Edtech Insiders

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1877869/open_sms] Join hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin as they explore the latest developments in education technology, from AI breakthroughs and policy shakeups to new funding rounds and workforce shifts shaping the future of learning. ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:00:00] Silicon Valley debates the rise of “AI Slop” and the impact of vibe coding. [00:03:36] Columbia student suspended for AI cheating tool raises $5.3M to commercialize it. [00:04:56] Anthropic’s Drew Bent explains why code literacy now means editing AI-generated code. [00:08:09] 200 CEOs and Code.org push for mandatory AI classes in high school. [00:11:13] Federal government’s role in AI education policy under debate. [00:14:04] Duolingo plans to replace contract workers with AI, triggering backlash. [00:20:42] Higher ed faces political attacks; Harvard and Columbia push back. [00:23:32] K-12 faces teacher shortages and $4.5B in proposed federal funding cuts. [00:35:21] Google’s AI Overviews cut search click-through rates by 34.5%. Plus, special guests: [00:36:08] Brian Malkin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-malkin1/], Co-Founder & CEO of Rang [https://www.rang.com/], on rewards programs to improve K-12 attendance. [00:50:29] John Marshall, CEO of BrainFreeze, on AI safety and transparency in schools. [01:12:31] Scott Nadzan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottnadzan/], Vice President of Product Marketing and Strategic Communications at Panopto [https://www.panopto.com/], on AI-generated video and the Elai acquisition. 😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!  * Follow our Podcast on: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/edtech-insiders/id1592196859] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4PeMaMtSPgIBYXhxoqAyik] * Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f4dcf294-1a0d-48aa-b2b2-45bb57392937/edtech-insiders] * Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter [https://edtechinsiders.substack.com/]. * Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/edtech-insiders/]! 🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s: This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge [https://tinyurl.com/5d66m4y5]. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead. This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors [https://www.tuckadvisors.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=edtech], the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1877869/open_sms] Mike Yates [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-yates/]is a Senior Designer at Teach for America's Reinvention Lab [https://www.reinventionlab.org/], with over a decade of experience at the intersection of technology and learning. A former classroom teacher and founding member of Alpha School, he now leads the Lab’s AI initiatives, creating workshops, coaching educators, and prototyping innovative AI solutions. Mike has built partnerships with organizations like Playlab AI, Google, and Snapchat, and remains dedicated to helping educators navigate the future of learning through practical, human-centered approaches. 💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode: 1. Why teachers don’t need to “speak Silicon Valley” to embrace AI. 2. How AI hackathons and poetry slams are making AI learning more human and fun. 3. The concept of “AI Dexterity” and why it’s critical for future-ready educators. 4. How rebel educators are building their own AI tools to solve real classroom problems. 5. Why sometimes the best AI training happens on a plane or at a coffee shop! ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:01:08] Mike Yates’ journey from TFA rejection to leading its AI initiatives [00:04:45] What teachers really want from AI—and why most solutions miss the mark [00:07:28] AI at the human level: “You don’t have to speak Tech Bro to get on this train" [00:14:05] From poetry slams to fashion design—creative ways educators are learning AI [00:18:30] How rebel teachers are building their own EdTech tools after budget cuts [00:23:37] Why AI as a trickster and debate partner makes learning more fun [00:26:59] A sneak peek at the Reinvention Lab’s new initiative: Arcade AI 😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!  * Follow our Podcast on: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/edtech-insiders/id1592196859] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4PeMaMtSPgIBYXhxoqAyik] * Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f4dcf294-1a0d-48aa-b2b2-45bb57392937/edtech-insiders] * Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter [https://edtechinsiders.substack.com/]. * Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/edtech-insiders/]! 🎉 Presenting Sponsor: This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge [https://tinyurl.com/5d66m4y5]. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead. This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors [https://www.tuckadvisors.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=edtech], the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1877869/open_sms] Join host Alex Sarlin alongside special guest co-hosts Ben Wallerstein [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wallerstein-9ba17979/] and Anna Kimsey Edwards [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annakimseyedwards/], Co-Founders of Whiteboard Advisors [https://whiteboardadvisors.com/newsletters/], as they break down: [00:03:00] Trump’s AI Executive Order launches cross-agency education task force [00:05:00] 27 states already advancing AI education policy [00:07:00] Workforce EO targets 1M AI-related apprenticeships [00:10:00] Accreditation EO pushes competition and student outcomes [00:14:00] “Beyond Degrees” report urges non-degree pathways [00:21:00] Edtech funding hits record low in Q1 and Q2, says HolonIQ [00:23:00] ESSER cliff and political uncertainty stall school spending [00:28:00] Falling enrollment squeezes K-12 budgets nationwide [00:30:00] Duolingo adds 150 AI-generated cross-language courses [00:30:45] Google Audio Overview now available in 50 languages [00:31:00] Panorama acquires AI writing tool Class Companion, Kollegio raises seed round for AI college advising [00:32:30] Anthropic forecasts AI-only employees within a year [00:36:00] Israel announces national rollout of AI tutors in schools Plus, special guests: [00:36:45] Anna Iarotska [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaiarotska/], CEO & Co-founder of Robo Wunderkind [https://www.robowunderkind.com/], unveils the first K–5 AI Literacy Curriculum [00:50:55] Julia Dixon [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaelizabethdixon/], Founder & CEO of ESAI [https://www.esai.ai/], reflects on her Shark Tank debut and democratizing admissions advising [01:02:00] Tigran Sloyan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tigransloyan/], Co-Founder & CEO of CodeSignal [https://codesignal.com/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=company&utm_term=profile], shares how TED Talks are becoming interactive learning journeys 😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!  * Follow our Podcast on: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/edtech-insiders/id1592196859] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4PeMaMtSPgIBYXhxoqAyik] * Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f4dcf294-1a0d-48aa-b2b2-45bb57392937/edtech-insiders] * Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter [https://edtechinsiders.substack.com/]. * Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/edtech-insiders/]! 🎉 Presenting Sponsor: This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge [https://tinyurl.com/5d66m4y5]. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead. This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors [https://www.tuckadvisors.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=edtech], the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1877869/open_sms] Betsy Corcoran [https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsycorcoran/] and Dr. Jeremy Roschelle [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-roschelle/] co-host the Future Fluent [https://www.futurefluent.net/] podcast, where they explore how learning is changing in the age of AI. Betsy is the cofounder of EdSurge and now leads Lede Labs, advising education leaders. Jeremy is a leading learning scientist and Executive Director of Learning Science Research at Digital Promise. Together, they bring decades of journalism and research experience to their shared mission: redefining literacy and learning in a world transformed by AI. 💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode: 1. What “future fluency” means in the age of AI 2. Why social connection is central to learning with AI 3. How AI can empower generalist educators and students 4. The importance of co-designing tools with teachers 5. What deep knowledge—not just critical thinking—requires today ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:04:00] Launching Future Fluent: a podcast to ask better questions about AI and learning [00:07:00] Literacy redefined: engaging with the world through many channels [00:09:00] Mike Yates' AI poetry experiment builds confidence in creativity [00:13:00] Using AI to support comprehension for young readers [00:19:00] Post-COVID lesson: data proves teachers’ impact [00:25:00] AI can’t replace deep knowledge or human insight [00:30:00] Playlab AI helps generalist teachers act like specialists [00:33:00] Colorado students use AI to create a voter guide chatbot [00:36:00] Re-centering AI on human flourishing, not machine potential [00:42:00] Real co-design starts with real educator problems 😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!  * Follow our Podcast on: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/edtech-insiders/id1592196859] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4PeMaMtSPgIBYXhxoqAyik] * Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f4dcf294-1a0d-48aa-b2b2-45bb57392937/edtech-insiders] * Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter [https://edtechinsiders.substack.com/]. * Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/edtech-insiders/]! 🎉 Presenting Sponsor: This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge [https://tinyurl.com/5d66m4y5]. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead. This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors [https://www.tuckadvisors.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=edtech], the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1877869/open_sms] In this special episode, we go behind the scenes of the Edtech Insiders GenAI K-12 Education Market Map [https://www.edtechinsiders.ai/], a first-of-its-kind framework connecting real classroom needs to AI-powered tools. Co-created by Alex Sarlin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-sarlin/], Laurence Holt [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurence-holt/], Jacob Klein [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobklein/], and the Edtech Insiders team, this evolving resource helps educators, entrepreneurs, and researchers make sense of a fast-changing landscape.  💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:  1. Why the GenAI Education Map focuses on pedagogy and learning needs over tools 2. How to identify "white space" opportunities for AI in education 3. What makes AI feedback and teacher coaching some of the most promising use cases today 4. How to move beyond the 5% of students typically served by EdTech 5. Why "team teaching with AI" might be the next big frontier ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:02:36] Holt & Klein introduce the origin story of the Generative AI Use Case Map [00:03:29] Starting with teaching and learning needs, not tech capabilities [00:06:03] Why learning science and research-backed practices still aren't reaching scale [00:11:11] How and why the GenAI Map was built as a living, evolving framework [00:15:20] Imagining “team teaching” between human educators and AI assistants [00:20:16] The 5–10% problem: Why most EdTech tools miss the broader population [00:23:18] Personalization, motivation, and redefining what success in school can look like [00:30:05] From tool overload to comprehensive suites: the shifting EdTech landscape [00:34:12] AI-enabled feedback loops that support both teachers and learners [00:39:00] What’s ready for scale now—and what still needs real breakthroughs [00:44:55] Risks and red flags: from dopamine loops to student dependence on AI [00:48:35] Will GenAI in education be incremental or transformative? 😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!  * Follow our Podcast on: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/edtech-insiders/id1592196859] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4PeMaMtSPgIBYXhxoqAyik] * Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f4dcf294-1a0d-48aa-b2b2-45bb57392937/edtech-insiders] * Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter [https://edtechinsiders.substack.com/]. * Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/edtech-insiders/]! 🎉 Presenting Sponsors: This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Starbridge. Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead. This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors [https://www.tuckadvisors.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=edtech], the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.