Shows
Margin of Thought with PritenWhat If the Answer to Technology Overload Isn't Better Tech But Real Relationships? - Nate OteyIn this episode, Priten speaks with Nate Otey, a ninth grade humanities, statistics, and calculus teacher at Boston Trinity Academy, a school that has deliberately chosen a low-tech approach. Nate shares how his school has banned phones for students up to 10th grade, with parents and students largely on board. The conversation explores what happens when a school community prioritizes relationality over connectivity, why friction in human relationships might be essential rather than something to eliminate, and how faith-based education can provide a framework for understanding why face-to-face connection matters. Nate reflects on the practical challenges of enforcing device p...
2026-02-2725 min
Margin of Thought with PritenHow Can AI Support Inclusive Education? - Tamsyn SmithIn this episode, Priten speaks with Tamsyn Smith, Senior Learning Designer and Team Lead at the University of Southampton, who is halfway through a PhD investigating how generative AI can support inclusive education. Tamsyn shares her journey from childhood programming to classroom teaching to higher ed learning design, and reflects on how COVID-19 and AI arrived as dual "cataclysmic shifts" that educators are still navigating. The conversation explores data privacy pitfalls, the myth of digitally-native students, and why Universal Design for Learning matters more than ever—ultimately landing on a hopeful note: most students are ethical, and the real qu...
2026-02-2426 min
Margin of Thought with PritenHow Might AI Support Early Education Interventions in India? - Ratna GillIn this episode, Priten speaks with Ratna Gill, who supports the partnerships team at Rocket Learning, a nonprofit tackling early childhood education in India through WhatsApp. Ratna shares her journey from child safety work to early childhood education and explains how Rocket Learning delivers bite-sized educational content to caregivers and Anganwadi workers serving 600 million children who lack access to early stimulation. The conversation explores their AI-powered personalized tutor, the importance of cultural contextualization, and what ethical ed tech looks like when working with resource-constrained communities—ultimately landing on a hopeful note: technology can expand access to education without replacing the...
2026-02-1931 min
Margin of Thought with PritenHow Can We Center Pedagogy During the AI Tech Wave? - Lance EatonIn this episode, Priten speaks with Lance Eaton, Senior Associate Director of AI and Teaching and Learning at Northeastern University, about navigating the integration of AI and educational technology in higher education. Lance shares his 15-year journey through instructional design—from community colleges to Ivy League institutions—and offers practical wisdom on how educators can thoughtfully adopt AI without losing sight of pedagogy. The conversation explores everything from reflection bots and embodied learning to the tension between commercial tech platforms and educational values, ultimately landing on a hopeful note: we've navigated dozens of technological shifts before, and we can figu...
2026-02-1733 min
Margin of Thought with PritenWhat Are Some Ethical Tech Integration Strategies for K-12? - Justin CerenziaIn this episode, Priten speaks with Justin Cerenzia, Executive Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Episcopal Academy, about navigating the complex ethical decisions administrators face when integrating AI and educational technology in K-12 schools. Justin shares his journey from early AI adoption with GPT-3.5 to implementing thoughtful frameworks for tech integration, discussing everything from AI tutors and cell phone policies to the tension between preparing students for the workforce versus fostering deep learning. The conversation explores how schools can balance innovation with pedagogy, the importance of making student thinking visible, and why ethical decision-making requires moving...
2026-02-1335 min
Margin of Thought with PritenWhat Does Values-Driven Education Technology Policy Look Like? - Joe CarverIn this episode, Priten talks with Joe Carver, Associate Head of School at The Meadow School. Joe shares his unconventional journey from debate coach to technology director to school leadership. He discusses his philosophy of values-driven technology integration—one that involves all stakeholders, resists both hasty adoption and knee-jerk resistance, and centers the teacher-student relationship. He explores how schools can thoughtfully embrace AI and educational technology by using core values as a North Star, building cultures of innovation through targeted adoption, and preparing educators to stay conversant with emerging tools. Joe emphasizes the importance of reverse-engineering what students miss in...
2026-02-1029 min
Margin of Thought with PritenCan We Teach Critical Thinking and Not Mindless Clicking? - Aidan KestigianHost Priten Soundar-Shah speaks with Aidan Kestigian, COO of Thinker Analytix, about why nearly half of college graduates lack basic reasoning skills and how explicit instruction in critical thinking can address this gap. They discuss the ethical commitments that should guide EdTech development, including prioritizing pedagogy over gamification, maintaining transparency with students, and building genuine relationships with educators.Key Takeaways:Critical thinking requires explicit instruction—it's not automatically developed through traditional courseworkEthical EdTech means putting pedagogical goals first, not engagement metrics or "stickiness"Reasoning is inherently difficult and requires sustained practice; shortcuts undermine real learningDirect accountability be...
2026-02-0532 min
Margin of Thought with PritenWhat is Margin of Thought? - Priten Soundar-ShahHost Priten Soundar-Shah introduces Margin of Thought, a podcast that creates space for important questions about education, technology, and civic life. This introductory episode explains the show's mission: to explore tensions in modern life that shape how we raise and educate children.The podcast will feature conversations with educators, civic leaders, technologists, academics, and students, focusing on two main threads:Ethics of Education Technology – Examining AI, surveillance, privacy, and digital safety in K-12 schools (companion to Priten's upcoming book Ethical Ed Tech)Civics Education – Exploring how to prepare students for meaningful democratic participationAt its core...
2026-02-0303 min