Scalar Learning Podcast: Recent Episodes
Huzefa Kapadia
With a master’s degree in child psychology, Jack was working with autistic children by day but still playing gigs many nights as a trained musician. When he unexpectedly transitioned to a new job in teaching, he not only met his future wife, Lisa, but she also inspired him with the idea to blend his love of music with his love of teaching. And the rest is still in the making… especially here on his unbelievably successful YouTube channel Jack Hartmann Kids Music Channel, where over 1.8 million subscribers access free, fun, and lively videos on reading, writing, math, science, and physical fitness to name just a few.
Jack’s music is research-based and teacher-approved to focus on helping children learn important state, national, and early childhood standards. All of Jack’s songs and videos engage children with not only great educational content but with cool beats, kids love, and fun movements. The unique method of weaving movement, learning and music, all combined together at once, has made Jack’s videos a huge hit. Over 2 million viewers tune in each day! Jack credits Lisa’s with ensuring this blend of movement and motion find its way into the music videos wherever and whenever possible.
Tip for those math teachers out there… Huzefa recommends the videos on number bonds and skip counting in particular. Previously, Jack was performing 200+ live concerts per year but for right now, be sure to catch him every day on YouTube. Click here to listen to the full interview:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/JackHartmann
Website:
https://www.jackhartmann.com/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/jack_hartmann
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/hop2itmusic
The world isn’t quite as perfect as social media makes it seem. Most platforms teens use today depict picture-perfect lives, and while there is no doubt that technology serves as a powerful connector, it can also leave teens with a skewed vision of real life.
This week, Huzefa talks with Marcy Sinel, co-founder of Storybooth and the visionary who helped create a platform for teens that supports social-emotional growth through the age-old medium of storytelling.
With more than 25 years of experience in digital, Marcy recognized the need for a peer-to-peer social-emotional platform that allowed teens to share their voices anonymously. Traditionally, social-emotional programs have been led by adults, though teens are most influenced by their peers. Kids know when something is not authentic — it feels like a lecture — which is why peer-to-peer interaction is the key ingredient at Storybooth, and the reason more than 4.5 million listeners subscribe to the channel. The first-hand experience of a peer resonates much more with teens than the traditional adult down approach, she says.
At its core, Storybooth is about emotional connections, a safe place online where kids can come together and share true real-life stories about their mistakes, experiences, and the lesson they’ve learned. As Marcy points out, this generation is savvy and the kids are running the show on Storybooth, recording their experiences themselves with no adults involved in the audio. “We follow their lead. They are a really resilient, powerful generation with a lot of complex issues.”
Teens utilize the website or app to record their story as an audio file only. All stories are anonymous and animated, though students can opt to send in a photo in for animators to match the character’s features to the teens. Hundreds of thousands of submissions keep the team at Storybooth very busy, sorting through topics in order to select those that will resonate with and help the greatest number of listeners.
With no investment in marketing, the team at Storybooth relied on quality content and allowed the YouTube channel to grow (and grow and grow) organically. It’s no surprise that this success has led many schools and educators to request their own closed-system Storybooth platform, outside of YouTube, which Marcy and the team will turn their focus to in the near future.
Tune in now to listen to the full interview and learn about the many exciting things the Storybooth team has in store.
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWENB1OaGA9402PKzEVl0ow
Website:
https://storybooth.com/
Storybooth App:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/storybooth/id1073830375
Instagram:
https://instagram.com/thestorybooth
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thestorybooth/
What do video games and teaching have in common? Classcraft has the answer.
Participating in different types of games can be hyper-rewarding, and the founders of Classcraft have created a way to bring the same level of fun and motivation into the classroom.
This week Huzefa spoke with Devin Young, co-founder and President of Classcraft, an ingenious tool that revolutionizes and gamifies the classroom. Classcraft combines everything teachers love about education with all the things students enjoy about games and storytelling.
Classcraft is not a video game and there’s no increase in screen-time for students. They focus instead on fostering collaboration and teamwork, rather than competition between individuals. Students are organized into teams, and as they demonstrate support for each other they gain experience points, or “XP”. XP are based on non-curricular cognitive skills like collaboration, empathy, leadership, and communication.
With more than 7 million users worldwide, the popular platform is highly-customizable for teachers, schools, and districts. Teachers can define the “real powers” students will be rewarded with once they gain enough XP, such as the opportunity to hand in a homework assignment late, or being allowed to switch seats to sit with a friend. Students can also lose ‘Health points’ for things like making a mean comment or distracting the class.
One of the best features of Classcraft is how it transforms the culture of the classroom, helping to manage both behavior and motivation levels. Classcraft helps identify struggling students and students at risk — those who aren’t accumulating XP from their peers. This level of visibility is crucial for teachers and admins as well. Students become accountable to one another due to the emphasis on teamwork, and many a teacher will rejoice in hearing, “Hey… stop being loud or we’ll lose points.” Student’s naturally become invested in each other’s success and outcomes, and receive XP for helping and supporting one another. In the past, a struggling student might have been too intimidated to ask for help. With Classcraft, classmates directly offer help to each other and are rewarded for doing so.
Classcraft has launched a wide range of resources designed to turn even the most problematic students into team players. Feedback has been impressive, with one student going from failing grades to the honor-roll in just six weeks. Kudos allows students to give each other praise and show they are grateful to one another, making school a more positive experience. Quest, another unique feature of Classcraft, turns a lesson plan into a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ story, with the goal of capturing students’ attention through storytelling. The powerful platforms also features integrations, such as with Google classroom, saving time and effort for teachers.
Hit the link below for Huzefa’s entire conservation with Devin Young, and prepare yourself to enter the mesmerizing world of Classcraft.
Website:
https://www.classcraft.com/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/classcraftgame
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/classcraftgame/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/classcraftgame
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/classcraftgame
Jody Hatton wasn’t sleeping well.
Rather than struggle through days and nights with his head in a fog, Hatton decided to take action. He’d become a fan of binaural beats, an emerging type of soundwave therapy, and found the music to be an effective form of relaxation before bed.
Problem was, after a while the beats he was listening to became a bit boring, and there wasn’t any new material available online. Not to be deterred, Hatton went ahead and started producing his own binaural beats, released them on a YouTube channel, Jody Hatton’s Videos to Make Your Life Better, and now the world is catching on fast — and catching some great ZZZZs in the process.
“In 2014, I decided I was absolutely tired of the cheesy music and sound effects that they had on top of everything,” Hatton said. “So I fired up Adobe After Effects, a program that I use to make videos that has a tone-generator, and I created my own binaural-beat track for sleeping. I used it for a couple of weeks and loved the results.”
In this week’s podcast, Huzefa and Hatton discuss all the ways binaural beats can leave a positive impact on your day-to-day activities. While many listeners use binaural beats as a way to unwind at night, the music can also be utilized to stimulate brain waves and provide energy throughout the day. Hatton is clear that not every single user will have a positive reaction to the binaural beats being played, but he says the overall response is overwhelmingly positive.
But what exactly is a binaural beat? Hatton broke it down for Huzefa, who himself has struggled with getting a good night’s rest in the past.
“There are lots of different technologies — there’s white noise and brown noise and pink noise, and there’s isochronic tones which make sort of an (annoying, repetitive) sound,” Hatton said.
“Binaural beats is you play one tone in the left ear at, say, 100 hertz, and you play another tone in the right ear that’s 103 hertz . . .If you’re listening with stereo headphones and you’re getting a separate tone, what happens is your brain mixes those two signals together and it creates this sort of pulsating, wow-wow-wow sound at the speed of three hertz. Basically it makes your brain waves fire three times a second, which is in the delta range, which is super relaxed. If you listen to that three hertz wow-wow-wow for a few minutes, you start to feel really deep, heavy and relaxed.”
There’s a lot to unpack in this powerful podcast. If you struggle with quality sleep and haven’t been able to find a proper remedy, this is definitely an interview you’ll want to check out. To hear Huzefa’s full conversation with Jody Hatton, click the podcast link below and enjoy the ride!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6RzukLXWGBx6dOGqzaeK5w
Beats for sale: JodyHatton.com
Many moons ago, back in the early days of roller skates and Rubiks Cubes, astute students used encyclopedias as educational reference points.
You’d have your encyclopedia books lined up on the shelf, in alphabetical order, and would use them as a go-to source for learning about all kinds of different subjects. Those books were a great starting point before taking a deeper dive into your topic of choice at the local library.
Fast-forward a few decades and much of the learning content has moved online. The game, however, remains the same. Students want accessible information, and they want it quickly.
For high-school and college-age students, Extra Credits, a YouTube channel with more than 2.3 million subscribers, is a fantastic source of storytelling relating to history, politics, mythology, science fiction, and game design. Each week, the team at Extra Credits researches, writes, and produces animated videos on the aforementioned subjects. The videos are typically 7-10 minutes long and are produced in an evergreen style, so that they can stay relevant for many years to come. Some subjects are one-offs while others stretch for multiple episodes, particularly those pertaining to war and history.
Geoffrey Zatkin, studio director at Extra Credits, was kind enough to join Huzefa on this week’s podcast. Zatkin possesses serious credentials in video- and board-game design, and he’s also worked in a virtual reality studio. He says Extra Credits is an educational channel with an entertainment-first mindset. It’s a perfect jumping-off point, like those ancient encyclopedias.
“We’re not a replacement for your history class or your mythology class,” Zatkin said. “That’s never our goal. We want to get people started and inspire them to go learn other things. A lot of our videos are made with that in mind. . . .
“If we put out something on the flu pandemic or the Arab Revolt or talking about Viking expansion, these are things people might watch when they come out. But they might also have a college assignment or just be interested in researching more about it later, and that’s when they may bump into what we do.”
Students and teachers around the globe have been soaking up this online content at a rapid pace. To learn more about Extra Credits and the exciting videos available on their popular YouTube channel, check out the podcast at the link below.
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ExtraCreditz
Website:
https://www.extracredits.site/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/extracredits/
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ExtraCredits
Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/ExtraCreditz
Twitch.tv:
https://www.twitch.tv/ExtraCredits
This is such an incredible time to learn math.
Day by day, the internet continues to produce exciting new methods for honing mathematical skills, be it for kids, teens and even adults. There’s literally something for everyone, and each week Huzefa enjoys highlighting companies and individuals that are paving the way for this education technology boom.
In this week’s podcast episode Huzefa chats with Josh Martin, who started the Ludus Math Tutoring program on YouTube and Tik Tok, where he has more than 400K combined subscribers. Martin produces mathematical videos for YouTube that run anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours in length and cover a wide range of advanced subjects, such as calculus and linear algebra. His Tik Tok tutorials are much shorter in duration — ranging from 15 seconds to a minute long — and focus on topics such as algebra 1/2/3 and SAT/ACT prep.
The Tiki Tok clips have gained serious traction in the online math community as informative short-form content. The goal for all of his videos, Martin says, is to help bring clarity to mathematical issues that students often have trouble with.
“When I’m sitting in a lecture at college — right now I’m taking quantum (physics) — if I don’t understand something early on, it really kind of negatively impacts my understanding for the rest of the lecture,” Martin told Huzefa. “What I’m doing is aiming these videos at those roadblocks and trying to eliminate them as best as I can, so that the rest of the lecture will hopefully gain some clarity for these students.”
Martin is a high-motivated 20-year-old college student with a genuine passion for learning and teaching math. Hit the link below to listen to the entire conversation between a pair of guys with a serious passion for problem-solving.
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwibzkAqg5Q0dVcQt7xcOPg/
TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@ludus_/
Fender Play is rockin’ right now.
Beginning and intermediate guitar players are flocking to Fender Play to learn, develop and share new music digitally.
There’s something for every budding guitar virtuoso at Fender Play, including step-by-step micro-lessons for first-timers, weekly online tutorials with expert instructors, as well as a large catalog of song-learning material for more advanced users. Lesson programs are specifically designed for electric, acoustic and bass guitars. Ready to conquer the ukulele? They have a digital study guide for that, too.
Huzefa, a bit of an axeman himself having learned to play during his youth, says a guitar is an outstanding brain-development tool. “This is super cool,” he says of Fender Play. “It’s amazing that students can use this to teach themselves how to play guitar.”
In this week’s Podcast, Huzefa welcomes Mary Keenan, the Director of Product, and curriculum expert, at Fender Play and Fender Play Live. Keenan was instrumental in assisting Fender, known for decades for its top-shelf guitar production, to make the jump into digital music instruction.
For the hesitant-but-curious guitar guy or gal looking for a place to get started, Fender Play offers a nice, distraction-free outlet that’s set at your own pace.
