My EdTech Life

Episode 340: La Lucha Productiva en el Aula con Austin LevinsonBienvenidos a otro episodio de My EdTech Life, con tu anfitrión, el Dr. Alfonso “Fonz” Mendoza, donde exploramos las conversaciones que conectan la tecnología, la educación y lo humano. En este episodio, tengo el honor de conversar con Austin Levinson, educador, economista y Director de Aprendizaje en MegaMinds, una plataforma inmersiva que impulsa el aprendizaje activo y la agencia estudiantil. Desde Colombia, Austin comparte su experiencia en la enseñanza diferenciada, el pensamiento crítico, y cómo la lucha productiva puede transformar la forma en que nuestros estudiantes aprenden y enfrentan la frustración.Hablamos sobre cómo crear una cultura de pedir ayuda, fomentar la curiosidad, y devolverle al aula el valor del proceso —no solo del producto. También discutimos el papel de la inteligencia artificial en la educación, la importancia de la motivación intrínseca, y cómo la vulnerabilidad docente puede abrir espacios seguros para aprender, equivocarse y crecer. ⏰ Momentos clave00:00 Bienvenida y agradecimiento a la audiencia00:04 Qué es la lucha productiva y cómo fomentarla00:12 Estrategias prácticas para maestros nuevos00:25 MegaMinds y el poder del aprendizaje inmersivo00:38 Cómo recuperar la curiosidad en tiempos de TikTok00:50 Reflexión final y mensaje inspirador🙌 Agradecimientos EspecialesEste episodio es posible gracias al apoyo de nuestros increíbles patrocinadores: 📘 Book Creator — Crea, publica y comparte historias con tus estudiantes. 🤖 Eduaide.AI — Tu asistente inteligente para crear recursos educativos. 💬 Yellowdig — Conecta comunidades de aprendizaje a través de la conversación.Gracias por creer en nuestra misión de amplificar voces educativas y fomentar conversaciones que transforman la práctica docente. 💙🎧 Escucha más episodios en👉 www.myedtech.lifeAuthentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission.See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today!Support the show

 Episode 339: Merissa Sadler-Holder | Teaching with Machines In this episode of My EdTech Life, Dr. Fonz Mendoza talks with Merissa Sadler-Holder, founder of Teaching with Machines. Merissa shares her journey from French teacher to AI consultant and shows how educators can embrace AI without losing their voice, creativity, or purpose.They discuss what human-centered AI really means in the classroom, how to build meaningful professional development, and ways to keep teaching focused on people instead of platforms.Merissa also breaks down her AI Coherence Cycle, explains why teachers should stop chasing every new tool, and highlights the power of authenticity in a world full of automation.This episode will help you rethink AI in education and remind you that the real value is you.Timestamps00:00 — Intro & Sponsors 01:00 — Meet Merissa Sadler-Holder 03:00 — From French Teacher to Teaching with Machines 06:00 — The Aha Moment: Seeing AI’s Potential 10:00 — What Human-Centered AI Really Means 14:00 — Helping Students Find Their Authentic Voice 20:00 — The AI Coherence Cycle Explained 24:00 — Making PD Meaningful and Ongoing 28:00 — Avoiding the “Shiny Tool” Trap 33:00 — Ethics, Data Privacy & District Challenges 36:00 — Involving Parents and Communities 38:00 — Teaching is Messy—And That’s Good 41:00 — Preview: Speaking at EdTech Week NYC 44:00 — The Future of Teacher-Built Tools 49:00 — The Value is YOU 55:00 — Closing Thoughts + Stay TechieConnect with MerissaWebsite: teachingwithmachines.comFacebook GroupSpecial Thanks to Our SponsorsHuge thanks to Book Creator, Eduaide.AI, and Yellowdig for supporting our mission to amplify educator voices and spark meaningful conversations about the future of learning.Stay Techie! ✌️Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission.See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today!Support the show

Captivate Your Classroom with Dr. Marc IsseksIn this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Dr. Marc Isseks, author of Captivate, to explore how educators can break free from “cognitive entrenchment” and rediscover what it means to truly engage learners. Marc brings over 30 years of classroom, curriculum, and leadership experience, and his insights will challenge the way you think about teaching, technology, and student voice.We dig into why success can sometimes stop us from growing, how teachers can overcome rigidity and the dreaded phrase “this is the way we’ve always done it,” and why technology should be treated as a microphone, not an encyclopedia. Marc shares stories that will resonate with every educator—from rethinking assessment to giving students choice and voice in their learning.Whether you’re a classroom teacher, administrator, or EdTech leader, this conversation will spark reflection and give you fresh ideas to amplify student engagement and your own growth as an educator.Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to My EdTech Life + Sponsor shoutout 01:00 – Introducing Dr. Marc Isseks and his 31 years in education 04:00 – The story behind Captivate and why he wrote it 08:00 – Breaking cognitive entrenchment in schools 12:00 – Test #3 story: why success can stall innovation 16:00 – Technology shifts: from Tic-Tac-Toe to TikTok 21:00 – Engagement vs. learning: choosing the right apps 25:00 – Tech as a microphone, not an encyclopedia 30:00 – Process over product: lessons from Pixar 35:00 – The three new R’s: remixing, recording, researching 40:00 – Reframing screen time, dopamine, and classrooms 44:00 – Marc’s biggest takeaways for educators 47:00 – Rapid-fire closing questions 48:30 – How to connect with Marc + final thoughts Big thanks to our amazing sponsors for supporting this mission:Book Creator – where student stories come to life Eduaide.ai – empowering teachers with smarter tools Yellowdig – building communities that thriveStay inspired. Stay innovative. Stay Techie!Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission.See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today!Support the show

