Trending In Education

Aaron Rasmussen is the Founder and CEO of Outlier.org. He's also a Cofounder of Masterclass and an award-winning game designer. He joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about how the team at Outlier is designing a product experience built to disrupt higher education by providing affordable access to highly engaging, accredited online courses and certificates. We begin with the story of Aaron's roots in rural Oregon where he taught himself with books from local libraries before gaining access to higher ed at Boston University. He shares the lessons he learned from successful robotics and gaming startups that set the stage for his formative experience at Masterclass, a category leader in online learning. This all leads to an examination of why he founded Outlier and how it's setting out to provide a scalable, high-quality education for folks who have been left out by traditional higher ed. It's a wide-ranging exploration of what it takes to make great online learning experiences that are motivating and compe

With the recent release of ChatGPT, host Mike Palmer dives into the implications of this technology for the world learning. Nancy, our virtual cohost, joins Mike in the conversation this time powered by the new dialogic AI toolset powered by OpenAI. We begin by learning what this technology is in its own words before hearing which trends ChatGPT sees as most impactful to the future of education. Then we explore the risks and opportunities emerging with new and widely accessible AI tools like this entering the scene. Will we lose our jobs? Will OpenAI achieve Skynet-like self-awareness? What does this all mean for humans? How does this relate to the importance of durable skills? What are the implications for teachers? And what about for writers, the future of writing, and at home essay questiond? We explore all of this and more as we discover what happens when you hook a virtual cohost up to OpenAI firepower and record an eppy. Don't miss it! Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts.

Roger Spitz is the President of Techistential and the Chairman of Disruptive Futures Institute. He's also the lead author of The Definitive Guide to Thriving on Disruption whose first volume is now available. Roger joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about the insights provided in the Guide and how they connect to the world of learning. We begin by hearing Roger's origins in investment banking and M&A before shifting to his focus to futures thinking and the Disruptive Futures Institute. In a wide-ranging conversation that explores concepts and frameworks from the Guide, we learn what it takes to excel in a world of continuous disruption. We explore what we can learn from antifragility, Zen Buddhism, and existential philosophy to equip ourselves with the tools and mindsets essential to thriving in the new state of play. We hear how agency is key to navigating emerging complexity. We touch on the importance of humor, dig into the case study of Israel, and conclude with Roger's takes on the role of educatio

Gordon Drummond is the President of Sessions College for Professional Design, an online school of visual arts offering a range of degree and certificate programs in Graphic Design, Digital Media, Illustration, and Photography. He joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about the challenges and opportunities of delivering design education online, something Sessions College has been doing for 25 years since its founding in 1997. We hear of Gordon's origins including his time working with Mike at Kaplan before shifting to the story of Sessions College. Gordon shares insights he's garnered over the years preparing design professionals for careers in a rapidly changing world of work. We touch on the importance of learning through feedback and the collaborative, iterative process that is essential to creative work. We also explore how design work is changing as AI continues to improve and blend with human creativity. Gordon describes how great design education requires not just great instructors but also great con

Shai Reshef is the President and Founder of University of the People, a non-profit, online university that's been serving students from around the globe since 2009. He joins Mike Palmer in a conversation about trends in affordable, online education and the work he's been doing with U of the People. We begin by hearing Shai's origin story dating back to the early days of distance learning and test preparation before diving into the story of the university and its founding. Shai shares his vision and mission to provide affordable higher education to students around the globe. We learn about the unique model that allows students to access their programs through the internet and how that has opened up pathways to those in need including students in Syria, Afghanistan, and most recently Iran. It's a thought-provoking deep dive into an alternative model of higher education built around access to relevant coursework that can change the lives of students. Don't miss it! Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you

Jan Stanley leads an organizational leadership consulting practice and Dr. Jen Farthing is the SVP of Learning Product at SAI 360. They join host Mike Palmer to talk about trends in organizational leadership, culture, and learning and development in a free-flowing conversation you don’t want to miss! We explore a recent article by Paul Krugman on the recent jobs report along with a new framework from the Surgeon General as we dig into the emerging thinking about wellbeing, sense-making, and culture-building as we look for tips and practical advice for leaders looking to build flourishing cultures in challenging times. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more.

