Upskill with Edtech SkillRise

On this episode of Upskill With Edtech Brandon Olszewski sits down with Lea Downing, an ISTE SkillRise Project Manager; Jamie Harris, an Education Program Specialist focused on Adult Education and Literacy Services at the Maryland Department of Labor; and Kelly Middleton Banks, the Manager of Program Implementation at the National Association of Workforce Boards. Together they discuss the new Profile of a Lifelong Learner created by ISTE and the process for creating useful frameworks and profiles. 
The podcast also dives into the importance of digital literacy, upskilling and, as always, the importance of being a lifelong learner. This podcast serves as a reminder that all adults are learners and that these skills not only impact professional lives, but personal lives as well. 

On this episode of Upskill with Edtech, Brandon sits down with Sarah Caccio, Senior Project Director of Adult Learning at Digital Promise; Neda Anasseri, Coordinator of Technology Projects at the Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN); and Priyanka Sharma Project Director at World Education and Co-Director of the Digital US coalition to discuss some of the opportunities and impending needs that have surfaced in the edtech and upskilling world as a result of COVID-19.

On today’s episode of Upskill With Edtech Brandon sits down with Richard Culatta, Chief Executive Officer of ISTE to discuss how the SkillRise initiative fits into ISTE’s larger vision and how trends in work and learning continue to inform and inspire one another. Richard’s decorated experience enables him to speak knowledgeably on policy, international trends, edtech and equity. 
The podcast also dives into the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the learning landscape to place more emphasis on many of the traits that drive SkillRise: lifelong learning, learner agency, edtech, equity and ensuring that learning is directly applicable to day-to-day life.

The Upskill With Edtech podcast series is produced by Getting Smart as part of ISTE’s SkillRise initiative. Our editor and music man is Trevor Stout. Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen. For additional valuable ideas about edtech, adult learning, and upskilling, check out SkillRise.org, where you can download the SkillRise framework and find other great resources. You can also keep up to date by following our Twitter feed @SkillRiseOrg or you can join the conversation in our Workforce EdTech LinkedIn Group. Thanks for tuning in! 
Notes: 
2:45 Richard discusses the role of SkillRise in the larger ISTE vision.4:40 Richard speaks to ISTE’s commitment to equity and access and how that is informed, strengthened and challenged by the current cultural moment. 7:00 Richard goes deeper on the ways in which tech can (and should) increase access.9:16 Richard talks about the opportunity of the pandemic, an opportunity to reimagine and fix things that need changing — but it will not be easy. 11:00 Richard talks about reboarding when returning from COVID-19 and how these conversations need to include featuring new voices, address inequities and more.12:32 Richard discusses how his work and things he has observed in K12 have helped see a way forward for the workforce, and vice versa. 14:30 Richard points out how K12 could learn from the workforce by making sure that roles and learnings are practical and applicable. 16:00 Richard discusses trends in policy and the growth of the widening variety of “learning sources” and how this impacts K12, higher ed and the workforce.17:30 Richard discusses how the learning model must (and is) shifting to better merge the experience of school and work, beginning with shifting the mindset towards that of lifelong learning.20:17 Richard points out the obstacles and barriers to entry that leaders will have to overcome to actualize ongoing learning. This begins with the importance of including different perspectives. - 22:55 Richard reflects on one of the shortcomings of adult learning.

On today’s episode of Upskill With Edtech, we speak with Joey Lehrman, Lea Downing, Tiffany Thomas and Daffiny Peters. Joey, Lea and Tiffany worked together to create a distance learning program at Delgado Community College which has now scaled to serve over 1,500 students annually across 15 partner agencies throughout Louisiana. The group then gets the chance to speak with Daffiny, a current student in the distance learning program.

This conversation ranges from how the program was started, to developing curriculum, to scaling, to the importance of distance learning, the student experience and much more.

