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At the intersection of learning, media, and the future of work, join us each week as we sense and discover where the future of education is heading. Join host Mike Palmer, the Founder of Palmer Media, as he engages with thought leaders, pioneers, and entrepreneurs exploring the cutting edge of learning in these tumultuous times.
The Power of ASSISTments to Augment Teaching with Dr. Neil Heffernan
Dr. Neil Heffernan, the William Smith Dean Chair Professor at Worcestor Polytechnic Institute (WPI), joins Mike to talk about how his career interweaves great teaching, computer science, and "ASSISTments" - a set of digital tools designed to make homework assignment and evaluation more efficient. Neil tells us his origin story which includes meeting his wife Cristina while teaching and doing research in K12 Education right through their creation of the ASSISTments Foundation for which Neil serves as the Chair.
We talk about the effective blending of artificial intelligence and human teaching to deliver next-level learning opportunities. We dive into the critical importance of the human elements of motivation, coaching, and inspiration in great teaching. We also discuss how Neil and team have been able to leverage a platform built on crowdsourced content to begin to truly scale ASSISTments to reach hundreds of thousands of students and how the pandemic has increased demand and usage.
Neil and team are doing fascinating work. We hope you enjoy learning more about it!
19:2712/10/2020
Talking About Skills, Baby, with Kelly Ryan Bailey
Kelly Ryan Bailey, the host of Let's Talk About Skills Baby and the Director of Open Skills at EMSI, joins Mike to talk about the journey that brought her to where she is today as a mother, a podcaster, and a global skills evangelist.
After exploring Kelly's personal journey, we dig into the three parts of the job skills marketplace: the employee, the employer, and the educator. How do they relate? And how can we as individuals learn to continue to acquire relevant skills, be grateful for small improvements, and stay motivated to learn throughout our lifecourses?
Kelly brings a lot of energy and passion for the world of skill development and we've very happy to have gotten time to dive into this emerging trend with her. We hope you enjoy.
42:1308/10/2020
School Architecture for The 21st Century with Prakash Nair
This week, Mike is joined by Prakash Nair, the Founder of Education Design International (EDI) and author of Blueprint for Tomorrow from Harvard Education Press. Prakash describes how the design of K12 schools can and should be completely rethought. School buildings and their institutional designs contribute to a "cells and bells" culture that stifles learning, creativity, and joy.
Prakash provides alternative approaches to conceiving of school architecture that are less tied up in the expensive construct of a school building and classrooms. We explore how David Thornburg's four primordial learning spaces: campfire, watering hole, cave, and life can be designed into school environments. We also discuss the power of outdoor learning. Through our conversation with Prakash, we see how we can let go of legacy models of school architecture to genuinely reimagine how and where learning can be done.
It's a fascinating conversation. We really appreciate getting a chance to talk with Prakash. We hope you enjoy.
37:5905/10/2020
Gaming, Scenario-Based Thinking, and Covid-19 on Campus with Bryan Alexander
This week Mike is joined by Bryan Alexander, Senior Scholar at Georgetown University and author of Academia Next , to talk about what happens when a Futurist gets a prediction right. In Bryan's recent book, he explores a possible future where a widespread pandemic akin to the 1918 Spanish flu hits and majorly disrupts higher education. Bryan's book was released prior to Covid-19 and it's received a lot of attention since.
Although it's tragic and we empathize deeply with those impacted most severely, we use this as a jumping off point to explore how gaming, scenario-based thinking, and "futures work" help build out our ability to think through and manage the novel situations that life continues to throw at us.
What does Bryan see on the horizon for Higher Education and the world more broadly? Listen in to find out!
46:4301/10/2020
Talking Social Emotional Learning with David Adams
David Adams, the Senior Director of Strategy at The Urban Assembly, joins Mike to explore the many facets of Social Emotional Learning or SEL. David shares his career journey which charts a path through many of the key centers of research in the field along with practical experience in schools in New York City and around the world. He recently co-authored a book titled The Educator's Practical Guide to Emotional Intelligence.
David expands on how he's established a cutting-edge SEL program at The Urban Assembly schools in New York and provides tips and insights for educators, parents and the rest of us on how to incorporate emotional learning into the educational experience. We also dig into the role of SEL in navigating a difficult and transformational year like this one.
Of course, there are a few Whitney Houston and Star Wars references in there to keep things engaging. David's a tremendous resource in the field and we very much appreciate getting his perspectives on the show. We hope you enjoy and learn from the conversation as much as we did.
30:2328/09/2020
The Power of Visual Storytelling and Learning with Mike Tringe and Sean Graham from CreatorUp
Mike Tringe and Sean Graham from CreatorUp, a Digital Media Studio and Training Company, join Mike Palmer to discuss the critical role of visual storytelling and video for brands, universities, and individuals. We explore how CreatorUp leaned into Live Online delivery and educational use cases as the pandemic response required agility and resilience.
