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 line...
Jun 24, 2026•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 20
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 ...
Jun 17, 2026•56 min•Ep. 19
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...
Jun 10, 2026•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 18
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 teac...
Jun 02, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 17
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 ...
May 27, 2026•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 16
The national screen time debate is loud, but is it hearing from the right people? Dr. Michelle Eckler, Director of Instructional Technology for Stratford Public Schools in Connecticut, is exactly the kind of voice that needs to be in this conversation. In this episode, Lindy and Michelle get into what it actually looks like to use technology well in K-12 classrooms: the difference between passive consumption and creative production, why one-to-one access is really about empowering teachers, and ...
May 20, 2026•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 15
The TikTok comments came in fast. "It's too late." "That's on parents, not teachers." "Banning is the only answer." Lindy gets the frustration. But she strongly disagrees with the conclusion. Because when students walk out of our buildings and into a world saturated with technology — and they will — what did we do to prepare them? If the answer is "we took the devices away," we failed them. This episode is built around the one comment buried in all that noise: "Explicit teaching has a large plac...
May 13, 2026•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 14
A kid creating a digital book for a real audience. A kid clicking through a digital worksheet. A kid doom-scrolling at 10pm. All three involve a screen, but they are not the same thing, and treating them like they are is leading to some really bad decisions for kids and classrooms. In this episode, LindyHoc breaks down why the screen time conversation is missing the point, what we should actually be talking about, and why the answer isn't banning devices. Book Creator: bookcreator.com Snorkl: sn...
May 06, 2026•28 min•Ep. 13
In Part 2 of this conversation, Lindy builds on the question every educator and parent is asking: Is AI actually safe for students? Using new research from Stanford University, she breaks down what we know so far. The big takeaway? AI isn’t inherently good or bad for learning. It all comes down to how the tool is designed and how it’s used. Lindy shares practical do’s and don’ts for both teachers and parents, including why guardrails matter, how “guide vs. give” changes learning outcomes, and wh...
Apr 08, 2026•58 min•Ep. 12
In this episode, Lindy sits down with Jack Churchill—assistive technology leader, dyslexic learner, and yes, the great-grandson of Winston Churchill—to unpack one of education’s biggest misconceptions: that using support tools is somehow “cheating.” From scanning pens to AI-powered supports, they explore how accessibility tools remove barriers, not rigor. You’ll hear insights on supporting neurodivergent learners, and why access isn’t optional—it’s essential for learning Learn more about Scannin...
Apr 01, 2026•46 min•Ep. 11
It’s AI Literacy Day and episode 10 of Make EdTech 100, so we’re digging into a big question: what does the research actually say about AI literacy? In this episode, I break down key studies to uncover what we’re learning about how people use AI, what happens when they don’t understand it, and why AI literacy is quickly becoming a must-have, not a nice-to-have. We’ll look at surprising findings like why lower AI literacy can lead to more AI use, what happens when teachers are given the right gui...
Mar 26, 2026•28 min•Ep. 10
Is it safe for students to use? In this episode, Lindy explores how AI tools can support learning while keeping teachers firmly in control. She breaks down why teacher dashboards and visibility matter, how educators can monitor student interactions with AI, and why students shouldn’t be chatting with bots all day. Instead, AI works best at key moments in learning—sparking curiosity, helping students brainstorm ideas, and personalized checkpoints. If you’re trying to navigate AI in a way that pro...
Mar 18, 2026•30 min•Ep. 9
In this episode, Lindy is joined by Aaron Makelky to break down what educators need to understand about agentic AI. We’ve moved beyond text generation. We’re now in the age of agents—systems that act autonomously, navigate browsers, execute tasks, and even help build new AI tools. Lindy and Aaron unpack recent AI releases, including Codex, agentic browsers, and the viral Open Claw experiment. They explore what’s hype, what’s real, and what this acceleration means for assessment, data privacy, an...
Feb 25, 2026•52 min•Ep. 8
What happens when a Montana librarian starts an esports team? In this episode, I sit down with Marne Bender — educator, librarian, esports coach, and fellow Montanan — to talk about creating spaces where students belong. From building a state championship esports program to transforming the school library into a makerspace hub with 3D printers and coding robots, Marne shares how she makes EdTech 100% work for her students. We dive into rural innovation, esports misconceptions, digital literacy i...
Feb 18, 2026•44 min•Ep. 7
In this episode, I’m stepping out from behind the mic to share a bit about who I am and how my journey in rural Montana shaped the way I think about education and technology. From teaching in a literal one-to-one computer lab before one-to-one was a thing, to supporting educators in small, under-resourced schools, these early experiences cemented my belief that pedagogy must always lead and technology should serve learning—not the other way around. Meet Lindy: https://www.lindyhoc.com/meet-lindy...
Feb 11, 2026•21 min•Ep. 6
Students live in a world of video—and school can’t pretend otherwise. In this episode of Make EdTech 100, Lindy makes the case for why teacher-created video is no longer optional in K–12 learning. Backed by research on student-teacher relationships, belonging, and engagement, this episode unpacks why your presence matters more than polished production. You’ll walk away with concrete ways to use short, authentic videos for instruction, feedback, and connection—plus ideas for making video more eng...
Feb 04, 2026•33 min•Ep. 5
We gave kids technology… and forgot to teach them how to use it. In this episode of Make EdTech 100, Lindy sits down with Dr. Kelli Erwin from Learning.com to unpack what schools are missing in a world where technology is everywhere—even when screens are banned. From misinformation and echo chambers to AI, addiction, and algorithmic influence, this conversation reframes “digital citizenship” as something bigger: real citizenship in an AI-driven world. Dr. Erwin shares how Learning.com’s curricul...
Jan 28, 2026•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 4
What happens when we stop treating technology as either the hero or the villain in education? In this episode, Lindy is joined by Merissa Sadler-Holder, French teacher and founder of Teaching with Machines, for a thoughtful, grounded conversation about what it really means to teach with technology, especially in the age of AI. Together, they unpack the difference between AI literacy and AI fluency, explore why “find the gray” is essential in today’s classrooms, and challenge the all-or-nothing t...
Jan 12, 2026•39 min•Ep. 3
What if video wasn’t one more “thing” on your plate, but a pathway back to joy in teaching? In this episode, Lindy sits down with Erika Sandstrom, the legendary Green Screen Gal, to explore how video can transform classrooms into spaces of creativity, confidence, and connection. From jump cuts and quick wins to mindful media and “breathing bubbles,” Erika shares how even the most camera-shy teachers and students can use video to tell powerful stories. You’ll hear why video isn’t just about conte...
Jan 12, 2026•58 min•Ep. 2
In the first episode of Make EdTech 100 , Lindy tackles the growing challenge of “AI slop” in student work and why AI detection tools are not the solution. She introduces the Assessment Puzzle Framework , a practical approach to redesigning assessments so learning is visible, authentic, and harder to outsource to AI. Through concrete classroom examples across subjects, Lindy shows how adding visuals, annotations, and voice reflection can shift assessment from recall to real thinking. Get the Ass...
Jan 05, 2026•30 min•Ep. 1
