In this special episode recorded live at SXSW EDU 2024, host Mike Palmer moderates a powerful panel on breaking down silos in education. Featuring multilingual learning consultant Dana Gastich-French , special education expert Dr. DeShanna Reed , and parent coach Punam Saxena , the conversation dives into the trifecta of community, culture, and collaboration. Learn how to be a link, while busting silos across the K12 ecosystem. The panelists, who first met serendipitously at the prior year's SXS...
Mar 28, 2024•52 min•Season 8Ep. 615
Mike Palmer sits down with Spencer Russell, the founder and CEO of Toddlers CAN Read while at SXSW EDU, just after Spencer delivered a keynote there . Spencer shares his journey from being a kindergarten and first grade teacher to taking the leap and starting his own business focused on helping parents teach their toddlers to read. We explore his motivational, step-by-step methodology that breaks down the process into simple, actionable steps that engage both parents and children. Here's the lin...
Mar 25, 2024•32 min•Season 8Ep. 614
In a lively and thought-provoking session at SXSW EDU 2024 , Mike Palmer, host of the Trending in Education podcast, and a panel of experts delve into the "Sweet 16" of learning trends for the year. The discussion covered a wide range of topics, from hyper-personalized learning and the role of AI in education to the importance of mental models and the responsibility of being an "accomplice" in driving positive change. The panelists, including Melissa Griffith from Kaplan , Beth Rudden from BAST ...
Mar 21, 2024•57 min•Season 8Ep. 613
In this thought-provoking episode, Mike Palmer welcomes education journalist Laura Pappano to discuss her new book School Moms: Parent Activism, Partisan Politics and the Battle for Public Education . Laura shares her experiences attending Moms for Liberty summits, witnessing alarming rhetoric portraying public schools as indoctrination centers. She also touches on the work she is doing at the New Haven Student Journalism . While marketed as a grassroots parent movement, we learn Moms for Libert...
Mar 18, 2024•38 min•Season 8Ep. 612
Edward Hanapole leads the media and entertainment practice at Alvarez and Marsal. He brings a unique perspective to his conversation with host Mike Palmer, having worked across major media sectors including education, publishing, and broadcast. We discuss how media companies are adapting to direct-to-consumer models in a post-pandemic world. Edward notes they are having an "existential moment" realizing they must operate more like technology companies. He sees parallels in education's shift to d...
Mar 14, 2024•38 min•Season 8Ep. 611
Bruce Dahlgren, CEO of Anthology , joins host Mike Palmer for an edtech discussion informed by Bruce's extensive IT background and higher ed governance along with his vision for the growth of the platform. With over four decades across enterprise software, data infrastructure, fintech (financial technology), and cybersecurity, Bruce brings valuable outside perspective to leading this major edtech player. He shares unique insights on leveraging AI, analytics, and integrated platforms to enable pe...
Mar 11, 2024•26 min•Season 8Ep. 610
Dr. John Harnisher , who leads the education practice at DataKind joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about how data science can drive social impact in education. Having known each other for over 10 years, we have an engaging conversation reflecting on John's journey in the learning field. John gives us an inside look at DataKind's mission of bringing data science and AI capabilities to social impact organizations. He shares a case study from their work with John Jay College in New York , w...
Mar 07, 2024•33 min•Season 8Ep. 610
In this episode, host Michael Palmer welcomes back Dr. Bror Saxberg , Founder of LearningForge , to continue their exploration of learning and its implications for the future. We dig into core concepts like working memory vs long-term memory, deliberate practice and the 10,000 hour rule, and what the latest research reveals about differences (and similarities) in learning rates. Dr. Saxberg emphasizes the brain's lifelong neuroplasticity and potential for acquiring new skills and knowledge. The ...
Mar 04, 2024•43 min•Season 8Ep. 609
In this week's episode of Trending in Education, Ryan Craig , author of the new book Apprentice Nation: How the "Earn and Learn" Alternative to Higher Education Will Create a Stronger and Fairer America , joins host Mike Palmer to dive into how "earn and learn" models like apprenticeships can bridge the growing experience gap facing young workers seeking their first good job. Craig makes a compelling case for why apprenticeships should be a mainstream option for high school graduates, not just a...
Feb 29, 2024•30 min•Season 8Ep. 608
Get pumped! The Trending in Education crew is heading to SXSW EDU 2024 to kick off the podcast stage in style . Mike Palmer will be joined by his dream team of past guests - his wife, information scientist Dr. Robin Naughton, enterprise strategy expert Melissa Griffith, and AI authority Beth Rudden. This all-star panel will break down the top trends for 2024 and launch their annual March Madness brackets, where you get to vote on the #1 trend of the year. Will AI and ethics lead the pack? Or wil...
Feb 26, 2024•28 min•Season 8Ep. 608
In this episode of Trending in Education, we explore how to keep students, teachers, and parents connected in the learning process. Our guest is Matt Given, CEO of Seesaw , an edtech platform focused on early childhood education. We refer to this white paper from Seesaw during the conversation. Given explains how Seesaw aims to capture the tactile, joyful moments of real-world learning through photos, videos, and voice recordings. This multimedia capturing allows teachers to share authentic exam...
