Trending In Ed with Mike Palmer cover art

Trending In Ed with Mike Palmer

Trending In Ed with Mike Palmer

By: Palmer Media
Listen for free

About this listen

 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.Copyright Palmer Media 2025. All Rights Reserved. Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Social Sciences
Episodes
  • AI and Agency: Navigating the Future of Academic Technology with Gerry White

    AI and Agency: Navigating the Future of Academic Technology with Gerry White
    Nov 4 2025
    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
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • Providing a Balanced Scorecard for GreatSchools Across the US with Jon Deane

    Providing a Balanced Scorecard for GreatSchools Across the US with Jon Deane
    Oct 31 2025
    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
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Reimagining Assessment for the Age of AI with Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS

    Reimagining Assessment for the Age of AI with Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS
    Oct 28 2025
    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
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.