Michael Ellison

Mike Yates of Teach For America’s Reinvention Lab has a litmus tech for edtech: If it doesn’t create space for meaningful human moments, it doesn’t belong in schools. The best learning models are co-designed with young people—not imposed on them. “The school model that was right for them was the one they got to help shape,” Mike shared with the City Club of Cleveland. He challenged educators to: 🤖 Use AI to enable collaboration, movement, and relationships, not recreate computer labs 🤖 Design for time, curiosity, and practice—not adult comfort 🤖Replace bans with developmental guardrails, while being explicit that AI is not human Watch the full conversation on PBS to hear Mike’s perspective on AI, civic learning, and what schools must rethink to truly serve today’s learners. https://lnkd.in/ggJggDc5

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In an era when demand for AI-skilled talent is accelerating, Miami Dade College is taking bold steps to ensure our students and our region are ahead of the curve. We are proud of our role in establishing South Florida as an emerging AI tech hub. American Institutes for Research released today the case study: “Building an AI-Ready Workforce in Miami Through Industry Collaboration”, highlighting how collaborative ties between Miami Dade College, industry, and public partners are creating a scalable, sustainable pipeline of AI talent in South Florida. The case study, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, explores how industry sector strategies, AI, and apprenticeship programs are converging to shape the future of workforce development. A hallmark of MDC’s AI programs is deep and sustained industry involvement in program design and delivery. I am very grateful for the support from companies like Intel Corporation, Google and Microsoft that joined us from the outset to implement AI curriculum rooted in practical, workforce-ready skills. Public sector and philanthropic support have also been essential to creating the foundation of our AI Programs and Centers. The support from Knight Foundation, Miami-Dade County, City of Miami and Miami DDA ensured faculty readiness, state-of-the-art AI labs, and AI courses offered at low or no cost to students. The result is a set of AI programs that connect students, workers, and job seekers to practical career pathways in AI. However, success won't be measured only in graduates, but in adoption, job placements, operational efficiencies, and continuous feedback loops to elevate Miami's leading position in AI workforce development. Call to Action If you’re an employer, nonprofit, tech company, or public agency in Miami, let’s talk. Join MDC in co-creating projects, sponsoring labs, mentoring students, or helping define the skills we should teach next. If you’re looking to learn meaningful AI skills, explore our AI pathway programs. Whether you’re brand new to tech or advancing your skills, MDC offers a clear, supported path to an AI-driven career. https://lnkd.in/eEHD8xGd Madeline Pumariega Joseph Thiry Anshul Sonak Lucas Hernández Pedro A Santos Acosta DBA Manny Perez Ana Peralta Chammas Francesca de Quesada Covey Keith A. Carswell Rob Magliaro Roberto Alonso Brian Gonzalez Gregory Bianchi Monica Minchala Eduardo Salcedo

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Phil Hill’s latest On EdTech analysis from InstructureCon 2025 highlights: Instructure is making serious AI investments—from the new IgniteAI architecture and Ignite Agent to deeper Amazon Web Services (AWS) Bedrock integrations—but the delivery timelines remain fuzzy. Key takeaways: - Agentic AI Vision: Moving beyond point solutions, leveraging 500+ APIs for a context-aware, always-available AI assistant. - Integration with OpenAI: Bringing LLM-enabled assignments and socratic chat creation directly into Canvas. - Platform-first Innovation: New Model Context Protocol (MCP) layer aims to standardize and secure AI context sharing across tools. - Market Expansion: Canvas Career targeting skills-based, continuing ed, and corporate training markets. - Accessibility Gains: Clear WCAG 2.1 A/AA compliance roadmap. The Big Risk: Without firm delivery dates, Instructure risks becoming the “Apple Intelligence of EdTech”—big vision but lagging in production releases. By year’s end, we’ll know if this is a true leapfrog moment or a credibility gap. #EdTech #InstructureCon #AIinEducation #LMS #DigitalLearning #OnEdTech #Instructure #Canvas https://lnkd.in/gPRKxXXR

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Reflecting on the 10th anniversary of founding Speak Agent back in February, one thing I've been struck by is how the bar keeps rising for K-12 edtech startups. Every year there are more and more requirements (technical, legal, regulatory, academic, etc.) just to even be considered for purchase. My latest podcast episode explores some of the most common requirements and a few thoughts on how startup founders can cope. I think this might be insightful for education leaders who regularly interact with edtech providers, too. (In May, I plan to flip the script and look at this from the K-12 buyer's perspective as well.) https://lnkd.in/eD9mwD63

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𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 As AI technologies advance, STEM education is expected to undergo further paradigm shifts—from teacher-centered models to AI-enabled, learner-centered strategies that empower students as active participants in their education. Contact Effectual Learning to know how to incorporate these strategies. #FutureofEducation #LearningOutcome #STEMeducation

