What if the most powerful chemistry lessons were the ones students couldn't see, but could feel in their everyday lives?

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, host Elaine Villanueva Bernal, Ph.D. Chemist of the University of California, Long Beach, is joined by Dr. Ashley Evanoski-Cole, Ph.D. Chemist of Westfield State University, who believes that tiny, invisible interactions can spark big learning breakthroughs.

Together, Elaine and Ashley explore how chemistry comes alive when it's connected to the world students already care about, from the air we breathe and the food we cook to exercise, weather, and even baking. They dive into how tools like REAL CHEM and interactive simulations help students visualize abstract concepts, collaborate more confidently, and move past common barriers like math anxiety.

The conversation also touches on the role of mentorship in chemistry education, the power of group learning, and how thoughtfully designed explorations and checkpoints can help students build both conceptual understanding and confidence. Along the way, Elaine and Ashley share practical examples of how stoichiometry becomes a kitchen lesson, atmospheric chemistry becomes personal, and learning shifts from memorization to meaning.

Whether you're teaching general chemistry, designing courseware, or looking for ways to help students see themselves in STEM, this episode is a reminder that when chemistry feels real, students lean in.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

0:34: Meet Dr. Ashley Evanoski-Cole and Dr. Elaine Villanueva Bernal

2:43: Atmospheric Chemistry: The Invisible Science of the Air

5:15: Teaching General Chemistry with REAL CHEM

7:10: PHET Simulations: Connecting Things We Can't See to Things We Care About

9:10: Teaching Group Activities with REAL CHEM

11:15: Real-Life Chemical Connections to Food, Weather, and Exercise

14:25: Mentorship in Chemistry Education

16:12: Getting Past the Fear of Math in Learning Chemistry

18:41: How Stoichiometry Becomes a Baking Lesson

22:03: Diving Deeper into REAL CHEM's Explorations & Checkpoints

23:45: Q&A Lightning Round: Chemistry Favorites

Resources:

Elaine Villanueva Bernal Biography, Research, and Publications

Elaine Villanueva Bernal LinkedIn

Elaine Villanueva Bernal on Instagram @theconnectedchemist

Ashley Evanoski-Cole Biography, Research, and Publications

Ashley Evanoski-Cole LinkedIn

REAL CHEM

Lisa March

Partner in Publishing

Chemistry can feel like an intimidating subject for college students. So, how do chemistry professors make their courses feel designed for every learner?

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, PIP's president and founder, Lisa March, sits down with Dr. Amy Burkert, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives and chemistry professor of Carnegie Mellon University. Together with the REAL CHEM team, she's helping transform a course historically known for "weeding students out" into one that welcomes students in and lifts them up.

By shaping the next generation of college learners, Dr. Bukert's work unites chemistry with real-world impact. We also explore REAL CHEM, the next-generation digital learning experience she helped design to make chemistry more engaging and effective, bringing learning science to life for students everywhere.

Join us for a conversation about what it really takes to help students see the chemistry in everything, and how innovation in teaching can transform how we understand learning itself.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

0:35: Meet Dr. Amy Burkert

08:10: Collaboration in Chemistry Education

11:30: An Adaptive Approach to Teaching Chemistry

16:50: Empowering Faculty to be Independent in Their Coursework

18:15: The Challenges (and Strengths) of Self-Directed Learning

19:23: Shifting Chem Ed from a Solo Sport to a Community of Practice

21:30: Mapping Principles of Learning Science & Engineering

22:27: The Shared Vision of REAL CHEM and its Partners

25:00: Contagious Excitement: Moments of Pride in Advancing This Work

26:04: Reaching Learners Who Are Left Out (Or Opt Out)

Resources:

Amy Burkert

REAL CHEM

Amy Burkert Research & Publications

Lisa March

Partner in Publishing

Chemistry sticks when students can feel it. So, how do we make the subject truly tangible?

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, PIP's president and founder, Lisa March, sits down with Dr. Gizelle Sherwood, a passionate chemistry educator and innovator at Carnegie Mellon University. With 17 years of teaching experience and her current role as Director of Undergraduate Studies in Chemistry, Dr. Sherwood has dedicated her career to making science meaningful, accessible, and connected to the world beyond the classroom.

In shaping the next generation of college learners, Dr. Sherwood's work unites chemistry with real-world impact. We also explore REAL CHEM, the next-generation digital learning experience she helped design to make chemistry more engaging and effective, bringing learning science to life for students everywhere.