 La IA no reemplaza al maestro con Pedro AparicioEn este episodio de My EdTech Life, converso con Pedro Aparicio sobre un tema que nos toca a todos: el papel real de la IA en el aula y el rol insustituible del docente. Desde la mirada de Latinoamérica, Pedro nos comparte cómo la tecnología puede ser una aliada cuando se usa con intención, verificación y presencia humana.Hablamos del retroceso post-COVID, las falsas promesas de “2 horas al día”, el riesgo de caer en el hype y por qué el mejor recurso en el aula siempre será el docente. Este episodio es una invitación a reflexionar, cuestionar y seguir creciendo como educadores.Capítulos: 00:00 Bienvenida y agradecimiento a patrocinadores 02:00 Reencuentro con Pedro y el contexto en LatAm 07:00 ¿Cómo se percibe la IA en México y la región? 12:00 Dos bandos: entusiasmo vs. preocupación informada 19:00 Post-COVID: el riesgo de volver al “así se ha hecho siempre” 23:00 Las falsas promesas de “2 horas al día” 31:00 Uso responsable: intención, verificación y profundidad 35:00 NotebookLM y la creación de recursos útiles 41:00 “Cada viaje inicia con un pequeño paso” 54:00 Mensaje final y reflexionesUn agradecimiento especial a nuestros patrocinadores Book Creator, Eduaide.AI y Yellowdig por hacer posibles estas conversaciones que importan.Until next time, don't forget, Stay Techie!Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission.See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today!Support the show

Marnie Stockman, a former math teacher turned ed tech leader, and Nick Coniglio, a tech industry veteran, explore how to brand oneself as the CEO of your life. They discuss the importance of asking insightful questions for personal growth and share techniques for effective time and energy management. The duo introduces 'Blue', a gamified app aimed at helping students develop leadership skills. Their conversation emphasizes adaptability and the transformative power of storytelling, making it clear that investing in oneself is the best project one can undertake.

Peel Back Education with April Braithwaite  Educators are the backbone of society, yet their stories often go unheard. In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with April Braithwaite, founder of Peel Back Education, a new project dedicated to telling the authentic stories of teachers. April shares how a late-night reflection sparked her mission to capture educator journeys in writing, giving teachers a platform that isn’t about products or checklists, it’s about dignity, recognition, and impact.We talk about the ripple effect of great teachers, the importance of narrative in sustaining educators, and how storytelling can bring healing, validation, and even systemic change. April opens up about the teachers who shaped her life, why she believes “you’re here for a reason,” and how she’s building a space where every educator can feel seen.If you’ve ever doubted whether your work matters, this episode is a reminder that your story could change lives.Timestamps0:00 Welcome and sponsor shout-outs2:00 How April and I first connected at TCEA3:20 The toothbrush epiphany that sparked Peel Back Education6:00 Moving beyond products: Why teacher stories matter8:30 The mentors who shaped my own journey in education11:20 April’s inspiration from her own teachers who believed in her14:30 How storytelling gives educators recognition and dignity19:00 The ripple effect of teachers and the seeds they plant24:00 Education as the backbone of society25:30 How educators can share their stories with Peel Back Education28:45 The overwhelming response after launch34:00 Future plans: from blog to clips to podcast36:00 Lightning round: EduKryptonite, billboards, and role swaps39:00 Closing reflections and ways to connect with AprilBig Thank You to Our SponsorsThis episode is made possible thanks to the support of Book Creator, Eduaide.AI, and Yellowdig. Your belief in these conversations helps keep My EdTech Life thriving and accessible to educators everywhere.Stay Techie!Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission.See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today!Support the show

