The EdisonOS Podcast

In this episode, Lindsey Wander, founder of WorldWise Tutoring, shares her homework approach of assigning 1-3 hours of independent practice per tutoring hour while achieving high completion rates. She reveals her unique strategy of providing students with answer keys, transforming homework into self-advocacy training where students learn to identify exactly where they struggle and articulate their specific learning needs.

Lindsey explains her diagnostic process that separates genuine skill gaps from test anxiety through untimed retesting, and shares why she believes current AI question generation falls short of expert-created content. She discusses her "green light" system for determining test readiness and reveals a memorable case where tutoring sessions helped identify undiagnosed dyslexia in a junior, leading to proper accommodations and academic transformation that changed the student's entire educational trajectory.

In this episode, Anna Moss, founder of Mind the Test, reveals why she starts with diagnostic tests to create genuine student motivation rather than jumping into curriculum. Drawing from her linguistics research on test bias, she challenges the minimal homework trend by assigning up to three hours weekly while maintaining high completion rates through personalized resources.

Anna explains her method for distinguishing real skill gaps from testing mistakes, discusses how Desmos has eliminated her use of the quadratic formula, and addresses why most "careless errors" actually signal content overwhelm. She also shares her AI experiments for generating practice content and explains why tutor-student chemistry ultimately matters more than credentials when parents choose test prep support.

In this episode, Mike Bergin, 30-year test prep veteran and founder of Chariot Learning, challenges conventional wisdom by skipping diagnostic tests to build student rapport first. Drawing from his work training ACT teachers nationwide, he reveals why minimal homework often works better than endless practice problems for overloaded students.

Mike breaks down his method for separating genuine skill gaps from test anxiety through strategic practice test reviews, explains why the enhanced ACT's optional science section creates a new dilemma for students, and addresses the real culprits behind score plateaus: grammar deficits and weak reading comprehension in digitally-native learners. He also shares his philosophy on matching tutor personalities with student needs—because chemistry, he argues, is the final ingredient in test prep success.

In this episode, Michael Ermann, architect and professor at Virginia Tech, explains how he brings design thinking into SAT prep through Olive Book, his animated, asynchronous course. Drawing on his background in teaching architecture, he shares why visuals, stories, and recall-based learning make concepts stick far better than rote memorization.

Michael highlights how Olive Book serves students in the 1100–1300 score range especially well, offering engaging practice tests, spiral learning, and free access for families with financial need. He also reflects on misconceptions about learning styles, the importance of narrative in memory, and why meeting students where they are—both in format and mindset—is key to lasting success.

In this episode, Randee, founder and CEO of Jettprep, reflects on her nearly three decades of experience tutoring SAT and ACT students. She shares candid thoughts on the shift to digital testing, expressing concern that the lack of paper-and-pencil options reduces attention to detail and introduces new challenges for students. Randee emphasizes that while technology is unavoidable, true mastery still comes from deep focus, tactile learning, and disciplined practice.

She contrasts how parents trusted tutors in the early 2000s versus today, where students often drive decisions and expectations can be misaligned with academic realities. At Jettprep, Randee’s team provides subject-specific tutoring, personalized homework, and weekly progress reports, all designed to set realistic benchmarks and build students’ confidence without creating emotional setbacks from premature testing.

Randee also discusses her approach to diagnostics, curriculum design, and the balance between practice questions, mock tests, and homework load. She underscores that success depends as much on student commitment as it does on tutor expertise. For parents, she advises seeking tutors with proven results, strong referrals, and the right fit for their child’s learning style—because comfort and trust are essential for transformation.

In this episode, Gina Onativia draws from her experiences with Tony Robbins, IBM, and her own Course Creation Boutique to share practical lessons for building impactful online courses. She explains how the key to success lies in tailoring content to specific audiences, pre-selling before a full build, and niching down to serve a passionate corner of the market. Gina also talks about overcoming imposter syndrome, emphasizing that expertise and results are the strongest proof a creator needs.

She highlights how community-driven design and live feedback sessions transform courses from static information into dynamic learning experiences. With AI reshaping industries, Gina urges creators to lean in—using tools for efficiency while differentiating through stories, personalization, and human connection. She notes that the future belongs to those who blend technology with creativity, authenticity, and community.

For new course creators hesitant to start, Gina’s message is clear: the opportunity is still wide open if you trust your uniqueness, get creative with delivery, and think beyond templates.

In this episode, Andrew Kletzien shares updates from his tutoring academy, including the rollout of a digital ACT platform and hitting new milestones with student enrollments. He explains how families and students navigate the choice between SAT and ACT, emphasizing broad-level strategy first (like timing, math strength, and science considerations) before diving into granular skills with tutors. Andrew also highlights the importance of balancing tutoring with realistic amounts of homework, using mock tests and domain-level practice flexibly based on students’ schedules.

He reflects on industry shifts, from the role of Desmos and calculators to the inconsistencies in ACT’s new “Enhanced” format, noting how tutors must adapt quickly to changing policies. Andrew stresses the value of source materials over formulaic prep books, while acknowledging the growing—though still imperfect—role of AI in generating practice content.

Partnerships with schools and non-profits, he shares, open doors for more students to access quality prep, with group programs proving effective when paired with digital analytics. For parents, Andrew advises looking for tutoring programs that provide clear, trend-focused progress snapshots rather than overwhelming data dumps, and he underscores that test scores remain a key predictor for college admissions, especially at highly selective schools.

In this episode, Samer shares his deep approach to tutoring, explaining how he breaks down every concept into granular levels to ensure students master each type of problem. He discusses how parents can balance budgets with quality by finding experienced tutors and even getting creative, such as pairing siblings for shared sessions. Samer also emphasizes that transformation in learning happens best in small, focused groups where students receive personalized attention.

In this episode, Elizabeth Breau, a writer, private tutor, and former classroom teacher with a doctorate in English literature, shares her journey from teaching in schools to building a thriving SAT and ACT tutoring practice. She discusses the challenges of the digital SAT, the importance of quality practice materials, and her approach to customizing study plans for each student. Elizabeth also shares tips on managing test anxiety, building confidence, and the role of repetition in creating consistent high scorers.

Mike Wagner shares his unconventional journey from burned-out high school history teacher to dual-market education entrepreneur! He reveals how quitting his job, selling his car, and moving to Argentina with just his German Shepherd led to meeting his wife and discovering his true calling. Wagner now runs both Wagner Prep for private clients and Epic Mentoring for NYC public schools, explaining how COVID's chaos actually became his business breakthrough by normalizing virtual tutoring overnight and expanding his reach globally. Plus insights on why schools prioritize cost over results, his "humans over algorithms" philosophy that uses tools like Notability and Highscores strategically, and how the college admissions arms race creates impossible expectations where students never know when "enough is enough."