The GSV Big 10: Southern Comfort
The GSV Big 10: Southern Comfort
Clout becomes cringe, the future of STEM, Reid Hoffman talks to himself...
People Moves
Before we get into this week’s 10 must-read stories, we are thrilled to publish the first installment of PEOPLE MOVES powered in partnership with Live Data Technologies:
Ajay Natarajan: Robinhood ➡️ Athena, Co-Founder & CEO
Jeff Carlson: T-Mobile ➡️ Clever Inc., Head of National Education Partnerships
Shivani York: Ookla ➡️ Ellevation Education, Chief Operating Officer
Joel Lathrop: Amazon Web Services (AWS) ➡️ PowerSchool, Education Strategy Director (AI, Data and Analytics)
Mollie Epstein: Udemy ➡️ Handshake, Manager, Customer Success
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on Substack to keep up with Live Data.On to the Big 10…
Kids Are Giving Up on Elite Colleges—and Heading South |
I’m told by somebody in the know that over 50% of Harvard’s students are in therapy. This is not a statement against therapy as a practice, but something’s amiss. The statement, “Even if I had gotten into Harvard, I wouldn’t have gone” would have been rare - and sounded ludicrous - until recently. Now, it’s a familiar chorus. The palpable vibe of unhappiness on elite campuses is not great marketing to your standard high school student heading into “the best four years of their lives.”
College Students Should Study More |
So you want to understand how we got here? Flashback to the fictional Barton Academy 50 years ago, which shows the transition from “rigor + discipline = excellence” to “coddling + cushiness = parental happiness.” The former leads to progress in society, and the latter leads to the fall of Rome. Fundamentals still matter – students spent 40 hours per week studying in the ‘60s, and likely half of that today…this won’t lead to many Math Olympiads.
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When “clout” turns to “cringe”, you’re not going to get the cool kids. Nate Silver, whose notoriety comes from finding signals amongst the noise, has pointed out a 5-alarm fire at the elite schools. Employers, who have been quietly souring on recruiting from the Ivy League for the better part of a decade, are growing increasingly wary of what may come along with the credential.
AI Policy Should Not Be Carved In Stone |
In that government is now hyper-focused on getting involved with matters of the Internet 30 years after its commercialization, it’s unlikely that Washington will be on the vanguard of the fastest-moving technology in the history of the world. It’s most important that we zoom out and get the big picture right. Trying to create policy based on the flavor of the day is like chasing a ghost.
Authentic Tasks Have Failed Us |
Even in the era of AI - or perhaps especially - human teachers are the secret sauce. Style, substance, and sincerity are part of the ingredients, but the real magic comes from engagement. Students can’t learn if they are not paying attention. Beethoven and the bar band could have the same instruments, but it’s the conductor who makes the symphony.
Ep 86: How to Design a STEM Curriculum for the 21st Century with Dr. David Ruth |
This week, I got to have dinner with UATX’s founders Panos Kanelos and Arthur Brooks. The university’s reimagined approach to developing the leaders of the future is clear and refreshing. Many of those involved credit Joe Lonsdale and Bari Weiss as the driving forces behind this. Listen to Joe and Dr. David Ruth’s discussion on how what a forward-looking STEM curriculum looks like for tomorrow’s students.
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The joke used to be that the jock at the fraternity house was upset because he didn’t need to know what the questions were, he needed to know the answers. Unfortunately, what was once a laugh-line has become a reality for more and more students. To the best of my knowledge, there are no Jeopardy champions on the Forbes 400.
Is AI Finally A Way To Reduce Higher Ed Costs? | Inside Higher Ed
Faster, cheaper, better is about to go to college. Anybody who has wandered around a university wonders what the legions of staff do all day. Obviously, there are many critical roles on campus, but in a sector that is going to come under greater scrutiny due to exorbitant costs, bad return on time and investment, and questionable priorities, a bunch of positions are about to be AI’d.
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Thank you
for the much-appreciated shoutout to the Summit. It’s been a long, cold, lonely winter…the abundant optimism in San Diego was embraced by all, including yours truly. Here Comes The Sun! Me, Myself, And (A)I: A Q&A With My AI Avatar | Long Reids
Reid Hoffman is one of the World’s great entrepreneurs and advocates of technological advancement. His interview with his Digital Twin is both fun and a window to what’s to come. We are very BULLISH on the applications for this technology and the many Mini-Mes to come.
