Wide Walls Playful Learning, Research in EdTech, and Parenting with AI - Dr. Jody LeVos
In this episode of Wide Walls, I’m particularly excited to welcome Dr. Jody LeVos, a true champion for early childhood and play-based learning.
Jody currently serves as Chief Learning Officer at BEGiN, where she leads curriculum design and pedagogy across a family of beloved learning products, including HOMER, codeSpark, Little Passports, and Learn with Sesame Street. With over a decade of experience designing early learning experiences across digital apps, toys, books, and other media, she’s brought her expertise to some of the most iconic brands in the industry, such as LeapFrog and Mattel.
Jody is also a dedicated advocate for parents and educators, having contributed to major platforms like CES Kids@Play, Psychology Today’s “Science of Play” series, and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Screen Time Summit.
In this episode, we discuss:
🌟 Jody’s Purpose-Driven Career — Jody’s shift from research to industry as a model for aligning expertise, mentorship, and impact at scale.
🎲 Play as a Learning Paradigm — Why play is foundational (not decorative) to early development and genuine understanding.
🌎 Designing for Diverse Learners — Building inclusive experiences through real-world kid testing, family insights, and evidence of transfer.
📱AI’s Role in EdTech Research and Parenting — Using AI to accelerate prototyping and feedback while guiding families toward thoughtful, balanced tech use.
Find more about Jody and her work:
* BEGiN
* Children’s Media Association
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com