In defense of education technology (& the original EdSurge)

How one reporter latched onto the edtech backlash

NBC News’ Tyler Kingkade has always been an interesting presence on the education beat, and lately he’s become even more so. Over the past six months, Kingkade has written roughly a dozen stories [https://www.nbcnews.com/author/tyler-kingkade-ncpn1116631] about the growing concerns about social media, screentime, and learning software being used in schools. They began appearing in December with Parents say school-issued iPads are causing chaos with their kids [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/la-parents-kids-school-issued-ipad-chromebook-los-angeles-rcna245624] and continue with Inside Google’s AI training for teachers [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/education/google-ai-training-teachers-california-rcna348979]. Along the way, Kingkade has refuted LAUSD’s screentime estimates [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/social-media-settlement-cas-cellphone?utm_source=publication-search], had his efforts featured in the Friday newsletter [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/a-dismal-decade-5-15-2026?utm_source=publication-search], and been recognized at least twice in The Grade’s best of [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/complicating-the-enrollment-narrative?utm_source=publication-search] the week [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/closing-time-3-13-2026] section. In this new interview, Kingkade talks about why he feels that the edtech backlash is much more organic than previous school-related outrages, how critics sometimes mistakenly diminish or conflate parents’ concerns, how the he convinced his editors to let him focus on school technology in addition to Trump-related stories, “I knew pretty quickly after we published the LA story back in December that this was going to be something I was going to stay on,” he says. “But I didn’t realize how quickly it would explode.” Watch the interview or read the transcript above (or on YouTube [http://youtube.com/@thegrade7706/videos]). Listen to the conversation on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1JwQiPIHlxf0LQdaLr4CYv] or Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-education-show/id1858272151]. Featured quotes “When I started as the higher ed reporter-editor at the Huffington Post back in 2012, ed tech was something I was very quickly bored by.” “Last year I was covering a lot of stuff around the Trump administration and everything that it was doing and still is doing to education and about halfway through, there was actually this article in the New York Times about college professors using AI and some students feeling like, ‘Wait, you’re doing the thing you’ve been yelling at us not to do.’ …For some reason just that was a story that broke through, and they asked a couple of us, ‘Yes, pay attention to what Trump’s doing, but also AI is becoming a bigger factor — what’s going on?’” “I was the first to report on some internal records from Google that have been filed in the big social media addiction litigation, talking about how they saw their work in schools as building a ‘pipeline’ of future users or at least tapping into one… That got a lot of attention and I think that was something that reinforced to my editors, ‘Tyler’s on to something. Let him keep going.’ Let him cook, as the kids say.” “I had never had so many emails in response to any story I’ve ever done. And they were almost all constructive, like, ‘Hey, this is happening in my kids’ school in Kansas,’ or whatever. People were really engaged about it.” “I knew pretty quickly after we published the LA story back in December that this was going to be something I was gonna stay on. but I didn’t realize how quickly it would explode.” “This has already been happening for years. I mean, Utah is a good example. There’s a couple of districts where parents have been going to school board meetings for two years, complaining about the stuff that we’re hearing about a lot this year, with with Chromebooks in schools.” “I don’t want to say all these parents are absolutely correct in everything that they complain about — that’s never the case on any issue — but it is something people should consider.” “I think this conversation’s going to be ongoing. It’ll be interesting to see how many change things over the summer while things are sort of quiet and then just start the fall with a new experiment. But I don’t think the market’s gonna die because I don’t think like we’re gonna get rid of computers. “I’m not saying I will never cover Alpha School, but that is if I’m being honest and a little maybe overly transparent, I’m often inclined to be like, ‘Mmm, private school, do what you want.’… I’m not as interested.” Previously from The Grade How ISTE turned EdSurge into slop [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/how-iste-turned-edsurge-into-slop] (Stephen Noonoo) Summer Edtech Pile-On [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/summer-edtech-pile-on] (Secret Bonus Section) Why are schools awash in YouTube? [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/schools-awash-in-youtube] (Shalini Ramachandran / WSJ) The 30-year delusion about schools & tech [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/the-30-year-delusion-about-schools] (Todd Oppenheimer) Covering the edtech backlash [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/covering-the-edtech-backlash-in-lower] (Sharon Lurye / AP) How to cover ed tech hysteria [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/how-to-avoid-ed-tech-hysteria] (Holly Korbey / The Bell Ringer) Education, technology, & the media [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/how-iste-turned-edsurge-into-slop?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=reaction&utm_medium=email&utm_content=post&triedRedirect=true] (roundup of almost all of The Grade’s edtech coverage) Get full access to Alexander Russo's The Grade at alexanderrusso.substack.com/subscribe [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

