LTC One-to-One

The skepticism around EdTech isn't new. It just feels that way.

In this episode, hosts Linda DeYounge and Brian Bates step back from 2026 and walk through 120 years of technology in American schools, decade by decade. From the magic lantern to the mimeograph, from Sputnik to the smartphone, from teaching machines to ChatGPT — every era had its promises, its skeptics, and its moment of reckoning.

And every era asked the same questions we're asking today. Will this technology replace teachers? Is it actually helping students learn? Did we spend all that money for nothing?

The details change. The anxiety doesn't.

What's striking isn't just that the pattern repeats — it's how consistently we forget that it has. Every generation inherits the same debate and treats it like a new one. Every generation makes the same promises. And every generation eventually asks whether any of it worked.

If you work in a school, lead a district, or make decisions about technology and learning — this episode will change how you hear the current debate. Because when you see the full picture, the fears of 2026 start to look a lot like the fears of 1926. And 1956. And 1986.

New episodes available monthly wherever you listen.

Access our Season Four show notes

Access this episode's transcript

In January 2026, the Economist declared that EdTech is "mostly useless." It wasn't a lone opinion. Over the months that followed, the same sentiment showed up across major publications — different headlines, same conclusion.Then the U.S. Senate convened a full hearing on the impact of technology on young people. Expert witnesses argued that technology should be significantly rolled back from K-12 classrooms.For anyone who works in education and relies on technology to teach, it's been a lot to absorb.In this episode, we start where the debate starts — walking through the Economist article, the Senate hearing, and the testimony of neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath and screentime consultant Emily Cherkin. These are the loudest voices in this conversation right now, and we think they deserve a serious look.We also sit down with Adam Sparks --an educator, EdTech developer, and writer behind EdTech Confidential on Substack. After watching the Senate hearing, he went back to the actual reports and studies being cited, and published a two-part response contesting the four major claims made in the testimony. What he found is worth hearing.New episodes available monthly wherever you listen.

Access our Season Four show notes

Access this episode's transcript

In January 2026, the Economist published an article with the headline:

"Ed tech is profitable. It is also mostly useless."

It echoed a sentiment that had been quietly building in schools across the country. And educators who had built their practice around technology started asking hard questions.

So did we.

The One-to-One Podcast, produced by the Learning Technology Center, is spending Season 4 chasing the question: Is EdTech mostly useless?

We're sitting down with researchers, lawmakers, parent advocates, and classroom teachers — people on every side of this debate — to have a conversation about where EdTech is working, and where it's falling short.

If you work in a school, lead a district, or make decisions about technology and learning — this is the season we made for you.

New episodes available monthly wherever you listen.

Access our Season Four show notes

Access this episode's transcript

Academic esports is often dismissed as "just playing video games," but teams and coaches around the nations are using esports as an ecosystem for career exploration.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Katrina Lewis, founder of TAEL, who’s helping schools turn gaming into something much bigger—like real pathways into careers in tech, media, and leadership.

We talk about what it actually looks like to start an esports team (without it feeling overwhelming), and why the magic isn’t just in the games—it’s in how teams are designed. Dr. Lewis shares how getting students to rely on each other in meaningful ways can build communication skills, responsibility, and even ethical decision-making.

If you’ve ever been curious about esports—or maybe a little skeptical—this episode might change how you see it. And if you’re ready to try something new with your students, you’ll walk away with ideas you can actually use.

Find Dr. Lewis on LinkedIn

Check out her upcoming book

View this episode's transcript

What happens when a broken shoe strap turns into a thriving small business?

Instead of waiting for the future, today's students are using technology to build their own opportunities right now.

In the concluding half of our special student-voices edition of the One-to-One Podcast, we shift our focus to the entrepreneurial side of student tech. In this episode, you'll hear from eighth-grader Blake about launching his Etsy shop, Blake's Thingamajigs, and helping lead his school’s weekly PantherCast broadcast club.

Join us as we explore how students are using technology to connect with their communities and turn what they love into something that matters.

A special thank you to Blake, his family, and Ms. Katie Dollahon for sharing their story and inspiring the next generation of creators.

Learn more about 72 Acts of Kindness: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575722702000

Learn more about Blake's Thingamajigs: blakesthingamajigs.com/

View this episode’s transcript: docs.google.com/document/d/1icm9hW5J4eU3obS2mdZ5X0j4745cyug7/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106574838625581400572&rtpof=true&sd=true

What happens when you give a student a computer, a 3D printer, and the permission to build?

