EdTech Connect

• Halda aims to revolutionize engagement for enrollment marketers in higher education.
• AI can significantly enhance the effectiveness of enrollment marketing strategies.
• Personalization is key to improving user experience and conversion rates.
• Understanding user behavior on websites is crucial for effective marketing.
• Data privacy is a major concern, and only first-party data should be used for personalization.
• Measuring success in enrollment marketing requires a focus on real ROI and student feedback.
• The future of higher education will rely heavily on technology and AI integration.
• Institutions must adapt to changing market dynamics and student expectations.
• Effective content management is essential for successful enrollment marketing.
• Enrollment marketers should embrace AI and experiment with its applications.

• "Your website is a prioritization problem."
• "93% of students say this was helpful."
• "If the student wins, everyone wins."
• "You need a luxury experience in higher ed."
• "We only use data that has been given to us."
• "Don't be afraid of AI; embrace it."

BIO

Dallin Palmer is the Co-Founder of HALDA, Inc., an AI-powered platform revolutionizing engagement for enrollment marketers in higher education. With a background in sales and service design at companies like Podium and Chegg, Dallin specializes in innovative, data-driven solutions that drive personalization and automation in marketing.

LINKS
Halda.AI

In this episode, Jeff Dillon is joined by Josh Koenig, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Pantheon, a WebOps platform transforming how website teams deliver exceptional digital experiences.

With over two decades of experience in web development and online engagement, Josh shares his incredible journey—from his early days building political campaign platforms like DeanSpace for Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential run to co-founding Chapter Three and ultimately Pantheon.

Josh dives into how Pantheon grew to become a leading WebOps platform, particularly excelling in the higher education sector, and explains how the company’s “productization” of consulting expertise addressed key challenges in web development collaboration and scalability. We discuss how his transition from Head of Product to Chief Strategy Officer allows him to focus on big-picture strategies that align with industry trends and customer needs.

He also reflects on how web development has evolved over the years, offering key insights into the future of WebOps in higher education and beyond. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, Josh’s lessons on leadership, innovation, and navigating complex digital ecosystems are sure to inspire.

Guest Profile

• Josh Koenig Position: Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Pantheon
• Over 20 years in web development
• Founder of DeanSpace (Howard Dean 2004 campaign)
• Co-founder of Chapter Three
• WebOps innovation leader

• Transformation of web development consulting into product
• WebOps platform specialization in higher education
• Evolution of digital experience platforms
• Transition from product leadership to strategic leadership

• Web development landscape constantly evolving
• Higher education requires specialized digital solutions
• Consulting expertise can be productized
• Technology collaboration needs innovative approaches

• Pantheon's approach to solving web development challenges
• Scaling web technologies for complex institutional needs
• Bridging gap between consulting and product development
• Future-proofing digital experience platforms

00:00 - Introduction to Josh Koenig

03:00 - Consulting to Product Transformation

07:13 - Higher Education Web Platform Challenges

12:26 - Digital Experience Platforms Overview

16:09 - From Political Campaigns to Startup World

19:35 - Defining "Productization"

24:40 - WebOps Outsourcing Benefits

29:24 - Career Advice for Web Professionals

• WebOps is revolutionizing digital experiences
• Strategic adaptability is crucial in tech leadership
• Specialized platforms can solve complex digital challenges
• Continuous learning is essential in web development

• Pantheon Website: www.pantheon.io
• Josh Koenig LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshkoenig/
• Pantheon on EdTech Connect: https://edtechconnect.com/software/digital-experience-accessibility/pantheon/1394/

Helen Norris, CIO at Chapman University, discusses her journey to becoming a CIO and the evolving role of CIOs in higher education. She emphasizes the importance of integration and change advocacy in the current complex IT environment.

Norris also explores the potential of AI in various areas, such as advising, research, and administrative tasks. She highlights the need for explainability and privacy in AI implementation. Additionally, she discusses the challenges of managing content and data in higher education websites.

Takeaways

• The role of CIOs in higher education has evolved from being service providers to being integrators and change advocates.
• AI has the potential to enhance various areas in higher education, such as advising, research, and administrative tasks.
• The strategic value of legacy systems should be considered before deciding to replace them, and integrating new tools with these systems can be a more practical solution.
• AI implementation should prioritize explainability and privacy to ensure ethical and effective use.
• Managing content and data in higher education websites can be challenging due to the proliferation of information and the presence of stale and duplicate content.

Sound Bites

"Now it's about, oh, all these systems are there. And what I need to do is bring them together, make sure they're secure, make sure they're used well, make sure that we're always scanning that environment and seeing what we need to change."

"Putting new tools in front of legacy systems to enhance their capabilities and provide better outcomes for students and faculty."

"Ensuring explainability in AI decision-making, especially in high-stakes areas like advising."

Chapters

00:00: Introduction and Background of Helen Norris

04:43: The Changing Role of CIOs in Higher Education

08:26: Balancing Process and Outcome in Decision-Making

12:56: Managing Change and Legacy Systems

16:21: The Potential of AI in Higher Education

19:40: Use Cases of AI in Higher Education

21:53: Academic Advisory Guidelines and Policies

22:10: Priorities at Chapman University

24:15: The Importance of IT Strategic Planning

25:08: Challenges of Content Management in Higher Education Websites

27:27: Advice for Upcoming IT Leaders in Higher Education

• Search is critical for shaping user experience online.
• Building scalable search infrastructure is challenging for many organizations.
• Higher education search focuses on guiding users to relevant information.
• Continuous learning and innovation are essential to stay ahead in search technology.
• Resilience is key in overcoming challenges in entrepreneurship.
• Empowering teams fosters ownership and enhances productivity.
• Customer feedback is vital for shaping product development.
• AI can personalize and enhance search experiences significantly.
• Data accessibility is crucial for effective search solutions.
• Search engines should allow users to deprioritize outdated content.

In this podcast episode, Jeff Dillon interviews Michelle Caers, co-founder and CEO of Crowdmark, discussing the innovative grading and assessment solution for higher education.

Michelle shares her journey in education and technology, the role of Crowdmark in enhancing grading efficiency, and how AI is leveraged to support educators. The conversation also touches on the challenges of adopting new educational technologies, the integration with learning management systems, the nuances of subjective grading, and the ethical implications of AI in education.

Michelle provides insights into the onboarding process for Crowdmark and shares unexpected success stories from institutions using the platform. She concludes with advice for entrepreneurs looking to innovate in the education technology space.

Takeaways

• Crowdmark automates tedious grading tasks to free up educators' time.
• The platform supports collaboration among grading teams for consistent feedback.
• AI is used to enhance grading processes, not replace human interaction.
• Overcoming the status quo is a significant challenge in educational tech adoption.
• Crowdmark integrates with major learning management systems for ease of use.
• The platform excels in grading handwritten work, particularly in STEM fields.
• Ethical considerations in AI include data privacy and academic integrity.

Sound Bites

• "Grading is an essential part of the education system."
• "Crowdmark assists in managing that grading team."
• "AI is the flavor of the day."

Chapters