Build an optometry practice and life you love! Eye Own a Business teaches independent ODs how to grow a thriving practice while wearing the hats of both a doctor and a business owner. Tune in as Dr. Steve Vargo and his guests guide you with the tools and strategies you need to build the practice of your dreams, one step at a time. Eye Own a Business is brought to you by IDOC. Learn more at IDOC.net
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A K12TechPro Podcast. This podcast is about trending K12 technology topics and issues. Josh, Chris, and Mark have real conversations, real arguments, and real banter on IT issues and trends in K12 Schools. Current and Past Sponsors: Absolute, HPE Aruba Networking, Blocksi, ClassLink, CTL, Eaton, Extreme Networks, Fortinet, Howard Technology Solutions, iDoc, Infoblox, INVZBL, Jupiter Education, K12TechPro, Luma Technologies, Managed Methods, MidwestTechTalk, NTP, Papercut, Provision Data Solu ...
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Precise and Personalized: Customizing Patient Care with New Technology
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In this episode, industry experts Dr. Jessilin Quint and Dr. Janelle Davison share their insights on integrating new technologies in optometry practices. They discuss the impact of innovation on patient care, particularly through the lens of dry eye treatments and the new Precision7 contact lenses. The conversation covers strategies for convincing …
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Episode 190 - Vermont Fest & Flashback to the CIS Controls Episode
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Chris and Mark are traveling this week and try to record an episode next to a rowdy party of librarians at Vita-Learn's Vermont Fest. We give a brief intro and then flashback to episode 132 where we cover the CIS Controls, a set of cyber security frameworks to help districts evaluate and improve their cyber security. -------------------- ManagedMet…
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Chris, Josh, and Mark get political - they discuss their thoughts on the impact of this year's election on the K12 technology landscape (E-Rate, cybersecurity, DoE, and AI). They also discuss new AI guidance, spooky edtech apps, Halloween costumes, and the latest in k12 tech news. Education Department releases highly anticipated AI toolkit for scho…
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How to Respond When Parents Say, ‘Not Interested’
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In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo and Dr. Justin Kwan from CooperVision discuss how optometrists can effectively respond when parents say "not interested" to myopia management recommendations. They share insights gathered from a recent workshop with over 60 doctors and explore strategies to handle patient objections with empathy and clarity. WATCH E…
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Episode 188 - Just Following Orders
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Chris, Josh, and Mark talk about the MOREnet conference, an update on the student misuse of AI case, a security report showing a decline in ransomware, and most of the episode is spent discussing how to handle requests from leadership that may cross the line. Bethalto superintendent Jill Griffin's email sparks public outrage The Telegraph obtains B…
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Episode 187 - Smishing, NCSR, and Other Hot Topics
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Mark is on an autonomous road trip, so Chris and Josh hold down the fort. They discuss the latest hot topics on K12TechPro, including smishing, the NCSR survey, tech dept staffing, a student getting in trouble for AI, Chromebook forced reboots, and more. NTP is going to MOREnet next week and Vita Learn Vermont Fest in November with K12TechPro and u…
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From One Location to Six: Dr. Garrett Whitmore’s Secrets to Practice Growth
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In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo interviews Dr. Garrett Whitmore, a successful optometry practice owner who expanded from one to six locations, doubling revenue multiple times. Dr. Whitmore shares insights into the challenges of scaling a practice, emphasizing the importance of leadership, systems, culture, and marketing. He discusses the role of s…
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Episode 186 - AI Vetoes, Supreme Court Showdowns, and the Case for Collaboration
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This week on K12 Tech Talk, we unpack the latest developments in education technology, including Governor Newsom's veto of California's AI accountability bill and its implications for K12 schools. We also delve into a critical E-Rate case, Wisconsin Bell vs. the United States, currently before the Supreme Court, and discuss its potential impact on …
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Episode 185 - E-Rate Goes to the Supreme Court and NIST Changes Passwords
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Josh, Chris, and Mark provide updates on E-Rate, dive into October cybersecurity awareness month, break down new NIST password guidelines, and then Josh tells a story... a long story... the longest story. CISA Cybersecurity Awareness Month Chimp Crazy -------------------- NTP dwren@ntp-inc.com Extreme dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet fortinetpod…
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The Power of Failure: Learning from What Doesn’t Work
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In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo challenges traditional notions of business success by emphasizing the importance of embracing failure. Contrasting the usual focus on success strategies, Dr. Vargo advocates for taking risks and learning from failures, highlighting how an experimental mindset can drive growth and innovation in optometry practices. T…
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Episode 184 - What Does the Future Hold For EdFi?
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In this episode, we talk CISA's Cybersecurity and Safety Summit, Verkada's FTC issues, and we spend most of the time talking about Ed-Fi - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Linux Bug Verkada FTC Article Chimp Crazy Ed-Fi -------------------- NTP dwren@ntp-inc.com Extreme dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet fortinetpodcast@fortinet.com VIZOR Blocksi …
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Episode 183 - Is AI Replacing Teachers and Librarians?
