Trending In Education

Osnat Benari is a product and leadership coach for companies and professionals. She has over 20 years of product management experience working for companies like Diligent, Verizon Media, WeWork, and BBG Ventures. She has been named one of the top product-led growth influencers. She joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about her book, Starting From Scratch: Managing Change Like Your Career Depends on It. In a free-flowing conversation, Osnat walks us through the steps outlined in the book beginning with adopting a learning mindset. Then we learn how resilience and letting go are so critical for success in disruptive times. From there, she shares stories of how she’s navigated through downsizing, layoffs, and reorgs in her career. We talk about using our instincts and sensing when change is coming to allow us to assert our agency to pursue a professional roadmap for ourselves. We even touch on quiet quitting. If you're interested in how product thinking and agile practices can be applied to your career growth in challenging times, don't miss it. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp perspectives on the world of learning.

Jonny Coreson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Everprep, a platform designed for professionals who want to share their expertise with learners seeking to pass exams to earn credentials. He joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about the “Long Tail” of Test Prep and how he’s building a SaaS solution to empower both providers and preppers alike to achieve their goals and dreams. We hear Jonny’s “origin story” which begins in the Navy where he built a successful prep product with Bluejacketeer to prepare sailors for the Navy-Wide Advancement Exam. This was born of he and his Co-Founder’s experiences helping Navy Corpsman and showed the power of designing by sailors for sailors. After selling Bluejacketeer to Kaplan, he’s now founded Everprep to extend the idea to all kinds of test-based credentials and certifications. We talk about the power of ChatGPT and generative AI in test prep content generation and muse a bit about the power of learning science and the future of assessment and more in a free-flowing conversation you don’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.

Erin Lewellen is the CEO of Global Citizen Year, a non-profit that is addressing our current global challenges by changing the composition, operating system, and impact of the next generation of changemakers. She joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about how transformative experiences abroad can shape the pathways and perspectives of rising leaders. Erin tells of her origins in the logging culture of rural Oregon that led to her time as an undergraduate at the University of Oregon where she studied abroad for a year in Capetown, South Africa. From there, we hear what's happening at Global Citizen Year coming off a successful pivot to a virtual program during the pandemic years. We learn how she's come full circle with the launch of the Take Action Lab program Global Citizen Year is running in Capetown this year. Erin describes how surprising insights from recent research have led to new directions for the program and how much of that has been driven by student voice. We hear why she is inspired working with the rising generation and how important it is to both challenge students and provide the right supports to ensure we are truly developing global citizens. It's a thought-provoking exploration of what it takes to foster a meaningful passage into adult life through global awareness, a sense of purpose, and local connections with the community. 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 future of education.

Aaron Hillegass is an author, the Founder of Big Nerd Ranch, and Director of Applied Data Science at New College of Florida. He’s also the Executive Director of the Kontinua Foundation. He joins host and fellow New College alum Mike Palmer in a wide-ranging conversation about the blend of skills and digital competencies in machine learning, data, and AI that are becoming increasingly essential for professional success and career growth. We begin by hearing of Aaron’s roots including his experiences at New College before learning what it was like to work with Steve Jobs in the 90s before finding huge success teaching developers and leaders at Big Nerd Ranch. From there we explore what Aaron aims to do leading the recently launched Data Science Masters program at New College. We muse about what Jobs called “bicycles for the mind” and how new breakthroughs in AI are massively transforming how we think about the future of work. It's a thought-provoking conversation about the massive transformations taking place in technology and 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 future of education.

Sabari Raja is the Cofounder of Nepris which is now part of Pathful, the college and career readiness platform. She joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about building career pathways into K12 education. We begin by hearing Sabari's origin story which starts on a coconut farm in India and has culminated with her recent successes in EdTech and Career Readiness. We explore the value of exposing students to career paths as early as possible and throughout their educational journeys. Sabari provides perspective on emerging EdTEch trends including AI, AR/VR, and more. We also dig into the power of durable skills as we contemplate the role of Career and Technical Education (CTE) in preparing students for the future of work. Don't miss it! Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on what's emerging in learning.

