EdGate Powers Podcast #5 - with David Berg
Preparing students for life after high school means thinking beyond the traditional boundaries of education. Employers increasingly need people who can adapt, communicate, solve problems, and continue learning as technology and job requirements evolve. At the same time, schools and education providers are being asked to create clearer connections between what students learn, the skills they develop, and the opportunities available to them after graduation. Building those connections requires a closer look at workforce needs, career pathways, durable skills, and the role education can play in preparing people for a lifetime of learning.
In this episode of the EdGate Powers Podcast, Rich Portelance speaks with David Berg about the changing relationship between education and the workforce and what it will take to prepare students for an economy where careers and required skills continue to evolve. Their conversation explores the growing importance of Career and Technical Education (CTE), the distinction between durable and more rapidly changing skills, and the need for schools, employers, and education providers to develop a clearer understanding of what students need to succeed beyond graduation.
Berg discusses how the rise of artificial intelligence is affecting different levels of the workforce, why some traditional career pathways may change while entirely new opportunities emerge, and how education can respond without chasing every new trend. He also considers what employers can do to improve upskilling and competency measurement, how educators can help students make informed decisions about the skills they develop, and what a stronger lifelong learning ecosystem could look like when schools, businesses, communities, and policymakers share responsibility for preparing people for work.
In this episode, you will learn:
- Why real-world learning can give students experiences and relationships that traditional classroom instruction cannot fully provide.
- Why Career and Technical Education should be viewed as a valuable pathway rather than an alternative to traditional education.
- What durable skills are and why they remain valuable as technology and job-specific skills change.
- How schools and employers can better connect education with workforce needs.
- What companies can do to improve employee upskilling and measure competency.
- Why lifelong learning is becoming increasingly important as career paths continue to evolve.
- How state and regional workforce ecosystems can bring education and employers closer together.
- What students should prioritize learning before entering a rapidly changing workforce.
Why This Conversation Matters
The connection between education and employment is becoming harder to define as technology changes the tasks people perform and the skills employers value. Students may enter careers that look very different a decade from now, while workers already in the workforce may need to continually develop new capabilities to remain competitive. That makes it increasingly important for education systems to provide students with both foundational knowledge and the durable skills that allow them to adapt as circumstances change.
A stronger workforce connection also requires participation from more than schools alone. Employers, higher education institutions, state and regional leaders, and education providers all have a role in identifying emerging needs and creating pathways that help people move from learning to employment and back into learning when their careers require it. CTE, work-based learning, competency measurement, and lifelong learning can all contribute to a more flexible system in which education continues to support people well beyond their first job.
Join Rich and David as they explore how education can better prepare people for a changing world of work, from rethinking the role of CTE and durable skills to strengthening connections between schools, employers, and lifelong learning. Their conversation offers a look at what students, educators, and employers can do now to build the adaptability and skills needed for careers that may not yet exist.
Learn how schools can use technology to expand real-world learning while improving access, engagement, and outcomes for students.
David Berg is the Director of Digital Innovation at Big Picture Learning and the Co-Creator of the ImBlaze Internship Management platform. He pitched the idea of ImBlaze to Big Picture Learning as a solution to the complexities of managing Real World Learning. Before spearheading the ImBlaze initiative, David served on the leadership team at Gibson Ek High School, an innovative program in Issaquah, Washington, where he was also the founding Internship Coordinator. Additionally, he spent a decade as an Advisor and Assistant Principal at The Met Sacramento High School. Prior to his education career, David led wilderness leadership expeditions for NOLS, taking groups such as NASA Astronauts and US Naval Academy students on extended journeys in challenging environments to develop their leadership abilities.
Rich is passionate about eEdTech and helping people discover pathways to successful careers. He leverages his many years of business experience in strategy, product development, brand creation, and sales & marketing as a frequent industry speaker and sought-after consultant.
Beginning his career in digital marketing and web development, Rich was recruited into the private, independent school market to help usher in digital technologies and social media. During this time, Richard served as a student advisor and was nominated to serve on the CAIS (Connecticut Association of Independent Schools) Technology Commission. In 2012, Rich joined York & Chapel, a brand and digital transformation agency where he began working with secondary and higher ed clients, developing strategies for student engagement and pathway creation. In 2014, Richard founded CareerPath, a SaaS engagement platform. Over the past ten years, Rich has given back to the industry as an advisor to numerous EdTech startups, and generally has had a blast doing what he loves to do — help others succeed.
Questions Answered
During the podcast, we discuss crucial information related to how real-world learning can influence student engagement, attendance, graduation, career direction, and social capital.
- How does real-world learning affect student outcomes?
- Do work-based learning students go to college or directly into the workforce?
- How is ImBlaze being used to support real-world learning programs?
- How important are academic and CTE standards for work-based learning?
- Why does efficacy matter when launching an edtech product?
- How can edtech providers make their products indispensable to users?
- How should edtech innovators approach the market and drive their products?
- What should education leaders take away from this discussion?