The TechEd Podcast Matt Kirchner

From capital budgets to strategic initiatives from federal and state governments, to grants and industry support, educators have countless potential funding opportunities to keep their programs up to date.Grand Rapids Community College, led by President Dr. Charles Lepper, is putting many of these funding opportunities to work for the benefit of their students. Hear how the college has build a strong partnership with Gentex (among other employers) that has benefitted both parties. Learn how t...

Building a better future for our students is going to take the combined efforts of educators, employers and community leaders. The Greater Milwaukee Committee is on a mission to do just that, bringing together the most influential leaders and organizations in Milwaukee to solve some of the toughest challenges facing the city.Joel Brennan leads the organization and joined us in the studio to talk about the role of public-private partnerships between educational institutions and businesses to a...

Discovery World isn't just a science museum. It's an iconic Milwaukee destination that inspires generations of learners to discover the wonders of science through hands-on STEM experiences. Through their exhibits, camps, community programs and curriculum offerings, Discovery World is making a major impact on learners and families all across the Milwaukee region, reaching underserved populations and creating extra opportunities for STEM experiences beyond what the classroom can provide.In this...

With the pace of change in this new world of work, companies need to start rethinking outdated approaches to continuing education benefits and employee upskilling programs.Traditional benefits like tuition reimbursement and assistance just won't cut it. InStride is disrupting that model. Their unique approach to lifelong learning is helping companies see:226% ROI over three years for every dollar invested92% annual retention (vs. 63% of employees that don't participate)3x promotion rate for p...

If we want to fill all the skilled positions our workforce has open, it's going to take aligning business needs with educational programs at all levels.With experience at the U.S. Department of Education, Dr. Casey Sacks has seen best practices in creating this kind of alignment. In her current role as President of BridgeValley Community and Technical College, she emphasizes the need for collaboration between colleges, employers, and K-12 schools to ensure that students are aware of and prepa...

What if we valued skills and competencies more than degrees? As President of Bismarck State College, Dr. Jensen sees education as an economic investment, where the skills a student has upon graduation are far more important than degrees and certifications.A competency-first approach to higher education requires disrupting the traditional model. In this episode, we talk about the components that drive competency-based education, including:How to incorporate credit for prior learningGiving indu...