No Such Thing: Education in the Digital Age

By Marc Lesser

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Category: Education

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Episodes: 233

Description

The show is about learning with technology, the realities and exciting potential.

Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate us, and leave a review wherever you've accessed the podcast. Find our listener survey at facebook.com/nosuchthingpodcast drop a like on the page while you're there.

The music in this podcast was produced by Leroy Tindy, a guest in episode zero. You can find him on SoundCloud at AirTindi Beats.

The podcast is produced by Marc Lesser. Marc is a specialist in the fields of digital learning and youth development with broad experience designing programming and learning environments in local and national contexts. Marc recently served as Youth Studies Practitioner Fellow at City University of New York, and leads a team of researchers and technologists for NAF (National Academy Foundation).

Marc is the co-founder of Emoti-Con NYC, New York's biggest youth digital media and technology festival, and in 2012 was named a National School Boards Association “20-to-Watch” among national leaders in education and technology. Connect with Marc on BlueSky @malesser, or LinkedIn.



What's with the ice cream truck in the logo? In the 80's, Richard E. Clark at University of Southern California set off a pretty epic debate based on his statement that "media are mere vehicles that deliver instruction but do not influence student achievement any more than the truck that delivers our groceries causes changes in nutrition." * So, the ice cream truck, it's a nod to Richard Clark, who frequently rings in my ear when I'm tempted to take things at face value. "Is it the method, or the medium?" I wonder.

The title, No Such Thing, has a few meanings. Mostly, it emphasizes the importance of hard questions as we develop and document the narrative of "education" in the US. For Richard E. Clark, the question is whether there's such a thing as learning from new technologies. For others, it might be whether there's a panacea for the challenges we face in this field. Whatever your question, I hope that it reminds you to keep asking--yourself, your learners, others--what's working and how so.

* Clark, R. E. (1983) Reconsidering Research on Learning From Media. Review of Educational Research 53(4) 445-459.