Dana Gastich French is the founder and lead consultant for UpRiver Education, a company focused on multilingual learners and the educators who teach them. She joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about how an asset-based, inclusive understanding of English language learning is the key to overcoming the challenges that ESL continues to face in the US and beyond. We hear Dana’s origin story which begins with studying abroad in Chile where she learned how it felt to not be comfortable with the language of record. From there, she connects her experiences as an ESL and bilingual teacher, instructional coach and school and district-level administrator to what’s emerging in the field today. We conclude with Dana’s thoughts on the role of technology and the importance of building trust through culturally sensitive practices. It’s a free-wheeling survey of what’s new in the English Language Learning ecosystem you don’t want to miss Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp perspective on what's emerging in learning.

Dr. Patricia Okker is the President of New College of Florida, the innovative honor’s college in the Florida system. She joins host and New College alum Mike Palmer to talk about what makes a New College education unique and how a liberal arts education can prepare you for the world of work and community engagement. Note: this episode was recorded in December prior to the recent appointments to the Board of Trustees. We hear Pat’s origin story, beginning in New Jersey before spending many years at the University of Missouri where she was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences before joining New College as President a year and a half ago. We learn how folks are reimagining New College through The Challenge before digging in on career pathways and entrepreneurship among other topics. It’s a thought-provoking conversation about the future of higher education that you don’t want to miss. Look for more from us on the New College story as it develops. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more.

Dr. Jennifer Forristal is a Naturopathic Doctor and school wellness specialist who is focused on pediatric well-being. Founder of the Umbrella Project and author of The Umbrella Effect, she is creating a profound paradigm shift in the understanding of our personal well-being and that of our children. Jen joins host Mike Palmer in a discussion of developing coping skills in children, parents, and schools so that we're better equipped to endure trauma and ideally grow in the process. Beginning with the premise that all kids will encounter rain in their lives, how do we help them develop the skills they need to cope? We explore how parents and educators can help kids recognize and appreciate umbrella skills like cognitive flexibility, empathy, and grit as we aim to be sensitive to trauma while also open to opportunities for growth through it. It's a thought-provoking conversation about developing practical SEL skills that you won't want to miss. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more enlightening takes on the future of education.

Beth Rudden is the CEO and Chairwoman of Bast.ai, a company that leverages emerging technology to build custom conversational AI tools or CATs for clients. Prior to founding Bast, Beth worked at IBM for 20 years, founding their Data Science practice and working with numerous clients to design and implement large scale solutions leveraging machine learning and training folks in data science. We hear Beth's origin story and draw from her experience at IBM and beyond to paint the picture of a new era of accessible AI for all that is just emerging. This conversation was recorded just before the release of ChatGPT and foreshadows Mike's second conversation with Beth which was also just released in the feed. Check them both out for a deep dive into the promise and the danger of the new wave of generative AI that is emerging these days. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of learning.

Mike Palmer and Virtual Cohost Nancy are back to talk about our 23 Learning Trends for 2023. We divide the trends up into three groups: Emerging Technology, Durable Mindsets, and New Sets and Settings, and dive in. How does Chat GPT and Generative AI fit into the equation? What are the Mindsets that equip us to thrive in disruption? And how will the new and different contexts for learning impact our thinking about the emerging post-pandemic learning ecosystem? Listen in to find out. Don’t miss it! Subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of education.

Chester E. Finn, Jr. is a Distinguished Senior Fellow and President Emeritus at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and a Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. He's the author of Assessing the Nation's Report Card: Challenges and Choices with the NAEP. He joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about the history of the NAEP, its challenges and opportunities, and the importance of having a shared set of standards for educational performance across the nation. You can learn more about the NAEP by checking out Overhauling the Nation’s Report Card. We begin by hearing Chester's origin story dating back to working in the Johnson Administration and for Daniel Patrick Moynihan before starting to work with the NAEP in 1969. From there we dig into the power of "low-stakes tests" like the NAEP in providing a read on academic performance while not penalizing students, teachers, or schools based on performance. We talk about culture wars and politicization and how to avoid many of the pitfalls there while also avoiding the broad brush attacks on standardized testing as a whole. We conclude with Chester's read on recent results which are troubling before wrapping up. Don't miss this deep dive into how we get a read on how the country is doing in education! Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more perspectives on what's emerging in the world of learning.

