Practical AI That Teachers Actually Love with Levi Belnap of Merlyn Mind
Apr 28, 2025
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Levi Belnap, CEO of Merlyn Mind, shares insights on how AI is revolutionizing classrooms. He explains how voice AI helps teachers regain control and improves student engagement. The conversation highlights the transformation in teachers' perceptions of AI, emphasizing that it should be an invisible support, not a burden. Levi discusses the system's multi-language capabilities and its positive impact on classroom dynamics, allowing educators to focus on individual instruction and fostering an inclusive learning environment.
Merlyn Mind's voice AI empowers teachers by reducing administrative burdens, allowing them to focus on engaging directly with students.
The evolution of AI in education demonstrates a significant shift from skepticism to acceptance as teachers recognize its practical benefits.
Merlyn Mind's multi-language support enhances inclusivity by enabling communication in various languages, improving accessibility for diverse classrooms.
Deep dives
The Role of AI in Enhancing Teacher Effectiveness
AI technologies like Merlin Mind empower teachers by allowing them to focus more on engaging with students rather than getting bogged down by administrative tasks. These tools help reduce behavioral issues and increase student engagement by automating the management of classroom technology. By integrating voice control and AI capabilities into the classroom, teachers can easily transition between activities without losing focus on their students. This shift enables teachers to maximize their effectiveness, ultimately benefiting student learning experiences.
Transformative Features of Merlin Mind
Merlin Mind serves as a classroom assistant that allows teachers to control various classroom technologies seamlessly. It can initiate actions such as starting timers or sharing lesson plans directly to students' devices using voice commands. This hands-free approach enhances learning transitions and minimizes wasted time while keeping the teacher engaged with the students. Additionally, it incorporates AI features that assist in generating relevant discussion questions tailored to the classroom context, fostering an interactive learning environment.
Evolving Perceptions of AI in Education
The perception of AI in education has shifted dramatically from skepticism to acceptance, primarily due to its tangible benefits in solving real classroom problems. In contrast to previous hesitations around AI being an added burden, teachers now view tools like Merlin as vital resources for enhancing their teaching methods. This evolution highlights the importance of showcasing practical applications of AI that address core educational challenges instead of simply promoting AI for its own sake. Understanding teachers' needs and demonstrating how AI can meet those needs is essential for successful adoption.
Language Support and Inclusivity
Merlin Mind has made strides in accessibility by introducing Spanish support, recognizing the diverse linguistic landscape of many classrooms. This feature allows teachers to interact with the AI assistant in Spanish, benefiting native Spanish-speaking educators and students alike. Furthermore, students can receive instructions in their native languages through translated texts, promoting a more inclusive learning environment. The potential to expand language capabilities enhances engagement and ensures that all students can understand classroom instructions effectively.
The Future of Technology in Classrooms
The integration of technology in classrooms needs to focus on facilitating real-time interactions that enhance learning while minimizing distractions. Instead of viewing tech as a hindrance, educators can utilize tools like Merlin to maintain student attention and engagement. By allowing teachers to control classroom devices and manage instructional flow more effectively, students benefit from a structured yet flexible learning environment. This paradigm shift suggests that future classrooms will embrace technology as a core element that amplifies the educational experience rather than detracting from it.
Levi Belnap is the CEO of Merlyn Mind, where he has been instrumental in driving the company's vision and growth since joining in 2019. Before assuming his current role, Levi served as Chief Strategy Officer for nearly four years and later as Chief Revenue Officer. Prior to Merlyn Mind, Levi built an impressive career in business development and entrepreneurship. He worked for Defy Ventures, served as Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Wyzant, and co-founded FindIt, where he served as CEO. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a BA in Political Science and received his MBA from Harvard Business School. He currently resides in Houston, Texas, where he continues to lead Merlyn Mind in transforming educational technology.
đĄ 5 Things Youâll Learn in This Episode:
How voice AI is helping teachers regain control of the classroom
Why AI should be invisible, not overwhelming, for educators
Real classroom impacts: higher engagement, fewer disruptions
How multi-language support is changing access to tech
The future of AI in education: enabling, not replacing, teachers
âš Episode Highlights:
[00:01:20] Levi Belnapâs journey to leading Merlyn Mind [00:02:36] What Merlyn Mindâs voice AI actually does in classrooms [00:04:19] Evolving AI strategy: Before and after ChatGPT [00:07:29] How teacher needs drive real edtech innovation [00:09:23] A day in the life of a "Merlyn-enabled" teacher [00:17:16] Voice AIâs impact on student focus and behavior [00:25:46] New Spanish-language capabilities at Merlyn Mind [00:36:59] Why embedding AI in real workflows is the future of edtech
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This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.
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