Shows
EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 349 Surveillance in the ClassroomWelcome to episode 349 (“Surveillance in the Classroom”) of the EdTech Situation Room from April 9, 2025, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) joined from the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego to share insights on the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence in education. He and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) explored how AI tools like Gemini 2.5, Claude, DeepSeek, and NotebookLM are transforming teaching workflows, lesson planning, and student support. Wes described how his students are using AI-generated infographics (infopix) for cyberattack presentations, while Jason highlighted the stunning new capabilities of ChatGPT-4o’s integrated image...2025-07-101h 06
EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerBig Tech & Big ChangesWelcome to episode 340 (“Big Tech & Big Changes”) of the EdTech Situation Room from November 13, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) explored the latest shifts in the tech landscape, from Apple’s hardware advancements to AI’s growing role in education and privacy concerns. Jason shared insights on upgrading to Apple’s new MacBook Pro with an M4 chip, emphasizing its speed, efficiency, and potential for running local AI models. The conversation expanded into the broader implications of AI, including the rise of open-source models and their increasing competitiv...2025-02-221h 11
EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 339 Social Media Challenges in SchoolsWelcome to episode 339 (“Social Media Challenges in Schools”) of the EdTech Situation Room from November 6, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) tackled pressing tech issues with a focus on educational impacts. Key topics included Apple’s latest hardware releases like the Mac Mini with the M4 chip, MacBook Pro upgrades, and Apple Intelligence features such as direct ChatGPT integration and the new Image Playground app. The hosts shared their thoughts on how Apple’s seamless AI integration is enhancing productivity and creativity for educators and students alike. The disc...2025-02-151h 08
EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 338 AI Security ConcernsWelcome to episode 338 ("AI Security Concerns") of the EdTech Situation Room from October 23, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) explored the latest developments in technology, AI advancements, and their educational implications. The show opened with a lighthearted discussion about digital media preservation, sparked by San Francisco’s costly move to retire 5.25-inch floppy disks from its subway system. The co-hosts reflected on the importance of safeguarding old media formats and backing up digital assets. Shifting to security issues, they covered a disturbing incident of a Zoom hack th...2025-02-141h 09EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 338 AI Security ConcernsWelcome to episode 338 ("AI Security Concerns") of the EdTech Situation Room from October 23, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) explored the latest developments in technology, AI advancements, and their educational implications. The show opened with a lighthearted discussion about digital media preservation, sparked by San Francisco’s costly move to retire 5.25-inch floppy disks from its subway system. The co-hosts reflected on the importance of safeguarding old media formats and backing up digital assets. Shifting to security issues, they covered a disturbing incident of a Zoom hack th...2025-02-141h 09
EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 337 Teaching and Parenting in the AI EraWelcome to episode 337 (“Teaching and Parenting in the AI Era”) of the EdTech Situation Room from October 16, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) explored the complexities of integrating AI into education. They discussed how school administrators, teachers, and parents are grappling with challenges like AI-assisted plagiarism, privacy concerns, and balancing innovation with ethical responsibility. Topics included the evolving role of professional development in addressing AI misconceptions, the antitrust push against Big Tech, and the transformative potential of emerging technologies like Apple's Vision Pro. In “Geeks of the Week,”...2025-01-011h 01EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 331 CrowdStrike Crisis ImpactWelcome to episode 331 (“CrowdStrike Crisis Impact”) of the EdTech Situation Room from July 24, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) covered an array of pressing issues in tech and education. They delved into the recent widespread disruption caused by a CrowdStrike security update, which affected numerous organizations, including airlines and medical facilities, sparking discussions on cybersecurity vulnerability, dependency on digital infrastructure, and the essential preparations individuals and organizations should make. On the legislative front, they reviewed judicial blocks on age-verification laws for social media in Mississippi, examining the impl...2024-10-121h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 330 AI Summer SurgeWelcome to episode 330 (“AI Summer Surge”) of the EdTech Situation Room from July 18, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) discussed a variety of topics with a focus on artificial intelligence and its broader implications. Key discussions included the increasing dominance of AI in various sectors, the ethical challenges surrounding AI usage, and the impact of AI on social media and disinformation. The hosts also touched on the significance of AI vision tools and their practical applications, from personal use cases to educational settings. The episode covered the evol...2024-08-081h 10EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerApple's AI MoveWelcome to episode 329 (“Apple's AI Move”) of the EdTech Situation Room from June 26, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) discussed a variety of technology topics through an educational lens. Key discussions included Apple’s recent advancements in AI, their strategic decisions regarding AI integration, and the implications for educational technology. The episode also covered the ongoing challenges with tech privacy, the evolving digital divide among students regarding access to AI tools, and innovative applications of AI in social media. "Geeks of the Week" included Jason’s recommendation of Notio...2024-07-011h 08EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerAI Copyright ClashWelcome to episode 328 (“AI Copyright Clash”) of the EdTech Situation Room from June 5, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) discussed a variety of pressing topics in the realm of educational technology. Key discussions included the controversy surrounding AI-generated voices and copyright, highlighted by the recent Scarlett Johansson incident with OpenAI. They delved into the implications of AI ethics, focusing on the balance between technological advancements and ethical considerations in education. The hosts also explored the potential and challenges of AI companions, reflecting on how these technologies might shap...2024-07-011h 09EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 327 AI Search EvolutionWelcome to episode 327 (“AI Search Evolution”) of the EdTech Situation Room from May 22, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) discussed various topics, beginning with Jason's recent trip to Japan, where he visited Hiroshima and experienced some unique weather patterns. The conversation quickly transitioned to an in-depth look at current technology news and its implications for education. Key discussions included the return of controversial figures to social media platforms, the impact of fractured social media ecosystems on communication and professional development, and the potential and challenges of federated soci...2024-06-111h 07EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerLive from Japan!Welcome to episode 326 (“Live From Japan!”) of the EdTech Situation Room from May 8, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) joined live from Kyoto, Japan, and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) joined from Charlotte, North Carolina. They discussed a variety of topics including Jason's travel experiences in Japan, the latest Apple product updates, and the significance of privacy and security in technology. Key discussions included: Jason's culinary adventures in Japan and observations on the strong dollar's impact on travel costs. The latest updates to Apple’s iPads, with a focus on their implications for educat...2024-05-291h 07EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 325: Privacy and TikTok BanWelcome to episode 235 ("Privacy and TikTok Ban") of the EdTech Situation Room from April 24, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer and Dr. Wesley Fryer delve into a variety of technology and educational topics. They discuss Dr. Neiffer's upcoming trip to Japan, providing insights into the extensive planning required for such an adventure. The conversation quickly transitions to pressing issues in tech and education, notably the recent U.S. legislation potentially affecting TikTok. This move by Congress, framed as a national security issue, opens broader debates on data privacy and the influence of social media on...2024-05-041h 06EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 324: Deep Dives into DisinformationWelcome to episode 324 (“Deep Dives in Disinformation”) of the EdTech Situation Room from April 17, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer and Dr. Wesley Fryer discussed a variety of important topics in educational technology and AI's impact on education, from San Diego, California and Charlotte, North Carolina respectively. Jason opened the episode by sharing his experiences at the ASU + GSV conference, which brought together leaders in education and technology. The discussions at the conference focused heavily on the integration of AI in educational settings and the ethical implications of new technologies. Wes and Jason then delved into...2024-04-281h 02EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 321: AI Integration InsightsWelcome to episode 321 (“AI Integration Insights”) of the EdTech Situation Room from March 6, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) explored the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and its profound implications for education and technology. Amidst the scenic backdrop of the NCTIES conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the anticipation of spring break, the co-hosts delved into pressing topics that captivate the attention of educators and tech enthusiasts alike. The conversation kicked off with insights into the significance of AI integration in educational settings, reflecting on how these tech...2024-03-161h 07EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 320 Privacy and Platform ShiftsWelcome to episode 320 ("Privacy and Platform Shifts") of the EdTech Situation Room from February 21, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer and Dr. Wesley Fryer, joining from their diverse locales of Montana and North Carolina, dove into a rich dialogue exploring the evolving landscape of digital privacy, the shift in platforms due to new technological integrations, and the profound implications for educators and learners. In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, the co-hosts unpacked the potential of AI in revolutionizing not just educational practices but also the broader societal interactions, drawing attention to the pressing...2024-03-161h 03EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 317 Digital Privacy PredicamentsWelcome to episode 317 ("Digital Privacy Predicaments") of the EdTech Situation Room from January 17, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (AIcentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) delved into pressing issues surrounding digital privacy, the ethical implications of AI in education, and the latest advancements in EdTech tools and platforms. Highlights of the discussion included the evolving landscape of digital privacy laws, innovative uses of AI in the classroom, and the potential impacts of new technology policies on educators and students. The episode also covered key updates from major tech companies and their influence...2024-02-181h 06EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 315 Debriefing Our AI PlayDateWelcome to episode 315 (“Debriefing Our AI PlayDate”) of the EdTech Situation Room from January 3, 2024, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (AIcentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after), along with their special guest, Dr. Heather Kaiser, delved into a variety of thought-provoking topics. Dr. Kaiser, drawing on her experience as an online fifth-grade teacher, shared valuable insights on the effectiveness of Learning Management Systems and strategies for engaging students in virtual classrooms. The conversation then shifted to the burgeoning role of AI in education, exploring innovative AI tools and their potential to revolutionize teaching and...2024-01-101h 08EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 313: Navigating AI RegulationsWelcome to episode 313 ("Navigating AI Regulations") of the EdTech Situation Room from December 13, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) discussed a range of topics central to the intersection of technology and education. The conversation highlighted significant developments in artificial intelligence, focusing on the ethical implications and social impact of these advancements. They explored the role of AI in educational contexts and the importance of digital literacy, especially for younger audiences. The episode delved into the latest technological innovations, particularly those in AI and related fields. Neiffer and...2023-12-151h 04EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 311 AI's Evolving LandscapeWelcome to episode 311 (“AI's Evolving Landscape”) of the EdTech Situation Room from November 29, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) explored a range of topics primarily centered around the evolving world of artificial intelligence. Key discussions included the latest advancements in AI and their implications for both education and broader societal contexts. The episode delved into the ethical considerations of AI deployment, particularly focusing on transparency and ethical AI use. An interesting segment covered how AI is revolutionizing traditional sectors, like weather forecasting, providing more accurate and timely pred...2023-12-011h 06EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 310 OpenAI's Educational ImpactWelcome to episode 310 (“OpenAI's Educational Impact”) of the EdTech Situation Room from November 15, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (@wfryer@mastodon.cloud) dived deep into the world of AI, with a special focus on OpenAI's advancements and their implications in education. Jason shared valuable insights from his recent presentation on AI at the National Rural Education National Forum. The episode covered the latest from OpenAI, including ChatGPT-4 Turbo and its fine-tuning programs, and how AI is reshaping educational materials and personalizing learning experiences. They also explored broader topics like social medi...2023-11-171h 03EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 309 AI Integration ExploredWelcome to episode 309 (“AI Integration Explored”) of the EdTech Situation Room from November 8, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer and Dr. Wesley Fryer discussed a wide range of topics predominantly focused on AI's integration into various aspects of technology and education. They covered the latest developments in Apple technology, including the new M3 chips and Macbook Pros. The conversation also touched upon Microsoft updates, particularly the integration of AI tools directly into Windows 11 and the release of Microsoft co-pilot for business users. In the realm of social media, they discussed the implications of changes in plat...2023-11-111h 10EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 308 Exploring AI in EducationWelcome to episode 308 (“Exploring AI in Education”) of the EdTech Situation Room from October 25, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) discussed a range of topics, focusing on the integration and implications of AI in education. Wes Fryer shared insights from his teaching experiences in Matthews, North Carolina, covering web design, computer applications, media literacy, and computer programming. Jason Neiffer talked about his involvement in meetings for the Montana Digital Academy discussing distance learning and AI, emphasizing the necessity for educators to engage with AI tools. Key discussions revo...2023-10-271h 07EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 308 Exploring AI in EducationWelcome to episode 308 (“Exploring AI in Education”) of the EdTech Situation Room from October 25, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) discussed a range of topics, focusing on the integration and implications of AI in education. Wes Fryer shared insights from his teaching experiences in Matthews, North Carolina, covering web design, computer applications, media literacy, and computer programming. Jason Neiffer talked about his involvement in meetings for the Montana Digital Academy discussing distance learning and AI, emphasizing the necessity for educators to engage with AI tools. Key discussions revo...2023-10-271h 07EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 306 Multimodal AI: Ethical DilemmasWelcome to episode 306 (“Multimodal AI: Ethical Dilemmas”) of the EdTech Situation Room from September 27, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) discussed a broad spectrum of topics at the intersection of technology and education. Key discussions included the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly multimodal capabilities of ChatGPT and the ethical concerns surrounding technologies like Clearview AI. Jason Neiffer shared his insights on the iPhone 15 Pro, delving into its features and potential drawbacks. The episode also covered social media developments, notably Twitter's Community Notes feature aimed at mitigating misi...2023-10-021h 06EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 306 Multimodal AI: Ethical DilemmasWelcome to episode 306 (“Multimodal AI: Ethical Dilemmas”) of the EdTech Situation Room from September 27, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) discussed a broad spectrum of topics at the intersection of technology and education. Key discussions included the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly multimodal capabilities of ChatGPT and the ethical concerns surrounding technologies like Clearview AI. Jason Neiffer shared his insights on the iPhone 15 Pro, delving into its features and potential drawbacks. The episode also covered social media developments, notably Twitter's Community Notes feature aimed at mitigating misi...2023-10-021h 06EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 305 USB-C Apple EvolutionWelcome to episode 305 (“USB-C Apple Evolution”) of the EdTech Situation Room from September 13, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (@wfryer@mastodon.cloud) delved into a range of exciting and significant topics in the tech world. Key discussions included the ongoing evolution of Apple's products with a special focus on their transition to USB-C, reflecting a major shift in their design philosophy and user interface. The episode also highlighted advancements in AI and its burgeoning role in education, underscoring both the opportunities and challenges it presents to educators and students alike. Furt...2023-10-011h 07EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 305 USB-C Apple EvolutionWelcome to episode 305 (“USB-C Apple Evolution”) of the EdTech Situation Room from September 13, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (@wfryer@mastodon.cloud) delved into a range of exciting and significant topics in the tech world. Key discussions included the ongoing evolution of Apple's products with a special focus on their transition to USB-C, reflecting a major shift in their design philosophy and user interface. The episode also highlighted advancements in AI and its burgeoning role in education, underscoring both the opportunities and challenges it presents to educators and students alike. Furt...2023-10-011h 07EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 304 Privacy Laws, Please!Welcome to episode 304 (“Privacy Laws, Please!”) of the EdTech Situation Room from September 6, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) discussed exciting developments and educational impacts related to artificial intelligence (AI). They highlighted new AI-powered tools like Claude and Poe that summarize documents and provide customized assistance. Jason explained how these tools have streamlined his workflow, saving him hours of time processing information. The hosts also addressed concerns about generative AI, including the creation of inappropriate content. They analyzed the complications arising from open access to AI models. In a...2023-09-301h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 303 Happy Birthday Google!Welcome to Episode 303 (“Happy Birthday Google!”) of the EdTech Situation Room from August 30, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) discussed a range of technology topics, analyizing the latest news at the intersection of education and technology. They covered the 25th Birthday of Google, developments in artificial intelligence, including Google's new image generation tool in Google Slides, a watermarking technique from Google to help track AI-generated images, and Ideogram, a powerful new free AI image generation tool Neiffer discovered. Fryer shared insights on military AI, highlighting the US Air...2023-09-171h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 303 Happy Birthday Google!Welcome to Episode 303 (“Happy Birthday Google!”) of the EdTech Situation Room from August 30, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) discussed a range of technology topics, analyizing the latest news at the intersection of education and technology. They covered the 25th Birthday of Google, developments in artificial intelligence, including Google's new image generation tool in Google Slides, a watermarking technique from Google to help track AI-generated images, and Ideogram, a powerful new free AI image generation tool Neiffer discovered. Fryer shared insights on military AI, highlighting the US Air...2023-09-171h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 302 AI Ethics ExaminedWelcome to Episode 302 (“AI Ethics Examined”) of the EdTech Situation Room from August 23, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) discussed a variety of AI-related news stories and developments. They covered an Iowa school district's controversial use of ChatGPT to identify books with sexual content, as well as concerns around the hacking of AI chatbots at the Defcon security conference. The hosts also talked about reconstructing songs from neural data, Dungeons & Dragons banning AI art, and the high costs associated with running AI models like ChatGPT. Jason and Wes...2023-08-271h 04EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 301 Adjusting to AIWelcome to Episode 301 (“Adjusting to AI”) of the EdTech Situation Room from August 16, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) reflected on the evolution of social media and technology over the past 15-20 years. Neiffer suggested today's social media allows for curation of information by finding creators to follow. He and Fryer aim to elevate the conversation and share interesting findings as "filters" for each other and listeners. The pair touched on Neiffer's recent presentations about AI to various administrator groups. He suggested policies and ongoing conversations as AI inte...2023-08-251h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 301 Adjusting to AIWelcome to Episode 301 (“Adjusting to AI”) of the EdTech Situation Room from August 16, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) reflected on the evolution of social media and technology over the past 15-20 years. Neiffer suggested today's social media allows for curation of information by finding creators to follow. He and Fryer aim to elevate the conversation and share interesting findings as "filters" for each other and listeners. The pair touched on Neiffer's recent presentations about AI to various administrator groups. He suggested policies and ongoing conversations as AI inte...2023-08-251h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 300 Educators Eye AI EthicsWelcome to Episode 300 (“Educators Eye AI Ethics”) of the EdTech Situation Room from August 2, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) welcomed viewers to the milestone 300th episode of the EdTech Situation Room on August 2, 2023. They discussed technology's rapid advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), and how educators can thoughtfully integrate new tools into the classroom. The hosts reflected on the show's history analyzing educational technology news over 299 prior episodes. They outlined the main topics to be covered, including AI, tech policy, Apple, Google, social media, and their weekly "Geek...2023-08-171h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 299 Truth Over TrickeryWelcome to Episode 299 (“Truth Over Trickery”) of the EdTech Situation Room from July 26, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) discussed recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and generative language models. They reviewed several articles, including concerns that ChatGPT is becoming less functional over time and may be losing capabilities. The hosts explored issues around copyright infringement and intellectual property regarding large language models trained on copyrighted content, sparked by comedian Sarah Silverman's lawsuit against OpenAI. They dove into the implications of AI influencers, election interference threats, and new AI p...2023-08-061h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 297 Exciting Apple AnnouncementsWelcome to episode 297 (“Exciting Apple Announcements”) of the EdTech Situation Room from June 7, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com/after) discussed the latest Apple announcements, including the new 15-inch MacBook Air with impressive features and an affordable price. They also explored the new Mac Pro and Mac Studio models, highlighting their upgradeability and performance capabilities. The