In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer sits down with Sunanna Chand, Executive Director of the Reinvention Lab at Teach For America (TFA). As the leader of TFA’s future-of-learning R&D engine, Chand is tasked with a formidable challenge: bridging the gap between a 19th-century education system and the demands of the 21st-century world. The conversation explores the Lab’s "Radical Departures" framework, a mental model designed to shift the paradigm of how we define the why, what, where, and how of learning. Chand challenges the false dichotomy between academic rigor and student engagement, arguing for a "both/and" approach that prioritizes community achievement over individualized test scores. From exploring "credit flexibility" policies that allow students to learn outside school walls to reimagining the role of the educator in an AI-driven landscape, Chand offers a hopeful vision for a profession rooted in human connection and the "care economy". Key Takeaways Moving Beyond the "Banking Theory": Why the traditional model of a teacher delivering information to passive students is insufficient for a world where information is ubiquitous. Reimagining Chronic Absenteeism: How "present to learning by being absent from school" models allow students to gain graduation credit for interests pursued in their communities. The AI-Proof Profession: Why teaching remains a "smart bet" for the next generation, as neurobiological learning depends on human belonging and relational intelligence. The Educator as Orchestrator: A vision for the future where educators manage ecosystems of human support and AI agents rather than just delivering a curriculum. Why You Should Listen: If you are concerned about the current state of teacher burnout and student disengagement, this episode provides more than just a critique; it offers a roadmap for structural change. Sunanna Chand explains how the Reinvention Lab uses research and development to find the "future educator" and why the most valuable skills in an automated world—judgment, ethics, and care—are precisely those honed in the classroom. It is a deep dive into how we can use technology to reinvent rather than merely optimize an outdated system. Subscribe to ⁠Trending in Education⁠ wherever you get your podcasts to stay ahead of the curve on the future of learning. Time Stamps 00:00 - Intro and Sunanna’s background in Cleveland and Pittsburgh 05:45 - The Mission of the Reinvention Lab at Teach For America 07:55 - Radical Departures: Redefining the "Why" and "What" of learning 12:45 - Credit Flexibility: Learning outside the four walls of the classroom 15:35 - Breaking the false dichotomy of rigor vs. relevance 19:40 - The "With Whom": Reimagining the role of the educator in the age of AI 24:30 - Why teaching is a smart career bet for Gen Z 27:45 - Combatting burnout through human connection and "Ignite" tutoring 31:45 - Closing thoughts: Building an ecosystem of reinvention

Host Mike Palmer interviews Joshua Jones, CEO and Founder of QuantHub, an AI company focused on education and skills development. Jones, who previously co-founded the data science consulting firm StrategyWise, explains that QuantHub originated as an internal tool before spinning out to focus on delivering micro-learning chunks that target individual learners' specific needs. Jones offers sharp insights into the AI revolution: he argues that the focus has shifted from data science to tech literacy, including AI literacy, and understanding the "art of the possible." He emphasizes that successful AI implementation requires human factors and change management, noting that smart models will fail without proper "boots in the ground" support. Delving into the accelerating pace of change, Jones cites World Economic Forum data showing that critical thinking and creativity are increasing in importance for employers, while foundational skills like reading, writing, and math are decreasing. This suggests that understanding why you're using a tool is more critical than knowing the tool itself. The report also indicates that the structural job churn rate has jumped from an estimated 1% to about 4.5% per year, making continuous learning a necessity. Jones also tracks emerging technologies like quantum computing and robotics, predicting a significant market impact from 3D environment technologies around 2028. Here are the slides Josh references during the episode. Key Takeaways: - Skills Evolution: Critical thinking and tech literacy (including AI literacy) are becoming more valuable than specific technology skills as tools constantly change. - AI Implementation: Successful AI integration requires human support and change management; smart models can fail if people feeding them data don't understand the value of the technology. - Pace of Change: The speed of change in industry is quickening. The structural job churn rate has jumped from about 1% to about 4.5% per year, making continuous learning a necessity to keep up. - Learning Progression: Foundational data skills should be introduced in middle school, creating a path that extends through K-12, higher education, and professional development. Subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an insightful conversation like this one. Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Josh Jones, CEO of QuantHub 07:54 - Leading QuantHub through Disruption and the Importance of Human Factors 16:40 - World Economic Forum: Shifting Importance of Skills 27:48 - Emerging Technologies: Quantum Computing and Robotics 38:00 - Closing Thoughts: The Compounding Effect of Continuous Learning

AI permeates K-12 education, but the rush to adopt new tools often bypasses critical questions about equity, bias, and human connection. On this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer sits down with Stephanie Smith Budhai and Marie K. Heath, co-authors of the new book Critical AI in K-12 Classrooms: A Practical Guide for Cultivating Justice and Joy. Together, they dismantle the "myth of inevitability" surrounding EdTech and explore how educators can reclaim agency in the face of rapid technological change with AI. From the historical resistance of Sojourner Truth to the concept of the classroom as a "Home Place," the conversation offers a refreshing, techno-skeptical framework that prioritizes student flourishing over big tech's framing. Key Takeaways: - Reframing the Narrative: Why "Justice and Joy" must remain central to education, ensuring schools are spaces of affirmation rather than just sites of data extraction. - The "Home Place" Concept: How bell hooks’ notion of a "Home Place" helps teachers create safe harbors where students can critically interrogate harmful AI outputs and resist standardized bias. - Sojourner Truth as Metaphor: A look at how Sojourner Truth co-opted and subverted the cartes de visites photography of her day to fund abolition—and how modern students and educators can similarly "sell the shadow to support the substance". - Pedagogies of Resistance: An overview of culturally sustaining, fugitive, and abolitionist pedagogies that equip teachers to challenge oppressive structures within AI and educational technology. - The Four Ps of Action: Practical steps for moving forward through Personal, Professional, Pedagogical, and Participatory action. Why You Should Listen: This conversation moves beyond the basic "how-to" of generative AI tools. Instead, it tackles the moral and ethical dimensions of bringing powerful, often biased technologies into the classroom. If you are an educator, administrator, or parent looking for a way to navigate the AI hype with your values intact, this episode provides the historical context and practical strategies needed to foster true digital agency. Like, Share, and Follow wherever you get your podcasts to stay ahead of the curve on the future of learning. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more. Time Stamps: [00:00] Intro: Criticality in the Age of AI [01:58] Stephanie’s Origin Story: From Nursing to EdTech [04:58] Marie’s Origin Story: Reluctant Teacher to Critical Scholar [09:25] Writing the Book: Centering Justice in Tech [11:20] Why Justice and Joy Matter [16:00] Bell Hooks and the Classroom as "Home Place" [20:30] Confronting AI Bias: The "High School Boy" Example [23:00] Sojourner Truth and Co-opting Biased Tech [29:00] The Myth of Inevitability: Do We Have to Use AI? [33:00] Culturally Sustaining, Fugitive, and Abolitionist Pedagogies [41:40] The 4 Ps: Taking Action Towards Just AI [44:00] Conclusion

