Research First Approach to AI Tools with Short Answer In 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 Optimism with Becky Keene In 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 y...

Ep.329 Building with Purpose with Eduaide In this episode, I welcome back two familiar voices: Thomas Thompson and Thomas Hummel, the powerhouse team behind Eduaide.AI. This isn’t just another conversation about AI. It’s a grounded, honest discussion on what it means to build tech for teachers, by teachers. We talk growth, grit, and grounded design. From their classroom beginnings to becoming one of the most trusted teacher-first platforms, we unpack how they’re putting pedagogy over hype, and...

Episode 324 – Charlie Meyer: The AI Hype, EdTech Snake Oil & What Teachers Actually Want In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Charlie Meyer, small business owner and creator of Pickcode, to unpack the growing wave of AI solutionism in education. From being shouted at over not using AI to asking hard questions like, “Would you trust a vibe-coded site with your bank info?”, Charlie brings the heat, the honesty, and the humor. If you’re an educator, policymaker, EdTech builder, or in...

AI Ethics, Overreliance & Honest Talk with Jen Manly In this episode of My EdTech Life, Fonz sits down with returning guest Jen Manly, a computer science educator, TikTok powerhouse, and advocate for ethical tech use, to unpack the complex relationship between AI, teaching, and critical thinking. From data privacy concerns to AI detectors that fail our students, this conversation gets real about what’s hype, what’s helpful, and what needs more scrutiny. Whether you're cautiously curious o...

Episode 302: A Practical Roadmap for AI in K-12 Education with Mike Kentz & Nick Potkalitsky, PhD In this episode of My EdTech Life, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mike Kentz and Nick Potkalitsky, PhD, to discuss their new book, AI in Education: The K-12 Roadmap to Teacher-Led Transformation. We dive into the transformative power of AI in education, exploring its potential for personalization, its impact on traditional teaching practices, and the critical need for teacher-driven expe...

Episode 300: Navigating AI and Human Cognition In this special 300th episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Benjamin Riley, founder of Cognitive Resonance, to explore the intersection of AI and human cognition in education. We discuss everything from the hype surrounding AI, the challenges of automation in learning, and why understanding human cognition is crucial to navigating new educational technologies. Join us as we question the assumptions about AI’s role in schools, dig into the b...