The Edtech Podcast

The Edtech Podcast

The mission of The Edtech Podcast is to improve the dialogue between 'ed' and 'tech' through storytelling, for better innovation and impact. The Edtech Podcast audience consists of education leaders from around the world, plus startups, learning and development specialists, bluechips, investors, Government and media. The Edtech Podcast is downloaded 2000+ each week from 145 countries in total, with UK, US & Australia the top 3 downloading countries. Podcast series have included Future Tech for Education, Education 4.0, and The Voctech Podcast, Learning Continued, Evidence-Based EdTech, and AI in Ed: Our Data-Driven Future series on AI. Send your qs and comments to @PodcastEdtech, theedtechpodcast@gmail.com, or https://theedtechpodcast.com/ or leave a voicemail for the show at https://www.speakpipe.com/theedtechpodcast

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    #302 The Secret Sauce: Why Children Still Need Humans in a Digital World

    In this episode, Philippa Wraithmell and Rob Hughes, co-founder of Tandem, explore a revolutionary approach to screen time that challenges the narrative of "parenting guilt" and passive consumption. Rob explains how Tandem leverages generative AI not to replace parents, but to act as a "tech for two" bridge that sparks creativity, co-creation, and shared reading moments. The conversation also addresses complex emotional challenges such as hospital visits and family separation. As they delve into the ethics of AI guardrails and the crucial difference between a "digital pacifier" and a tool for connection, Rob issues a stark warning about the current trajectory of child development and the very real danger that lies ahead if children are allowed to form their first emotional attachments to robots rather than humans. These vital conversations around ethical AI and the preservation of human connection sit at the heart of Bett UK 2026, the world's leading EdTech event, taking place from 21 to 23 January 2026 at ExCeL London. Bringing together more than 35,000 educators, policymakers, and innovators, Bett UK serves as an essential global stage to address the very warnings issued by experts like Rob, exploring how we can harness the latest innovations without compromising child development. Featuring 600+ exhibitors and hundreds of expert speakers, the event offers hands-on demos, Tech User Labs, and the Connect @ Bett programme to foster meaningful collaboration—ensuring that the future of learning, and themes such as AI in education and inclusion, remain focused on empowering human relationships rather than replacing them. Don't miss the opportunity to experience the innovations shaping the future of education firsthand and be part of this global conversation. For full details and registration, please visit: https://uk.bettshow.com/

    53 min
  2. 26/12/2025

    #301 A policy perspective on AI and equity: a fireside chat with Alina Sava

    In this episode, our host Philippa Wraithmell is in conversation with Alina Sava, a Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank, discussing Alina's journey in education and the transformative role of AI in the sector. She emphasizes the importance of equity in education, the necessity of lifelong learning, and the evolving curriculum that incorporates critical thinking. Alina highlights the need for governments to create frameworks for AI integration while ensuring that teachers remain central to the learning process. The discussion also touches on the potential digital divide in AI access and the importance of preparing students for an AI-driven world. Are you an educator or innovator interested in how technology is shaping the future of learning? Bett UK 2026 is the world's leading EdTech event, taking place from 21 to 23 January 2026 at ExCeL London. It brings together more than 35,000 educators, policymakers, education leaders, and EdTech innovators from around the world, alongside 600+ exhibitors and hundreds of expert speakers. Bett UK showcases the latest innovations in education technology, with hands-on demos, Tech User Labs, TableTalks, and the Connect @ Bett programme designed to foster meaningful collaboration between decision-makers and solution providers. With a strong focus on themes such as AI in education, inclusion, and the future of learning, Bett UK continues to be a key global platform for inspiration, insight, and transformative conversations in education. Come to Bett 2026 and listen to the full episode to explore what needs to change now and what the future of learning could look like if we get it right.