Dr. Adam Gamwell returns to Trending in Education to explore the evolving collision of anthropology, artificial intelligence, and the human experience. Since his last appearance in 2019, the technological landscape has seen seismic transformations—from the pandemic to the explosion of generative AI. Host Mike Palmer and Adam discuss why the anthropological imagination is more critical than ever for navigating these changes. Adam details his transition from predicting trends to actively building AI tools with his organizations, Anthrocurious and Clueful. He argues that anthropologists must move beyond critique and become makers to ensure human context remains central to technological development. The conversation spans the fragmentation of modern culture, the "Prometheus moment" of AI adoption, and the challenge of maintaining epistemic security in an era of digital exhaust and "AI slop." Mike and Adam also tackle the personal side of the equation: parenting and education. They discuss the atrophy of critical thinking skills, the insights Western parents can learn from Maya and Inuit child-rearing practices, and the importance of designing "socio-petal" technologies that bring people together rather than driving them apart. Key Takeaways: - Anthropologists as Builders: Adam emphasizes the need for social scientists to get their hands dirty with code. By moving from pure critique to "vibe coding" and software development, anthropologists can bake human context and ethics into AI tools from the ground up. - The Fragmentation of Culture: The internet and algorithmic feeds have fractured the monoculture into isolated microcultures. Understanding this landscape requires using the very tools—AI and large-scale data analysis—that helped create the fragmentation in the first place. - Critical Thinking as Muscle Memory: Just as language acquisition changes after age five, critical thinking is a skill that can atrophy without practice. Over-reliance on generative AI in education risks weakening the cognitive muscles students need to evaluate truth and context. - Ancient Wisdom for Modern Parenting: Adam and Mike discuss the book Hunt, Gather, Parent and how indigenous practices of patience and autonomy offer a counter-narrative to the high-control, high-anxiety style of Western parenting in a digital age. Why You Should Listen: This episode offers a refreshing departure from the standard "robots will take our jobs" narrative. Instead, it provides a grounded, human-centric framework for understanding how we co-evolve with our tools. Whether you are an educator worried about AI plagiarism, a parent navigating screen time, or a tech enthusiast interested in how "thick data" can improve large language models, Adam’s insights bridge the gap between high-level academic theory and the practical realities of daily life. If you enjoy this conversation, please like, follow, and share Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Timestamps: [00:00] Intro and welcome back to Dr. Adam Gamwell. [02:40] From predicting the future to building software: Anthropology meets AI. [07:45] Robots, agentic AI, and keeping humans in the loop. [11:00] Taste, community, and the human elements AI cannot automate. [13:30] Cultural fragmentation and the challenge of sensemaking. [21:10] The atrophy of critical thinking and the "training wheels" problem. [27:00] Parenting in the digital age: Lessons from Hunt, Gather, Parent. [34:00] "Socio-petal" vs. "Socio-fugal" technologies: Designing for connection. [36:00] Mindshare and Klu: Making academic research accessible to business. [41:00] Conclusion and takeaways.

In this special on-location episode, Mike Palmer visits the headquarters of The Urban Assembly (UA) in New York City’s Financial District to sit down with David Adams, CEO of The Urban Assembly and host of the Innovations in Education podcast. We explore how David and his team have evolved from designing 22 high-performing schools in NYC to "designing tools" that solve critical constraints in public education. David breaks down his "Theory of Constraints"—analyzing how barriers like time, knowledge, and resources limit school outcomes—and how UA is using Artificial Intelligence to dismantle them. The centerpiece of this innovation is Project CAFE (Classroom Automated Feedback Environment). David explains how this AI-powered tool acts as an "instant replay" for educators, allowing them to view 10-second clips of their own practice—such as questioning techniques or student talk time—without the high cost or pressure of traditional observation. By reducing the cost of feedback to roughly $150 per teacher, CAFE is flipping the script on professional development, moving from an "avalanche of evaluation" to a "drip, drip, drip of professional development". We also touch on the Urban Assembly’s impressive results, including a record-breaking 92.4% graduation rate, and how their focus on social-emotional learning (SEL) and workforce readiness is reshaping economic mobility for students. Key Takeaways: - From Schools to Tools: How UA supports its network of 22 schools while building scalable solutions for the broader education system. - Project CAFE: An inside look at the AI tool that automates observation, offering private, low-stakes feedback for teachers to improve their "game tape". - The Theory of Constraints: Using AI to reduce the "time tax" on learning outcomes and instructional coaching. - Workforce Readiness: How "CounselorGPT" and Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways are moving students from "guessing to guidance" regarding the labor market. - Record-Breaking Outcomes: Discussing the 92.4% graduation rate and the 100% success rate at the Urban Assembly Institute for Math and Science for Young Women. Next Step for You: Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more.

