Trending In Ed with Mike Palmer

In this week's episode of Trending in Education, Ryan Craig, author of the new book Apprentice Nation: How the "Earn and Learn" Alternative to Higher Education Will Create a Stronger and Fairer America, joins host Mike Palmer to dive into how "earn and learn" models like apprenticeships can bridge the growing experience gap facing young workers seeking their first good job.Craig makes a compelling case for why apprenticeships should be a mainstream option for high school graduates, not just a pathway for trade occupations. He argues apprenticeships can provide the work experience and skills training needed to prepare young people for high-demand roles in fields like cybersecurity, healthcare, and software development while presenting a less risky alternative to the loan-based approach that predominates in higher education. The discussion reveals how apprenticeships have languished in the US compared to countries like Switzerland and Germany. Craig advocates passionately for greater government investment and support for intermediaries that can set up and run apprenticeship programs at scale. Without this kind of backing, companies lack incentives and capacity to provide these earn-and-learn opportunities. The lively exchange offers thought-provoking ideas around closing both the skills gap and the growing "experience gap" faced by college graduates who aren't graduating ready to work. Craig warns that employers are increasingly expecting entry-level hires to already have real work experience. Apprenticeships and other earn-and-learn models can help bridge this divide. If you care about creating new pathways to economic mobility and opportunity for young Americans in the digital age, you won't want to miss this forward-thinking discussion. Tune in to hear Craig's compelling vision for how an "Apprentice Nation" could transform education and workforce training.Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of education.

Get pumped! The Trending in Education crew is heading to SXSW EDU 2024 to kick off the podcast stage in style. Mike Palmer will be joined by his dream team of past guests - his wife, information scientist Dr. Robin Naughton, enterprise strategy expert Melissa Griffith, and AI authority Beth Rudden.This all-star panel will break down the top trends for 2024 and launch their annual March Madness brackets, where you get to vote on the #1 trend of the year. Will AI and ethics lead the pack? Or will an underdog like the creator economy take the crown?Get the inside scoop on each panelist and a preview of the hot topics they'll be bringing to the stage. You'll hear Mike and Robin connect as parents and educators navigating our changing times. Melissa will draw on her expertise across higher ed and workforce development to spotlight key shifts. And Beth will ground the AI hype in human needs and social science highlighting her work with Bast AI and her book AI For the Rest of Us.No matter what brings you to SXSW EDU 2024, make sure to add the Trending in Education session to your schedule. This high-energy panel of diverse perspectives will get you thinking and connect you to a community of forward-looking educators. Meet us at the convention center on March 4th as we set the tone for an amazing week of learning and engagement!Subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of learning.

In this episode of Trending in Education, we explore how to keep students, teachers, and parents connected in the learning process. Our guest is Matt Given, CEO of Seesaw, an edtech platform focused on early childhood education. We refer to this white paper from Seesaw during the conversation. Given explains how Seesaw aims to capture the tactile, joyful moments of real-world learning through photos, videos, and voice recordings. This multimedia capturing allows teachers to share authentic examples of student progress across each child's learning network - not just test scores, but videos of them reading aloud, showing marked improvement from the beginning to the end of the year. Given notes this is especially powerful for parents, even those overseas, to see tangible evidence of their children's growth.Throughout the discussion, we explore principles for quality K-6 education laid out in Seesaw's white paper. Given stresses that technology should facilitate, not replace, human connections. Edtech tools like AI-enabled translation can help bridge communication gaps between teachers and non-English-speaking parents. But the human relationships remain essential, especially for young students still developing their learner identity. Given emphasizes designing tools that remove barriers to inclusion rather than forcing users into a particular mold. The takeaway? For educational technology to succeed, it should bring students, teachers, and parents closer together in the learning loop - not push human stakeholders out.Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on what’s emerging in the learning universe.

