#299 The AI Paradox: Why the World's Poorest Classrooms Are Adopting What the West Fears

In many Western classrooms, the mobile phone is viewed as the "forbidden fruit", a primary source of distraction that must be banned, confiscated, or locked away in magnetic pouches. Teachers and parents alike are exhausted by the constant battle over "screen time," whilst struggling to engage students in an education system that hasn't evolved in decades. Lectures are often unengaging, leading students to drift away, yet we blame the device rather than the delivery. Is this prohibitive approach a catastrophic mistake? Stephen Hodges warns that Western nations risk being "digitally leapfrogged" by developing economies. In regions like rural Uganda or Brazil, the student's personal mobile is not a toy; it is a lifeline to quality education amidst a massive shortage of qualified teachers. By demonising the technology our children use most, we risk missing "the biggest opportunity in education that we've seen in millennia". Furthermore, focusing solely on restricting minutes creates unnecessary conflict at home, failing to teach the critical self-regulation skills young people desperately need. This episode of The EdTech Podcast offers a way forward by shifting the narrative from "Screen Time" to "Screen Purpose". Philippa Wraithmell sits down with three experts to explore how we can embrace technology rather than fight it: •    Stephen Hodges (Efekta): Reveals how AI teaching assistants on personal phones are solving the teacher shortage crisis and delivering personalised learning in emerging markets. •    Adam Huh Dam (Stick 'Em): Demonstrates how STEAM education is reaching the most remote areas using nothing but smartphones and internet access. •    Payal Patel (Digital Bridge): Provides actionable strategies for parents to build "digital confidence" and healthy boundaries at home without the conflict. Tune in to discover why the device in your pocket might just be the most powerful educational asset we have.

Can an AI detect your sadness? 🤔 This episode will change how you think about mental health and finance. We're at Saudi Learn speaking to the next generation of innovators! Hear from the brilliant minds behind: ·       Voice Recognition for Mental Health: A powerful app that charts your emotional patterns and spikes. They tell us why this is CRUCIAL 50% of people worldwide are walking around undiagnosed. ·       The AI Finance Advisor: We meet the team who spotted a "desperate need" for financial help, leading them to build a bot that helps track everything from buying an iPhone to a new house. But the real secret to their success? The incredible Accenture Academy where they learned to stop building what they wanted, and start building what the user truly needed. Tune in now to discover the #1 piece of advice they received from a two-star General that completely shifted their project perspective... you won't believe who he was!

In this episode, Jayna Devani - International Education Lead at OpenAI, shares how ChatGPT has rapidly become one of the most widely used learning tools in the world and how OpenAI is partnering with educators, universities, and governments to support responsible, equitable AI adoption. She discusses real examples from institutions like Oxford University and national initiatives like Estonia, showing how AI can enhance learning through personalization, creativity, and teacher-led innovation. Exploring how students are using ChatGPT as a study partner, coach, and career companion, and how educators are redesigning learning experiences with AI. Jayna also highlights the importance of working with teachers, parents, and students to ensure AI remains a human-centered tool. The conversation closes with a look at what's ahead: AI agents, multimodal learning, and deeper integrations that could transform the future classroom, all guided by OpenAI's mission to ensure AI benefits everyone.   Resources from the show ChatGPT Edu,  100 chats compiled by students, for students   University educators,   OpenAI Academy.  Follow ChatGPT for Education on LinkedIn and Substack for updates and community insights.

Imagine a child sitting in the corner of the classroom, written off as 'average' or even disruptive, yet harbouring a remarkable, untouched spark of curiosity within. Morgan Whitfield, educator and author of Gifted, invites us to delve into this poignant reality, where the label of 'gifted' often serves as an exclusionary wall that stifles potential, rather than a bridge to achievement . Through heart-stirring real-life stories, this episode challenges us to stop viewing education as an exclusive competition for a select few and start embracing every child with high, compassionate expectations, ensuring no other 'Luca' is ever left behind . Far more than just theory, this conversation becomes deeply personal as Morgan reveals how her own son's journey transformed her perspective on the uniqueness of how we learn . You will be invited to leave behind old methods that merely categorise pupils, moving towards empowering strategies of adaptive teaching . Prepare to shift your mindset forever: education is no longer about climbing a narrow, exhausting mountain peak, but an opportunity to invite children to explore a vast, boundless ocean where each of them has the right to discover their own depths .