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The traditional system wasn’t built for the AI era. And it won’t fix itself fast enough to meet the moment. Families, students, and educators need solutions that aren’t chained to 20th-century thinking. ✔️They need flexibility. ✔️They need personalized learning. ✔️They need AI-driven innovation that feels human, not robotic. This Executive Order is the green light for what the future demands — and what some of us have been building quietly behind the scenes. If you think education today looks like it did even five years ago, you’re already behind. We’re entering a new era — and it’s not about adding AI to the old system. It’s about rebuilding from the ground up for the world our kids are actually growing into. Big things are coming. Right on time. 🔥 https://lnkd.in/gwMN3iFj

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🚨NEW: Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)'s 2026 Driving K-12 Innovation Report is now available! This year's report delivers actionable insights with real-world case studies, practical recommendations, and cross-topic analysis. Key Themes: ● Ethical frameworks & trust as non-negotiables ● Equity & access remain critical ● Cultural change > technical change The Bottom Line: Technology alone doesn't drive transformation—people and culture do. Intentional innovation depends on the strength, creativity, and humanity of educators and IT leaders. Download now: https://lnkd.in/ecjshtvK #EdTech #K12Innovation #EducationLeadership #DrivingK12Report Keith Krueger Laura Geringer Stephanie Mitchell King Stacy Hawthorne, Ed.D. Jill R. Brown PhD

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Some great insights from 2026 EducationDynamics benchmarks report. Two that show how quickly marketing/enrolment is changing: 1) Zero‑click searches from prospective students are becoming the norm as Google answers 78% of education searches with an AI Overview. Almost half of these ending without a click, meaning students may never hit your website. 2) On the enrolment side, 65% of applicants want a decision within a week (and even more remarkable that 37% want one within a day). This speed matters as 72% enroll at the first school that admits them. Even if US data, this is some good context for Canadian universities and colleges working on marketing or enrolment strategies for this year. Check it out (it’s gated but free): https://lnkd.in/gTEjENr4

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As education evolves, so does the way we sell it. The edtech sector is uniquely positioned to leverage AI for smarter, more impactful sales. From lead gen to closing the deal, AI can support your team by boosting efficiency and making your outreach feel more human (not less). We’ve created a practical, step-by-step guide to help your sales team unlock the full potential of AI—from prospecting to closing. Whether you're just getting started or refining your strategy, this resource walks you through seven essential steps to build AI-powered workflows that drive smarter outreach, better engagement, and stronger results. Ready to make AI work for your sales team? 📥 Download The PIP Guide to AI-Powered EdTech Sales: https://lnkd.in/dMZdNmXm #EdTech #SalesEnablement #AIinSales #AIforEdTech #EducationMarketing #SalesStrategy

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Join us Wednesday May 7 for AI for Education's next free webinar, "Integrating AI for Deeper Math Learning" with Student Achievement Partners. We'll explore practical strategies for integrating generative AI into instruction while preserving the productive struggle essential for math concept mastery. Key topics include: 1️⃣ Strategic AI Integration: Learn to differentiate between AI uses that enhance learning versus those that replace critical thinking opportunities, with special focus on appropriate applications for elementary and secondary students. 2️⃣ Math-Specific AI Tools: Explore the important differences between foundational language models and specialized math tools, and identify when each is appropriate for classroom use. 3️⃣ Practical Implementation Strategies: Discover concrete strategies for both students and teachers, including AI tutoring approaches, generating authentic practice problems, differentiation support, and scaffolding techniques. 4️⃣ Student-Centered Planning: Master the approach for evaluating AI tools through the lens of student learning outcomes rather than technology-driven tasks. ➕ PLUS everyone will receive a comprehensive downloadable guide that provides a framework for effectively implementing GenAI tools in mathematics classrooms. Can’t make the time? A recording + resources will be emailed to all registrants!

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We’re thrilled to announce a new partnership between OpenStax, Rice University and Microsoft that brings our trusted, peer-reviewed open educational content into Microsoft Learning Zone, an AI-powered learning experience available on Copilot+ PCs. This collaboration makes it easier than ever for educators to build engaging, personalized lessons—backed by responsible AI and high-quality, openly licensed content—while maintaining full control over their instructional materials. With OpenStax content powering this new platform, educators no longer have to vet resources on their own. Our 80+ titles, already used by over 70% of U.S. colleges and 13,500+ K-12 schools, are now helping shape the next wave of innovation in teaching and learning. At OpenStax, our mission is to make an amazing education available to every learner. We’re excited to take another step forward in that mission by partnering with Microsoft to serve students and educators around the world in smarter, more transparent, and more accessible ways. Check out the press release here: https://lnkd.in/gE_md9ZY #OpenStax #MicrosoftEducation #Copilot #AIinEducation #EdTech #OER #EquityInEducation #HigherEd #K12 #AccessibleLearning #ResponsibleAI

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