EdTech Connect – Ep. 72: Michelle Craig: What Colleges Need to Know Before Gen Alpha Arrives

Podcast: EdTech Connect
Host: Jeff Dillon
Guest: Michelle Craig, Director of Marketing & Commercial Operations at AppsAnywhere
Date: January 30, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the implications of Generation Alpha’s impending arrival in higher education and how colleges need to adapt. Jeff Dillon hosts Michelle Craig—an edtech veteran and Director at AppsAnywhere—to unpack new research on Gen Alpha’s tech fluency, expectations, and habits, plus the growing challenges (and opportunities) facing institutions racing to modernize in the face of new student behaviors. The conversation blends high-level trends, practical strategies, and compelling anecdotes, with a clear focus: how can colleges future-proof the student experience for a generation even more innately digital than Gen Z?

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who is Generation Alpha?

• Definition: Those born between 2010 and 2025, with the first cohort entering higher ed in 2028 ([02:09]).
• Michelle frames them as “Generation AI,” pointing out they’ve grown up alongside the iPad, Instagram, and voice assistants.
• While Gen Alpha are “early adopters” and comfortable with technology, they’re just as concerned as previous generations about the negative impacts (e.g., distraction, online safety, data privacy).
  • Quote: “Nine in ten claim that technology is crucial for their future success, but 72% are really worried about the negative impacts...” – Michelle Craig ([02:47])

2. Michelle Craig’s EdTech Journey & Philosophy

• Michelle’s motivation is rooted in purpose and mission, viewing education as an enabler and focusing on removing barriers to opportunity ([03:58]).
• Across organizations, she’s noticed one constant: transformation—whether in how colleges communicate, globalize, or focus on employability.
  • Fun anecdote: Her first edtech role involved persuading universities to use SMS instead of physical letters ([04:57]).
• Her approach to building new initiatives: start with the “why”—deep alignment with purpose and mission ([06:41]).

3. Unveiling the Gen Alpha Research

• Survey Details: In partnership with Insights Family, AppsAnywhere surveyed adolescents (12–15) to understand their current tech usage and future educational expectations ([07:49]).
• Motivation: As universities “future-proof,” are their current strategies truly aligned with future student needs?
  • Are current barriers the same as those Gen Alpha will face?
  • Will the up-and-coming students value what’s being built now?
• The findings reveal:
  • 73% of 13–15-year-olds already use or plan to use AI tools.
  • 2 in 5 Gen Alpha use ChatGPT for learning ([10:02]).

4. Gen Alpha’s Technology & AI Fluency

• Example: Michelle’s 8-year-old son uses ChatGPT in creative writing assignments—already a classroom norm ([00:00], [10:02]).
• Coding Skills: 64% say they already can code or plan to learn soon; 24% are self-taught.
• Advice for higher ed: Don’t assume a universal proficiency—digital divides remain. Institutions should assess incoming students' tech abilities through pre-enrollment surveys.
  • Quote: “We can quite easily make sweeping statements like all of Gen Alpha are really technically savvy… but actually that’s not quite true... there’s some disadvantage there and some digital poverty, etc. that are creating barriers.” – Michelle ([10:55])
• Higher ed should create clear policies and guidance around acceptable AI usage to help students understand where the line is between assistance and cheating ([11:36]).
  • Approved tools can be centralized for student clarity (e.g., AppsAnywhere as an AI “app store” with pre-approved resources).

5. The Hybrid Default: Learning Without Boundaries

• Student Expectation: 56% of Gen Alpha expect hybrid learning as the norm; only 18% expect fully on-campus experiences ([14:11]).
• Their demand for flexibility is shaped by observing remote work in their families and an early awareness of needing to work alongside study.
• Device Expectations: A striking 96% expect their college to provide the devices and tools required for coursework ([15:10]).
  • Hybrid means students need to access critical tools anytime, anywhere, regardless of the device.
  • Quote: “If I’m paying to learn with you, you’re going to give me all the tools I need to do that. And if they don’t, I’ll be at a disadvantage.” – Michelle ([15:32])
• How AppsAnywhere supports this: By providing device-agnostic access to approved applications, ensuring equity in digital resources regardless of a student's hardware or location ([16:05]).

6. The #1 Underestimated EdTech Trend: Equity

• The biggest challenge is ensuring all students have the baseline tech skills and access to devices/software required to succeed—not just the tech-savvy or well-resourced ([17:31]).
• Equity underpins the promise of lifelong learning and must be a strategic focus.