We conclude with advice for educators from media professionals with a keen understanding of the learning ecosystem. We hope you enjoy.
29:4923/09/2020
The Augmented Reality Megatrend with Evan Gappelberg, CEO NexTech AR Solutions
Evan Gappelberg, the Founder and CEO of NexTech AR Solutions, joins us this week to dive into the emerging megatrend of augmented reality (or AR). Evan describes how NexTech AR Solutions was formed and how it went public as the first publicly traded pure AR play.
We then explore how the pandemic response has led to unprecedented growth both in AR and specifically in its educational applications. Evan outlines the recent work NexTech has done with Ryerson University as activities like lab session and other learning interventions have benefitted from use of their Augmented Reality as a Service platform ARitize.
Mike picks Evans brain about new and emerging trends to be on the lookout for as we think through the instructional design opportunities that come with new technologies like Augmented Reality.
Come join us for an imaginative ride on this week's cutting edge episode!
26:4821/09/2020
Designing a Crowdsourced EdTech and Strategy Course for Higher Ed
Warren Kennard, the Founder of ConnectED, returns to the show to describe his recent experience designing and building a crowdsourced 8-week course in EdTech and Strategy for Higher Ed.
What problems was he trying to address when conceiving of this course? What elements of design thinking powered the approach? Who is it designed for and how has the COVID-19 pandemic increased the relevance and interest in online learning and innovative leadership in higher education?
We answer all of these questions and garner insights from Warren based on his transformative experience building this course. Listen in and enjoy.
23:4117/09/2020
Teaching Media Literacy with Mucktracker
Kate Dalton and Dr. Eliot Chayt join Mike to talk about the critical importance of media literacy in today's world. Eliot and Kate are the founders of an EdTech startup called Mucktracker, which provides a platform for students and educators to co-create a critical understanding of news and media drawn from various sources.
We discuss the origins of the concept of Muctracker and its ties to the storied history of investigative journalism and the muckrakers as we muse on the notion that all literacy is media literacy. The profusion and democratization of new media of late brings with it a responsibility to educate K12 students, as well as undergraduates and lifelong learners, to develop more mature critical understandings of the media we're all consuming.
23:1014/09/2020
Gartner Hype Cycle 2020 - People Centric and Smart Spaces
Are you ready to get HYPE? We sure are.
For the fourth year in a row, the team at Trending in Education digests and breaks down the Gartner Hype Cycle For Emerging Technologies which was recently released for 2020. Mike welcomes Melissa Griffith and Dan Strafford back to the show for the beginning of our fifth season to break down our favorite hype curve.
What trends are emerging according to Gartner? How have they been impacted by COVID-19? What are the learning implications to the new and emerging technologies highlighted by Gartner? Which trends are rising to the Peak of Inflated Expectations? Which ones are headed to the Trough of Disillusionment?
Listen in to find out!
30:0110/09/2020
A Brief History of Teachers and Labor in the US with Dr. Jon Shelton
Dr. Jon Shelton, Associate Professor of Democracy and Justice at UW-Green Bay, joins Mike for a special Labor Day edition where we dive into the history of Labor and Education in the US on today's show.
Jon walks us through the history of the Labor Day holiday, expanding beyond barbecues and rules about when it's okay to wear white. From there, we delve into the long history of collective action among educators and other workers over the years. We draw parallels to the recent actions in the NBA and other sports leagues as we explore how Teachers and Teachers Unions have extended the focus of their actions to include acting in service of what's right not just for themselves as workers, but also for what is right for their students and communities.
Today's episode will give you plenty to chew on beyond what you might get at your holiday barbecue. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy!
42:3807/09/2020
Higher Ed Heads Back to School for Fall 2020
Dr. Terri Givens, CEO of the Center for Higher Education Leadership, returns to join Melissa and Mike in a wide-ranging conversation about what we see on the near-term horizon for Higher Education in the Fall of 2020.
We touch on the "Corona Gap Year" phenomenon, put ourselves in the shoes of University Administrators and faculty navigating these uncertain times, and get advice based on Terri's experience as a Professor, an Administrator, and now as the Founder of a company focused on helping Higher Education navigate the complexities of this day and age.
It's a Back To School special edition you won't want to miss on Trending in Education!
36:4403/09/2020
Recent Trends in Educational Research with Youki Terada from Edutopia.org
Youki Terada, Research and Standards Editor at Edutopia, returns to the show to revisit trends in K-12 Educational research in light of the tumultuous year in which we're living. The response to the pandemic has re-emphasized the critical role of social emotional learning along with issues of digital divides and Youki and team have been shifting Eduopia's focus in that direction.
