My EdTech Life

Fonz Mendoza
  • 4.7 (14)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

My EdTech Life is where education meets innovation with clarity, caution, and purpose. Hosted by Alfonso "Fonz" Mendoza Jr., this podcast features real conversations with educators, founders, researchers, and thought leaders who are shaping the future of learning. From classroom-tested tools to emerging AI trends, we cut through the noise to spotlight what truly works in K–12 and higher education. As a leading voice in responsible AI adoption, Fonz challenges the hype and elevates voices that often go unheard, bringing practical, ethical, and future-forward insights to every episode. Whether you're a teacher, instructional coach, policymaker, or edtech creator, this is your space to connect, question, and grow.  

  1. OCT 28

    Teaching in an AI World ft. David L. Jackson | My EdTech Life Ep. 341

    Teaching in an AI World ft. David L. Jackson | My EdTech Life Ep. 341  In this episode of My EdTech Life, Dr. Fonz Mendoza sits down with David L. Jackson of Digital Promise to talk about how educators can slow down, refocus, and bring humanity back to teaching in an AI-driven world. David shares insights from the upcoming Elevating Innovation: Thinking in an AI World conference, a research-based, human-centered event designed to help educators, leaders, and district teams move from surviving the AI shift to shaping it. • Questions Explored • How do we humanize tech integration in classrooms? • Can AI improve or harm critical thinking? • What does AI literacy really mean? • How can leaders and teachers prepare for ethical and equitable AI adoption? • What keeps education experts up at night about AI? Timestamps 00:00  Welcome + Sponsors (Eduaide, Yellowdig, Book Creator) 01:30  Meet David L. Jackson (Digital Promise) 03:30  Elevating Innovation: Thinking in an AI World 05:00  The Human Side of Tech Integration 07:00  Pedagogy Before Technology 09:00  Reconciling Fear and Hope in AI 14:00  Slowing Down to Move Forward 17:00  Has AI Closed the Equity Gap? 19:00  The Understand–Use–Evaluate Framework 22:00  What AI Literacy Really Means 24:00  Play, Test, and Evaluate 27:00  Student Voice, Choice, and Ownership 31:00  ROI for Superintendents & District Leaders 34:00  From Surviving AI to Shaping It 37:00  Staying Ahead of the Curve 39:00  Challenges & Hopes for AI’s Future 43:00  Speed Round: Kryptonite + Billboard 47:00  Closing + Stay Techie 🔗 Resources & Links 🌐 Digital Promise – Elevating Innovation Conference 🎧 Listen to More Episodes of My EdTech Life 💼 Connect with David L. Jackson on LinkedIn 🎙️ Follow Dr. Fonz Mendoza (My EdTech Life) on LinkedIn Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission. See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today! Support the show

    50 min

  2. OCT 25

    Episode 340: Austin Levinson

    Episode 340: La Lucha Productiva en el Aula con Austin Levinson Bienvenidos a otro episodio de My EdTech Life, con tu anfitrión, el Dr. Alfonso “Fonz” Mendoza, donde exploramos las conversaciones que conectan la tecnología, la educación y lo humano.  En este episodio, tengo el honor de conversar con Austin Levinson, educador, economista y Director de Aprendizaje en MegaMinds, una plataforma inmersiva que impulsa el aprendizaje activo y la agencia estudiantil. Desde Colombia, Austin comparte su experiencia en la enseñanza diferenciada, el pensamiento crítico, y cómo la lucha productiva puede transformar la forma en que nuestros estudiantes aprenden y enfrentan la frustración. Hablamos sobre cómo crear una cultura de pedir ayuda, fomentar la curiosidad, y devolverle al aula el valor del proceso —no solo del producto. También discutimos el papel de la inteligencia artificial en la educación, la importancia de la motivación intrínseca, y cómo la vulnerabilidad docente puede abrir espacios seguros para aprender, equivocarse y crecer.  ⏰ Momentos clave 00:00 Bienvenida y agradecimiento a la audiencia 00:04 Qué es la lucha productiva y cómo fomentarla 00:12 Estrategias prácticas para maestros nuevos 00:25 MegaMinds y el poder del aprendizaje inmersivo 00:38 Cómo recuperar la curiosidad en tiempos de TikTok 00:50 Reflexión final y mensaje inspirador 🙌 Agradecimientos Especiales Este episodio es posible gracias al apoyo de nuestros increíbles patrocinadores:  📘 Book Creator — Crea, publica y comparte historias con tus estudiantes. 🤖 Eduaide.AI — Tu asistente inteligente para crear recursos educativos. 💬 Yellowdig — Conecta comunidades de aprendizaje a través de la conversación. Gracias por creer en nuestra misión de amplificar voces educativas y fomentar conversaciones que transforman la práctica docente. 💙 🎧 Escucha más episodios en 👉 www.myedtech.life Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission. See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today! Support the show

