Send us a text Jeff Wetzler has been on a quarter-century quest to transform learning opportunities. Blending a unique set of leadership experiences in the fields of business and education, he’s pursued this quest as a management consultant to the world’s top corporations, as a learning facilitator for leaders around the world, as Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America, and most recently, as co-CEO of Transcend , a nationally recognized innovation organization. Jeff earned a Doctorate in Ad...
Apr 15, 2024•25 min
Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Alex and Ben discuss: 1. AI Business Schools Are Going All In on AI Educators divided over AI's impact AI concerns grow even as more teachers adopt the technology 2. BigTech Microsoft's $100 billion 'Stargate' datacenter for OpenAI may be AI's 'Star Wars' moment OpenAI Unveils A.I. Technology That Recreates Human Voices OpenAI built a voice cloning tool, but you can’t use it… yet 3. K-12 Kids Missing school at a...
Apr 10, 2024•51 min
Send us a text Gabi Immelman is the founder and CEO of edtech start-up , Mindjoy , a platform for STEM teachers to 10x their impact for boundless classroom learning through unleashing student curiosity with the power of AI tutors. With Mindjoy, teachers can transform lessons they love and know using the power of AI to create engaging digital first learning experiences for their students. A former Reggio-educator turned EdTech founder with experience working globally in Africa & USA. Mindjoy ...
Apr 08, 2024•1 hr 11 min
Send us a text In this episode, Alex and Michelle discuss: 1. AI OpenAI is pitching Sora to Hollywood on a Hollywood charm offensive before launching its Sora video generator AI May Be Coming for Standardized Testing Teachers Desperately Need AI Training. How Many Are Getting It? 2. BigTech Spotify Throws Its Hat in the Edtech Ring 3. K-12 K-12 Hybrid Schooling Is in High Demand Steve Daly from Instructure on “Learning Deserts” LAUSD bets big on AI chatbot “Ed" 4. Edtech GoStudent, now prof...
Apr 02, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Send us a text Julia Dixon is the Founder and CEO of ESAI (pronounced [ES] + [AY] + [EYE]), the first-of-its-kind generative AI platform for college applicants and young professionals. As a former college advisor, Julia saw a major inequality emerging as only the wealthiest families could afford resources for their students to stand out and get into the most competitive colleges and universities. She created ESAI to help level the playing field, so students of all backgrounds and resources could...
Apr 01, 2024•42 min
Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Alex and Ben discuss: 1. AI OpenAI ChatGPT + Humanoid Robot = Figure01 NVIDIA Launches Latest AI Chips and Software at Developer Conference Apple in talks with Google to embed Google Gemini behind AI features in the iPhone Apple Quietly Launches First Multimodal AI Model , MM1 Elon Musk and xAI open-source Grok 2. K12 Ed launches in LAUSD 3. Higher Ed The SAT Is Coming Back At Some Colleges. It’s Stressing Everyone Out. 4. Workforce Udacity is ac...
Mar 27, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Send us a text When Alejandro Gibes de Gac was 7, his family immigrated to the US seeking educational opportunities for their children. His parents’ tireless efforts enabled Alejandro and his sister to overcome their circumstances and pursue their dreams. Alejandro published two books by 14 and was admitted to Harvard by 16. After graduating from college, Alejandro joined Teach For America and became a first grade teacher in Philadelphia. There he became frustrated that the school system treats ...
Mar 25, 2024•52 min
Send us a text Andrew Sachs is a retired successful tech entrepreneur with a passion for wanting to make the world a better place for others. With three wonderful kids and a teacher-wife, Andrew saw how school and university were not preparing our youth with the needed technical, soft and leadership skills they needed to thrive in today’s quickly changing world. Having benefited from excellent teachers and continuous learning in the context of high-performing global project teams in his professi...
Mar 18, 2024•50 min
Send us a text Edtech Insiders joined the first Common Sense Summit on America's Kids and Families hosted by Common Sense Media at Pier 27 in San Francisco on January 28–30. The conference brought together advocates, researchers, youth leaders, policymakers, and other experts to take stock of America's kids and families and explore solutions to the most pressing issues across four core topic areas: kids and technology, youth mental health, early childhood education, and K–12 education....
Mar 13, 2024•55 min
Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Alex and Ben discuss: 1. AI Claude 3 Opus by Anthropic Inside the Funding Frenzy at Anthropic, One of A.I.’s Hottest Start-Ups Google partners with Reddit in AI content licensing deal 2. Big Tech Nvidia reaches $2T market cap Nvidia Hardware Is Eating the World "Don't Learn to Code, But Study This Instead..." says NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Special Guests: Kelly Sia , President of Curriculum Associates Malia Burns , CEO of OpenSeat , ...
