Reflection

Assuming the role of an Educational Technology Venture Capitalist for this assignment required a shift in perspective. I normally approach analyses of educational technologies from the viewpoint of a teacher or student, both of which come with a certain amount of enthusiasm at the novelty of 'new toys.' However, I found that investigating Speak as an EVA forced me to take on a more diligent and analytical role. This opportunity audit allowed me to inspect Speak not just as an app, but as a strategic opportunity within a global market. 

By applying evaluation criteria that I don't generally consider, such as investment history and market success, I expanded my thought process from solely classroom usability to an evaluation of its potential as a vehicle for financial growth and non-local educational value. This helped me to better understand that a successful EVA has substantially different aspects to consider besides features and aesthetics – factors that I tend to focus on.

This analysis will be important to my process for Assignment #3, as an innovative educator must consider the EVA's values when planning, building and pitching their idea. Deconstructing Speak’s growth, proprietary software, and market status has provided me with a stronger understanding of what investors may value: for example, targeted pain points, a clear competitive edge, and realistic market readiness. The process of this analysis has therefore strengthened my understanding of the motivations and perspectives of the risk-takers I aim to persuade in my final assignment's pitches.

Analyzing the rise of conversational agentic AI, through Speak and its competitors, has also given me more perspective (and confidence) regarding my own capability as an innovator.  For example, only in the last few months have I begun attempts at vibe-coding, but I see now how that kind of experience is leveling the playing field for people like myself, who have ample educational experience but little technical experience. This assignment has therefore bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and professional due diligence, providing a launchpad for my own upcoming venture pitch.

AI Usage Statement

In accordance with the AI policy for ETEC 522, I aimed to use AI in a way that optimized my workflow while also allowing me to meaningfully explore its potential to support and improve my work.

My process:

• Used ChatGPT and NotebookLM to compile an initial list of sources

• Independently reviewed and vetted sources for relevance and quality

• Used NotebookLM to organize vetted sources, categorize themes, and extract/compile key information

• Verified the accuracy of synthesized information and wrote initial drafts of each section

• Used ChatGPT to suggest revisions aligned with course content and assignment expectations/rubric

• Continued iterative drafting and refinement until reaching final versions

• Used Lovable to create the chart on competition page

• Uploaded the completed and published site into NotebookLM to identify redundancies and recommend edits for word count

• Used the finalized site as a source in NotebookLM to generate the audio introduction for the blog launchpad

Ultimately, using AI as extensively as I did did not reduce the overall time required; in fact, the process took considerably longer than expected. However, it provided a valuable opportunity to experiment with AI-supported workflows and critically evaluate their strengths and limitations.