Edtech Situation Room By @techsavvyteach & @wfryer

Welcome to episode 348 (“Goodbye Home Button”) of the EdTech Situation Room from February 19, 2025, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week, Dr. Jason Neiffer (aicentrist.com) and Dr. Wesley Fryer (wesfryer.com) unpacked Apple’s latest hardware evolution as the company officially retires the home button and lightning port, fully embracing USB-C and ushering in a new chapter for iPhones and iPads. The conversation explored the impacts for educators, older adults, and anyone adapting to Apple’s increasingly button-free, AI-enhanced devices. AI took center stage throughout the show, with a thoughtful discussion on the role of generative AI in classrooms, including Microsoft’s recent study suggesting AI reliance may diminish cognitive effort and confidence, and practical examples of using AI as a “thinking partner” rather than a “cheating partner” for student work. Quantum computing made headlines with news of a Microsoft-DARPA collaboration that could pave the way for more compact, powerful q