The EdTech Lab

Episode 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: 01:12 - Lauren's journey from Fulbright scholar to leading education at Figma 10:15 - what does "making design accessible" mean and why is it important? 14:00 - software vs. hardware and the need for both for equitable education 15:50 - the unexpected ways that learners and teachers are using Figma 25:30 - how Figma involves educators in what they are building 31:20 - all things AI Learn more: Check out Figma for Education here Check out The EdTech Lab here

In 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 instant feedback loops in learning, and how education must shift from a content-focus, to an engagement-focus. Enjoy the episode!

Episode 13: In this episode, I chat with Madhu and Siri, co-founders of dabble. 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 of their secondary school experience is a critical part of this process. Enjoy the episode! ----------- Topics covered: the state of college admissions and applications today the support that students have when it comes to college applications why support should be given even before junior year how network, peers, and a personalized roadmap is needed for appropriate guidance ---------- Learn more about dabbl here Learn more about The EdTech Lab here

Episode #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 talked about, which is of value for any teacher or edtech founder, is how to get school admin to say “yes” to a particular edtech product. Listen on for what she encourages any teacher to do when it comes to getting buy in approval. Enjoy the episode! Topics covered: 03:00 - how Chapperone makes student trips less stressful for teachers 04:45 - the exact moment that led Ali to solve for this problem 07:05 - all of the "behind the scenes" work that goes into planning a field trip 12:30 - feedback from teachers and how this has informed Chapperone's new product features 15:15 - how to get admin to say "yes" 20:10 - the role of experiential learning in education Learn more: Check out Chapperone here Check out The EdTech Lab here

Ep #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 run into audio quality issues in the recording of this so the episode may sound glitchy in parts but it was a joy to record and, as usual, I hope you enjoy the episode.  Topics: 02:30 - The seamless match between creativity and education 03:50 - Hairiette of Harlem, the reading program... 04:50 - ... and the puppet musical! 07:00 - How watching a movie can motivate reading 10:20 - Education is a sacred space and learning should be shared Links: Check out Hairiette of Harlem here Follow The EdTech Lab ⁠⁠here

Ep #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 enhance teaching and learning experiences from a deeply technical perspective that some in the space might not previously consider. Enjoy the episode! Topics: 04:12 - the shift from "defensive edtech" to more proactive edtech 08:50 - concerns, friction, and healthy skepticism from professors 10:40 - how TALIA works 12:25 - the good and the bad of AI in edtech, from a software engineer's point of view 20:00 - what's next for Instructify Links: Check out Instructify here Follow The EdTech Lab ⁠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.

Ep #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 students can engage with the content. A term I learned in this episode is “dignified differentiation”, meaning how to get students to engage in the same content without feeling singled out. Ethan shares the design elements that he has considered, which allowed this to happen, maintaining the integrity of the learners and the original text the study. This is also a great episode for edtech founders that are building a product and need honest teacher feedback, because Ethan shares very tactical advice for each stage of his development process. You can listen on to hear how that teacher feedback even changed many features Ethan was originally considering. Enjoy the episode! Topics: 01:48 - Ethan's mission when it comes to education, teachers, and learners 03:44 - How Adaptive Reader improves reading literacy 05:58 - AI, LLMs, and literacy indexes 09:05 - Tactical advice for teacher involvement in the development process 12:24 - Paperback versus digital books 17:00 - Design elements that protect dignified differentiation 18:30 - Measures of success, assessments, outcomes 23:50 - Giving students agency to pick their reading level 26:20 - The most important thing we can do for students amidst technology Links: Follow Ethan's journey here Check out Adaptive Reader here Follow The EdTech Lab here

In 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 a great primer for anyone interested in the space. Enjoy the episode!

In 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 a great primer for anyone interested in the space. Enjoy the episode!

In 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 a concise yet insightful conversation on the emerging practice of hybrid learning. Enjoy the episode!

In 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 startups, such as whether to think of AI as a feature or as a platform, and offers key insights on when startups should maybe refrain from implementing AI. Enjoy the episode!

In 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! ---------------- We cover: How Sara's background in social work led to the mission behind Be Human(e) What is emotionally intelligent use of technology? The idea behind Life Atlas, the metaverse game helping students practice life skills Findings from their 6-month study on the interplay of tech usage and students' social and emotional development The importance of metacognition in technology usage Emerging technologies that Sara is excited about ---------------- Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok: @theedtechlab Sign up to the newsletter: www.theedtechlab.com

In 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! ---------------- We cover: Maxwell's definition of web3 How web3 and crypto might promote lifelong learning Verifiable credentials and digital identifiers Digital ownership and networked learning Limitations of web3 when it comes to education Communities to seek out if interested to learn more about web3 ---------------- Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok: @theedtechlab Sign up to the newsletter: www.theedtechlab.com

In 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 the metaverse. Enjoy the episode! ------------------- We cover: - How to think about the metaverse - XR (extended reality) as a spectrum of AR, VR, and MR - Different applications of immersive tech - How these support student learning, particularly when it comes to: 🤩 visualization 🤔 perspective-taking 💛 engaging in emotions - What type of learner benefits most from immersive tech - What type of school environments nest support implementation of these An Introduction to the Metaverse for Education: https://www.meridiantreehouse.com/metaverse-education-guide ------------------- Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok: @theedtechlab Sign up to the newsletter: www.theedtechlab.com

In 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 subject as math? Do schools have the flexibility needed to implement the subject?And how can we rethink assessment and student outcomes in this area? Enjoy the episode!

In 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 talk about: What is Powerschool and Michi's role at Powerschool (01:14) How tech adoption in schools vary around the world (03:15) Why emerging markets like Southeast Asia and East Africa have so much opportunity (07:00) How these emerging markets can leap-frog themselves in Education (11:25) Unique challenges and similarities between emerging and more developed markets (16:50) How Michi's experience across roles and industries has shaped her passion in EdTech (20:40) What innovations we are keeping an eye on for education (24:40) -------------- Join a community of educators exploring the latest in tech & innovation - https://www.theedtechlab.com/ Follow us on: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theedtechlab/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theedtechlab Twitter - https://twitter.com/theedtechlab

Join a community of educators exploring the latest in tech & innovation - https://www.theedtechlab.com/ Follow us on: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theedtechlab/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theedtechlab Twitter - https://twitter.com/theedtechlab