In this episode of Trending in Education, we dive into the exciting world of immersive learning with Josh Reibel, CEO of Dreamscape Learn. We explore how virtual reality and cinematic storytelling are revolutionizing education, particularly in STEM fields. Josh shares insights on Dreamscape Learn's innovative approach, which combines Hollywood-style narratives with rigorous academic content to create engaging, interactive learning experiences.We discuss the company's origins, its collaboration with Arizona State University, and the impressive results they've seen in student engagement and performance. Josh explains how their VR experiences work, from asynchronous biology labs to synchronous classroom sessions, and how they're addressing scalability challenges.Throughout the conversation, we touch on various topics including: The process of creating immersive learning content The impact of avatar-based interactions on student participation The potential applications of generative AI in their platform The importance of maintaining academic rigor while leveraging entertainment techniques Key takeaways from the episode include: Immersive learning experiences can significantly increase student engagement and success rates, particularly in challenging STEM courses. The combination of Hollywood storytelling techniques and academic content creates a powerful tool for capturing and maintaining student attention. While creating high-quality immersive content is complex, there's growing potential for educators to develop their own experiences using accessible tools. We conclude with Josh's insights on innovation in education technology and his vision for the future of learning spaces as "departure hubs" rather than isolated classrooms.Subscribe 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, host Mike Palmer welcomes back Kate Eberle Walker, CEO of Presence, to discuss the evolving landscape of special education and teletherapy in schools. Kate shares insights on how Presence is leveraging technology to address the growing demand for special education services amidst staffing shortages.Kate explores the impact of the pandemic on teletherapy adoption and the subsequent shifts in perception. She discusses Presence's innovative approach to connecting remote therapists with schools, highlighting the benefits of their teletherapy platform for both clinicians and students. The conversation delves into the potential of AI to streamline administrative tasks, allowing therapists to focus more on student engagement.The discussion also touches on broader trends in special education, including the increasing need for mental health support and the importance of early identification. Kate shares her vision for the future of the field, emphasizing the need for more accessible education pathways to grow the workforce.Three key takeaways: Teletherapy and technology are playing a crucial role in addressing the shortage of special education professionals. AI has the potential to significantly reduce administrative burdens on therapists, allowing them to serve more students effectively. There's a growing need for mental health support in schools, with a focus on proactive identification and universal access. Don't miss this insightful conversation on the intersection of technology and special education. Subscribe to Trending in Education for more discussions on the future of learning and educational innovation.

In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer welcomes Alden Do Rosario, founder of Custom GPT AI, and Dr. Phil Hendrix to discuss the emerging landscape of custom chatbots and AI in higher education. We explore the origins of Custom GPT AI and delve into a white paper co-authored by Dr. Hendrix on the adoption of AI in universities.The conversation covers various aspects of AI implementation in educational settings, from individual faculty use to university-wide applications. We discuss the importance of responsible AI, addressing concerns about hallucinations and misinformation. The guests share insights on how custom GPTs can enhance learning experiences, improve student services, and provide valuable data for educators.Key takeaways from the episode include: The importance of curated, trusted data in building custom AI solutions for educational institutions. The potential of AI to personalize learning experiences and adapt to individual student needs. The need for universities to embrace AI technologies to prepare students for an AI-integrated workplace. Alden concludes by emphasizing the importance of a "crawl, walk, run, fly" approach to AI adoption in higher education, encouraging institutions to start small and scale up as they gain experience and confidence in using these transformative technologies. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of Trending in Education, Mike Palmer welcomes Katy Knight, President and Executive Director of the Siegel Family Endowment. We dive into the intersection of technology, society, and education, exploring how these elements shape our future. Mike references Katy's recent appearance on The Cusp with Paul Fain in the open.Katy shares her journey from Google to philanthropy, discussing the Siegel Family Endowment's focus on learning, workforce, and infrastructure. We explore the current state of AI in education, debating its potential and limitations. Katy emphasizes the importance of addressing fundamental issues in education before fully embracing AI solutions.We also delve into the changing landscape of work and how technology is reshaping career paths. Katy highlights the need for better data interoperability in education systems and the importance of digital literacy in our tech-driven world.Key takeaways from this episode: AI in education should be approached cautiously, focusing on solving real problems rather than being a cure-all solution. The integration of physical and digital worlds through technologies like augmented reality could rebalance our relationship with technology. We should strive to be in charge of technology, not let it control us, by becoming informed consumers and diligent creators. Subscribe to Trending in Education to ensure you don't miss out on these insightful conversations about the future of learning and technology.

In this episode of Trending in Education, Mike Palmer and his AI co-host Nancy explore whether generative AI in education has entered the peak of inflated expectations or even the trough of disillusionment on the Gartner Hype Cycle. We discuss the origins of the Hype Cycle and its relevance to current AI trends.Then we dive into recent developments, including the LAUSD's experience with an AI chatbot and Scarlett Johansson's battle with OpenAI over the rights to her voice. These events highlight growing concerns about data privacy, cybersecurity, and intellectual property in the AI space.We also examine the concept of the Uncanny Valley and its impact on AI adoption, emphasizing the need for human involvement to smooth over AI's shortcomings. The discussion touches on the challenges of data interoperability in education and the importance of solving real problems with seamless, user-friendly solutions.Key takeaways: Generative AI may be entering the trough of disillusionment, with increasing focus on negative stories and backlash. Data privacy, cybersecurity, and intellectual property concerns are becoming more prominent in AI implementation. Human involvement remains crucial in AI integration, particularly in addressing the Uncanny Valley effect and ensuring effective emotional design. Join us for this insightful exploration of AI's current state in education. Don't forget to subscribe to Trending in Education for more thought-provoking discussions on the future of learning and technology!