“We decided the best way to approach this was to go step-by-step with how to talk somebody through the development of their skills,” Keenan said. “When you join Fender Play, you’re asked a few questions — really simple and upfront — about what instrument you’re playing and what genre you’re interested in. . . .
“We have levels. Everything is structured for you step by step by step. The way that we’ve designed (Fender Play) is to teach a skill, and then teach you to play a song so that you’re learning that skill and applying that skill in the context of something musical, and something that feels exciting to learn.”
For specific details on Fender Play price plans, including their 3-month trial offer that’s free to sign up for, have a listen to this week’s conversation in the link below. There’s a lot of quality information here, especially if you’ve ever hesitated to give it a go on the guitar. As they say, there’s never been a better time than right now.
Website:
https://www.fender.com/play
AppStore:
https://apps.apple.com/app/id1226057939
GooglePlay:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fender.play
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/fendermusical
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/fender
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Fender/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/fender
Even in a global pandemic, silver linings emerge.
March Madness basketball brackets and spring break vacations to the tropics have sadly been set aside. Education technology, meanwhile, has been thrust into the forefront of everyday life. And the cream of the crop, the companies with sparkling new ideas and content that keeps users totally engaged, are becoming the standard-bearers of the burgeoning ed-tech revolution.
Schell Games is a heavy hitter in the world of interactive educational gaming. This is a Midwest-based U.S. company producing the type of content that truly enriches people’s lives. The programs they develop feature legitimate life skills, with users both young and old logging on to participate in the action.
Adults can experience if they have what it takes to become an emergency room doctor in a high-stakes, quick-thinking game called Night Shift. High school and junior high students can work with several enticing science, math, history and reading programs in various virtual-reality settings. There are also kids’ activities galore available at Schell Games, from picture puzzles to learning about animals to a fun potty training program which, by the way, has been the company’s most popular game during the recent COVID-19 lockdowns.
Jesse Schell, founder and CEO of Schell Games, joins Huzefa on this week’s podcast to highlight some of the innovative projects his company has worked on in recent years, as well as to discuss what’s in the pipeline for 2020 and beyond. Improved virtual classroom learning abilities and expanding teacher access for creating new content are a few of the items at the top of the company’s to-do list.
“What schools want most is something that snaps into their curriculum very quickly, where they can say, ‘Well, we had been doing it this way but now we will do it this way,’ and it meets all the curricular goals,” Schell said. “And that can be a real challenge, because not every game fits in that way.”
Schell’s resume is quite impressive. In addition to publishing a book, “The Art of Game Design,” he’s worked for Bell Labs and Walt Disney Imagineering, and serves as Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Entertainment Technology at Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center. Suffice to say, it’s a very insightful conversation regarding the future of education technology. To access the interview in full, please click the link below.
Website:
https://www.schellgames.com/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/schellgames
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SchellGames/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/schellgames
Twitch:
https://www.twitch.tv/schellgamestv
Make the content fun and make it accessible — those are two tenets of the educational technology revolution.
Tune in this week to hear Huzefa chat with Arpit Jain, CEO and co-founder of SplashLearn, a game-based learning program for children. Jain and his associates began developing online teaching tools in 2008, and a dozen years later SplashLearn is one of the web’s finest producers of quality educational content, including an array of outstanding math programs that keep kids engaged and coming back for more.
A primary intent behind SplashLearn, Jain said, is to help all children achieve higher learning outcomes. The site even features a section where any teacher, in the U.S. or abroad, can sign up for free classroom math sessions.
“The idea is to make the program accessible to every kid in the world,” Jain told Huzefa in this week’s podcast.
With COVID-19 putting the breaks on in-person organized education, school districts, parents and students are making huge adjustments to their educational routines. SplashLearn has seen its popularity increase exponentially during these lockdowns. Log-in math tutorial sessions have doubled on the site — from about 35 minutes per user, on average, to more than an hour — and new users are climbing onboard every day.
The content is geared for children from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade. The youngest kids begin with counting games, identifying shapes and learning measurements. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and even money-concept games follow in the proceeding grades. Grades four and five dive into multiplication, fractions, decimals, algebra and geometry. It’s an extensive math curriculum with games galore.
SplashLearn is a fun, engaging program Huzefa has utilized in the past to help take his young students to the next level in their pursuits of mathematical mastery. He’s a believer, you can sense it in his voice. To learn more about the benefits of SplashLearn, bang on the podcast link below and enjoy an educational experience!
Website:
https://www.splashlearn.com/
AppStore:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/splashlearn-kids-math-games/id672658828
GooglePlay:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.splash.kids.education.learning.games.free.multiplication.reading.math.grade.app.splashmath
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq4XjWtukfQyMWC6hAVwABA
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/splashlearnofficial/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/splashlearn/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/splashlearn
Kick your brain into high gear with mind maps, a powerful brainstorming tool that encourages users to create a steady flow of original ideas covering a wide range of topics.
Michael Hollauf, CEO and co-founder of MindMeister, joins Huzefa on this week’s podcast to discuss how his company continues to develop its impressive mind-mapping software. Since 2007, MindMeister has been at the forefront of this online, information-sharing technology, working with students, teachers, small-business owners and even big-time corporate executives on an abundance of unresolved issues.
In explaining what a mind map is, Hollauf compared it to a tree diagram with a main topic in the middle. Branches come off the main topic, creating subtopics and the structure for which a person or a group of people can begin to problem-solve.
“It’s super popular because it’s free flow. It’s not like a linear document where you write everything in one direction underneath,” Hollauf said. “It becomes a 2-D map where you can write everything where it belongs and where it comes to mind. . .
Mind maps “have proven to aid remembering and directly understanding a topic through and through. You use both parts of your brain. You use the creative, left side of the brain because of the visual presentation. And you use the right side because of the topics you write down, the general structuring,” he added.
Huzefa and Hollauf both agree that mind maps can be utilized in all walks of life, from classroom or work conference notes, to book summaries and literature-writing ideas. Science, math, law, entertainment — the possibilities for brainstorming topics online are truly endless.
MindMeister continues to expand its software services and has produced a new app called MeisterTask. The most exciting nugget of information that Hollauf provided, however, is that, in light of the COVID-19 epidemic, MindMeister has made all of its paid software free to educational institutions for the foreseeable future. Individual students who sign up for any paid services will receive a steep discount as well. The site also offers a basic plan at no cost.
This is a very interesting conversation between a pair of entrepreneurs who are helping lead the charge in the ed-tech revolution. Click on the link below to hear the complete interview.
Website:
https://www.mindmeister.com/
AppStore:
https://apps.apple.com/app/mindmeister-mind-mapping/id381073026
GooglePlay:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.meisterlabs.mindmeister
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/mindmeister
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/mindmeister
At Cool School, kids can let their imaginations run wild while parents kick back knowing the content being consumed is safe and educational.
With more than 1.2 million YouTube subscribers, Cool School’s popularity has exploded in recent weeks as COVID-19 quarantines spread throughout the globe. Youngsters need new ways to fill their time, and parents are rapidly searching for at-home study solutions.
Geared for children from 3-8 years old, Cool School features a zany cast of characters doing different virtual tasks, including reading sessions, art and craft projects, as well as lessons in personal hygiene and being polite. The tales being told truly come to life through detailed visual storytelling and excellent acting skills from the cast.
In this week’s podcast Huzefa chats with Scott Weitz, CEO and founder of Driver Studios, the producer of Cool School’s clever and ever-evolving content. It’s a fun conversation related to a brand of educational technology that’s starting to gain some serious traction online.
“We want to create stuff that really inspires kids’ imaginations,” said Weitz, a father of five. “Inspire kids to see things that really create curiosity — we want to see kids get up and do things and really feel great about themselves.”
Ms. Booksy makes reading an adventure; Crafty Carol brings out the best do-it-yourself projects; and Drew Pendous is always taking part in some type of head-scratching journey. These are the most popular characters on the Cool School channel. But according to Weitz, Cool School will be introducing new characters in the very near future, with a particular focus on music and singalong melodies.
Huzefa is totally onboard with the content, and even threw his support behind developing a character who specializes in teaching mathematics to children.
“The way that (Cool School) is creating characters and generating content is by making sure you’re entertaining and gripping,” Huzefa says.
“The ed-tech revolution is about, one, making the content engaging and, two, making it accessible.”
Cool School can be found on YouTube, Instagram and via their app. To hear to Huzefa’s full conversation with Scott Weitz, please click on the link below:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/coolschool/
Cool School Learning App:
Read Along with Ms. Booksy
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/coolschoolchannel/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/coolschoolchannel
Website:
https://www.coolschool.com/
Here’s something awesome and oh-so-important considering our current global environment: Education technology that can help lead to preventative care.
That’s why we’re loving FoldIt, a non-profit, revolutionary scientific discovery game run by research scientists from universities all across the United States.
In this week’s podcast, Huzefa speaks with Brian Koepnick, lead scientist for Foldit, regarding the pivotal role proteins play in our ability to comprehend and combat infectious diseases. Koepnick and the incredible crew at Foldit have designed a crowdsourced puzzle game where players are required to fold proteins into realistic, physically-plausible structures, often with tangible, real-life results.
“There’s a vast space of solutions,” Koepnick said. “There are too many different solutions for us to enumerate on a computer. So we rely on the intuition and spatial reasoning of humans, of game players. You don’t have to know anything about biochemistry or proteins — all of that is taken care of by the game. You just have to learn the basic tools and how to use them, and you can become an effective player.”
Foldit players continue to contribute ideas for HIV/AIDS, cancer, Alzheimer’s and, most recently, COVID19 research. They’ve also been responsible for creating new proteins from scratch, redesigning an existing protein enzyme and discovering an algorithm for how to fold proteins.
Koepnick says Foldit players possess an innate ability to “focus on big-picture problems.”
Huzefa sees a fantastic opportunity for savvy young minds to participate in Foldit games and truly test themselves in the world of scientific research and problem solving.
“Students have a chance to get involved in the process,” he says, “and actually contribute real solutions. It’s just mind-blowing what they do.”
The full conversation with Brian Koepnick can be accessed below.
Website:
https://fold.it/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGjfDFjL-7rvhRRl2keqhcA
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/afterskool100/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/folditgame
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/foldit
The rapid growth across the ed-tech industry tells us one thing: people love to learn. With more educational resources at our fingertips than ever before, we are all faced with the dilemma of wanting to spend our time learning what we love versus learning specific topics necessary to graduate high school, maintain professional certifications, or continue workplace training.
Thanks to Virgil Ricks, the creator of the 2 Minute Classroom website and channel on YouTube, high school students can rest easy, knowing that the time they were spending on science homework can now be devoted to learning guitar, coding, or taking up a new sport. 2 Minute Classroom is a free and accessible online resource for quickly and easily learning complex topics in science and math.
Virgil is no stranger to encountering high-schooler angst when it comes to learning scientific topics; he saw it first-hand teaching in the classroom for many years. He experimented with using existing YouTube videos, but students complained that they were too long and boring, and he watched them lose interest quickly. The need for shorter more concise and visually engaging content was clear, and from that, 2 Minute Classroom was born.
With approximately 25,000 subscribers now tuning in to Virgil’s highly engaging channel, the requests for content have been increasing and the topics you can find using the YouTube search bar within the channel are now quite vast. From biology and chemistry to math, genetics, and physics, whether you are a student, parent, or teacher, you can take advantage of this hugely beneficial resource.
Website:
https://www.2minuteclassroom.com/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7izWi_rV1mN_Hg78PAJgoA
Skilled animator Mark Woods has found the perfect formula for keeping us glued to his educational YouTube channel, After Skool.
The content is intriguing, the animation is engaging and the visual explanations are educating and easy to follow. We have to warn you that watching just one video on After Skool will likely take you on a quest for more knowledge, aka down an online rabbit hole. The video description says, “The idea of most of the videos on After Skool, is to get you to question things. Believing everything in this video is just as silly as dismissing everything in this video. Both are lazy styles of thinking.” Mark urges all his viewers to “stay curious and NEVER stop questioning things.” And with almost 60 million views on his channel, there’s a lot of thinking going on After Skool.
Mark is the master-mind behind the channel and the source of the questions behind each video. A favorite question of his was, “Why Don’t Country Flags Use The Color Purple?” The question garnered 4 million video views in one day, and ultimately resulted in his children’s book of the same name. Do you know why country flags don’t use purple? Think it over, then get the answer at the link below.
Give your brain a workout and discover ideas you’ve never encountered before on After Skool.