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In this episode, we talk about California's new AI legislation, CoSN's State of EdTech Leadership, and an interview Frank Murray of Belton ISD and David Waugh with ManagedMethods. OH!!! We now have a phone number you can call and leave us voicemails! Do it! 314-329-0363 California AI Providence Schools Ransomware Philadelphia School Cyber Incident …
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Strategies for Boosting Second Pair Sales
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In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo speaks with Johann Van Zyl, Business Development Manager at Younger Optics. They discuss the vital role of second pair sales in the profitability of independent optical practices. Johan shares insights on effective communication strategies for both doctors and opticians, the importance of understanding patient needs…
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Episode 182 - SIS Conversion Debrief and Listener Rebuttals
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In this episode, we talk about emails we received from listeners as rebuttals to topics from last week (Ring cameras and bugs in Chromebooks). Mark hosts a SIS Conversion Debrief and asks Chris and Josh 5 soul searching questions about their SIS Conversion experiences. The Cybersecurity Pilot opens next week and we talk about it in the news. OH, AN…
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From Pain to Profit: Integrating Migraine Solutions into your Practice
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In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo interviews Dr. Allie Markowski, an optometrist specializing in migraine management using Avulux lenses. Dr. Markowski shares her journey of incorporating this technology to help patients suffering from migraines and light sensitivity, drawing from her own experience as a migraine sufferer. The discussion covers how …
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Episode 181 - Ring Cameras for Schools? And Bed Bugs!
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Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss several listener emails. Ring Cameras are discussed. Bed bugs in devices makes the news. Oh, and Josh isn't wearing any pants. Bed bugs in Chromebooks at Riverside High School in Durham, North Carolina FCC Cybersecurity Pilot CISA Services Portal CIO in New Haven was fired after a recent breach -------------------- Pre…
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Achieving Success Without Vision Plans: An Optometry Practice Case Study
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In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo engages in a deep conversation with Dr. Bart Higley, an IDOC member and owner of New England Eyeworks, to explore the story of his highly successful optometry practice. Dr. Higley shares insights on how he has never accepted vision plans, highlighting the benefits of operating a cash-pay model, focusing on quality o…
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Episode 180 - When You Are Technically Right, But You're Wrong
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42:47
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Chris and Eric talk about AI, collecting devices from students, and discuss "When you are technically right, but you're wrong." AI Bill in California Will AI Make Standardized Tests Obsolete? -------------------- Prey --Device Loan Management --Security Actions Extreme Networks - Email dmayer@extremenetworks.com Fortinet - Email fortinetpodcast@for…
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Episode 179 - Hot Pockets and Hot Topics
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Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the opening of school, student password resets, and student screen time (again). Prey Short video: https://prey.wistia.com/medias/fdwb048xxj Demo: Get a demo from @Nicolas Bascoli. You will get in depth information! Free Trial: Experience by yourself how it works and how easy the deployment process is. You can start he…
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Reducing Contact Lens Dropouts: Strategies for Success
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In this episode, special guest Dr. Scott Moscow, Clinical Director at Roswell Eye Clinic, shares insights on preventing contact lens dropouts and reigniting interest in contact lenses among patients. The discussion covers the benefits of contact lenses for both patients and practices, methods to increase contact lens capture rates, and the importan…
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Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss Back to School Week and dealing with issues, an ACT study on internet access, screen time, cell phone bans, and we talk to Fortinet about the FCC Cybersecurity Pilot. NPT Prey Short video: https://prey.wistia.com/medias/fdwb048xxj Demo: Get a demo from @Nicolas Bascoli. You will get in depth information! Free Trial: Ex…
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Episode 177 - Live from the K12TechPro Virtual Meetup 2024
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Josh, Chris, and Mark record an episode live from the K12TechPro Virtual Meetup. Richmond, VA K12TechPro Southeast Region Meetup is September 20th ManagedMethods Extreme Networks Fortinet Prey -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12techtalkpod Visit our LinkedIn Music by Colt Ball Di…
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Revving Up Revenues with Driver Intelligence Lenses
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In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo interviews Robert Rivera from Shamir about their advanced lens technology aimed at enhancing driving safety and comfort. Rivera, who has extensive experience in optics, explains the features of Shamir’s Driver Intelligence lenses, including special nighttime myopia correction and advanced AR coating to reduce visual…
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Episode 176 - Josh says 175, but it's 176, he was distracted by his new iPad
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Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss E-Rate, pay raises, and the Olympics. Special "Back to School" Virtual K12TechPro Meetup is August 7th Richmond, VA K12TechPro Southeast Region Meetup is September 20th NPT VIZOR ClassLink Extreme Networks Fortinet -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Join the K12TechPro Community Buy some swag X @k12…
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Episode 175 - Live from MidwestTechTalk2024!
