What the Research Actually Says About EdTech with Adam Sparks

Forget Screen Time Limits, Teach AI Literacy Instead with Tara Menghini

What does AI literacy actually look like in a kindergarten classroom? For Tara Menghini, it starts with no AI tools at all. Tara has built a hands-on progression for teaching kids AI literacy from Kindergarten through 6th grade. All without touching AI chatbots.  In this episode, she walks Lindy through what that progression looks like K-6: the early lessons on "dehumanizing AI," how the conversations shift as kids get older, and what changes once sixth graders start debating where their own lines should be drawn. We also get into: What a statewide screen time limit would mean for her classroom, and who it would affect most Why "dehumanizing AI" is one of her core early lessons The companionship toys and home robots she's bringing into class discussions Resources from the episode: “Doug Unplugged”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0375859217?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0375859217?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback]  Posha Kitchen Robot: https://www.posha.com/ [https://www.posha.com/]  Connect with Tara: @techteachertara:  https://www.instagram.com/techteachertara/ [https://www.instagram.com/techteachertara/]  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-menghini-a5aa892a7/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-menghini-a5aa892a7/]

Game-Based Learning Is Not Gamification: A Conversation With Jacquie Gardy & Dan Ryder

Game-based learning and gamification are not the same thing, and in this episode, Lindy is setting the record straight with not one but TWO guests. Dan Ryder and Jacquie Gardy join the show to break down what game-based learning actually is, why it works at every grade level and in every subject, and how teachers can start small without overhauling everything they do. From redesigning Candy Land to building card games that tackle real-world issues like domestic violence awareness to vibe coding interactive game experiences, this conversation is packed with practical ideas and real classroom examples that will make you want to hit the ground running. Learning should be fun. Games make it happen. Let's go. Resources: Tabletop Thinking and Learning: A Game-Based ISTE Playground, Wednesday, July 1: https://conference.iste.org/2026/program/search/detail_session.php?id=118451011#session_118451011 [https://conference.iste.org/2026/program/search/detail_session.php?id=118451011#session_118451011] ISTE26 Board Game Meetup, Sunday evening: https://sites.google.com/view/iste26bgm/home [https://sites.google.com/view/iste26bgm/home]  Connect with Jacquie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquiegardy/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquiegardy/] jacquiegardy.com [http://jacquiegardy.com]  Connect with Dan:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/danryder207/,  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danryder207/]

You Can't Ban Possibility with Dr. Stacy Hawthorne

Dr. Stacy Hawthorne shares stories from districts across the country proving that when technology starts with a learning problem instead of a device, students don't just use tech, they lead with it. Lindy and Stacy also dig into data privacy agreements, the dangers of BYOD, cellphone ban unintended consequences, and the one question every teacher should ask before bringing a new tool into their classroom. About Dr. Hawthorne:  Dr. Stacy Hawthorne, Executive Director at the EdTech Leaders Alliance and CAO at Learn21, has a distinguished career in educational technology. Stacy serves as the Chair of the CoSN Board of Directors. She led the Davidson Academy Online as Director of Online Learning, and has consulted for digital learning program development across the U.S. Stacy holds a Doctorate in Educational Technology, Master's in Educational Administration, and a Bachelor's in Business Administration. She possesses CETL and CCRE certifications and holds teaching and administration licenses in Nevada. Stacy is an active member of several CoSN committees, an ISTE Community Leader, 2024 ISTE 20 to Watch awardee, and serves on several editorial and advisory boards related to digital learning. Connect with Stacy: Linkedin.com/my/stacyhaw [http://linkedin.com/my/stacyhaw] Resources from this episode: Contribute a story: bit.ly/edtechforgood [http://bit.ly/edtechforgood] Tool evaluation rubric: https://etla.tools/etla-tool-evaluation [https://etla.tools/etla-tool-evaluation] The EdTech Leaders Alliance: https://www.edtechleadersalliance.org/ The EdTech Leaders Alliance tools: https://etla.tools/ [https://etla.tools/]  Student Data Privacy Consortium: https://privacy.a4l.org/ [https://privacy.a4l.org/]  SETTING CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS: Guidelines for Responsible Use of Technology for Schools from CoSn: https://www.cosn.org/tools-and-resources/resource/setting-conditions-for-success-guidelines-for-responsible-use-of-technology-for-schools/ [https://www.cosn.org/tools-and-resources/resource/setting-conditions-for-success-guidelines-for-responsible-use-of-technology-for-schools/]

