Educast 3000

In this episode of Educast 3000, Ryan Lufkin is joined by guest host, Jody Sailor, Sr Director, Academic Strategy & Innovation at Instructure. Together they welcome Matt Winters, AI Education Specialist at the Utah State Board of Education, for a powerful conversation about how Utah is trailblazing the integration of artificial intelligence in K–12 education. From his roots as an English teach...

In this episode of EDUCAST 3000, hosts Ryan Lufkin and Melissa Loble welcome Dr. Thomas Cavanagh and Dr. Jocelyn Widmer to discuss their new book, 'The Chief Online Learner's Guidebook.' The conversation explores their backgrounds, favorite learning moments, and the significance of the Chief Online Learning Officer (COLO) role in higher education, especially in the context of the evolving landscap...

In this episode of EduCast 3000, hosts Melissa Loble and Ryan Lufkin welcome Glenda Morgan, an ed tech market analyst, to discuss the evolving landscape of higher education. Their conversation delves into the current state of higher education, emphasizing the growing acceptance of online learning and the urgency for change. Morgan defines student success holistically, highlighting the importance o...

In this episode of Educast 3000, hosts Ryan Lufkin and Melissa Loble engage with Dr. Tracy Weeks, Senior Director of Educational Policy and Strategy, to explore the evolving landscape of education policy in the United States. Together, they explore the current challenges and changes in the education sector – federal funding implications, the impact of outsourcing, immigration policies, tariffs, an...

In this episode of EDUCAST 3000, hosts Ryan Lufkin and Melissa Loble dive into the fascinating world of psychometrics with Instructure experts Russell Ligon and Alexandra Lee. They share their personal paths into the field, reflect on how assessment practices have evolved over time, and unpack why psychometrics is key to building fair, effective assessments for all learners. From designing balance...

In this episode, hosts Ryan Lufkin and Melissa Loble recap their experiences at the ASU+GSV  2025 conference, discussing the dominant themes of AI in education, the agentic approach to AI tools, the challenges of equitable access, and the evolving role of leadership in educational institutions. Takeaways AI is a major focus at the ASU GSV conference. The agentic approach to AI is still in its earl...

In this episode of EduCast 3000, hosts Melissa Loble and Ryan Lufkin engage with Rob Barnett, co-founder of the Modern Classrooms Project. They dive into cutting-edge educational strategies, exploring the power of blended and personalized learning. Rob shares his inspiring journey as an educator, the origins and evolution of the Modern Classrooms Project, and the critical role of human connection...

In this episode of EduCast 3000, co-hosts Melissa Loble and guest host Tracy Weeks engage with education leader Karl Rectanus to discuss the evolving landscape of EdTech, the impact of AI, and the importance of community collaboration in education. They explore personal learning moments, the role of policy in education, and the need for innovative technology solutions. Karl shares insights on buil...

In this episode of Educast 3000, Ryan and Melissa chat with Alana Heath, co-founder of the organization How to Change the World. Their conversation explores the importance of experiential learning in education, the challenges faced in higher education regarding skills gaps, and the transformative potential of technology and AI in enhancing learning experiences. Alana shares insights on how her org...

In this episode of the Educast 3000 podcast, Ryan and guest co-host Zach Pendleton engage with Dr. Martha Castellanos, an influential figure in educational transformation in Latin America. They discuss her journey in integrating technology into education, the impact of AI and online learning, and the importance of understanding student needs. The conversation highlights innovative strategies for e...

In this episode of Educast 3000, hosts Ryan Lufkin and Melissa Loble engage with Nitzan Pelman, co-founder and CEO of Climb Together, to explore the themes of social capital and workforce preparedness. Nitzan shares her journey as a social entrepreneur, her impactful learning moments, and the importance of relationships in education and career success. They discuss her experiences with ReUp, a sta...

In this episode of Educast 3000, Ryan Lufkin and Melissa Loble engage with Dr. Trey Martindale, Associate Vice Provost of Online Learning at Middle Tennessee State University. They discuss the evolution of online learning, the importance of instructional design, and the impact of COVID-19 as a catalyst for growth in online education. Dr. Martindale shares insights on the challenges and opportuniti...