If you've ever felt that education is changing faster than the systems meant to support you, this podcast gives you a clearer and more human way to understand that shift. You'll explore how inclusion, data literacy, AI and school culture can be viewed through a lens that actually reflects real lived experiences. In this episode you join Dr Nicole Ponsford, a former teacher turned researcher and founder of a platform built on more than twenty six thousand voices from schools around the world. Her work challenges long standing assumptions about data, belonging and leadership in ways that might change how you see your own role in education. Each conversation is designed to give you insights you can apply directly, whether you're an educator, school leader, policymaker or edtech professional looking to create real impact. With expert interviews and grounded perspectives, the podcast helps you cut through buzzwords and understand what truly drives meaningful change in schools. Follow the show to stay close to ideas and discussions that can shape the way you lead, teach and contribute to the future of learning. Before you dive in, make sure not to miss the key developments connected to this conversation. These show how the ideas discussed in this episode are already creating real momentum beyond the conversation itself. BETT 2026 Finalist Announcement We're thrilled to share that the Global Equality Collective (GEC) has been named a finalist for the BETT 2026 Transformational Impact Award! Sky News Feature GEC recently appeared on Sky News discussing the launch of the second edition of the Inclusion Index. Watch the short clip here: YouTube Short Read more: Sky News Article Exclusive Offer for School Leaders School and trust leaders can access an exclusive 10% launch discount on the GEC Platform. Simply email [email protected] and use the code EDTECHPODCAST10 before the end of November. Follow the podcast and turn on notifications so you never miss conversations that can spark new ideas and inspire your next steps in education.

What if the universities of the future had no walls, no lecture halls, and no stressful exams? In this episode, Philippa Wraithmell speaks with James Newby(President & CEO, NMITE – New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering, UK) and Dr Thomas Funke (Founding President, Tomorrow University, Germany). They explore how higher education is evolving, moving away from rigid traditional systems towards models of learning that are more human, challenge-based, and aligned with the future of work. From hands-on learning and mission-driven education to the development of emotional intelligence and lifelong learning, this conversation reveals how new universities are preparing graduates who are not just intelligent, but adaptive, creative, and empathetic. Tune in if you're curious about: Innovation in higher education and the future of universities The future skills needed in the workplace Mission-based learning and global learning communities How technology is transforming the way we teach and learn Find inspiration to rethink, relearn, and reimagine what "university" means in the digital age.

This episode explores the science of long-term memory and "time-sequenced learning", a neuroscience-based instructional approach that helps students retain knowledge deeply and efficiently. Simon explains how the technique was inspired by research showing that firing synapses in a particular sequence chemically strengthens memory — "tattooing" information into the brain. This method, initially tested in schools and later scaled digitally, can compress weeks of traditional instruction into an hour while improving retention and confidence. He and Philippa discuss: The neuroscience behind learning sequences. Evidence from studies showing comparable or better results than months of traditional lessons. Applications for corporate training, police and medical education, and GCSE Physics. Broader questions about rethinking schools, exams, and what true learning means — shifting focus from rote memorisation to curiosity, creativity, and mastery.

In this episode, host Philippa Wraithmell is joined by Hugh Viney, Founder and CEO of Minerva Virtual Academy, to explore how one online school is redefining what learning can look like. What started during lockdown as a response to students thriving outside traditional classrooms has become one of the UK's fastest-growing accredited online schools. Hugh shares the journey from concept to community, a story shaped by mentorship, wellbeing, and flexibility. Together, Philippa and Hugh discuss how Minerva supports students who struggled in mainstream education, why connection and belonging are central to its success, and how the model is now expanding to reach families across the Middle East. They also unpack what it means to balance innovation with academic rigour, the realities of teaching and learning online, and how culture and kindness have helped Minerva buck the national trend on teacher retention. This is an honest and inspiring conversation about choice, creativity, and the future of education, one that proves being "virtual" can still feel completely real.

This episode of The EdTech Podcast features Abdul Chohan, VP of Learning at Showbie, former chemistry teacher, and international education advisor, in conversation with Philippa Wraithmell. Abdul reflects on his experiences working with schools across India since 2012, tracing the country's journey from traditional, exam-centered classrooms to innovative, learner-centered environments. He discusses the nation's growing focus on skills development, employability, and teacher empowerment, alongside striking examples of resourceful EdTech use in both urban and rural contexts. From schools combining CBSE, IGCSE, and IB curricula under one roof to rural students enabling digital literacy within their families, Abdul highlights a culture of resilience, creativity, and fearless experimentation that positions India as a global hub for educational innovation. The conversation invites educators worldwide to rethink barriers and embrace a mindset of possibility — proving that transformation begins with courage, not connectivity.

This episode features Sidney Sutton, Digital Learning Lead at Oberoi International School, Mumbai, in conversation with Philippa Wraithmell. Together, they discuss the transformation of education and EdTech across India over the past decade. Sidney reflects on the country's deep cultural respect for education, the growth of collaborative teaching communities, and the infrastructure foundations required to make technology integration sustainable. He outlines India's emerging role in AI and homegrown EdTech innovation, as well as how schools are approaching ethical AI, digital citizenship, and responsible adoption of new technologies. The conversation highlights a central theme: how educators can balance innovation with intention, keeping learning, relationships, and human connection at the core of technology-driven education.