We make the crossroads between AI and Education easy and fun to access by exploring, interviewing, asking questions, and making the occasional mistake!
All right, welcome to explAInED! We are thrilled to host Adam Sparks, co-founder and CEO of Short Answer, back on the podcast for a deep dive into the evolving world of educational technology. We discuss the current pressures and aspirations surrounding edtech, exploring Adam's aspirational vision for a future that combines self-paced, mastery-based instruction with AI affordances like scalable oral assessment to actualize best practices. Adam shares his view that the debate needs more nuance, arguing that lawmaker frustration is often misdirected toward removing tools like Chromebooks rather than focusing on critical reforms like standardizing Data Privacy Agreements. Finally, we unpack the concept that technology is simply an "amplification of human intent" and look at critical, often overlooked arguments for edtech, including its power to support neurodivergent students and reduce teacher burnout
2 Mar 2026
explAInED S.02 E. 07 (31): Dawn Taylor
In this episode we welcomed AI and education expert Dawn Taylor to the explAInED Podcast. Drawing on her background with dyslexia, Taylor discusses the immense potential of AI to support individuals with special educational needs, emphasizing that AI fundamentally changes the learning process. We explored the challenge of education systems quickly adapting to AI shifts. Dawn talked about the challenges of eliminating technology in schools, noting that relying solely on traditional modalities can set children up to fail. Her advice for institutions struggling with adoption: diagnose the source of discomfort and start small with safe tools to address the fear of AI.
7 Feb 2026
explAInED S.02 Ep.06 (30): Josh Blumberg
Welcome to explAInED! This week we sit down with Josh Blumberg of the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) to discuss the state’s newly released comprehensive guidance on Artificial Intelligence implementation in schools.
This episode dives into:
Grade-Band Recommendations: Learn the AOE's specific framework for student AI use, which ranges from limited interaction (no direct contact) in PreK-2 to fostering AI fluency and its use as a cognitive assistant in high school. Middle school focuses on tailored, education-specific apps, avoiding open-ended chatbots.
Mitigating Cognitive Offloading: Discover practical strategies for teachers to address students using AI to complete assignments. The key shift involves assessing the learning process—such as through writing conferences or requiring code explanations—rather than relying solely on the final product.
Personalized Learning & Support: Josh Blumberg explains how AI can amplify Vermont's commitment to Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs) by helping students reflect on their learning and enabling schools to analyze PLP data for better class planning.
Policy and Practice: Hear what district leaders should do to provide staff with approved, data-private AI tools, and why encouraging open discussion among teachers is vital for successful implementation. The discussion also covers balancing the urgency of AI adoption with concerns over student screen time and the necessity of developing deep content expertise.
Josh Blumberg, bringing a background in software development, edtech, and high school teaching, emphasizes that the guidance is a framework, and the real work now begins in supporting schools with implementation, professional development, and strategic planning.
Who has been a guest on explAInED
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Victoria Hedlund
Leon Furze
Iris
Mac
Chris Thompson
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
285
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
84
Social presence
0
YouTube
64
Engagement
0
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Questions about explAInED
Who hosts explAInED?
Michael Berry and Renee Langevin and Shaun Langevin host the show. Published by explAInED.
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The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does explAInED take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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