Website:
https://www.afterskool.net/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1KmNKYC1l0stjctkGswl6g
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/afterskool100/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/afterskool100/
“Why Don’t Country Flags Use The Color Purple?”
https://youtu.be/CYB-pmNs4VQ
“No one knows everything, but everyone knows something.” Brainly is the world’s largest peer to peer homework platform, with 150 million global users per month, 16 million of whom are in the U.S. Huzefa talks with Eric Oldfield, the Chief Business Officer of Brainly, who joined Brainly after over 25 years of experience in the tech industry, previously working on Trulia and Zillow platforms to name just a few.
What subjects can you get help with? The platform accepts any academic question, from any student, in any market. Currently operating in 35 countries, Brainly offers a place for students to tackle their homework problems together. With built in mechanisms to manage answer correctness and completeness, such as star ratings and the ability to report an answer that appears incorrect, students can have confidence when they turn to Brainly. “We are your smart friend that helps you with your homework,” Eric perfectly sums up the role social learning network plays in the lives of students.
Huzefa is one of many teachers who enjoys verifying answers on the platform. When a question reaches a high level of popularity, answers are double checked again, and any helpful diagrams or walk-thrus are added as well. Listen to the full interview below and for students, parents and teachers looking to use Brainly, check out these links here:
Website:
https://brainly.com/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ929YFR7IGeKlv-nXn-Qug
iOS App:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/brainly-the-homework-app/id745089947
Android App:
https://brainly.app.link/wVjvvDq5N3
Flinn Scientific was started in 1977 by Larry Flinn, who put his career on the line to pursue his passion and help science educators across the nation. He recognized the need for improved products and safety methods for educators early on, and the company has been a go-to for classrooms ever since. An inspiring example of entrepreneurship, Flinn Scientific’s unwavering commitment to safety and education set the foundation for it’s long-term success and ability to make the leap from physical educational products to the burgeoning world of EdTech.
Tune in now to hear Huzefa interview Dave Larson, the Vice President of Product Management at Flinn Scientific, about the many innovative products Flinn Scientific offers across the STEM arena. From cloud-based chemical storage management solutions for science labs, to the new AP exam preparation apps for high-school students, FlinnPREP, it seems like Flinn Scientific has a tool for pretty much everything STEM related.
With an impressive list of products to build on, and a full in-house staff of scientists and former educators, the company continues to launch exciting and creative resources, one of the latest examples being 360Science labs, featuring a virtual reality component which let students experience what it’s like to be “inside the experiment.” Check it out at the link below and scroll down to hear the full interview now.
Website:
https://www.flinnsci.com/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/FlinnScientific
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FlinnScientific
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/flinnscientific
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/flinnscientific/
Markus Hohenwarter is the founder of GeoGebra, a collection of engaging math apps that bring together algebra, geometry, and graphing, in one easy-to-use application.
The GeoGebra math tools provide a visual way for students to learn math and science, from elementary school level through to college. The free tools include a scientific calculator, graphic calculator, and even a 3D calculator featuring augmented reality, allowing learners to see abstract math objects in the real-world… in their own virtual environment. The newest release also features an exam mode, which is being piloted right now, and which will hopefully be approved for use on the SAT and ACT tests in the near future.
Staying true to their mission of making the technology available and accessible to everyone, the apps are completely free to download and available in over 60 languages! Listen now as Huzefa and Markus discuss how GeoGebra, initially created by Markus for his thesis project, has helped over 100 million students worldwide to date.
Website:
https://www.geogebra.org/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5hJLoPg27unBIMhs5cCgsg
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/geogebra
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/geogebra/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/geogebra
A lot has changed since Adam Wilson, co-founder of Sphero, first became interested in Robotics. Inspired by the movie Short Circuit, Adam attempted to build his own robotics at the young age of 10, but it would take another decade, plus finding co-founder Ian Bernstein, before the two joined up to make the world of robotics, coding and programming both fun and accessible to everyone.
Tune in to hear Huzefa and Adam discuss the endless learning opportunities Sphero offers. Their STEAM based tools are a hit in classrooms, where students can partake in a number of programming exercises, spanning topics from history to math. Rather than learning the Pythagorean Theorem on paper for example, Sphero teaches students in a more physically engaging way. By programming the math formula into their robot using code, students can watch in real-time as their robot drives itself to three points, forming a right triangle.
Robots range from the $49 Sphero Mini to the newest and most advanced, RVR priced at $249. Over the last few years, Sphero also launched a Computer Science curriculum so that coders and creators can take their robotics skills to the next level. It includes 24 lessons on computer science which can be applied to almost any type of automation one can imagine. The open API means that creators are only limited by their own coding skills and imagination.
Adam and the team at Sphero receive an endless stream of feedback, from happy customers who never knew they were so tech-savvy until trying robotics and programming with Sphero. Learners of every age are using Sphero and anyone can get involved. Check out their community page, or join in the next Hackathon competition for a truly exciting learning experience!
Website:
https://www.sphero.com/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5EJptL-l6f4tY6lRdLm_Sw
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sphero
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/GoSphero/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Sphero
Typing is one of the fundamental education skills, and something that hasn’t always been fun to learn. As typing is being taught to younger ages, the approach needed an update so students would stay engaged and find the lessons fun.
TypeTastic zoned in on exactly how to make typing fun, and has “unleashed the joy of typing” on over 2 million students to date! Huzefa speaks with Sini Taskinen from Marketing at TypeTastic about how the software got its start, over 30 years ago on DOS, and what we can expect to see in the future.
The Ed-Tech Digest Cool Tools Award Finalist offers over 700 free activities on their website. TypeTastic is primarily used in schools, but all materials can be accessed free of charge at the website listed below.
Website:
https://typetastic.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/typetastic
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/typetastic_com
Josh and Dawn Denberg, the creators of the incredible free app ModMath, don’t consider themselves education technology gurus, teachers or even mathematicians. Nevertheless, they recognized the glaring need for a technology that assists students who are struggling with writing difficulties. Their son has dysgraphia — a learning disability that affects written expression — making it a challenge to use handwriting to solve math problems. While students can easily understand the concepts behind the math, if they can’t write the formula down legibly, it’s pretty hard to solve it!
ModMath was created to address this very real problem, as dysgraphia affects many students with autism, ADHD and other learning difficulties. The app serves as a tool and resource for students, not as a calculator. The app won’t solve a math problem for you. It will however assist in the set-up of the problem, in a digital-grid like format, that works for any student struggling with writing.
Fine motor skills, like writing, greatly impact a student’s ability to learn math. When it comes to math, keeping numbers in the right columns, staying in-line during long division, dealing with decimals and carrying the numbers over all present challenges. With ModMath, that handwriting roadblock has been completely eliminated, and kids can focus on the real task at hand – learning math.
ModMath is currently being used in 99 countries and has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times on iTunes. Just this year, ModMath saw a 90% increase year-over-year in users. At the request of teachers, parents and districts, ModMath will soon be making some upgrades and launching a new version. The app will become available on iOS, Android and Chromebook. Students will be able to integrate ModMath with Dropbox for easy collaboration on assignments with their teachers. They even plan to add a feature enabling students to upload a photo of a math problem directly into ModMath.
Listen now as Josh shares with Huzefa the story behind this amazing app, the overwhelmingly positive feedback received to date, and plans for continually improving ModMath.
Website:
https://www.modmath.com/
ModMath App:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/modmath/id821892964?ls=1&mt=8
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/modmathapp?ref=hl
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ModMath
Andy Rahden is the new CEO of Shmoop, an award-winning digital publisher and provider of test-prep resources. No stranger to the EdTech industry, Rahden’s most recent success was with Pluralsight. His experience in teaching, however, goes back much further, and began when he was a mechanical engineer… solving problems and teaching others how to solve them as well.
As the new CEO, Andy has already implemented user experience changes to the website aimed at increasing the speed at which students progress. The meaning of the word “shmoop” is to gain progress, and that’s exactly what the revamped user experience sets out to accomplish. The team at Shmoop has been analyzing the learning journey and how people digest content in order to customize each learner’s path to progress.
Listen as Andy and Huzefa discus test-prep, content creation, and the importance of humor in connecting with learners. Find out what else is in store for the digital education powerhouse, which is already being used by over 16 million students and teachers monthly!
Website:
https://www.shmoop.com/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6HHbfDEuS5Ir2Xh39B-ePg
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shmoopuniversity/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/shmoop/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Shmoop
Chris Seber, a civil engineering graduate, found his calling teaching math to the world via his YouTube channel, Math Meeting. He is the founder of MathMeeting.com and creator of brain teasers, Rubik’s cube videos, and over 400 math tutorials that range from basic math through calculus. Chris chats with Huzefa about how he amassed over 400,000 subscribers on YouTube and what’s in store next for MathMeeting. He’s currently studying the technical side of Data Science and has plans to bridge the learning gap between studying math and applying it to real-world scenarios. Listen in as Chris gives us some examples of how applicable math really is to our lives, and stay tuned for his brand new content in the Data Science realm where he will answer the question math educators hear so often… “When am I going to use math after I graduate highschool?”
Website:
http://www.mathmeeting.com/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/MathMeeting/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MathMeeting
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/mathmeeting
Alisha MacIntyre is the Head of Program Development and Lego Education at FIRST, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring kids through STEAM. Huzefa talks with Alisha about the origins of the FIRST Lego League Jr. Discovery program, which started over 20 years ago. Hosted in over 140 countries, the program has students as young as 4 years-old using Lego education to collaborate with others and build real world solutions for real world problems. She deconstructs the programs and explains the ideas of why and how students ‘playing’ with Legos and engineering helps not only embedding of math concepts but literacy, too.
Website:
https://www.firstinspires.org/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FIRSTOfficial/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/FIRSTWorldTube
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/first_official_/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/firstweets
Jonathan Levi of SuperHuman Academy is a serial “entreprenewer”, life hacker, and author of The Only Skill That Matters and Super Learner. Jonathan sits down with Huzefa to talk about his journey from being a kid being diagnosed with a learning disorder to graduating Berkley college by locking himself in his room and out studying his peers. After getting into a prestigious MBA program, Jonathan realizes he needs another way to succeed and luckily discovers accelerated learning right before he begins the program. In this chat, he introduces listeners to the concept of accelerated learning, memory banks and other tricks of how to become a super learner.
Super Learner is out September 3rd! http://superhumanacademy.com/book
Personal website & Portfolio:
http://jle.vi
Business Website:
http://superhumanacademy.com
YouTube:
http://jle.vi/youtube
Instagram:
http://instagram.com/entreprenewer/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/jonathanleviofficial/
Twitter:
http://superhumanacademy.com/book
LinkedIn:
http://linkedin.com/in/jonathanlevi
Robert Adhoot an author, TEDx speaker, and math educator. He is the founder of the YayMath.org which is a collection of engaging math video lessons. Huzefa sits down with Robert to bond on their love for math and explain why math can be street performance art. Robert defines “math anxiety” and the effects it has on people of all ages. Robert gives in-depth tips on how the math fear can be alleviated and explains why teachers must forge the bond to get students to learn.
Website:
https://courses.yaymath.org/
YouTube:
http://www.yaymath.org/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/yaymath.pics/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/yaymath
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/yaymath
Chetna Vasishth is the Founder of ChetChat, the largest online chat show in the ed-tech arena. Based in Mumbai, India, ChetChat provides career guidance, entrepreneurial success stories and video chats with professionals. Huzefa speaks with Chetna about how she went from a career in banking to working in the exciting online education space. She shares her steps on how to find the right career, how she created the best study techniques and how anyone can effectively increase focus and concentration.
Website:
https://chetchat.in/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/chetchat101
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/chetchat101/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/chetchat101
Whatsapp:
+91 70459 63730
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/chetchat101
Phillip Markoff (aka CGKid) is an Addiction Education YouTuber and blogger based out of Dallas, Texas. Phillip sits down with Huzefa to share his experience with addiction, recovery and his path to educating the public in illicit substances through his YouTube channel. Phillip explains why stories offer addicts recovery and gives them hope that sobriety is possible. In this discussion, Phillip gives insight into what he would currently change about drug education in schools and what he thinks is effective for making a difference for kids struggling with addiction.
Website:
https://www.shamelessprotocol.com/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/cgkid
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/cg_kid/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/559342184435501/
Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ShamelessProtocol/
Spotify Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3RZCL541xNJ9JfVs6sodxZ?si=g6IuDqGwRyCcOpniPkB-WQ
Since the beginning of civilization, humans have traded stories. While some stories teach lessons, others simply serve to pass the time. Families have read stories to each other by the light of countless fires and through this tradition, bonds have been made that cannot be broken. As we move forward into the digital world, the Novel Effect app serves as a wonderful enhancement to this time-honored tradition.