As Edutopia continues to provide tools and supports for teachers diving into remote teaching, Youki highlights some of the critical differences with online teaching, particularly with regard to receiving feedback. It's a fascinating conversation and you'll come away thinking of horses doing math problems in an entirely new way.
You can find more of Youki and team's great work at edutopia.org . Thanks as always for listening.
41:5731/08/2020
NBA Walkout Emergency Edition
In this emergency bonus episode of Running It Back, Tarlin and Mike dive into the transformative events of the past week beginning with the shooting of Jacob Blake and culminating in the walkout of NBA players led by the Milwaukee Bucks.
As these actions set off a cascade of similar actions in Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and elsewhere, how can we put this into a broader historical context? We run through the long history of athletes as activists who have asserted their power by choosing not to play. Some have set off movements by pulling in others to follow. Others have been ostracized and mostly forgotten.
Now as the games have started again in the Bubble, we take a moment to pause and reflect on the historical context of the momentous events of the week as we continue to monitor this developing situation.
And fear not, fans of regular episodes of Trending in Education! We've got plenty of great content coming together there as well. Thanks as always for listening.
34:0830/08/2020
Running It Back - Magic Announces He Has HIV - Bonus Content
We open with a quick note on the Jacob Blake incident in Wisconsin and the ripple effects across our culture. It's something we'll continue to cover.
Then, in this bonus episode from the soon-to-launch podcast, Running It Back, we transport ourselves back to November 7th, 1991 when Magic Johnson first announced that he had HIV.
How do Tarlin and Mike remember this flashbulb event? What lessons can we learn from Magic's approach to sharing the news and leaning into his fight against the virus? How does this tie to COVID-19 and the NBA's design for life in the Bubble in Orlando? And who was on the dais with Magic when he had to share his difficult news?
We answer all of this on today's show. And if you like what you're hearing, follow us on twitter and keep an eye on runningitback.fm as we gear up to launch Running It Back later in September.
26:2228/08/2020
Advancing Social Mobility Through Public Education with Kristin Kearns-Jordan
Kristin Kearns-Jordan, the CEO of The Urban Assembly, joins Mike this week to describe the career-themed approach to public education that is driving social mobility in 23 schools in New York City. We begin by hearing Kristin's origin story and career arc which has led to her current role with The Urban Assembly. From there, we dive into the mission and educational philosophy of the organization and its schools, which is all about career relevance and social mobility. Kristin describes how The Urban Assembly's approach is making an impact in her students' lives by showing them how their public education ties to their longer term college and career paths. We discuss the impact of Black Lives Matter and COVID-19 on public education and emerge with a sense of optimism despite the suffering and genuine peril students and families are facing this year. As we conclude, Kristin spotlights the screening of entry into public schools in New York as something that limits diversity and subverts the true goals of public education. She suggests that in light of the events of this year, there are genuine opportunities to open up access to address many of these inequities and deliver more quality, career-relevant education to all students.
Thanks as always for listening. If you want to learn more about Urban Assembly, visit urbanassembly.org .
35:2924/08/2020
Running It Back - The 1999 NBA Playoffs - Bonus Content
As a bonus gift, we're bringing you an episode of the upcoming podcast Running It Back. Tarlin Ray and Mike Palmer look to moments in sports history to give insights for our lives today. On this episode, Mike and Tarlin run it back to the 1999 NBA season and the historic run for the 8th-seeded New York Knicks all the way to the NBA Finals. They ultimately lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals marking the beginning of the Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich dynasty.
As we head into the 2020 NBA Playoffs in the Bubble in Orlando, what lessons can be learned by running it back to 1999?
32:0121/08/2020
Bridging Digital Divides with Angela Siefer
Angela Siefer, Executive Director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, returns to the show to join Mike in a conversation about how to open up access to the digital tools many of us take for granted. Last time we had Angela on the show in March, we were still in the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic response. Now as we approach the Fall, there remains plenty of work to do and the focus is shifting.
Digital inclusion is important work. You can learn more about what Angela and team are doing at digitalinclusion.org. Listen in to find out how you can help make a difference.
43:1717/08/2020
Understanding Diversity, Opportunity Gaps, and Teaching in Today's Classroom with Dr. Rich Milner
This week Dr. H. Richard Milner IV, Professor of Education at Vanderbilt University, joins Mike to explore how he is thinking about issues of diversity, opportunity gaps, and the mindsets that must be overcome to effectively engage diverse students and classrooms. Rich’s book, Start From Where You Are, But Don’t Stay There was just reprinted by Harvard Education Press to coincide with the 10-year anniversary of its initial printing in 2010.
