Host Priten Soundar-Shah speaks with Aidan Kestigian, COO of Thinker Analytix, about why nearly half of college graduates lack basic reasoning skills and how explicit instruction in critical thinking can address this gap. They discuss the ethical commitments that should guide EdTech development, including prioritizing pedagogy over gamification, maintaining transparency with students, and building genuine relationships with educators.

Key Takeaways:

• Critical thinking requires explicit instruction—it's not automatically developed through traditional coursework
• Ethical EdTech means putting pedagogical goals first, not engagement metrics or "stickiness"
• Reasoning is inherently difficult and requires sustained practice; shortcuts undermine real learning
• Direct accountability between EdTech developers and educators leads to better products and outcomes
• Mission-driven organizations can prioritize both growth and integrity when the mission guides decision-making

Relevant Links:

• thinkeranalytix.org
• thinkarguments.org
• ethicaledtech.org

About Aidan:
Aidan Kestigian, Ph.D. Chief Operating Officer for ThinkerAnalytix, an education non-profit organization, and a visiting Associate of the Department of Philosophy at Harvard University. Aidan received her Ph.D. in Logic, Computation, and Methodology from Carnegie Mellon University in 2018 and taught logic and ethics to college students for a decade before and during her time at TA. She is the author of Democratic Decisions in a Critical Thinking Crisis (2025).

Host Priten Soundar-Shah introduces Margin of Thought, a podcast that creates space for important questions about education, technology, and civic life. This introductory episode explains the show's mission: to explore tensions in modern life that shape how we raise and educate children.

The podcast will feature conversations with educators, civic leaders, technologists, academics, and students, focusing on two main threads:

1. Ethics of Education Technology – Examining AI, surveillance, privacy, and digital safety in K-12 schools (companion to Priten's upcoming book Ethical Ed Tech)
2. Civics Education – Exploring how to prepare students for meaningful democratic participation

At its core, the show asks: How do we preserve what matters while navigating what's coming? Through thoughtful dialogue and deliberate reflection, Margin of Thought aims to help shape institutions that better serve our children.

Relevant Links:

• listen.priten.org
• ethicaledtech.org