Join us for a conversation about what it really takes to help students see the chemistry in everything, and how innovation in teaching can transform how we understand learning itself.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

00:40 Meet Dr. Gizelle Sherwood

02:15 Combining Math and Chemistry

05:01 The Tangibility of Homeopathic Chemistry

05:51 The Power of a Network of Chemists

07:02 Inspiring the Next Generation of Chemists Through Research Work

08:30 Cosmetic & Cooking Chemistry

10:50 REAL CHEM Gets Students Excited About the Sciences

14:57 Representation: Students Need to See Themselves in Chemistry

20:00 Student Success with REAL CHEM

20:50 Behind the Scenes of REAL CHEM Video Production

22:18 Students Today Want Tangibility

23:48 Sharing Stories: Favorite Experiments

25:20 How to Use REAL CHEM in Your Classroom

29:00 The Taurus Platform: Data-Driven Teaching

32:50 Learning Science in a Continual Feedback Loop

Resources:

Gizelle Sherwood

REAL CHEM

Gizelle Sherwood Research & Publications

Lisa March

Partner in Publishing

What if students graduated seeing themselves as future CEOs, not just future employees?

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, Partner in Publishing (PIP) President and Founder Lisa March sits down with Alfredo Mathew III, founder and CEO of SPCC.1 and co-founder of ESO Ventures, to explore how schools can better prepare students to thrive in the real-world economy. From developing an entrepreneurial mindset to reimagining what "career readiness" truly means, Lisa and Alfredo dive into how education can bridge classrooms and capital.

They unpack what it takes to connect Gen Z learners to meaningful work, why the language of business belongs in every classroom, and how teaching the "business of life" could redefine the purpose of education altogether. Alfredo shares how developing an entrepreneurial mindset early on helps students see themselves as creators, innovators, and leaders equipped to drive change and define success on their terms.

Education and entrepreneurship don't have to be separate paths. They can be one journey.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing:

https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

0:32 Meet Alfredo Mathew: Changemaker & Entrepreneurship Advocate

2:34 Mentoring Young People in Ownership

3:57 Work AND College: Creating Economic Opportunities

6:35 Bridging Silicon Valley & Schools

9:05 The Gap Between the Wall Street & the Main Street Economy

11:32 History Class Teaches Entrepreneurial Thinking

15:25 The Educator Mindset: Thinking Strategically

18:54 Education Exists Within the Economy

20:02 The Creator Economy

24:33 Mateo's Story

27:35 How Do Schools Get Involved with Alfredo's Work?

Resources

Manifesting an Economic Engine for Social Good | Alfredo Mathew III | TEDxWest Valley College

Alfredo Mathew III

ESO Ventures

SPCC.1

Lisa March

Partner in Publishing

Both can be true: AI is the new frontier—and in business, humans connect with humans.

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, Partner in Publishing (PIP) President and Founder Lisa March and CEO Kevin O'Sullivan pull back the curtain on what it takes to build a company from the ground up. From finding your niche and getting your business off the ground to helping others do the same (as true partners), they share the insights and anecdotes that have been "the secret to the sauce" (Kevin's all-time favorite phrase).

It's all about human connection. How we balance that with the efficiency of modern-day tech, especially in the age of AI, is a hot-button issue in today's climate, and Lisa and Kevin tackle it head-on. Together, they get real about the human side of growth and how AI has officially joined the sales team, bringing numbers through the roof.

Packed with stories, laughs, and "wait… that actually worked?" moments, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the future of business growth in the evolving world of EdTech.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing:

https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

00:00 Take Your Idea From Concept to Close

4:25 Finding (and Following) Your Niche

7:28 Getting Your Business off the Ground

12:20 Bringing AI Into Sales: It's A Numbers Game

16:25 Taking Calls to Close with Efficiency

18:58 The Impact of AI in Market Research

20:50 Humans Connect with Humans

21:48 The PIP Eras

23:49 LinkedIn is the Biggest Publisher Out There

25:00 AI as the New Frontier

Resources:

Lisa March

Kevin O'Sullivan

Partner in Publishing

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, Partner in Publishing (PIP) President and Founder, Lisa March, sits down with CEO Kevin O'Sullivan for a candid conversation that goes back to where it all began. Together, they reflect on how PIP started with relationships, reputation, and insider knowledge (and inside jokes), and how those early priorities shaped the company's values and growth over the last sixteen years.

Lisa and Kevin share stories from the early days of building the business, the lessons they've learned as partners, and what has kept their collaboration strong through different eras of EdTech. The conversation doesn't stop at the past, though (and neither do the laughs and great stories). They also look ahead to the future of marketing in education, exploring new strategies, trends, and AI-driven technologies that are reshaping the field today.