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Josh, Chris, and Mark record an episode live from MidwestTechTalk2024 for the opening day keynote. Buckle up, it's a good time. Special "Back to School" Virtual K12TechPro Meetup is August 7th Richmond, VA K12TechPro Southeast Region Meetup is September 20th MidwestTechTalk2024 -------------------- Email us at k12techtalk@gmail.com Join the K12Tech…
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From Hunting to Fishing to Golf: Meeting the Needs of Your Outdoor Enthusiasts
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29:51
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In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo interviews Norm Kester, founder of the outdoor lifestyle brand RLVNT. Launched in 2019, RLVNT specializes in eyewear designed to meet the unique needs of outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and golf. Norm discusses the unmet demand in the market for specialized eyewear and how his products fill that gap. Th…
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Episode 174 - The Trip of Self Discovery
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In the latest episode of K12 Tech Talk, Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss Infinite Campus woes, FBI security audits, and Mark's reflections. Special "Back to School" Virtual K12TechPro Meetup is August 7th Richmond, VA K12TechPro Southeast Region Meetup is September 20th MidwestTechTalk is July 22nd and 23rd (Our friends VIZOR, KCAV, Extreme, Fortinet,…
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Episode 173 - LAUSD's AI Issues and Chris Loves Drones
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In the latest episode of K12 Tech Talk, Josh, Chris, and Mark dive into the latest news in the education technology world. They discuss Instructure's annual "EdTech Top 40" report, LAUSD's "Ed" initiative making headlines, and the US Department of Education releasing guidance for AI developers in education. They also address listener emails regardi…
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Leverage Google Ads to Grow Your Practice
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In this episode, host Dr. Steve Vargo dives into the intricacies of digital advertising, specifically focusing on Google Ads, to help practice owners increase visibility and attract more patients. Dr. Vargo is joined by Onyé Anyanwu, Senior Marketing Strategist at IDOC, who offers detailed insights into creating effective Google Ads campaigns. Key …
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Episode 172 - Why I'm Leaving the Job I Love
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Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss a variety of topics including cell phone bans and prepping for the FCC pilot. They also address listener feedback on the garage door conversation from a few weeks back. The main topic of the episode focuses on why one of the hosts is leaving their district - but you're going to have to listen to the episode to find out…
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Developing a Successful Dry Eye Clinic on a Budget
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In this episode with Dr. Shane Swatts of Eastern Virginia Eye Associates and Riley Azevedo, marketing manager at Science Based Health, the focus is on helping practice owners develop successful dry eye specialties without significant upfront investments. Dr. Swatts discusses his diverse career, including working with professional athletes and his t…
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Episode 171 - Hot Weather, Parent Communication, Some Spicy Jokes
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43:42
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WARNING - This episode does have some "spicy" humor and language. Be aware if listening around children and/or small animals. Chris is gone, so Mark and Josh do their best to hold down the fort. They take a listener email from James about prepping for extreme heat and keeping datacenters cool. Mark and Josh play a version of Family Feud about the t…
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Episode 170 - Under Construction Part 2 (New Logo/New Music)
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The studio is still under construction, but we do have a new logo and music! The news room will return soon (and Mark too). And we're still making adjustments. Josh and Chris discuss Android versus Apple, third party patching options, garage doors and sprinkler systems on the school's wifi, and the FCC's cybersecurity pilot announcement (that the p…
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From Insurance to Independence: Creating a Premium Practice and Work-Life Harmony
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Dr. Susan Elizondo shares her journey of transforming her practice into a private pay model and focusing on high-end optical services. By dropping insurance plans and offering a premium experience, she has increased her revenue per patient and created a practice that aligns with her values and goals. Learn more about IDOC: Optometry Practice Manage…
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The studio is under construction! Josh and Chris talk about student cell phone usage and give a shout out to Jason at K12TechPro, they discuss the FCC's approval of the cybersecurity pilot, Microsoft ditching Flip, and Chris' Infinite Campus woes. NTP is helping K12TechPro with the Meetups. Join us Virtually on August 7th and at Richmond, VA on Sep…
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Episode 168 - Are Districts Ready for Enterprise AI Models?
