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Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they discuss the latest developments in education technology, from growing AI skepticism in schools and major policy shifts to Anthropic's education strategy and conversations with founders tackling literacy and AI tutoring.

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:05:49] New York City pauses AI procurement across its school system
[00:11:28] New study questions AI's impact on teaching quality and student engagement
[00:18:00] Norway introduces strict limits on generative AI for younger students
[00:21:41] Anthropic launches Claude for Teachers with major edtech partnerships
[00:23:27] Why partnerships and AI ecosystems may define the future of edtech
[00:30:52] How AI infrastructure could help smaller edtech companies compete
[00:33:31] Learning Commons and connected platforms point toward a more integrated edtech ecosystem

Plus, special guests:
[00:37:40] Louise Baigelman, Founder & CEO of Storyshares, on expanding adolescent literacy beyond the science of reading
[01:01:02] Ashish Bansal, Founder & CEO of StarSpark.AI, on building AI tutors that promote learning instead of answer-giving

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

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Michael Preston, Executive Director, Medha Tare, Senior Director of Research, and Liza Gak, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, are leading researchers focused on child-centered educational technology. Together, they are helping edtech organizations design better products by combining learning science, participatory co-design, and thoughtful approaches to AI.

💡 5 Things You'll Learn in This Episode

1. Why involving children early in product design leads to better edtech.
2. How the Joan Ganz Cooney Center's co-design methodology differs from traditional user testing.
3. What children's feedback reveals about AI tutors, reading buddies, and learning experiences.
4. Why learning science and child-centered design should guide AI-powered products.
5. Practical ways edtech teams can adopt co-design to build more engaging and effective learning tools.

✨ Episode Highlights
[00:03:35] Introducing the Co-Design with Kids Toolkit and why child-centered design starts before user testing.
[00:06:22] How learning science and the Translating Literacy Research to EdTech framework shape stronger products.
[00:11:14] What participatory co-design actually looks like in practice.
[00:20:53] Surprising insights from children including why "less is more" with AI.
[00:24:15] How educators and product teams should think differently about AI in learning.
[00:31:53] Practical advice for bringing co-design into every stage of product development.
[00:39:20] What's next for AI, child-centered design, and the future of edtech.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

Send us Fan Mail

Sue Khim is the Co-founder and CEO of Brilliant, the interactive learning platform that has helped millions of learners build deep understanding in math, science, and computer science. In this episode, she shares how Brilliant's new AI tutor, Koji, is designed to develop critical thinking rather than simply provide answers.

💡 5 Things You'll Learn in This Episode

1. Why the best AI tutors ask questions instead of giving answers.
2. How Brilliant applies active learning and game design to STEM education.
3. The philosophy behind designing AI that builds intelligence rather than dependence.
4. What personalization should look like in the next generation of AI tutoring.
5. Why learning should feel like a "climbing wall" instead of an answer machine.

✨ Episode Highlights
[00:02:32] The origin story of Brilliant and its active learning philosophy
[00:05:31] Introducing Koji: an AI tutor designed to help students think.
[00:11:07] Why concentration, challenge, and flow are essential for learning
[00:15:48] Designing AI that guides students without giving away the answer
[00:19:40] Early reactions to Koji and why parents are embracing this approach
[00:25:30] What game design can teach us about building better learning experiences.
[00:35:05] Sue's vision for the future of personalized AI tutoring.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!

Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.

Tuck Advisors was founded by entrepreneurs who built and sold their own companies, frustrated by other m and a firms, they created the one they wished they could have hired but couldn't find. One who understands what matters to founders and whose North Star KPI is the percentage of deals closed. If you're thinking of selling your ed tech company or buying one contact Tuck advisors now.

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.