Mike Palmer returns to the Thanksgiving table to serve up a side of applied neuroscience. Powered by the recently released Gemini 3, he examines the "gratitude cocktail," a potent neurochemical mix of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin that mimics the effects of antidepressants and strengthens social bonds. Beyond the chemistry, Mike explores the psychological framework of The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. He explains how measuring progress against an ideal future creates unhappiness, while measuring against the past generates resilience and satisfaction. The conversation shifts from theory to practice, detailing why gratitude stories are more effective than rote lists and how specific "Notice, Think, Feel, Do" protocols rewire the brain. Mike also debunks the tryptophan myth, explaining how carbohydrates and compelling narratives—like football—actually drive the post-meal nap. Finally, he reflects on the origins of Trending in Education, shares updates on the new Trending in Higher Ed feed, and previews upcoming live events from SXSW EDU to Alexandria, Virginia. Key Takeaways - The Gratitude Cocktail: Gratitude activates the brain’s reward centers. Dopamine drives motivation, serotonin stabilizes mood similar to SSRIs, and oxytocin fosters trust and bonding. - Mindset Shift: "Gap thinking" focuses on the distance between your actual self and an unreachable ideal, leading to burnout. "Gain thinking" measures your actual self against your past self, highlighting progress and abundance. - Stories Over Lists: Rote gratitude lists often lead to mechanical habituation. Constructing gratitude narratives creates stronger neural pathways and emotional connections. - The Science of the Nap: It isn't just the turkey. Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin and melatonin, but the heavy carbohydrate load and the relief of social bonding are the real drivers of sleepiness. - Podcast Expansion: Trending in Education is expanding its network with a dedicated Trending in Higher Ed feed to allow listeners to dive deeper into specific verticals. Why You Should Listen This episode moves beyond the platitudes of "giving thanks" to reveal the biological mechanisms that make gratitude a high-performance tool. If you find yourself doomscrolling or fixating on what you haven't achieved, the "Gap and The Gain" framework offers a practical method to reset your cognitive baseline. Mike connects these mental models to tangible brain health, offering a compelling argument for why gratitude is essential fuel for resilience and innovation. Like, follow, and subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more. Here's the link to the Horacio Sanchez episode on Applied Neuroscience. And this is the link to our first Don't Be A Turkey, Learn to Be Grateful episode. The Education Equation with Jeremy Singer Innovations in Education with David Adams Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction to the Neuroscience of Gratitude 00:49 The Science Behind Gratitude 02:01 Neurochemistry and Brain Health 04:01 The Gap and the Gain Framework 07:05 Practical Applications of Gratitude 09:18 Gratitude in Daily Life 13:48 Personal Stories and Reflections 19:49 Upcoming Projects and Gratitude 25:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this special episode, we welcome back Lindsay Whorton, President of the Holdsworth Center, to discuss her new book, A New School Leadership Architecture: A Four-Level Framework for Reimagining Roles. We dive into why the current model for school leadership is unsustainable and explore a new framework for building capacity and driving results in Texas public schools and beyond. The Holdsworth Center is a nonprofit focused on building and strengthening leaders for Texas public schools. Texas educates 10% of the nation's children, and the challenges faced there—like high teacher turnover and the increased complexity of the principal and superintendent roles—reflect national trends. Lindsay explains that we have created leadership roles that are "pretty close to impossible" for an average person. A core mistake is the assumption that if educators simply work harder and build the right skills, everything will be fine. We argue that the old model of the principal as the single "hero" responsible for the development of all 30-40 teachers must evolve. Lindsay's framework offers a way to diagnose and restructure leadership roles to create shared leadership and meaningful stepping stones for development. It's about getting clear on the different leadership jobs and how they relate, moving away from an unhelpful hierarchy and toward an ethos of sharing power. Key Takeaways: - The Impossible Job: The current principal role, where one person is the primary developer for an entire staff of 30-40+ teachers, is unsustainable, especially with new teachers entering the profession with limited preparation. - The Four-Level Framework: The book outlines a four-level architecture—Team Member, Team Leader, Bridge Leader, and School Leader (Principal)—each with a unique leadership mission for building capacity and delivering results . - The Bridge Leader: This key middle layer is vital for coaching Team Leaders, ensuring coherence, and connecting the different levels of the school. It also creates meaningful, smaller-jump development opportunities for future principals. - A Shift in Identity: Moving into new leadership roles requires not just new skills and time allocation but a fundamental shift in professional identity, often requiring leaders to "release control" and trust their colleagues. - AI and the Human Core: As technology changes the future of work, cultivating the "most human" skills—like recognizing the beautiful, feeling confident, and building relational capacity—becomes even more critical in education. Why You Should Listen: If you work in education, you understand the increasing pressure on school leaders and teachers. This conversation offers a practical, thoughtful, and evidence-based way to rethink your school's operating structure, unlock the untapped leadership potential (the "stranded brilliance" we discuss) in your building, and create a system where success doesn't depend on "superheroes". We provide a blueprint for supporting your current staff while developing the next generation of resilient school leaders. Subscribe, like, and follow Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Time Stamps: 00:00 Welcome Back to Trending in Education 00:16 Introducing Lindsay Whorton and Her New Book 01:18 The Holdsworth Center's Mission and Impact 03:03 Challenges in Leadership Development 07:52 The Importance of School Culture 11:45 Reimagining School Leadership Roles 15:44 Developing Leadership Capacity 17:58 Transitioning from Teacher to Coach 19:26 The Player-Coach Experience 20:39 Challenges in Professional Development 21:29 Introducing the Four-Level Leadership Framework 22:18 Exploring the Four Levels of Leadership 24:20 The Role of the Bridge Leader 28:12 Leadership and Control 29:50 The Impact of AI on Education 33:02 Final Thoughts and Appreciation

Matt Dalio, founder and CEO of Endless Studios, joins host Mike Palmer to explore the profound connection between games, technology, and workforce development. Matt, who grew up with an early global perspective—including a transformative year in China at age 11—brings his philanthropic drive to the world of scalable tech solutions . We dive into how Matt's company, Endless, initially focused on providing computers in emerging markets, realized that skills are what truly pay the bills. A simple math game, Tux Math, engaged students in a way traditional instruction could not, with classrooms full of kids shouting multiplication tables . The even bigger revelation? Many top tech entrepreneurs, including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, started by hacking their games . Matt asserts that the goal is to transform kids from consumers to creators. We discuss how game creation, using tools like Unity and GitHub, develops five core, high-value disciplines: coding, design, digital art, management (product/project), and marketing/business analysis . These skills translate directly into a modern, AI-augmented workforce, where the ability to architect and validate production software is crucial. Key Takeaways: - From Consumption to Creation: We need to move young people from passively using smartphones (consumption devices) to actively creating with devices that have a keyboard and mouse (creation devices), fostering a "lean forward" mindset . - The Power of Hacking and Games: Learning starts when it becomes more fun to hack your games than to play them, leading to the development of deep, technical understanding. - Five Core Disciplines: Game design is a launchpad for learning highly employable, durable skills in coding, design, digital art, management, and go-to-market business analysis . - A New Model for Learning: The future of education involves immersing students in real projects on collaborative platforms like GitHub, replicating the workforce environment to teach mindsets like autonomy, agency, and teamwork . - AI and the Future Developer: AI is a powerful tool, but it demands new skills: prompt engineering, chaining agent tools, and knowing how to architect, read, and debug production-level code to avoid technical "slop" and security issues. Why You Should Listen: The gap between traditional education and the demands of the AI-driven workforce is wider than ever. You'll hear Matt's global perspective on the rising number of high school students choosing not to pursue costly college degrees and the hunger for education in emerging markets. We discuss how the allure of video games—where the average kid spends 10,000 hours by graduation—can be channeled into productive, skills-building creation time . Matt shares an example of a Peruvian student who used his new skills to build a video game for rural communities to preserve their local language, illustrating the real-world, positive impact of this new educational approach . Listen to understand the model that could prepare the next generation to be "superhumans empowered by AI" . If you liked this conversation, be sure to like, follow, and share Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts. Ray Dalio's books referenced in the conversation: Principles: Life and Work and How Countries Go Broke: The Big Cycle Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:57 Matt Dalio's Early Life and Influences 02:58 Journey into Technology and Philanthropy 04:07 The Power of Games in Education 06:39 Skills vs. Mindsets in the Workforce 11:10 Preparing for the Future Workforce 13:58 Global Challenges and the Future of Jobs 15:51 The Declining Value of Education 17:01 Global Perspectives on Education 18:52 The Power of Community and Mentorship 20:47 Learning Through Game Development 24:50 AI and the Future of Work 28:47 Encouraging a Maker's Mindset 31:29 Concluding Thoughts and Takeaways

On this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer talks with Halley Bowman, who focuses on curriculum and tutor training at Saga Education, and Katherine Huete, founder of the consultancy Estelita and a leader in scaling language support at Saga. We explore the powerful resurgence of high-impact tutoring, especially its critical role in supporting emergent multilingual learners (EMLs) in secondary math. Halley shares Saga's unique model, which integrates dedicated, small-group tutoring into the school day, making this high-impact intervention accessible to all students and leading to astounding results, including the closure of up to 50% of the opportunity gap. She highlights the importance of the individualized, caring relationship between a student and their dedicated adult tutor. Katherine, a former newcomer student who became a bilingual special education teacher, defines the shift to the more asset-based term, "emergent multilingual learner" (EML), which values all a student's languages rather than ranking them. We discuss the misconception that math is a universal language, needing no language support. We delve into the concrete, "bite-sized" strategies SAGA uses to train its diverse workforce of tutors—from recent college graduates to career changers—to effectively support EMLs without needing a deep education background. These effective, implementable strategies include using visual aids to provide context and reduce language barriers , and offering sentence frames to help students articulate their mathematical understanding. The conversation also emphasizes the value of translanguaging, where tutors encourage students to use all the languages in their linguistic repertoire to better cement knowledge. Finally, we address the role of AI in quickly generating translations and customized strategies, while emphasizing that the crucial human element of cultural responsiveness and building trust remains paramount. Key Takeaways: - High-Impact Tutoring is a Proven Solution: SAGA's in-school model closes up to 50% of the opportunity gap. - Math is Not Language-Proof: Math contains complex language, and even differences in punctuation (like using a comma instead of a decimal) can pose barriers for EMLs. - Small, Actionable Strategies Work: Tutors are trained using micro-learnings on implementable skills like providing visuals and sentence frames, which benefit all students, not just EMLs. - Translanguaging is Empowering: Encouraging students to use all their languages (e.g., Spanglish) helps them grasp and transfer mathematical concepts more effectively. - The Human Connection is Essential: Cultural responsiveness, including pronouncing a student's name correctly, builds the trust and respect that is fundamental to high-impact tutoring. Why You Should Listen: If you care about equity in education and the future of the teaching workforce, this episode provides a clear, evidence-based look at one of the most effective interventions available today. We offer practical, actionable insights into supporting multilingual learners in subjects often presumed to be language-independent. Like, follow, and share Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:02 Meet Halley Bowman and Katherine Huete 03:00 The Evolution and Impact of Saga Education and High Impact Tutoring 06:16 Defining Multilingual Learners 08:06 Tutoring Strategies for Multilingual Learners 19:46 The Role of AI in Tutoring 23:26 Cultural Responsiveness in Education 25:04 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Mike Palmer welcomes Carlo Rotella, a professor at Boston College and author of the book What Can I Get Out of This? Teaching and Learning in a Classroom Full of Skeptics. Rotella, who has an academic specialty in the cultures of cities and also writes for magazines like The New York Times Magazine, approaches his classroom as a "scene" much like a boxing gym or a music club, where people practice a craft and hone their "chops". We dive into the book, which captures the spring semester of 2020 and presents a narrative-style look at Rotella's required freshman literature course. He shares his mission: to change his students' initial question from "Can I get out of this?" to "What can I get out of this?" by treating the interpretation of literature as a learnable craft, not "sorcery or bullshit". Rotella explains how this approach requires us to build a strong classroom community, including policies like banning devices and expecting every student to speak at every class meeting. He reveals the effort required to get quiet students to participate, sometimes using techniques like rehearsing answers in office hours—just as a team practices a play. Rotella argues that in a world of AI and "endless number of talking heads" , the classroom remains a vital "haven" where students can build critical skills and practice analytical response to the world. 🔑 Key Takeaways - Teaching as a Craft: Rotella treats teaching the interpretation of literature as a practical, learnable craft, focusing on skills like pattern recognition and extracting meaning from the world. - Building Community: A core philosophy involves making the classroom a community where every student must "ante up" and contribute, often facilitated by a no-devices policy and the expectation that everyone speaks in class. - The Power of Face-to-Face: The pandemic and the rise of AI have made the physical classroom more valuable and "cutting edge" than ever as a unique human experience. - The Loneliness of the Modern Student: Today’s college students are highly accomplished but are also more anxious, isolated, and less comfortable with trial-and-error than previous generations. - Reading as Resistance: Reading is framed as an "athletic" exercise that builds mental "muscles in your core" like critical skills, attentional fortitude, and the ability to assess reliability—skills essential for navigating an AI-driven world. 🎧 Why You Should Listen If you're an educator, writer, or just curious about how humans truly learn in a time of radical change, listen in as Rotella shows us that the most memorable and lasting impact of a class often comes from the experience of working together—not just the content. We discuss how to use students' "violent reaction against a work of art as the way in" and why we need to show people how to move beyond outrage and into analysis. We close with Rotella's belief that a liberal arts education offers durable tools for life, reminding us of the enduring power of a shared intellectual experience—like the unforgettable image of a guy in an elephant suit. Do you want to hear more conversations on the future of learning? Subscribe, like, and follow Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts. Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction to Carlo Rotella and His Book 01:04 Carlo's Professional Journey and Writing Career 02:15 Exploring the Classroom as a Scene 06:23 The Impact of the Pandemic on Teaching 08:39 Building Community and Engagement in the Classroom 12:21 The Value of Face-to-Face Learning 17:02 The Lasting Impact of Classroom Experiences 19:13 Understanding Reactions to Art 20:04 Insights into Gen Z's College Experience 21:31 Challenges and Changes in Modern Education 22:58 The Importance of Reading and Critical Thinking 25:28 AI's Impact on Education and Society 29:44 Teaching Strategies for the Modern Classroom 36:04 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

