Welcome to this Christmas/Seasonal bonus episode examining evidence-based EdTech in toys for children and young people.

Featuring two hosts from the EDUCATE Ventures Research team, founder Rose Luckin and former headteacher and Chief Education Advisor Karine George, this seasonal special looks at a number of EdTech must-have toys and the questions that should be asked of them by any parent and carer looking to spend their money wisely.

Toys are tools of play, and the educational toy market is booming. Below you can find our list of questions to ask of the technology. Head to our website for details of the toys/models in question to help you hunt down the best deals across the holiday season and whenever you are thinking about EdTech across the rest of the year. 

The Questions

1. User Agency – one of the potential advantages technology brings is the potential for a child to gain some agency – to be in charge.  What does this tech do to enable agency? 
2. Versatility – is the toy versatile to meet specific needs? For example, if the child has problems with fine motor skills then small controllers or keyboards may not be the best option? If they are visually impaired, they may need text to speech or a connected refreshable braille display.  Ensure the games are age appropriate
3. Value for Money – will you need to buy additional accessories?  Are there subscription costs?  How durable is the toy?
4. Evidence – what evidence exists to say this toy works or has value, and are you convinced by it? 
5. Long-Term Engagement – will this toy or device live past a honeymoon period?
6. Safety/Ethics – does this toy connect to the internet?  If it can then two issues need to be addressed: what can the child access through this device, and what information about the child is being tracked or recorded and how is this being used?

Tell us where you are listening in from

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Record a quick free voicemail via speakpipe for inclusion in the next episode. Or you can post your thoughts or follow-on links via Twitter @podcastedtech or via The Edtech Podcast LinkedIn page or Instagram.

Welcome to this first episode in a series produced by Professor Rose Luckin's EDUCATE Ventures Research, exploring 'Evidence-Based EdTech', and hosted on The Edtech Podcast. 

This mini-series connects, combines, and highlights leading expertise and opinion from the worlds of EdTech, AI, Research, and Education, helping teachers, learners, and technology developers get to grips with ethical learning tools that are led by the evidence. 

For this episode we examine the presence of EdTech in schools, looking at how we judge whether the tech ‘works’ or not.  We explore what makes for good evidence, why contextual use is significant, and how school CPD, infrastructure development, and staff capacity building are vital to making the most of the tools at our disposal. 

We are chatting to:

• Tom Hooper – Founder and CEO, Third Space Learning 
• Neelam Parmar – Director of Digital Transformation and Education, AISL Harrow Schools 
• Richard Culatta – Author, CEO, ISTE 
• Katie Novak – Strategist, Writer, Smart Technologies 
• Host: Rose Luckin – Professor of Learner Centred Design, UCL, Founder, EDUCATE Ventures Research 

Can our schools operate as testbeds for emerging technology, and is this an ethical or beneficial use of class time?  Why is an evidence-led investment and regulatory ecosystem so important?  What is a ‘research mindset’ for aspiring technology developers, and do users even care about the evidence?  

We'll be asking:

• How do we know EdTech works? 
• What does good evidence look like, and what can stakeholders in the ecosystem do to ensure it is high-quality?
• What are the biggest barriers to generating good evidence and getting it into the hands of the people in companies responsible for technology development, and into the hands of those using that technology? 

Thank you to SMART Technologies for sponsoring this episode, and for supporting the Evidence-Based EdTech series on the EdTech Podcast

Hello everyone and welcome back to The Edtech Podcast, where we aim to improve the dialogue between “ed” and “tech” for better innovation and impact.

In this NEW series, sponsored by WorkTripp, we are looking at all things Future of Work, and how that intersects with learning, leadership, humans, and technology.

In this episode, I'm chatting with the authors of WorkStyle, and the founders of Hoxby, Lizzie Penny and Alex Hirst. We explore:

• Why 2014 is a magical year for the "future of work"
• The role of technology in the "future of work" 
• Why flexible working and the 4 day working week still track back to the 9 to 5
• Autonomy, motivation and upskilling 

Show Notes and References  

You can find links to any references from the episode in our show notes: https://theedtechpodcast.com/edtechpodcast.

Tell us your story

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Record a quick free voicemail via speakpipe for inclusion in the next episode. Or you can post your thoughts or follow-on links via twitter @podcastedtech or via The Edtech Podcast LinkedIn page or Instagram.

What's in this episode?

Hello beautiful listeners! 

In this episode, we chat to:

This episode is part of our VocTech Podcast series produced in collaboration with Ufi VocTech Trust, as part of the annual #WeekOfVocTech. 

Check out the full episode show notes and references here: https://theedtechpodcast.com/edtechpodcast.

Tell us your story

Record a quick free voicemail via speakpipe for inclusion in the next episode. Or you can post your thoughts or follow-on links via Twitter @podcastedtech or via The Edtech Podcast Facebook page or Instagram. We'd love to hear your thoughts.

What's in this episode?

In this week's episode, we are in collaboration with EdSurge and publishing the first of a three-part series EdSurge have developed to explore the nuances of adult lifelong learners and what sparks their return to University.