This episode is part retrospective and part future-oriented, offering listeners both an inside look at the origins of Partner in Publishing and timely insights into where EdTech is heading next.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing:

https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

00:00 Introducing the Lisa and K.O. Show, Powered by PIP

5:50 The PIP Difference: A Full-Service Partner

9:14 Customer Support as a Lesson of the Pandemic

11:24 Developing Product Ambassadors and "Real Fans"

14:14 Modernization: Bringing Marketing and Sales Under the Same Roof

14:58 Social Media Marketing vs. Email Marketing

16:52 Developing Great Storytelling Content

19:50 You Can't Just Do One Thing

22:30 Working With Solopreneurs vs. Designated Team

27:01 Building a Culture of Mentorship and Connection

28:39 Everyone is a Publisher

What happens when marketing leads with empathy, deep listening, and a genuine commitment to student outcomes? In this episode, Lisa March sits down with Nicole Dingley, VP of Marketing at Ad Astra, to explore how customer advocacy can fuel pipeline growth, shape marketing efforts, and build lasting partnerships in higher ed.

From uncovering real challenges facing institutions to translating those insights into meaningful marketing and product direction, Nicole offers a practical and mission-driven approach to connecting with customers. Along the way, she also explores how something as foundational as course scheduling can influence equity and accessibility—and why listening is one of the most powerful tools in any marketer's playbook.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing:

https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

00:39 - Lisa introduces Nicole and highlights her early achievements in sales at Wiley.

03:07 - Nicole defines customer advocacy and explains how it shaped her $2M territory.

04:15 - Discovering her dream role: Nicole's pivot into customer success marketing

07:15 - Why customer advocacy marketing is essential in the age of AI

09:02 - What Ad Astra does and how course scheduling impacts equity and student outcomes

11:32 - Partner in Publishing's Digital Marketing Services

12:35 - Why customer feedback was key to tackling inefficiencies in course scheduling

14:40 - Using community and benchmarking data (Higher Education Scheduling Index) to guide marketing

17:37 - Ad Astra's annual Aspire Conference and how it fosters customer learning and engagement

19:20 - The link between scheduling equity and breaking cycles of poverty

21:18 - Multi-channel marketing strategies: community, associations, and roadshows

23:30 - Partner in Publishing's Video Services

24:40 - Nicole's love for content marketing and how it supports student-centered solutions

26:32 - Navigating complex sales and tailoring content for multiple campus stakeholders

29:52 - Nicole's favorite marketing tool: Influitive - for building community and content

30:39 - Career advice: shifting from individual contributor to collaborative leader

32:12 - What excites Nicole about EdTech marketing and the mission behind her work

34:22 - Reflections on the partnership with Partner in Publishing and scaling with confidence

Resources:

Lisa March

Nicole Dingley

Partner in Publishing

Ad Astra

Leading with Noble Purpose by Lisa McLeod

Selling with Noble Purpose by Lisa McLeod

Influitive - Customer advocacy SAAS

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, Lisa March sits down with Mike Hale, Ph.D., Chief Learning Officer at VitalSource, to explore the evolving role of AI in education. Mike shares how VitalSource is leveraging AI to accelerate learning, support faculty, and scale evidence-based practices grounded in learning science. From intelligent tutoring systems to real-time decision-making data, he explains how AI tools can enhance—not replace—effective teaching and learning. They also discuss common misconceptions about AI promoting "lazy learning" and the importance of human oversight in maintaining quality and rigor. As Mike puts it, the way people learn hasn't changed—but the tools available to help them have improved dramatically. He also gives us a look into the near future, forecasting both an explosion and eventual refinement of AI tools in edtech. Whether you're an educator, administrator, or tech innovator, this conversation offers practical insights into where education is heading—and what we should be paying attention to now.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing:

https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

00:38 - Introduction: Lisa March welcomes Mike Hale, Ph.D, Chief Learning Officer at VitalSource.

01:08 - VitalSource's role in connecting learning content providers, institutions, and faculty.

03:19 - AI in learning materials: Using AI to enhance courseware and support student learning.

04:24 - Challenges of AI adoption: Faculty vs. student use; need for responsible, ethical AI integration.

05:15 - Bringing faculty up to speed on AI: Training, experimentation, and critical thinking.

6:35 - The Digital Education Council's Five Dimensions of AI Literacy.

09:12 - Promising AI tools for education: Examples like Khanmigo, Coursemojo, and VitalSource's interactive tools.

13:50 - Applying Isaac Asimov's insight: AI should enhance, not replace, human thinking.

14:49 - The Doer Effect: Active engagement multiplies learning, and AI accelerates this.

15:40 - Tutor model revisited: AI-powered personalized questioning inspired by Plato's Dialogues and The Republic.

18:10 - Institutional policies on AI: Need for evaluation and approved AI tool lists to ensure responsible adoption.

