The GSV Big 10: Here Comes The Sun!

It's Summit Week!

#1 The EdTech Insiders Guide To ASU+GSV 2024 | Edtech Insiders

While you could argue we should have done this….we love it when we get somebody else to paint our fence. This is a detailed, thoughtful guide on how to get the most out of our annual event. With 7,000+ people, 900+ start-ups, and 100+ keynote speakers, you need a plan before entering 3 days at ASU+GSV. Thank you

Edtech Insiders

…we’ll buy you a beer at the Shout House!

#2 Vocational Education Finally Making Big Strides | West Hawaii Today

He started out with a pretty clean job (did you know he was an opera singer?), but Mike Rowe’s time with “dirty jobs” has truly come. As many institutions of higher education struggle to attract high school graduates, enrollment in vocational training programs has soared. The number of students opting to attend “vocational-focused community colleges rose 16 percent last year,” while the number of students entering the construction trades jumped 23 percent. Mike puts his money where his mouth is – the Mike Rowe Works Foundation provides scholarships to “hardworking men and women who will keep the lights on, water running and air flowing — people who will show up early, stay late, and bust their asses to get the job done.”

#3 “Complete And Utter Defeat For the Anti-Test Crusaders” | Alec Stapp on X

Turns out tests do matter and while there are many, many faults with the SAT of old, throwing out the baby with the bath water leaves you baby-less. Seems like there is an opportunity to create a modern admissions process looks at the whole picture and drafts a student base that enriches the community.

#4 New Scrabble Version Aims To Make Games Less ‘Intimidating’ | CNN Business

Scrabble was always good fun and an original form of “invisible learning.” Sure, there was some hostile interaction between family members debating if “irregardless” was a word, but everybody got over it. Gen Z’s distaste for competition isn’t going to play well outside of the bubble. “Fragile” is worth 11 Scrabble points.

#5 A Cautionary AI Tale: Why IBM’s Dazzling Watson Supercomputer Made a Lousy Tutor | The 74 Million

While there is an alarming trend of humans dating robots, REAL mentorship and coaching has human-to-human connection. These tools will be fantastic copilots, but the human element is where the magic happens. The best coaches, teachers, and tutors are never simply human encyclopedias, they are the people who get their pupils to feel real emotion and excitement when working. IBM threw in the towel after $100 million, but I’m not betting against what the future might create on this front.

#6 Teachers Lag On Parental Leave | LinkedIn News

Only 18% of major U.S. school districts offer some form of paid parental leave. If you want better talent, you have to create better work environments. These types of things fuel the fire for our current teacher crisis. Childcare is hugely important, and when 82% of districts don’t offer paid parental leave, it feels like a race to the bottom to us. Something needs to change.

#7 Trump Is Best For School Choice, Even If I Won’t Donate To His Campaign | WSJ Opinion

Talk about single-issue voting… though it’s a great single-issue. Jeff Yass has been a force of nature and a force of funds advocating for school choice across the United States. He is on the right side of history for sure, with 75% of people wanting school choice (and lots of momentum for the other alternatives). Who’s against it? Well, the status quo who says “Give us more time and more money.” The good news is the American People have spoken – 200 years is long enough, and we want change now.  

#8 Wisq Launches First Personalized AI Guide For Managers | WISQ

Lack of development is the #1 reason why people leave their jobs. Wisq serves as a guide for managers to learn how to lead better. The Gen Z workforce expects and requires hands-on leadership, and after 3+ years of working from home, many people are out of practice. A tool that ingests company content and gets to know the employee personally helps to upskill middle managers and gives them the support and structure they need to substantially move the needle.

#9 High School Students Barely Read. Could Audio Books Reverse That Trend? | EdWeek

Marc Andreessen said that AirPods are the most important technological innovation that he’s personally experienced in his lifetime. Why? Because they enable him to learn all the time - while driving, working out, or out on a walk. The key is to create lifelong learners, not necessarily lifelong physical book readers. Audiobooks and podcasts are essential in enabling this.

#10 🎰 Jackpot! Live From Las Vegas: Our Interview At Imagine AI | Dash Media

We talked Edtech, media, the ASU+GSV Summit, and of course, AI.