On this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer welcomes Liz Cohen, Vice President of Policy at 50CAN and author of the new book, The Future of Tutoring: Lessons from 10,000 School District Tutoring Initiatives. We explore the massive, rapid mobilization of tutoring efforts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated learning disruptions. We look at the key components of effective high-impact tutoring—small groups, consistent adults, and regularly scheduled in the school day—and how the strong evidence base has galvanized educators and advocates toward a unified solution. Liz shares her "constellation" metaphor, distinguishing between "bright stars" (districts deeply committed to sustained funding and implementation) and those still struggling with scale, funding, and strategy. Beyond the academic gains, we discuss the powerful role of tutoring as a catalyst for human connection and a potential pipeline for new educators. We also debate the future scenarios for tutoring, including the role of AI tools, outcomes-based contracting for responsible spending, and how this moment of change proves the public education system is capable of renovation. Key Takeaways: The High-Impact Tutoring Surge: About 80% of U.S. school districts launched some form of tutoring post-pandemic, with two-thirds aiming for high-impact models: small groups, in-school, at least three times a week, and led by a consistent adult. A Unified Solution: The convergence of a clear problem (learning disruption), evidence-based research (like the Saga program's impact on Algebra I scores), and massive federal funding created a rare moment of unity in education reform. More Than Academics: The success of tutoring is deeply rooted in human relationships; it helps young people feel they "matter," building motivation through demonstrated competence and productive struggle in a high-support, high-standards environment. The Future Workforce Pipeline: Tutoring roles, especially those engaging college students and young adults, are proving to be effective on-ramps into the teaching profession. The Funding Cliffhanger: With one-time federal funding largely spent, the future depends on districts embedding tutoring into their core strategy and utilizing tools like outcomes-based contracting to ensure they only pay for measurable results. Why You Should Listen: If you are a district leader, educator, education advocate, or parent, this episode offers a clear-eyed view of what the most successful districts are doing to accelerate learning and how they are planning to sustain those efforts. You will gain an understanding of how to leverage research-backed practices, why buy-in from principals and teachers is critical, and the innovative ways technology can support—but not replace—the essential human element of tutoring. Liz Cohen provides the framework for turning a pandemic response into a lasting positive change for the American education system. Subscribe to Trending in Education and follow us wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a conversation like this one. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:08 Liz Cohen's Background and Professional Journey 01:59 The Evolution of Tutoring During COVID-19 04:18 The Impact of Federal Funding on Tutoring 09:03 Challenges and Successes in Implementing Tutoring Programs 11:51 The Future of Tutoring and Education 20:16 Motivation and the Science of Learning 22:53 Challenges and Choices in Education Funding 24:07 Parent Empowerment and School Strategies 24:39 State-Level Overhauls and Tutoring Initiatives 32:59 The Role of Technology in Tutoring 36:39 Outcome-Based Contracting in Education 39:11 Broader Educational Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Welcome back to Trending in Education! This week, we dive headfirst into the accelerating world of emerging technology with Gerry White, Dean of Academic Technology for ECPI University. Gerry, an English and Music major turned tech enthusiast, shares his fascinating career trajectory and the work he is doing to keep ECPI University at the forefront of the AI revolution. We explore the current landscape of AI in higher education, noting the split between institutions that forbid its use (even reverting to blue books and oral exams) and those that are running with the technology. Gerry advocates for integrating AI responsibly, modeling its use for students, and leveraging it as a powerful tool for deeper critical thinking and better writing. We also discuss the very real dangers of over-reliance—the "training wheels problem"—where students risk losing critical thinking skills and agency by letting the AI write for them. For Gerry, the loss of human agency is perhaps the biggest threat posed by this new technology. Finally, we shift into the sci-fi lane as Gerry shares details about his recent science fiction novel, Edge of Control, which explores the dystopian possibilities of an integrated, unregulated Enterprise AI. We wrap up with practical advice for listeners to start experimenting with AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, and look ahead at the next horizon: Augmented Reality (AR) glasses that integrate with AI. 🔑 Key Takeaways: The AI Split in Higher Ed: We note that universities are divided, with some outright forbidding AI use (favoring traditional methods) and others actively integrating it into the curriculum. Agency is Key: The greatest danger in the age of AI is the loss of human agency and the erosion of critical thinking skills due to over-reliance on generative models. Incorporate AI Responsibly: The best approach is to model responsible AI use by integrating it into every stage of the writing process after students start with their own thoughts and text. Focus on the Question: The quality of the questions students ask is now far more important than the answers, as we are "drowning in a sea of answers". What's Next: AR and AI: Beyond the current AI boom, the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) glasses with AI—bringing screens and information off our devices and onto our faces—is the next significant technological shift. 💡 Why You Should Listen: If you are a student, educator, or simply a human trying to navigate the seismic shifts brought on by Artificial Intelligence, this episode is your essential guide. We not only share practical, immediate advice on how to leverage AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini for personal and professional growth, but we also wrestle with the profound philosophical questions about human competence, mental health, and the future of learning. Listen to understand how to stay in charge of the technology, and to hear a real-life science fiction author discuss how the future is already here. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:51 Gerry White's Career Journey 02:34 Emerging Trends in Higher Education 03:36 Incorporating AI in Education 05:30 Challenges and Risks of AI 07:29 Future of AI and Higher Education 14:07 Science Fiction and AI 16:16 Practical Advice for AI Adoption 19:41 Emerging Technologies Beyond AI 22:02 Balancing Technology and Humanity 29:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