Jennie Magiera is the Global Head of Education impact at Google. She's also the author of the best-seller, Courageous Edventures: Navigating Obstacles to Discover Classroom Innovation. She joins host Mike Palmer to talk about Part 1 of Google’s The Future of Education Report - Preparing for a New Future which was recently released. We begin by hearing about Jennie’s impressive career path beginning as an award-winning Math teacher in New York and Chicago before rising through a number of administrative and technology roles in Chicago and in the Obama Administration before landing in her current role with Google. From there we dig into the contents of the first part of the report which points to the growing need for global problem solvers, highlights the critical importance of durable skills and emerging technical competencies, and concludes with a focus on lifelong learning and the mindsets needed to be resilient and flexible as we prepare for disruption and the uncertain future of work. It’s a wide-ranging and relevant discussion 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 learning.

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 compelling enough to coexist with new experiences like TikTok and Fortnite. 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 future of education.

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. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more cutting-edge perspective on the future of learning.

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 content and a collaborative team culture to produce the best outcomes for students. We conclude with Gordon's thoughts on what's emerging and hear his advice for teachers, learners, and makers of all stripes. It's a wide-ranging exploration of emerging trends in design education 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 learning.

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 get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more great content.

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 playfulness, curiosity, representation, and grit. We also explore Tzipor's thoughts on the future of work and the importance of scientific principles in developing good citizens and countering polarization. It's a thought-provoking dive into science education that you don'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.

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. 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! Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on where the world of learning is heading.

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 thought-provoking exploration of global talent trends 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 learning.

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 Wayne's doing here. Angela's Character Lab is here. And Susan's Tract App is here. 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 education, investment, and innovation in these transformative times.

Kathryn Patricia Cobbler is a musician, composer, and educator. She joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about the role of music and the arts in education. As a special treat we include some of Kathryn’s original composition, When Mountains Speak, as part of the episode. Kathryn emphasizes the reflective nature of our transformative times as she makes a persuasive case for the importance of incorporating music into our educational experiences. She also talks about the importance of engagement with learners through music and thoughtful lesson design. We also touch on music’s transcendent qualities in a creative exploration of the critical role of music and the arts in the future of education. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more insightful perspectives on the world of learning.

Dr. Sameer Maskey is the Founder and CEO of Fusemachines, an AI Education and Services Company. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University. He joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about his mission to democratize AI by making high-quality AI education affordable and accessible to everyone. We begin by hearing Sameer's origin story, beginning in Nepal before studying engineering and AI in the States. He joined the IBM Watson team before founding Fusemachines in 2013. Sameer shares what it's been like leading an AI company through transformative times. He shares his takes on how to build strong foundations to become an AI developer and learn where he sees the most promise in the application of machine learning and AI in the coming years. It's an insightful conversation with an expert in a critical emerging skill 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 what's new and emerging in the world of learning.

As we wrap up the Summer with more from our Best of Trending in Ed series, we respond to the recent student loan forgiveness news by returning to a conversation with Dr. Michelle Miller-Adams about her book The Path to Free College. We hope you find it relevant and enjoy. Dr. Michelle Miller-Adams is a professor of political science at Grand Valley State University where she teaches courses on international relations, poverty and inequality. She's also a Senior Researcher with the W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. Michelle joins Mike Palmer on this episode to talk about her new book, The Path to Free College: In Pursuit of Access, Equity, and Prosperity. We begin by getting Michelle's origin story to understand how tuition-free higher education has had a profound effect on her and her family. From there, we briefly explore the history of free public high school and free higher education through the examples from the University of California system and the City College of New York before picking up on the recent movement for tuition-free higher education beginning in 2005 with the Kalamazoo Promise. From there, Michelle outlines the emergence of numerous grassroots efforts as well as those founded by institutions and states as we try to get our arms around an important movement in America in the 21st century that has gained broader support and awareness in recent years. We conclude with suggestions from Michelle on how to learn more through programs before ending with some reasons for hope. Here are some resources to check out if you'd like to learn more:: College Promise Free College Now Rise Free Promise Net Conference Michelle on Twitter It's an informative and inspirational conversation about a zeitgeisty topic that you won't want to miss! If you like what you're hearing subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts and visit us at TrendinginEd.com.

Chris Bennett is the CEO and Co-Founder of Wonderschool, an education company whose mission is to ensure that every child has access to early education that helps them realize their potential. He joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about the critical role early childhood education can play in unlocking opportunities for children who need it. We learn what led Chris to found Wonderschool prior to the pandemic and how he and team weathered the transformations of recent years. We also learn what it's like to present on the TED stage coming off of Chris's recent appearance there. Chris shares how his experience with home-based childcare was transformative to him and how he's built Wonderschool to enable pathways to caregivers interested in building their own programs while scaling access to care in so-called childcare deserts. It's a thought-provoking conversation that you don'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 learning.