Mar 12, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Send us a text Tom Sayer is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ello , the world's first virtual reading coach that works with real books. Before Ello, Tom was the head of impact and adoption programs at Google for Education, where his team was responsible for ensuring that Google tools were used effectively in classrooms worldwide. He is on the advisory board of Education Reimagined, the movement builder of learner centered education. He has also worked as an intelligence officer, a product manager,...
Mar 11, 2024•43 min
Send us a text Edtech Insiders joined the first Common Sense Summit on America's Kids and Families hosted by Common Sense Media at Pier 27 in San Francisco on January 28–30. The conference brought together advocates, researchers, youth leaders, policymakers, and other experts to take stock of America's kids and families and explore solutions to the most pressing issues across four core topic areas: kids and technology, youth mental health, early childhood education, and K–12 education....
Mar 06, 2024•54 min
Send us a text Max Azarov is an experienced entrepreneur in the IT industry. He graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) where he studied at the School of Physics and Mathematics, and he holds an MBA from the University of Massachusetts. Max built his career in IT product management and software development across Russia and the USA, working for Cyber Vision, Digital 5, Google and LG Electronics. As a product manager for Google, Max was responsible for the global prod...
Mar 04, 2024•45 min
Send us a text Edtech Insiders joined the first Common Sense Summit on America's Kids and Families hosted by Common Sense Media at Pier 27 in San Francisco on January 28–30. The conference brought together advocates, researchers, youth leaders, policymakers, and other experts to take stock of America's kids and families and explore solutions to the most pressing issues across four core topic areas: kids and technology, youth mental health, early childhood education, and K–12 education....
Feb 29, 2024•17 min
Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Ben and Alex discuss: 1. AI OpenAI Completes Deal That Values the Company at $80 Billion OpenAI’s Sora Rivals In The Works—Including From Google And Meta 2. Edtech Online course provider 2U faces doubts it can continue 3. PreK-12 Unleashed Brands to Acquire Sylvan Learning 4. Reports Reach Capital’s 2023 US EdTech Funding Report Oppenheimer Report Special Guest: Matt Sherman , Founder and CEO at LSAT Lab...
Feb 27, 2024•40 min
Send us a text Robyn Cook is the Chief Academic Officer for Aauti School , a online digital science curriculum powered by AI. She’s an experienced education professional who has served as served as a Director of Curriculum and Instructional Supports, a STEM and Science Content specialist, and a chemistry and biology teacher, dedicated to transforming K-12 education through innovative curriculum development and instructional leadership. Robyn is responsible for driving and communicating Aauti’s i...
Feb 26, 2024•48 min
Send us a text Edtech Insiders joined the first Common Sense Summit on America's Kids and Families hosted by Common Sense Media at Pier 27 in San Francisco on January 28–30. The conference brought together advocates, researchers, youth leaders, policymakers, and other experts to take stock of America's kids and families and explore solutions to the most pressing issues across four core topic areas: kids and technology, youth mental health, early childhood education, and K–12 education....
Feb 21, 2024•17 min
Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Ben and Alex discuss: 1. AI Google Launches AI Opportunity Initiative For Europe; Announces €25M Funding To Support AI Skills Development 2. Edtech India ASU GSV Emeritus Event in India PhysicsWallah’s FY23 Profit Tanks 91% To INR 90M Deborah Quazzo and Michael Moe on BYJU's Deborah Quazzo follow-on investments in India How Eruditus survived the evisceration of edtech Duolingo is largest language platform in the world 3. K-12 Tyton Partners’...
Feb 21, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Send us a text Mari Nazary is the Chief Experience Officer at Bloom Institute of Technology , formerly known as Lambda School, Mari has dedicated over 15 years to transforming the landscape of online education. She believes in making education a universal key, accessible and effective for all, without the financial burden often associated with higher learning. Mari's journey in EdTech began with her role at Rosetta Stone, where she developed the company’s first online classroom experience. ...
Feb 19, 2024•50 min
Send us a text Edtech Insiders joined the first Common Sense Summit on America's Kids and Families hosted by Common Sense Media at Pier 27 in San Francisco on January 28–30. The conference brought together advocates, researchers, youth leaders, policymakers, and other experts to take stock of America's kids and families and explore solutions to the most pressing issues across four core topic areas: kids and technology, youth mental health, early childhood education, and K–12 education....