    59 min

  3. OCT 13

    Episode 339: Merissa Sadler-Holder

    Episode 339: Merissa Sadler-Holder | Teaching with Machines  In this episode of My EdTech Life, Dr. Fonz Mendoza talks with Merissa Sadler-Holder, founder of Teaching with Machines. Merissa shares her journey from French teacher to AI consultant and shows how educators can embrace AI without losing their voice, creativity, or purpose. They discuss what human-centered AI really means in the classroom, how to build meaningful professional development, and ways to keep teaching focused on people instead of platforms. Merissa also breaks down her AI Coherence Cycle, explains why teachers should stop chasing every new tool, and highlights the power of authenticity in a world full of automation. This episode will help you rethink AI in education and remind you that the real value is you. Timestamps 00:00 — Intro & Sponsors  01:00 — Meet Merissa Sadler-Holder  03:00 — From French Teacher to Teaching with Machines  06:00 — The Aha Moment: Seeing AI’s Potential  10:00 — What Human-Centered AI Really Means  14:00 — Helping Students Find Their Authentic Voice  20:00 — The AI Coherence Cycle Explained  24:00 — Making PD Meaningful and Ongoing  28:00 — Avoiding the “Shiny Tool” Trap  33:00 — Ethics, Data Privacy & District Challenges  36:00 — Involving Parents and Communities  38:00 — Teaching is Messy—And That’s Good  41:00 — Preview: Speaking at EdTech Week NYC  44:00 — The Future of Teacher-Built Tools  49:00 — The Value is YOU  55:00 — Closing Thoughts + Stay Techie Connect with Merissa Website: teachingwithmachines.com Facebook Group Special Thanks to Our Sponsors Huge thanks to Book Creator, Eduaide.AI, and Yellowdig for supporting our mission to amplify educator voices and spark meaningful conversations about the future of learning. Stay Techie! ✌️ Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission. See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today! Support the show

    59 min

  4. SEP 29

    Episode 338: Dr. Marc Isseks

    Captivate Your Classroom with Dr. Marc Isseks In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Dr. Marc Isseks, author of Captivate, to explore how educators can break free from “cognitive entrenchment” and rediscover what it means to truly engage learners. Marc brings over 30 years of classroom, curriculum, and leadership experience, and his insights will challenge the way you think about teaching, technology, and student voice. We dig into why success can sometimes stop us from growing, how teachers can overcome rigidity and the dreaded phrase “this is the way we’ve always done it,” and why technology should be treated as a microphone, not an encyclopedia. Marc shares stories that will resonate with every educator—from rethinking assessment to giving students choice and voice in their learning. Whether you’re a classroom teacher, administrator, or EdTech leader, this conversation will spark reflection and give you fresh ideas to amplify student engagement and your own growth as an educator. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to My EdTech Life + Sponsor shoutout 01:00 – Introducing Dr. Marc Isseks and his 31 years in education 04:00 – The story behind Captivate and why he wrote it 08:00 – Breaking cognitive entrenchment in schools 12:00 – Test #3 story: why success can stall innovation 16:00 – Technology shifts: from Tic-Tac-Toe to TikTok 21:00 – Engagement vs. learning: choosing the right apps 25:00 – Tech as a microphone, not an encyclopedia 30:00 – Process over product: lessons from Pixar 35:00 – The three new R’s: remixing, recording, researching 40:00 – Reframing screen time, dopamine, and classrooms 44:00 – Marc’s biggest takeaways for educators 47:00 – Rapid-fire closing questions 48:30 – How to connect with Marc + final thoughts  Big thanks to our amazing sponsors for supporting this mission: Book Creator – where student stories come to life Eduaide.ai – empowering teachers with smarter tools Yellowdig – building communities that thrive Stay inspired. Stay innovative. Stay Techie! Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission. See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today! Support the show

