In this episode of All Things Marketing and Education, Elana Leoni welcomes Hall Davidson, a legend in the EdTech world with a career spanning decades of innovation. Hall shares his fascinating journey from teaching math live on TV to shaping the Discovery Educator Network (DEN), one of the most vibrant and impactful teacher communities ever created.
Hall reflects on the early days of integrating technology into classrooms, highlighting key lessons for EdTech companies and educators looking to navigate today’s rapidly evolving landscape. He dives into the importance of empowering teachers as storytellers and advocates, offering practical tips on how to build authentic communities that foster collaboration and growth.
As the conversation unfolds, Hall shares his insights on AI in education—why it’s not just a trend but a tool that can revolutionize teaching and learning. Whether you’re an EdTech marketer, educator, or industry professional, this episode is packed with actionable strategies, inspiring stories, and thought-provoking ideas that you won’t want to miss.
Questions asked:
Can you share a bit about your journey in the education space and how your experiences have shaped your perspective on EdTech?
What are you most excited about in EdTech? What do you think has the most potential impact on student learning?
What do you wish teachers and districts would use more or of use in a different way? What’s overhyped?
How have you seen the role of teachers evolve over the past few years, especially with the integration of technology? What should edtech companies keep in mind to better support teachers during these shifts?
Why do you view school libraries as a natural hub for AI in schools, and how can they become central to integrating new technologies into the learning process?
What’s something you’ve read or watched recently that inspired you?
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Discovery Education: A pioneer in providing downloadable, vetted, and curriculum-aligned video content for educators.
Discovery Educator Network (DEN): A teacher community Hall helped build, fostering collaboration and sharing among educators.
USA Science & Engineering Festival: The largest science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) festival in the United States, featuring events, resources, and opportunities to inspire the next generation of innovators and educators.
Video Mathematics (PBS Series): A math tutoring TV show Hall created, which supported teachers and students through video-based instruction.
ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education): The biggest conference in education, where Hall has keynoted
FETC (Future of Education Technology Conference) & TCEA (Texas Computer Education Association): Other conferences mentioned as spaces for teacher evangelists to share insights and best practices.
Get in touch with Hall Davidson: LinkedIn
Elana Leoni, Host
Elana Leoni has dedicated the majority of her career to improving K-12 education. Prior to founding LCG, she spent eight years leading the marketing and community strategy for the George Lucas Educational Foundation where she grew Edutopia’s social media presence exponentially to reach over 20 million education change-makers every month.
Hall Davidson, Guest
Hall Davidson is a legendary ed tech expert, visionary, and speaker, both nationally and internationally. He has keynoted a wide variety of events and virtually every ed tech conference, including FETC in 2023. He left the math classroom to teach math on television on an Emmy-winning program. He spent 30 years in California as a consortium director, professor and serial early adopter, leading staff development on emerging technologies, including a TEDx talk. He served on the ISTE Board, the California task force for technology, and currently serves on several educational media foundation boards. His talks blend humor, the real world, and the coming one.
About All Things Marketing and Education
What if marketing was judged solely by the level of value it brings to its audience? Welcome to All Things Marketing and Education, a podcast that lives at the intersection of marketing and you guessed it, education. Each week, Elana Leoni, CEO of Leoni Consulting Group, highlights innovative social media marketing, community-building, and content marketing strategies that can significantly increase reach, relationships, and revenue.
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