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Episode Date
If Everyone Is a Power User: Matt Dalio on Democratizing Technology
Nov 26, 2025
Greedy Algorithms, Public Goods: Rethinking AI Regulation and Education
Oct 31, 2025
Debugging Efforts in CS Education
Jul 31, 2025
The Data Beyond Seat Time
Jun 25, 2025
Can Simulation Train Equitable Teaching?
Jun 10, 2025
The Movement for Digital Wellness
May 21, 2025
Access is Capture: How Edtech Reproduces Racial Inequality
May 08, 2025
The Learner's Apprentice: AI and the Amplification of Human Creativity
Apr 03, 2025
The Duty of Care?
Feb 25, 2025
The Platform Urging Adults to Learn Instruments with Trained Musicians
Jan 16, 2025
Minecraft Edu Drops New Game on Hour of Code's 10th
Dec 04, 2024
Can We Teach the Lifelong Skill of Thriving With Anxiety?
Nov 12, 2024
This EdTech Company Has Been AI-driven For 25 Years
Oct 22, 2024
Setting the Course For Research on AI in Professional Learning
Sep 26, 2024
From White Folks Who Teach in the Hood
Aug 02, 2024
Learning Games Expert, Dan White
Jul 17, 2024
Mastery Transcript Consortium Makes a Surprising Ally
Jun 19, 2024
Inclusive Methods for Learning Designers
May 29, 2024
Tuition-Free College Is Already Here
May 16, 2024
Layla's Got You
Apr 24, 2024
Virtual Reality as Learning Medium
Apr 04, 2024
NYC Partners Codify Pathway To Video Game Professions
Feb 26, 2024
Can AI Support Reflective Practice?
Feb 02, 2024
Can "The AI" Support Teens' Mental Health?
Dec 22, 2023
How Big Is The Iceberg?
Dec 04, 2023
AI and The Future of Education
Nov 09, 2023
Make Your Own Simulations
Oct 16, 2023
Fixing Bias in Teacher Training Simulations
Aug 30, 2023
Are Chat GPT and Other Large Language AI Tools a Deathblow for Math Education?
Aug 08, 2023
A New Toolkit For Multisensory Museum Learning
Jul 06, 2023
You're Doing It Wrong
Jun 13, 2023
ETS CEO, Amit Sevak on The Present and Future of Assessment
May 18, 2023
Live from SXSW Edu 2023: Research Storytelling in The Digital Age
Apr 25, 2023
Purpose Mindset
Mar 28, 2023
Technology's Child
Mar 17, 2023
Creative Hustle
Feb 27, 2023
Learning Virtually Anything with Outschool
Feb 06, 2023
This is a Prototype
Jan 17, 2023
What Teens Say About What They Watch
Dec 20, 2022
The Long Arc of an Education Moonshot
Nov 17, 2022
The New College Classroom
Sep 30, 2022
VR Moves Closer to Just Plain Reality in K12
Jul 28, 2022
Teenager Therapy
Jul 05, 2022
Credly: Lessons Learned After 50 Million Credentials Earned and Hosted
May 31, 2022
"Redefining Geek: Bias and the Five Hidden Habits of Tech-Savvy Teens"
Apr 18, 2022
Too Many Tabs: Learning Like Experts with Lateral Reading
Mar 10, 2022
Game-based Assessment
Feb 15, 2022
"Reading the Word..."
Jan 11, 2022
"Does Anyone Know a White Man?"
Dec 09, 2021
My Secret EdTech Diary
Nov 01, 2021
Leg Godt at School
Oct 01, 2021
Is Virtual Reality...Equity?
Sep 17, 2021
20 Years of Teen Filmmaking
Aug 18, 2021
The "Virtual" Reality
Jul 26, 2021
How Many Slaps To Cook a Chicken
May 21, 2021
Ethics and Artificial Intelligence
Apr 13, 2021
Families and "Screentime" During Covid
Mar 29, 2021
Dr. Mimi Ito
Mar 01, 2021
Assessment, Freedom, Parody: Influential Ideas From 3 Live Recordings
Feb 04, 2021
Another Reality For Teaching During Covid
Nov 30, 2020
How One New Middle School Model in California Forges Ahead
Nov 03, 2020
Designing Reward Systems for Digital Learners
Oct 02, 2020
How Tech Divides the Back-To-School Experience in LA
Sep 11, 2020
"Dwelling In the Boarderlands"
Aug 05, 2020
Universal Design for Learning CS
Jul 03, 2020
Boys and Girls Clubs of America During Covid
Jun 25, 2020
Decoding Tech & Race through Racial Literacy
Jun 10, 2020
CodeScty: Schoolhouse Rock for Computer Science. But Lit!
May 04, 2020
900 Middle Schoolers in CA Might* Have One of the Country's Most Innovative Learning Experiences This Fall
Apr 18, 2020
My New Math Therapist, Dan Meyer
Apr 03, 2020
Entrepreneurship: A Key Mindset For The Digital Age?
Mar 13, 2020
Part 2: Kamau Bobb, Google's Global Lead for Diversity Strategy
Feb 13, 2020