    51 min

  5. SEP 16

    Episode 337: Pedro Aparicio

    La IA no reemplaza al maestro con Pedro Aparicio En este episodio de My EdTech Life, converso con Pedro Aparicio sobre un tema que nos toca a todos: el papel real de la IA en el aula y el rol insustituible del docente. Desde la mirada de Latinoamérica, Pedro nos comparte cómo la tecnología puede ser una aliada cuando se usa con intención, verificación y presencia humana. Hablamos del retroceso post-COVID, las falsas promesas de “2 horas al día”, el riesgo de caer en el hype y por qué el mejor recurso en el aula siempre será el docente. Este episodio es una invitación a reflexionar, cuestionar y seguir creciendo como educadores. Capítulos:  00:00 Bienvenida y agradecimiento a patrocinadores  02:00 Reencuentro con Pedro y el contexto en LatAm  07:00 ¿Cómo se percibe la IA en México y la región?  12:00 Dos bandos: entusiasmo vs. preocupación informada  19:00 Post-COVID: el riesgo de volver al “así se ha hecho siempre”  23:00 Las falsas promesas de “2 horas al día”  31:00 Uso responsable: intención, verificación y profundidad  35:00 NotebookLM y la creación de recursos útiles  41:00 “Cada viaje inicia con un pequeño paso”  54:00 Mensaje final y reflexiones Un agradecimiento especial a nuestros patrocinadores Book Creator, Eduaide.AI y Yellowdig por hacer posibles estas conversaciones que importan. Until next time, don't forget, Stay Techie! Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission. See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today! Support the show

    58 min

  6. SEP 8

    Episode 336: Marnie Stockman & Nick Coniglio

    The Business of You with Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio In this episode of My EdTech Life, Dr. Fonz Mendoza sits down with Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio to explore their book The Business of You. They share how students, educators, and professionals alike can begin running their lives like a well-led company—by becoming the CEO, CMO, HR, and CFO of their own story. We also talk about adaptability, time as capital, the importance of asking better questions, and their upcoming project Blue, a gamified app designed to help students lead themselves first. Whether you’re a teacher guiding students, a counselor preparing learners for college and career, or someone seeking personal growth, this conversation is packed with insights on why the most important project you’ll ever work on is yourself. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & sponsor thanks  03:00 – Nick’s journey into EdTech and authorship  04:15 – Marni’s path from math teacher to author  05:05 – What it means to be the CEO of you  06:30 – Running your life like a business: vision, skills, and story  10:45 – Sydney’s story and why it matters to students  16:00 – Branding as story: controlling your narrative  22:20 – The power of asking better questions  28:15 – Time and energy as your real capital  35:10 – Adaptability and designing your personal path  42:25 – Introducing Blue: gamifying personal growth for students  48:30 – Waitlist and book links  50:00 – Lead yourself first: final takeaways  52:00 – Fun wrap-up: kryptonite, reflections, and closing thoughts Learn More 📘 The Business of You – thebusinessofyou.ai Special Thanks to Our Sponsors Book Creator | Eduaide.AI | Yellowdig Stay Techie! Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission. See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today! Support the show

