Trending In Ed with Mike Palmer

In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer sits down with Dr. Joshua R. Eyler, author of Failing Our Future: How Grades Harm Students and What We Can Do About It. We dive deep into the complex world of grading systems and their impact on students' learning and well-being.Dr. Eyler, who directs the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Mississippi, shares his journey from English professor to educational researcher. We explore the historical context of grading, its unintended consequences, and the growing movement for grading reform.Our conversation covers a wide range of topics, including: The psychological impact of grades on students' motivation and mental health How traditional grading systems can reinforce societal inequities Alternative assessment methods, such as standards-based grading and portfolio assessments The challenges of institutional change in education The role of grades in the evolving landscape of work and artificial intelligence Key takeaways: Grades often hinder the natural learning process and can contribute to mental health issues among students. There's a growing movement towards alternative grading systems that prioritize learning over evaluation. Rethinking grading practices could better prepare students for the future of work, which demands creativity and risk-taking. Whether you're an educator, parent, or simply interested in the future of education, this episode offers valuable insights into how we might reimagine assessment to better serve learners and society. Subscribe where you get your pods. Video versions now live on Youtube and Spotify.

Josh Reibel, CEO of Dreamscape Learn, is transforming education with immersive VR experiences. He discusses how blending Hollywood storytelling with academic content increases student engagement, especially in STEM fields. The conversation explores the innovative production of VR content, the role of avatar-based interactions, and how Dreamscape is tackling scalability challenges. Reibel also shares insights on incorporating generative AI into their platform, all while maintaining the necessary academic rigor for effective 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!

Dive into the fascinating insights from Mary Meeker’s report on AI's transformative impact on higher education. Discover how AI adoption is skyrocketing, with platforms like ChatGPT amassing 100 million users in record time. Explore the dominance of U.S. tech companies in the global market and the urgent challenges facing educational institutions. Unpack the emerging trends of Gen AI's hype, post-secondary disruption, and the need for durable skills to combat AI fatigue. Engaging discussions abound, inviting thoughts on the future of learning!

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.

Dan Porterfield, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute and author of Mindset Matters, discusses the power of growth mindsets in higher education. He outlines five key mindsets: discovery, creation, collaboration, mentorship, and striving. The conversation highlights the transformative impact of faculty mentorship and supportive campus cultures, particularly for first-generation students. Porterfield shares inspiring stories of resilience and the importance of personal agency in education, reminding listeners that each individual can shape their own learning journey.

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.