Presenter Details

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Dr. Brandon Olszewski
Director of Research
ISTE+ASCD

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Brandon Olszewski (Ph.D.), ISTE’s Director of Research, is passionate about making research practical. He leads many of the organization’s evaluation and research efforts, as well as projects that focus on educational technology, product usability and design, the learning sciences, and adult learning. With over 15 years’ experience in program evaluation and research, Brandon has managed the implementation and evaluation of innovative projects funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, state departments of education, and private foundations. He has published on topics including educational technology, sociology, special education, workforce development, and social science methodology and psychometrics.

Explore Brandon's Sessions

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Edtech R&D through ISTE coLab


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Research & Development – or “R&D” – is generally how a field moves forward. But doing good R&D in edtech is hard: the edtech market is competitive, it’s difficult to find the right teachers, staff, and edtech leaders to provide feedback, and edtech providers too often don’t prioritize the development of features that matter most. In 2025, ISTE officially launched “coLab”, a network of teachers, edtech coaches & leaders, and school & district leaders interested in adding their voice to the world of edtech R&D through a variety of activities like focus groups and surveys. This session will feature live, hands-on opportunities to provide feedback to product providers in a safe environment and help guide ISTE+ASCD’s R&D agenda looking into the future. Come and join the R&D movement!
What’s AI Got To Do With It?


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For better and worse, generative AI has taken the edtech world by storm in recent months. With so many products claiming to be “powered by AI” today, how do edtech leaders parse the best from the rest? What should one look for when it comes to AI-powered products? How do AI literacy, privacy, and other critical issues enter into conversations regarding product evaluation, selection and purchasing? This session will address these issues “head on” and “hands on” by offering attendees the opportunity to test some edtech product scoring tools, and talk with edtech providers about the issues that matter most to them when it comes to the brave new world of AI-powered edtech.
The Best in Edtech Usability


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With thousands of edtech products on the market, sorting out the best from the rest can be quite challenging. Since the launch of Teacher Ready in 2022, ISTE has been leading the national conversation about edtech quality and teacher usability. This session will feature hands-on practice with edtech evaluation tools, updates on brand new developments in Teacher Ready (including some related to AI-powered products and a new focus on student usability), and an opportunity to provide feedback on new 2025 resources aimed at helping edtech coaches and leaders effectively find the best-built products for their schools.

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Influencer disclosure:

This presenter indicated a “material connection” to a brand that includes a personal, family or employment relationship, or a financial relationship, such as the brand directly paying fees, covering travel or providing free or discounted products or services.

Company or companies with which presenter has a material connection: I work closely with philanthropic funders, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Partners like these fund my projects.
Relationship: Direct compensation