ListEdTech's Podcast

Are single-platform school systems a thing of the past? In this episode, we dive into why modern educational institutions are moving away from standardization and embracing diverse learning ecosystems with multiple management systems running simultaneously. We explore the direct link between institutional size and tech complexity, revealing why giant higher-ed departments and K-12 districts alike...

Are higher education IT departments breaking up with their all-in-one software providers? In this episode, we dive into a massive shift in campus technology: a 57% surge since 2019 in institutions ditching single-vendor suites for a "best-of-breed" strategy. We explore how large-scale universities are leveraging mature cloud-native architectures and APIs to build highly specialized, decoupled ecos...

In this episode, we break down the key takeaways from the Jenzabar Annual Meeting (JAM) 2026, which signaled a surprising and refreshing strategic shift for the software provider. While the rest of the higher education tech sector chases aggressive AI hype and flashy disruption, Jenzabar is turning its focus toward platform stability, system speed, and building customer trust. We dive into how the...

In this episode, we dive into why higher education must move past treating artificial intelligence as a simple "bolt-on" tool and instead embrace it as a core organizational strategy. We explore how true campus transformation happens when colleges stop piloting isolated software products and start focusing on AI ecosystem orchestration—connecting data seamlessly across LMS, SIS, and CRM platforms....

In this episode, we dive into the latest report from ListEdTech tracking the evolution of the North American K-12 Learning Management System (LMS) market over the past decade. We explore how a once-fragmented field has rapidly consolidated into a highly predictable industry, now dominated by a "powerful trio" (Google Classroom, Canvas, and Schoology) which together control nearly three-quarters of...

When EdTech vendors face security incidents or outages, the technical failure is only half the story. This episode explores why institutions rarely judge vendors on the incident itself, but rather on the transparency and accountability of their response. Using the recent Instructure/Canvas incident as a backdrop, we analyze historical case studies, from Zoom and Blackboard to Pearson, to see how c...

In this episode, we explore the major structural shift within the educational technology sector as it moves away from disjointed software tools toward integrated, tiered platforms designed for a more streamlined user experience. We dive into how industry leaders like Instructure are reorganizing services into structured membership levels—such as Canvas Core and Canvas Plus—to offer institutions pr...

Higher education is finally breaking up with the "fragmented" reality of legacy systems. In this episode, we explore the rise of agentic innovation and how structured knowledge graphs are transforming campus operations. By moving toward a centralized orchestration layer, institutions are now automating complex hurdles like financial aid packaging and registration, turning what used to be administr...

For years, curriculum management was the "forgotten" corner of higher ed tech, a digital graveyard of PDFs and clunky administrative forms. But things are changing, and they're changing fast. In this episode, we dive into the massive transformation of curriculum software into what experts are calling  "Academic Operations Platforms." We're moving beyond simple record-keeping into a world where int...

In this episode, we explore how private equity firms have become the primary architects of the educational technology market. This discussion utilizes a compelling report from LEK Consulting, US Education Investment Landscape: 2026 M&A Trends and Analysis , and we've extracted some of those insights below to highlight how investors are using micro-acquisitions to hedge against AI disruption. By me...

In this episode, we explore the strategic evolution of Anthology as it successfully rebranded back to Blackboard in early 2026. We discuss how a Chapter 11 reorganization in late 2025 allowed the company to resolve its debt by selling non-core business units to partners like Ellucian and Encoura. We examine how the company has emerged stronger, debt-free, and with a sharpened, exclusive focus on i...

The era of standalone chatbots is ending as the market shifts toward a "barbell" shape of consolidated platforms and embedded AI. In this episode, we explore how institutions are moving toward deeply integrated ecosystems where data governance and cross-departmental orchestration take center stage. We discuss why AI implementation has evolved into a long-term architectural decision rather than a s...

Is the EdTech market truly "full," or are we just looking at it the wrong way? In this episode, we dive into ListEdTech's analysis of market saturation as a segmented reality. Using a new visualization of market breadth vs. velocity, we explore why a product category can be a "displacement game" for a subset of the market while remaining an "expansion frontier" for another one. We discuss how aban...

