Trending In Education

In this engaging episode, Mike Palmer sits down with Matt Wilkerson, the founder and CEO of Extern, to discuss his innovative approach to bridging the gap between education and the workforce. Wilkerson shares his fascinating journey, from his early career aspirations to the pivotal experiences that inspired him to create Extern, a platform that offers remote "Externships" – short-term, structured work experiences designed to equip students with real-world skills and hands-on experience. Through Extern, Matt aims to disrupt the traditional internship model by providing a scalable and accessible solution for students to gain valuable work experience, regardless of their location or background. With a rapidly growing network of corporate partners and a mission to democratize professional opportunities, Extern is poised to revolutionize the way we think about career preparation and the transition from education to employment. Key Takeaways: Extern's "Externships" offer remote, short-term work experiences integra

Host Mike Palmer goes in-depth on the "some college, no degree" crisis with Terah Crews, CEO of ReUp Education. A startling 41 million American adults - roughly 1 in 6 - have some college credits but no degree. Crews powerfully argues that ignoring this population exacerbates enrollment, workforce, and wage gaps across society. ReUp takes an innovative approach, partnering with universities and state governments to re-engage stopout students and support degree completion. Their statewide "marketplaces" centralize these efforts, removing disincentives for student transfers between schools. Crews discusses ReUp's groundbreaking work in New Jersey, having already re-enrolled thousands of students in just the first two terms. The conversation explores AI's impending impact on the workforce, creating urgency to upskill this population. Crews emphasizes higher education must evolve to better serve adult learners through improved user experiences, drawing lessons from intuitive consumer platforms like Amazon. Key Ta

In this lively conversation, host Mike Palmer catches up with Dr. C. Edward Watson, Vice President for Digital Innovation at the American Association of Colleges and Universities. Eddie shares insights from his new book, Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning, exploring the practical implications of generative AI tools like ChatGPT on higher education. We dive into the pressing challenges AI presents, from academic integrity concerns to the need for developing AI literacies in students. Eddie offers pragmatic strategies for educators, such as allowing assignment extensions to reduce cheating temptations and designing assessments that emphasize human evaluation and discernment over rote outputs. Throughout, we delve into AI's creative potential as a collaborative partner, generating ideas and metaphors to enhance learning experiences. Eddie paints a vision of personalized AI assistants tailored to individual learning styles and disciplines, raising the bar for quality education. Key

Host Mike Palmer rounds out our coverage of the ASU+GSV Summit with two shorter conversations recorded in San Diego with Diana Hughes and Sunil Gunderia from Age of Learning, the company behind educational products like ABCmouse and the classroom offerings MyMathAcademy and MyReadingAcademy. First we learn about Diana's background designing empathetic video games and how that translates to creating engaging educational experiences. She provides insights into blending AI with human instruction, viewing AI as an augmentation tool rather than a replacement for teachers. We're talking cyborgs, not robots. Then we join Mike's hallway chat with Sunil Gunderia, Age of Learning's Chief Innovation Officer. Sunil reflects on trends from the AIR summit preceding ASU+GSV, like major school districts embracing AI to advance equitable learning. He shares how Age of Learning partners with companies like OpenAI to enhance content creation while centering efficacy. The episode examines AI's potential to personalize learning a

Recorded while at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, Joel Podolny, CEO and founder of Honor Education, joins host Mike Palmer to explore the importance of human connection in online learning environments. Joel shares his unique background, spanning from academic leadership in sociology and business management to roles at Apple University and Yale, and how these experiences have shaped his perspective on transformative learning. Key Takeaways: Honor Education is focused on creating a platform that puts human connection at the center of online and digitally-enhanced learning experiences, fostering collective engagement and a sense of community among learners. The platform's mobile-first design, with features like social annotation and real-time instructor feedback, aims to recreate the dynamic interactions and connections typically found in physical classrooms, but in an asynchronous and accessible format. As AI continues to evolve, Joel envisions leveraging the platform's high-fidelity engagement data to prov

In this episode, we hear from Marshall Poe, founder and editor of the New Books Network, a podcasting network unlocking expertise and expanding access to learning. As a former Russian historian, Marshall recognized the gap between what experts know and what the public understands. He saw podcasting as a way to bridge this divide. The New Books Network started as an experiment in 2007 and has since grown into a vast network with over 150 podcasts and a thousand hosts. Marshall views the network as an academic institution, akin to a university press, focused solely on public education. He takes pride in covering esoteric topics and preserving the voices of experts for posterity. Poe envisions the network becoming a Wikipedia-like resource, where listeners can find smart people discussing any topic of interest. He encourages embracing audio's potential in higher education, with opportunities for AI-powered translation making expert knowledge more accessible. Key takeaways: • The New Books Network offers a uniq

Mike Palmer takes us on a whirlwind tour through the recent ASU+GSV Summit and AIR Show in San Diego. We hear the buzzing energy of the events as Mike shares his hot takes and insider scoops fresh off the ground. The AI Revolution Show provided an intriguing glimpse into the new AI-powered products aiming to "supercharge" teachers' capabilities. Mike lauds the vision of positioning AI not as a replacement but as an empowering force operating "behind the teachers" to enhance their impact. As Mike tours the exhibitor floor, we get the inside scoop on promising platforms like Kyron Learning, and Atypical AI - all striving to bolster teachers with smart content creation tools, personalized instruction, and data-driven insights. The conference wasn't just about tech though - we hear tales of surprise mascot appearances earning the moniker "Clippy's Revenge." Mike ponders finding the right balance between injecting narrative whimsy while ensuring the human touch remains central. Shifting to the main ASU+GSV event,

In the episode Mike Palmer hosts Erika Blumenthal, the Chief Operating Officer at Benefits Data Trust (BDT), and Daniel O'Donnell, the Associate Director of Higher Education at BDT. We discuss the organization's mission to help individuals access social safety net benefits in the U.S., with a focus on supporting college students and how they use a Chatbot named Wyatt to communicate benefits to higher ed students. Erika and Daniel share their professional backgrounds and how they ended up at BDT. We delve into the challenges students face, such as food insecurity and the complex process of applying for benefits like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The conversation centers around Wyatt, an AI chatbot developed by BDT to assist students in completing the FAFSA. Daniel explains how Wyatt leverages AI and text messaging to provide scalable support, addressing the need for accessible guidance amid recent FAFSA changes. We reference this Educ

This episode of Trending in Ed explores the explosive growth of AI in classrooms and workplaces. Host Mike Palmer interviews Tim Dasey, author of Wisdom Factories: AI, Games, and the Education of a Modern Worker, about the implications of these rapid changes. We discuss how AI can support novice learners, the potential risks and biases within AI systems, and the need for critical thinking skills to successfully interact with AI. Dasey emphasizes the importance of adapting our approach to education with AI as a ubiquitous tool, rethinking how we learn, consume information, and develop traditional skills. We pay our respects to the work of Daniel Kahneman and dig into the nuanced differences between noise, bias, and bullshit and what this means to educators, learners, and all of us. Key Takeaways AI presents unique opportunities to support new learners, but may have less impact on experts. Remain aware of potential biases within AI systems. It may not be attributable to ill intent it may be systemic noise an

In this engaging episode, Mike Palmer talks with Jean Desravines, CEO of New Leaders, about developing representative leadership in K12 schools. Jean shares his powerful origin story of how education and mentorship saved his life, allowing him to escape a dire path. We learn how New Leaders identifies and develops the next generation of transformative school leaders, with a focus on leaders of color. Jean provides fascinating insights into what makes an effective school leader, likening the role to a CEO managing stakeholders, budgets, talent, instruction and culture. He emphasizes the critical importance of representation, explaining how teachers of color benefit all students and increase teacher retention. After a few riffs on Allen Iverson (AI), we hear about New Leaders' innovative use of technology like video feedback (similar to sports) to hone leadership skills through deliberate practice. Jean discusses technology's role in enabling personalized learning while underscoring education as an inherently h

