Data Magic: The Official Podcast of Project Unicorn

In this episode of Project Unicorn's Data Magic, we sit down with Ariana Bauer, an experienced product leader in educational technology, to explore how AI and data interoperability are reshaping the future of K-12 education.
Ariana shares her perspective on the opportunities and risks of bringing AI into schools, emphasizing the importance of transparency and caution when using free tools that may compromise student data. She reflects on lessons learned from her work in data certification and early interoperability efforts, including projects at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, where automation helped streamline systems and support student success.
The conversation reveals how real-time data processing can empower educators to make faster, more informed decisions, and why the thoughtful integration of AI is crucial to ensuring accessibility and equity in learning. Ariana also tackles common misconceptions about data, offering a candid look at what districts and providers often get wrong, and how they can avoid costly mistakes.
This episode serves as a potent reminder that while technology can transform education, its impact ultimately depends on intentional design, clear standards, and a commitment to protecting student privacy. Tune in for Ariana’s insights on building a safer, more intelligent, and more connected educational ecosystem.
Referenced in the show: https://revvedupwishes.org

In this illuminating episode of Project Unicorn's Data Magic, we sit down with Dakota Gordon, CEO of Edlink, to demystify the complex world of data interoperability and integrations in K-12 education.
 
Dakota shares critical insights on the biggest challenges edtech providers face when connecting their systems with existing school data infrastructure and offers practical solutions to overcome them. We explore best practices for breaking down data silos in K-12 institutions, ensuring seamless information flow between various platforms.
 
The conversation also delves into the significant impact of data privacy regulations (like FERPA and state policies) on how edtech providers approach interoperability. We tackle common misconceptions about data integrations, helping districts avoid pitfalls when implementing new systems. Finally, Dakota discusses the vital role of interoperability standards (such as Ed-Fi or OneRoster) in shaping the future of K-12 data integrations and advises edtech providers on how to prepare for what's next. Tune in for a deep dive into creating a more connected and efficient educational ecosystem.

Today, K-12 schools face an overwhelming challenge: independently vetting the countless edtech products available. This massive duplication of effort wastes valuable time for already stretched school leaders. With the surge of new AI tools, this burden is only growing.
In this crucial episode of Project Unicorn's Data Magic, we sit down with Tal Havivi, Managing Director at ISTE+ASCD, to reveal a groundbreaking solution: the Five EdTech Quality Indicators for K-12 procurement.
Tal explains how these essential indicators—Safe, Evidence-Based, Inclusive, Usable, and Interoperable—are designed to empower schools to make smarter, more efficient edtech decisions. We explore:
Why a common set of indicators is vital to reduce the review burden on districts.
How these indicators help schools avoid common pitfalls and risks in edtech evaluation.
The role of independent quality validations by trusted experts, like CAST, in streamlining the process.
How edtech providers can align their products to meet these high standards.
The collaborative effort of seven leading edtech organizations (1EdTech, CAST, CoSN, Digital Promise, InnovateEDU, ISTE, SETDA) committed to creating a comprehensive directory of validated products.
This conversation is a must-listen for anyone involved in K-12 edtech, offering a path to efficiently identify high-quality digital learning tools and revolutionize the procurement landscape for both schools and product developers.
 
About Data Magic: 
 
Data Magic is the official podcast of Project Unicorn, a national initiative dedicated to radically improving data interoperability - the safe and secure flow of education data across systems to support learning. 
Each episode features interviews with leaders in the field who are building the infrastructure for real-time, secure, student-centered data. Whether you are a district or state leader, product developer, or simply curious about the future of educational data, this podcast helps you understand why interoperability matters and how we can all contribute to making it a reality.
Learn more: https://www.projectunicorn.org/data-magic-podcast 

In this episode of Data Magic, we sit down with Jenny Bradbury, formerly of Digital Promise, to explore how data interoperability drives student success, especially during the pivotal 9th-grade year. Jenny explains why connected data systems are essential for identifying and supporting students who are on track or at risk of falling behind. We talk about the challenges schools face when data systems do not communicate and how education leaders can ensure that student success tools are both rich in data and useful in practice for teachers, counselors, and administrators. This conversation highlights the power of integrated data to inform timely decisions and improve outcomes when it matters most.

What happens when education data flows securely, seamlessly, and in real time? Data Magic explores the transformative power of interoperability in K–12 education.
Brought to you by Project Unicorn—a national initiative focused on radically improving data interoperability—Data Magic brings you insightful conversations with the leaders shaping the future of student-centered data.
From district innovators to edtech developers, each episode dives into how we can build more intelligent systems that support every learner. Whether you’re deep in the work or just curious about what’s next, this podcast helps you make sense of the infrastructure that powers modern education.
Subscribe to Data Magic wherever you listen to podcasts—because the future of learning depends on the systems, people, and policy behind it.