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In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, hosts Josh and Mark discuss the recent Klein ISD DDOS attack that disrupted STARR testing, leading to an 18-year-old student facing felony charges. They also delve into a Google Blog post about phishing tests and the adoption of a “fire drill” approach. The main topic of the episode focuses on Goo…
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Artificial intelligence can’t replace eyecare providers (not yet anyway), but it can certainly make our work lives easier. In this episode, we shine a spotlight on ChatGPT – a remarkable tool that harnesses AI to generate human-like text, images, and conversational dialogue. We'll share specific examples of how ChatGPT can simplify tasks and workfl…
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Episode 167 - Manifesting Your Dream Summer Break
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In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, hosts Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss the new CISA reporting requirements, the details of the E-Rate cybersecurity pilot, and the rumored PowerSchool buyout by Bain Capital. They also address listener questions about Manifest V3 and summer school preparation. CISA reporting requirements (CIRCIA) Con…
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Flashback to Episode 97: Scott Elder (Re-release)
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This is a re-release episode! We sit down with Scott Elder, the Superintendent of Albuquerque Public Schools. We talk about the ransomware attack they experienced in January 2021. This discussion is from the perspective of the Superintendent during the attack. Scott is wildly candid and honest about the experience. iDoc ManagedMethods Extreme Netwo…
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Behind the Benchmarks: Insights for Managing Overhead and Profitability
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36:28
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Nathan Hayes, the director of financial services at IDOC, discusses the importance of comparing practice financials to other practices. He explains how the Books and Benchmarks service can provide accurate and reliable data to help practice owners make informed decisions about their business. Download the report here: https://bit.ly/44HRX0V…
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Episode 166 - Reflections on a Year with AI
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In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, hosts Josh and Mark delve into the latest tech news, including the malicious hacker behind the Kaseya ransomware attack being jailed and the introduction of the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act and the Eyes on the Board Act. They also address listener emails about the proper disposal of old com…
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Episode 165 - Data Privacy & Interoperability at the PESC-A4L Summit
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Chris and Mark attend the PESC-A4L Summit. They learn about A4L's mission to support lifelong learning through interoperability, privacy, and security across PK20W+ - breaking down the silos and ensuring the data seamlessly follows the learners from PK though K12 into Post-secondary, into the workforce, and into retirement. Interviews: Steve Smith,…
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Disruption: Technology and The Future of Eye Care
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Technology will continue to disrupt the eye care profession. This poses both opportunities and threats for ECPs. In this episode with Travis Beaven, Alcon’s Global Vice President of Vision Care Digital Health, we discuss the role technology will play in the future of eye care. A few things we discuss are which technologies will have the greatest im…
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Episode 164 - Tutor.com Receives Some Criticism, Turnitin Releases Data on AI Usage, and Chris Has a Rant.
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In the latest episode of the K12 Tech Talk Podcast, Chris and Mark discuss a variety of news stories, including the COPS SVPP grant focusing on security measures in schools such as notification systems and security cameras. They also address concerns around Primavera's investment in Tutor.com and the rise of AI-generated plagiarism in student paper…
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Reimagining Your Insurance Billing Operations
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Managing billing operations has historically been one of the most challenging tasks of practice ownership. In this episode we explore the reasons for this, how practices are handling (or not handling) these challenges, and the evolving role of technology in billing. One of the more exciting platforms to hit the market is OneSpot, a centralized digi…
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Episode 163 - Cyber Attack Liability, Proxies, and Managed Methods
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In this insightful episode of K12 Tech Talk, Josh and Mark delve into recent events and hot topics within the sphere of school technology. Triggered by a recent cyber-attack on the Clark County, the hosts debate whether schools should be held accountable for such breaches and discuss the potential nation-wide implications of legal cases in this reg…
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Episode 162.5 - Insights from the CoSN 2024 Conference - Part 2
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This is Part 2 of K12 Tech Talk's engaging journey through the trending topics from CoSN in Miami! Highlights are discussions about AI readiness and CoSN's AI maturity matrix, Secure by Design, enhancing data security in schools, and the dynamic evolution of technology within educational institutions. Interviews include: Josh Olstad - Technology Di…
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Episode 162 - Insights from the CoSN 2024 Conference - Part 1
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Part 1 of 2 In this exciting episode of K12 Tech Talk, Chris, Josh, and Mark deliver a front-row experience of the CoSN Conference in Miami. Interviews include: Susan Enfield - CoSN Keynote Richard Culatta - CEO ISTE/ASCD Don Ringelestein - CoSN Board, DEI subcommittee Megan Gretzinger - Friend of K12TechPro and K12 Tech Talk Will Brackett - "After…
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Episode 161 - Elevator Repairs, Dead Rodents, and an Interview with VIZOR
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Josh, Chris, and Mark discuss several listener emails and K12TechPro posts. They talk about POTS lines with elevators, fire alarms, and fax machines. They talk about password managers. They talk about how to obtain technical knowledge and skills when you have a position that isn't necessarily specializing in a certain area. They talk about LMS opti…
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3 Surprising Reasons Patients Don’t Buy from You
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Resistance to a sale is often countered with additional patient education, assuming that more information will lower the barrier to a sale. In reality, many of our purchase decisions are not driven by what we KNOW about something, they’re driven by what we FEEL about something. Fear, excitement, anticipation, trust, safety, confusion, curiosity, an…
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