Dr. Ken Carter is a Psychology Professor and the Founding Director of Emory's new Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement. He joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about bridging the gap between academic research and the public through new initiatives to help academics translate their work for general audiences. Ken shares his own path from aspiring to be a TV anchorman to becoming a clinical psychologist skilled at making complex concepts accessible. The conversation then shifts to psychology to cover the "epidemic of loneliness" and lack of deep social connections in the social media age. Dr. Carter offers perspectives on AI's potential impacts on mental health and therapy, as well as the importance of building resilience and normalizing failure discussions. He provides insights into navigating the modern media landscape as an expert voice. Other highlights include lessons from the psychology of extreme sports/thrill-seeking and Dr. Carter's philosophy of maintaining curiosity and awe. Key takeaways

In this eye-opening episode, host Mike Palmer dives into the alarming rise in chronic absenteeism among U.S. students, as highlighted by a recent New York Times article. The conversation pivots to explore how AI-powered chatbots and personal virtual assistants like "Ed" from AllHere are being leveraged to combat this issue getting notice for their work in the LA Unified School Disctrict. Mike revisits his insightful 2021 interview with AllHere's founder Joanna Smith, who discusses the company's innovative use of conversational AI to foster engagement and support student achievement beyond the classroom. The episode also features a lively exchange with the show's resident AI co-host, Nancy, as they grapple with the promises and pitfalls of blending human and artificial intelligence in education. Key takeaways include the need for thoughtful design in integrating AI with human empathy, the potential for chatbots to serve as "empathy engines," and the importance of keeping humans in the loop while leveraging AI'

In this special episode recorded live at SXSW EDU 2024, host Mike Palmer moderates a powerful panel on breaking down silos in education. Featuring multilingual learning consultant Dana Gastich-French, special education expert Dr. DeShanna Reed, and parent coach Punam Saxena, the conversation dives into the trifecta of community, culture, and collaboration. Learn how to be a link, while busting silos across the K12 ecosystem. The panelists, who first met serendipitously at the prior year's SXSW EDU, explore the problems caused by working in isolation and offer solutions for bridging disparate worlds. They advocate creating networked improvement communities, fostering authentic connections through presence and effective communication, and prioritizing the crucial work of humanizing diverse stakeholders. Punam stresses meeting parents where they are by providing vocabulary and support. DeShanna shares powerful stories of cultivating trust through home visits and communicating in families' native languages. Dana

Mike Palmer sits down with Spencer Russell, the founder and CEO of Toddlers CAN Read while at SXSW EDU, just after Spencer delivered a keynote there. Spencer shares his journey from being a kindergarten and first grade teacher to taking the leap and starting his own business focused on helping parents teach their toddlers to read. We explore his motivational, step-by-step methodology that breaks down the process into simple, actionable steps that engage both parents and children. Here's the link to the video referenced in the episode. Spencer emphasizes the importance of giving clear directions to kids instead of asking questions or making statements. He stresses using the right tone, energy and eye contact to keep kids focused during lessons. We explore myth-busting around reading instruction and Spencer advocates for an approach centered on phonics and phonemic awareness. Throughout the approach motivation and psychology are deeply integrated into the literacy curriculum. Listen in to get a window into Spen

In a lively and thought-provoking session at SXSW EDU 2024, Mike Palmer, host of the Trending in Education podcast, and a panel of experts delve into the "Sweet 16" of learning trends for the year. The discussion covered a wide range of topics, from hyper-personalized learning and the role of AI in education to the importance of mental models and the responsibility of being an "accomplice" in driving positive change. The panelists, including Melissa Griffith from Kaplan, Beth Rudden from BAST AI, and Dr. Robin Naughton from Queens College, brought unique perspectives and insights to the table. We explore the potential and challenges of AI, highlighting the need for critical thinking, ethical considerations, and a human-centered approach to technology. One of the key themes that emerged was the importance of empowering learners and educators to engage with AI responsibly and effectively. The panelists emphasized the need for transparency, explainability, and a deep understanding of the models and data that und

