Learning Science Meets Product Innovation — Eduvation Podcast
Dr. Anastasia Betts joins the Eduvation podcast to discuss how learning science principles can drive EdTech product innovation, the future of AI in education, and what it means to build evidence-based learning experiences that truly engage learners.
In this episode of the Eduvation podcast, Dr. Anastasia Betts — co-founder of PAL Guide and Executive Director at Learnology Labs — joins host Sherif Amin to explore how AI, learning science, and human connection can shape the next generation of education technology.
The conversation ranges from the practical challenges of building evidence-based learning products, to the bigger questions about what it means for technology to truly serve learners rather than just engage them.
What We Explore in This Episode
How learning science principles can drive product innovation — Most EdTech products are built by engineers and designers who understand technology deeply but may not have deep grounding in how people actually learn. Dr. Betts shares how bringing learning science to the center of product decisions changes everything from feature prioritization to success metrics.
Why founders must think like learners — not just builders — The best products come from teams who maintain genuine curiosity about the learner's experience. This means embracing uncertainty, testing assumptions, and being willing to throw out features that don't serve learning, even when they look impressive.
The future of AI in education and its impact on human connection — AI tools in education are most powerful when they strengthen the relationship between learners and the adults who support them, rather than replacing those relationships. PAL is built on exactly this philosophy: AI as a bridge to deeper human engagement, not a substitute for it.
Real strategies for creating evidence-based learning experiences — What does it actually take to build EdTech that works? Dr. Betts shares concrete approaches for grounding product decisions in research, including how to work with learning scientists, how to evaluate evidence, and how to build feedback loops that continuously improve outcomes.
Listen to the Full Episode
This episode is part of the Eduvation Podcast series on education innovation.