The Upskill With Edtech podcast series is produced by Getting Smart as part of ISTE’s SkillRise initiative. Our editor and music man is Trevor Stout. Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen. For additional valuable ideas about edtech, adult learning, and upskilling, check out SkillRise.org, where you can download the SkillRise framework and find other great resources. You can also keep up to date by following our Twitter feed @SkillRiseOrg or you can join the conversation in our Workforce EdTech LinkedIn Group. Thanks for tuning in!
2:55 Lea talks about what Delgado community college is and what sets it apart. 3:36 Tiffany goes deep on why they created a distance learning program4:37 Joey discusses the growth of their distance learning program and how it scaled from a community college to a statewide offering. 6:49 Joey discusses curating information, curriculum and more.8:00 Joey discusses adopting a learning management system (LMS) and the benefits that they’ve found with Google Classroom as an adult learning LMS. 11:05 Lea goes long on curriculum development, using standards as guides and meeting student needs.15:52 Tiffany talks about the student experience, how to ensure success with distance learning and speaks with Daffiny, a current student.19:12 Tiffany interviews Daffiny about her experience as a student.22:33 Tiffany discusses supporting staff in the transition to digital.23:55 Lea talks about the importance of being a role model and demonstrating resiliency.26:38 Joey discusses mindsets and his optimism about colleagues rising to the occasion. 27:40 Lea talks about living in an era of uncertainty, the search for best practices28:52 Tiffany talks about the importance of support for your staff, learning and the program. 29:35 Daffiny discusses the importance of perseverance.

On today’s episode of Upskill With Edtech we are lucky enough to have two esteemed guests, one of whom is Jaime Fall, Director of UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute, an employer-led movement to expand opportunity for America’s workers and communities by promoting training and advancement practices to help workers progress in their careers and move into better-paying jobs. We also have Molly Bashay, a State Policy Analyst with the National Skills Coalition, who is working to advance skills policies through research and analysis of state workforce policies, advocacy assistance and policy implementation support. 
The conversation defines the term "skills gap” and making clear that there are a multitude of skills gaps that need to be addressed and overcome. The guests also identify various resources and organizations working hard to help create an equitable and informed workforce of learner workers. 
The Upskill With Edtech podcast series is produced by Getting Smart as part of ISTE’s SkillRise initiative. Our editor and music man is Trevor Stout. Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen. For additional valuable ideas about edtech, adult learning, and upskilling, check out SkillRise.org, where you can download the SkillRise framework and find other great resources. You can also keep up to date by following our Twitter feed @SkillRiseOrg or you can join the conversation in our Workforce EdTech LinkedIn Group. Thanks for tuning in!


1:00 Brandon introduces our guests2:15 Jaime speaks to the notion that there are multiple skills gaps and helps to define the term3:30 Molly continues to define skills gaps5:30 Our guests talk about the barriers to skills acquisition and growth8:05 Jaime talks about Upskill America and how they are helping learner workers prepare10:00 Molly discusses National Skills Coalition’s work to combat the skills gap12:42 What does it mean to be a working learner?13:45 Molly and Jaime discuss the ways in which policy can support work learners15:50 Innovations in workplace design and working models17:05 Jaime highlights some organizations that are providing great workaround services for family support and educational resources18:05 Molly adds to Jaime’s list of resources and tools.19:55 Molly discusses the notion that apps may be able to aid in the transition to a digital workforce21:45 Jaime discusses the promise of video training and virtual reality training

On the podcast today we have Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart, an education blog and consulting firm dedicated to the future of learning. Tom is a prolific writer, thought leader, and speaker on topics pertaining to the future of work and innovations in learning. He has written numerous books in the last decade noting trends and innovations in learning and claims to have visited more high schools than anyone in the world.

For additional valuable ideas from SkillRise about edtech, adult learning, and upskilling, check out SkillRise.org, where you can download their framework and find other great resources. You can also follow them on Twitter at @SkillRiseOrg or you can join the conversation in the Workforce EdTech LinkedIn Group.
Key Takeaways:
[2:16] Tom defines and explains the future of work.
[3:47] Tom assesses the tension between the optimism/excitement and fear of the future.
[6:19] Tom talks about the difference between knowledge acquisition and skill-building, acknowledging that the latter is essential for navigating the future of work.
[7:10] What should be the goal of young people and an agile workforce? Solving interesting problems.
[8:12] Tom discusses why schools should be primarily focused on community-connected projects.
[10:17] Tom reflects on what the workforce can learn from effective school models.
[12:24] Lifelong learning is an essential part of being an effective worker and person. Tom uses growth mindset and grit to deepen this.
[13:55] The importance of empathy and how One Stone, one of Tom’s favorite high schools, has an effective model and emphasis on empathy.
[15:55] Tom goes deeper on growth mindset, design thinking and entrepreneurial mindset and emphasizes the need for everyone to be entrepreneurial.
[18:50] Tom defines “contribution” and the notion that contributing to a community is a means toward purpose.
[20:25] Tom hones in on purpose, using his own personal experience and search for purpose as an example.
[23:10] Mutuality, climate change, community, and the idea of citizenship.
[25:30] Tom talks about some of his favorite schools and community programs that are committed to contribution and instilling a sense of community.
[28:54] Tom discusses the importance of edtech and the ways in which it can augment experience and learning.