In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, we interviewed Spencer Sharp, a Talent Specialist at Field Pros Inc., who specializes in recruiting for the ed tech industry. Sharp shares his journey from being a STEM teacher to entering the ed tech industry and eventually becoming a recruiter. He discusses the qualities he looks for in candidates, including the ability to pivot, confidence, and soft skills. Sharp also emphasizes the importance of understanding the recruiting process and the challenges that com...
Mar 21, 2024•39 min•Season 4Ep. 135
In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, hosts Holly Owens and DaNadia Johnson interview Dr. Phil Hickman, the CEO and founder of Plabook, an innovative reading technology that uses artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and speech recognition to help children learn how to read. Dr. Phil shares his extensive background in education, from being a teacher, counselor, school psychologist, assistant principal, principal, to superintendent in some of the largest school districts in the nation....
Mar 11, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 134
In this episode, Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson delve into the intricacies of LinkedIn optimization, emphasizing the critical nature of establishing a polished professional profile. Key recommendations include utilizing a professional photo and cover image, crafting a compelling headline, and specifying your location. The hosts also advocate for featuring a portfolio or website link in the designated section. They caution against sharing proprietary content, suggesting a shift towards more generi...
Mar 05, 2024•38 min•Season 4Ep. 133
In this discussion, Holly provides advice on how to navigate job descriptions when applying for roles in instructional design or the learning and development (L&D) field. She emphasizes the importance of identifying the sector you want to work in, such as corporate, education, government, ed tech, or nonprofit. Holly also suggest that applicants should not be deterred if they don't meet 100% of the qualifications, as many companies are open to candidates who meet 60-70% of the criteria and a...
Mar 02, 2024•35 min•Season 4Ep. 132
In this episode, hosts Holly Owens and DaNadia Johnson interview Kevin Farmer, the founder of ReBeL, an EdTech platform that aims to revolutionize the education system. ReBeLuses AI to create a personalized learning experience for each student, tailoring the content to their interests and learning style. The platform also serves as a hub for educators, parents, and students to connect and collaborate. Farmer believes that the future of education will be student-driven and will look vastly differ...
Feb 27, 2024•27 min•Season 4Ep. 131
In this episode, we got to interview Josh Kamrath, CEO of Bongo, an EdTech company that uses video assessment to help learners demonstrate skills or competencies. Kamrath shares his journey from being the first employee of Bongo to becoming its CEO. He discusses the role of AI in education, particularly in facilitating personalized learning and validating learners' knowledge. Kamrath also highlights the importance of data privacy and security in EdTech, and how Bongo ensures both. He envisions a...
Feb 22, 2024•35 min•Season 4Ep. 130
In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, hosts Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Regnault Sanders, the founder and CEO of Schoolconomy. Sanders shares his journey from being a student to becoming the founder of an EdTech company. He explains that School Economy is a student success software that rewards students for positive behavior, which has led to increased engagement and a decrease in behavioral referrals. The platform also involves parents by notifying them when their child has done somethin...
Feb 20, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 129
In a fabulous demo, Anna Poli, a senior instructional designer with iSpring, demonstrated the capabilities of iSpring's suite of tools. The tools include a demo of IPR, a tool that allows users to create interactive content, and iSpring Space, an online course builder and sharing service. Poli also highlighted the tool's AI capabilities, which can suggest course titles, create course outlines, write assignments, create quiz questions, and simplify language. The AI also supports multiple language...
Feb 15, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 128
Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson discussed their experiences transitioning into instructional design and ed tech roles. They emphasized the importance of knowing what you want to do, conducting thorough research, and networking. They also highlighted the value of freelancing to gain experience and build a resume. They recommended using Teal, a job search platform that helps track applications and provides resources for job seekers. They also suggested spending 20 minutes a day on job searching to a...
Feb 12, 2024•39 min•Season 4Ep. 127
In this episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with the visionary Luis Malbas, the brilliant mind behind the Training, Learning Development Community and Conference (TLDC). Join us as we delve into Luis's inspiring journey, from his early days in video stores and manufacturing to becoming a trailblazer in the e-Learning Guild and ultimately founding TLDC to address crucial gaps in the learning and development (L&D) industry. Join us in this enlightening conversation with Luis Malbas as...