In this episode of Trending in Education, we talk with Brian Rosenberg, author of the new book Whatever It Is, I'm Against It: Resistance to Change in Higher Education. Rosenberg is the President Emeritus of Macalester College and a Visiting Professor at Harvard's Graduate School of Education.We discuss the paradox of why higher education, which often speaks of transformation, is actually highly resistant to change. Rosenberg outlines the stark economic realities facing many colleges today, with unsustainably high tuition discount rates and declining demographics. He argues we've reached an untenable situation of economic unsustainability and unacceptable outcomes, especially for underrepresented students.Powerful campus stakeholders like administrators and tenured faculty have little motivation to push for dramatic reforms that could threaten their positions. Meanwhile, marginalized groups like non-tenure track faculty and students lack power, despite having the greatest desire for change. Rosenberg calls for small experiments and building innovation centers as "green fields" within existing institutions.We explore innovative models like the African Leadership University, focused on empowering self-directed learners. Rosenberg believes solutions will emerge from scrappy startups and developing world contexts, not elite U.S. institutions. He urges those who care about higher education to take on the challenge of doing the "hard things" needed to build a more equitable and financially sustainable future.Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on what’s emerging in the learning universe.

On this week's episode of Trending in Education, we chat with Nicolle Merrill about conversation design, AI literacy, and preparing for the impacts of artificial intelligence in the workplace.Nicolle is the founder of The Boring AI Company, where she teaches organizations about AI. But Nicolle also has hands-on experience designing conversational AI, having worked on chatbots and voice assistants prior to the release of chatGPT and other large language models.We discuss how Nicolle has had to evolve her own career as these new AI capabilities have emerged. The hype around "prompt engineering" as a new lucrative career, she notes, doesn't match reality. Prompt engineering is an important skill but not a standalone job paying hundreds of thousands per year.A big focus of our conversation is around AI literacy and skills needed to work with AI. Nicolle outlines a framework for understanding how AI works, how it's applied, and what impact it has. Critical thinking and communication skills are key. We have to get comfortable asking "dumb" questions, being vulnerable, and talking to technologists to further our literacy.Nicolle shares how she's building chatbots to actually facilitate this learning, creating "AI helpers" that workshop participants can query to learn AI concepts in an accessible way. We reflect on the need for a maker's mindset in using these tools while also being aware of potential dangers like misinformation.If you're interested in learning more, visit Nicolle's site SoBoringAI.com for AI literacy courses and resources. The future of work is here, and we all need to skill up on AI.Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on what’s emerging in the learning universe.

How can higher education evolve to better prepare graduates for the rapidly transforming world of work? On this episode, host Mike Palmer talks with Brandon Busteed, the newly appointed CEO of BrandEd, about the future of colleges and universities in bridging the gaps between education and career readiness.They discuss today's challenges facing higher ed, including rising costs, student debt, doubts about graduate preparedness, and political polarization. Brandon explains how BrandEd's model focuses on more relevant, experiential education through partnerships with iconic brands like Sotheby's, New York Times, and Condé Nast. He shares how this approach can provide uniquely transformative learning focused on work-integrated opportunities.Exploring the future of work disruption, Brandon stresses the importance of constant learning and upskilling. He talks about the need for more long-term "cathedral building" in education focused on fundamentals, despite rapid change, and the blurring of distinctions between learning and work environments.Tune in for an insightful discussion on how higher education can evolve to better connect students to rapidly changing workplace needs and support lifelong skill development.

In this episode of Trending in Education, we speak with Michael Strawser, an associate professor of communication at the University of Central Florida. He provides insights and practical tips on delivering effective instructional communication.Strawser explains how the field of instructional communication examines how communication impacts learning in all instructional contexts. He notes that clear communication is key for instructing audiences amidst our cluttered media landscape. Strawser aims to diminish student emails by proactively addressing their questions through clear assignment instructions and weekly overview videos.Building rapport and relationships with students can help remove barriers to learning, Strawser says. He suggests simple rapport-building techniques like using student names in emails and following up on personal anecdotes they share. Strawser also cautions against assumptions that younger generations are inherently tech-savvy. He cites a survey where managers felt Gen Z lacked technical literacy, expecting social media fluency to translate to workplace software.Strawser believes we need increased focus on tech, media and AI literacy so audiences can navigate information sources wisely. He advocates adaptability regarding new technologies, urging educators to avoid simply adopting gadgets without tying them to good pedagogy. As instructors, Strawser concludes we should remember teaching is only part of our identity. Finding balance helps us approach instruction with humanity, clarity and care for the whole student.