While many of the themes are enormously relevant to this day, several warrant further discussion in light of the Black Lives Matter Movement and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rich is a leading thinker on teacher education and diversity and we very much appreciate getting time with him on today’s show. Enjoy!
41:1510/08/2020
Innovation, Customer Discovery, and Hard-Boiled Podcasting with Dr. Shannon Clute
Dr. Shannon Clute joins Mike to share his broad and varied experiences in education, innovation, marketing, and digital media. He begins by telling the story of his early experiments with podcasting and other new media to innovate in higher education where Shannon was a Professor of French Literature. In the early 2000s, he launched an enormously successful podcast called Out of the Past: Investigating Film Noir that began as an innovative project for his students but rapidly grew in broader appeal. From this experience, Shannon began to understand the value of pursuing your passion projects and being flexible and opportunistic in your career choices. From there, he transitions to a marketing role at Turner Classic Movies before ultimately returning to academia now leading The Hatchery, The Center for Innovation at Emory University.
In a wide-ranging conversation, Shannon reinforces the critical importance of knowing your customers and shifting from push to pull dynamics when it comes to program development and innovation. It's a fascinating conversation and we look forward to staying in touch with Shannon as he grows and evolves the program through great design thinking and product discovery.
We hope you enjoy. Thanks again for listening.
40:2403/08/2020
Listening to Adult Learners with Howard Lurie
Howard Lurie, Principal Analyst, Online and Continuing Education at Eduventures, joins Mike this week to discuss recent research findings from the firm that dives into the mindset and sentiment of adult learners. Eduventures has published findings from two surveys of adult learners--one fielded before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and then a second survey fielded in June 2020. Howard shares his perspective on changes in demand, desired credentials, and delivery mode pre- and post-pandemic. We explore the short-term and longer-term implications of the economic and public health impact on adult learners as we expand the perspective beyond the graduating high school population to begin to wrap our heads around the much larger and more diverse population of adult learners writ large.
Howard and Eduventures provide great insights on today's show. If you want to learn more from them, visit eduventures.com. Thanks for listening!
35:1827/07/2020
Coursera's Global Skills Index for 2020
Fresh on the heels of the release of Coursera's second annual Global Skills Index Report, Melissa and Mike break down what's new and noteworthy in the 2020 report. How has the Covid-19 pandemic impacted global trends in course completion on Coursera? What's new and emerging in the key fields of business, technology, and data science and how is the US stacking up on the global stage? It's a fascinating report on the emerging skills that are relevant to career growth, earning potential, resilience, and lifelong learning in these wacky times.
Check out the report, have a listen, and let us know what you think on Twitter at @trendingined
34:3723/07/2020
Active Learning in the Digital Age with Dr. Stephen Kosslyn
Dr. Stephen Kosslyn, President of Foundry College, returns to Trending in Education to discuss a new book he's been working on. The book has the working title of Active Learning in the Digital Age and covers the six key principles that drive active learning. The principles are deep processing, deliberate practice, incentives and consequences, dual coding, chunking, and associations.
Join Stephen and Mike as they explore these concepts and how they can be applied to create great learning interventions in these tumultuous times.
Thanks as always for listening!
37:4520/07/2020
Trump's SATs, Betsy DeVos's Bookcase, Online Learning and International Student Visas
Welcome to the second half of 2020. We made it to July. For this episode, Mike, Dan, and Melissa reflect on the year so far while tracking some of the more sensational stories that are breaking lately. Did Donald Drumpf hire someone to take his SATs? If he did, is that better or worse than Lori Laughlin paying for access to the USC Crew team? What do we think about Betsy DeVos's bookcases for her Zoom meetings? Or the administration's take on getting students back on campus and physically in our schools for the Fall? And how about the near miss of threatening to revoke international student visas for students at schools that are going entirely online?
We lean into the crazy a bit this week as we spot emerging trends about class outside and schooling from home as we all agree online and hybrid learning in its varied forms is here for the long haul. Thanks for listening.
34:3516/07/2020
Closing Gaps and Navigating Uncertainty with UNC Greensboro Chancellor, Dr. Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr.
UNC Greensboro Chancellor, Dr. Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr., joins Trending in Education to share his experiences leading a university with a long history of opening up access to higher education. Beginning as a women-only university in the late 19th Century, UNC Greensboro has since opened up to non-white students soon after to men. Dr. Gilliam has been Chancellor since 2015 and he tells the story of how he got the job and what he's been able to do since joining the school. UNC Greensboro has eliminated race and ethnicity differences in retention for first-year students. They've nearly eliminated income-based gaps and are now focused on reaching rural students and providing access to the tools necessary for success in these changing times. We discuss the importance of digital inclusion, Dr. Gilliam's transformative experiences leading the university through the COVID-19 response thus far, and responding to the George Floyd murder and related unrest. We dig into the importance of having a mission-based culture and getting comfortable being uncomfortable in the chaotic and uncertain times we live in. We conclude with the Chancellor's take on the new and emerging trends that he's tracking as we head into the 2020s.
