1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 On this episode of&amp;nbsp;Catching Up, hosts Nate McClennen and Mason Pashia dive into key topics shaping education in 2026. From the rise of AI in classrooms and concerns about its regulation to a deep dive into the potential of scholastic journalism as a tool for real-world learning, they explore how education can foster connection, critical thinking, and creativity. The duo also shares their top 10 predictions for 2026, including insights on media literacy, work-based learning, and the future of education funding. Tune in for thought-provoking ideas, actionable insights, and even a little inspiration on building forts as adults! Outline (00:00) Introduction (01:17) AI Pessimism &amp;amp; Trends (05:44) Scholastic Journalism Deep Dive (10:48) Top 10 Predictions for 2026 (22:28) School Choice &amp;amp; Funding (29:30) Science of Reading &amp;amp; Work-Based Learning (45:28) What's That Song? Links Watch the full video here Gallup polling - 80% of Americans favor regulating AI Pew study - Only 17% believe AI will have a positive impact Grey Goo - Britannica explanation Economist article - Blue book sales doubling due to AI Child Care Micro-Centers Filling Empty Classrooms in Chattanooga, TN Peer Mental Health Support in Great Falls Public Schools, Montana Local News Initiative - Vanishing Newspapers Center for Scholastic Journalism - Decline in Scholastic Journalism State of News - News Deserts Cell Phone Bans in Schools - Campus Safety Magazine AI Infiltration and Use in Education - Center for Democracy and Technology AI Tutoring Development - LearnLM DeepMind Report Science of Reading - AEI Article &amp;nbsp; Getting Smart Podcast https://gettingsmart.com <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/39753340/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/item/39753340