In this thought-provoking episode, Mike Palmer welcomes education journalist Laura Pappano to discuss her new book School Moms: Parent Activism, Partisan Politics and the Battle for Public Education. Laura shares her experiences attending Moms for Liberty summits, witnessing alarming rhetoric portraying public schools as indoctrination centers. She also touches on the work she is doing at the New Haven Student Journalism. While marketed as a grassroots parent movement, we learn Moms for Liberty is well-funded by far-right groups aiming to shift the political balance of local school boards. Laura recounts the transformation from 2022 to 2023 summits, with protestors surrounding the latter event in Philadelphia amid heightened tensions. The conversation highlights how extremist tactics like book bans and policies stripping educator authority threaten public education's democratic foundations. We explore the concerning nationalization of these trends, with local school boards becoming partisan battlegrounds dis

Edward Hanapole leads the media and entertainment practice at Alvarez and Marsal. He brings a unique perspective to his conversation with host Mike Palmer, having worked across major media sectors including education, publishing, and broadcast. We discuss how media companies are adapting to direct-to-consumer models in a post-pandemic world. Edward notes they are having an "existential moment" realizing they must operate more like technology companies. He sees parallels in education's shift to digital experiences. Students now expect education delivered differently, more like media and entertainment content. Hanapole believes focusing on the consumer is key for both media and education. Investments target enhancing the user experience while ensuring educational rigor. We explore how artificial intelligence can aid creation of lessons and personalization. However, entertainment value shouldn't overwhelm learning objectives and outcomes. Stealth learning that sneaks in education while engaging users has potenti

Bruce Dahlgren, CEO of Anthology, joins host Mike Palmer for an edtech discussion informed by Bruce's extensive IT background and higher ed governance along with his vision for the growth of the platform. With over four decades across enterprise software, data infrastructure, fintech (financial technology), and cybersecurity, Bruce brings valuable outside perspective to leading this major edtech player. He shares unique insights on leveraging AI, analytics, and integrated platforms to enable personalized, seamless learning. Bruce discusses Anthology's ecosystem spanning the Blackboard LMS (learning management system), ERP (enterprise resource planning), CRM (customer relationship management), and more. As a technology expert and voice in higher ed governance, Bruce makes the case that AI and analytics can create a more holistic student journey from recruitment to career outcomes and alumni engagement. Key themes include using Anthology's AI Design Assistant for quickly building courses, its ethical AI framewo

Dr. John Harnisher, who leads the education practice at DataKind joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about how data science can drive social impact in education. Having known each other for over 10 years, we have an engaging conversation reflecting on John's journey in the learning field. John gives us an inside look at DataKind's mission of bringing data science and AI capabilities to social impact organizations. He shares a case study from their work with John Jay College in New York, where they built machine learning models to predict which students were at risk of not graduating. By providing this data to academic advisors, John Jay was able to improve graduation rates by 30%. We discuss the importance of keeping humans involved when implementing AI, rather than just optimizing for the technology. We also cover topics including trust in data, the hype cycle around AI, and how to measure impact. John emphasizes that we should focus AI on core problems facing education organizations, not just chase the

In this episode, host Michael Palmer welcomes back Dr. Bror Saxberg, Founder of LearningForge, to continue their exploration of learning and its implications for the future. We dig into core concepts like working memory vs long-term memory, deliberate practice and the 10,000 hour rule, and what the latest research reveals about differences (and similarities) in learning rates. Dr. Saxberg emphasizes the brain's lifelong neuroplasticity and potential for acquiring new skills and knowledge. The conversation then shifts to expertise more broadly, including how cognitive scientists study it and the decline in professional skill "half-lives." Bror and Michael discuss organizational training, creativity from combinatorial expertise, and the unique human capacity for shared meaning. We explore how improving learning environments and motivation, per a recent study, can help accelerate expertise development across all levels of learners. The episode wraps with optimism about human potential to gain new competencies an