The idea for Novel Effect was created in 2015 when Matt and Melissa Hammersley were expecting their first child. In honor of their literary-themed baby shower, the couple received a simple gift from a close friend. While reading On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman, their friend, Toby, accompanied her reading of the book with sound effects. As everyone at the party was captivated, the husband and wife knew they had found something magical.
Matt and Melissa worked to create Novel Effect, a voice-guided app that would follow along with the reader and play accompanying sound effects, bringing the story to life. Following a relocation to Seattle and an early partnership with retail giant Amazon’s Alexa Fund, the couple appeared on ABC’s hit show, Shark Tank. Fielding multiple offers from their appearance, they eventually decided to continue the partnership with Amazon. As of May 2018, Novel Effect managed to raise $3 million in funding and in addition, win a Webby Award for ‘Best Integrated Mobile Experience.’
The 5-star rated Novel Effect app is compatible with mobile and tablet devices and is available as a free download for either iOS or Android operating systems. Since the Shark Tank appearance, over 50,000 downloads of the app have been made. Currently featuring over 250 books with soundscapes, the company is constantly adding more! Users can either read along with their own copy of the book or have access to a library of e-books. Popular titles include: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, The Cat In The Hat, Guess How Much I Love You, and even poetry titles such as The Cow by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Whether you are a parent, caregiver, or teacher, Novel Effect will make it easier for you and your child to come together around a book and share a memorable moment.
Website
https://www.noveleffect.com
Popular titles
https://www.noveleffect.com/library
https://www.facebook.com/noveleffect/
https://twitter.com/novel_effect
https://www.instagram.com/novel_effect/
Through advancements in technology and the development of the growing EdTech field, we often find ourselves with a little too much of a good thing. We have comprehensive systems for every aspect of education, from student info to curriculum and learning platforms. While educational institutions utilize separate types of information management systems, ASSIST offers a streamlined single integrated education management system for K-12 schools.
In 2017, CEO and co-founder of ASSIST Michael E. Spencer found that there was a great need for a fully-integrated, student data (SIS), student learning management (LMS) and curriculum management (CMS) system. Building on the existing system constructed by a team of educational practitioners, this cloud-based platform provides seamless integration of the key components of an educational institution into one easy to use system.
ASSIST features benefits for districts and schools, including streamlined application and enrollment processes, student data management, and reporting. Many internal functions can be managed as well, including calendar organization, staff management, accounting, and professional development tools. Students and parents benefit from individual student portfolios, parent and student portals, increased communication with teachers, calendar features, and 24/7 access to valuable information.
Educators benefit from the multitude of features the cloud-based system provides, from your basic attendance and grade book to resource library and digital content management. ASSIST partners with over a dozen top education companies, allowing individual plans to be developed with access to their database of curriculum.
ASSIST offers deliverable programs in addition to their customizable content, notably the US high school diploma, English language learning certificate programs, and STEAM. The company has expanded into the international market with Malaysia set to implement the Flex School model and is in the process of developing many new and exciting features.
https://assisteducation.com
Northstar Digital Literacy Assessments, a program of the Minnesota Literacy Council, allows users to assess their digital literacy and basic skills on the computer. The assessments are available in three key areas, essential computer & software skills, and using technology to accomplish tasks.
Essential computer skills include computer and internet basics, email, and fluency with Windows and Mac operating systems. Essential software skills test experience using today’s most used programs such as Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. Technology-based task accomplishments include social media use and information literacy.
These series of assessments were created as a joint project in 2010 by the Saint Paul Public Library and Saint Paul Literacy Consortium as a community-based program to address the needs of the multitudes of unemployed and displaced workers created during the 2009 recession. The assessments were meant to be mutually beneficial to both workers and employers by identifying skill levels in a meaningful way, eventually leading to certification and further job prospects.
Northstar assessments allow users free access to the modules from anywhere, through their website. Assessments taken at one of their over 600 testing locations offers many benefits such as assistance in test taking, skill certification, and personalized assessment results to provide a roadmap to relevant instruction.
Another key feature is the integration of the Mozilla OpenBadges program, which allows users to create a digital “backpack” which houses their completed certification badges. Northstar has grown exponentially with over 1 million assessments on the public interface combined with several hundred thousand through testing locations across the country. As of 2018, a Version 2.0 was approved and through conjunction with the CareerForce project received funding for its completion. With the recent release of the first module Computer Basics 2.0—featuring improved interface, navigation, and new design elements receiving many positive reviews—Northstar has achieved much notable recognition including receiving Partner of the Year Award from the Community Technology Empowerment Project. While initially created for adults entering the workforce, Northstar’s digital literacy assessments have a wide range of applications and can be utilized by students of all ages.
To learn more about Northstar, go to https://www.digitalliteracyassessment.org/
Dr. John Medina has written many books such as the New York Times bestseller “Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School” — a provocative book that takes on the way our schools and work environments are designed. Medina’s book on brain development is a must-read for parents and early-childhood educators: “Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five.” His latest book in the series is “Brain Rules for Aging Well: 10 Principles for Staying Vital, Happy, and Sharp.” Other titles include The Genetic Inferno, The Clock of Ages, Depression, What You Need to Know About Alzheimer’s, The Outer Limits of Life, Uncovering the Mystery of AIDS, and Of Serotonin, Dopamine and Antipsychotic Medications. He also writes the “Molecules of the Mind” column for the Psychiatric Times and serves as an academic contributor and advisor to MindEDU, as well as article contributions to notable periodicals such as Harvard Business Review, New York Post, Business Week, and the Seattle Times.
Medina is a developmental molecular biologist focused on the genes involved in human brain development and the genetics of psychiatric disorders. He has spent most of his professional life as a private research consultant, working primarily in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries on research related to mental health. Medina served as the founding director of the Talaris Research Institute, a Seattle-based research center originally focused on how infants encode and process information at the cognitive, cellular, and molecular levels. Medina’s lifelong fascination with how the mind reacts to and organizes information—combined with being a father of two boys—sparked an interest in how the brain sciences might influence the way we teach our children.
His notable achievements include being appointed to the rank of affiliate scholar at the National Academy of Engineering in 2004, named Outstanding Faculty of the Year at the College of Engineering at the University of Washington; the Merrill Dow/Continuing Medical Education National Teacher of the Year; and, twice, the Bioengineering Student Association Teacher of the Year.
Medina is currently an affiliate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine and in addition to his research, consulting, and teaching, Medina speaks often to public officials, business and medical professionals, school boards, and nonprofit leaders.
Website
brainrules.net
Articles & Blog Mentions
http://www.brainrules.net/news
Youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/brainrulesbook
Richard Biegel, founder of MindEDU, did not set out to join the burgeoning EdTech revolution. Nevertheless, he found himself drawn to the dynamic and meaningful world of education. Having spent over 30 years in commercial real estate and development, including a number of large scale projects in the Southwest as well as previously raising two children (now adults), Richard had no idea that the second time around would lead him squarely in the midst of early childhood education and development.
A year ago, while beginning the search for preschools for his twin daughters, he noticed that the information he was coming across had not changed much from the previous 20 years. After reaching out to notable educators, Richard noticed a serious disconnect between the life-changing research that was available and how little of it was known to the general public. It became apparent that something needed to be done after asking himself questions such as, “How do I raise my kids to be healthy and happy?”
Richard set out to reach the parents of young children when their minds are the most moldable and absorbative. Paired with an impactful health scare, Richard’s passion and mission became evident in his work through gathering leading academic advisors and contributors in their fields in one place. And that’s how MindEDU was born. It came about from a desire to bridge the disconnect between all of the great information available and the fact that the info has not yet been disseminated or properly conveyed. The MindEDU website conveys a wealth of knowledge in ways that are easily digestible and accessible to today’s parents. As we continue to integrate our lives with technology, MindEDU aims to bring trustworthy information that parents and educators can utilize to build a healthy foundation for our children. We are so fortunate to be able to watch this wonderful resource unfold in this early stage.
What if the Sino-Soviet Union formed? What if Iran became communist? What if Hitler died early? These are all questions answered by Monsieur Z, a YouTube channel that began producing alternate history videos in February of 2017. Run by Dean Moser, the channel now has nearly 40,000 subscribers who tune in every week to consider what the world would be like if history had gone an entirely different route.
The Monsieur Z assortment of playlists highlights the kinds of videos he creates: anarchism, communism, fascism, the ancient world, World War I, World War II, the Cold War, alternate Europe, alternate Asia, and alternate America. In each of these playlists, the videos focus on what the world would be like today if an alternate version of events had occurred.
Dean also has a playlist entitled “Videos YouTube Doesn’t Want You To See,” a collection of videos that YouTube has deemed as “non-advertiser friendly” content. YouTube often attempts to disincentivize content creators from producing certain content by not allowing ads to play on those videos. For Monsieur Z, these videos include “If the 2nd Amendment Didn’t Exist,” “What if JFK Survived?,” “What if National Bolshevism Replaced Communism?,” “United South America,” and more. Several also focus on what would have happened if various countries became communist or fascist instead of adopting the legal systems they have now.
His most popular alternate history videos analyze hypothetical scenarios such as Rome discovering steam power and World War I ending in stalemate. For example, in the latter video, Dean first explains what would have had to happen in order for a stalemate to occur in the first place — Germany would have had to re-establish trade with the United States in order to permit their submarine warfare. He then postulates other possible scenarios: the Central Powers taking Russia, further alliances dragging more nations into the war, continuous conflict on the French and German borders, and more. Eventually, an armistice would be signed and borders redrawn, resulting in a stronger Germany, a smaller Soviet Union, and even more consequences. He eventually reaches the conclusion that more fascist empires would have emerged in other European countries, leading to a Second World War regardless.
Monsieur Z videos are generally a voiceover of Dean speaking accompanied by still images and an occasional cartoon. He also uses maps and diagrams to further highlight his points. But overall, his goal is to analyze historical trends and events by looking at what could have happened — and why it didn’t.
To learn more about Monsieur Z, check out the full podcast below and visit his channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/josephmeza100000.
Tristan Johnson had always admired the work of successful scientists making a name for themselves in their respective fields — people like Bill Nye and Neil Degrasse Tyson who were easily identifiable as prominent scientists and produced content that people care about. And yet, the same could not be said for historians; naming even one prominent historian who produces interesting content is a challenge for many.
And so, he set out to change this. In September 2015, Tristan launched Step Back History, a YouTube channel that has amassed just over 40,000 subscribers in the time since its beginning. His goal was to help people realize the importance of history and how it can help us understand the modern world in a way that was different from the usual long lectures and dull descriptions. He wanted history to be engaging and exciting through his videos, and most importantly, connect the past to the present by looking at history from a new angle.
Tristan will often cover topics that are typically seen as rather boring and turn them into enlightening videos. For example, his most popular video, with nearly 200,000 views, is titled “The Truth About Native Americans before Europeans Arrived.” He goes into the history of Native Americans and the pre-Colombian world, his voiceover accompanied by animations, visuals, and drawings to keep viewers engaged. And most of his videos follow a similar format — clips of him talking interspersed with applicable visuals.
But Tristan also aims to move past the more well-known parts of history and delve into unconventional ideas that people often aren’t aware of. Some other popular videos like this cover topics ranging from random facts about Iceland to the Colfax Massacre to Zoroastrianism to the lost colony of Roanoke.
Many videos also center around current events, discussing things like the alt-right, Al-Qaeda, free speech, whether Trump is a Russian agent, balancing the Supreme Court, political correctness, a primer on Vladimir Putin, and legalizing marijuana. All in all, Tristan’s goal is to educate and entertain, both on things that have happened in the past and things that are still going on.
To learn more about Tristan and Step Back History, listen to the full interview with him below and check out his channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxTdWpLJurbGlFMWOwXWG_A.
Science has a tendency to be viewed as complicated and erudite, a subject with so many different branches and intricacies that it can take years to study even one discipline. But that is often to do with how science taught, and it certainly doesn’t mean that non-scientists can’t learn about how the universe works — even kids are never too young to start learning about science when it’s explained in ways that they can understand. This is what inspired the launch of SciShow Kids, a YouTube channel that aims to provide scientific answers to common questions and topics “for young, curious minds.”
Hosted by Jessi and Squeaks, a robot rat, SciShow Kids releases videos every Tuesday and Thursday. They tackle seemingly perplexing topics and break them down into easily understandable explanations. The show often conducts experiments, hosts special guests, and highlights how science works in everyday settings such as kitchens and playgrounds.