We hope you get as much insight and inspiration from the conversation as we did putting it together. Thanks as always for listening.
52:4013/07/2020
Becoming Active as a Black Professional after George Floyd with Liz Leiba
Liz Leiba, an education professional, teacher, and podcast host, joins Melissa and Mike to discuss her personal response to George Floyd's death. In response to this travesty, Liz has become much more active on LinkedIn and on her podcast, The Ed Up Experience, telling her personal story as a black woman in higher ed and the corporate world. Melissa and Liz share their experiences, how their perspectives have changed, and how going along to get along just doesn't cut it anymore.
Liz is a powerful voice on this and many other topics and we look forward to having her on again soon. Thanks for listening.
23:3010/07/2020
Leadership, Teaching, and Radical Empathy with Dr Terri Givens
Dr. Terri Givens, the CEO and Co-Founder of The Center for Higher Education Leadership, joins Mike and Melissa this week to explore her experience as a Professor, an Administrator, and now as an entrepreneur focused on transforming higher education. Terri tells the story of her academic career spanning Stanford, UCLA, University of Washington, University of Texas at Austin, and most recently Menlo College. Throughout her journey, she's advocated for the importance of teaching and providing faculty, adjuncts, and graduate students access to leadership development tools to help them navigate their careers. We conclude with a deep dive into the ideas in Terri's upcoming book, Radical Empathy: Finding a Path to Bridging Racial Divides.
We very much appreciate having Terri on the show and hope to have her back on again soon. Thanks for listening.
41:4706/07/2020
Reinventing the MBA with Dr Mohanbir Sawhney from the Kellogg School of Management
Dr. Mohanbir Sawhney, the Associate Dean for Innovation at the Kellogg School of Management, joins Melissa Griffith and Mike Palmer to explore how the traditional approach to Business School and Executive Education is ripe for disruption. As the McCormick Foundation Professor of Technology at Kellogg, Dr. Sawhney is launching and testing several varied and distinct approaches to providing business education both through the traditional two-year on-campus model and also through hybrid and online models. The Professor engages with Melissa, a Kellogg alum, in a conversation about providing continuous value and lifelong learning to alums through communities of interest, small private online courses (SPOCs), along with access to human-powered services like executive coaching, live webinars, and 1-on-1 office hours. We genuinely enjoyed the imaginative and impassioned perspectives Dr. Sawhney provides on this topic and hope you'll lean in with us to explore how graduate education will accelerate forward in the tumultuous times of the 2020s.
41:2729/06/2020
Proactive Care for Adult Learners with Elise Awwad
Elise Awwad, Vice President of Strategic Enrollment at DeVry University, joins Mike this week to explore how DeVry has been delivering proactive care as part of its educational philosophy for adult learners. We examine how they were able to respond to the twin challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the civil unrest in response to the death of George Floyd. DeVry's long history of online learning along with a holistic approach provided the tools to respond to a tumultuous 2020. Elise shares her passion for helping adult learners in need and, as a regular listener to Trending in Education, she reinforces the critical importance of digital inclusion in opening up access to higher education for adults who are ready to advance their careers.
25:2125/06/2020
People-Mediated Ed Tech with Warren Kennard
Warren Kennard joins Mike this week to explore the current state of affairs in educational technology. Warren has been working in educational technology for the past 20 years and is the Founder of ConnectEd and the Managing Director of the Cahoot Academy. After defining the distinctions between small private online courses (SPOCs) and massive open online courses (MOOCs), we dig into the importance of delivering people-mediated programs especially as the waves of automation and artificial intelligence can be dehumanizing. Warren draws from his experiences at Get Smarter, the Cahoot Academy, and ConnectEd to round out a more human-centered understanding of what's emerging in the growing field of educational technology.
35:2822/06/2020
Black Lives Matter Protests and Awkward Conversations About Race
Melissa and Mike begin with a frank conversation about how we've been responding to the Black Lives Matter protests and related civic and personal upheaval in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis. What's the best way for organizations to navigate these tumultuous times? How should we think about acts of omission versus those of commission? How do we begin to lean into awkward conversations about race to begin to reach new levels of psychological safety, empathy and understanding.