In this episode, Melissa Loble and Ryan Lufkin chat with Dr. Lane Freeman, Director of Online Instruction at the North Carolina Community College System, about the transformative potential of generative AI in education. Dr. Freeman shares his journey from traditional teaching to embracing AI tools, emphasizing the importance of pedagogy and active learning strategies. The three discuss the importa...

In this episode of Educast 3000, hosts Ryan Lufkin and Melissa Loble engage with Dr. Jeff Faust, Chief Technology Innovation Officer at Chesapeake Public Schools, to explore the future of assessment in K-12 education. They discuss the evolution of student assessment, the impact of technology and AI, and the challenges educators face in navigating political landscapes while striving for authentic a...

In this episode of the Educast 3000 podcast, hosts Ryan Lufkin and Melissa Loble welcome Sarah DeMark, Vice President of Workforce Intelligence and Credential Integrity at Western Governors University (WGU). Together, they explore Sarah's extensive background in education and assessment, the significance of competency-based education (CBE), and the evolving landscape of skills-based learning. They...

In this episode of Educast 3000, hosts Ryan Lufkin and Melissa Loble welcome Tess O'Brien, Senior Product Manager at Code.org. The conversation explores Tess's journey in education and technology, the impact of Code.org in promoting computer science education, and the integration of AI in teaching. Tess shares insights on the importance of a growth mindset, the role of AI in enhancing educational...

Recording *LIVE* from EDUCAUSE, Ryan and Instructure Chief Architect Zach Pendleton discuss the hot topics from this amazing conference: AI, the latest in edtech, personalized learning, and more! Reference Materials: Instructure’s Generative AI Innovations Aligned with US Department of Education, UNESCO & Other Global Policy Guideline Anthropic Computer Use Cogniti

In this episode of Educast 3000, Melissa Loble speaks with Tom Cavanaugh, Vice Provost for Digital Learning at the University of Central Florida. They discuss the evolution of online learning, the impact of COVID-19 on education, and the importance of supporting diverse learners. Tom shares personal anecdotes about teaching and mentoring, as well as insights into crisis management in education.  T...

Jóhanna Birna Bjartmarsdóttir shares her journey of overcoming challenges with mental health and learning disabilities. She discusses her experiences with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism, and the lack of support she received in the traditional education system. Jóhanna emphasizes the importance of mental health access and education, and how her own experiences led her to advocate for others. She also s...

In this episode of EduCast3000, the hosts Ryan Lufkin and Melissa Loble interview Jenna Ashley, an instructional designer and accessibility specialist. They discuss the importance of accessibility in education and the challenges faced by institutions in implementing it. Jenna shares her personal experiences as a disabled individual and highlights the need for awareness and understanding of accessi...

In this episode, Ryan Lufkin and guest cohost Zach Pendleton interview Mary Strain, a leader in the generative AI and machine learning space at Amazon Web Services. They discuss Mary's background in education and technology, the potential of AI in education, and how institutions can get started with AI. They also explore the challenges of bias and fairness in AI and the importance of transparency...

In this episode of Educast3000, Melissa and Ryan interview Michelle Lattke, the Senior Director of Learning Services at Instructure. They discuss the creation and success of the Canvas Certified Educator Program, a professional development platform that offers certification for educators. Michelle shares her background as an educator and instructional designer, and how her passion for learning man...

In this episode of the Educast 3000 podcast, the hosts discuss the ethical use of AI in education. They are joined by Sidh Oberoi, head of the partner program at Instructure, and Claire Pike from Anglia Ruskin University. They explore the balance between equipping students with AI skills for the future workforce and ensuring that academic credit is given for their own work. They discuss the import...

In this episode, Ryan and Melissa interview Mark Bramwell, the Director of Strategic Digital Partnerships at Oxford. They discuss the importance of green skills and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) in today's world. Mark emphasizes the need for strong leadership, effective communication, analytical skills, and innovation in driving the green agenda. They also explore the role of higher...

In this episode, Ryan Lufkin and Melissa Loble interview Daisy Bennett, Instructure's data protection officer, about data privacy in education. Daisy shares her background in privacy and security and discusses the importance of data privacy in the digital age. She explains the various legislation in place to protect student data in both K-12 and higher education, including FERPA, COPPA, and state...