It's Not About Screen Time, It's About Screen Value with Debbie Tannenbaum

What if the screen time debate is asking the wrong question? Lindy sits down with Debbie Tannenbaum, school-based technology specialist at Saratoga Elementary in Fairfax County, VA, to talk about what meaningful tech use actually looks like in elementary classrooms.  Debbie shares how she's using AI to help teachers do UDL audits, support multilingual learners, and create accessible lessons for students with autism. She also introduces her Five C's framework for evaluating tech use and gives teachers a clear first step for moving from passive consumption to powerful creation. More about Debbie: Debbie Tannenbaum is an Elementary Tech Coach, educational consultant, and founder of Tannenbaum Tech LLC with over 26 years of teaching experience. A champion of inclusive innovation, she believes in Pedagogy First. Technology Second. — helping educators move beyond one-off tool adoption toward meaningful, equity-driven integration. Named one of ISTE's 2024 "20 to Watch" and recipient of the 2025 VATLL/VASCD Impact Award, Debbie is a Google for Education Innovator (#ATL26), ISTE Certified Educator, and ASCD Emerging Leader. She is also an Amplify Fellow and has an upcoming ISTE+ASCD publication. Connect with Debbie: https://www.tannenbaumtech.com/ @TannenbaumTech Tools discussed in the episode: https://www.adobe.com/education/express/ [https://www.adobe.com/education/express/] https://www.canva.com/education/ [https://www.canva.com/education/] https://www.peardeck.com/ [https://www.peardeck.com/] https://curipod.com/ [https://curipod.com/] https://nearpod.com/ [https://nearpod.com/]  https://www.wixie.com/ [https://www.wixie.com/] https://seesaw.com/ [https://seesaw.com/]  https://phet.colorado.edu/ [https://phet.colorado.edu/] https://bookcreator.com/ [https://bookcreator.com/] https://snorkl.app/ [https://snorkl.app/] https://amplify.com/ [https://amplify.com/] Virtual manipulative blocks vibe coded in Canva: https://mrshoc.my.canva.site/virtual-manipulative-blocks [https://mrshoc.my.canva.site/virtual-manipulative-blocks]

What the Research Actually Says About EdTech with Adam Sparks

The screen time debate is loud, emotional, and increasingly driving education policy. But what does the research actually say? Adam Sparks, former classroom teacher, Stanford-trained learning designer, and co-founder of the writing tool Short Answer, brings the receipts. In this episode, Lindy and Adam dig into why blanket screen time bans are a response to moral panic more than evidence, what John Hattie's meta-analyses actually tell us about technology in classrooms, and why lumping thousands of different tools under the label "EdTech" makes about as much sense as measuring the effect size of a chalkboard. They also get into how to evaluate EdTech efficacy, what a logic model is and why every school should be asking for one, and how Short Answer is rethinking writing instruction in the age of AI. Short Answer: https://myshortanswer.com/ [https://myshortanswer.com/]   Adam’s Substack: https://adamsparks.substack.com/ [https://adamsparks.substack.com/]  Connect with Adam: adam@myshortanswer.com [adam@myshortanswer.com] Short Answers Portfolio of Efficacy: https://myshortanswer.com/our-approach/ [https://myshortanswer.com/our-approach/]  Writing Instruction for the Age of AI Workshop: https://myshortanswer.com/professional-development/ [https://myshortanswer.com/professional-development/]