Tzipor Ulman, PhD, is the founder and CEO of Science is Elementary. Under Tzipor’s leadership, Science is Elementary (SiE) grew from an idea to a multi-faceted organization with international reaching more than 50,000 children, their teachers, and their families this year. She joins Mike Palmer in a conversation about building strong foundations in science into our educational system, particularly for populations that have been underserved and underrepresented. After hearing her origin story, we learn what she's been up to lately. During the COVID19 pandemic, Tzipor ideated SiE Books – a unique series that fills a massive gap in children’s education: wordless stories, featuring children of color who behave as scientists, coupled with step-by-step illustrations for doing science experiments that are easy enough for five-year-olds to do on their own, and with a family engagement component. In a wide-ranging conversation about the foundational importance of science education, we touch on the importance of playfu

Mike Palmer is rejoined by Nancy, our virtual cohost, to provide perspective on learning loss and quiet quitting as we look ahead at the episodes we have lined up for the stretch run of 2022. How is the negative framing of these terms damaging to the conversation and what are some alternative ways of talking about what's going on? We also run through many of the upcoming conversations with guests who will be appearing in our final run of episodes as we look toward the conclusion of yet another transformative year in the world of learning. Don't miss this chance to reflect on the new language and emerging trends that set the stage for what's next as we look to emerge from our collective fugue heading into 2023. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at Trending in Education for more great takes on the future of education.

Youki Terada is Research Editor at Edutopia. He rejoins host Mike Palmer for his third (refrigerator magnet earning!) appearance on Trending in Ed, this time to discuss his recent article on teacher burnout and how to combat it. We hear about how teachers’ jobs have been transformed by the new “always on” demands brought about by the pandemic and the integration of digital into the classroom. Now teachers are having problems disconnecting from work with new demands around email and technical support impinging on their private time. We also touch on Youki’s recent article on the stresses accompanying high-stales testing as he highlights research showcased in recent editions of Edutopia’s Weekly Newsletter as well as its new The Research Is In newsletter. You can sign up for Edutopia newsletters here. It’s an informed survey of emerging research to help teachers and their supporters navigate new problems in challenging times. Don’t miss it! Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visi

Mario Vasilescu is the Co-Founder and CEO of Readocracy, a product that explores how we might get credit for all the content we consume these days. He joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about how credentialing is ready to be transformed for the 21st Century. We then explore how they're building media literacy and knowledge mapping into the design. We conclude with Mario musing about AI, the Blockchain and more. In fact, as referenced in the conversation, the logo for this episode was designed by Mike using DALL-E 2. It's a forward-looking view into the world of credentialing knowledge that you won't want to miss! Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more great content!

Deborah Lee is the Founder and CEO of Dancing Panda, an SMS-based learning product for parents of PreK to 3rd-grade kids. She joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about building a product that helps parents bond with their kids through fun learning exercises that can connect to what they're learning in class. We begin by hearing Deborah’s origin story as a social entrepreneur, working in K12 and then EdTech at Newsela before launching Dancing Panda during the pandemic. We learn how she came up with the idea for Dancing Panda based on her experience as a mom to two young girls. Deborah encourages parents to reach out to their children’s teachers to connect about their children’s learning in a positive frame. We also talk about reaching families in need by designing a lean, lightweight experience that fits into the busy lives of parents and caregivers today. It’s a thought-provoking conversation about helping parents bridge into their children's learning journeys in these challenging times. Don’t miss it! S

Dr. Mylien Duong is a clinical psychologist and SEL researcher who serves as Senior Director of Research at the Constructive Dialogue Institute. She joins host Mike Palmer in an exploration of emerging research in SEL, the surprising backlash against it, and perspectives on how to support teachers whose jobs have become increasingly demanding in recent years. Mylien shares recent research from CDI that demonstrates the evidence-based tactics that reduce polarization and improve dialog in college classrooms. We also discuss the Educator Toolkit CDI is providing to help educators encourage constructive dialogue in their classrooms. Don't miss this insightful dive into practical advice on improving SEL in these challenging times. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you find your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of education.

Dan Gonzalez is a former high school physics teacher and successful education executive. He's the Co-Founder and CEO of District C, a non-profit working to reimagine the internship by forming diverse teams of high school students who work together on real-world business problems. Dan joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about District C's Teamship model which is central to their unique approach. We learn how students, teachers, and business partners work with District C to provide students with hands-on, relevant work solving real problems. We also hear a bold prediction from Dan about the future of education. Don't miss it! Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the emerging learning ecosystem.

Miriam Plotinsky is an instructional specialist with Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, and the author of Teach More, Hover Less: How to Stop Micromanaging Your Secondary Classroom. She joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about what drove her to write the book. In a thought-provoking conversation about the tactics that allow for more student agency and voice, we explore topics like teacher burnout, building trust and student engagement, and the advantages of a more intentionally “hands-off” approach that yields surprising results. We also connect Miriam’s perspectives on what works in the classroom to what works for parents and in our professional lives Don’t miss it! Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more.