Feb 08, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 126
In this episode of EdUp Ed Tech, host Holly Owens interviews Dr. Lauren Sanchez Gilbert, CEO of BellXcel. Gilbert shares her journey from being a special education teacher to leading an EdTech company. BellXcel is unique in the EdTech space as it serves the out of school time area, aiming to enhance how, where, and when children learn. The company offers a management system and curriculum for out of school time, helping schools better manage their operations. Gilbert also discusses the company's...
Feb 06, 2024•23 min•Season 4Ep. 125
Introduction: Join us on EdUp EdTech as we chat with Kavitta Ghai, the brains behind Nectir. Kavita introduces Nectir, a game-changing platform that teams up with Learning Management Systems (LMS) to transform the way we learn. In this episode: 1. Getting to Know Nectir: - Kavita gives us the lowdown on Nectir's mission and how it's reshaping education for the better. 2. Opening Up Educational Access: - Discover how Nectir is breaking down barriers by making educational resources accessible to e...
Feb 01, 2024•31 min•Season 4Ep. 124
In this episode of EdUp Ed Tech, hosts Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Stuart Grey, Founder of Student Voice, a company that uses machine learning to analyze student feedback. Grey, who has a background in aerospace engineering, discusses his transition into the education sector and his passion for teaching. He shares his optimism about the potential of AI in education, suggesting it could free up educators to focus on the human aspects of their roles. Grey also explains how Student Voic...
Jan 30, 2024•28 min•Season 4Ep. 123
In this episode of EdUp EdTech, hosts Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview the CEO and Co-founder of Buzly, Srinjay Verma . Buzly is an EdTech tool that started as a student-to-student connection platform during the Covid-19 pandemic. It has since evolved into a tool that helps higher education institutions engage with students before they arrive on campus and keep them engaged throughout their time at the institution. Srinjay discusses the importance of community in higher education and how ...
Jan 25, 2024•24 min•Season 4Ep. 122
In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, the hosts interview Aaron King, a solutions engineer at Blackboard Anthology and the owner of Snack Size Learning. Aaron shares his journey from being a rapper and music producer to becoming an instructional designer and e-learning developer. He discusses the importance of personalization and competency-based learning in the future of education. Aaron also highlights the role of technology, such as AI and Universal Design for Learning, in enhancing the learning e...
Jan 23, 2024•42 min•Season 4Ep. 121
In this episode we interviewed Keith Look, the Vice President of Education Solutions at Territorium. Keith shares his journey into the EdTech space, starting with his experience setting up internet access in a library in Philadelphia. He discusses the need for a better way to capture and represent students' skills and abilities, leading him to the field of EdTech. Keith then explains the work of Territorium, which focuses on moving learners to employment based on verified skills. Territorium o...
Jan 18, 2024•29 min•Season 4Ep. 120
Join us in the exciting Season 4 premiere as we delve into the world of Ed Tech with a special guest, Joe Ferraro , the Vice President of Revenue at Hypothes.is . Discover the journey of Joe's 15 years in the education space, from working in admissions to pioneering virtual science labs. Learn about Hypothes.is , a social annotation tool that transforms the way students and educators collaborate on digital documents in real time. Explore the impact of active reading, community building, and the ...
Jan 15, 2024•30 min•Season 4Ep. 119
Holly takes us on our journey and discusses the challenging (and anxiety-inducing) interview stages. By the end of this episode, you will feel comfortable and confident when stepping into the your next interview. Our journey starts with an understanding of the interview stages, from initial phone screenings to the final panel interviews. We kick off with the phone or video screening stage, discussing common questions like "Tell me about yourself" and "Why are you interested in this role?" We pro...
Nov 27, 2023•26 min•Season 3Ep. 118
In this episode of EdUP EdTech, hosts Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Brian Lamb, Co-CEO and Founder of Swivel. Lamb shares his journey from engineering and design school to the tech space, and how he and his co-founder accidentally discovered a need in the education sector. Swivel started as a consumer product company, but after receiving consistent orders from school addresses, they decided to focus on creating EdTech solutions. Swivel's main product is a device that turns a phone or a...
Nov 16, 2023•22 min•Season 3Ep. 117
In this episode of we got to interview the amazing Vince Jeong, the co-founder and CEO of Sparkwise. Sparkwise is a group learning platform that aims to make professional development more engaging and impactful. It allows professionals to build skills and create a sense of community by practicing, discussing, and exchanging feedback in small groups. Jeong shares his journey as an immigrant from South Korea and how his experiences shaped his passion for education and professional learning. He als...
