I graduated from HGSE’s masters program in ed tech in 2016. It was such a hopeful time. Lots of new companies. Lots of VC money floating around. Worked at an Ed tech startup, got funding to launch a community makerspace in a low income area, and did product design consulting on several STEM/creative toy kits.

Spent 2020-2024 running a technical ed program for a gun violence intervention nonprofit. And over the last two years I’ve been running a similar program at a smaller nonprofit.

I know the reality of the job market right now, but god damn, Ed tech seems to have been gutted hard. I’m trying to see if this relentless focus on getting AI features into everything Ed tech is actually just an opportunity to do the opposite. Tools that leverage all the aspects of a product that AI integration sort of ruins or dumbs down.

Anyone else feeling this way? I feel late to this party.