    40 min
  3. 12/12/2025

    #299 The AI Paradox: Why the World's Poorest Classrooms Are Adopting What the West Fears

    In many Western classrooms, the mobile phone is viewed as the "forbidden fruit", a primary source of distraction that must be banned, confiscated, or locked away in magnetic pouches. Teachers and parents alike are exhausted by the constant battle over "screen time," whilst struggling to engage students in an education system that hasn't evolved in decades. Lectures are often unengaging, leading students to drift away, yet we blame the device rather than the delivery. Is this prohibitive approach a catastrophic mistake? Stephen Hodges warns that Western nations risk being "digitally leapfrogged" by developing economies. In regions like rural Uganda or Brazil, the student's personal mobile is not a toy; it is a lifeline to quality education amidst a massive shortage of qualified teachers. By demonising the technology our children use most, we risk missing "the biggest opportunity in education that we've seen in millennia". Furthermore, focusing solely on restricting minutes creates unnecessary conflict at home, failing to teach the critical self-regulation skills young people desperately need. This episode of The EdTech Podcast offers a way forward by shifting the narrative from "Screen Time" to "Screen Purpose". Philippa Wraithmell sits down with three experts to explore how we can embrace technology rather than fight it: •    Stephen Hodges (Efekta): Reveals how AI teaching assistants on personal phones are solving the teacher shortage crisis and delivering personalised learning in emerging markets. •    Adam Huh Dam (Stick 'Em): Demonstrates how STEAM education is reaching the most remote areas using nothing but smartphones and internet access. •    Payal Patel (Digital Bridge): Provides actionable strategies for parents to build "digital confidence" and healthy boundaries at home without the conflict. Tune in to discover why the device in your pocket might just be the most powerful educational asset we have.

    1h 1m
  4. 14/11/2025

    #295 Nicole Ponsford - EdTech, Equity & 26,000 Voices

    If you've ever felt that education is changing faster than the systems meant to support you, this podcast gives you a clearer and more human way to understand that shift. You'll explore how inclusion, data literacy, AI and school culture can be viewed through a lens that actually reflects real lived experiences. In this episode you join Dr Nicole Ponsford, a former teacher turned researcher and founder of a platform built on more than twenty six thousand voices from schools around the world. Her work challenges long standing assumptions about data, belonging and leadership in ways that might change how you see your own role in education. Each conversation is designed to give you insights you can apply directly, whether you're an educator, school leader, policymaker or edtech professional looking to create real impact. With expert interviews and grounded perspectives, the podcast helps you cut through buzzwords and understand what truly drives meaningful change in schools. Follow the show to stay close to ideas and discussions that can shape the way you lead, teach and contribute to the future of learning. Before you dive in, make sure not to miss the key developments connected to this conversation. These show how the ideas discussed in this episode are already creating real momentum beyond the conversation itself. BETT 2026 Finalist Announcement We're thrilled to share that the Global Equality Collective (GEC) has been named a finalist for the BETT 2026 Transformational Impact Award! Sky News Feature GEC recently appeared on Sky News discussing the launch of the second edition of the Inclusion Index. Watch the short clip here: YouTube Short Read more: Sky News Article Exclusive Offer for School Leaders School and trust leaders can access an exclusive 10% launch discount on the GEC Platform. Simply email hello@thegec.education and use the code EDTECHPODCAST10 before the end of November. Follow the podcast and turn on notifications so you never miss conversations that can spark new ideas and inspire your next steps in education.

    46 min

Trailer

About

The mission of The Edtech Podcast is to improve the dialogue between 'ed' and 'tech' through storytelling, for better innovation and impact. The Edtech Podcast audience consists of education leaders from around the world, plus startups, learning and development specialists, bluechips, investors, Government and media. The Edtech Podcast is downloaded 2000+ each week from 145 countries in total, with UK, US & Australia the top 3 downloading countries. Podcast series have included Future Tech for Education, Education 4.0, and The Voctech Podcast, Learning Continued, Evidence-Based EdTech, and AI in Ed: Our Data-Driven Future series on AI. Send your qs and comments to @PodcastEdtech, theedtechpodcast@gmail.com, or https://theedtechpodcast.com/ or leave a voicemail for the show at https://www.speakpipe.com/theedtechpodcast

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