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In this special episode, Alex sits down with Adam Franklin, our very first guest on EdTech Insiders, who returns three years later with an exciting new venture.
Adam is a former high school history teacher turned edtech entrepreneur. He previously taught at YES Prep Brays Oaks HS in Houston, TX and coached the varsity soccer team. Adam earned a masters degree in Learning, Design, and Technology from Stanford GSE in 2016 where he also served as a researcher and writer for the Stanford History Education Group. In 2017, he joined Nearpod, then a Series A startup, to help lead the content arm of the business where he stayed through their $650M acquisition by Renaissance in 2021. In early 2024, Adam left Nearpod to join the Teaching Lab Studio as a fellow to build out innovative products at the intersection of AI and Education, with StudyBuds, a teachable agent practice platform, being his primary focus.
đĄ 5 Things Youâll Learn in This Episode:
- How AI-powered teachable agents help students learn by teaching.
- Why AI can boost engagement and deeper learning in classrooms.
- The limitations of multiple-choice assessments and AIâs role in fixing them.
- How AI can co-create with students instead of just giving answers.
- Why venture studios like Teaching Lab Studio are investing in AI-powered learning.
âš Episode Highlights:
[00:01:18] Adam Franklinâs journey from teacher to edtech founder.
[00:06:46] How teachable agents create interactive student practice.
[00:12:39] Training AI to ânot knowâ and learn from students.
[00:16:56] The PokĂ©mon effectâwhy students love training AI characters.
[00:22:57] Why students outsource thinking and how AI can change that.
[00:31:23] StudyBuds aligns with curricula to support teachers.
[00:37:20] Inside Teaching Lab Studioâs unique edtech venture model.
[00:44:48] The future of AI in education and multimodal learning.
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