Ellen Ullman’s Post

If you work in #edtech, this might be the most crucial article you'll read this year. My favorite insight: “Oftentimes, there are ed-tech products that are solutions in search of a problem.” (If you know me, you know I've said this for years.) Another standout quote: “We’re selling to chief academic officers, but we renew with teachers. If we are not in the trenches with teachers and showing our value, that school system will eventually cancel our contract.” We should strive to make our products as user-friendly as we claim, but this isn't always the case. This article delves into user-centered design, localization, aligning with the right audience, and other common R&D mistakes. It's a must-read for anyone aiming to make a real impact in edtech.

"Do you want to stay in edtech?" This is a question I often hear as I continue my job search, and my answer is always a resounding, "YES! 100%!" My passion for #edtech runs deep. I love the innovative products, the dedicated teachers and administrators, and, most important, the inspiring stories of how edtech transforms students' abilities to create, collaborate, develop skills, communicate, and learn in new and exciting ways. Why do you love working in edtech? I'd love to hear your thoughts—please share in the comments.

I have to admit, I often overlook the essential role of librarians and library media specialists in my outreach efforts. Their expertise and support are invaluable. Don't miss this fascinating article that features some of my favorite #edtech experts: Carl Hooker, Adam Phyall III, Ed.D., and Shannon McClintock Miller.

It's mind-boggling enough that schools used 2,739 different edtech tools this school year, but when you read that 60% focused on individual learners you just need to hug every teacher you see. How is this even possible?

Be (Podcast) where all the #AI talk is, esp concerning #K12.

This story makes my heart filled with optimism and hope. I love #GenZ, and not just because my daughter is one.

I grew up believing you were creative ... or you weren't. But since I published several pieces on the topic at eSchool, back when I worked there, I've always been fascinated with the concept of teaching creativity. Some of the best takeaways from this piece: • The largest international assessment of creativity to date shows how classroom practices can spur students to generate novel ideas and grapple with challenging social and academic problems. • 9 out of 10 15-yr-olds in Singapore, Latvia, Korea, and Denmark [tested] could develop appropriate and original ideas. • The test focuses on scenarios and problem solving rather than multiple choice. In [one] task, students are shown a picture of a crowded library and asked to give ideas on how to make it more accessible, with points given for the number, variety and ingenuity of the ideas. • Less than half of students said they believed they could improve their creativity or be creative across a variety of subjects. However, those who did have a growth mindset on creativity performed significantly better on creative tasks, on average, than students who had less confidence in their creative growth. • In every country and education system, girls performed better in all areas of creative thinking than boys did.

Just in case the #OpenToWork banner around my headshot wasn’t clear, I wanted to share that I was laid off from Bloomz at the end of May. I’m available for freelance, part-time, or full-time opportunities in marketing, content development, communications, or any combination of these fields. Although I plan to remain in #edtech, I'm open to exploring roles in other industries as well. So raise your hand if you have something I need to know about!

I'm sharing this as I know people in my network have lots of fun & interesting tech that can help parents with back-to-school.