Nov 14, 2023•23 min•Season 3Ep. 116
In this episode of EdUp EdTech, hosts Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Michael McCreary, Co-founder of Teaching Tools. McCreary shares his journey from being a graduate student at Johns Hopkins to co-founding Teaching Tools with his sister, a professional software engineer. The company offers a range of tools designed to help instructors incorporate effective teaching practices into their classrooms. These include a basic lesson planning tool, an active learning library, and an AI-powered...
Nov 09, 2023•32 min•Season 3Ep. 115
In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, hosts Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Bailey Schroeder, CEO and Co-founder of Petcademy. Schroeder shares her journey from founding a company that enabled pet parents to earn money for their favorite rescue or shelter, to adopting a dog with behavioral issues, which led her to create Petcademy. The platform offers personalized training and behavioral support for pet parents, with a focus on positive reinforcement. Petcademy also provides a community for p...
Nov 07, 2023•30 min•Season 3Ep. 114
In this live demo, Shaunak Roy , founder and CEO of Yellowdig an EdTech company, showcased the platform's features and functionalities. Yellowdig is a tool designed to enhance student engagement and learning in higher education institutions. It allows students to create and share content, fostering a sense of community and active participation in the learning process. The platform also provides data to instructors, helping them understand student engagement levels and improve course delivery. Ye...
Nov 03, 2023•58 min•Season 3Ep. 113
In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, hosts Holly Owens and Nadia Johnson interview Ben Wellington, Director of Sales, Customer Service and Support, and Sarah Eiler, Community Engagement Coordinator at ScreenPal. Both guests share their journeys from being classroom teachers to working in the EdTech space. They discuss the transition from Screencast-O-Matic to ScreenPal, highlighting the expanded features of the platform, including a mobile app, a hosting solution, and video messaging. They also ment...
Nov 02, 2023•34 min•Season 3Ep. 112
In this episode of Edup Ed Tech, hosts Holly Owens and DaNadia Johnson interview Taylor Shead , the founder and CEO of Stemuli , an educational technology company. Shead shares her journey from aspiring to be a reconstructive plastic surgeon to becoming an entrepreneur in the EdTech space. She explains that Stemuli is focused on addressing the US workforce shortage by engaging students in education and aligning their credentials with future job requirements. The company combines education and ca...
Oct 31, 2023•24 min•Season 3Ep. 111
Episode Overview In this episode, we chat with the president of Learning A-Z , Lisa O'Masta. Lisa shares her journey in the EdTech industry, emphasizing her passion for education and her commitment to supporting students and teachers. She discusses the company's focus on K-6 literacy resources and its mission to provide teachers with the tools they need to be effective in their classrooms. Lisa also highlights the company's new products, including Foundations A-Z, which is built on the Science o...
Oct 30, 2023•26 min•Season 3Ep. 98
In this episode of EdUp EdTech we got to chat with the amazing Anna Poli , a Senior Instructional Designer at iSpring Solutions . Anna shares her journey from technical support engineer to instructional designer, highlighting the importance of continuous learning and growth. She discusses the various features of iSpring, including its user-friendly platform for creating interactive e-learning courses and its robust feedback system. Anna also reveals upcoming features, such as improved social lea...
Oct 26, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 110
Episode Overview In this episode, of EdUp EdTech hosts Holly and Nadia Johnson sit down with CEO of DataBot, Robert Grover. Grover shares his journey from working in STEM education to developing DataBot, a multi-sensor device designed to make data collection and analysis more accessible and engaging for students. The device, which can be used across various grade levels and subjects, allows students to physically interact with data, helping them understand concepts like gravity, acceleration, an...
Oct 24, 2023•25 min•Season 3Ep. 109
Chelsea Averitt, founder of SKIP, a job board for remote roles in education technology, discussed the current state of the EdTech job market. She highlighted the top three remote roles that educators are transitioning into customer success, program management, and instructional design. Averitt also emphasized the importance of salary transparency and the need for educators to identify and leverage their skills when transitioning into these roles. She noted that educators often undersell themselv...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 108
Chelsea Averitt, founder of SKIP, a job board for remote roles in education technology, discussed the current state of the EdTech job market. She highlighted the top three remote roles that educators are transitioning into customer success, program management, and instructional design. Averitt also emphasized the importance of salary transparency and the need for educators to identify and leverage their skills when transitioning into these roles. She noted that educators often undersell themselv...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 108