Feb 15, 2024•31 min
Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Ben and Alex discuss: 1. AI OpenAI partners with Common Sense Media to collaborate on AI guidelines Edsafe AI Fellowships 2. Big Tech Senate blasts tech CEOs over child safety 3. Workforce upGrad To Open 100 Experience And Learning Centers, Commits INR 1,000M 4. PreK-12 Byju’s Says Investors Don’t Have Voting Right To Remove Founder From Edtech Group 5. K-12 Zum Raises $140M Instructure Completes Acquisition of Parchment 6. HigherEd Shaq is joini...
Feb 13, 2024•1 hr 8 min
Send us a text Nick Hernandez is the CEO and Founder of 360Learning , a leading advisor and investor in the SaaS technology industry, and the author of Collaborative Learning: How to Upskill from Within and Turn L&D into Your Competitive Advantage. Nick founded 360Learning in 2013 and has since grown the company into a leader in the EdTech sector. In late 2021, Nick and his team secured $200m in funding from Sumeru, SoftBank, and Silverlake for 360Learning to continue their mission of champi...
Feb 12, 2024•48 min
Send us a text Lydia Logan is the Vice President of Global Education and Workforce Development, Corporate Social Responsibility at IBM , where she leads IBM's community and university skilling initiatives that create more inclusive and effective schools and workforces. Her programs help fulfill IBM’s pledges to skill 30 million people worldwide by 2030, and to train two million learners in AI through 2026, particularly those from historically underresourced, underserved, and underrepresente...
Feb 05, 2024•46 min
Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Ben and Alex discuss: 1. AI Chegg, Duolingo, Coursera Stocks Swoon as Goldman Warns of Threat From AI Coursera’s CEO announced that Coursera users signed up for an AI course every minute of 2023 2. Edtech It’s a good time to invest in early-stage edtech, investors say Byju’s seeks new funding at less than $2 billion valuation, a 90% drop 3. K-12 National Ed-Tech Plan Outlines How Schools Can Tackle 3 Big Digital Inequities Michael Bloomberg donat...
Jan 30, 2024•53 min
Send us a text Ryan Craig is a Managing Director at Achieve Partners and was formerly an MD at University Ventures. Ryan’s commentary on where the puck is going in education and workforce regularly appears in the biweekly Gap Letter , Forbes , and Inside Higher Education . He is the author of the book Apprentice Nation: How the "Earn and Learn" Alternative to Higher Education Will Create a Stronger and Fairer America (2023). He is also author of A New U: Faster + Cheaper Alternatives t...
Jan 29, 2024•1 hr
Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Ben and Alex discuss: 1. AI Duolingo Sheds Some Human Workers As AI Threatens To Upend The $65 Billion Translation Industry Moral Panic of “Will Chatbots teach your children” is starting up: “Will Chatbots Teach Your Children” Your Child’s Favorite Teacher May Soon Be a Chatbot Two of Your Predictions for 2024 and Why They Are Probably Not Correct 2. Edtech HolonIQ Removes 13 unicorns from its Edtech Unicorns list FETC is next week! 3. Workforce ...
Jan 23, 2024•43 min
Send us a text Lauren McCann is the head of Figma for Education. She started her career in the classroom, as a middle school English teacher in Hyderabad, India. Before joining Figma, Lauren led product marketing for Google’s core education products including Google Classroom, Google Meet, Google Workspace for Education (Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, Drive, Jamboard) Google Assignments, Read Along, and more. At Figma, Lauren and her education team are working to bring Figma into more classrooms g...
Jan 22, 2024•51 min
Send us a text In this episode of Week in Edtech, Ben and Alex discuss: 1. AI GPT Store Opened. What does this mean? South Korea's MathGPT Sets a New World Record in Mathematical Performance US Congress Introduces “AI Literacy” Bill 2. PreK12 As Enrollment Declines, Districts Consider Closing Schools 3. K12 Skipping School: America’s Hidden Education Crisis 4. Higher Education Claudine Gay & Higher Ed’s Crisis. Is it just PR & Politics or is it a deeper issue? The new FAFSA is meant...
Jan 16, 2024•44 min
Send us a text Dr. Maria Armstrong is the Executive Director of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) . Her career in education includes serving as a teacher, school counselor, assistant principal, principal, director of English Language Learners, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, superintendent, and as an educational consultant for the Puerto Rico Department of Education leading the department’s Hurricane Maria Recovery efforts. Prior to worki...
Jan 15, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Send us a text Louise Baigelman is the founder and CEO of Storyshares , a mission-driven literacy organization focused on engaging and empowering readers and writers of all levels. Before starting Storyshares, Louise was a reading and writing teacher, middle school EL coordinator, and literacy specialist, working with students from preschool through high school. Louise was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list, the International Literacy Association’s 30 Under 30 list, and she has received awards...
Jan 08, 2024•49 min