unveiling of the Vision Pro, an augmented reality (AR) headset, sparked excitement about its potential applications in various fields. The hosts also touched on Apple's entry into the virtual reality (VR) space, discussing its...2023-08-021h 06EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 295 Generative AI Tools in EducationWelcome to episode 295 (“Generative AI Tools in Education”) of the EdTech Situation Room from May 24, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) offered insights into the intriguing world of AI, generative tools, and educational technology. They delved into the remarkable accessibility and affordability of AI tools, which is empowering individuals and small businesses to innovate at an unprecedented scale. The duo pondered the consequences of AI-generated content, stressing the importance of critical evaluation to discern the veracity of information while recognizing the potential for both positive utilization and nefarious exploitation. The conv...2023-06-231h 04EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 288 Beware IoT FirmwareWelcome to episode 288 (“Beware IoT Firmware”) of the EdTech Situation Room from April 5, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer@mastodon.cloud) discussed the potential of AI and chatbots to deliver on the promise of intelligent personal assistants, and the importance of cybersecurity when purchasing Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The conversation addressed the recent TikTok ban in Montana and the importance of protecting privacy and consumer rights, with careful regulation and legislation being necessary. The hosts also discussed media literacy, social media platforms adopting paid subscriptions, and the need to regulate the...2023-05-021h 09EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 284 ChatGPT and TruthWelcome to episode 284 (“ChatGPT and Truth”) of the EdTech Situation Room from February 8, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer@mastodon.cloud) discussed Microsoft’s announcement of integrating Chat GPT into Bing search engine, AI-generated TV shows and the potential of AI technology, and President Biden’s plans to regulate big tech, particularly in terms of protecting user privacy. We also discussed the Importance of augmented reality and virtual reality in computing and personal experiences with Chrome OS Flex and its benefits. Geeks of the Week included “Zillow and Open Door” on the website...2023-03-101h 06EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 281 Stories of PiracyWelcome to episode 281 (“Stories of Piracy”) of the EdTech Situation Room from January 18, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer@mastodon.cloud) discussed ChatGPT / Artificial Intelligence / AI, new Apple product news, “tech correction” / social media / Twitter news, and some copyright / licensing / “right to repair” news. A “lessons learned from CyberWar in Ukraine” article was also highlighted. Geeks of the Week included an ABC feature video about students at Wes’ school creating a prosthetic leg for a golden retriever dog, and used USB-C chargers compatible with Mac laptops on eBay. Jason and Wes also shared some s...2023-01-281h 10EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 279 AI Transformation ArrivesWelcome to episode 279 (“AI Transformation Arrives”) of the EdTech Situation Room from January 4, 2023, where technology news meets educational analysis. This edited summary of our show was (initially) algorithmically generated with ChatGPT. Dr. Jason Neiffer, the executive director of the Montana Digital Academy, was joined by Dr. Wes Fryer to discuss AI news and its impact on education. Dr. Neiffer mentioned that AI technology was evolving quickly, and he had been having conversations with trusted advisors, friends, teachers, and other state Virtual School administrators about it. He also mentioned that some people were concerned about AI replacing the need for homework and...2023-01-201h 00EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 278 2022 Year in ReviewWelcome to episode 278 (“2022 Year in Review”) of the EdTech Situation Room from December 29, 2022, where technology news meets educational analysis. For the first time, the following summary of our show was algorithmically generated with ChatGPT. In this video, the hosts of the EdTech Situation Room, Wes Fryer and Jason Neiffer, discussed the state of education technology in 2022, in their final episode of the year. They discussed the weather conditions in their respective locations, with Dr. Neiffer mentioning the super storm that went through his area, and the negative 27 degrees Fahrenheit temperature he experienced. They also mentioned the wind chill in other part...2023-01-161h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerRansomware at SchoolWelcome to episode 270 (“Ransomware at School”) of the EdTech Situation Room from September 14, 2022, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed a recent ransomware incident in Los Angeles schools, iPhone 14 updates announced at Apple’s recent event, at TikTok news including the thread their platform poses to Google and the spread of misinformation via TikTok. Stable Diffusion’s AI generated images were also explored, including reports that China is blocking AI-created political content. Geeks of the Week included “Seat Guru” from Jason and an online safety tip from Wes. Our show was live streame...2022-09-161h 02EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerDebunking Security MythsWelcome to episode 239 ("Debunking Security Myths") of the EdTech Situation Room from November 17, 2021, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the politics of international Facebook criticism, Facebook's role in Ethiopia's nascent civil war, and Facebook's (Meta's) lockdown of internal employee speech and criticism. Some good stories of social media sharing involving WordPress and cooking recipes, the removal of "dislike numbers" on YouTube, and an excellent recent article on "ending WikiPedia source shaming" were also discussed. Spotify's new audiobook acquisition, rampant disinformation on podcasts and YouTube, and Jason's endorsement of the "5 x 5...2021-11-251h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTechSR Ep 237 Fixing Social MediaWelcome to episode 237 ("TBA") of the EdTech Situation Room from November 3, 2021, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed an amazing Wall Street Journal article featuring 12 Internet and cultural visionaries on "How to Fix Social Media." Other articles on the social media / "tech correction" topic included "Facebook's Lost Generation," Facebook's name change to "Meta," the impact of Zuckerberg's dream to transform the web into a "Ready Player One" VR playground. The financial impact of Apple's iPhone privacy changes, Google's policy to remove under-18 photos from search results, the debut of MacOS Monterey...2021-11-091h 01EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerRegulate Facebook PleaseWelcome to episode 234 ("Regulate Facebook Please") of the EdTech Situation Room from October 6, 2021, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed Microsoft news including how to update to Windows 11 without waiting in line, recommended preparatory steps to take BEFORE upgrading to Windows 11, and positive reviews of the new Surface Pro 8 computer. In Google news, the forthcoming Chromebook launcher with smaller icons and folders, the option to create meeting notes directly connected to a Google Calendar event, and YouTube Germany's suspension of Russia Today's (RT's) misinformation plagued channel, were highlighted. Facebook's mysterious global...2021-10-091h 06EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerPrivacy Protection PrescriptionsWelcome to episode 233 ("Privacy Protection Prescriptions") of the EdTech Situation Room from September 29, 2021, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed Apple updates to its productivity software suite, iPhone 13 stress tests and reviews, and strategies to avoid a Facebook hack. An important new guide to "resetting privacy controls" on your devices from the Washington Post, the NSA and CIA's behavioral endorsement of ad blockers in our "dangerous" advertising environment, and the inability of anyone to "escape Facebook tracking" today were also discussed. Lithuania's extreme request to people to throw away Huawei (Chinese...2021-10-051h 07EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEpic Apple ShowWelcome to episode 231 ("Epic Apple Show") of the EdTech Situation Room from September 16, 2021, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed virtually every aspect of the September 14th Apple Event. (Seriously, this is our most egregious Apple fanboi episode to date...) New iPads, new iPad Minis, new iPhones, new Apple Watches and other updates were all highlighted and analyzed. The introductory video to Apple's September 14th event