What happens to student writing when students get fewer opportunities to practice? And where should AI support end so independent thinking can begin?

In Episode 378 of My EdTech Life, I welcome back Adam Sparks, former classroom teacher and co-founder of Scriblit, formerly Short Answer. We explore what it takes to help students become stronger writers while navigating AI, assessment, and growing concerns about classroom technology.

Adam shares why teacher feedback pushed Scriblit beyond writing practice toward more explicit instruction. We discuss how its Skill Builders connect targeted writing skills to the content students are already learning, while keeping students responsible for their own writing.

Throughout the conversation, we ask some important questions:

- How can teachers create more writing opportunities across subjects?
- What counts as authentic evidence of learning when AI can generate an answer?
- When does AI provide a helpful scaffold, and when does it take over the task?
- What happens when a student disagrees with AI feedback?
- How should schools address screen-time concerns while preserving accessibility supports?
- What evidence should EdTech companies provide beyond logins, engagement, and polished marketing?

We also get into the personal story behind the Scriblit rebrand and why Adam continues returning to classrooms to stay connected to the work.

EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 AI and the future of writing instruction
03:00 Meet Adam Sparks: From teacher to founder
05:00 Why Short Answer became Scriblit
08:00 The story behind the Scriblit name
12:00 Helping teachers and students rediscover writing
17:00 Authentic assessment in the age of AI
18:00 Protecting students’ writing practice
20:00 Writing belongs in every subject
22:00 Practicing writing versus teaching writing
24:00 How Scriblit’s Skill Builders work
27:00 Guardrails for AI writing feedback
29:00 When students disagree with AI feedback
30:00 Student data privacy and AI
31:00 Red, yellow, green: When should students use AI?
34:00 Accessibility and multilingual learner supports
36:00 Responding to parents’ screen-time concerns
40:00 Can the tech backlash improve EdTech?
43:00 What EdTech founders need to own up to
47:00 Beyond logins: Show us the evidence
50:00 Staying connected to classroom realities
52:00 Connect with Adam and closing thoughts

Join the conversation: What writing practice do your students need to keep doing themselves, even when AI could do it faster?

Connect with Adam: adam@scriblit.com

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