Feb 19, 2024•36 min•Season 8Ep. 607
In this episode of Trending in Education, we talk with Brian Rosenberg, author of the new book Whatever It Is, I'm Against It: Resistance to Change in Higher Education . Rosenberg is the President Emeritus of Macalester College and a Visiting Professor at Harvard's Graduate School of Education. We discuss the paradox of why higher education, which often speaks of transformation, is actually highly resistant to change. Rosenberg outlines the stark economic realities facing many colleges today, wi...
Feb 12, 2024•40 min•Season 8Ep. 605
On this week's episode of Trending in Education, we chat with Nicolle Merrill about conversation design, AI literacy, and preparing for the impacts of artificial intelligence in the workplace. Nicolle is the founder of The Boring AI Company , where she teaches organizations about AI. But Nicolle also has hands-on experience designing conversational AI, having worked on chatbots and voice assistants prior to the release of chatGPT and other large language models. We discuss how Nicolle has had to...
Feb 08, 2024•29 min•Season 8Ep. 604
How can higher education evolve to better prepare graduates for the rapidly transforming world of work? On this episode, host Mike Palmer talks with Brandon Busteed, the newly appointed CEO of BrandEd , about the future of colleges and universities in bridging the gaps between education and career readiness. They discuss today's challenges facing higher ed, including rising costs, student debt, doubts about graduate preparedness, and political polarization. Brandon explains how BrandEd's model f...
Feb 05, 2024•47 min•Season 8Ep. 603
In this episode of Trending in Education, we speak with Michael Strawser, an associate professor of communication at the University of Central Florida. He provides insights and practical tips on delivering effective instructional communication. Strawser explains how the field of instructional communication examines how communication impacts learning in all instructional contexts. He notes that clear communication is key for instructing audiences amidst our cluttered media landscape. Strawser aim...
Feb 01, 2024•35 min•Season 8Ep. 602
In this special episode, host Mike Palmer is interviewed by Dr. Whitney Green from Kiddom about the use of AI and ChatGPT in the classroom. We discuss how AI and generative technologies like ChatGPT came about through advancements in computing power and neural networks. While some educators have concerns about introducing these technologies too quickly, Mike and Whitney explore the potential benefits of using AI to personalize learning and support teachers. We talk about establishing parameters ...
Jan 29, 2024•48 min•Season 8Ep. 601
In this week's episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer has an enlightening conversation with learning science expert Bror Saxberg. As founder of Learning Forge , Saxberg knows a tremendous amount about how learning happens in the brain, and he shares his wisdom in this episode by applying that knowledge to parenting. Resources cited in this episode: The Brain Story from the Palix Foundation: https://www.albertafamilywellness.org/what-we-know/the-brain-story/ Harvard Center for the Dev...
Jan 22, 2024•52 min•Season 8Ep. 600
Meredith Halpern-Ranzer, Co-Founder and CEO of the kids' podcasting company Tinkercast , joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about learning, podcasts, and how to reach children and their grown-ups with compelling educational content. We begin by hearing Meredith's background creating educational media for children at places like Sesame Workshop and PBS Kids Sprout. After recognizing the decline of linear television, she teamed up with radio host Mindy Thomas and podcaster Guy Raz in 2017 to...
Dec 18, 2023•34 min•Season 8Ep. 599
Geoffrey M. Roche is the inaugural Director of Workforce Development at Siemens Healthineers . He joins host Mike Palmer to explore the intersection of healthcare and education, discussing emerging trends related to the healthcare workforce. Geoffrey outlines some of the pressing challenges facing healthcare employers today, including recruitment, retention, and upskilling issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss the importance of investing in ongoing education and training for al...
Dec 14, 2023•24 min•Season 8Ep. 598
In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer interviews Tade Oyerinde, the founder and chancellor of Campus.edu , an organization providing accessible pathway programs powered by professors from top universities. Tade shares how his unconventional homeschooling background and later experiences meeting impoverished adjunct professors sparked his interest in transforming higher education. After a failed startup attempt, Tade found purpose in creating custom ed tech solutions for univ...
Dec 11, 2023•42 min•Season 8Ep. 597
Eunice Ofori has a unique background, hailing originally from Ghana where she was an educator for 20 years. She immigrated to the U.S. in 2011 when her husband began his PhD program, intrigued by the American education system and efforts to provide accommodations for students with disabilities. This was lacking in Ghana and a key motivator for Eunice. She went on to pursue her own PhD research on optimizing instructional messaging for mobile devices, examining it through both an accessibility le...
Dec 07, 2023•27 min•Season 8Ep. 596
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-cent...
Dec 04, 2023•34 min•Season 8Ep. 595
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 hav...
Nov 28, 2023•23 min•Season 8Ep. 594
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 analyt...
Nov 20, 2023•44 min•Season 8Ep. 593
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...
Nov 16, 2023•35 min•Season 8Ep. 592
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 re...
Nov 13, 2023•40 min•Season 8Ep. 591
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 ed...
Nov 10, 2023•25 min•Season 8Ep. 590
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 ...
Nov 06, 2023•23 min•Season 8Ep. 589
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 qu...
Oct 30, 2023•24 min•Season 8Ep. 588
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 job...
Oct 26, 2023•33 min•Season 8Ep. 587