Then Dan Strafford adds his perspective as a father of three and someone who is frequently at a loss when it comes to reaching a clear understanding of what's going on these days. We reference a great Chalkbeat article that captures the perspectives of K12 educators across the US, touch on an article by Dr Howard Stevenson out of U Penn Graduate School of Education on how to talk to children about racial issues, and conclude by referencing a quick Forbes article by Adunola Adeshola that describes 3 Things You Should Not Say to Your Black Colleagues Right Now. We don't reach any tidy answers, but we're happy to begin the conversation and look forward to continuing it.
43:5218/06/2020
Talking Planthropology with Vikram Baliga
Vikram Baliga, host of the Planthropology podcast, joins Mike this week to talk about his experiences as a horticulturist, a science communicator, and a podcast host. Vikram expounds on what brought him to horticulture and how the importance of setting has meaningful ramifications to education. As we explore the origin story of the Planthropology podcast, Vikram provides insight into what it means to teach people how to appreciate the plants in their lives. Whether you're officially "Plant People" or just interested in a deeper perspective on learning and the future, you should get a lot out of this week's episode.
We hope you enjoy!
37:0815/06/2020
Running It Back - Blackballed - The 2014 Clippers and Donald Sterling
We are deeply saddened by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and many other black men and women at the hands of police. We plan to cover the emerging trends of civil unrest, increased awareness of race and social justice, and how this relates to learning, media, and future trends in future episodes of Trending in Education.
For today's show, we're releasing an upcoming episode of Running It Back with Tarlin Ray and Mike Palmer where we break down Blackballed, the new Quibi short-form docuseries about the 2014 Los Angeles Clippers and the Donald Sterling scandal. What leadership lessons can be learned from the Sterling incident and the responses by Doc Rivers, Chris Paul, Adam Silver, and Matt Barnes, among others? What parallels can be drawn between the reaction to the Sterling scandal and the response to George Floyd's murder and the Black Lives Matter movement that have been activated on a global scale today?
We don't reach any tidy answers to the current situation, but by running it back to the story of the Clippers in 2014, we gain relevant insights that help grant us perspective on the challenging times we're living in today. Thank you for listening.
26:4108/06/2020
Learning to Control Your Dreamlife with Ken Florence
As The Eurhythmics say, "sweet dreams are made of this."
On today's episode, Ken Florence joins Mike for an expansive and imaginative exploration of lucid dreaming, something Ken's been drawn to since overcoming challenges with sleep paralysis earlier in his life. Ken is a musician and composer who created the original music for Trending in Education and its sister podcasts. We begin by discussing how there have been increased reports of vivid dreaming during the Covid-19 pandemic response citing the research of Deidre Barrett. Then we discuss tactics like dream journals and looking for "triggers" in dreams such as clocks and light switches to help us gain conscious control over many aspects of our dream worlds. We conclude by exploring how dreams relate to psychedelic and VR simulation experiences as the trend towards varied phenomenological experiences continues to grow.
We hope you enjoy the ride!
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32:2404/06/2020
Behavioral Health Career Trends with Brandon Jones
Brandon Jones returns to Trending in Education in his new capacity as CEO of Triad Behavioral Health to explore emerging trends for behavioral health professionals. How do the expansion of telehealth and the easing of HIPPA requirements impact the delivery of behavioral health services? As we see upheaval in many professions, what's the prognosis for behavioral health and what makes sense for folks curious about embarking on a career in mental health? What's the best way to understand the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and our collective response to behavioral health and the professions that focus on it?
Mike and Brandon discuss what's new and on the horizon in the field and showcase the launch of the new podcast Behavioral Health Today. It's great to welcome back Brandon, one of the founding hosts of Trending in Education. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we did recording.
32:2701/06/2020
Accessibility and Educational Technology with Sharia Huda and Sean Dougherty
Sharia Huda and Sean Dougherty join Mike for today's show as we explore the importance of accessibility to the thoughtful design of learning technology. Sean shares his perspective as an accessibility specialist with experience at Google and other large technology companies while Sharia adds her views as a former K12 educator and Ed Tech specialist with experience advising startups on this and other topics. How does Universal Design for Learning (UDL) help all users of a learning product? How to you facilitate the shift of mind needed in leadership at an organization to begin to change the culture? How does empathy and good design thinking help us elevate consciousness about the importance of inclusive design of educational products? Listen in to learn more.
34:0428/05/2020
The Future of Learning Virtual Summit with Rohit Barghava
Trending in Education partnered with Rohit Barghava and the Non-Obvious Company to host a Virtual Summit on the Future of Learning which we're releasing as today's episode. Join Rohit, Melissa Griffith, Dan Strafford, and Mike Palmer as we discuss what the future might hold for parents, learning professionals, and lifelong learners. In a wide-ranging conversation, we explore how our behavior patterns around learning and life have change in response to Covid-19 and how these pivots will likely play forward in the coming months and years.