With close to 200,000 subscribers, it’s safe to say that SciShow Kids has proven itself a successful endeavor and popular among kids everywhere by answering questions that kids ponder but never know the answer to. For example, recent uploads include “Why Does Ice Cream Hurt My Head?” and “Why Can’t I Eat Peanut Butter?” Many videos also focus on animals and other facts that especially kids, but even adults, find interesting.
The original SciShow channel was launched by Hank Green, known for his role as co-host of YouTube channel vlogbrothers alongside his brother and teen author John Green. SciShow publishes a new video every day, alternating hosts between Hank Green, Michael Aranda, Olivia Gordon, and Stefan Chin. This channel features information pertaining to every branch of science.
SciShow Kids is one of three branches of the original SciShow, which launched in 2012. Other variants include SciShow Space and SciShow Psych. The Space channel features videos about the universe and attempts to explain the mysteries of outer space in a way that makes sense to everyone, with content covering the beginning of the universe to modern developments in astronomy. SciShow Psych focuses on how the human brain works and the psychology behind decisions we make.
To learn more about SciShow Kids, listen to the full interview with the show’s producer, Sam Schultz, and check out the shows at the links below.
SciShow: https://www.youtube.com/scishow
SciShow Kids: https://www.youtube.com/user/scishowkids
SciShow Space: https://www.youtube.com/user/scishowspace
SciShow Psych: https://www.youtube.com/scishowpsych
Nigel Braun began posting his chemistry experiments to YouTube in 2014 under the name NileRed (after the lipophilic stain) with no intention of amassing such a large audience. But now, four years later, he has over 420,000 subscribers that tune in regularly to watch his latest experiment. The mission is to prove that science can be a topic as engaging and fascinating as any other — often even more so.
The channel currently features four playlists: extractions, odors, syntheses and demonstrations, and spontaneous combustion, although videos often don’t fall into those categories. The extractions playlist features videos on extracting certain substances from others; for example, extracting citric acid from lemons, caffeine from coffee, and starch from potatoes, as well as some slightly more offbeat extractions such as lidocaine from anal lubricant. The odors playlist is entirely about how to make certain odors like cadaverine and butyric acid, the smells of rotting flesh and vomit respectively. The combustions and syntheses playlists feature various chemical reactions and accompanying explanations.
Most of his videos have hundreds of thousands of views, but some have garnered well over a million. His most popular video to date, which shows how mercury and aluminum react to form a mercury alloy, has 7.4 million views. Other videos with more views include instructional videos on how to make chloroform and alcohol on your own, as well as other chemical reactions.
Nigel has also created a website and shop for his channel, where he has a blog that he shares information about his videos on. He finds materials such as glassware and chemicals from various sources and is careful to warn viewers that certain experiments should not be conducted without proper safety materials and safely procured chemicals.
To learn more about NileRed, listen to the full interview and check out the links below.
YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/TheRedNile
Website: https://nile.red
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2448989
Instagram: http://instagram.com/nile.red
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NileRed2
As technology evolves, so does the way we use it in our own development. Udemy is one such company that’s taken advantage of the widespread availability of the Internet and brought education online through a global marketplace. Udemy offers anyone the chance to learn “any topic, anytime” through their online platform. Starting at $10.99, there are approximately 80,000 courses currently available on Udemy, ranging in subjects from languages to IT to personal development.
Founded by Eren Bali in Turkey, Udemy’s mission was to make education accessible. Bali was motivated by his own lack of education until he acquired a computer and was able to find resources from around the planet. Today, the company is well on its way to making high-quality education a staple for everyone, with offices in California, Turkey, Ireland, and Brazil.
While traditional academic topics such as math and history are what’s most common on similar platforms, at Udemy, these core topics are only a small fraction of the vast amount available, covering a broad range. Many classes focus on personal and internal success, such as meditation, stress management, relationships, and mental health. Still others are about physical success, with courses in dieting, first aid, dance, and nutrition. Entire sections are dedicated to professional and career skills, such as business, software, marketing, and design, and even more to creative skills, such as music and photography. Any subject that comes to mind is most likely available on Udemy.
Instructors create a course with the help of a community of other Udemy teachers and Udemy’s training and resources, and they are paid each time someone purchases it. At this time, Udemy boasts over 35,000 instructors for 24 million students, each with unique courses that reach a far broader audience than they otherwise could have.
Udemy also offers a learning solution for businesses to allow their employees to access top courses relating to employee skills and development. Companies currently utilizing Udemy for job training include Lyft, Volkswagen, and PayPal, among others.
In this interview, Shelley Osborne, Udemy’s Head of Learning and Development, discusses millennials in workplace and the untrue stereotype of millennials as lazy and entitled.
To learn more or sign up for your own class, check out the interview below with Shelley and visit their website at www.udemy.com
In the early 2000s, the Goudreau Museum closed. It was a small math museum on Long Island, but it sparked an outrage among a small group of people who met up in 2008 to open a new math museum. Despite the need for effective math programming, there was no existing math museum in the United States.
Now, the National Museum of Mathematics, or the MoMath, aims to “enhance public understanding and perception or mathematics” through exhibitions and galleries that explain the role of mathematics in the things we see every day, with a particular focus on how art and math intersect.
MoMath is located in Manhattan, New York, and is open 364 days a year. It features programs and exhibits that strive to showcase math in a different light, in a way that is meant to spark enjoyment and interest in the subject.
Upcoming events include “Math Encounters,” an exhibit that explains the similarities between math and dance; “Escher,” a guided tour of an exhibit of works by artist M.C. Escher with Dave Masunaga; “Expressions,” a hackathon hosted by the museum; and “Math Walk in the Park,” a walk through Madison Square Park with Ron Lancaster, where he explains how math is present everywhere.
Other popular programs include the Derivatives tour and the Explorations program, which provides a hands-on experience in a classroom setting that allows families to explore math in a positive way. They have been visited by hundreds of thousands of people in the decade they’ve been open and have led programs and math tours in cities across the country.
One of their current exhibits is called “Reflections: Geometries of the Reflected World.” It focuses on how geometry is seen in the real world, showcasing art from artists Scott Kim and Michael Curry. The exhibit is largely interactive.
MoMath has also been honored with several awards for their work, including the 2016 Communications Award for Public Outreach, the Best Museum for Kids, the 2013 MUSE Award for Education and Outreach, and the Most Fascinating Museum in New York State.
To learn more about MoMath, visit their website at www.momath.org and listen to the full podcast interview with Executive Director Cindy Lawrence below.
The Geek Group’s primary goal is to provide people with easy access to an education based on science and technology, the chance to hone their skills and learn more about the world of STEM and programming, often in order to help them enter related fields. But the Geek Group’s programs, which are personalized based on the individual participant, are available to all ages and experience levels. They simply want to ensure that everyone who enters later emerges armed with new skills to help them achieve their own goals.
The Geek Group was born out of a goal to evaluate and service its participants’ needs on an individual level to ensure that everyone receives the education and skills that they require to find their own success. The law of large numbers guides this principle — whether Geek Group is helping someone learn to use a computer or offering months of work experience, in the end, the time and effort put into each case averages out. This way, they can help more people achieve their goals through flexible programs that cater directly to them.
The Geek Group focuses on “community, access, and enjoyment.” They aim to create a community of participants and volunteers that help people achieve their goals regardless of age or experience. And most importantly, they want their education to be fun, something more than just a path to a job — learning is “a life-long journey.”
The company also has a program called Open Doors for Teens, an education program for students that offers a full-time school as well as other types of programming, often used with home schooling. They also help provide computers and other types of modern essential technology to families who need it, based on the idea that “technology at home is mandatory” in today’s technologically driven society.
The Geek Group’s educators are primarily volunteers and experts in their fields, which allow the programs to be so successful. Industry professionals can choose how much time they wish to dedicate.
The Geek Group also runs a YouTube channel boasting nearly 100,000 subscribers. The channel features videos on a variety of topics including how toy manufacturers incorrectly represent dinosaurs and a popular playlist called “Equipment Autopsies.” The videos also aim to be educational, informative, and interesting, with different videos catering to audiences of all ages.
To learn more about Geek Group, check out their channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/thegeekgroup and their website at www.thegeekgroup.org. To hear the full interview with Executive Director Lis Bokt, listen to the full podcast below.
Seven years ago, Mike Andrejkovics wrote the first rap he ever performed to his students. Since then, this has evolved into a long-standing tradition, where Mr. A writes a rap and performs an accompanying music video to the school where he teaches in Long Island, New York.
His raps are less about specific topics and more about his own appreciation for math. It began as a way to motivate his students to do the same and engage in math by writing music about it. Each year, a handful of his students write and perform their own music videos and song parodies.
His raps are often parodies of popular songs — for example, “The Real Math Students” in place of “The Real Slim Shady.” Other raps include “The Next Episode (Do Math Everyday),” “Learning Mathematics,” and “Math Workshop,” among others. He often performs his raps live at various conferences.
He also has a podcast on iTunes called “Mr. A’s Math Podcast,” which consists of videos that explain complicated math topics and is aimed at students.
To learn more about Mr. A, check out his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIwfj9KJRGbIz5WQApS4fg and listen to the full podcast interview below.
In 2013, a revolution in learning began. At the 3rd annual SXSWedu conference, a small audience was introduced to a way of learning that would eventually sweep the planet. An imaginative and creative platform was born, one that had been designed to allow students a plethora of ways to collaborate, learn, test, and understand concepts across the learning spectrum. This revolution in learning was called Kahoot!
Kahoot! had the potential to be massive from the get go, and has proved that it indeed contains the secret sauce for mass appeal and great success. In 2017, Kahoot reached over 1 billion participants, an incredibly massive milestone in the world of edtech.
Kahoot was founded by Johan Brand, Jamie Brooker, and Morten Versvik. This powerful triumvirate envisioned an online learning space where students could participate in the quiz and test making process. This ingenious spin on standard education has had a tremendous impact on learning standards worldwide. Students use the platform both as a way to refine understanding as well as prepare for in-class evaluations.
On this episode, I interview the CEO of Kahoot!, Asmund Furuseth. He shares with us the amazing journey of Kahoot! from inception to its overwhelming popularity today. He even discusses the exciting future for Kahoot, and most importantly, how it can be used effectively in all schools to further education. To learn more about Kahoot!, go to http://kahoot.com/. To listen to the full podcast episode, click below.
Comedy and education don’t often mix, but when they do, it can make for some of the most effective learning. This is what Jay Foreman, a British singer-songwriter, set out to do with his work.
His YouTube channel features most of his songs and videos, which can focus on politics or infrastructure or random songs that he performs for kids. One of his more popular playlists is “Politics Unboringed,” where he explains a variety of topics such as the inner functions of British democracy, how to decide who to vote for in elections, and why in some cases, voting is not necessarily the best choice. “Unfinished London” is another playlist of four videos explaining how London was so poorly planned, from motorways to airports to the Northern line.
Now with over 280,000 subscribers, Jay regularly posts updates to his channel. His videos aim to be both comedic and informative, and this is especially true with his videos aimed at a younger audience. He went on a United Kingdom tour recently to showcase his “Disgusting Songs for Revolting Children.” Some popular songs are more comedic, such as “Caterpillar Sick,” a song that goes into some detail about a car running on just that. The album also features tracks such as “No More Colours?” and “Stealing Food.”
However, he also writes and performs songs not targeted at children. One of his videos, “Singing one Syllable Out-of-Sync,” attracted over four million views, where he did exactly what it sounds like — he sang a single syllable of a song in the wrong place.
Many of his videos cover informative topics, such as tactical voting and the India-Bangladesh border. But even these are presented in a way that’s comedic while still being informative, with Jay and a friend, dubbed the Map Men, explain the geography and politics behind it.
Jay’s career as a comedy singer includes four sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and various honors at musical comedy awards.
To learn more about Jay, check out his channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/jayforeman51/ and listen to the full podcast interview below.
The struggle of finding a competent tutor for their children is one that is all too familiar to parents — sorting through slews of tutor listings that often don’t work out. TutorOcean is a company that aims to make that process easier by providing a network of tutors in every subject imaginable so that students can find a tutor that works to their individual needs.
The company was founded by Will Li, who transitioned from a full time acrobatics academy to a regular school at age 13 with the help of tutoring. His own experience with talented tutors made him pursue a similar career in college, where he realized how difficult it can be to find an effective tutor. This prompted him to found TutorOcean, where students and tutors can connect easily and form meaningful relationships.
