S E8: Ep 8 - More Screen Time, Please!, featuring Keith Schacht, CEO of The Explanation Company

06/16/23 • 21 min

It’s no secret that many parents struggle with exactly how much screen time is healthy for their kids. Some wage daily battles to manage their children’s time with devices, and others feel powerless to do anything to control the siege. But the digital world is here to stay, so it’s more important than ever for caregivers to understand and embrace technology in their kids' lives.

For this episode in our Life Skills series, we talk with Keith Schacht, CEO and co-founder of The Explanation Company. He offers a new perspective on the role that technology plays in growing up today. He shares his vision for a world where using it becomes a skill that young people tap to open doors, explore new ideas, and develop their interests.

Listen now to hear about:

The danger of focusing solely on the duration of screen time [03:43];
The benefits kids gain from their time on devices (and not just when they’re playing Mindcraft) [04:48];
How to encourage children to use screen time to explore interests, passions, and potential careers [07:49];
The value of proactively parenting in the digital age to help kids develop a healthy relationship with technology [15:10];
How technology can be a tool that builds independence [18:20].

Don’t miss Today’s Takeaways!

Listen all the way to the end of the episode for three tips on how to help your children excel in their learning.

Links and Resources

Follow Keith Schacht on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Learn more about The Explanation Company.
Check out the video version of this episode on the Gifted Minds YouTube channel. Don’t forget to like and subscribe!
Explore Alpha, a unique school that uses adaptive software and motivational strategies to help students to learn in the style that works best for them.
Learn more about GT School, an online program that helps gifted and talented kids supercharge their academics.

Be part of something special

Stay connected with our community:

If you enjoy the Gifted Minds podcast, would you leave us a short review on your favorite podcast platform? We love reading your feedback and ideas.

About Keith Schacht

Keith Schacht is an entrepreneur, engineer, and investor focused on building products for children. He was previously the CEO and co-founder of Mystery Science, the most widely used science curriculum in U.S. elementary schools. He’s now the CEO and co-founder of The Explanation Company, building internet tools for children. He’s an active angel investor and a board member of Higher Ground.

Podcast Credits

Executive Producer and Host: MacKenzie Price
Executive Producer: Lindsay Grubb, TillCo Media
Senior Producer: Amanda Avery
Senior Editor: Alisa Jenkins, Springboard Marketing
Marketing: Patrick Harrell, The Krewe
Video Production/Editing: Kevin Smith, Picturebox Productions
Music Producer: Dyami Wilson

Listen now to hear about:

The danger of focusing solely on the duration of screen time [03:43];
The benefits kids gain from their time on devices (and not just when they’re playing Mindcraft) [04:48];
How to encourage children to use screen time to explore interests, passions, and potential careers [07:49];
The value of proactively parenting in the digital age to help kids develop a healthy relationship with technology [15:10];
How technology can be a tool that builds independence [18:20].

Don’t miss Today’s Takeaways!

Listen all the way to the end of the episode for three tips on how to help your children excel in their learning.

Links and Resources

Follow Keith Schacht on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Learn more about The Explanation Company.
Check out the video version of this episode on the Gifted Minds YouTube channel. Don’t forget to like and subscribe!
Explore Alpha, a unique school that uses adaptive software and motivational strategies to help students to learn in the style that works best for them.
Learn more about GT School, an online program that helps gifted and talented kids supercharge their academics.

Be part of something special

Stay connected with our community:

If you enjoy the Gifted Minds podcast, would you leave us a short review on your favorite podcast platform? We love reading your feedback and ideas.

About Keith Schacht

Podcast Credits

Executive Producer and Host: MacKenzie Price
Executive Producer: Lindsay Grubb, TillCo Media
Senior Producer: Amanda Avery
Senior Editor: Alisa Jenkins, Springboard Marketing
Marketing: Patrick Harrell, The Krewe
Video Production/Editing: Kevin Smith, Picturebox Productions
Music Producer: Dyami Wilson

Previous Episode

S E7: Ep 7 - School Is SO Boring! Using Adaptive Apps to Supercharge Learning, featuring Anna Davlantes

It’s easy for gifted kids to get bored in school because they often grasp lessons and concepts faster than their peers. This can cause some of them to tune out, and prevent them from reaching their full potential.