Once, a classroom was a place for quiet rows and worksheets, but today, it is becoming a workshop.

In this special student-voices edition of the One-to-One Podcast, we travel to classrooms across Illinois to hear directly from the next generation of makers, designers, and young entrepreneurs. In this episode, you'll hear from 3rd graders using TinkerCAD to design highly detailed miniature worlds and 4th graders engineering adaptive and assistive devices to help individuals with disabilities navigate daily life.

Join us as we explore how technology is shifting students from passive consumers of media into active, empathetic architects of their own imaginations.

A special thank you to Christy McGraw, her students, and her district for giving us their time -- and inspiring us one print at a time.

View the transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yiTKZO5QiAqizhJj1kaiwsT17yvEv8tc/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106574838625581400572&rtpof=true&sd=true

It’s one of education’s quiet ironies: the people responsible for keeping everyone connected are often the most isolated.

In this episode, we sit down with Justin Morgan to explore how mentorship can support IT directors and tech teams as they navigate the unique pressures of their roles. Justin shares his journey from first-year tech director to seasoned mentor—and now leader of the LTC’s Technology Leader Mentorship Program.

He’s joined by two current IT directors—one a recent program graduate and the other an active participant—for an honest look at the steep learning curve of school tech leadership. Together, they unpack the realities behind the title: the late-night network outages, the high-stakes policy decisions, and the quiet weight of being the go-to problem solver.

Mentorship offers more than technical advice. It provides a helping hand and a listening ear when challenges hit hardest. Whether you’re a new director carrying the department on your shoulders or a veteran ready to pay it forward, this episode is a reminder that the most critical infrastructure in any school isn’t just the network—it’s the people. Join us for a thoughtful conversation about building a stronger, more connected future for those who keep our schools running.

Explore the LTC's Tech Leader Mentor Program: https://www.ltcillinois.org/services/techmentor/

View this episode's news article: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-europe-countries-move-curb-childrens-social-media-access-2025-12-09/

There’s been a lot of noise lately about the Department of Education—what’s changing, what isn’t, and what it all might mean for schools. In this episode, we slow things down with the LTC's Mindy Fiscus, walking through the conversation in a simple, accessible way for educators and school leaders.

We start with an overview of what people mean when they talk about the “redistribution” of the Department of Education, and why moving responsibilities around is not the same as eliminating the department altogether.

Along the way, we clear up some common misconceptions, including where education funding actually comes from and what’s happening (and not happening) to federal education dollars.

We also zoom out to talk about what may happen next and how districts are navigating uncertainty. That includes quick updates on E-Rate, the ongoing ESSER funding cliff, broadband investments, and more.

If you’ve been feeling confused, concerned, or just tired of trying to decode education news, this episode is here to help you make sense of what we know right now—and how to move forward in uncertain times.

Connect with Mindy by visiting ltcillinois.org/about/staff

Learn more about ERate support: ltc.site/erate

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping education—fast. And everyone from superintendents to tech coaches are asking the same thing: How do we govern this responsibly?

In this episode, we sit down with Amanda Bickerstaff, Co-founder and CEO of AI for Education, who brings 20 years of classroom and leadership experience to one of the biggest questions facing schools today. Amanda cuts through the fear and hype to reveal what AI policy really needs: a shift from policing plagiarism to building AI literacy for life.

We look at specific examples of districts that are successfully navigating AI policy, moving from general guidelines to actionable frameworks. Should AI ever grade student work? When does convenience cross into an ethical risk? And how do we prepare students for a future shaped by emerging technologies?

Tune in for a candid, thoughtful conversation that provides technology leaders, administrators, and teachers with the perspective needed to build a future where AI enhances, rather than undermines, ethical and equitable learning. This is an essential listen for anyone committed to leading the AI conversation in their school community.

Resources:

https://www.aiforeducation.io/

We were back at IETC—live and fully embracing a 90s throwback to celebrate the conference’s 1995 debut! In this special episode, we take you right onto the buzzing conference floor as we interview teachers, instructional coaches, tech directors, and LTC staff in real time.

This year, we asked educators to once again answer the question: Which EdTech tools are you most thankful for?

You’ll hear shoutouts for the totally rad apps, platforms, and resources that help them engage students, streamline their workload, spark creativity, and make teaching just a little bit easier every day. We’ve come a long way since the 90’s, so listen in and discover your next favorite EdTech tool!

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/6-ed-tech-tools-2025/