EdTech Connect

Marcus Schober, founder of Blue Cape Security and creator of CyberLabHero, discusses the importance of hands-on cybersecurity training in higher education. He explains how his browser-based virtual lab platform simplifies the learning experience for students and eliminates the need for complex setup requirements.  Schober also highlights the challenges faced by higher education institutions in adopting new technology and the benefits of using CyberLabHero. He emphasizes the flexibility and security of the platform and its ability to improve course completion rates. Takeaways CyberLabHero is a browser-based virtual lab platform that simplifies hands-on cybersecurity training in higher education. The platform eliminates the need for complex setup requirements and allows students to access virtual machines seamlessly through their browser. Higher education institutions can benefit from using CyberLabHero by improving course completion rates and providing a more immersive learning experience. The platform is flexible, customizable, and secure, making it an ideal solution for technical training programs in various industries.   Sound Bites "It can take a lot of work off of the hands of the teachers, the faculty members." "If you basically make it all client based where all you need is a browser, it all runs in the cloud and you don't have, everyone has the same chance of completing the training." "It's very centralized and easy to manage."   Chapters 00:00: Introduction to Marcus Schober and CyberLabHero 03:02: The Advantages of Browser-Based Virtual Labs 05:26: Challenges in Higher Education and the Solution 07:20: The Flexibility and Advantage of Being a Newer Company 09:21: The Importance of Security in Building a Virtual Lab 12:38: Inspiration from Founders and Customizability of CyberLabHero 15:28: How to Find and Contact CyberLabHero  

Chris Du, the founder of Insightful and TimelyGrader, is revolutionizing group project management and grading in higher education.   TimelyGrader, launched in 2024, uses AI to provide quick and accurate feedback to students, streamlining the grading process for instructors. The platform integrates with popular learning management systems like Canvas and D2L.   Chris emphasizes the importance of trust and the human element in education, and TimelyGrader is designed to work as a tool alongside instructors, not replace them. The future of EdTech and AI in education lies in self-hosted AI models within institutions.   Takeaways TimelyGrader uses AI to provide quick and accurate feedback to students, streamlining the grading process for instructors. The platform integrates with popular learning management systems like Canvas and D2L. Trust and the human element are important in education, and TimelyGrader is designed to work alongside instructors, not replace them. The future of EdTech and AI in education lies in self-hosted AI models within institutions.   Sound Bites "That's the best intro I've heard in my five years." "If you could solve scalability with feedback, it's going to be huge." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Chris Dew and Insightful 01:25 The Journey from Insightful to TimelyGrader 04:59 The Benefits of TimelyGrader in Large Classes 07:50 Addressing Concerns about AI Grading in Education 10:04 The Role of Instructors in the Feedback Process 13:02 Integration with Learning Management Systems 14:55 Customizing Criteria for Feedback 16:32 Unexpected Outcomes and Success Stories 18:22 The Onboarding Process for Institutions 20:27 Emerging Trends in EdTech and AI 22:29 Advice for Entrepreneurs in AI and Education 23:41 Where to Find More Information about TimelyGrader

In this episode, we sit down with Vikram Chalana, the co-founder and driving force behind Pictory.AI - an innovative software company leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence to empower users to transform their messages into captivating video content. Vikram shares the inspiration behind starting Pictory.AI, which stemmed from his own experience struggling to create professional-quality videos as a business leader.  He recognized the challenges that many professionals, especially in education, face when it comes to video production, and set out to build a user-friendly platform that democratizes the video creation process through the power of AI. We explore how Pictory.AI is helping to enable micro-learning and engage students through short, impactful video content.  Vikram discusses the company's evolution, the integration of technologies like GPT-3 and AI voice synthesis, and the strategies they are employing to drive adoption within the higher education sector. Additionally, Vikram shares insights from his personal entrepreneurial journey, including the lessons he learned while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with his son, and the influential leaders and companies that have inspired his vision for Pictory.AI. This conversation offers a fascinating look at the transformative potential of AI-driven content creation tools and their impact on the future of education and learning. Takeaways Pictory uses AI to make video creation easy for business people The ideal video length for effective learning is around four to five minutes Pictory has evolved over the years, incorporating AI models and adding features like AI voiceovers Engagement is key in creating and consuming learning content Pictory offers individual user pricing as well as enterprise solutions for universities Vikram finds inspiration in the founders of Canva and business leaders like Bill Gates and Satya Nadella   Sound Bites "Just like building a business, climbing Kilimanjaro was tough" "The inspiration for Pictory was to make videos easy using AI" "Pictory is like a Canva for video"   Chapters 00:00: Introduction to Vikram Chalana and Pictory 02:08: The Inspiration for Pictory: Making Video Creation Easy with AI 05:34: Enabling Micro Learning with Short Videos 07:33: Building Analytics Capabilities and Challenges 09:44: Challenges Faced by Pictory 12:00: Ethical Concerns and Adoption of AI in Higher Ed 13:53: Pictory's Model: Individual User Pricing and Enterprise Solutions   Links Website: https://pictory.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikramchalana

Helen Norris, CIO at Chapman University, discusses her journey to becoming a CIO and the evolving role of CIOs in higher education. She emphasizes the importance of integration and change advocacy in the current complex IT environment.  Norris also explores the potential of AI in various areas, such as advising, research, and administrative tasks. She highlights the need for explainability and privacy in AI implementation. Additionally, she discusses the challenges of managing content and data in higher education websites. Takeaways The role of CIOs in higher education has evolved from being service providers to being integrators and change advocates. AI has the potential to enhance various areas in higher education, such as advising, research, and administrative tasks. The strategic value of legacy systems should be considered before deciding to replace them, and integrating new tools with these systems can be a more practical solution. AI implementation should prioritize explainability and privacy to ensure ethical and effective use. Managing content and data in higher education websites can be challenging due to the proliferation of information and the presence of stale and duplicate content. Sound Bites "Now it's about, oh, all these systems are there. And what I need to do is bring them together, make sure they're secure, make sure they're used well, make sure that we're always scanning that environment and seeing what we need to change." "Putting new tools in front of legacy systems to enhance their capabilities and provide better outcomes for students and faculty." "Ensuring explainability in AI decision-making, especially in high-stakes areas like advising." Chapters 00:00: Introduction and Background of Helen Norris 04:43: The Changing Role of CIOs in Higher Education 08:26: Balancing Process and Outcome in Decision-Making 12:56: Managing Change and Legacy Systems 16:21: The Potential of AI in Higher Education 19:40: Use Cases of AI in Higher Education 21:53: Academic Advisory Guidelines and Policies 22:10: Priorities at Chapman University 24:15: The Importance of IT Strategic Planning 25:08: Challenges of Content Management in Higher Education Websites 27:27: Advice for Upcoming IT Leaders in Higher Education  

Ardis Kadiu, founder and CEO of Element 451, discusses the evolution of AI in education and the importance of personalization in student engagement. He shares the inspiration behind the name Element 451 and the journey of starting the company. Kadiu emphasizes the need for education institutions to embrace AI and prioritize student-centric experiences.  He also addresses concerns about job security and highlights the potential of AI to enhance productivity and eliminate menial tasks. Kadiu provides insights on how campuses can prepare for AI implementation and emphasizes the importance of data privacy and security. Takeaways AI has the potential to transform education by enabling personalization and improving student engagement. Education institutions should prioritize student-centric experiences and embrace AI to enhance the student journey. AI can eliminate menial tasks and enhance productivity, allowing professionals to focus on higher-value work. Campuses can prepare for AI implementation by identifying areas where AI can remove friction from the student experience. Data privacy and security should be prioritized when implementing AI solutions in education. Sound Bites "We don't have enough time today to do our jobs properly. The fear of AI taking our jobs is so far away. AI is going to eliminate tasks we don't want to do and amplify what we're able to do." "Think about where you're having deficiencies and friction in the student experience today and invest in AI solutions there." "Think about the AI capabilities that are being embedded in current tools that you're using that already have the data security layer and governance in place." Chapters 00:00: Introduction and Background of Ardis Kadiu 02:23: Ardis Kadiu's Founder Story 06:01: The Evolution of Element 451 08:02: User Experience and Personalization in Element 451 10:47: Addressing the Fear of AI Taking Jobs 13:09: Enhancing Productivity and Eliminating Menial Tasks with AI 15:45: Prioritizing Data Privacy and Security in AI Solutions 17:53: The Future of AI in Education and Personalization 20:31: Closing Remarks Links Element 451 Ardis Kaidu Element 451 on LinkedIn EdTech Connect Jeff Dillon