On this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer sits down with Jon Deane, CEO of GreatSchools, for a deeply informed conversation about the choices—and complexities—facing modern parents. GreatSchools' mission is simple: to help every parent cut through the noise and truly understand their children's educational options. As a parent to a 6-year-old, Mike knows firsthand that the pressure to choose the right path is real, and it often doesn't get the attention it deserves. Jon's professional journey—from accountant to school principal to philanthropy and now to leading GreatSchools—is a testament to the fact that education itself is a profoundly complex system. Now, we're asking the million-dollar question: what do parents really need to know to give their kids the best support? GreatSchools, an organization that’s been tackling this challenge for over 25 years, is here to help us unpack it. 🔑 Key Takeaways: The School Choice Paradox: School choice isn't a future trend; it's a current reality, with some districts presenting over 100 options just for kindergarten. We explore how this proliferation of options is driven by a collective need to ensure every kid finds the "right fit". The Problem of "Noise": Parents are bombarded by information from every corner—teachers, schools, districts, and the media—making it nearly impossible to find the essential signal in the deafening noise. GreatSchools' solution involves providing data on outcomes, programs, and robust parent reviews to create a coherent, usable picture. Progress Over Scores: The conversation pivots away from teaching to the test. Jon explains that GreatSchools' metrics focus on academic progress—how much students are actually growing—a measure he considers as, if not more, important than pure test scores. AI as a Personal Matchmaker: How can technology address the reality that every child is wildly different? We look at how GreatSchools is using AI to gather more descriptive data and refine a search to find the perfect fit for "Mike Palmer and your 6-year-old," moving beyond generic recommendations. Learning Beyond the Building: The future of educational support lies outside the classroom. Jon unveils GreatSchools’ next strategic horizon: integrating information about learning opportunities like public library programs and coding classes to help parents create a comprehensive, ongoing learning narrative for their families. 💡 Why You Should Listen: If you've ever felt like you're treading water trying to make sense of school data, this episode is essential listening. We uncover the critical work GreatSchools is doing to transform information—and even new trends like micro-schools and AI —into curated, actionable guidance. We discuss the ethical use of data, why transparency and explainable AI are non-negotiable in this space , and how school leaders can actively "claim" and own their school's narrative on the platform. Jon also provides vital advice for parents: get to know your child’s needs, ask the right questions, and use data to ask for the options that might not be right down the street. Find more transparent resources and make sense of your options at GreatSchools.org. Like, follow, and subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts! 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:05 Jon Deane's Professional Journey 02:33 Great Schools: Mission and Impact 04:07 Navigating School Choices 07:13 Data and Reviews in Education 13:23 AI and Future of Education 15:39 Engaging with Parents and Schools 27:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The global landscape of education and work is changing at a pace that requires an entirely new approach to measurement. Trending in Education host Mike Palmer welcomes Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS (Educational Testing Service), the organization responsible for millions of assessments worldwide, to discuss the high-stakes transformation of how we identify talent. We explore how the trillion-dollar education sector is struggling to measure outcomes and why reliable data is essential to driving progress. Amit details the foundational work ETS is doing across K-12, higher education, and the workforce to shift the focus from traditional testing to competency-based learning and work-ready skills. We dive deep into the urgency of establishing an AI literacy framework and how technology is powering a new era of "test-less" performance assessments. Why You Should Listen Now: The War for AI Talent: Amit explains why the lack of a common AI literacy framework is a strategic challenge for the U.S. and how other nations are already standardizing AI education for young children. The Crisis of Underemployment: We break down the alarming statistics showing high unemployment and underemployment for new college graduates, highlighting the massive societal and economic pressure to measure job-relevant skills. The Future of Measurement: We get an inside look at how ETS is using AI, data science, and neuroscience to create innovative, personalized assessments that track complex skills like collaboration and communication—moving beyond the multiple-choice bubble sheet. 3 Key Takeaways from Our Conversation: AI Literacy is a New Language: We must introduce the fundamentals of AI to pre-elementary and elementary students to hardwire it as a first language, similar to English or Spanish. Data is the "New Oil": ETS produces over 5 billion data points annually, representing an amazing opportunity to reimagine products and drive social value through technology. The Two-by-Two of Transformation: The future of assessment is moving to measure both emerging skills (like AI and durable skills) and using innovative measurement methods (like performance and AI-enabled assessments). Join us to understand how better measurement is the key to unlocking human potential globally. Like what you hear? Please like, follow, and subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us get the word out! 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:13 Amit Sevak's Origin Story 03:28 Joining ETS and the Importance of Measurement 05:47 ETS's Role in Education and Assessment 11:35 Innovations in Testing and AI Integration 12:43 Global Trends and Workforce Development 16:32 The Future of AI Literacy and Skills Measurement 28:31 Global Perspectives on Education and Leadership 34:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

On this episode of Trending in Education, Mike Palmer welcomes author Scott R. Levy to discuss his new book, Why School Boards Matter: Reclaiming the Heart of American Education and Democracy. Scott shares his journey from Wall Street to serving on his local school board in 2015, driven by the unintended negative consequences he observed from federal programs like Race to the Top. We dive into how school boards transitioned from being a "quiet part" of civic society to a focal point of public consciousness during the COVID years and following George Floyd, dealing with intense issues from school reopening to DEI and curriculum. Scott draws parallels between corporate and educational governance, noting that while corporate boards are studied and considered central to organizational success, school boards have historically been overlooked or even suggested for abolition despite their vital role. Scott argues that school boards are the true front lines of democracy, operating with a level of public engagement and accountability—through open meetings and public comment periods—that other levels of government often lack. We explore the political dynamic of power shifting away from local school boards to state and federal governments across both red and blue states, leading to a loss of the crucial local control element. Scott advocates for a balanced approach, emphasizing that local control allows for the necessary nuance to address unique community issues, foster civil discourse, and serve as a buffer against potentially authoritarian or ill-fitting laws from above. We wrap up by outlining ways to strengthen school boards, stressing the importance of high voter turnout in local elections and the need for members to adopt a thoughtful governance partner role—avoiding both micromanagement and being a "rubber stamp" for the administration. Key Takeaways: School Boards as the Democratic Core: School boards are a unique and essential layer of American democracy, operating in the open with mandated public comment, which forces direct engagement and local accountability unlike other governing bodies. The Power of Local Control: Despite a uniform, bipartisan trend to shift power to the state level, local control is necessary for districts to tailor solutions to their unique challenges (like academic outcomes, mental health, or absenteeism) and for "island districts" (e.g., Austin, Texas, or conservative towns in liberal states) to manifest their values. Essential School Board Member Skills: Effective board members must take a big picture view, act as a thoughtful governance partner for the district (not a micromanager or a rubber stamp), and, crucially, listen carefully to their constituents before making decisions for the overall community. If you've ever felt disconnected from national or state politics, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that your voice matters most at the local level. We present a strong, affirmative case for the importance of school boards, an often-overlooked institution that shapes the education of over 50 million students and serves as a vital model for civil discourse in our fractured society. Tune in to understand why engaging in school board elections and meetings is a direct way to strengthen public education and make our democracy healthier. Like what you heard? Please take a moment to rate and review the show, and tell your friends. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. 00:00 Introduction Scott's Background 01:34 Transition to Wall Street and Return to Education 02:23 Involvement in Nonprofits and School Boards 04:37 Running for the School Board 07:39 COVID-19 and Social Issues in School Boards 10:07 The Importance of School Boards in Democracy 15:26 Political Polarization and Governance 21:09 Local Control and School Boards 29:38 Strengthening School Boards and Civic Engagement 34:58 Skills and Development 38:41 Final Thoughts

In this special episode of Trending in Ed, host Mike Palmer is LIVE! at Google's Headquarters in Chicago for Collegis Education's DisruptED event, providing highlights from six in-depth interviews with nine leaders in higher ed, technology, data, market analysis, and research. We begin by hearing from Kim Fahey, the CEO of Collegis, who provides some framing about the role her team plays providing managed services to schools trying to leverage technology, data and innovation in new and relevant ways. Kim kicks things off and helps frame the context and the conversations that follow. Then Mike interviews Charles Elliott from Google and Matt Lachey from Collegis about how Google's AI capabilities can transform higher ed delivery, rethinking textbooks, providing real-time translation, and reimagining what AI-powered learning might look like. From there, we catch up with Casey Evans and Amanda Gulley from EdPlus at ASU about the genuinely disruptive work Michael Crow and team are continuing to do at scale and what can be learned from their example. Phil Hill is a Higher Ed Blogger, Speaker, and Market Analyst, who joins Mike to share his unique takes on the current state of the higher ed market, the unique opportunities of this turbulent moment, and the profound impact and potential of AI on the space. Don't miss it! Dan Antonson heads up data engineering for Collegis and shares his insights and takes on how to get higher ed caught up and ready from a systems abd data perspective so that higher ed leaders can truly leverage the transformative capabilities that are emerging with AI and more. And then we conclude by exploring new research on Retention with Jim Fong and Tracy Chapman as we wrap up an incredible "lightning round" on the future of education from an intense and productive Fall day in Chicago. Thanks to Alyssa Miller, Wes Catlett-Miller and the teams at Collegis and Google for helping make this episode a reality. Be on the lookout for the full interviews in upcoming episodes of Trending in Ed and as we light up the new Trending in Higher Ed feed in coming months. Subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcast. Rate and review us and spread the word so we can continue to dive into what's new and emerging from the world of education. 00:00 Mike's Introduction 01:37 Kim Fahey 05:03 Charles Elliott and Matt Lachey 09:36 Casey Evans and Amanda Gulley 14:04 Phil Hill 18:54 Dan Antonson 23:04 Tracy Chapman and Jim Fong

In K-12 education, the urgency of children's needs often eclipses strategic thought, resulting in constant reaction and a "whack-a-mole" approach to problems. We talk with co-authors Elizabeth "Liz" City and Rachel Curtis about their new book, Leading Strategically: Achieving Ambitious Goals in Education, which offers a practical, accessible framework for leaders at all levels—from teachers to superintendents—to shift from constant doing to intentional, effective action. Liz City, a Senior Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Rachel Curtis, a consultant with deep experience in the Boston Public Schools, draw on their decades of work to move beyond the traditional "strategic plan" that often falls flat. We explore their five-part framework that helps leaders navigate the complex emotional, intellectual, and human-interaction challenges of their daily work. This framework emphasizes that effective leadership is developmental, not something people are simply born with, and provides the tools for all educators to grow their strategic capacity. We dive into the importance of anchoring in purpose, making deliberate choices, and cultivating a culture of learning. We discuss why taking a pause and prioritizing listening are among the most strategic actions a leader can take, especially in the face of challenges like polarization and emerging technologies such as AI. Key Takeaways: The Five Elements of Strategic Leadership: We break down the framework's components: Discern: Getting crystal clear on your purpose, what success looks like, and the root cause of a problem to avoid tackling mere symptoms. Relationships: Cultivating care and humanity between one another while intentionally connecting cross-functional elements of work that are often siloed in school systems. Understand Context and History: Being mindful of what is happening both inside and outside the organization, and acknowledging past initiatives and current capacities before moving forward. Harness Power: Recognizing that power is always flowing and learning to leverage both formal and informal authority in service of the greater good. Think Big, Act Small, Learn Fast: Using purpose as an anchor, breaking strategies into manageable pieces, and building a mechanism for learning from both anticipated and surprising outcomes. Moving Past "Leaders are Born": We encourage a shift in mindset, acknowledging that leadership is a skill that is developmental, and we can all get better at it. Strategy vs. Plan: We distinguish between an actual strategy—a focused choice on what to do—and an overstuffed strategic plan that doesn't actually guide daily work. The Joy of Leadership: Despite the difficulty, K-12 leadership is deeply meaningful and joyful work, a narrative that we must not lose sight of. Why You Should Listen: If you are an educator who feels overwhelmed by the day-to-day demands of your role, this conversation provides an actionable framework to step back, discern root causes, and lead with intentionality. We offer concrete tactics for dealing with uncertainty, building the capacity of your team, and making your work more effective and resilient—all of which are essential in the current K-12 environment. Moreover, we help you understand how to cultivate a powerful learning culture for adults, which directly impacts the success of students. Subscribe and Learn Don't miss a conversation about the future of learning. Subscribe, like, and follow Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts!