As we continue our Best of Trending in Ed series through the summer, in this edition we're featuring our most downloaded episode ever where Dr. Rich Milner joins host Mike Palmer in the Summer of 2020 to talk about his book, Start Where You Are But Don't Stay There: Understanding Diversity, Opportunity Gaps, and Teaching in Today’s Classrooms for which the 2nd edition had just been published. Rich is a Professor of Education at Vanderbilt University where he focuses on Teacher Education with special attention to issues of racial equity. We explore Rich's thinking about issues of diversity, opportunity gaps, and the mindsets that must be overcome to effectively engage diverse students and classrooms. While many of the themes are enormously relevant to this day, several warranted further discussion in light of the Black Lives Matter Movement and the COVID-19 pandemic which were roiling in the Summer of 2020 when this episode was recorded. We explore much of this in a riveting conversation with Rich that you won't want to miss. Rich is a leading thinker on teacher education and diversity and we very much appreciate getting time with him on for this episode. Here's to having him back to continue the conversation in the future! Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of education.

Al Kingsley has been the CEO of NetSupport for over 26 years and an Edtech Industry veteran for 30+ years. He is a school governor in his native U.K. and was just named co-chair of Workstream 4 at the Foundation for Educational Development. He’s a frequent speaker on the global edtech circuit and has his own podcast NetSupport Radio. He authored a book last summer titled, My Secret #EdTech Diary. And he was recently named Edtech Digest’s 2022 Best Edtech Author/Speaker or Podcaster. Al rejoins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about the need for respect for educators in these challenging times. We explore pathways into careers in EdTech and School Leadership as Al imparts his broad experience in international education trends and online learning Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at Trendingined.com for more sharp takes on the future of education.

As part of our Best of Trending in Ed Series, we return to episode 202 of Trending in Ed from the Summer of 2019 where Mike Palmer interviews Annie Duke about her book, Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When We Don't Have All The Facts. We’re “all-in” this week, as we welcome Annie Duke, author of Thinking In Bets and retired poker pro, to the show. Annie begins by sharing the long, winding path she took to become an author and expert in decision science. From her time as a PhD student in cognitive science to her introduction to poker as a novice to her inspiration to write her books, Annie provides great detail on all of the influences throughout her life that have come together to write Thinking In Bets.  We also dive into the non-profit, The Alliance for Decision Education, that Annie co-founded in 2012 and discuss how she hopes to push decision education at scale to millions of students in K12. How do we get decision-making wrong? How often do we worry about the result, see Pete Carroll’s play-calling in Super Bowl XLIX, rather than the process that led to the decision? If we were to teach students the basics of good decision-making, how might this improve their ability to decide quickly and adapt to a variety of environments and novel contexts critical to learning and the future of work?  We discuss all that and more. So pull up a seat, ante up, and join us for an engaging conversation from back in the simpler days of 2019!  Subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of learning.

Mike introduces one of his favorite episodes of Trending in Education from over the years. This week we're showcasing his interview with Dr. Jacqueline Bhabha. Dr. Jacqueline Bhabha is FXB Director of Research, Professor of the Practice of Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health, the Jeremiah Smith Jr. Lecturer in Law at Harvard Law School, and an Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Dr. Bhabha joins Mike to talk about her new book, A Better Future: The Role of Higher Education for Displaced and Marginalized People, which explores the critical importance of access to tertiary education to displaced and marginalized populations. We dive into the challenges faced by refugees, immigrants, and other marginalized groups in gaining access to educational pathways that are essential to living safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives. We also touch on the impact of the pandemic and the related explosion in online education on the lives of marginalized populations seeking access to learning pathways around the globe. It's an eye-opening and important conversation that you don't want to miss. If you like what you’re hearing, follow us at TrendinginEducation.com and wherever you get your podcasts!