In this special episode, host Mike Palmer is interviewed by Dr. Whitney Green from Kiddom about the use of AI and ChatGPT in the classroom. We discuss how AI and generative technologies like ChatGPT came about through advancements in computing power and neural networks. While some educators have concerns about introducing these technologies too quickly, Mike and Whitney explore the potential benefits of using AI to personalize learning and support teachers.We talk about establishing parameters and getting parental consent to use ChatGPT responsibly in schools. Mike suggests teachers try out the technology personally first to understand it. He says AI could help teachers by automating repetitive tasks so they can focus more on coaching and motivating students. Whitney emphasizes becoming knowledgeable about AI tools to use them effectively for students' learning needs.Overall, Mike and Whitney encourage being open-minded, finding trusted resources, and connecting with other educators to thoughtfully adopt AI. We are hopeful about AI's potential to empower teachers and unlock new levels of personalized learning if implemented carefully. The key is educating all stakeholders involved and putting student learning at the center.Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of education.

In this week's episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer has an enlightening conversation with learning science expert Bror Saxberg. As founder of Learning Forge, Saxberg knows a tremendous amount about how learning happens in the brain, and he shares his wisdom in this episode by applying that knowledge to parenting.Resources cited in this episode: The Brain Story from the Palix Foundation: https://www.albertafamilywellness.org/what-we-know/the-brain-story/ Harvard Center for the Developing Brain: https://developingchild.harvard.edu/ Dick Clark and Bror Saxberg on Motivation: https://riverapublications.com/article/engineering-motivation-using-the-belief-expectancy-control-framework Episode Summary: Right from the start, Bror stresses the importance of "serve and return" interactions with babies and toddlers. By responding to a child's vocalizations, gestures, and interests with talk, touch and emotion, parents help build key communication circuitry in their children's brains. Language exposure in those early years pays dividends down the road.Saxberg also cautions about the damages of prolonged stress, known to flood young brains with cortisol and inhibit learning. Creating a peaceful, low-stress home environment allows a child's brain to thrive.When kids reach school-age, it's essential to leverage their working memory and long-term memory. Repeated practice of foundational skills like reading, writing and math moves them into long-term memory, freeing up working memory for higher-order thinking.The teenage years bring another window of opportunity, as adolescent brains are primed for social motivation and abstract thinking. Engaging teens in meaningful dialogue about real-world issues builds critical thinking skills that will serve them for life.On the topic of motivation, Saxberg outlines four key barriers that parents and teachers should look to address: not seeing value in an activity, feeling incompetent, blaming external factors, and wrestling with difficult emotions. The solutions involve building relevance, confidence, problem-solving skills and emotional support.Finally, Saxberg champions open communication between parents and teachers to align approaches for motivation, skill-building and meeting social-emotional needs. Continuity between home and school learning accelerates student success.This information just scratches the surface of the practical parenting guidance Saxberg shares. Don't miss this insightful episode to pick up more techniques for parent-child interactions that optimize learning throughout our lives.Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on what’s emerging in the learning universe.

Meredith Halpern-Ranzer, Co-Founder and CEO of the kids' podcasting company Tinkercast, joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about learning, podcasts, and how to reach children and their grown-ups with compelling educational content. We begin by hearing Meredith's background creating educational media for children at places like Sesame Workshop and PBS Kids Sprout. After recognizing the decline of linear television, she teamed up with radio host Mindy Thomas and podcaster Guy Raz in 2017 to launch Tinkercast and its flagship science podcast Wow in the World.The conversation covers the learning benefits of audio, especially regarding comprehension, engagement and creativity. Meredith explains how Tinkercast turns real scientific research into entertaining, sound-rich stories, fostering curiosity and critical thinking skills. We discuss various Tinkercast shows like the game show Two Whats and a Wow and the music podcast Flip and Mosey's Guide to How to Be an Earthling. Meredith also details their new classroom offering TinkerClass, a free project-based learning program for teachers that builds on audio-inspired questions and wonders. Don't miss this deep dive into the power of listening to audio together as a rich and emerging learning context for the future.Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on what's emerging in the learning universe.