20:25 - What AI trends will shape the edtech space in the next 6 to 12 months?

21:50 - Human learning remains constant; AI boosts speed and productivity when used thoughtfully.

23:29 - What AI-driven tools and innovations is VitalSource developing for higher education?

24:47 - Leveraging VitalSource's data to inform smarter course material decisions.

26:03 - Excitement for scalable adaptive learning and strong partnerships ahead.

Resources:

Lisa March

Michael Hale

Partner in Publishing

VitalSource

Digital Education Council AI Literacy Framework

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, Lisa March speaks with Dr. Federica Fornaciari, Academic Program Director at National University, about the ethical implications of AI in education. Dr. Fornaciari explains how AI tools not only solve problems but often redefine them, shifting the focus from critical thinking and creativity to engagement metrics and measurable outcomes. She highlights the importance of ethical AI development, urging creators to anticipate unintended consequences, address bias, and design systems that prioritize student privacy, autonomy, and equitable access.

The conversation explores the risks of commodifying student data and the need for transparency and accountability in EdTech. Dr. Fornaciari emphasizes that AI-powered educational platforms should inspire curiosity and deeper learning rather than simply maximize engagement. She encourages EdTech developers to collaborate with educators, ethicists, and policymakers from the outset to ensure technology supports meaningful learning experiences.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing:

https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

00:00 Introduction to EdTech Elevated

01:00 Introducing Dr. Federica Fornaciari

01:24 AI in Education: Solving Problems or Redefining Them?

03:09 Unintended Consequences of AI in Learning

03:50 Bias in AI: Whose Values Shape the Tools?

04:30 The Portfolio of Risks Approach in AI Development

05:09 Democratization of AI: Opportunity and Responsibility

06:05 Ethics in AI: Shaping Minds, Not Just Learning Experiences

07:47 Balancing Accuracy vs. Engagement in AI Tools

10:00 Autonomy and Equality: AI's Double-Edged Sword

12:02 How AI Can Widen or Bridge Educational Gaps

13:44 Commodification of Privacy: How Data Becomes Currency

15:26 AI and the Erosion of Privacy in Education

18:03 Data Responsibility: Trust, Consent, and Security in EdTech

20:42 Securing Student Data: Privacy by Design Principles

22:56 The Engagement Trap: Motivation vs. Clicks in AI Learning

28:57 Ethical AI Development: Transparency, Fairness, and Collaboration

31:48 Dr. Fornaciari's Teaching Approach: Preparing Students for AI Challenges

34:00 The Evolving Role of Educators in an AI World

36:25 Final Thoughts and Looking Ahead

Resources:

Lisa March

Federica Fornaciari, Ph. D.

Partner in Publishing Website

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, Jeff Rucker, Vice President of Content Marketing at Partner in Publishing, sits down with Lindsay Semevolos, a video content strategist and senior project manager, and Renée Kennedy, a video marketing strategist at PIP, to discuss the power of video in EdTech. They explore the evolution of video production, from tutorials and testimonials to high-profile video shoots, and share insights on how brands can leverage video for engagement and impact.

The conversation covers the latest trends in video marketing, the rise of short-form content, and the growing role of podcasts in digital strategy. Lindsay and Renee also reveal behind-the-scenes details from some of their most exciting projects, including a video presentation for a high-profile public figure. They highlight the importance of strategic storytelling, audience engagement, and adapting to emerging platforms like TikTok and LinkedIn.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing:

https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

00:00 Introduction to EdTech Elevated

00:24 Host Introduction: Jeff Rucker

01:09 Guest Introductions: Lindsay Semevolos & Renée Kennedy

02:58 The Evolution of Video at Partner in Publishing

04:48 PIP's Approach to Video Production & Workflow

05:20 The Role of Technology in Video & Podcast Production

07:23 Types of Videos Clients Request: Explainers, Tutorials & Testimonials

09:04 Onsite Video Shoots: Planning, Execution & Benefits

11:36 Challenges of Onsite Video Production

13:31 Favorite Video Projects & Behind-the-Scenes Stories

15:51 High-Profile Video Projects & Industry Impact

17:27 Trends in Video Marketing & The Rise of Short-Form Content

19:56 The Role of Long-Form Video & Podcasting in Digital Strategy

23:06 How Video Enhances Digital Marketing & Engagement

24:29 Should EdTech Brands Use TikTok & LinkedIn?

26:42 The Impact of Video on Brand Storytelling & Marketing Strategy

27:19 EdTech Elevated Closing Remarks

Resources:

Jeffrey Rucker

Renée Kennedy

Lindsay Semevolos

Partner in Publishing Website