In defense of education technology (& the original EdSurge)

It’s hard to think of someone better than Tony Wan to talk to about the current edtech backlash. First, he was a startup founder. Then he covered ed tech at EdSurge, the site that chronicled the rise of technology in schools. Currently, he’s an edtech investor at Reach Capital [https://thewire.reachcapital.com/]. In this new interview, Wan describes the current backlash as a bit of a hangover from the COVID era and a reaction to the influx of of federal dollars given to schools, most of which have now been spent. Wan doesn’t claim that schools are all getting high-quality programs, or that edtech companies deserve anything but skepticism. However, he’s concerned about researchers and reporters overstating negative effects, the lack of nuance in public understanding of edtech, the presumption that edtech advocates have nefarious motives — and the danger of “throwing the baby out with the bathwater.” While he laments what’s happened to EdSurge since his departure, Wan acknowledges that some of the coverage that was produced in earlier years may have been inadequately skeptical for some tastes (including mine). Nonetheless, Wan wants to see a better mix of stories including teachers who are also edtech founders: “One of the voices I really enjoyed covering (and is sometimes missing from today’s coverage) are companies and startups founded by former teachers and educators, who are building solutions from their lived experience and personal mission to address problems that they themselves felt and saw firsthand.” Watch the interview or read the transcript above (or on YouTube [http://youtube.com/@thegrade7706/videos]). Listen to the conversation on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1JwQiPIHlxf0LQdaLr4CYv] or Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-education-show/id1858272151]. You can follow Wan at his Substack, edtech after dark [https://tonywan.substack.com/]. Apologies to everyone for the technical difficulties! Featured quotes: “Districts are really hard asking hard questions around what is that return on investment? What is actually working?” “We want schools to be asking good questions and we want our companies to be able to show their impact. But the reality is that a lot of the procurement decisions don’t necessarily have impact or efficacy baked into those decisions.” “We started with one newsletter that focused on the entrepreneur and investor perspective, and so I can understand some of that perspective that EdSurge was a little bit too cheerleader-y and a little bit too Silicon Valley for some folks. But we also started a second newsletter that was more for targeted at teachers and I think here is where our coverage and the op eds that we published would get at some … [of] things don’t fully deliver on the promise.” “Now I think Ed Surge is just a little bit more like an Edutopia, and kind of missing that business lens.” “Any claims that a salesperson or a CEO makes deserves some healthy dose of scrutiny and pushback. Anyone developing ed tech should expect that.” Previously from The Grade How ISTE turned EdSurge into slop [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/how-iste-turned-edsurge-into-slop] EdSurge mystery Part 2 [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/weekend-highlights-education-journalism] (bonus section) Betrayed by the PTA, ed tech vs. ed reporters, & assessing #EWA26. [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/betrayed-by-the-pta-ed-tech-vs-ed] (newsletter) Education, technology, & the media [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/education-technology-and-the-media] (roundup) Why are schools awash in YouTube? [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/schools-awash-in-youtube] (Shalini Ramachandran / WSJ) The 30-year delusion about schools & tech [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/the-30-year-delusion-about-schools] (Todd Oppenheimer / The Computer Delusion) Covering the edtech backlash [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/covering-the-edtech-backlash-in-lower] (Sharon Lurye / Associated Press) Artificial intelligence & education news [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/artificial-intelligence-and-education] (Abraham Kenmore) How to cover ed tech hysteria [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/how-to-avoid-ed-tech-hysteria] (Holly Korbey / The Bell Ringer) How to cover online manipulation of students (without exacerbating the problem) [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/how-to-cover-online-dangers-without] Get full access to Alexander Russo's The Grade at alexanderrusso.substack.com/subscribe [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Can Democrats win on education reform?

As he crisscrosses the nation exploring a possible Presidential run, fixing schools has been Rahm Emanuel’s top issue. “You cannot be a party that professes an interest in equity and not care about academic failure,” he says. It’s a stark contrast to other Democratic leaders — and may help the former Chicago mayor and Obama chief of staff win public support. That hasn’t happen — yet. Emanuel says he feels like he’s Paul Revere “and the doors are locked.” But, given widespread concerns about schools — and poll numbers suggesting other Democrats have moved too far to the left — Emanuel’s approach could generate outsized support. “I’m not making a case for choice,” he says about how he thinks about public funding for parents who pick private schools. “I’m making a case for excellence.” His likely candidacy will test whether his positions — and education writ large — will prove more popular with primary voters than they are within the DNC and among the groups. Watch the interview or read the transcript above (or on YouTube [http://youtube.com/@thegrade7706/videos]). Listen to the conversation on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1JwQiPIHlxf0LQdaLr4CYv] or Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-education-show/id1858272151]. Select quotes: “We declared as a party that we wanted to bring the school culture wars to schools, and we lost.” “We know what to do, but the political will has gone out the window.” “I do wonder whether, appropriately managed, AI can become the individual tutor that children need. I think it offers a promise.” “Your success in destroying [public school] choice has repercussions. Now you’re against the eight-ball on these other things [vouchers, homeschooling, etc.]” Previously from The Grade The Democratic case for private school choice [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/the-democratic-case-for-private-school?utm_source=publication-search] (featuring DFER’s Jorge Elorza) A New Home for Center-Left Education Politics? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zogrWfEnHo] (featuring Center for Strong Public Schools’ Alisha Thomas Searcy) Who killed school reform? [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/6420718_wilson-lost-decade] (featuring The Lost Decade’s Steven Wilson) Education journalism’s ‘Sold a Story’ problem [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/journalisms-sold-a-story-problem?utm_source=publication-search] Get full access to Alexander Russo's The Grade at alexanderrusso.substack.com/subscribe [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Why are schools awash in YouTube?

There’s nothing particularly new or sexy about YouTube, the video platform that’s been around forever. But it’s enormously popular, deeply addictive, very lightly regulated — and it’s everywhere in students’ lives. “American public schools are awash in YouTube,” according to Shalini Ramachandran’s Wall Street Journal investigation, How YouTube Took Over the American Classroom [https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/youtube-chromebooks-schools-children-brain-f151dfbb?mod=author_content_page_1_pos_2], which describes schools unintentionally creating “a gateway for students to get sucked into an infinite scroll of videos on school-issued devices.” In this new interview, Ramachandran describes how she first found out her son was exposed to YouTube at school, the value of social media lawsuits in providing background information that tech companies otherwise refuse to provide, and the role of concerned parents in helping her reporting the story. Anti-YouTube efforts have been taking place in a smattering of locations including Wichita, it starts out in Wichita, Kan., Bend, Ore., Los Angela, Cal., and Maplewood, NJ. Meantime, Google is putting out a its latest Chromebook, rebranded for the AI era. Watch the interview or read the transcript above (or on YouTube [http://youtube.com/@thegrade7706/videos]). Listen to the conversation on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1JwQiPIHlxf0LQdaLr4CYv] or Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-education-show/id1858272151]. You can follow Ramachandran @shalini [https://x.com/shalini]. Previously from The Grade The 30-year delusion about schools & tech [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/the-30-year-delusion-about-schools] (Todd Oppenheimer) Covering the edtech backlash [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/covering-the-edtech-backlash-in-lower] (Sharon Lurye) Artificial intelligence & education news [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/artificial-intelligence-and-education] How to cover ed tech hysteria [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/how-to-avoid-ed-tech-hysteria] (Holly Korbey) How to cover online manipulation of students (without exacerbating the problem) [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/how-to-cover-online-dangers-without] Get full access to Alexander Russo's The Grade at alexanderrusso.substack.com/subscribe [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The 30-year delusion about schools & tech

The current backlash against school technology has many sources, including among them frustrations with remote learning during COVID, the over-use of devices and software in schools, and the recent spread of school phone bans. But questions about computers in schools aren’t anything new. In fact, almost 30 years ago, Todd Oppenheimer wrote The Computer Delusion [https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1997/07/the-computer-delusion/376899/], a prescient cover story for what was then still called the Atlantic Monthly. Six years later, he followed up with a book on the same topic, The Flickering Mind [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/124693/the-flickering-mind-by-todd-oppenheimer/]. In this new, totally unedited interview, Oppenheimer connects his efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of passive computer-based learning to the present-day tech backlash, including Jared Cooney Horvath’s The Digital Delusion [https://thedigitaldelusion.substack.com/], and urges today’s journalists to resist the urge to speed up or outsource the reporting and writing process. “Stop and think,” urges Oppenheimer. “Think about what everything adds up to.” Watch the interview or read the transcript above or on YouTube [http://youtube.com/@thegrade7706/videos]. Listen to the conversation on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1JwQiPIHlxf0LQdaLr4CYv] or Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-education-show/id1858272151]. Previously from The Grade Covering the edtech backlash [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/covering-the-edtech-backlash-in-lower] (featuring Sharon Lurye) How to cover ed tech hysteria [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/how-to-avoid-ed-tech-hysteria?utm_source=publication-search] (featuring Holly Korbey) Rethinking Chromebooks in Kansas [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/rethinking-chromebooks-in-kansas] Get full access to Alexander Russo's The Grade at alexanderrusso.substack.com/subscribe [https://alexanderrusso.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]