Brent Bushnell, an innovative entrepreneur and engineer, is the founder of Two Bit Circus and chairman of the Two Bit Foundation, which promotes learning through play. He discusses his journey from arcade builder to education innovator and the impact of the STEAM Carnival in reshaping STEM education by incorporating art. Brent highlights how DIY arcade projects empower students in various skills like CAD and electronics, and he explores the potential of immersive technologies like virtual reality to transform learning experiences.

Annie Chechitelli, Chief Product Officer at Turnitin, and Sara Mauskopf, CEO of Winnie, join to discuss critical shifts in edtech. They explore the launch of AI-driven education in China and its implications for the U.S. Meanwhile, OpenAI teases a new creative writing model, while Gemini Canvas and Deep Research go free, revolutionizing educational tools. They dive into the ethical use of AI in academics and the rise of school choice, emphasizing how parents can make informed decisions in today's learning landscape.

In this engaging discussion, Lawton Smith, co-founder and CEO of Literal, a groundbreaking digital reading platform, sheds light on the alarming decline in reading scores among adolescents. He reveals how Literal transforms classic literature into interactive chat-based formats, making reading more relatable for today’s youth. Lawton shares his personal journey with reading and emphasizes the crucial role of AI in enhancing comprehension through tools like translation and rephrasing. The conversation highlights the importance of playful, personalized reading to rekindle a love for literature.

Send us a textIn this special episode, we sit down with three innovative Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) students who are exploring cutting-edge applications of AI in education. Michael Chrzan is a Master’s student and Dean’s Fellow in the Education Data Science program at Stanford. A former Master Teacher in Detroit, he taught Mathematics and AP Computer Science for seven years. His research uses machine learning to predict large-scale school closures and inform equitable decision-making.Matías Hoyl is a Computer Science graduate from Chile and an edtech entrepreneur who has founded two startups focused on improving learning through technology. He led a coding bootcamp for women in Latin America, helping them launch tech careers. At Stanford, he is researching AI applications in education, including synthetic student simulations and AI-generated teaching tools.Samin Khan is an AI researcher specializing in K-12 and higher education and currently an AI Research Scientist at Kiddom. His work focuses on developing AI models for curriculum development, lesson planning, and grading. At Stanford’s Education NLP Lab, he researches dialogue-based pedagogy and student engagement using large language models.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:How AI-powered predictive modeling can help districts plan for school closures.The potential of synthetic students to improve assessment design and instruction.How AI is supporting teachers with curriculum implementation and real-time feedback.Why AI tutors may not improve student learning outcomes as expected.The risks and opportunities of AI in education, especially for equity and accessibility.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:06:07] Michael Chrzan on using machine learning to predict school closures.[00:10:51] Samin Khan on AI’s role in lesson planning and teacher feedback.[00:16:37] Matías Hoyl on simulating student learning with AI-powered models.[00:24:09] Balancing AI research with real-world edtech applications.[00:31:39] The importance of data, bias, and transparency in AI for education.[00:46:11] Will AI improve or widen equity gaps in education?😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! Follow our Podcast on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicSign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!🎉 Presenting Sponsor: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.

Matthew Rascoff, Vice Provost for Digital Education at Stanford, discusses the seismic shifts in education as the U.S. Department of Education faces massive layoffs and funding cuts. He highlights how 80% of teachers now use AI in lesson planning, while 82% of K-12 schools report cyber incidents. Rascoff introduces Stanford's 'Humanity in the Loop' framework for AI and shares insights from Duolingo's effective practices. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for innovative funding models and the potential for AI to reshape learning experiences.

Michelle Rhee, a Venture Partner at Equal Opportunity Ventures and former D.C. Chancellor, shares her insights on the transformative landscape of education and workforce development. She discusses how skills-based hiring is reshaping recruitment, shifting focus from traditional degrees to real-world competencies. Rhee emphasizes the role of AI in connecting youth to diverse career paths outside the college route. She also explores investment opportunities in alternative educational models and innovative policies like education savings accounts that could revolutionize K-12 education.

Claire Zau, Partner and AI lead at GSV, shares her insights on the dynamics of AI in education. The discussion previews the ASU GSV Conference and its focus on AI innovations. ChatGPT hits a staggering 400 million users, underscoring AI's expanding role. They delve into Google's Career Dreamer, designed to personalize educational journeys, and Chegg’s lawsuit against Google, questioning AI's influence on SEO. Zau also discusses the immersive potential of VR in classrooms and offers sage advice for EdTech entrepreneurs looking to integrate AI effectively.

Bjorn Billhardt, CEO of Abilitie and a seasoned expert in leadership development, shares insights on the future of business education. He discusses how AI is revolutionizing leadership training with real-time simulations that enhance decision-making and judgment. Bjorn emphasizes the importance of transfer skills over rote memorization and highlights the growing trend of mini MBAs. The conversation also explores AI's role in boosting social learning and improving essential management skills, redefining what it means to learn in the corporate world.

This week, the hosts tackle exciting AI developments reshaping education, like deep reasoning models and AI-powered learning companions. There’s a shake-up at BrainPop, hinting at significant strategic shifts in the edtech landscape. The decline of gamification raises questions about user engagement. Additionally, they discuss the tight job market in edtech, exploring challenges and opportunities amid hiring slowdowns. Listeners can expect insights from the Bay Area EdTech Summit and a look at future innovations coming to the industry.

Pierre Dubuc, co-founder and CEO of OpenClassrooms, leads a conversation on the future of education and job training. He discusses how degree apprenticeships are replacing traditional internships, providing students with real work experience. AI is reshaping education, enabling personalized learning and enhancing job placement. Dubuc highlights the disconnect between higher education and employment, advocating for programs that integrate education with career paths. Learn how OpenClassrooms is tackling these challenges and paving the way for accessible, career-focused learning.