In this episode of Edtech Explored, Lauren and Erin sit down with 4k teacher Katie Fletcher to discuss one of the biggest misconceptions in education: that play and learning are opposites. They explore what play-based learning really looks like in today's classrooms, and why it's an important part of a child's development.

In this episode, Lauren and Erin explore outdoor education through two perspectives: the curiosity of children (because, surprise, they were kids once too!) and the observations of adults. Lauren has taken a trip to the Tomorrow River Community Charter School and Erin visited The Boston School Forest in Stevens Point Wi. Together, they discuss what makes outdoor learning so impactful and the lessons they brought back from both visits.

Watch a video about the Boston School Forest: https://youtu.be/Dk8kImgjPvM

Watch a video about the Tomorrow River Community Charter School: https://youtu.be/M7qPThKjJ1k

In this episode of EdTech Explored, school psychologist Tammy Stowers-Tonn joins us to discuss why behavior is communication, how student needs have changed over the years, the impact of technology and social media on wellbeing, and what educators and families can do to better support students.

What does it actually take to build technology that works for schools, educators, and students?

In this episode, we sit down with John Jagoditsh to explore the realities of building effective educational technology. From understanding the challenges schools face to creating tools that solve real problems, John shares insights from his experience in the EdTech space and what it takes to develop products that educators genuinely want to use.

How much technology is too much in today’s classrooms? In Episode 2 of Edtech Explored, hosts Lauren Gilchrist and Erin Werra explore the balance between meaningful innovation and digital overload in K–12 education. From classroom tools to student experience, join the conversation on what effective edtech really looks like.

In our first episode of Edtech Explored, Lauren and Erin share the vision behind the podcast and what listeners can expect as we dive into the people, stories, and technology shaping K–12 education.