students about how to deal with their own stress and all of the skills connected to building relationships with patients,” she tells host Michael Carrese. Those same skills are also critical to working effectively as a member of a care team, which is an increasingly common arrangement in hospitals and clinics. Galazka employs simulations, dramatic role-playing, mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and other methods in her work with an eye on increasing the emotional agility and sensitivity of her trainees and clients. Tune in to this thoughtful episode of Raise the Line to hear Galazka's ideas on how to reshape medical training, why she is a proponent of narrative medicine, and the merits of embedding psychologists on care teams as a resource for both patients and providers. Mentioned in this episode:University of SilesiaInternational Association of Coaching Institutes If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast

In this powerful episode of Learning Through Technology, hosts Alex Inman and Bob Cireddu sit down with David Wildy, Chief Technology Officer at Dublin Unified School District in California, for a candid conversation about the front-line realities of managing technology in K–12 education.David pulls no punches as he discusses the operational grind balancing infrastructure demands, refresh cycles, and phishing attacks with the strategic vision required to align IT with instructional priorities. He shares how being part of the Ed Services team, rather than the business office, has given his department a more direct path to classroom impact, and how his small but mighty 14-person team supports over 12,000 students across a rapidly growing district.Whether you're an edtech leader or an administrator trying to bridge instructional goals with technology systems, this episode is packed with both ground-level insights and big-picture strategy.Key Moments:03:00 – The Real Threat: Phishing, not firewalls05:05 – Teacher Training vs. Email Fatigue: A Catch-2207:18 – From Keenan to ESET: Building smarter cyber training08:30 – Why IT Belongs in Ed Services: Curriculum alignment in action10:50 – Coaching Connections: Using EdTech coaches to scale support13:00 – Supporting Everyone: Not just teachers, but staff and admin15:20 – The Thought Leadership Trap: No time at 30,000 feet17:23 – The Budget Cliff: Post-ESSER tech maintenance19:06 – Cybersecurity at Night: Risk, insurance, and reality22:27 – Staff or Service? The outsourcing debate24:01 – Tech Impact on Learning: Making the case through data26:14 – Flexibility Over One-Size-Fits-All28:00 – A Music Teacher's Legacy: How Mr. Tristan shaped a tech leaderWhy You'll Love This Episode:Real Talk from a District CTODavid doesn't gloss over the hard parts—he walks us through the daily demands and long-term vision of school tech leadership.Instructional Alignment, Not SilosHear how his team works side-by-side with curriculum and EdTech coaches to ensure technology supports teaching, not just operations.Security Without Fear-Mongering From phishing to ransomware to insurance, David offers a clear-eyed view of the threats schools face and how to prepare.Connect with Guest – David WildyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-wildy-mpa-ba41b95Connect with Hosts – Alex Inman & Bob CiredduLinkedIn – Alex Inman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexinman/LinkedIn – Bob Cireddu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-cireddu

In this episode, I share practical study tips and EdTech tools that help students build strong study habits and take charge of their learning. You'll also hear strategies for using AI-powered resources and interactive digital platforms to make studying more engaging and effective. Tune into this episode and learn how to best help students review essential topics and develop lifelong learning skills! Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2025/07/08/help-students-review-327/ Sponsored by my Easy EdTech Club: https://www.EasyEdTechClub.com Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/  Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/