What do we make of the distinction between learning and education? How will we navigate this unprecedented wave of disruption? As digital learning moves to the foreground, how will we understand the role of higher education, K12 education, home schooling, and online learning? How should we think about digital equity and digital inclusion? And what might things look like as we imagine a post-pandemic world?
We cover all of this and more in a fascinating discussion that we hope you enjoy.
54:2626/05/2020
Running It Back - The Last Dance Episodes 9 & 10
Tarlin and Mike run it back covering the final two episodes of The Last Dance, the epic sports docuseries from ESPN covering the 1990s Bulls. This week we cover the legendary battles with Reggie Miller. What can be learned from Reggie's mindset and competitive drive. Was the "Flu Game" actually the "Tainted Pizza Game" - we have some hot takes there. Tarlin talks GOATs, Mike talks conspicuous omissions, and we begin to synthesize what we learned over the 10 hours of The Last Dance. It's been a heck of a run and we're looking forward to continuing the run even though The Last Dance has ended. Stay tuned for more as we figure out how to keep the magic happening. And thanks of course for listening.
38:1121/05/2020
Future Thinking with Dr Bernard Bull the President of Goddard College
Dr Bernard Bull, the President of Goddard College and the Host of EDU Futures Podcast, joins Mike this week to share his perspective and make a few predictions for the coming year. Bernard explains how he is using scenario-based thinking to plan for the possible futures for Goddard, a small alternative college in central Vermont. We discuss Goddard's unique approach to higher education and muse a bit on how new models will likely emerge from these tumultuous times.
48:2918/05/2020
Running It Back - The Last Dance Episodes 7 & 8
Tarlin and Mike are back to break down the penultimate Sunday of The Last Dance docuseries about Michael Jordan and the 1990s Chicago Bulls. What lessons can we take away from Scottie's decision to sit out the final 1.8 seconds versus the Knicks in 1994? What were the games like at the gym Warner Brothers built for Michael on the set of Space Jam? How could we forget the legendary series versus the 1996 Seattle Supersonics with Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, and Detlef Schrempf? Are there lessons in leadership, teamwork, and assertiveness to be learned? Listen in to find out.
32:0714/05/2020
Information Science, Libraries, and Introversion with Dr. Robin Naughton
As a Mother's Day Special, Mike is joined by Dr. Robin Naughton, his wife and mother of their son Matthew, to talk about the state of libraries and librarianship in light of the pandemic. Robin shares her perspective as a digital librarian and as an academic focused on user research and the user experience. We also delve into the role of the Academy in understanding public health in New York dating back to the pandemic in 1918 and up to the present day.
Then we shift the conversation to talk about introversion, extraversion, and diversity of perspectives in light of the rapid move to digital due to Covid-19. We conclude by wishing a happy and healthy Mother's Day to everyone out there.
35:1211/05/2020
Running It Back - The Last Dance Episodes 5 & 6
Mike and Tarlin are back to break down episodes 5 and 6 of the ESPN Docuseries, The Last Dance, as it chronicles the 1990s Bulls culminating in their final season together in 1998. This week we tackle the middle hump in the 10 episode series as we get to know the darker side of Michael Jordan. His rampant competitiveness and purposeful avoidance of political stands set the stage for a challenging bid for a "Threepeat" in 1993 and we get glimpses of the challenges Michael faced managing his celebrity. We dive into the Kobe-Michael dynamic, the Dream Team and its snubbing of Isaiah Thomas, the Tony Kukoc saga, and even touch on the battles between Jordan's Bulls and the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns.
Sunday nights are alive again with sports and 1990s nostalgia and there are many lessons to be learned from this compelling glimpse into the life of an ultracompetitive superstar and his team as they strive for dominance. We hope you enjoy the ride as much as we do!
42:1311/05/2020
Behavioral Health During the Pandemic with Russell Glass
Russell Glass returns to Trending in Education to talk about the broader state of behavioral health from his vantage point as CEO of Ginger, an industry-leading behavioral health app. Building on trends we've already been tracking around behavioral health, pre-coronavirus, Russell walks us through patterns of usage that mark a significant shift since broad stay-at-home and social distancing orders have spread across the globe. What can we learn from this data? How can an organization like Ginger navigate this complexity while retaining shared values and collective focus? We discuss all of this and get a few updates about Russell's children's book, Voting With a Porpoise as we grant Russell his official "Friend of Show" bona fides. Hope you enjoy.
29:3204/05/2020
Running It Back - The Last Dance Episodes 1 through 4
As a Bonus Trending in Education Extra, we're releasing the first of a series of shows on The Last Dance, the must-see ESPN docuseries on the final season of the legendary 1990s Chicago Bulls. Tarlin Ray and Mike Palmer dissect the first four episodes of the 10-episode series and draw relevant lessons to life, management, leadership, and team chemistry in the 2020s. We'll be back with more soon as we continue to Run It Back to review, critique, and learn from must-see TV like The Last Dance. We hope you enjoy!
