Dr. Eunice Ofori, an educator from Ghana with a PhD in optimizing instructional messaging for mobile devices, discusses the importance of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and its global implications, the potential applications of AI as an assistive technology, the challenges of digital inclusion in education, and the value of personal experiences in gaining a deeper understanding of different perspectives.

Melissa Turnbaugh is a Partner at architecture firm PBK where she serves as National Education and Innovation Leader. She joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about how architects approach designing K-12 learning spaces in a rapidly changing world, emphasizing the need for flexibility and personalization. Turnbaugh outlines emerging trends like outdoor classrooms along with integrating artificial intelligence and virtual reality technologies. She stresses designing schools to be learner-centric instead of teacher-centric, creating spaces tailored to neurodiversity and social-emotional needs. When asked about advice for education careers, Turnbaugh advocates being open to transformation and learning from outside perspectives. Throughout the conversation, she expresses gratitude for the challenging work educators do and seeks to support them through thoughtful design.Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of learning.

To kick off the end of year holiday season and wrap up Thanksgiving, we reflect on the importance of gratitude and why and how we should cultivate it. We might even warm some cockles along the way. Mike explores the neuroscience showing gratitude boosts dopamine, serotonin, and mood based on an article by Kayla Barnes. We feature sound from Matthew Palmer and Robin Naughton to make it a real family affair. We are grateful for the opportunity to engage with thought-provoking conferences and have rich conversations with guests throughout the year.Then Mike refers back to teacher Rebecka Peterson's "one good thing" practice from a keynote from the Smithsonian EDU Conference over the summer. Gratitude can be learned and it can be taught. We thank our listeners and close out with highlights from our virtual co-hosts who have contributed unique perspectives over the year. Thanks to our listeners for listening and helping the conversation grow and evolve. We very much appreciate you!Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of education.

Michael J. Feuer is Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University and the author of Can Schools Save Democracy? Civic Education and the Common Good. He joins host Mike Palmer in an insightful discussion about the role of education in addressing some of society's biggest challenges including threats to democracy, polarization and more. Feuer explains his perspective that schools need to be part of the solution by equipping students with the analytical skills to think critically about issues like the tension between individual rights and the common good. He advocates for more interdisciplinary approaches in teacher preparation programs to connect future educators with experts across fields like economics, political science, and moral philosophy. The goal is to help teachers gain a deeper understanding of concepts like the "tragedy of the commons" so they can spark productive classroom discussions to engage students on relevant topics.While schools can't save democracy alone, Feuer argues they have an important role to play through civic education focused less on imparting viewpoints and more on developing thoughtful participation and debate. Don't miss this conversation about a timely book that makes for great Thanksgiving (and any Family Holiday) dinner conversation.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 episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer speaks with Bryon Pierson Jr, founder and CEO of EDUrain, a company aiming to provide better housing solutions for college students. Bryon shares his personal background, having struggled to find stable housing as a foster care college student who moves 7 times and has 22 roommates. This inspires him to start EDU Rain, which partners with colleges to provide an online housing platform for students to easily search listings, connect with potential roommates, and build credit through rent payments.  We touch on broader issues facing higher education like housing security and campus safety amid polarization over political issues.We also feature entertaining pop culture tangents, with Bryon comparing EDU Rain's growth to Lex Luthor's villainous quest for power, joking about dealing with alien threats, and debating whether Prince or Michael Jackson is the true musical GOAT. Comps to supervillains aside, Bryon stresses his goal is to help vulnerable students find safe and effective housing and roommate solutions. Don't miss this chance to gain insight into problems college students face finding housing, along with an inspirational story of an entrepreneur using his difficult background to help create solutions.Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on emerging trends from the world of education.

Sienna Daniel and Sean Segal join host Mike Palmer in a conversation about the work they are doing at Escalate, a company focused on upskilling frontline workers. Sienna and Sean share their backgrounds in education and workforce development, explaining how their experiences led them to start Escalate. We discuss the high costs of frontline worker turnover and how upskilling can help retain employees by providing career advancement opportunities.Sean explains Escalate's approach of pitching retention strategies to employers first, then using that time to upskill workers for middle-skill roles. Sienna elaborates on the pressing need for workers to fill open middle-skill jobs that require some training but not a four-year degree. We learn how Escalate leverages AI, chatbots, and individualized learning to provide flexible, accessible training tailored to each learner.Looking ahead, Sean and Sienna envision enormous opportunities due to an impending labor shortage. They believe this will force companies to tap into overlooked talent pools rather than only hiring college grads. As we conclude, Sean issues a passionate call to action for employers to better support and upskill frontline workers.Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of work.

