From Google to Doowii: Making EdTech Data Actually Useful with Jeff Rubenstein

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Jeff Rubenstein, Chief Product Officer at doowii and a seasoned leader in educational technology with experience at Google, 2U, and Kaltura.

They dive into the transformative power of AI-driven data analytics in education, exploring how doowii’s platform turns fragmented student data into actionable insights—without requiring a team of data scientists.

Jeff Rubenstein shares his journey from early LMS development to tackling one of higher ed’s biggest challenges: democratizing data access across institutions. They discuss:

• Why most schools struggle with "data culture" when only a handful of people can access insights.
• How AI-powered virtual data analysts can empower admissions, student success teams, and faculty.
• Real-world examples, from predicting dropout risks to integrating labor market data for career pathways.
• The future of edtech infrastructure as institutions shift toward skills-based learning and employment alignment.

Whether you’re a CIO, IR leader, or educator, this episode offers a roadmap for breaking down data silos and putting AI to work—without the buzzwords.

Key Takeaways

1. The Data Democracy Problem: Most schools call themselves "data-driven," but only 4–5 people can actually access or interpret the data.
2. AI as a Force Multiplier: doowii’s platform acts as a virtual data scientist, letting non-technical users explore trends (e.g., engagement by ZIP code, first-gen student performance) without IT tickets.
3. Beyond Dashboards: Traditional tools like Tableau are powerful but static. AI enables dynamic, conversational analytics (e.g., "Show me chronically absent students" → AI defines "chronic absence" contextually).
4. Predictive Analytics Made Practical: Schools are using doowii to identify at-risk students and link external data (e.g., neighborhood power outages) to retention strategies.
5. Integration Flexibility: doowii works standalone and embedded in systems like Canvas LMS and Salesforce, adapting to schools’ existing tech stacks.
6. The Future of EdTech: Rubenstein predicts a shift from generic LMS/SIS architectures to skills-based systems tied to employment outcomes.

Conversation Rundowns

1. Introduction & Jeff’s Journey (0:00)
2. The Student Data Problem (03:53)
3. Predictive Analytics in Action (10:24)
4. Integration: Standalone vs. Embedded (15:51)
5. The Future of EdTech Infrastructure (20:10)
6. Who is doowii for? (25:41)
7. What Current EdTech Trend Will Be Remembered? (27:19)

Dig Deeper

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrubenstein/

doowii

https://www.doowii.io/ 

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