TutorOcean offers tutoring appointments both online and in person. The virtual sessions are available on-demand from a pool of experts worldwide, with sessions featuring an interactive whiteboard, video chat, and the ability to record sessions so students can go back and re-learn any content they continue to struggle with. The in-person sessions are set up in advance and allow for easier communication and hands-on practice with any subject matter.
The company has tutors across the globe and from multiple universities, from Calgary to London and everywhere in between. They become tutors by signing up on the website and filling out their education and work experience, at which point the profiles are reviewed by TutorOcean and approved for service. The rates vary for each tutor. These tutors specialize in subjects ranging from accounting to MCAT prep to Chinese, meaning TutorOcean is a service for elementary school kids and medical students alike.
To learn more about TutorOcean, visit their website at www.tutorocean.com and listen to the full podcast interview with Joanna Huang below.
Coding can be viewed as esoteric, confusing, and definitely not for kids. But with Codemoji, this generally accepted view of computer science as complicated and dense is entirely upended. Their goal is to teach kids how to code from as young as first grade to create a properly educated generation armed with a skill set that will only benefit them in an increasingly technological world.
Part of the problem with teaching coding is that there is no room for error; even the slightest syntax mistake such as a comma instead of a semicolon will cause the entire code to malfunction. But Codemoji’s goal is to eliminate that hurdle so that syntax isn’t stopping kids from learning to code.
The curriculum aims to teach students from first to eighth grade the basics of coding in several different languages such as HTML, CSS, and Javascript. This also includes web development to allow kids to design their own websites and animations using the coding skills that they have learned. The platform is adaptive and challenging, allowing each student to go through lessons at their own pace and only move on once they truly understand the skills they are learning.
By teaching how to code from a young age, students are much more well-equipped to enter a workforce in a world which is largely based on computers. This is especially true when they’re actually learning and absorbing the content, which Codemoji ensures by making their curriculum entertaining with a special focus on applying the concepts creatively.
Enthusiasm is key to comprehension, especially at such a young age and with such a notoriously difficult subject. Codemoji allows kids to “learn, code, and build” creatively from the beginning, developing a love for computer science among the next generation to work in that field.
To learn more about Codemoji, we spoke to co-founder Livio Bolzon. To listen to the interview yourself, check out the podcast below and visit Codemoji’s website at www.codemoji.com
The character Blippi began in 2014 as the brainchild of Stevin John, who would later go on to play the character himself. He wanted to make early learning more than just dull memorization and repetition and instead associate it with “positive emotions and memories.” And since then, countless young children have been learning shapes, letters, numbers, and colors through Stevin’s show, which features him clad in orange and blue as the lovable Blippi.
The videos consist of nursery rhymes and educational songs complete with colorful characters and animations to hold children’s attention — things such as construction vehicles, animals, and more. This is all blended with real life footage of Stevin as Blippi.
But Stevin wasn’t always set on being a YouTuber for kids. Before starting his channel, he followed a few different career paths, ranging from washing dishes to serving in the Air Force. But in the end, he found his calling as Blippi, where he can encourage kids to learn and grow through songs and videos.
Originally, Blippi was a solo project, but creating the show and its accompanying merchandise (shirts, books, dolls, and more) now takes a team of managers, cameramen, and animators. The team is also working on a live show along with episodes available on Amazon.
With 1.9 million subscribers and a cumulative 1.6 billion views on his videos, Stevin has amassed a loyal following of fans in nearly 140 countries. The show is also available in Spanish and German, with corresponding YouTube channels for each.
To learn more about Blippi, visit his channel at www.youtube.com/user/BlippiVideos/featured or his website at www.blippi.com. To listen to the full interview with Stevin, check out the podcast below.
The popular YouTube channel Physics Girl began as a fun personal project for Dianna Cowern, who simply wanted to spread her love of physics after college. But it quickly grew into much more — today, it has close to a million followers as a channel that advocates for women in STEM and serves as a resource for teachers and students alike.
Dianna has done research at MIT and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, looking into dark matter and low-metallicity stars, as well as worked for GE designing software apps. She now works at UCSD as a science outreach coordinator. Her channel is also sponsored by PBS Digital Studios.
The Physics Girl channel features demonstrations, interviews, research, and all things physics- and science-related. Her most popular videos have millions of views, focusing on topics such as how to make a cloud in your mouth or what causes certain optical illusions. But her videos can range in subject matter to pretty much anything, as long as she’s explaining the world through science and physics.
Dianna’s work revolves around more than just making videos — Dianna also wants to encourage more women to pursue careers in STEM. By representing female physicists on the Internet and to such a wide audience, she can begin to normalize the idea of girls entering these typically male-dominated fields.
To watch Dianna’s videos, view her channel at www.youtube.com/channel/UC7DdEm33SyaTDtWYGO2CwdA or check out her website at www.physicsgirl.org. To hear the full interview, listen to the podcast below.
Preschool is one of the most important time in a child’s learning development. Sockeye Media’s Mother Goose Club has reinvented the world of early learning by bringing characters to life through nursery rhymes and live action filming. The content is predominantly aimed at young children, with the goal being to develop reading skills and literacy from a young age.
The six characters that star in these videos and songs are Baa Baa Sheep, Eep the Mouse, Little Bo Peep, Jack B. Nimble, Mary Quite Contrary, and Teddy Bear. These characters “inspire viewers to interact with rhymes” through memorable lyrics, engaging plot lines, and choreographed dances. The videos foster a love of learning from the beginning, letting kids go on to be successful in primary and secondary school with a strong foundation in vocabulary and reading skills.
The Mother Goose Club YouTube channel now has over 4.7 million subscribers, with sister channel Mother Goose Club Playhouse at 3.1 million subscribers. The videos have amassed billions of views since the channel’s founding. The show is also available on Netflix and local PBS stations, boasting four Midsouth Emmy awards, 19 nominations, and 12 other industry awards.
The website has over 90 rhymes in videos and songs. It also provides resources for teachers and parents such as lyrics, coloring pages, activity plans, and other tips.
Building literacy from a young age is essential to educational success later in school. Sockeye Media and Mother Goose Club ensure just that.
To learn more about Mother Goose Club, check out their website at https://www.mothergooseclub.com/ or their channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/MotherGooseClub/featured. A few more key links are as follows:
Mother Goose Club Playhouse channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SockeyeMedia
Mother Goose Club Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mothergooseclub/
App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mother-goose-club-rhymes/id1146875428?mt=8
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.storytoys.mothergooseclub.free.android.googleplay&hl=en_US
Favorite Nursery Rhymes: https://amzn.to/2HwYOlB
Hello, Hello, Alphabet Train: https://amzn.to/2J306Sl
To hear the full interview with CEO Harry Jho and CCO Sona, listen to the podcast below.
It all began when Ben Hehn, an elementary school teacher, brought his guitar to school one day to sing a song about long division to his students. They were interested, both by the song and the animations that accompanied it. This became the founding spark for NUMBEROCK, a YouTube channel that specializes in animated math-themed songs for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
The goal was to create catchy songs that students would remember and use both inside and outside of the classroom. Few children willingly discuss math equations for fun if they’re not forced to in class, but singing songs about them is an entirely different story. Ben had several parents tell him that their kids were singing his songs wherever they went, allowing them to absorb and process new math concepts while having fun.
His channel now has over 50,000 subscribers and over 80 videos, most of which focus on math concepts, but some of which veer into other areas, such as U.S. presidents or counting in different languages. Each video is a song complete with animated characters ranging from Australian alligators to cartoon kids. Every video typically comes with a lesson plan for teachers to utilize.
The videos all focus on specific math concepts, which are the primary focus of the songs. Sillier aspects are added in to keep students’ attention while still being informative and educational. Many of Ben’s videos are free, but his entire library of videos, lesson plans, and other materials can be accessed through a paid subscription.
To learn more about NUMBEROCK, visit Ben’s website at www.numberock.com or check out his channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt9SZgFExNwWTH5T_JnyF-A. To hear the full interview, listen to the podcast below!
In 2015, Kids Learning Tube was created, a YouTube channel that aims to “educate kids of all ages with original music and animation.” In the years since, it has grown to over 250,000 subscribers who regularly tune in to watch weekly videos about a wide variety of topics ranging from geography to the periodic table.
Today, there are almost 200 videos uploaded to the channel. Many of them focus on learning the geographic regions of specific countries, with the regions themselves singing and introducing each of them. For example, in a song about Sweden’s counties, one such county is given an animated face as it sings, “Norrbotten is my county name; in the north you’ll find me. Luleå’s my capital on the Gulf of Bothnia you see.” Each county introduces itself, and in the end, the counties come together for a jointly sung chorus. Such catchy tunes and clever animations keep kids engaged and eager to continue listening and learning.
Other videos focus on subjects such as learning anatomy, with different bones singing lyrics. Other memorable videos teach core concepts of physics, with detailed and technical songs about black holes and dwarf planets. For students interested in science topics, there is a suite of videos on concepts like the solar system and the Earth’s layers.
Memorizing facts and understanding concepts can be much easier for young students when said topics are presented in a format that makes it fun to engage with the content. This is exactly why Kids Learning Tube makes this type of content.
To learn more about Kids Learning Tube, visit their website at www.kidslearningtube.com or their channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7EFWpvc1wYuUwrtZ_BLi9A. To listen to the full interview with Matthew, check out the podcast below.
English can be a notoriously difficult language to learn, especially for those who must learn English as a second language. But English Tree TV aims to combat this difficulty with animations, songs, and videos that teach basic English by encouraging students to engage with the videos.
The idea for English Tree TV was born as a result of its founder, Adam Williams-Walters, witnessing innumerable students struggle while learning the language at the public school in South Korea. After watching countless students struggle at the high school where Adam taught, he finally decided to build a solution. English Tree TV has since amassed over 185,000 subscribers in the past three years, with a cumulative 113,00,000 views on his more than 70 videos.
Adam also creates lesson plans, worksheets, games, presentations, flashcards, and other free resources that go hand in hand with the videos to help teachers and parents educate their students most effectively. The content is entirely free and available to anyone.
His videos are often nursery rhymes or creative songs that focus on different topics, including emotions, fruits, animals, numbers, colors, and other similar subjects that help kids learn the fundamentals of English. The repetitive nature of the lyrics along with the bright animations make each video memorable enough that the language lessons stick. For more advanced learners, some videos focus on full sentences and grammar.
To learn more about English Tree TV, visit the website at www.englishtreetv.com or the YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4GaQ9fCH5IpAq1AImj7XuQ. To hear the full interview with Adam, check out the entire podcast below.
What happens when you combine math, dogs, and trucks? Brain Candy TV is what happens. This amazing YouTube channel is based entirely on learning math and science concepts by incorporating animations of vehicles and a cockapoo into early education to make it interesting and enjoyable for young kids.
The channel was founded by Michael Moore in 2014 with the goal to “jump-start your child’s education so they can grow up to be more confident and successful in school and in life.” Michael’s dog, Lizzy, is a staple in the show — 73% of videos feature her — to help preschool-aged children learn numbers, basic math, the alphabet, colors, and science topics. 3D graphics, comprehensible explanations, and music make potentially boring topics feel exciting. The channel now has over 130,000 subscribers and around sixty uploaded videos.
Michael Moore (the founder of Brain Candy TV, not the documentarian) left his work as a wedding photographer to dedicate his time to Brain Candy TV in order to leave an indelible mark on the world of education. He decided early on that his trusty cockapoo, Lizzy, would join him in his journey as a canine educator, so kids across the planet could watch and enjoy the videos all the more.
Michael plans to produce more videos involving science and nature and aims to create content in the near future for slightly older students. As he puts it, “as your child matures, so will our new content.”
To learn more about Michael and Brain Candy TV, visit http://www.braincandytv.ca/ or check out his channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/braincandytelevision/. To hear to the full interview with Michael, listen to the podcast below.
Rarely do we take the time to consider the invisible digital platforms that make schools run seamlessly — the technology allows students to stay on top of grades, classes, and homework. These Learning Management Systems have grown in quantity and quality as of late as schools and universities attempt to digitize everything. In this episode, we spoke with Hilary Scharton, VP of Product Strategy for K-12 at Instructure, to discuss their Canvas Learning Management System.
Canvas began when two graduate students looked at the LMS their institution was currently using and decided it was terrible — the company Instructure was subsequently born and the Canvas product developed and released with it.
Canvas aims to bring to life the ideal one-on-one, individualized learning experience that has proven to be the most successful for students. Through Canvas, teachers can give students personalized content, including tests and assignments, based on students’ past results. Whenever students receive a grade, teachers can decide what kinds of assignments and curriculum to provide students based on their grades. This can all be completed automatically by Canvas.