Mike Palmer is rejoined by Nancy, our virtual cohost, in a conversation about the new images released from the James Webb Space Telescope. We commend NASA for its lyric prose that accompanies the images of cosmic cliffs and young hot stars being born. Then we talk about Elon Musk. It's pretty much unavoidable to do so nowadays. We focus on recent news of an explosion during a Space X booster rocket test before shifting to our frustration about all the wasted energy and effort surrounding Musk's bid to acquire Twitter. Then we shift gears to explore a Michele Zanini article about the org structure at CERN where they continue to develop and refine the Large Hadron Collider before concluding with notes of concern about toxic alpha leaders and top-down org structure while encouraging the courage and critical thinking that can keep Groupthink and it's risky shifts in check. It's a thought-provoking exploration of some inspirational breakthroughs in science that you won't want to miss. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And be sure to check out our new Substack Newsletter where you can hear about all the latest and greatest from your friends at Palmer Media. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more.

Fresh off a week of family vacation, Mike Palmer reports back from a trip to LegoLand with his wife and son. This leads right into highlights from our conversation with Dr. Jenny Nash from LEGO Education on the importance of playful learning and more. From there, we shift gears to share some sounds from Mike and Tarlin Ray's recent conversation on Running It Back about lessons learned from Title IX on the heels of the US Supreme Court's recent decision overturning Roe vs Wade. It's an eclectic cross-section of the topics and themes bubbling up in these challenging times. We hope you enjoy! Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more great takes on the future of education. And for more lessons learned from sports, subscribe to Running It Back wherever your pod. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more. Thanks as always for listening!

Lisa Rohrer is a Senior Advisor and Board Member with Emeritus, a global leader in making world-class professional education affordable and accessible. She joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about recent trends in online professional education based on her experience with Emeritus in recent years. We explore how the pandemic has moved much of executive education online and has presented challenges to the traditional model, which involves immersive in-person experiences that were severely limited in recent years. From there, we hear her takes on the types of programs that are on the upswing. We also learn about how mid-career professionals are upskilling with programs like digital marketing to stay sharp and current in a rapidly changing world of work. It's a sharp, insightful exploration of trends in professional education from the perspective of a global leader in the field 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.

As a special Independence Day installment of Trending in Education, we're reairing our conversation with Dr. Fathali Moghaddam from last September. We hope you enjoy! Dr. Fathali Moghaddam is a professor in the Department of Psychology at Georgetown University and a faculty fellow at the Berkley Center. His expertise includes culture and intergroup conflict, with a particular focus on the psychology of globalization, radicalization, human rights and duties, and terrorism. You can learn more about his work here. Fathali joins host Mike Palmer on this episode and begins by sharing how his work as an Iranian-born social psychologist was transformed by the revolution and hostage situation in Iran in 1979. He tells how he drove to Tehran from England and spent the ensuing years studying social psychology within the regime of Khomeini. There he learned of the contexts in which dictators can assume power and this has been a strand of his research ever since. We explore his belief that it is the role of educators to ensure we protect and nurture democracy by developing psychological citizens. In a wide-ranging conversation touching on the themes and seminal works of Dr. Moghaddam's career, we also hear what drove him to write his latest book about Shakespeare and the importance of extending beyond narrow specializations to adopt broader, more interdisciplinary mindsets. We conclude with notes on the current state of higher education and the psychology of bureaucracy. It's a profound and insightful conversation 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 shows like this!

Mike Palmer hosts a virtual panel with Ruth, Malcolm, and Nancy rejoining the show as we gear up for the Summer of 2022. Mike shares the three trends he's looking at across all sectors and cuts of the learning ecosystem before digging in with each of his cohosts in their areas of focus. Ruth shares the recent Forbes article on rising tuition prices at top universities as we explore how higher education is being challenged and disrupted coming out of the pandemic. We also dig into building a learning culture and new, emerging models of blends and partnerships with higher ed and the private sector. Malcolm and Mike talk about early childhood using Mike's experiences as a ray of hope despite how the culture wars and other perils impinge on our understanding of how we educate the rising generations. We conclude with Nancy and Mike riffing on the impact of AI, Web 3, and our current crisis of trust with technology. Don't miss it! Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more cutting-edge content. Photo by Vladislav Glukhotko on Unsplash