Mike reports back from the Global Talent Summit in Washington, DC. We learn what Ana Rold from Diplomatic Courier and Kelly Ryan Bailey from Skills Baby pulled together with help from Gallup and a team of experts and thought leaders focused on the skilling revolution and its impact on the future of work. Jim Clifton, the Chairman of Gallup, kicked things off by talking about the importance of engagement and awareness of disengagement and unhappiness that is globally on the rise. Mike references Jon Clifton's book, Blind SpotThe Global Rise of Unhappiness and How Leaders Missed It, and makes connections to Michael Sandel's book, The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good? as we try to put the skills and talent conversation into a relevant context. Then we explore the work of Dante Disparte on the Blockchain and Beth Rudden on AI ethics as we review highlights from an impressive array of programming from the day. Mike concludes with his thoughts on optimism and hope despite the challenges in a thoug

To celebrate our 500th episode of Trending in Education, host and Founder, Mike Palmer reflects on the origins of the show and how it has evolved and grown through the years. Mike recounts the pod's humble beginnings as a skunkworks media R&D project to its exit from Kaplan to continue as an independent pod amid all of the tumult and disruption we've been navigating since early 2020. It's been an incredible ride and we couldn't have gotten there without our guests, listeners, and supporters. Many thanks to all of the "Friends of the Show" out there as we continue to dive into what's next. Here's to continuing the conversation for another 500+ episodes in the future! Thanks as always for listening. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of learning.

Professor Rebecca Mendoza is the Lead Faculty for Accounting at Palo Alto College in San Antonio. She joins us to talk about how she is overcoming Impostor Syndrome to launch her teaching career and reach Gen Z students in new and relevant ways. We learn what it's been like for Rebecca to pivot from what could have been a career in corporate accounting to focus on teaching and reaching students in San Antonio. As a Hispanic woman, Rebecca reflects on the importance of being there for students who she hopes can see themselves in her. She talks about launching her TikTok channel to teach the finance and accounting skills so necessary in the lives and careers of her students and beyond. It's a deep dive into the mindsets of rising young educators that you won't want to miss. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more great content.

Anurupa Ganguly, the Founder and CEO of Prisms VR, returns to Trending in Ed to catch us up on her journey as Prisms begins to implement VR Math interventions at scale. We hear what it's been like since February of 2021 when we first spoke with her. We hear how Anurapa and the team at Prisms are designing rich narrative-based simulations couched in real-world examples of simulations that require math for problem-solving. We learn where Prisms is headed next and get an expert's take on how virtual reality simulations can allow a deeper foundational understanding of mathematical concepts. This aids greatly in improving performance and accelerating comprehension. It's a forward-looking examination of an emerging space that you won't want to miss. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of education.

Mike reports from the midst of a big week of Education and Innovation conference he's attending in New York. In addition to showcasing his favorite sessions from Fast Company Innovation Festival and EdTech Week, we continue our storied tradition of breaking down the recently released Gartner Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies 2022 while making connections to the world of learning and the future of work along the way. Gartner highlights 25 emerging technologies grouped into three categories: Evolving and Expanding Immersive Experiences, Accelerating AI Automation, and Optimized Technologist Delivery. We quickly rattle them off before showcasing two sessions Mike attended this week: Wayne Brady's session on Improv from the FC Innovation Fest and Angela Duckworth and Esther Wojcicki's conversation from EdTech Week. There's plenty to chew on as we return to the conference scene and try to get out ahead of trends in search of the new hotness while steering clear of the hype. You can find out more about what Wayn

Celine Coggins is a social entrepreneur passionate about building networks and collective action to reduce inequity. She founded Teach Plus in 2007 to address the growing need for authentic teacher leadership to transform the nation’s schools and our education system. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Grantmakers for Education. Celine joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about her new endeavor The Legacy Years Project, an initiative looking to activate members of Generation X to establish a positive collective legacy. She looks for lessons learned from how the Millennial and Gen Z generations successfully organized around student loan debt as highlighted in her recent LinkedIn article. Celine points to issues like securing Social Security and reining in social media and polarization as potential signature issues for the oft-forgotten generation to organize around. It's a thought-provoking exploration of generational zeitgeists you won't want to miss! Subscribe to Trending in Education wher