But there’s good news. Today’s technology has spawned new learning tools called adaptive apps that can help learners stay engaged and challenged.

We turn the tables in this episode, with Emmy Award-winning journalist and talk show host Anna Davlantes interviewing our Gifted Minds’ show host, MacKenzie Price, about what exactly adaptive apps are, and how they can help gifted kids take control of their own learning.

Listen now to hear about:

How adaptive apps work [04:51], and the learning science behind them [06:56];
How kids feel about adaptive apps—including video clips of students sharing their experiences [08:20];
The importance of embracing learning technology to support your child’s future [11:12]; and
How to get started with adaptive apps, and a few of MacKenzie’s favorites for advanced learners [14:34].

Don’t miss Today’s Takeaways!

Listen all the way to the end of the episode for three tips on how to help your children excel in their learning.

Links and Resources

Read these great articles about adaptive learning apps:
Check out the video version of this episode on the Gifted Minds YouTube channel. Don’t forget to like and subscribe!
Learn more about GT School, an online program that helps gifted and talented kids supercharge their academics.

Be part of something special

Stay connected with our community:

If you enjoy the Gifted Minds podcast, would you leave us a short review on your favorite podcast platform? We love reading your feedback and ideas.

About Anna Davlantes

Anna is a seven-time Emmy Award winner and Northwestern Medill School of Journalism graduate who has broken major stories and carved out a reputation for original reporting and uncovering wrongdoing and inequality. She has worked for NBC Chicago as an anchor/reporter. She was a morning news anchor at Fox Chicago and did a talk show for PBS. She is also an underwater documentarian who won three Emmy Awards for her Get into the Shark Tank series.

Podcast Credits

Executive Producer and Host: MacKenzie Price
Executive Producer: Lindsay Grubb, TillCo Media
Senior Producer: Amanda Avery
Senior Editor: Alisa Jenkins, Springboard Marketing
Marketing: Patrick Harrell, The Krewe
Video Production/Editing: Kevin Smith, Picturebox Productions
Music Producer: Dyami Wilson

Next Episode

S E9: Ep 9 - Learn Like an Olympian, featuring Two-Time Olympic Athlete Andrew Poje

Most parents will go to great lengths to ensure their children succeed. From tutoring sessions to extracurricular activities, they explore every avenue to help their kids thrive in the classroom and in life.

For this episode, we talk with Ice Dancing Olympian and World Medalist Andrew Poje. He has achieved remarkable feats in his athletic career, and now works as an academic coach for children. He shares his thoughts on the intriguing connection between sports and education, and how students can apply the valuable lessons learned through playing sports to academic success.

Listen now to hear:

How having an athlete’s mindset can help with academics [05:52];
Strategies to help kids take ownership of their dreams and ambitions [07:25];
The value of setting big, scary goals [09:52];
Developing a healthy response to pressure in kids [14:56]; and
The importance of building a network of success for your child [15:28].

Don’t miss Today’s Takeaways!

Listen all the way to the end of the episode for three tips on how to help your children excel in their learning.

Links and Resources

Check out Andrew’s website and follow him on Instagram.
Watch Andrew and ice dancing partner Kaitlyn Weaver perform at a Canadian ice skating exhibition in early 2023.
Watch the video version of this episode on the Future of Education YouTube channel. Don’t forget to like and follow!
Explore Alpha, a unique school that uses adaptive software and motivational strategies to help students to learn in the style that works best for them.
Learn more about GT School, an online program that helps gifted and talented kids supercharge their academics.

Be part of something special

Stay connected with our community:

If you enjoy the Gifted Minds podcast, would you leave us a short review on your favorite podcast platform? We love reading your feedback and ideas.

About Andrew Poje

Many in the world strive to become world-class at something. However, it takes purpose and perspective to achieve success in life. My athletic experience has been integral in helping me succeed daily. Being a two-time Olympian, a three-time World Medalist, a three-time National Champion in the sport of Figure Skating taught me valuable skills, including the importance of grit, resilience, and the daily perspective required to achieve goals. Leaning into my curious nature, I constantly dove into the world of personal development. Pushing my curiosity further by studying Biomedical Science, Master's of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and working for multinational companies, I found ways to unleash my inner why and the why's of my clients—helping to empower them through strategic design-thinking.

Podcast Credits