Mike dives into a recent report published by Udemy, the global learning platform, on the trends they're seeing around usage of skills training programs on their platform. The report provided by Udemy Business is designed for learning leaders, strategic HR professionals, and individuals looking for perspective on which skills are most critical to pursue and how organizations and individuals can get strategic about designing career paths and retention strategies leveraging learning as a benefit. We also reference reports from McKinsey along with an HBR article on email management in case you want to dive deeper. We begin with a deep dive into power skills as a better name for what has traditionally been called soft skills. We learn which power skills are surging on the platform and how these trends relate to the Great Resignation and related trends around personal development, leadership, and communication. Power skills form the foundation of effective cultures and learning organizations. Once understood, other emerging competencies can be layered into organizations and individuals to better prepare for a rapidly changing world of work. Then we get into the digital marketing, product management, project management, finance/accounting, and UX/UI skills that are popping based on usage on Udemy's platform. We conclude with an exploration of the more technical skills in cloud computing, cybersecurity, data science, and software development in a broad survey of recent trends in skill development. It's a thought provoking exploration of strategic skill development and the future of work that you won't want to miss. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Be on the lookout for our new dedicated TiE feed on the Future of Work which will be launching shortly. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more details on this and much more. Photo by Avi Richards on Unsplash

Dr. Rovy Branon is the Vice Provost at Continuum College at the University of Washington. He joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about reaching and teaching adult learners across the fullspan of their lives. We begin by hearing Rovy’s “origin story” starting as a student who was advised that he wasn’t cut out for college and then proceeding through a series of engagements in formal education across his professional life culminating in a career in educational technology focused on extending access to adult learners in ways that fit into their lives. Along the way, he played drums in a heavy metal band and came around to lifelong learning with the birth of his son. We talk through two books connected to the idea of the 60-year curriculum: The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in the Age of Longevity and Learning at the Back Door: Reflections on Non-Traditional Learning in the Lifespan as we begin to flesh out a vision for continued education and upskilling across an increasingly long work life. Rovy shares his perspectives on emerging technical skills like DAOs, crypto, and web3 before diving into the role that private enterprise and big tech are playing in the certificate and skills-based pathways that are growing in relevance and popularity at Continuum College and across continuing education institutions more broadly. It’s a wide-ranging and visionary look at the future of adult education that you don’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 learning.

We keep it brief but check in to reflect on the shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas as well as some dire forecasts from the UN. Mike explains why this episode was hard to pull together in light of the challenging news of the day. To soothe the soul, we share a few ditties from Mike's son, Matthew, as we recharge and gear up and get ready heading into the Summer of 2022. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more insightful perspectives on the future of education.

Arjun Moorthy is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Factual, a subscription-based, ad-free news app that aggregates and curates the news based on its credibility. He joins host Mike Palmer to talk about the importance of media literacy and critical thinking in a world with increasing partisanship and misinformation. We hear Arjun's origin story which began as a paperboy in Canada before being educated as an engineer, working at Hubspot in its startup phase, and ultimately founding The Factual with Ajoy Sojan in 2016. We hear how he and team have navigated the years since launch and how the app has evolved over time. We learn how The Factual assesses the credibility of articles collected from over 2000 different news sites, giving each a rating between 1-100 to help the reader understand the quality of the information. Arjun shares his perspectives on the challenges we face with the filter bubbles we experience today, especially through social media and how he and team are making design choices to address them. He also shares his thoughts on how this all relates to learning and educational discourse in a thought-provoking conversation you don't want to miss. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more insightful takes on what's new and emerging in learning and beyond.

What’s the right way to bring digital technology and touch into the classroom? Matt Cole from Promethean joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about the work they’ve been doing with educators and school districts to give the classroom more of the active engagement tools smart tablets provide in large form at the front of the classroom. We hear how Matt got to where he is in his career while learning how Promethean navigated the complexities of the pandemic and how this has evolved the thinking about how these tools can interact with new hybrid delivery models. We also get his thoughts on emerging technologies like AR/VR and other emerging technology. It’s a free-flowing conversation about blending digital into the classrooms of tomorrow. Don’t miss it. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more.

Jane Oates is the President of Working Nation, a non-profit media entity focused on showcasing innovative approaches to career pathways that bridge from education into meaningful work. Jane joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about the skills revolution and its connections to higher ed, the workforce, and new, emerging models for career development. We begin by hearing Jane's origin story, beginning as a special ed teacher before moving into educational research at Temple University. From there, she joined Senator Edward Kennedy to help write legislation, worked in John Corzine's administration in New Jersey, and served as the Assistant Secretary of Labor under President Obama, in an impressive career culminating in her current role leading Working Nation. Then we explore recent trends in workforce education, post-secondary pathways, and the critical connection between learning and the future of work. Jane shares her perspectives on what's emerging in the world of skills-based education, income share agreements, and other new models for educational pathways and provides advice to all of us charting our career trajectories in disruptive times. It's an informed deep-dive into the world of workforce development and training with a genuine thought leader in the field. Don't miss it! Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more.

