710: Primary election predictions and technology in schools

03:47 Introduction to Technology in Education 06:23 The Impact of Cell Phones in Classrooms 09:43 Local Control vs. State Regulation 12:40 Balancing Technology Use in Schools 15:06 The Role of Parents in Technology Education 17:47 Community Engagement and Input 20:45 Navigating Changing Perspectives on Technology 23:32 Campaign Insights and Future Directions 35:31 The Role of Technology in Education 38:14 Community Engagement in Education 41:15 Political Predictions and Voter Turnout 44:04 Incumbents and Election Dynamics 46:13 District-Specific Predictions 49:20 The Impact of Social Issues on Elections 52:27 The Future of Political Campaigns 54:36 Controversial Measures and Public Opinion 57:33 The Dynamics of Nonpartisan Elections 01:00:26 Final Thoughts on Election Outcomes North Dakota is in the midst of a heated, divisive primary between traditional Republicans and populists. Who will win in key legislative races around the state? Who will advance to the general election in some of the competitive statewide races? Who will be the next mayor of Fargo, and will that ballot measure implementing a single-subject rule for proposed constitutional amendments pass? Me and co-host Chad Oban make our predictions. Also on this episode, Sen. Michelle Axtman, who is in the midst of one of those heated primaries in Bismarck-area District 7, talks about a new survey about technology in schools. Lawmakers passed legislation to ban cell phone use in schools by students, but what about technology that's provided by the schools? Are students on Chromebooks and tablets too much? Axtman and a coalition of other state leaders -- including Superintendent Levi Bachmeier, Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden, and First Lady Kjersti Armstrong -- have commissioned a study asking for input from educators, administrators, parents, and the public. "I'm a STEM person as a pilot. Technology is a big part of learning that industry as well," she said. "None of us want to get rid of technology, wipe it out of the classrooms." But they are trying to find out what the right balance is. As for her primary race, Axtman admitted to being "nervous" about it, but added that nobody running for elected office should take it for granted. She says she's happy with the race she's running. "I'm really proud of the fact that we've focused on what things we are going to do if elected rather than slamming our opponents or doing anything like that," she said. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode.