Trending In Ed Palmer Media

Host Mike Palmer rounds out our coverage of the ASU+GSV Summit with two shorter conversations recorded in San Diego with Diana Hughes and Sunil Gunderia from Age of Learning, the company behind educational products like ABCmouse and the classroom offerings MyMathAcademy and MyReadingAcademy.
First we learn about Diana's background designing empathetic video games and how that translates to creating engaging educational experiences. She provides insights into blending AI with human instruction, viewing AI as an augmentation tool rather than a replacement for teachers. We're talking cyborgs, not robots.
Then we join Mike's hallway chat with Sunil Gunderia, Age of Learning's Chief Innovation Officer. Sunil reflects on trends from the AIR summit preceding ASU+GSV, like major school districts embracing AI to advance equitable learning. He shares how Age of Learning partners with companies like OpenAI to enhance content creation while centering efficacy.
The episode examines AI's potential to personalize learning at scale and collect data to drive instruction. Both guests emphasize marrying technology with behavioral science principles to build learner identity alongside academic skills. As this transformative time unfolds, we're urged to collaborate in ensuring AI helps all students flourish.
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Recorded while at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, Joel Podolny, CEO and founder of Honor Education, joins host Mike Palmer to explore the importance of human connection in online learning environments. Joel shares his unique background, spanning from academic leadership in sociology and business management to roles at Apple University and Yale, and how these experiences have shaped his perspective on transformative learning.
Key Takeaways:

Honor Education is focused on creating a platform that puts human connection at the center of online and digitally-enhanced learning experiences, fostering collective engagement and a sense of community among learners.

The platform's mobile-first design, with features like social annotation and real-time instructor feedback, aims to recreate the dynamic interactions and connections typically found in physical classrooms, but in an asynchronous and accessible format.

As AI continues to evolve, Joel envisions leveraging the platform's high-fidelity engagement data to provide personalized learning recommendations and support, addressing not just content comprehension but also fostering motivation and a sense of belonging for learners.

Joel emphasizes that while AI holds immense potential in education, the true driver of meaningful learning remains human connection. He encourages listeners to prioritize fostering authentic connections and collective engagement, regardless of the technological tools employed.
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In this episode, we hear from Marshall Poe, founder and editor of the New Books Network, a podcasting network unlocking expertise and expanding access to learning. As a former Russian historian, Marshall recognized the gap between what experts know and what the public understands. He saw podcasting as a way to bridge this divide.
The New Books Network started as an experiment in 2007 and has since grown into a vast network with over 150 podcasts and a thousand hosts. Marshall views the network as an academic institution, akin to a university press, focused solely on public education. He takes pride in covering esoteric topics and preserving the voices of experts for posterity.
Poe envisions the network becoming a Wikipedia-like resource, where listeners can find smart people discussing any topic of interest. He encourages embracing audio's potential in higher education, with opportunities for AI-powered translation making expert knowledge more accessible.
Key takeaways:
• The New Books Network offers a unique auditory bookstore experience, connecting experts with the public.
• Marshall's commitment to building this "cathedral" of knowledge showcases the enduring power of the spoken word.
• Engaging with the cutting edge of disciplines is valuable, cautioning against oversimplification.
Don't miss this chance to gain insights from Marshall's unique perspective on leveraging the power of audio and podcasting to unlock expertise and expand access to learning.
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Mike Palmer takes us on a whirlwind tour through the recent ASU+GSV Summit and AIR Show in San Diego. We hear the buzzing energy of the events as Mike shares his hot takes and insider scoops fresh off the ground.
The AI Revolution Show provided an intriguing glimpse into the new AI-powered products aiming to "supercharge" teachers' capabilities. Mike lauds the vision of positioning AI not as a replacement but as an empowering force operating "behind the teachers" to enhance their impact.
As Mike tours the exhibitor floor, we get the inside scoop on promising platforms like Kyron Learning, and Atypical AI - all striving to bolster teachers with smart content creation tools, personalized instruction, and data-driven insights.
The conference wasn't just about tech though - we hear tales of surprise mascot appearances earning the moniker "Clippy's Revenge." Mike ponders finding the right balance between injecting narrative whimsy while ensuring the human touch remains central.
Shifting to the main ASU+GSV event, we're treated to thought-provoking conversations around higher education's mounting challenges - from the looming "enrollment cliff" to concerns over cost and completion rates. Could partnerships harnessing AI provide a way to improve access and student success?
In a live recorded happy hour interview, we hear directly Paul Gollash from ETS and Dana Bryson from Study.com as they announce an exciting free AI-powered PRAXIS prep offering to support aspiring teachers, especially from underrepresented backgrounds.
Throughout the whirlwind episode, Mike's authentic voice shines through - blending expert analysis with relatable humor and insights gleaned from walking the streets of San Diego. We close on an upbeat note, with Mike feeling newly inspired to dig deeper into the future of education and work through his growing slate of podcasts including EdHeads and The Cusp with Paul Fain.
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In the episode Mike Palmer hosts Erika Blumenthal, the Chief Operating Officer at Benefits Data Trust (BDT), and Daniel O'Donnell, the Associate Director of Higher Education at BDT. We discuss the organization's mission to help individuals access social safety net benefits in the U.S., with a focus on supporting college students and how they use a Chatbot named Wyatt to communicate benefits to higher ed students.
Erika and Daniel share their professional backgrounds and how they ended up at BDT. We delve into the challenges students face, such as food insecurity and the complex process of applying for benefits like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
The conversation centers around Wyatt, an AI chatbot developed by BDT to assist students in completing the FAFSA. Daniel explains how Wyatt leverages AI and text messaging to provide scalable support, addressing the need for accessible guidance amid recent FAFSA changes. We reference this Education Northwest Report in the episode.
We also explore the stigma surrounding public benefits, advocating for a shift in language and approach. Erika and Daniel highlight BDT's efforts to raise awareness, simplify processes, and partner with universities and state agencies to connect students with the resources they need to persist and graduate.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on what's emerging in the world of education.

This episode of Trending in Ed explores the explosive growth of AI in classrooms and workplaces. Host Mike Palmer interviews Tim Dasey, author of Wisdom Factories: AI, Games, and the Education of a Modern Worker, about the implications of these rapid changes.
We discuss how AI can support novice learners, the potential risks and biases within AI systems, and the need for critical thinking skills to successfully interact with AI. Dasey emphasizes the importance of adapting our approach to education with AI as a ubiquitous tool, rethinking how we learn, consume information, and develop traditional skills. We pay our respects to the work of Daniel Kahneman and dig into the nuanced differences between noise, bias, and bullshit and what this means to educators, learners, and all of us.
Key Takeaways

AI presents unique opportunities to support new learners, but may have less impact on experts.

Remain aware of potential biases within AI systems. It may not be attributable to ill intent it may be systemic noise and error.

Critical thinking and judgment are crucial for working effectively with AI in the future.

The ways we learn, read, write, and consume information will continue to evolve alongside AI.

Adopt an open-minded and flexible approach to AI as these technologies constantly change.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Trending in Education and AI in Ed

00:36 The Wisdom and Challenges of AI in Education

02:08 AI's Impact on the Workplace and Education

05:15 Exploring AI's Role in Creativity and Problem Solving

15:49 The Complex Landscape of AI, Bias, and Human Judgment

23:31 Future Perspectives on AI and Learning

33:20 Concluding Thoughts on AI, Judgment, and Open-mindedness