really is stunning and amazing, so if nothing else be share to check that out. Overall the cinematography of these events (this one had more...2021-09-171h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerThe Big LebowskiWelcome to episode 220 ("The Big Lebowski") of the EdTech Situation Room from May 26, 2021, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed Jason's increasing resemblance to Jeff Bridges, lots of updates to Google Workspace (formerly known as Google Suite,) Google I/O 2021 updates, and Google's apparent rediscovery of RSS. The less-than-perfect ways people are using password managers, the forthcoming retirement (in 2022) of Microsoft's Internet Explorer, malware on MacOS, and the malware dangers faced by remote workers were also highlighted. Additional Google show topics included the Google Teacher Center and Google Educator Certifications. On...2021-05-291h 04EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerLuvin' Google Ain't WrongWelcome to episode 216 ("Luvin' Google Ain't Wrong") of the EdTech Situation Room from April 21, 2021, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the impending return of Parler to the Apple App Store, the amazing dynamics of WikiPedia following the January 6th U.S. Capitol Riot, and the tendency of negative political tweets to garner more user attention than others. The important role of Darnella Frazier in documenting the homicide of George Floyd with her smartphone, Apple's redesigned iMacs with Apple silicon chips, upgraded iPad Pros, and newly announced "Air Tags" by Apple...2021-04-221h 04EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerNorth Dakota and AppleWelcome to episode 208 ("North Dakota and Apple") of the EdTech Situation Room from February 11, 2021, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed "The Technology Correction," Apple News, Google Chrome and Chromebook news, and privacy updates, including Chrome's forthcoming ban of third party browser cookies. Security news included a recent hacker attack of a Florida city water treatment plant, and a damning New York Times op-ed, "How the United States Lost to Hackers," which details how the focus on offensive cyberattacks by US agencies and military units has opened a pandora's box of...2021-02-121h 01EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerScraping is NOT a CrimeWelcome to episode 207 ("Scraping is NOT a Crime") of the EdTech Situation Room from February 3, 2021, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed digital security, 5G / Connectivity, Apple news, Google news, burgeoning Chromebook sales, and "the tech correction." This included the threat and possibility of Google discontinuing its search service in Australia in response to newly proposed tax laws. Ongoing disclosures via Parler following the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. capitol were also discussed, including a Lawfare article explaining why the "web scraping" which was done to archive / backup Parler's terabytes...2021-02-041h 07EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerTech Regulation ApproachesWelcome to episode 206 ("Tech Regulation Approaches") of the EdTech Situation Room from January 27, 2021, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed our ongoing "tech correction" with social media companies, users and governments: The potential for new regulations on technology companies in response not only to the January 6, 2021 Capitol Riot in Washington D.C. but also the overall polarizing effects of social media on our society and government. Additional topics addressed in the show include broadband access challenges in the United States, updates from Google to ChromeOS and other product platforms, Apple M1...2021-01-281h 02EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerAdios 2020Welcome to episode 203 ("Adios 2020") of the EdTech Situation Room from December 30, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the amazing Apple M1 chips, neuromorphic computing, "the case for edtech minimalism," and some of the amazing milestone in space exploration during 2020. "Public domain riches from 1925," the vast scope of Amazon's role in our economy and society, the possible end of privacy as we know it, and security concerns for Google Chrome extensions and the Google Play Store were also discussed. The continuing challenges of conspiracy theories in the age of COVID, changes...2021-01-021h 04EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerWe Loved Thee, Google ExpeditionsWelcome to episode 198 ("We Loved Thee, Google Expeditions''") of the EdTech Situation Room from November 18, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed FCC changes to United States bandwidth spectrum affecting WiFi and automotive emergency communication, faster Google Chromebook chips and Google Product Black Friday specials, and the benefits of YouTube Premium. The depressing demise of both Google Expeditions and Google Tour Creator in Summer 2021, Google Pay's impressive upgrade, GitHub's decision to support fair use, and favorable reviews of Apple's new M1 chip powered laptops which are convincing Jason to return to...2020-11-201h 00EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerBring Forth Thy M1 ChipWelcome to episode 197 ("Bring Forth Thy M1 Chip''") of the EdTech Situation Room from November 11, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed ongoing information pollution relating to the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, the new Apple M1 chip and other announcements from the November 10th Apple Event. Educator concerns about remote test monitoring during COVID-19, Google announcements about the end of free, unlimited Photo and Cloud document storage, and Roku's support for Apple HomeKit and AirPlay2 were also highlighted. Geeks of the Week included three recommended YouTube videos from Wes and a...2020-11-121h 02EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerOops Google Did It AgainWelcome to episode 193 ("Oops Google Did It Again'") of the EdTech Situation Room from October 7, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed monopolistic behavior of big tech companies, rebranding of Google' GSuite as "Google Workspace," updates to Google/Nest WiFi, availability of Google Drive File Stream for consumer accounts, and the release of a powerful new Chromebox by CTL. On the Apple front, rumors about the new iPhone set to be announced October 13th and an iOS14 battery drain solution (wipe your iOS) were highlighted. Several articles on social media and...2020-10-091h 02EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerDelete All Your Idle Smartphone AppsWelcome to episode 192 ("Delete All Your Idle Smartphone Apps'") of the EdTech Situation Room from September 30, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the marathon nature of the COVID-19 pandemic for society and schools, the challenges of rural broadband connectivity, and the biggest announcements from Google's Pixel 5 Event. Upgrades to Google Meet, new HP Chromebooks, AI that can draw reasonably good pictures based on captions, and a call from futurist Amy Webb for a U.S. National Strategic Office for AI and other critical science and technology initiatives were also highlighted...2020-10-021h 02EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerJason on the Apple EdgeWelcome to episode 190 ("Jason on the Apple Edge") of the EdTech Situation Room from September 9, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed forthcoming announcements by Apple for the Apple Watch and iPad ecosystems, the return of Google Maps to the Apple Watch, and Apple's compelling arguments in litigation with Epic Games over Fortnight App Store payments. A review of Android 11, the integration of Google WiFi app functions into Google Home, and the possible demise of the open source FireFox web browser were also highlighted. T-Mobile's plan to give limited free data...2020-09-101h 01EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerJason on the Apple EdgeWelcome to episode 190 ("Jason on the Apple Edge") of the EdTech Situation Room from September 9, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed forthcoming announcements by Apple for the Apple Watch and iPad ecosystems, the return of Google Maps to the Apple Watch, and Apple's compelling arguments in litigation with Epic Games over Fortnight App Store payments. A review of Android 11, the integration of Google WiFi app functions into Google Home, and the possible demise of the open source FireFox web browser were also highlighted. T-Mobile's plan to give limited free data...2020-09-101h 01EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerHack the NookWelcome to episode 189 ("Hack the Nook") of the EdTech Situation Room from September 2, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed COVID-19 impacts and predicted impacts on schools in 2020-21 and beyond, and Apple's App store fights with Epic Games (over Fortnite) and WordPress, New Android updates for latest Samsung devices, Jason's love for Android E Ink tablets and desire to "hack the nook," updates about the U.S. military's new "Starlink style" space network in the work, and SpaceX's efforts to qualify Starlink for FCC grants were topics rounding out the...2020-09-061h 01EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerBack To School Planning During COVID-19Welcome to episode 183 ("Back To School Planning During COVID-19") of the EdTech Situation Room from July 8, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the upcoming Mountain Moot virtual conference, and the enormous challenges facing school administrators planning for safe K-12 learning in schools this fall amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Updates from ChromeOS world were shared by Jason, including a forthcoming "clipboard history manager," worthy "cheap Chromebooks," and Amazon issues with inaccurate Chromebook spec headlines. Updates from the ongoing Facebook advertiser boycott and protest movement and challenges around 5G infrastructure build-outs and...2020-07-131h 06EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerAwash in Digital NewsWelcome to episode 182 ("Awash in Digital News") of the EdTech Situation Room from July 1, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed our need for media literacy and information filtering strategies, and our ongoing "technology correction" reflected in advertiser protest pressure on Facebook for content moderation. The exciting announcement by Microsoft to offer a public beta of Minecraft Education Edition on Chromebooks, significant announcements by Apple at WWDC 2020 last week, Google's privacy changes for new users, and potential dangers of CRISPR human genome editing were other topics addressed in the show. Wes...2020-07-021h 04EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerChoose Your Digital Platform Investments CarefullyWelcome to episode 176 ("Choose Your Digital Platform Investments Carefully") of the EdTech Situation Room from May 7, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed updates from Apple including more predicted "opening" to third party platforms on iOS and MacOS, FaceID and masks, and prescient words from Tim Cook in the latest Apple earnings call. On the Microsoft front, Windows 10X progress as as a Chromebook competitor, Slack and Microsoft teams as collaboration tools were mentioned. On the Google side of platforms, the outstanding "Teach from Home" Google resource website, PewDiePie's exclusive live-streaming...2020-05-071h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerDon't Close Your Streamyard TabWelcome to episode 175 ("Don't Close Your Streamyard Tab") of the EdTech Situation Room from April 29, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed several Google Updates: the availability of Google's Hangouts Meet videoconferencing platform for consumer Google accounts, a way to extend the life of your Chromebook's browser, and updates to GSuite's sharing dialog. An amusing rant by a judge over a lawyers' poor attire choices during a trial by videoconference, the psychology of lifting the lockdown, the growth of telemedicine during COVID19, and the proliferation of stimulus check scams were also...2020-05-011h 03EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerDon't Jack with My ZoomWelcome to episode 172 ("Don't Jack with My Zoom") of the EdTech Situation Room from April 8, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) continued to discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on teachers, students, and parents, but also highlighted some recent technology headlines involving zoomjacking, remote learning, disinformation, YouTube influencers in the neo-coronavirus era, and "the technology correction." They also brainstormed "Best Tools and Strategies for Live Teaching" and software for "Virtual Backgrounds for Videoconferencing." If you have any options which should be included on these lists, please reach out to Jason...2020-04-111h 06EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 161Welcome to episode 161 of the EdTech Situation Room from January 8, 2020, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed new technology (including possible vaporware) revealed at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Apple's return to CES to champion digital privacy, and an exciting update to Bluetooth. Facebook's announced ban of "deepfake" videos and the potential problems they face with this laudable policy, a late December New York Times article highlighting the protean (rather than monolithic) nature of screentime and our need to stop bashing it, and an interesting historical as well...2020-01-111h 03EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 155Welcome to episode 155 of the EdTech Situation Room from November 13, 2019, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed YouTube's newly announced terms of service to apparently pave the way for more channel / account takedowns, the latest 2018-19 report "Why Rural Matters," and the importance of addressing the rural/urban political divides which separate many voters in western states like Montana and Oklahoma. The "Long Tail" and the wonderful "Craft With Me" YouTube channel of Gayle Agostinelli was mentioned. The new PBS Frontline special "In the Age of AI," Deepmind AI and its...2019-11-151h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 152Welcome to episode 152 of the EdTech Situation Room from October 23, 2019, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the demise of Nest smart thermostat installations by contractors following Google's acquisition, the Pixel 4 smartphone, Google fees for GMail storage, and Google's new "digital wellbeing" experimental apps. Enhanced genetic editing via CRISPR Prime / Primate Editing, the retirement of 8 inch floppy disks from the U.S. Air Force's nuclear arsenal control systems, the importance of home router firmware updates, credit card skimming software deployed on over 18,000 websites, and the poor password habits of Equifax network...2019-10-251h 02EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 148Welcome to episode 148 of the EdTech Situation Room from September 11, 2019, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed Jason's favorite smartphone weather app (Dark Sky,) the wide range of pricing available now for iPhones from Apple, whether the telephoto lens on the new iPhone 11 Pro justifies the cost, expected announcements from Google about new Pixel smartphones, and announced arcade game support on AppleTV for 3rd party controllers. An identified LastPass password manager identified security vulnerability, an update from the cell phone robocall wars, and the hoopla as well as social-media inspired responses...2019-09-191h 03EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 142Welcome to episode 142 of the EdTech Situation Room from July 24, 2019, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed why data privacy is complicated, the FTC's $5 billion fine of Facebook, the limitations of SMS for 2 factor authentication (2FA) / multi-factor authentication (MFA), and exciting recent Apollo 11 50 year anniversary moon landing media coverage. Updates to Google's smartwatch software (WearOS) as well as ChromeOS, Apple's expected announcement of its new $3000 MacBook portable, the return of MDM-powered parental control apps like MyPact to the iOS App Store, and Apple's pleas to avoid 25% tariffs on Chinese manufactured electronic...2019-07-251h 03EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 134Welcome to episode 134 of the EdTech Situation Room from May 15, 2019, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed a touching video about Google Lens and literacy from Google I/O and the winners of the NPR student podcasting challenge. Jason provided a review of his new Google Pixel 3A smartphone, and the surprise announced end of "branded accounts" within GSuite for Education was highlighted. Other discussed topics included Facebook's fight to protect EU elections, post-Christchurch shooting efforts to curtail terrorist content online, and San Francisco ordinances shining light on facial recognition technology...2019-05-171h 08EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 125Welcome to episode 125 of the EdTech Situation Room from February 13, 2019, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the death of NASA's Mars Opportunity rover, cybersecurity incidents in K12 schools, weak U.S. government enforcement of privacy laws, and criticism of both Apple and Google for allowing Saudi men to use apps to track and oppress women. Controversy over developer use of iOS screen recording capabilities, the unlimited powers of Israeli officials to surveil and utilize personal information of citizens without judicial oversight, and Cisco's push for privacy regulation were also addressed...2019-02-151h 03EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 124Welcome to episode 124 of the EdTech Situation Room from February 6, 2019, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed YouTube's most recent letter to Creators, Google's Jigsaw project which uses AI to help human moderators identify toxic posts which violate community standards, and the Japanese government's plans to hack into citizen's IoT devices to update firmware. Additional topics included Spotify's recent acquisitions of Gimlet Media and Anchor, predictions for podcasting in 2019, and the woes of crypto currency investors when the only person with the controlling password dies unexpectedly. The Google Chrome extension "Password...2019-02-071h 03EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 121Welcome to episode 121 of the EdTech Situation Room from January 10, 2019, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the implications of Apple's disappointing earnings projection for the first quarter of 2019, Baratunde Thurston's Tech Manifesto addressing how we should protect data privacy, and the intense technological as well as economic struggles underway between the United States and China, specifically via the Chinese company Huawei. In addition, Jason highlighted a variety of technology announcements and developments from the 2019 Computer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Geeks of the week included Tiles and the MacOS...2019-01-111h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 119Welcome to episode 119 of the EdTech Situation Room from December 26, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed copyright and intellectual property issues on the Teachers Pay Teachers (@tptdotcom) website, YouTube creator backlash amidst other "trust issues" with Google, and the challenges of radicalization and "outlier content" on YouTube based on its attention-maximizing algorithms. Continuing warnings from U.S. security officials to avoid Huawei smartphones and telecommunications gear because of the Chinese government's hacking threat, the four variations of recommended 2 step verification for account security, and the promise of podcasting for the "...2018-12-271h 06EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 113Welcome to episode 113 of the EdTech Situation Room from November 7, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) and special guest Jason Kern (@jasonmkern) discussed the past week's technology news through an educational lens. Topics for the show included virtual reality in the classroom, the use of social media worldwide to radicalize politics, hardware updates from Apple's special event last week, and our need for media literacy everywhere. Anya Kamenetz' excellent response article, "What the Times got wrong about kids and phones" was also highlighted. Professional courtesy with cell phones at meetings and in t...2018-11-091h 06EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 113Welcome to episode 113 of the EdTech Situation Room from November 7, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) and special guest Jason Kern (@jasonmkern) discussed the past week's technology news through an educational lens. Topics for the show included virtual reality in the classroom, the use of social media worldwide to radicalize politics, hardware updates from Apple's special event last week, and our need for media literacy everywhere. Anya Kamenetz' excellent response article, "What the Times got wrong about kids and phones" was also highlighted. Professional courtesy with cell phones at meetings and in t...2018-11-091h 06EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 112Welcome to episode 112 of the EdTech Situation Room from October 24, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) and special guest Jennifer Carey (@thejencarey) discussed the past week's technology news through an educational lens. Co-host Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) was on special assignment. Topics highlighted in this week's show included data privacy, the "hackability" of the human mind, the recent FBI warning on student data privacy, and Tim Cook's recent criticism of Silicon Valley over privacy. Additional topics included a U.S. cyberoperation against Russia aimed at protecting U.S. elections, the book "Algorithms of Oppression" by Safiya U...2018-10-2649 minEdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 107Welcome to episode 106 of the EdTech Situation Room from September 12, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the days announcements from Cupertino at the special Apple Event including Apple Watch 4 and 3 new iPhone models. The forthcoming iOS 12 and the benefits of the new Apple watch providing ECG / EKG data which is FDA approved was highlighted. Under the heading of "Social Media Correction," Jason and Wes discussed an fascinating and in-depth article from the New Yorker focusing on the challenges faced by Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook in moderate content for 2.2 billion people...2018-09-1343 minEdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 102Welcome to episode 102 of the EdTech Situation Room from August 8, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed an update to this summer's MacBook Pro Throttling Controversy, the upcoming death of Flash functionality in 2020, and the importance of being wary when you see pop-up ads to "update flash" and other software on your computer. The recent decisions by Apple, YouTube/Google and Facebook to ban / take down websites and media channels of Alex Jones / InfoWars was also addressed, along with Facebook's takedown of suspected Russian network pages. Jason shared a shout-out to...2018-08-091h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 101Welcome to episode 101 of the EdTech Situation Room from July 25, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed automation and the technological trajectory of our society, potentially toward dystopia, informed by Douglass Rushkoff's "Survival of the Richest" article shared in early July. This led to discussions about the weaponization of news via social media, as highlighted by danah boyd in a recent lecture in Detroit available on YouTube, recent revelations about voting machine vulnerabilities to hackers via remote access, and the cautionary tale provided by Ukraine in recent years on Russian hackers...2018-07-261h 06EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 100Welcome to episode 100 of the EdTech Situation Room from July 11, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed recent announcements from the 2018 ISTE Conference in Chicago, Microsoft's new Surface Go budget laptop, and the opening of Pandora's Box for 3D printed guns. Security articles discussed included the worst cybersecurity breaches of 2018 (so far), the importance of never using a USB from an unknown source (including North Korea summit officials), and the potential danger of discarding a used USB flash drive. Google Chrome articles included the launch of the CTL rugged Chromebook, and...2018-07-121h 01EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 99Welcome to episode 99 of the EdTech Situation Room from June 19, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed advice for attendees of the upcoming 2018 ISTE Conference, the AI robot debater from IBM, Facebook and social media privacy settings, and poor home wifi router security. Wes shared a weekly dose of cyberattack doom and gloom (shout out to NPR Fresh Air and their recent interview with author David E. Sanger) and highlighted Apple's decision to make it harder for border customs officials to quickly copy data off of traveler's iPhones. Microsoft's announced purchase...2018-06-201h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 98Welcome to episode 98 of the EdTech Situation Room from June 13, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed "the day net neutrality died" (and what it means for schools now,) the coming tidal wave of giant media company mergers, and exciting developments in the world of ChromeOS. Jason unveiled his new Google PixelBook laptop, and 72 hours into ownership reports it's the highest end laptop he's ever owned. Additional topics included rumors of redesigned Surfacebooks by Microsoft, and Microsoft Office's new "Fluent" design perhaps influenced by Google. On the Apple front, exciting announcements...2018-06-1456 minEdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 97Welcome to episode 97 of the EdTech Situation Room from June 6, 2018, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) welcomed special guest Michael J. Crawford (@mjcraw). Topics discussed included Mary Meeker’s essential 2018 Internet Trends report and new microcontrols for iOS announced at WWDC 2018 available to developers to potentially exercise more control over user screentime. The value of limiting the length of shared video as well as the availability of those videos for others