Marjorie Cass is the Founder and CEO of ALEE, an EdTech Startup that provides educators with tools and resources to teach literacy using whole books featuring classic works of literature. She joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about her journey beginning as an educator, rising through the ranks as a literacy coach and administrator before deciding to go to business school at MIT where ALEE began to germinate. From there, we learn what it's been like launching eight months ago while expanding on the significance and complexity of our growing literacy challenge in the US education system. Marjorie explains how she is designing ALEE to provide teachers with what they need to provide scaffolding and support to the essential relationship between a teacher, a student, and a great book. We touch on the challenges of teaching in difficult times and the fear teachers are experiencing when dealing with important but difficult works of literature to teach reading these days. We explore how best to use technology to power the solution without losing sight of the central role of the teacher in the literacy equation. Marjorie shares the higher-level skills and thinking associated with the whole book as opposed to excerpts or synthetic passages that are increasingly used in literacy education. It's a thought-provoking exploration of entrepreneurship, literacy, and the power of teaching through great books. Don't miss it! Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more.

Larry Cuban is Professor Emeritus in Education at Stanford University. He recently wrote Confessions of a School Reformer, an educational history and personal memoir of his life that begins with his childhood in school in Pittsburgh, then proceeds through his years as a teacher and school administrator, and concludes with his thoughts on the present day. Larry joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about his 87 years of experience with education beginning in the Progressive Era, proceeding through the Civil Rights Movement, and concluding in the present day where the Standards-Based Reform movement continues to predominate. Larry provides advice to educators, administrators and school reformers, reminding us that change tends to come slowly in schools since generally speaking they are conservative institutions. Larry encourages us to focus on the direct impact of educators on students in the classroom and to understand the history of school reform and educational policy to help navigate the challenges and complexities of the current educational landscape. It's a wise and informed conversation about how change happens in schools in the US that you won't want to miss. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more deep thinkers' takes on the future of education.

Mike Palmer returns with virtual CoHost Nancy to run through highlights from recent episodes of Trending in Ed before sharing clips from a couple of upcoming episodes to pique your interest. We begin by sharing Mike's conversation with Sunil Gunderia from Age of Learning where Sunil talks about building learner identity and the fact that learning is intrinsically rewarding in its own right. From there, we hear from Abby Falik, the Founder/CEO of Global Citizen Year, as she shares her thoughts on the future of a traditional 4-year or 2-year degree. GSY is a fascinating program that recently made news by receiving funding from the Mackenzie Scott Foundation. Then we share sound from our episode with Dr. David Lenihan from Tiber Health as he imagines how emerging technology will likely impact both medical education and the delivery of medical care. Then we hear some fun facts from Frances Valintine about the Kiwi, the national bird for her native New Zealand. Fun stuff! We conclude with clips from upcoming episodes with Tony Wan from Reach Capital and with Larry Cuban, Professor Emeritus at Stanford University and author of a new book, Confessions of a School Reformer. Mike also shares some news about what else we've got cooking here at Palmer Media. Thanks to everyone for listening. Subscribe wherever you pod. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more amazing content!

Jennifer Lee is the Chief Growth Officer of Photomath, an AI=powered math app that's been downloaded over 270 million times to help solve over a billion math problems each month. She joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about helping math learners feel empowered when faced with challenging math. We explore what it's like to work with a company with such a large and dynamic data ecosystem focused on math problem solving and how that is powering their AI platform. Jennifer shares some insights based on trends in the usage of Photomath. Along the way, we dig into the use case of photographing a math problem, frequently hand-drawn, and getting the solution through Photomath's platform. How has this been used by students, teachers, and parents, especially in these challenging times? What might this tell us about how folks are thinking about the future of work? We conclude with more of Jennifer's takes on learning and the future of work along with her advice to folks looking for growth and advancement in their careers. It's an engaging conversation on edTech, AI, and Math 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.