Kamau Bobb, Google's Global Diversity Strategy & Research Lead
Feb 08, 2020
Bicycle Design and Fabrication at Minnesota State College Southeast
Jan 16, 2020
If Grades Were Hyperlinks, Live Update
Dec 30, 2019
Project Invent: Programs and Tools for Engineering Impact
Dec 16, 2019
Is 4-Year College Oldschool?
Nov 21, 2019
Programming Languages, a Travelogue for Non-Programmers
Oct 28, 2019
Career Prep (In Middle School?)
Oct 11, 2019
"A Pedagogy of Freedom"
Sep 29, 2019
From an Unlikely CA Zipcode, A Digital Nest Emerges
Aug 22, 2019
Onramps to Computer Science
Jul 26, 2019
A Research and Tech Unboxing
Jul 12, 2019
Human Centered Learning Experience Design
Jun 25, 2019
Recommended Resources for Maker Educators
Jun 13, 2019
College Admissions - Beyond Headlines
Jun 05, 2019
Discussing Women of Computer History
May 17, 2019
Dr.'s Chris Emdin and Edmund Adjapong
May 03, 2019
PBS for the Internet Age
Apr 23, 2019
Morton Arboretum Educators Help Bring In Spring
Apr 15, 2019
In Case You Missed It
Mar 29, 2019
Invent To Learn's Sylvia Libow Martinez
Mar 08, 2019
"Curiouser and curiouser"
Mar 01, 2019
Immersive Experience & How We Get The News
Feb 22, 2019
Higher Ed and the Role of a Computing Culture
Feb 06, 2019
Computing Education as a Foundation for 21 Century Literacy
Feb 04, 2019
A Toolkit For Brokering Youth Pathways
Jan 24, 2019
Tackling Bowie and Syria Through Immersive Media
Jan 14, 2019
If Bruce Lee Was a Maker
Jan 02, 2019
Connie Yowell & Kylie Peppler Talk LRNG
Dec 13, 2018
Code of Ethics
Dec 06, 2018
Cramming for Ethics in Tech
Nov 29, 2018
Anya Kamenetz: "What The Times got wrong about kids and phones"
Nov 16, 2018
The "M" in STEM
Oct 19, 2018
Competency X
Oct 05, 2018
Sex Ed In the Digital Age
Sep 19, 2018
Video Games With My Teacher - Part 2
Sep 05, 2018
Video Games With My Teacher - Part 1
Aug 28, 2018
15 Years of Games For Change
Aug 02, 2018
Dr. Gretchen Givens Generett
Jul 20, 2018
Follow-up on Autism & MakerEd With Dave Wells
Jul 11, 2018
MakerEd & Autism
Jul 03, 2018
Science Communication
Jun 22, 2018
Episode 32: "The Trajectory of Knowledge"
Jun 15, 2018
Episode 31: "Break All The Rules"
Jun 07, 2018
Episode 30: Manhattan Make-A-Thon
May 30, 2018
Episode 29: "Media Manipulation and the Online Far-Right"
May 09, 2018
Episode 28: If Grades Were Hyperlinks
Apr 25, 2018
Episode 27: Other Technologies, Part 2
Apr 19, 2018
Episode 26: Other Technologies, Part 1
Apr 12, 2018
Episode 25: What If a High Tech High School Isn't an Option?
Apr 04, 2018
Episode 24: Ten Years of Emoti-Con!
Mar 28, 2018
Episode 23: Pivot Tables & The Broken Promise of Higher Ed
Mar 19, 2018
Episode 22: Remaking Learning in Pittsburgh
Feb 27, 2018
Episode 21: Film Academy 360
Feb 14, 2018
Episode 20: Computer Science in the "Other" Sciences
Feb 07, 2018
Episode 19: "The New Education"
Jan 29, 2018
Episode 18: Computer Science Education - The Time Is...Now?
Jan 24, 2018
Episode 17: Maker Education Might Make Us Cry (Both Ways)
Jan 12, 2018
Episode 16: "Immersing is Believing"
Jan 03, 2018
Episode 15: The Final Will Not Be Televised...But It Will Be Podcasted
Dec 20, 2017
Episode 14: Dov Goes to World Makerfaire
Dec 13, 2017
Episode 13: Stepping Into Life Through Radio
Dec 07, 2017
Episode 12: Is Virtual Reality a Reality For Education Now?
Nov 29, 2017
PowerUp on UDL with Kate Rosenbloom
Nov 21, 2017
Episode 11: Maker Ed in NYC Schools
Nov 15, 2017
Episode 10: Erik Martin
Nov 09, 2017
Episode 9: New Realities in Museum Learning
Nov 01, 2017
PowerUp with Dr. Elizabeth Bishop
Oct 25, 2017
Episode 8: The Networking of Humanity
Oct 24, 2017
Episode 7: STEM from Dance
Oct 17, 2017
Episode 6: The Difference Between Looking & Seeing
Oct 12, 2017
PowerUp: The Game Jam Guide
Oct 05, 2017
PowerUp with Naomi Clark
Oct 03, 2017
Episode 5 Youth, Gaming, and Game Design
Sep 29, 2017
Episode 4 Interviews at the 2017 VR Summit
Sep 21, 2017
Episode 3 Brian Cohen, Co-founder of Beam Center
Sep 15, 2017
Episode 2 Tour Beam Center's Brooklyn Makerspace
Sep 14, 2017
Episode 1 Learning & Making at Beam Center, Brooklyn
Sep 12, 2017
Episode Zero
Aug 05, 2017