There are 36 million Americans who have earned some college credit, but not an actual degree. More colleges than ever are trying to help these students return to finish what they started. But so far, colleges are better at attracting these learners than helping them get across the finish line. Why is it so hard? What do these students want? What challenges do they face? And what strategies seem to be working?

Listen in for this first peek into how life events and external forces often challenge our well-laid educational plans and what become the motivational forces for us completing University as returning adult learners?

Questions in my head, as we venture through the series. 

• Will our future education be less about finishing and more about dipping in as and when?
• Will we get over the to do list of completing our college degree?
• And how can technology (as well as intrinsic motivation) help keep us on track?

A shout out to WorkTripp and Lumina Foundation for supporting this episode, EdSurge for the amazing journalism, and great to have the learner voice front and centre in this mini-series. As always, do let us know what you think. 

We would love to hear from you. Record a quick free voicemail about this episode via speakpipe for inclusion in the next episode. Or you can post your thoughts or follow-on links via Twitter @podcastedtech or via The Edtech Podcast Facebook page or Instagram. 

Rate and Review. By dropping us a rate or review or sharing this episode, you help other new listeners find us. Thank you and happy listening.  

What's in this episode?

This week we’re back with our VocTech Podcast, this time looking at skills development in the new world of work. 

As we move towards ever more atomised modes of work, is there a risk we don't develop our skills properly, just going from one gig to another?

If we are going to prevent that from happening, what do we need our freelance, flexible or gig economy platforms to look like and to build in? Is this ever likely?

This week we’re back with our VocTech Podcast, exploring these questions with special guests. 

• Sophie Smallwood, RoleShare - which helps people keep up with work and life healthily.
• Helen Gironi, Ufi Ventures - the UK’s specialist investor in EdTech for adults 
• Christina Palmou, formerly of the Tony Blair Institute - which was set up to help make globalisation work for the many, not the few

This episode is part of our VocTech Podcast series produced in collaboration with Ufi VocTech Trust. 

Check out the full episode show notes and references here: https://theedtechpodcast.com/edtechpodcast.

Tell us your story

Record a quick free voicemail via speakpipe for inclusion in the next episode. Or you can post your thoughts or follow-on links via Twitter @podcastedtech or via The Edtech Podcast Facebook page or Instagram. We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks to Learnosity and WorkTripp for sponsoring this episode. 

In this episode, I’m in conversation with:

• Felix Atkin, the Founder & CEO at Sharesy, on dealing with cost pressures in schools
• Dr Maureen Dunne, neurodiversity advisor to Lego Foundation and the President and CEO of Autism Community Ventures, on supporting innovation in the area of neurodiversity

We talk about: 

• How to help schools raise extra funds by easily supporting their community needs  
• What funds are available for innovation around neurodiverse needs – including USD 20 million to catalyse innovation supporting neurodivergent children
• Why this matters and can strengthen the education, products, services and business we build and use

Plus, some updates on edtech events, reports, and other news. 

Show Notes and References  

You can find links to any references from the episode in our show notes: https://theedtechpodcast.com/edtechpodcast.

Tell us your story

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Record a quick free voicemail via speakpipe for inclusion in the next episode. Or you can post your thoughts or follow-on links via Twitter @podcastedtech or via The Edtech Podcast Facebook page or Instagram.

In this bonus episode of The Edtech Podcast, we are in collaboration with Teacher’s Voices, with guest host Nina Alonso, and in partnership with Bold, the digital platform on learning and development.

In this episode, Nina speaks to: 

• Jason Yip, assistant professor of digital youth at The Information School at the University of Washington and,
• Koen Timmers, a lecturer, author and founder of several global educational projects.

Plus, some updates on edtech events, reports, and other news. 

Show Notes and References  

You can find links to any references from the episode in our show notes: https://theedtechpodcast.com/edtechpodcast.

Tell us your story

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Record a quick free voicemail via speakpipe for inclusion in the next episode. Or you can post your thoughts or follow-on links via Twitter @podcastedtech or via The Edtech Podcast Facebook page or Instagram.

Thanks to Learnosity and WorkTripp for sponsoring this episode. 

In this episode, I’m in conversation with:

• Laura Warnier, the Chief Growth Officer at online tutoring platform GoStudent

We talk about: 

• The factors involved in GoStudent’s rapid expansion – investment, team, zeitgeist. 
• Laura’s view on network effects and membership models 
• Near to peer tutoring, support and engagement 

Plus, some updates on edtech events, reports, and other news. 

Hello everyone and welcome back to The Edtech Podcast, where we aim to improve the dialogue between “ed” and “tech” for better innovation and impact.

This week’s episode is part of our series collaboration with Bett, supported by Pearson.

Show Notes and References  

You can find links to any references from the episode in our show notes: https://theedtechpodcast.com/edtechpodcast.

Tell us your story

We'd love to hear your thoughts. Record a quick free voicemail via speakpipe for inclusion in the next episode. Or you can post your thoughts or follow-on links via twitter @podcastedtech or via The Edtech Podcast Facebook page or Instagram.