And don't fret, we're continuing to pump out your regularly scheduled Trending in Education shows as we venture into new spaces with shows like this one. We hope you enjoy!
35:1503/05/2020
Etymology and the Evolution of Written and Spoken English with Ray Belli
Ray Belli joins Mike for today's episode exploring the power of language and audio in the evolution of culture and human understanding. Ray hosts a language and etymology podcast called Words for Granted and he's also a founding member of the Lyceum team. We explore the dynamic nature of word meanings using a few examples from the King James Bible. From there, we touch quickly on Shakespeare and the notion of poetic license before concluding with some musings on how new audio formats like podcasting and technologies like Speech-to-Text are bringing renewed life to the oral tradition with significant implications for linguists and lovers of language everywhere.
23:0130/04/2020
Mary Meeker's Coronavirus Report with Melissa Griffith and Dan Strafford
Mike welcomes Melissa Griffith and Dan Strafford back to the show to analyze Mary Meeker's new report that explores the new trends that are emerging in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Which trends will remain and which will fade? How will organizations, schools, educators, parents, and learners grapple with the new normal? How might we adapt to thrive amid the widespread, pervasive sense of disruption and uncertainty?
We discuss all of this as we digest and begin to synthesize the esteemed Mary Meeker's latest report on Covid-19.
48:0727/04/2020
Hacks, Heuristics, and the Power of Synchronous Learning with Stephen Kosslyn
Stephen Kosslyn joins Mike to explore the transformative power of synchronous learning as the world rapidly moves online. Countering the perception that online learning is asynchronous, Stephen outlines his experiences first as Dean at the Minerva Schools startup and most recently at Foundry College. In both cases, the curriculum and the technology that powers it is designed with synchronous and active learning as a central pillar in the instructional design.
Stephen explains the power of teaching hacks and heuristics to adult learners at Foundry with the goal of advancing them in their careers while preparing them for the future of work. Humans will continue to thrive doing meaningful work that leverages our unique ability to understand emotion and context in ways that won't soon be automated. Foundry College exists to power this evolution.
It's a fascinating discussion and we thank Stephen for his time and look forward to continuing the conversation in the future.
32:3820/04/2020
Civics, the Gig Economy, and Emergency Remote Teaching with Jenna Spinelle
On today's episode, Jenna Spinelle joins Mike to talk about civics, the gig economy, and the sudden shift to remote teaching. Jenna is a writer, instructor, and podcaster in higher education who recently launched a new course focused on teaching undergrads how to engage in the gig economy. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, she had to quickly shift from delivering the course face to face to teaching remotely. Jenna shares her experiences and perspectives on emergency remote teaching (ERT) as we dive into the growing importance of the gig economy in our professional lives these days. After touching on the importance of pursuing one's passions, building a portfolio, and developing the entrepreneurial skills needed to be.a gig employee, we conclude by exploring Jenna's work in teaching civics through her podcast, Democracy Works, and through the network of podcasts she founded called The Democracy Group.
We hope you enjoy listening to this wide-ranging and relevant conversation about the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education..
33:1617/04/2020
Generational Thinking and the Covid-19 Pandemic with Tarlin Ray
Mike is once again joined by Tarlin Ray to talk about generational zeitgeists in light of the coronavirus pandemic. As two GenXers, we wonder what the global pandemic means to the oft-forgotten, former latchkey kids of the 70s and 80s. Then we explore the challenges faced by Boomers and Millennials before shifting to the rising GenZ and “Alpha” generations.
What are the financial implications? Will this make generational differences seem more parochial and trivial as we all grapple with a shared, global experience? What are the educational implications and the impact to the workforce, organizational leaders, and hiring managers?
We explore all of this and once again thank the first responders and frontline workers in the worldwide battle against the virus.
Be safe and be well. And thank you for listening.
43:1613/04/2020
The Top Learning Trend for 2020 - March Madness Wrapup
Mike and Dan break down our 2020 March Madness for Learning Trends tournament. We begin by reflecting on how crazy a month it was and by thanking all the frontline workers who are leading our response to the covid-19 pandemic.
Then we talk through the trends that deserved more love while analyzing each successive round in our brackets. We then culminate the festivities with our takes on the Final Four, the Finals, and then announce the winner. And you know we get zeitgeisty along the way as we try to make sense of the transformative period in which we're living. Which learning trend wins the day? Listen in to find out.
Thanks as always for listening. Despite the pandemic, we won't stop podding and we hope you won't stop listening. Take that coronavirus! Please be safe out there.
27:5510/04/2020