7. Digital Transformation: Challenges and Priorities for Higher Ed

• Stakeholders are trying to modernize under heavy constraints—tight budgets, legacy systems, changing student demands ([18:16]).
  • Quote: “The pace is so fast right now... I have never seen the pace so fast right now.” – Michelle ([18:52])
• Complexity and scale in higher ed make transformation hard—consistency between on- and offline experiences is a looming challenge.
  • Students expect seamless transitions and are quick to judge institutions on glitches, friction, or lag.
  • Satisfaction is increasingly tied to digital UX: fast performance, smooth navigation, relevant content, and robust WiFi ([19:40]).
  • Institutions may even need to rethink roles and staffing for hybrid, digital-first delivery ([20:35]).

8. Practical Solutions for Equity Amid Budget Pressures

• Diversity of devices (BYOD, Chromebooks, high-spec Macs, etc.) creates management complexity for IT.
• Centralization and tech agnosticism (e.g., not tied to specific devices/OS) are key for future-proofing.
• Data and analytics support better resource allocation—knowing which tools and software are genuinely needed, optimizing licensing, and reducing waste ([21:55], [24:00]).

9. Marketing EdTech to Higher Ed: What Works

• Buying cycles are longer and more complex than in traditional SaaS; decisions affect many stakeholders and are mission-driven ([25:11]).
  • Quote: “You have to understand that the buying process is very different… when they buy software, it’s not impacting one person for one problem. It’s often got multiple stakeholders…” – Michelle ([25:22])
• Partnerships—not quick wins—drive adoption and impact.
• Effective edtech marketing means understanding the unique “personas,” offering patience, support, and co-development with institutions ([26:44]).

10. Speaking & Industry Engagement

• Michelle emphasizes empathy, audience research, and adding provocative, useful insights—offering something decision-makers can use or debate ([27:33]).

11. What’s Next for AppsAnywhere?

• Product innovation: Focused on simplifying life for IT teams while enhancing the student experience.
• Strategic Growth: Recent merger with LabStats (for analytics on IT hardware/software usage) positions them to further support data-driven IT decisions globally ([28:41]).

12. Michelle’s Advice to Her Younger Self

• Quote: “Have confidence, not arrogance. Be open minded, don’t judge and keep fighting for what you believe in. Because if you do, you’ll never feel like you did a day’s work in your life.” ([29:40])

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Nine in ten claim that technology is crucial for their future success, but 72% are really worried about the negative impacts...” – Michelle Craig ([02:47])
• “We can quite easily make sweeping statements like all of Gen Alpha are really technically savvy… but actually that’s not quite true.” – Michelle ([10:55])
• “If I’m paying to learn with you, you’re going to give me all the tools I need to do that. And if they don’t, I’ll be at a disadvantage.” – Michelle ([15:32])
• “The pace is so fast right now. I have never seen the pace so fast right now.” – Michelle ([18:52])
• “You have to understand that the buying process is very different… when they buy software, it’s not impacting one person for one problem. It’s often got multiple stakeholders…” – Michelle ([25:22])
• “Have confidence, not arrogance. Be open minded, don’t judge and keep fighting for what you believe in…” – Michelle ([29:40])

Key Moments (with Timestamps)

• [02:09] – Defining Generation Alpha and their context
• [07:49] – Background and purpose of the Gen Alpha research study
• [10:02] – Implications of Gen Alpha’s AI and coding skills for higher education
• [14:11] – Survey surprises: students’ preferences for hybrid and device expectations
• [17:31] – Why equity is still the most underestimated edtech issue
• [21:55] – Balancing equity with shrinking budgets and device diversity
• [25:11] – Why the higher ed buying cycle is unique—and how to market effectively
• [28:41] – What’s next for AppsAnywhere
• [29:40] – Michelle’s advice to her 25-year-old self

Memorable Moments

• Michelle’s story about her son using ChatGPT for creative writing and image generation, exemplifying the normalization of AI in K12 ([00:00], [10:02]).
• The striking stat that only 18% of Gen Alpha want fully on-campus learning ([14:11]).
• 96% expectation among young teens that the college will provide tech devices—a distinct generational shift ([15:10]).

Tone & Style

Michelle’s insights balance optimism and pragmatism. She’s candid about the pace and difficulty of educational change but encourages purposeful, student-centered vision. Both host and guest blend warmth and expertise, keeping the discussion accessible and actionable for edtech professionals, leaders, and faculty.

For further resources, visit edtechconnect.com.