Shows
The EdTech LabEp. 15 - How Figma Built A Community Of Teacher Advocates with Lauren McCann RyanEpisode 15: In this episode, I chat with Lauren, Head of Education at Figma. With a background that includes teaching in India, and work at Google on products like Google Classroom, Lauren is passionate about making education accessible through technology.
At Figma, she leads efforts to bring design into classrooms, fostering creativity and collaboration among students. We discuss what “making design accessible” means in the context of education, how she has build such an engaged community of educators around the Figma products, and how Figma is embracing AI. Enjoy the episode!
Topics covered:
2024-07-1736 min
The EdTech LabEp. 14 - AI, Instant Feedback Loops, and the end of "Content Is King", with Peter PacconeIn this episode, I chat with Peter. Peter is a recently retired teacher of over 30 years, a consultant to Class Companion - an EdTech startup that has received funding from OpenAI - and he’s on the AP teacher advisory committee of College Board. He was so generous in sharing all that he’s seen and learned from his years of experience in and out of the classroom. We cover a lot in this episode. This of course includes AI, but also things like - why the schooling system right now is so broken, the importance of reps and inst...2024-07-1231 min
The EdTech LabEp. 13 - Helping High School Students Own Their Journey To College w/ Madhu Vohra and Sirisha KaipaEpisode 13: In this episode, I chat with Madhu and Siri, co-founders of dabbL. dabbL is a platform that is empowering students by providing them with a personalized roadmap, a network of mentors, and hands on learning experiences for their journey to college. Madhu and Siri both have extensive backgrounds as software engineers and found the problem they wanted to solve for through their own experiences as mothers to high school kids.
We talk about the state of the college admissions process, the type of support that high schools students currently have access to, and why nurturing students from the onset...2024-07-0325 min
The EdTech LabEp. 12 - Making Student Trips Less Stressful with Ali IberrakenEpisode #12 - In this episode I’m chatting with Ali, founder of Chapperone. Chapperone is an all-in-one platform that makes student trips outside of the classroom safer and easier. Ali is one of those founders who knows exactly the pain points of the customers she is serving having been a teacher herself for over 14 years... and throughout that time, she led over 100 student trips! It was so fascinating to hear about all the challenges that go on behind the scenes of planning a field trip, and Chapperone solves for this.
One other topic we ta...2024-06-2629 min
The EdTech LabEp. 11 - Acting To Education: How Stories Promote Reading Proficiency with Tanya WrightEp #11: In this episode I chat with Tanya, founder of Hairiette of Harlem. Tanya has such an interesting background. Before entering the world of education, she was actively pursuing her career as an actor, and appeared in prominent shows such as Orange Is The New Black. She is now building a reading literacy program through her beloved character, Hairiette. Her reading program involves a book series, a puppet show musical, and a teaching curriculum - and she talks through how she came up with this model and why it is effective.
Unfortunately we did r...2024-06-1212 min
The EdTech LabEp. 10 - Teacher And Learning Intelligent Assistants with Chirag Tailor and Anthony AgnoneEp #10: In this episode, I’m chatting with Chirag and Anthony, co-founders of Instructify. They’ve created TALIA (Teaching and Learning Intelligent Assistant). TALIA is a tool plus into existing learning management systems or platforms like Discord, then helps professors provide course-specific answers to student queries. Our conversation explores the early days of Instructify, the evolution of their mission, and the impact TALIA is having on higher education. Chirag and Anthony also come from impressive backgrounds in software engineering with experience at major companies like IBM, Twitter, and Pinterest. So they’re able to share insights into leveraging AI to enh...2024-06-0525 min
The EdTech LabEp. 9 - Making Classical Literature Accessible To All with Ethan PierceEp #9: In this episode, I chat with Ethan Pierce, founder of Adaptive Reader. Adaptive Reader is a platform making classic literature accessible to all students. Ethan shares his personal journey from struggling reader to Harvard scholarship recipient, highlighting how pivotal moments and supportive teachers shaped his path. This is what’s led him on his mission to bridge reading gaps using AI and large language models.