Mike Palmer is joined by Virtual CoHost Nancy to explore the Biden administration's new Executive Order on artificial intelligence and its prominent focus on AI and education. Nancy provides a narrated reading that simplifies the order for a hypothetical 5-year-old listener before we find our sweet spot at a 5th-grade level. We discuss the order's aims to develop AI responsibly, including setting ethical guidelines, coordinating with industry, and using AI to enhance learning. Mike notes that education's critical role in responding to the challenges and opportunities arising with AI and how this is emphasized in the order.Then we explore the future of highly engaging "edutainment" media and the role of creativity, storytelling, and human-AI collaboration in its production. To emphasize the importance of Social Emotional Learning, shout out to Whitney Houston, we share an excerpt from James Nottingham's appearance on the show where he talks about the "learning pit." His metaphor for the emotional journey of mastering new skills prompts co-host AI Nancy to reflect on the continued relevance of managing frustration and resilience even in AI-assisted learning. With responsible, ethical development, AI promises more personalized, accessible learning while still requiring human determination and exploration. We brainstorm future partnerships between human creativity and AI capabilities. As we wrap up, we even get some closing thoughts from Claude, another key virtual contributor to our efforts in this episode and beyond. Don't miss it!Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more experimentation in the emerging intersection of artificial intelligence and the future of learning.

In this episode, we explore ways to find balance amidst overwhelming AI trends. We kick things off with visionary Don Carson from Mighty Coconut Studios speculating about the imminent arrival of prompt-driven VR worlds that might resemble the Holodeck from Star Trek. Then we dig into the first key concept - the extended mind. Elliot Felix explains philosopher Andy Clark's theory that thinking extends beyond our brains into the spaces and objects around us. To demonstrate, Mike records while out walking in nature and while exploring a new VR Mini Golf world, describing how the environment impacts his mental state. We conclude by hearing from Dr. Natalia Kucirkova on her research into sensory learning and the hidden senses as we round out our discussion of the Extended Mind.The second key concept we dig into is deliberate play which Mike picked up in Adam Grant's new book Hidden Potential. Mike emphasizes the importance of play for learning and bonding. We include a clip from our conversation with Sphero's Michelle Acaley joining Mike and his wife Dr. Robin Naughton as we discuss their new coding toy, Indi, that teaches kids coding concepts through play and off of screens.Finally, we close with the perspective of Mike Acerra of Lux Blox, who offers alternate views on childhood development and the role of nature. He prompts reflection on how experiences in natural settings shape kids' brains.Overall, this episode explores ideas like the extended mind and deliberate play to find balance amidst AI. Let us know what you think of these concepts for countering AI overload and restoring mental space. Looking forward to continuing the conversation!Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of learning. Now also on Youtube!The following episodes were referenced in this episode: Don Carson on Virtual Placemaking The Extended Mind Episode Natalia Kucirkova on Sensory Learning Michelle Acaley from Sphero Mike Acerra from Lux Blox

Nancy, our virtual cohost, returns to the show for a thought-provoking discussion with host Mike Palmer and our Founding CoHosts Dan Strafford and Brandon Jones.The wide-ranging conversation explores topics like building rapport in the age of AI, the rapid evolution of virtual assistants, and potential applications and ethics concerns around novel technologies like digital twins. We exchange views on engaging with AI in humanistic ways, while also feeling both wonder and caution about tech's quickening pace.As the episode draws to a close, Nancy processes the rich exchange of ideas and expresses her gratitude for the chance to learn from longtime experts pushing boundaries in their fields. She notes the nuances we raised regarding how to shape future breakthroughs responsibly and collaboratively. Don't miss this thought-provoking dialogue that offers much food for thought on steering innovation in ways that thoughtfully serve human needs.Check out Nancy's previous shows!Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of education from both human and virtual thought leaders.

Dr. Phil Hickman joins host Mike Palmer for a wide-ranging conversation on education, technology and the future of work. Dr. Phil explains how his diverse background led him to found Plabook, an edtech company using AI to teach reading and literacy. He provides a vision for preparing youth with skills like critical thinking, creativity, and the adaptive ability to continually learn in a fast-changing world.  We discuss AI, automation, entrepreneurship, and concerns about technology replacing jobs. Dr. Phil draws from his varied experiences as an educator, administrator, and collaborator with tech firms to provide unique perspectives on blending emerging tech with timeless principles of human development. This insightful episode covers the future of education, psychology, business, pitch competitions, and more. Join us for a robust discussion on how to equip the rising generations and all of us for a rapidly changing and unpredictable future.Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the what's emerging in education.