They want to centralize information and cut down the number of unused, unnecessary products that schools and districts purchase but never implement by providing everything on one central platform. This way, the product actually gets used instead of being left idle. Part of this includes their connections with content companies and textbooks, allowing students to access that content from Canvas. They can also communicate with teachers and see assignments and tests so that everything is based on Canvas, easy to access and easy to use.
Canvas today, seven years after its initial launch, now has over 3,000 users ranging from individual schools to entire states. In total, it serves millions of students and is continuing to grow. It’s adoptable, adaptable, and reliable.
To learn more about Canvas LMS and Instructure’s other products, Gauge and Arc, check out their website at https://www.canvaslms.com/ and listen to the full podcast interview below.
There are few resources in place for people to learn difficult and complex material, especially when it relates to mathematics and technical subjects. All too often, textbooks are dense and boring and avoid encouraging a deeper understanding of the subject to provide surface-level comprehension. But there’s more than just the “how” to do something — there’s the “why.” And that’s how Welch Labs was born.
A practicing engineer, Stephen Welch founded Welch Labs in 2014 by publishing YouTube videos about machine learning. The idea came about when he was having difficulty with a project on neural networks — he wanted to provide online resources so that others would not encounter similar struggles. He now creates online math content and videos for people in high school to graduate school.
His channel currently features three different series: Neural Networks Demystified, Imaginary Numbers are Real, and Learning to See. The latter focuses on artificial intelligence and computer science framed in ways that are understandable to a wide audience base. He is now publishing videos in a How to Science series, which covers topics ranging from music to more traditional mathematical concepts. The idea is to promote actual understanding of math, code, and similar concepts.
To see this in action, visit the Welch Labs channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UConVfxXodg78Tzh5nNu85Ew. To listen to the full interview with Stephen Welch, listen to the podcast below.
Math and art — two seemingly vastly different subjects. But despite the apparent opposition between the two, YouTuber Grant Sanderson has set out on an endeavor to combine them in his channel, 3blue1brown, named after the sectoral heterochromia that leaves his right eye ¾ blue and ¼ brown. His videos essentially animate math, providing visual depictions of the topics he covers using a Python library of his creation.
Grant studied math at Stanford University and later went on to produce content about multivariable calculus for Khan Academy. Eventually, his love for mathematics (and passion for teaching it to others) led him to create 3blue1brown, which has now amassed over 800,000 subscribers.
His videos vary in focus. Many discuss topics that are typically not covered in traditional math classes, such as topology, Bitcoin, higher dimensions, and more conceptual subjects (an example being a video entitled “What does it feel like to invent math?”). But he also has series that are oriented to students learning particular math topics, such as calculus and linear algebra.
Grant’s goal is to “bring life to math,” animating it in both a literal and figurative sense. Math can be difficult and hard to fully comprehend, but displaying it with visuals and graphics allows him to break through such a learning barrier and help viewers understand math as they should. By looking at problems through a different lens and in a new format, complex solutions don’t seem so daunting and instead become enjoyable.
To explore and subscribe to 3blue1brown videos, check out the channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYO_jab_esuFRV4b17AJtAw.
To learn more about Grant and 3blue1brown, listen to the full interview below.
What’s the easiest way to remember everything you need to know about the Red Scare? Set it to the tune of “Call Me Maybe” and replace the lyrics with a slew of facts about that moment in U.S. history, complete with a chorus featuring the line “Commie maybe.” This is just one of many historically themed music parodies that content creator Mr. Beat has released. Others include the causes of World War II to the tune of “Hotline Bling,” Napoleon to the tune of “Celebration,” and the Great Migration to the tune of “Good Vibrations.”
Mr. Beat began his channel in 2009 and has since amassed more than 22,000 subscribers. But his parodies are not the only content he makes: he also has original songs about different periods in United States history as well as videos explaining the presidents and various Supreme Court cases. His goal is to create videos, often featuring music and song, to make history and geography easier to learn and absorb.
As a teacher in Kansas, Mr. Beat has had plenty of experience recognizing that his students were not as engaged with history as they could be. His channel was an attempt to change that, an endeavor that we here at Scalar Learning are just as dedicated to.
To view and subscribe to Mr. Beat, visit his channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/iammrbeat/featured. To hear the full interview, listen to the podcast below.
In an age of technology and the Internet, it might seem contradictory that college students are feeling increasingly disconnected from their schools and administrators. Over half of emails sent to students are left unread, and nearly 80% of students think that schools can improve their college experiences by improving communication. This disconnect can be partially attributed to a lack of proper communication services, as students tend to gravitate away from email as their primary form of communication. Apps on the market are too cluttered and confusing to use, leading to an even greater divide between universities and students.
But DubLabs is trying to reverse the trend of low student engagement. Since its founding in 2012, over 150 colleges now use DubLabs to keep millions of students engaged with campus life.
DubLabs’ approach centers around simplicity: an app that’s not “overloaded with features” and instead has a “dynamic feed-based interface” that is familiar to modern students. The app features two-way chat and notifications customized to each student to make staying connected easier than ever, allowing students to stay in the loop. They have access to their schedules and grades and can contact advisors and administrators quickly and easily. Instead of struggling to figure out what’s located where and how to access certain features, as was the problem with many other apps, everything is organized into a dashboard that simplifies things immensely.
When students feel disconnected and unable to communicate with their faculty support systems, grades drop and motivation is lost. But with DubLabs, the ability to connect leads to a heightened capacity to succeed.
To learn more about DubLabs, visit their site at www.dublabs.com. To listen to the full interview with Chief Strategy Officer Chris Hopkinson, check out the podcast below.
“School leaders spend nearly 10% of their time each week managing the mountain of paperwork that comes from teacher observations and feedback.” That can add up to as much as six hours a week dealing with feedback from countless sources across numerous locations.
But leaders shouldn’t have to waste valuable time on spreadsheets and data — it was from this simple premise that Whetstone Education was born. Founded in 2010 by two school leaders fed up with the nightmare of state reporting while tracking mounds of teacher feedback and data, Whetstone has since grown to a platform used by over 500 schools, resting on a foundation of providing an easy place for schools to store data on performance, observations, and feedback while also enabling administrators to spend more time with teachers and students.
The platform allows schools to work with data analytics to provide professional development and advice for growth that is backed by more than just word of mouth and “a hunch.” Instead, actual reports allow for feedback that makes sense. Whetstone’s algorithm uses both quantitative and qualitative reporting to home in on exactly what teachers need to improve upon and where instructional time can grow. The information is easily shared with teachers, thanks to video coaching and live connections to teachers. But the platform is still customizable to ensure that each school is getting exactly what they need.
This week, we spoke with Michael Richard to learn more about Whetstone and its implementation of technology to make education a more manageable. To learn more about this revitalization of teacher development, visit https://www.whetstoneeducation.com/ or listen to the full podcast interview below.
School can often feel like relatively impersonal, leading to a transitively worse educational experience. But in the age of the Internet, learning is no longer confined to the cement walls of a classroom. Instead, educational resources populate the web — one of the more popular ones being YouTube videos and tutorials. Nowadays, content creators use YouTube to form connections with viewers and take education outside of just the classroom and into a world where the viewership can expand to any audience. One of the largest and most entertaining of such YouTube channels is Veritasium, a science learning channel run by Derek Muller that has videos on topics ranging from interviews with experts to demos of experiments.
Derek Muller began making YouTube videos in 2011, and in the years since, it has grown into a channel with an avid fan base of nearly 4.7 million subscribers. This number is particularly noteworthy for a channel dedicated solely to videos focused on math and science, topics that are traditionally underrepresented in the YouTube sphere. But Derek deviates from many other popular science and engineering channels in the variety of videos covered and quality of content offered.
His most popular video, “Surprising Applications of the Magnus Effect,” boasts an impressive 36 million views and begins by showing how backspin affects a basketball falling from a height of 415 meters. It’s a three-minute video complete with a visual animation of how air and the basketball interact and the forces that result. Derek then goes on to explain how this Magnus Effect works and how it can be seen and applied in other areas of life — namely, plans and ships. When the video is over, you feel like an expert on a topic you knew nothing about three minutes prior.
Most of Derek’s videos are in the same vein — succinct, educational, and most importantly, interesting. The topics aren’t traditional proofs and experiments; they are videos that explain laser hair removal, why mosquitoes are attracted to certain people, or the morality behind self-driving cars. His other YouTube channel, 2veritasium, features videos on topics that are “a little less flashy but just as enlightening.”
In the end, it’s all about increasing the world’s exposure to science, engineering, and technology in a way that remains fascinating and mind-opening. Because as Derek so concisely put it, “sometimes the simplest questions have the most amazing answers.”
To watch Derek’s videos or subscribe yourself, check out his channels here:
Veritasium – https://www.youtube.com/user/1veritasium
2Veritasium – https://www.youtube.com/user/2veritasium
If you want to check out the videos discussed by Derek on the podcast, you can find them here:
World’s roundest object! – https://youtu.be/ZMByI4s-D-Y
Why are mosquitoes attracted to me? – https://youtu.be/38gVZgE39K8
A misconception about Science – https://youtu.be/Y5kLMVgv0Xg
Surprising applications of the Magnus effect – https://youtu.be/2OSrvzNW9FE
To learn more about him and his channel, check out the full interview below!
How do you get students interested in a subject matter that is notorious for being boring and difficult? Turn it into a video game complete with number monsters, prime number devouring sheep, and fraction based castles to conquer. This is the goal of Super Math World, an online computer game that encourages students to learn math by making it fun.
The game is tailored to grades 2 through 8 and covers basic math topics such as integer operations, number lines, fractions, and multiplication. It’s available for purchase by parents and teachers, who can create classrooms for their students to play and track their progress. Rather than handing out worksheets as practice, students can now refine their math skills by fighting monsters and creating machines. Teachers can also create and edit levels for their students to get the most out of Super Math World as well as track the progress of their classes; the game is aligned with Common Core standards so that it’s compatible with all classrooms.
The most important time period for the development of math skills is at a young age. Students who fall behind early often never catch up, leaving them struggling with math throughout their school careers and consequently ending up disliking the subject as a whole. But if kids are learning from an early age that math can be fun, they are all the more likely to pursue it beyond their primary education and even see it as a potential career choice.
Super Math World avoids mindless memorization and instead pushes players to gain a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of math through experiential learning. Because there is no set solution, the game “lets creativity blossom as you find your own way to your next level.” By creating new levels and really using math instead of reciting facts, users can visualize the topics that they are learning and understand them in depth. The math is integrated into the storyline of the games in a way that makes learning math something to look forward to instead of shy away from.
For years, math has been seen as a traditionally unpopular subject instead of something that can be fun and exciting as long as it is taught in the right way. But Super Math World is on its way to changing that perception.
To learn more about Super Math World, visit www.supermathworld.com. To listen to the entire interview with Charlie Zannorman, check out the full podcast below.
The college admissions process is often described as a crapshoot; a harrowing, stress-inducing experience filled with single-digit acceptance rates and essays upon essays. It’s a difficult process to decode, and students and parents frequently feel like they’re going in blind, with no clue what the secret sauce is to gain admission at an elite university. Today, we try to help listeners demystify that process by talking to two high school seniors, Alicia Abramson and Meredith Johns, who were recently admitted to Yale University and Harvard College, respectively.
Alicia lives in Los Angeles, California, and currently attends Palisades Charter High School. Meanwhile, Meredith hails from just outside of Atlanta, Georgia, and attends Kennesaw Mountain High School. The two have been friends since July, when they met at Notre Dame Leadership Seminars, a summer program for rising seniors at Notre Dame University.
Both have been involved in politics and government throughout their high school careers. Alicia is involved in Moot Court, Youth & Government, her local Democratic Club, the L.A. Mayor’s Youth Council, and her school newspaper. She has served as an intern on several local and national political campaigns, and she works as a tutor — in fact, she currently does work for the Scalar Learning podcast. In a similar vein, Meredith is a part of Model United Nations, her school paper, Young Democrats, and student government. She has interned at the Carter Center and with multiple political campaigns. Both hold various leadership positions within those clubs and organizations.
In this episode, we talk about what it takes to get into some of the top schools in the country: a combination of grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and essays. Alicia and Meredith go into detail about their high school experience and the college application process that they went through in applying and being accepted into their top choice universities.
Tune in to the entire episode below to find out more about getting into top Ivy League schools!
3D printing often seems like one of many esoteric scientific inventions that are elusive to everyone, especially students — inaccessible and apparently useless when kids are still struggling through geometry. After all, it’s difficult to imagine how 3D printing could help students memorize theorems. But the 3Doodler aims to change that.