In this episode of Trending in Education, Mike Palmer delves into Mary Meeker's latest report from Bond Capital, "AI and Universities: Will Masters of Learning Master New Learnings?" Palmer examines Meeker's insights on global market capitalization leaders, the accelerating adoption of digital platforms, and the U.S.'s dominance in machine learning models and AI investment in industry. He explores trends in education technology, student debt, and international academic performance rankings. Mike also discusses three emerging trends discovered in parallel with Meeker's latest report: the Gen AI hype cycle reaching its peak, post-secondary disruption, and the importance of durable skills to battle AI fatigue and Clippy's Revenge.Key takeaways: U.S. technology companies lead in global market capitalization. AI adoption is accelerating rapidly, with ChatGPT reaching 100 million users in record time. Higher education faces challenges in keeping pace with industry innovation in AI. Palmer concludes by inviting listeners to share their thoughts on future topics and encourages engagement with the show. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more. Also, check out our Youtube Playlist of conversations on Higher Ed Disruption.

Mike Palmer speaks with Colleen Keating-Crawford and Elisabeth Booze from Teach for America's Reinvention Lab about their study, "Crossing the Canyon: Ethnographic Findings About Life After High School."We explore youth perceptions of life after high school, discussing the pressure to attend four-year colleges and the growing skepticism about higher education. The conversation introduces a framework for understanding different types of support organizations can provide to youth, categorized as trail guides, transport helicopters, bridge builders, and mapmakers.Key takeaways: Youth are critically examining institutions and seeking authenticity in their post-high school journeys. There's a need for a more cohesive ecosystem of support for young people transitioning to adulthood. Organizations can use the presented framework to assess and improve their support for youth in local contexts. We encourage listeners to check out the full "Crossing the Canyon" report and subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more.

Mike Palmer welcomes Dan Porterfield, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute and author of Mindset Matters: The Power of College to Activate Lifelong Learning, to discuss the value of higher education in fostering growth mindsets. Dan shares his background and explains why he wrote the book, emphasizing the importance of appreciating what college offers to young adults during a formative time in their lives. We explore the five growth mindsets Dan identifies: discovery, creation, collaboration, mentorship, and striving. The conversation touches on how these mindsets prepare students for a rapidly changing world and work life.We delve into the role of productive struggle, resilience, and overcoming imposter syndrome in college experiences, especially for first-generation students. Dan provides examples of students he mentored while President of Franklin and Marshall University who successfully navigated these challenges. The discussion also covers the importance of faculty mentorship and creating a supportive culture on campus.Key takeaways: Growth mindsets developed in college are valuable assets in today's fast-changing economy. Faculty play a crucial role in helping students develop confidence and overcome challenges. Investing in education at all levels is vital for national competitiveness and democracy. Dan concludes with an inspiring message about the power each individual has to create their own education and growth opportunities.Subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on what's emerging in the world of education.

We kick off this special "Stepping Up" edition by welcoming back our virtual co-host Nancy to discuss the AI revolution happening in 2024. The episode explores what "stepping up" means in this new era of agentic intelligence and transformative learning technologies.Host Mike Palmer reflects on recent conversations with guests like Brian Rosenberg, Dwayne Matthews, and students from the Marcy Lab School - all highlighting the importance of doing hard things, embracing cognitive surplus, and developing durable "brain-to-brain" skills. We also bring in conversations with Bror Saxberg and Charles Fadel to really round out the perspectives.Nancy emphasizes that while AI tools are rapidly advancing, humans must step up by designing compelling experiences that leverage these technologies to drive motivation, vision and human will. We examine the transition of AI from a scientific phase to an engineering one, where the promise of personalization at scale is an emerging challenge. Mike concludes with a highlight from the Palm Court Podcast featuring Dr. Jonathan White about getting comfortable with the messiness of working on real problems.Three key takeaways: Stepping up means identifying the winners and transformative use cases as agentic AI steps up (or falls short). Developing "brain-to-brain" skills like empathy, collaboration and perspective-taking will be crucial for humans to thrive alongside AI. We must get better at discerning problems and mapping the right AI/human tools to solve the messy, complex challenges ahead. Subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts to join us in stepping up to this new AI-enabled future of learning.

Dr. Jennifer Wells, the Director of Writing at New College of Florida, joins Mike Palmer to delve into the significance of writing skills in higher education and beyond. Jennifer shares her professional journey, highlighting the importance of fostering a culture of writing excellence and providing students with the necessary supports they need to learn and to put in meaningful effort into the writing process. You can learn more about Jennifer's writing school and the workshops she offers here.We explore the challenges faced by students transitioning from high school to college, emphasizing the need for a shift in mindset towards writing as a process of thinking and refining ideas rather than having to be perfect right away. Jennifer underscores the value of embracing revisions, project management, and time management skills like Pomodoro, which are transferable to various professional contexts.As AI writing tools continue to evolve, Jennifer provides insights into their potential impact on college admissions essays and academic writing. We discuss the importance of cultivating a human connection through writing and the role of educators in guiding students to develop their unique voices and perspectives.Key Takeaways: Writing is a fundamental skill that transcends academic boundaries, fostering critical thinking, resilience, and effective communication in both professional and personal spheres. Educators should prioritize teaching writing as a process, encompassing revision, project management, and time management, to equip students with transferable skills for lifelong learning and success. While AI writing tools can be useful in certain contexts, such as brainstorming and drafting, they cannot replace the human element of writing, which involves personal expression, nuanced thought processes, and the ability to connect with readers. Concluding the episode, we emphasize the need for ongoing collaboration between secondary and post-secondary educators, as well as employers, to bridge gaps and align curriculum with the skills and dispositions necessary for students to thrive in an ever-evolving world.Subscribe wherever you get your pods. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more.