Educational technology is entering a new phase. For years, scale and connectivity defined success. Today, the real advantage is shifting toward something deeper. In this episode, we explore the move from network effects to cognitive effects in EdTech. As platforms like LMSs and SISs accumulate years of learning data, they begin to develop long-term memory about how individual students think, study...

In this episode, we dive into the technological priorities shaping higher education in 2026. While artificial intelligence dominates headlines, universities are quietly focused on foundational infrastructure—identity management, network security, and core system modernization. We explore the "stability paradox," where digital transformation has shifted from a visionary goal to a day-to-day operati...

This episode breaks down the latest shifts in Identity and Access Management (IAM) across North American campuses. We explore Microsoft Entra's market dominance and the steady decline of legacy solutions like Shibboleth. Learn how smaller vendors are pivoting toward AI-readiness and why institutions are ditching standalone tools for unified security fabrics. Tune in to discover how cloud-native pl...

In today's episode, we're breaking down the "Tipping Point" of the Student Information System (SIS). For decades, local, on-premises servers were the backbone of school administration. But the data is in, and the verdict is clear: the cloud is the new standard. We explore why the education sector has reached a point of no return. It's not just about flashy new software; it's about a massive wave o...

In this episode, we unpack ListEdTech's RFP Trends & Market Priorities – December 2025 Update , an analysis of five years of RFP activity across Higher Education and K–12. Drawing on thousands of procurement records from 2020 to 2025, the report reveals how institutional priorities are evolving as the market moves beyond pandemic-driven urgency. We explore why K–12 remains highly active in Student...

In this episode, we explore Student First , a modern Student Information System founded in 2021 by EdTech veteran David Meek. Built from the ground up to address growing frustration with aging, expensive SIS platforms, Student First takes a clean-slate approach using a modern SaaS architecture with no legacy constraints. Designed specifically for non-traditional institutions such as career college...

This episode breaks down the key insights from the Instructure Roundtable at EDUCAUSE 2025, where leaders from major universities explored how AI is reshaping higher education. Rather than replacing human interaction, AI is emerging as a catalyst for connection—automating routine tasks so faculty can focus on mentorship and meaningful engagement. We look at shifting student expectations for seamle...

In this episode, we unpack the evolving landscape of the North American K-12 Student Information System (SIS) market in 2025—a space marked by both maturity and disruption. While long-time leader PowerSchool continues to dominate with nearly a quarter of the market, competitors like FACTS SIS and Infinite Campus are reshaping regional dynamics and challenging legacy dominance. Behind the scenes, w...

The K–12 website landscape is transforming fast. Once a fragmented field of niche vendors, the Content Management System (CMS) market has rapidly consolidated — with Finalsite and Apptegy now powering more than 40% of North American school district websites. In this episode, we unpack how this shift is reshaping communication, accessibility, and accountability in education. From AI-driven automati...

In this episode, we dig into a four-year analysis of Educause exhibitor data to uncover what's really shaping the future of HigherEd technology. Using vendor kiosk counts and total booth size from 2021 to 2025, ListEdTech's latest research reveals a sector in transition — shifting away from pandemic-driven solutions and returning its attention to core modernization. We break down the biggest signa...

In this episode, we unpack a fascinating analysis from a recent ListEdTech blog post by Justin Ménard, which examines the "early adopters" segment of the Product Adoption Curve in higher education. By tracking twenty institutions that consistently appear among the first to adopt new technologies across thirty product categories, the study identifies a core group of HigherEd's Tech Leaders. Mostly...

In this episode, we unpack Anthology's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing—a strategic move aimed at reducing debt and streamlining the company's future. Once known for its aggressive acquisition strategy, Anthology is now reorganizing around its core Blackboard teaching and learning solutions. As part of the restructuring, Ellucian is likely to acquire Anthology's SIS/ERP business, while Encoura should...