 Research First Approach to AI Tools with Short AnswerIn this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Adam and Alexa Sparks, the husband-and-wife founders of Short Answer, a writing platform built to strengthen peer-to-peer learning and classroom dialogue.We dive into their journey from classrooms and Stanford labs to building an edtech startup that puts pedagogy first. Adam shares how a tough reception at a ResearchED conference burst the EdTech bubble and reshaped their vision for AI in schools. Alexa explains why her research left her more skeptical of AI than when she started, and how that skepticism helps keep Short Answer grounded in solid pedagogy.Together, they open up about:Why EdTech needs more dialectical thinkingHow Short Answer blends AI feedback with student discourseTheir new partnership with EduProtocols and what it means for teachersThe tension between tool-driven conferences and pedagogy-first practicesWhat’s next on the roadmap for Short AnswerThis conversation is for every educator, leader, or EdTech enthusiast who wants to see technology serve teachers and students—not replace them.⏱️ Time Stamps0:00 – Welcome and sponsor shoutouts2:00 – Adam and Alexa’s journey into EdTech7:00 – Why EdTech needs dialectical thinking10:00 – ResearchED pushback and bursting the EdTech bubble15:00 – From hype to caution: AI in writing feedback20:00 – Short Answer’s approach to peer-to-peer learning27:00 – Tool-first vs pedagogy-first conferences31:00 – Partnering with EduProtocols37:00 – New features: Quick Write and Pen Pals43:00 – What’s next for Short Answer45:00 – Edu Kryptonite: time and the EdTech bubble49:00 – Billboard messages and who they’d trade places with50:00 – Closing thoughts and final shoutouts 🔗 Adam's Substack Article: EdTech Needs More Dialectical Thinking🎧 Listen to more episodes: https://www.myedtech.lifeBig thanks to our amazing sponsors Book Creator, Eduaide.AI, and Yellowdig for powering these conversations that matter.  As always, my friends… Stay Techie!Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission.See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today!Support the show

 AI in Schools: Strategy Over Shiny Tools with Kyler CheathamWhen it comes to AI in school districts, rushing in without a clear why can cost millions, crush teacher buy-in, and derail your entire tech strategy.In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Kyler Cheatham, a system architecture expert in AI and predictive analytics, to break down what districts are getting wrong and how to get it right.Kyler shares hard truths about AI adoption in K-12 and higher ed:Why CTOs must own their “I don’t knows”How to avoid the “move fast and break things” trapThe real cost of chasing buzzwords without solving actual problemsWhy 50% of your implementation team should be end usersHow to keep vendors honest and ensure they meet your district’s needsWhether you’re a district leader, tech director, or educator navigating AI, this conversation will give you the questions, strategies, and fail-safes you need before signing that next contract. 00:00 – Welcome and introduction 02:17 – Kyler’s background in AI and education technology 04:26 – The toughest challenges districts face with AI adoption 07:00 – Teachers as “speedboats, tugboats, and anchors” 09:14 – Advice for CTOs feeling overwhelmed 12:32 – The dangers of rushing into AI for the sake of hype 15:43 – Why vendor partnerships can make or break implementation 20:00 – Building a core team with 50% end users 22:58 – “Phase Zero” and defining your why before selecting tools 32:21 – The AI sticker joke—and why labels aren’t strategy 35:15 – Two wins and two losses Kyler sees in AI adoption 40:42 – Final advice for districts, CTOs, and vendors 46:25 – Closing thoughts and how to connect with Kyler Big thanks to our sponsors for supporting these important conversations: 📚 Book Creator 🧠 Eduaide.ai 🗣️ YellowdigListen in, take notes, and as always…Stay Techie!Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission.See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today!Support the show

AI Optimism with Becky KeeneIn this episode of My EdTech Life, I sat down with author, educator, and thought leader Becky Keene to unpack her new book AI Optimism. We tackled everything from AI literacy and data privacy to the SAMR model, edtech skepticism, and what it really takes to shift classroom practice forward, not with hype, but with intention.Becky shares her “AI Optimism” framework, talks candidly about the realities of edtech implementation, and reminds us all that if AI can do your job, maybe it’s time to teach differently.Whether you're a classroom teacher, district leader, or edtech developer, this conversation is for you. Dive in and walk away with clarity, strategy, and a renewed sense of agency.Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & Becky’s background 03:10 – Why she wrote AI Optimism 07:00 – The SAMR model & AI’s role 11:30 – From substitution to redefinition 15:00 – Empowering student agency with AI 17:30 – Rethinking PD for meaningful AI use 23:30 – Higher ed vs. K–12 AI needs 28:30 – Data privacy concerns 31:30 – Equity, access & the freemium problem 35:45 – Can AI replace teachers? 40:00 – Encouraging teacher reflection 42:00 – Final questions & takeaways 📚 Grab Becky’s book AI Optimism + free study guide: 🌐 https://beckykeene.com🎉 Shoutout to our amazing sponsors: 📘 Book Creator – Create, read, and publish student work with ease 🤖 Eduaide – AI tools designed to empower teachers, not replace them 🟠 Yellowdig – Social learning built for real engagementVisit our site for more great episodes!🔗 Website: https://www.myedtech.life 💛 Support the show: Become a Podcast Partner👇 Like, comment, and share this episode with your network. Let's keep growing together. 🎤 And as always... Stay Techie!Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission.See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today!Support the show

Erik Parsons, known as The PhDad on TikTok, dives deep into the intersection of education, research, and parenting. He critiques the compliance-driven nature of many classrooms, advocating for a model that prioritizes collaboration and agency. Discussing the role of play and improvisational theater, Erik emphasizes the need for student discourse to reimagine learning environments. The dangers of over-relying on technology, like AI, are explored, calling for a balance between innovation and critical thinking. Ultimately, he challenges us to rethink if we’re preparing learners or mere performers.