to watch and interact with them was also discussed. EdSpace Live (www.edspace.live) is Michael's current product focusing on th...2018-06-071h 12EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 78Welcome to episode 78 of the EdTech Situation Room from December 20, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wes Fryer (@wfryer) revived a Neiffer classroom holiday tradition: the "Airing of Grievances" (#edtech focused) inspired by "The Holiday of Festivus" and the 1997 Seinfeld episode, "The Strike." In addition to sharing technology grievances, Jason and Wes discussed the remarkable backstory to the Mirai botnet attacks revealed in an Alaska courtroom last week. Other security related topics included the U.S. government's fingering of North Korea for the WannaCry ransomware attack, China's livestreaming servers for public surveillance cameras, and DA...2017-12-211h 02EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 50Welcome to episode 50 of the EdTech Situation Room from May 3, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) and Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff) discussed today's widespread Google Docs phishing attack, Microsoft's newly announced Windows-S operating system, new Microsoft laptop announcements targeting the Chromebook market and MacBook users, and recent controversy regarding the website Unroll.me selling anonymized user data to advertisers. They also discussed Mark Zuckerberg's recent forecast for the future of social media and screens (mixed-reality), a new Kickstarter campaign (Jelly...2017-05-041h 02EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 50Welcome to episode 50 of the EdTech Situation Room from May 3, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) and Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff) discussed today's widespread Google Docs phishing attack, Microsoft's newly announced Windows-S operating system, new Microsoft laptop announcements targeting the Chromebook market and MacBook users, and recent controversy regarding the website Unroll.me selling anonymized user data to advertisers. They also discussed Mark Zuckerberg's recent forecast for the future of social media and screens (mixed-reality), a new Kickstarter campaign (Jelly...2017-05-041h 02EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 41Welcome to episode 41 of the EdTech Situation Room from February 22, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) and Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff - aka "the 12th man of @edtechSR) discussed unlimited cell phone carrier plans, rumored Apple iPad and iPhone upgrades, the privacy and surveillance hazards of taking a smartphone on an international trip, and slow, disruptive changes brought by technology to network television. They also discussed the continuing relevance of "old school" technologies like email in the workplace. Geeks of...2017-02-2457 minEdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 41Welcome to episode 41 of the EdTech Situation Room from February 22, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) and Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff - aka "the 12th man of @edtechSR) discussed unlimited cell phone carrier plans, rumored Apple iPad and iPhone upgrades, the privacy and surveillance hazards of taking a smartphone on an international trip, and slow, disruptive changes brought by technology to network television. They also discussed the continuing relevance of "old school" technologies like email in the workplace. Geeks of...2017-02-2457 minEdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 39Welcome to episode 39 of the EdTech Situation Room from February 1, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Jennifer Carey (@teacherjencarey) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed screen time and a recent response by Derrick Willard (@dwillard) to a provocative Time editorial. They also discussed the recent sunsetting announcement of Club Penguin by Disney, the importance of parents getting into the virtual worlds their kids are playing in and exploring, and Microsoft's forthcoming "Windows 10 Cloud" product release. The recent successful ransomeware attack on an Austrian...2017-02-021h 04EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 30Welcome to episode 30 of the EdTech Situation Room from November 22, 2016, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show (as well as some we didn't have time to discuss.) This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the challenges of "fake news" continuing to be shared in the aftermath of the U.S. election, and the responsibilities we have to vet and verify articles before passing them on to others. The future of net neutrality in the Trump administration, the rumored end to development of Apple's AirPort routers...2016-11-231h 07EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 28Welcome to episode 28 of the EdTech Situation Room from November 9, 2016, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) briefly discussed the historic and surprising (to many) U.S. Presidential election result, but spent the majority of the show talking about "Digital Citizenship in the Surveillance State." Wes and Jason have submitted a proposal for ISTE 2017 on this topic (www.edtechSR.com/nsa) and Wes will be sharing a TEDx talk on this subject in Enid, Oklahoma, on November 19th. This week's discussions served, in part, as brainstorming and preparation time for both of...2016-11-101h 15EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 27Welcome to episode 27 of the EdTech Situation Room from November 2, 2016, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed a variety of announcements from both Microsoft and Apple from recent PR events. Topics included Microsoft's Surface Studio, Apple's refreshed MacBook Pro, AppleTV updates, and the changing identities as well as customer niche foci of Microsoft and Apple. Jason and Wes discussed the wisdom or folly of Apple going "all in" for the USB-C port in new MacBooks, and the possibility that laptop innovation has plateaued across platforms today. They also talked about the...2016-11-031h 09EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 22Welcome to episode 22 of the EdTech Situation Room from September 14, 2016, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) had a special show. Rather than discuss a variety of recent technology news headlines, episode 22 focused exclusively on Dr. Nicholas Kardaras' August 31, 2016 article for TIME Magazine, "Screens In Schools Are a $60 Billion Hoax." The article highlights many of the key points in Kardaras' newly published book, "Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction is Hijacking Our Kids—and How to Break the Trance." Jason and Wes highlighted several of the valid points from the article regarding screentime, th...2016-09-151h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 21Welcome to episode 21 of the EdTech Situation Room from September 7, 2016, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the much-heralded Apple Event from earlier today which featured the announcement of the iPhone 7. Jason and Wes, in classic "Yayyyyy! …. or Mehhhhhhh…" analysis, broke down the major elements of the Apple Event. This included the iPhone 7 camera, the death of the headphone jack, newly announced AirPods, The Apple Watch Series 2, and iWork real-time collaboration. They also discussed missing announcements from the event, which included updates to the MacBook lineup, MacPro updates, iMac updates, or iPad...2016-09-0858 minEdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 10Welcome to episode 10 of the EdTech Situation Room from May 4, 2016, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed the benefits of using Google Slides for presentation sharing, new updates to Google Classroom, desired updates for Google Apps for Education tools, the relation of maturing genomics & robotics industries to STEM education, the slow adoption dynamics of wearable technologies in the consumer market, and the reported comparative benefits of handwritten class notes over typed versions. Check out our shownotes and discussion links on http://edtechsr.com/links for all referenced resources. Jason shared Slide...2016-05-0557 minEdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 9Welcome to episode 9 of the EdTech Situation Room from April 27, 2016, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed artificial intelligence, social media content moderation, cell phone hacking, open educational resources, and the demise of desktop PCs - and how each of these newsworthy developments relate to classrooms and schools. Jason shared The FiveThirtyEight Blog as his Geek of the Week, Wes shared Nuzzel and the "Full Spectrum Entry-Level Laser Cutter" as his Geeks of the Week. Tune in next Wednesday night at 9 pm Central / 8 pm Mountain for more insightful analysis of the...2016-04-281h 04