EdTech Innovations Episodes

In this episode of EdUp Learning and Development, Ben Erwin shares his journey from being a writing instructor to becoming an instructional designer at Purdue University. He discusses the challenges of burnout in education, the importance of community and networking, and how LinkedIn played a crucial role in his career transition. Ben emphasizes the need for work-life balance and offers valuable advice for those looking to shift careers, highlighting the significance of self-reflection and the u...

In this episode of Ed Up Learning and Development, host Holly Owens speaks with Cedric Scott Jr., an educator and edtech influencer, about his journey from a background in chemistry to becoming a leader in the education space. They discuss Cedric's mission to improve STEM education for underserved communities, the importance of representation in the classroom, and the role of AI in education. Cedric shares insights on how to leverage strengths for career transitions and emphasizes the significan...

In this live demo, Kavitta Ghai, the CEO and co-founder of Nectar, showcases Nectar AI, their newest product. Nectar AI is an AI assistant that can be customized for classrooms, providing personalized help and feedback to students. The AI assistant can be integrated into the LMS and is FERPA and COPPA-compliant. It can access uploaded documents and use general or limited knowledge from GPT-4 to answer student questions. The goal is to create an accessible and engaging learning experience for eve...

In this episode, Holly discusses the topic of transitioning into a career in learning and development (L&D), specifically in instructional design. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being intentional and strategic in the career transition process. She suggests five key steps to take before applying for roles in the L&D industry: 1) identify what you want in a role, 2) determine which sector of L&D you want to work in (e.g., education, corporate, government, freelance, etc.), 3) conduct re...

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...

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 somethi...

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...

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 ...

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 care...

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 ...