I’ve been in the EdTech game for nearly 30 years. From my early days as an educator to my current roles as a board member for MassCUE and the Technology Director for Lowell Public Schools, I have seen every "revolutionary" gadget come and go. I’ve managed multimillion-dollar initiatives for one of the largest districts in Massachusetts, and I remember the thrill of transforming a small district in Hampton, NH, into a cutting-edge tech powerhouse.
Through it all—including building the TechinEDU network on LinkedIn to over 60,000 members—I’ve learned one thing: true innovation doesn't happen when we're afraid. It happens when we lean into the potential of what’s next.
Right now, that "next" is Artificial Intelligence. And if we allow it, AI won't just change education—it will transform it into something entirely new.
Guardrails or Lane Markers? The Global Race
In the West, we have a habit of over-regulating before we even understand the tech. We focus on high-risk classifications and safety-impacting assessments that often result in "nerfed" models—AI that is so restricted it loses its academic edge.
Compare that to the approach in China. They are attacking educational problems head-on with a "strategic acceleration" mindset. They put fewer guardrails in place to allow for rapid, unencumbered scaling. Look at Squirrel AI—they have enrolled over 24 million students and use a "nano-level" breakdown of curriculum to find exactly where a student is struggling, even if that gap goes back three years.
We can’t afford to fall back. We need to stop thinking of AI as a threat and start seeing it as a lane marker—something that guides us forward without stopping the car.
The "Holodeck" Experience: Igloo Vision & AI
One of the most exciting things I’m seeing right now is the marriage of AI with 360-degree cameras. Companies like Igloo Vision are creating shared immersive spaces that are basically like stepping into a giant VR headset with your entire class.
Imagine using an Insta360 Titan to capture 11K footage of a historical event or a professional workspace and then using AI to make it interactive. At Deakin University, they use these "holodecks" to teleport pre-service teachers into real primary classrooms so they can experience the environment before their first day of work. This isn't just a video; it’s a living simulation where you can freeze time, look around, and learn by being there.
Innovations That Excite Students (and Save Teachers!)
We need to build tools that meet students exactly where they are. Here is what is on the horizon:
* AI Digital Assistants: I am currently working on a digital assistant app specifically for college students. It’s designed to be a 24/7 mentor that helps manage the crushing workload of higher ed, similar to how Dartmouth is using NeuroBot TA to provide vetted, expert academic support around the clock.
* The Special Ed Revolution: We are finally attacking the "paperwork problem." Tools like Monsha and Playground IEP are helping educators draft full, IDEA-compliant IEPs in minutes rather than hours. This isn't about replacing teachers; it’s about giving them their lives back so they can focus on their students.
* Global Leaders in Action:
* Singapore: Their Ministry of Education has launched an "Authoring Copilot" to help teachers plan lessons faster while staying in the driver's seat.
* South Korea: Starting in 2025, they are rolling out national AI-powered digital textbooks that adapt in real-time to each student’s learning pace.
What Does the Future Look Like?
By 2026, we’re moving from simple chatbots to Agentic AI—systems that can interpret a goal, break it down into steps, and execute it independently. Imagine an AI that notices a student is disengaged and automatically suggests a more hands-on, gamified version of the lesson to spark their interest.
Education won't be a one-size-fits-all lecture anymore. It will be a precision-tuned journey for every single learner.
Let’s Build the Future Together!
I’ve spent 30 years helping educators navigate change, and I truly believe AI is our greatest opportunity yet. But I want to hear from you:
* Do you think we have too many guardrails in place? Should we follow China’s lead and move faster?
* What’s one task you wish an AI assistant could take off your plate today?
* If you could "teleport" your students anywhere using an Igloo immersive space, where would you go?
Drop a comment below and let’s get the conversation started!
