EdGate Powers Podcast #7 - with Dr. Sara Delano Moore
Technology can make educational products more accessible, flexible, and engaging, but adding more technology does not automatically make learning better. For elementary classrooms in particular, digital tools need to work alongside the teacher, hands-on learning, and the realities of how young students learn. For publishers and edtech providers, that means thinking beyond what a product can do and considering how it fits into instruction, supports educators, and works within the technology environments schools already have.
In this episode of the EdGate Powers Podcast, Rich Portelance speaks with Dr. Sara Delano Moore, Vice President of Content and Curriculum at ORIGO Education, about designing mathematics resources around the needs of teachers and students. Moore explains how ORIGO uses digital-first teacher materials, virtual manipulatives, animated books, games, and other technology to give educators useful support without attempting to replace the instructional role of the teacher. The conversation also examines how spaced learning and retrieval practice can help students retain mathematical concepts over time, and how curriculum developers can build those principles into the structure of instruction.
The discussion also turns to the challenges publishers face outside the content itself. Moore describes how ORIGO approaches increasingly different state standards by identifying the mathematical concepts states still share and building outward without creating an unmanageable curriculum. She also discusses the importance of organized standards data, metadata, technology compatibility, implementation support, and thoughtful pilots that include teachers with different levels of technology experience. Together, these considerations point to a broader question for edtech providers: how can a product become genuinely useful within a school rather than simply becoming another piece of technology for teachers to manage?
In this episode, you will learn:
- Why technology should support teachers rather than attempt to replace them.
- How digital tools can complement hands-on and play-based learning in elementary mathematics.
- How spaced learning and retrieval practice can help students retain concepts longer.
- How curriculum developers can incorporate repeated practice without overwhelming teachers or students.
- Why publishers can start with common mathematical concepts when developing curriculum for increasingly different state standards.
- How standards data and metadata can help teachers understand what individual lessons address in their state.
- Why compatibility with existing technology, hardware, rostering, and learning management systems matters during adoption.
- How publishers can design pilots that provide a more realistic picture of how products will work across a school or district.
Why This Conversation Matters
The role of technology in classrooms continues to expand, but schools have limited time and capacity for adopting and managing new tools. A product may offer compelling features and still struggle if it does not fit the hardware, systems, instructional practices, and experience levels already present in a school. As Moore emphasizes throughout the conversation, successful implementation requires understanding the people and environment surrounding the technology, not simply the technology itself.
The same principle applies to curriculum development. Standards are becoming more varied across states, while publishers are also expected to provide evidence that their materials meet those expectations. Building from common concepts, maintaining organized standards information, and using technology to manage the differences can allow curriculum teams to respond to state requirements without making the resulting program impractical to teach. At the classroom level, thoughtful sequencing and ongoing retrieval practice can similarly help make learning more manageable and durable.
Join Rich and Dr. Sara Delano Moore as they explore how education publishers and edtech providers can design technology around the realities of teaching and learning, from supporting educators and reinforcing student learning to navigating state standards and classroom technology environments. Their conversation offers a practical look at what it takes to create products that go past adoption and help schools and teachers get lasting value from the investment.
Learn what edtech providers and districts should know before integrating educational technology into classrooms.
Dr. Sara Delano Moore is a visionary senior education leader with a passion for driving positive change in education through strategic planning, engaging professional development, and curriculum development. Known for fostering inclusivity and advancing instructional practice through research-informed and data-driven approaches. A dynamic presenter and coach, recognized for developing and implementing tailored professional development programs, driving sustained and systemic enhancements in Mathematics, Science, and STEM education. Proven success in grant writing and administration. Deep expertise in product development and management, contributing to comprehensive educational solutions. Best-selling author for Corwin Mathematics.
Rich is passionate about eEdTech and helping people discover pathways to successful careers. He leverages his many years of business experience in strategy, product development, brand creation, and sales & marketing as a frequent industry speaker and sought-after consultant.
Beginning his career in digital marketing and web development, Rich was recruited into the private, independent school market to help usher in digital technologies and social media. During this time, Richard served as a student advisor and was nominated to serve on the CAIS (Connecticut Association of Independent Schools) Technology Commission. In 2012, Rich joined York & Chapel, a brand and digital transformation agency where he began working with secondary and higher ed clients, developing strategies for student engagement and pathway creation. In 2014, Richard founded CareerPath, a SaaS engagement platform. Over the past ten years, Rich has given back to the industry as an advisor to numerous EdTech startups, and generally has had a blast doing what he loves to do — help others succeed.
Questions Answered
During the podcast, we tackle critical questions that edtech providers and districts are asking about how to best support teachers, strengthen student learning, and fit into the realities of elementary instruction.
- How is ORIGO Education using technology to make educators’ jobs easier?
- How can ORIGO Education prevent technology from overwhelming teachers and schools?
- How does spaced learning support personalized learning?
- How can edtech providers use spaced learning to improve their products?
- How can curriculum developers manage increasingly different state standards?
- How should edtech products fit into existing school technology environments?
- What else should edtech companies consider beyond the technology itself?