    1h 2m

  7. SEP 3

    Episode 335: April Braithwaite

    Peel Back Education with April Braithwaite   Educators are the backbone of society, yet their stories often go unheard. In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with April Braithwaite, founder of Peel Back Education, a new project dedicated to telling the authentic stories of teachers. April shares how a late-night reflection sparked her mission to capture educator journeys in writing, giving teachers a platform that isn’t about products or checklists, it’s about dignity, recognition, and impact. We talk about the ripple effect of great teachers, the importance of narrative in sustaining educators, and how storytelling can bring healing, validation, and even systemic change. April opens up about the teachers who shaped her life, why she believes “you’re here for a reason,” and how she’s building a space where every educator can feel seen. If you’ve ever doubted whether your work matters, this episode is a reminder that your story could change lives. Timestamps 0:00 Welcome and sponsor shout-outs2:00 How April and I first connected at TCEA3:20 The toothbrush epiphany that sparked Peel Back Education6:00 Moving beyond products: Why teacher stories matter8:30 The mentors who shaped my own journey in education11:20 April’s inspiration from her own teachers who believed in her14:30 How storytelling gives educators recognition and dignity19:00 The ripple effect of teachers and the seeds they plant24:00 Education as the backbone of society25:30 How educators can share their stories with Peel Back Education28:45 The overwhelming response after launch34:00 Future plans: from blog to clips to podcast36:00 Lightning round: EduKryptonite, billboards, and role swaps39:00 Closing reflections and ways to connect with AprilBig Thank You to Our Sponsors This episode is made possible thanks to the support of Book Creator, Eduaide.AI, and Yellowdig. Your belief in these conversations helps keep My EdTech Life thriving and accessible to educators everywhere. Stay Techie! Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission. See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today! Support the show

    42 min

  8. AUG 22

    Episode 334: Short Answer

    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 in schools. Alexa explains why her research left her more skeptical of AI than when she started, and how that skepticism helps keep Short Answer grounded in solid pedagogy. Together, they open up about: Why EdTech needs more dialectical thinkingHow Short Answer blends AI feedback with student discourseTheir new partnership with EduProtocols and what it means for teachersThe tension between tool-driven conferences and pedagogy-first practicesWhat’s next on the roadmap for Short AnswerThis conversation is for every educator, leader, or EdTech enthusiast who wants to see technology serve teachers and students—not replace them. ⏱️ Time Stamps 0:00 – Welcome and sponsor shoutouts 2:00 – Adam and Alexa’s journey into EdTech 7:00 – Why EdTech needs dialectical thinking 10:00 – ResearchED pushback and bursting the EdTech bubble 15:00 – From hype to caution: AI in writing feedback 20:00 – Short Answer’s approach to peer-to-peer learning 27:00 – Tool-first vs pedagogy-first conferences 31:00 – Partnering with EduProtocols 37:00 – New features: Quick Write and Pen Pals 43:00 – What’s next for Short Answer 45:00 – Edu Kryptonite: time and the EdTech bubble 49:00 – Billboard messages and who they’d trade places with 50:00 – Closing thoughts and final shoutouts  🔗 Adam's Substack Article: EdTech Needs More Dialectical Thinking 🎧 Listen to more episodes: https://www.myedtech.life Big thanks to our amazing sponsors Book Creator, Eduaide.AI, and Yellowdig for powering these conversations that matter.   As always, my friends… Stay Techie! Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission. See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today! Support the show

    54 min
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4.7
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

My EdTech Life is where education meets innovation with clarity, caution, and purpose. Hosted by Alfonso "Fonz" Mendoza Jr., this podcast features real conversations with educators, founders, researchers, and thought leaders who are shaping the future of learning. From classroom-tested tools to emerging AI trends, we cut through the noise to spotlight what truly works in K–12 and higher education. As a leading voice in responsible AI adoption, Fonz challenges the hype and elevates voices that often go unheard, bringing practical, ethical, and future-forward insights to every episode. Whether you're a teacher, instructional coach, policymaker, or edtech creator, this is your space to connect, question, and grow.  

Information

  • Creator
    Fonz Mendoza
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    343
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 My EdTech Life
  • Show Website
    My EdTech Life

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