We dive into how Adaptive Reader rewrites novels at various reading levels and translates them into multiple languages - including Spanish, Vietnamese, Urdu, and Filipino - ensuring all stu...2024-05-2928 min
The EdTech LabSeason Two is here!Hi! 👋🏼 Season 2 of The EdTech Lab podcast is starting THIS WEEK. Don't forget to subscribe to get notified whenever the latest episodes drop. Thanks for tuning in.2024-05-2800 min
The EdTech LabEp. 8 - Reimagining Education with web3 and AI; Vriti Saraf and Michael PeckIn this episode, I chat with Vriti and Mike, the co-founders of Ed3 DAO. Ed3 DAO is a global community of and for educators, reimagining education with web3 and AI. We go through so many topics under the umbrella of web3 and AI including how these technologies impact both teachers and learners, the parallels between the rise of AI and the advent of the internet, how to think about what democratizing these technologies mean, and how Ed3 DAO’s grassroots pedagogy-first movement are helping educators teach more effectively while considering these technologies. The episode is packed with such good nuggets and is...2023-12-2953 min
The EdTech LabEp. 8 - Reimagining Education with web3 and AI; Vriti Saraf and Michael PeckIn this episode, I chat with Vriti and Mike, the co-founders of Ed3 DAO. Ed3 DAO is a global community of and for educators, reimagining education with web3 and AI. We go through so many topics under the umbrella of web3 and AI including how these technologies impact both teachers and learners, the parallels between the rise of AI and the advent of the internet, how to think about what democratizing these technologies mean, and how Ed3 DAO’s grassroots pedagogy-first movement are helping educators teach more effectively while considering these technologies. The episode is packed with such good nugget...2023-12-2653 min
The EdTech LabEp. 7 - Investing in AI-driven EdTech startups with Claire ZauIn this episode I chat with Claire, a VP at GSV Ventures. GSV Ventures have invested in EdTech giants I’m sure you’re familiar with, like Coursera, Class Dojo, and Turnitin. Claire breaks down the essence of GSV Ventures and what their investment thesis is when looking for, what they refer to as, "pre-k to grey" startups. Claire happens to write GSV’s AI news and updates newsletter, so of course we go in depth on how companies are embracing AI, including the intriguing “David versus Goliath” dynamics between EdTech incumbents and new startups. She then shares valuable advice for...2023-11-2933 min
The EdTech LabEp. 6 - Hybrid learning in a post-pandemic world with Yuekun LiIn this episode I sit down with Yuekun, the global business development lead at ClassIn, an online teaching platform. We dive into what makes ClassIn unique and its role in helping schools navigate the challenges they faced during the pandemic - from bridging the technological gap between private and public schools to enhancing student engagement in virtual classrooms. Yuekun shares some insight into why most schools reverted to pre-pandemic teaching methods while implementing permanent changes in certain functions like administration. He also explains the importance of digital audits, especially as we enter more hybrid learning environments. Tune in for...2023-11-2929 min
The EdTech LabEp. 5 - Emotionally Intelligent Use Of Technology with Sara FilipcicIn this episode I’m chatting with Sara, the founder of Be Human(e). Be Human(e), through their virtual Life Atlas platform, offers game experiences for students to practice life skills that foster their personal, social and emotional wellbeing. Sara’s all about nurturing these life skills, especially amid the rapid advancements in technology. We discuss the research she’s conducted on how exactly emerging tech impacts youth, their relationships with tech and with each other, and she offers insights for educators to leverage this knowledge. Enjoy the episode!
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We cover...2023-09-0119 min
The EdTech LabEp. 4 - Web3, crypto, and lifelong learning with Maxwell KanterIn this episode, I chat with Maxwell (a contributor at Gitcoin) about the transformative potential of Web3 and crypto when it comes to lifelong learning. Maxwell shares his insights on how the fundamental change in learning will be driven by two things: digital ownership and networked learning. Stay tuned as we discuss blockchain use cases beyond credentialing, various limitations of the technology, and the importance of continuously rethinking how these technologies can shape the future of education. Enjoy the episode!
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We cover:
Maxwell's definition of web3
How web3 and crypto might promote lifelong learning
Verifiable credentials and...2023-07-1132 min
The EdTech LabEp. 3 - How Can Immersive Tech Better Support Learning? with Eileen McGivneyIn this episode, I chat with Eileen about what education looks like in the metaverse when enabled by immersive technology such as virtual and augmented reality. Eileen has been studying this field for a long time, most recently in her research as a PhD candidate at Harvard University. For those who want an introduction to this topic, Eileen and her team prepared a great, evidence-based guide that I’ve linked below. We briefly go through this, then go on to discuss the potentials and challenges of learning with immersive tech and why “the future of eduction” is not necessarily all in...2023-06-0330 min
The EdTech LabEp. 2 - Is Computer Science A Necessity In Schools? with Ben WheelerIn this episode I’m chatting with Ben, a software engineer at Scratch Foundation who's passionate about computer programming education. His past experience includes co-author of one of the first "Computational Media" curricula for the New York City Department of Education and founder of a creative tech education program called Ada & Leo.
Ben goes deep into the kinds of questions that we need to be thinking about when it comes to computer science education in schools. Questions like: Is it a must-have subject for today's students? Will it come to be as dreaded a su...2023-04-0947 min
The EdTech LabEp. 1 - EdTech In Emerging Markets with Michi FerreolIn this episode, I chat with Michi, who is the Director of International Product Strategy at Powerschool and Co-Founder of KadaKareer, a non-profit in the Philippines. Michi brings a wealth of experience from her time as a consultant at Bain, a VC with Future Africa, and a program and learning experience designer in institutions such as ALX and African Leadership University. With her finger on the pulse of what EdTech looks like around the world, Michi shares insights on the state of EdTech specifically in emerging markets like Southeast Asia and East Africa.
We...2023-03-3034 min
The EdTech LabIntro - The EdTech Lab PodcastJoin a community of educators exploring the latest in tech & innovation - https://www.theedtechlab.com/
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