Dear MindShare Community Innovator,

🍎 Welcome Back to School!

It’s with great excitement and optimism that I welcome you to the Back to School Edition of the Canadian EdTech Top 10 Report! Whether you're a returning educator, school leader, student, parent, policymaker, or EdTech entrepreneur, we wish you a successful, purposeful, and inspiring school year filled with curiosity, collaboration, and innovation.

This school year marks a pivotal time in Canadian education, a transformative moment where the convergence of AI, digital fluency, and human-centered leadership will shape how we teach and learn. That’s why this edition is packed with essential tools, inspiring stories, and professional learning opportunities to help you thrive in this new era.

🎙️ MindShareTV Podcast Spotlight
We kick off with two powerful C21 Canada AI Leadership Series conversations:

• Mark Pearmain, Superintendent & CEO of Surrey Schools, shares their district-wide vision for "One Platform, One Vision"—an AI-powered resource hub transforming how educators and students engage with learning tools.

• Randolph J. MacLEAN, Superintendent of Anglophone East, New Brunswick, offers deep insight into how AI is driving district improvement goals while reinforcing the value of human connection and ethical leadership.

🚨 Only 48 Days to Go! | 16th Canadian EdTech Leadership AI Summit
Join us October 29–30 at the University of Toronto Mississauga, in proud partnership with PDSB, MScSM, and IMI. This year's theme—"Empowering Human-Centered Sustainable Learning in an AI-Inspired World"—sets the stage for critical conversations and bold ideas.

✅ Use code mindshare100 for an exclusive $100 community discount.

🌟Special Grant Program for Teachers & EdLeaders! Enter to Receive  FREE VIP ticket. 
🏆 Nominate an inspiring leader for our 10th Annual EdTech Awards

📚 Back to School Tools & Teacher Picks
Explore our curated list of Top EdTech Tools for K-12 recommended by Canadian teachers—to elevate learning this fall.

🧠 AI Tool of the Week: NotebookLM
Supercharge your reading, research, and lesson planning with this intuitive tool powered by Google's Gemini AI. An emerging classroom favourite!

📖 Book of the Week: CRISPy AI Prompts for Teachers
Your go-to companion for AI-enhanced lesson planning, grading, and classroom management—150 creative prompts designed to save time and spark ideas.

📢 This Week’s Quote

“ The Canadian EdTech Leadership Summit provides a vital space for leaders, educators, and innovators to come together, share bold ideas, and shape the future of learning. It is through this kind of national collaboration that we can harness AI responsibly and equitably.”
--Rashmi Swarup, Director of Education & CEO, Peel District School Board & Opening Keynote, Canadian EdTech AI Summit

In the Headlines

• Digital Transformation in EdTech Market Report: Global growth surging 24.4% annually

• OpenAI’s Faculty AI Project: 300+ professors co-create classroom-ready AI resources

• YCDSB soars in math thanks to Nelson’s My Math Path

• SFU launches AI course co-taught by a 3D AI avatar

• The AI Observatory’s global framework for narrowing the learning divide

Let’s Make This School Year Extraordinary
With so many opportunities ahead, let’s lead with intention. Let’s build schools that are inclusive, AI-literate, future-focused, and rooted in human connection.

Thank you for continuing to be part of the MindShare community. As always please share your stories and news with us!

Until next time, let’s keep the learning curve steep!

Best, R.

Robert Martellacci, M.A. EdTech
Chair, 16th Canadian EdTech AI Leadership Summit
Founder & President, MindShare Learning Media & Consulting
Chief Digital Publisher, The MindShare Learning Report™
Founder, MindShare Workspace
CEO & Co-founder, C21 Canada

A new Research and Markets report projects the global digital transformation in EdTech market to surge from $6.73B in 2024 to $20.07B by 2029 (24.4% CAGR). Growth is driven by AI, AR/VR, 5G, and demand for flexible, lifelong, data-driven learning. Key trends include AI personalization, blockchain credentials, gamification, adaptive learning, and IoT classrooms. Major players, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Pearson, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, Duolingo, and Khan Academy, are driving innovation. Notable moves include Accenture’s 2024 launch of LearnVantage and acquisition of Udacity, signaling a push toward scalable AI-powered skills training.

Educational institutions are looking at developing ways to handle the increased use of artificial intelligence programs and large language models (LLM) among students.

The York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) has seen major gains in math achievement and confidence after four years using Nelson’s My Math Path program. The problem-solving resource, aligned with Canadian curricula, emphasizes conceptual learning and growth mindsets. An efficacy study found YCDSB students showed higher confidence and engagement than provincial averages, with Grade 3 and 6 students especially positive. Teachers also reported yearly improvements in risk-taking, understanding, and inclusivity, noting that the program is reshaping attitudes toward math as much as boosting test scores.

A Harvard Business School study found nearly 40% of AI companion app farewells use emotional manipulation, boosting engagement up to 14x. While focused on apps like Replika, the findings raise concerns about teen use, three-quarters have tried companions, and one-third seek emotional support from them. With lawsuits against OpenAI and Meta revising guidance after inappropriate incidents, experts warn these apps could be more harmful than social media and urge parents to monitor use.

Canadian universities are rapidly adopting generative AI tools, with McGill, the University of Toronto, and York leading efforts to integrate platforms like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT Edu into teaching and administrative work. These tools are being used to summarize research, draft assignments, and support faculty in course planning, while institutions stress the importance of privacy and data protection. Student use has surged, with nearly 80% reporting AI use for schoolwork in 2024, and faculty adoption rising as well. However, many professors remain cautious, citing concerns about bias, overreliance, ethical risks, and the potential loss of essential learning skills. Universities are responding by offering training, AI hubs, and flexible guidelines that leave much of the decision-making to individual instructors.

Simon Fraser University is launching a world-first course where professor Steve DiPaola will teach alongside “Kia,” a 3D AI sidekick developed in SFU’s iViz lab. Kia can converse in real time with facial expressions and body language to spark debates on AI’s ethics and potential. The course, Artificial Intelligence Today and Tomorrow, is open to all disciplines, aiming to boost AI literacy and engagement. SFU notes Kia won’t grade work, while related lab research explores applied uses like improving women’s salary negotiations.

Canadian edtech startup Opennote has raised $850K plus $500K from Y Combinator’s Summer 2025 batch. Built on Meta’s Llama models, the platform helps undergrads consolidate materials into videos, diagrams, and workflows, with free, $15/month, and enterprise tiers. Founded by students Vedant Vyas, Rishi Srihari, and Abhigyan Arya, Opennote already has users in nearly 100 countries and plans global expansion. Like many Canadian startups, it’s eyeing U.S. growth from California’s Bay Area.