Ethical Ed Tech: Putting Students Before Screens

In this thought-provoking episode, Jed welcomes Priten Soundar Shah, author of Ethical Ed Tech, to explore how schools can make wiser choices about technology in the classroom. Drawing on his background in philosophy, policy, classroom teaching, and ed tech development, Priten explains that we've let the tools drive our decisions instead of starting with the core question: What do we really want for our students?

He and Jed talk about the mixed results of laptops and AI in schools, and how test scores haven't magically improved just because districts spent more on devices. Priten shares how the pandemic exposed huge gaps in tech training for teachers and how we're still trying to catch up—now with AI changing almost weekly. He emphasizes the importance of ethical decision-making, balancing academic gains with students' social and emotional well-being, and grappling with tough questions like who should control children's data and how much privacy we're willing to trade for technological benefits. His book aims to give educators, leaders, and parents a shared ethical vocabulary so they can move beyond buzzwords and sales pitches to make thoughtful, context-specific choices.

Later in the episode, Jed talks with Bobbi Guirl, debut author of Lily's Big Question. Inspired by her own childhood loss and being raised by a devoted single father, Bobbi's book offers children a tender story about grief, community, and the powerful presence of fathers—especially Black fathers who are too often misrepresented. She and Jed discuss representation, healing through storytelling, and using picture books to spark big family conversations about feelings, difference, and resilience.