We are thrilled to welcome a fellow podcaster and longtime education journalist, Jeff Young, to the show. Many know Jeff's work from his time hosting the weekly EdSurge Podcast, where he was a consistent voice covering the intersection of technology and learning. Now, Jeff is out on his own and has launched a new project to tackle the biggest story in education: AI and the fundamental questions it raises about what it means to learn. Jeff and Mike dive into his extensive background—from his early days at The Chronicle of Higher Education covering the dawn of the internet on college campuses to his time building EdSurge's higher ed coverage and producing over 300 episodes of the EdSurge podcast. We explore how that history prepared him for this current moment, where AI feels different and more "existential" than previous tech disruptions like MOOCs. Jeff's new podcast, Learning Curve (LearningCurve.fm) is his attempt to cut through the hype and inform a critical conversation about how education adapts to AI and what kinds of learning need protecting in the "AI gold rush". We discuss the frameworks and mental models needed to navigate this new "agentic era", focusing on both the critical questions and the potential for a positive upside. AI is an "Internet-Level Disruption" with Existential Questions: Unlike previous trends like MOOCs, which questioned the delivery of education, AI forces us to ask deep questions about the value of college, how to prove student knowledge, and the very nature of learning when generative AI can perform tasks once thought to be uniquely human. Reframing the AI Role: We need to critically examine the narratives around AI in education, such as the idea of an "AI tutor". Jeff questions if AI's capabilities—like providing content or getting students unstuck—are truly "tutoring" or something valuable but distinctly non-human, and whether labeling it as a tutor risks pushing out high-value human interaction. The Power of "Hybrid Intelligence": A key mental model for navigating this time is hybrid intelligence, which focuses on harnessing the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) and blending it with what makes us human, extending our brains and expressing our human capabilities to the best. Seeking Killer Apps Beyond the Classroom: Jeff is actively looking for high-impact use cases for AI in higher education outside of cheating and basic classroom functions. A promising area is college advising, where AI can quickly handle the bureaucracy and information lookup, freeing up human advisors for more high-value, personal connection time that is crucial for student success. Student Involvement in Adoption is Key: Universities like Babson College are smartly involving students—who are highly motivated to understand AI due to its impact on entry-level jobs—in the strategy for campus-wide AI adoption. This approach aligns with the growing truism that "AI won't take your job; somebody who doesn't know AI's job will". This is a vital, grounded conversation that moves past the hype and dystopian fears to help you build a constructive framework for thinking about the future of learning. Get a historical perspective on the wave of technology hitting education from one of the industry's most respected journalists. Learn the essential questions about human skills, cognitive models, and what learning needs protecting in this new era. Gain a balanced view of AI's potential, from how it can change college bureaucracy to its power to augment human capabilities. Find more of Jeff's work at LearningCurve.fm or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like what you hear, subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a critical conversation like this one.

Mike Palmer welcomes back Friend of the Show, AJ Gutierrez, the pioneering co-founder of Saga Education, now CEO of Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS). AJ shares his transition from direct service to a focus on systemic change, detailing the crucial, often overlooked, mission of EOS: identifying and accelerating equitable opportunity for high-potential students. Historically, education equity conversations focus on raising students to grade level; EOS tackles the issue of "stranded brilliance" by finding students—disproportionately Black and Brown students experiencing poverty—who are ready for advanced coursework but are being overlooked. AJ cites compelling research from Mathematica demonstrating that students placed in AP classes through the EOS process perform just as well as control groups, confirming they were ready all along. The conversation pivots to the broader K-12 landscape, touching on threats to federal data infrastructure (e.g., IES, NSF funding) and the role of AI. AJ stresses that while technology is a powerful tool for decision support, summarization, and translation (like with IEPs), it's not a silver bullet. He outlines his vision for the "next derivative" of EOS—leveraging their extensive student and teacher survey data (300,000 students surveyed annually) to act as a crucial data backbone for districts. This involves connecting district leaders with high-leverage information to evaluate the return on investment across specific initiatives (e.g., STEM, absenteeism) and empowering families with simple, accessible data to shape their children's educational trajectories. Key Takeaways: Addressing "Stranded Brilliance": Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) focuses on finding and placing high-potential students who are overlooked into advanced coursework, a crucial and effective pathway for systemic equity. Data Backbone for Districts: The next phase of EOS involves using its large survey dataset to serve as a central source of strategic data for district leaders, connecting initiatives, vendors, and outcomes. AI as Decision Support: Generative AI's greatest educational utility lies in summarizing complex data and translating information (like IEPs) for better family accessibility, not in replacing human decision-making. The Power of Policy & Practice: True systems change requires demonstrating successful practice (like high-impact tutoring) to inspire policy shifts and empower districts to sustain effective models locally. Why You Should Listen: If you are concerned about educational equity, the integrity of educational data, or how district leaders can make smarter investment decisions with limited resources, this episode is a must-listen. AJ offers an optimistic and evidence-based perspective on how to leverage data to shake up the status quo, ensuring that every student who is ready for advanced opportunity gets the chance to pursue it. Subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a conversation like this one!

Welcome to an inspiring conversation on the future of learning with Michael Ioffe, founder of Arist, a company doing really interesting work in education. Michael is a Forbes 30 under 30 and a Thiel fellow. Michael joins host Mike Palmer to share his journey, beginning with his early obsession with education, influenced by his parents who were refugees. His experiences, including scaling free live conversations with entrepreneurs to 500 cities in 50 countries by age 18, led to a critical insight in a war zone in Yemen: the best way to deliver learning where educational resources and internet access are limited is via text message. This led to building Arist, which focuses on meeting people where they are and making learning conversational and digestible. We explore how constraints drive innovation and how Arist was ahead of the curve, foreseeing that most workplace communication would shift to messaging tools and leveraging the power of early AI models like GPT-3. We discuss how being text-based puts Arist at the native environment of LLMs and how conciseness forces clarity in learning design. Michael explains that Arist courses are not "micro learning" in a way that suggests they are less significant, but are intentionally designed to chunk information into bite-sized, conversational, and practice-oriented pieces. We also cover the importance of making instruction feel human, using custom data and custom workflows to ensure content is reliable, and how Arist enables rapid upskilling in the flow of work for enterprises. For example, a client with 30,000 employees was able to push out content on AI and data literacy immediately using Arist, compared to the six months it would have taken with existing tools. The conversation culminates in a discussion about the shift from focusing on skills to focusing on outcomes, and why agency is the single most important human skill in the age of AI. Michael shares that the role of the teacher is evolving from knowledge-provider to curator, facilitator, and mentor, helping students define their ambitious outcomes. The limit in the age of exponentially better AI models is no longer the model, but our own ability to ask better, smarter, and more interesting questions. Key Takeaways Learning in the Flow of Work: Learning should meet people where they are, making it digestible and conversational, often via messaging tools. The Power of Constraints: Challenges, such as a lack of internet access in a war zone, can drive innovations like text message courses, which then prove widely relevant. AI and Frictionless Learning: Leveraging AI to create content delivered through messaging makes learning completely frictionless for both the creator and the end-user. Focus on Outcomes Over Skills: The future of education needs to shift its focus from building and measuring skills to achieving specific, desired outcomes, with AI accelerating the path to those outcomes. Agency is the Core Skill: The number one skill that matters with AI is human agency—the ability to figure out the outcome you care about and what you need to do to accomplish it. New Role for Educators: Teachers and leaders shift to curators, facilitators, and mentors who help students define ambitious goals and push them to achieve more than they thought possible. If you're interested in how disruptive technology like AI is reshaping corporate learning, instructional design, and career readiness, this episode offers a forward-thinking perspective. We break down the evolution of learning delivery and why focusing on human agency is key to thriving in the future of work. Subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a conversation like this one.