EdTech in India: Balancing Innovation and Humanity — with Sidney Sutton

Episode Overview

In this episode of The EdTech Podcast, host Philippa Wraithmell speaks with Sidney Sutton, Digital Learning Lead at Oberoi International School in Mumbai. Sidney reflects on a decade of educational change in India, discussing how strong values, strong infrastructure, and intentional innovation shape meaningful technology integration. Together, they explore AI, digital citizenship, AR/VR, and how educators can keep human connection at the center of digital learning.

Key Themes in This Episode

• India’s deep cultural respect for education
• The rise of collaborative teacher communities
• The foundations needed for effective EdTech integration
• The balance between innovation and stability
• AI growth in India and ethical adoption in schools
• Access, equity, and infrastructure challenges
• Future trends in AR/VR and immersive learning
• Human-centered digital citizenship and critical thinking

Why Listen to This Episode?

This episode is a valuable listen for anyone interested in how India is rapidly shaping the future of education. It offers practical insights on purposeful technology integration, avoiding “shiny tool” trends, and building strong digital foundations before innovating. Sidney also shares forward-looking perspectives on AI, digital citizenship, and how schools can balance innovation with human-centered learning.

Who This Episode Is For?

This episode is ideal for educators, school leaders, EdTech professionals, and policymakers who want to understand effective digital learning practices. It’s also useful for anyone interested in India’s evolving EdTech ecosystem, future-ready skills, and the real-world challenges and opportunities of technology in schools.

Full Episode Description

In this conversation, we travel from Bangalore to Mumbai to continue exploring the evolving EdTech landscape of India. While our previous episode celebrated community and inclusivity, Sidney Sutton builds on these ideas by reflecting on what happens when strong values intersect with strong digital foundations.

Sidney discusses arriving in Mumbai a decade ago, witnessing enormous change in education, technology access, and the educator community. He explains how the strong cultural reverence for teachers in India creates a foundation for meaningful digital adoption, while also highlighting the need for clarity, critical thinking, and sustainable infrastructure.

From his vantage point as Digital Learning Lead at an Apple Distinguished School, Sidney details how frictionless access to technology enables deeper creativity, stronger pedagogy, and classroom innovation. But he also emphasizes the risks of chasing “shiny EdTech objects” without alignment, policy, and purpose.

Looking forward, Sidney shares insights into India’s booming AI sector, the rise of homegrown EdTech innovation, and the role AR/VR may play in future curriculum frameworks. He underscores the importance of digital citizenship, ethical AI use, and helping students become critical, responsible users of emerging technologies.