In this episode, I sit down with Jon Laven, co-founder of Snorkl.app, an AI-powered tool designed to capture and analyze student thinking. A former high school math teacher, Jon shares how Snorkl helps students explain their thought processes, gives teachers richer insights, and shifts classrooms toward authentic learning and student agency.

We dig into the balance between AI and the human element, why documenting thought processes matters, and the durable skills that go beyond tests—communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.

What you’ll hear about in this episode:

• Jon’s journey from teacher to edtech founder

• How Snorkl went from a “social Khan Academy” to an AI feedback tool

• Why documenting thinking is as valuable as the answer itself

• Timely AI feedback and its impact on learning

• Student voice, choice, and agency in action

• Failure as growth and iteration

• Unexpected uses: reading fluency, world language practice

• Equity, differentiation, and support for multilingual learners

• The future of formative assessment

• Advice for teachers with big edtech ideas

Memorable quotes:
💬 “If Snorkl did nothing else but just got students to explain their thinking, there would be value there.” – Jon Laven
💬 “Math is just another form of storytelling. The numbers tell a story.” – Dan Thomas

Resources:
🌐 Snorkl.app (create a free teacher account)
📧 jon@snorkl.app
🔗 coachthomastech.com | Twitter/X: @coachthomastech

Takeaways:

• Immediate feedback changes the game—students learn in real time.

• Every student voice matters, not just the loudest.

• Formative assessment is evolving with tools like Snorkl.

• The best innovations start in the classroom.

👉 Try Snorkl with your class, share this episode with a colleague, and subscribe to the TechEd Clubhouse for more conversations that bring play, STEM, and common sense back into learning.