This 3D printing pen doesn’t require excessive technical knowledge or scientific abilities. In fact, it’s quite the opposite: the 3Doodler is meant to be “affordable as well as fun,” encouraging students to engage with 3D printing technology without being hindered by a lack of experience. It’s easy to use and comes in several different designs — 3Doodler Start, 3Doodler Create, and 3Doodler Pro, each of which has a different style catered to a specific audience.
An easy-to-use 3D printing pen bridges the gap between theoretical and concrete. In the classroom, students all too frequently end up memorizing terms and concepts without any real understanding of what they’re committing to memory. But the 3Doodler allows students to model what they’re learning and see the concepts unfold before them. Geometry theorems are suddenly more than just a slew of math vocabulary terms; instead, they can be visualized using models that students create themselves, ensuring actual learning and absorbing instead of mindless memorization.
3Doodler has a rapidly growing online database of free lesson plans for teachers to implement in conjunction with the use of the 3Doodler pen. There are currently eight different curriculums online, each of which comes with a set of lesson plans. The engineering and design curriculum, for example, contains lesson plans for students to build a model roller coaster for a marble to roll down and to build a bridge of their own design. This is meant to help students grasp concepts that may otherwise elude them — the basics behind potential and kinetic energy. These concepts are much easier to understand once you’ve seen them in action from something you’ve created yourself. The design challenges curriculum contains 21 different designs for students to attempt to recreate with 3Doodler while applying math and engineering concepts.
In a school system where courses tend to get tedious and abstract, 3Doodler brings a bit of creativity and hands-on learning to the classroom. The concept of understanding by doing is reflected in every creation, whether it’s a coin purse or a mathematical model (and with this pen, both and anything in between are possible). With so many possibilities, as 3Doodler asks, “What will you create?”
To learn more about the 3Doodler, visit the3doodler.com. To listen to the entire interview with Leah Wyman, check out the full podcast episode.
“Why am I learning this? When will I ever need to know this information in the real world?” Teachers, please pause for a moment while these all too familiar phrases wash over you for the millionth time. Whether your speciality is science, math, or history, you’ve undoubtedly heard these questions time and again. While some students might throw these rhetorical questions out as a last ditch effort to avoid a particularly unappealing topic of study, many students ask this question in earnest. And why shouldn’t they? We all have a right to know why we are forced to absorb a particular set of facts. Moreover, understanding the relevance of certain facts to future endeavors and pursuits substantially enhances the learning process. No company understands this truism better than NEPRIS.
To bridge the gap between practical application and theoretical concepts, NEPRIS has designed a connection platform to link classrooms with professionals across the globe. The impetus to build this network is the realization that inspiration comes primarily through exposure. According to a STEM Perceptions study by Microsoft, “57% of boys and 68% of girls who chose a high tech career say they were inspired by one person, or one event, or one class during the middle or high school years.” This means that answering the “why” and connecting young minds with tried and true professionals is essential for the health and prosperity of our science and math based industries.
NEPRIS makes it easier than ever for teachers to connect with high level professionals across all industries. Once a user signs up with the service, they are able to post requests for professionals with particular skill sets. Leveraging a partnership with LinkedIn, NEPRIS then sends out a beacon to all professionals who might be able to help collaborate on a particular lesson plan. Once the date is set for the joint lesson, the professional is brought into the classroom virtually to discuss the real life applications of a particular concept. Architects may be brought in to discuss proportions and scale factor, roller coaster engineers invited to discuss linear equations, and financial analysts to speak about percentages and compound interest. Whatever the subject matter being covered, NEPRIS empowers teachers to make lessons relevant and palpable, providing students with satisfactory answers as to why they must know a particular subject.
To learn more about this amazing edtech company, go to http://www.nepris.com/. To hear the full scoop on NEPRIS, make sure to listen to the full interview with Sabari Raja.
Let’s be real: school can be boring. Long hours in a classroom bombarded by lectures and textbooks can often cause students to lose their excitement for learning. But founder and CEO of NUITEQ, Harry van der Veen, aims to change the perception of school and learning as a boring, mundane task by introducing interactive technology as a primary component of early education.
NUITEQ’s Director of Strategy, Dr. Edward Tse, spoke with us about their Snowflake MultiTeach technology that has been used in 70 countries to make technology an essential aspect of the learning environment.
NUITEQ was founded in 2006 to refine the concept of human-computer interaction. This quest included the complex idea of engaging several users on a singular display — a multi-user, MultiTeach display that now makes up the foundation of NUITEQ’s Human User Interfaces. This interface encourages teachers and students to cultivate a classroom learning environment where technology is a tool instead of a distraction.
NUITEQ and their Snowflake product use several features to keep students engaged. Among these are project-based learning, concept mapping, and student-based inquiry. Students are given problems that require critical thinking skills and technological literacy. Students and teachers can also curate their own content as well as collaborate on problems and activities with the help of the MultiTeach system. This involves a screen being divided into several zones, each of which focus on a different activity.
Students using NUITEQ’s products are given the chance to learn how to use screens and computers in a way that fosters education. Rather than shy away from new technology, as many schools and teachers do, NUITEQ advises educators to embrace their system, which encourages direct interaction between students and what’s on their screens. The MultiTeach technology allows for deeper and more immersive learning, encouraging students to bring technology from the classroom into the rest of their lives.
To learn more about NUITEQ, visit https://www.nuiteq.com/. To check out Dr. Tse’s YouTube channel, Ed on Edtech, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4FY5hGOl7pBRqJ_TWDvhVA. To listen to the entire interview with Dr. Edward Tse, check out the full podcast here.
There’s no doubt that a rapidly expanding technology industry poses a threat to millions of workers due to the automation of their jobs. But David Hehman, co-founder of Creation Crate, is working to change the misconception that the road ends there. In fact, automation and technology open up a whole new world of potential, one that will go largely unmet — by 2020, nearly one and a half million jobs will be left vacant because our education system is unable to keep up with the demand for computer specialists and programmers.
David and his colleagues at Creation Crate have set themselves a goal of filling 250,000 of those job vacancies through their subscription-based education model that aims to increase digital literacy and computer proficiency. Relying on parents and teachers to provide STEM education is not always successful, as many of them are part of generations that don’t have the same exposure to technology as we do today. So Creation Crate fills this gap and helps educate a new generation of computer scientists to become the innovators of tomorrow — or even today, as many of their subscribers are adults seeking to increase their own technological literacy.
Their curriculum is based on a twelve-month subscription box that emphasizes hands-on, real-world learning. Each month, subscribers receive a new Arduino project that gets slightly more difficult each time, complete with step-by-step instructions for how to complete the project. By the time all twelve projects are complete, they “will have more hands-on programming experience than 99% of current college-level computer science students.” Projects range from building a mood lamp (the first month) to creating an audio visualizer display (the eighth month). But regardless of the specific task, they all share the same trait of firsthand experience in pursuit of a tangible goal rather than mindless coding.
Launched in early 2016, Creation Crate has taken off quickly with over 3,000 subscription boxes purchased already. Recently, the company introduced several new features, including an augmented reality that allows students to interact with a digital teacher, Facebook Messenger tokens that provide access to tutorial videos, a free online classroom available to the entire public, and an “Ultimate Maker Kit” that combines all 12 boxes into one, designed specially for teachers and classrooms. All of these features are an effort to popularize Creation Crate and ensure that it’s keeping up with advancing technology so that it can continue to educate youth and adults that are suffering from a lack of sufficient STEM education.
So no, we are not losing more jobs than we are replacing. The problem is that we don’t have enough digitally literate people to fill all the new jobs that are being created because they simply aren’t being educated quickly enough to keep up with demand. But Creation Crate is beginning to chip away at that barrier — and they’ll continue to do so until technological innovation is not feared for the jobs it will replace, but for the ones, it will create.
To learn more about Creation Crate (or even get a subscription yourself), visit www.creationcrate.com. To get the full scoop about Creation Crate, listen to the full interview with co-founder David Hehman.
Article Credit: Alicia Abramson
The executives at Electronic Arts said it would never work. These gaming experts posited that kids would only want video games with exciting plot lines built around battles, conflict, and domination. Game players interested in fantasy worlds yearned for quests of glory littered with treasures and magical potions. Who in their right mind would choose to purchase a video game that taught… calculus? Although Andre Thomas still thought he could make a game to teach calculus in an engaging and effective way, he quickly recognized that the major video game manufacturers would never play ball. So, like most gutsy entrepreneurs with a vision, he decided to build it himself.
While working as the Director of the LIVE Lab at Texas A&M University, Andre Thomas founded Triseum, a game development company aimed at building education video games. Andre is the perfect candidate to tackle the arduous task of building an educational video game as he is no newbie in the entertainment industry. He has in depth experience across the board, possessing over 20 years in CGI production. Additionally, “he has worked around the [globe] on legendary video games, live action feature films and gripping commercials. He served as Head of Graphics for EA Sports Football and is also credited with creating graphics for such notable films as Men in Black, Con Air, Independence Day, Valiant, Ant Bully and Tomorrow Never Dies.” In sum, Andre Thomas is a seasoned professional, the perfect person to build a trendsetting video game in the education sphere. But he didn’t simply want to build a new way to teach calculus digitally; he wanted to make a real 3D game comparable to the likes of Zelda and Final Fantasy, replete with breathtaking graphics and vivid characters. The result of his team’s exhaustive efforts is Variant: Limits, the first ever video game of its caliber designed to teach calculus.
For those of you who agree that math is important, you might be asking the following question: why calculus? Why not build a game around a more commonly tackled subject like algebra or geometry? According to Andre, calculus is at the heart of STEM degrees and pursuits. Moreover, it is reported that nearly 38% of students fail Calculus I, a staggering figure considering that this course is often a prerequisite for most engineering majors. Andre wanted to ensure that students had the best chance possible to pursue a STEM career of their choice, and sought to develop an exciting mechanism by which to teach calculus to anyone. The results thus far have been phenomenal. Not only has Trisesum earned a litany of awards from EdTech Digest and SXSW, but they have also managed to garner a great deal of attention from schools across Europe.
To learn more about this revolutionary company, go to https://triseum.com/. To hear the entire interview with Andre Thomas, check out the full podcast interview.
It all began with a podcast. Back in the early 2000s, two gentlemen, Bartosz Gonczarek and Piotr Sliwinski, were looking for a way to make podcasts come to life with fun yet simple animations. They searched and searched for viable software options, but alas, nothing workable turned up. As such, they decided to build the software themselves. This is how “PhotoPuppet,” the predecessor to “Explain Everything,” was born. While PhotoPuppet was not a commercial success, it drew the attention of an ambitious education professional named Reshan Richards. Richards began his career as a middle school math teacher, and eventually went on to earn a doctorate in Instructional Technology and Media from Columbia University. Richards had a deep interest in whiteboard software and how it could be used to enhance classroom education. After Richards, Gonczarek, and Sliwinski discussed their goals and ambitions, they decided that it made most sense to team up and plow forward together as a development team. And just like that, Explain Everything was born.
Explain Everything is an incredible app that allows teachers and students alike to use various forms of media to build high content presentations. According to their website, “teachers use Explain Everything for creating videos and interactive experiences for students. They both prepare materials in advance and start from a blank canvas.” It’s an amazing way to make education dynamic and customizable for all varieties of learning styles. As Reshan noted, the ideal usage in a classroom does not require universal deployment. A productive class would likely have some students reading, others engaged in a discussion, and only a portion using Explain Everything. It is a multimedia tool meant to enhance learning when its usage is warranted.
If you are interested in using Explain Everything for a class, a single student, or your own child, make sure to tune into the entire episode. Reshan goes into detail about the amazing applications of the app, and also dishes out some newsworthy information regarding the development of unveiled features of the software. For more information about Explain Everything, go to https://explaineverything.com/.
Nearly one and a half years ago, I made a YouTube video entitled “The Applications of Math.” It was my attempt to explain, in 5 minutes, all the different ways that mathematics empowers the people on this planet to accomplish amazing and seemingly impossible feats (https://youtu.be/oKZ62_j9DuE). Why did I make such a video? Because I wanted to answer the question that every single student of mine has inevitably asked at one time or another: what is the point of learning math? It’s a question that often pops up amidst frustration and boredom, and a half-hearted attempt (in some cases) to shirk math homework.
Despite the fact that students may have an ulterior motive when asking about the relevance of math, I never scold my students for posing such an honest question. In fact, it’s one of the most worthwhile questions to ask along the path of education. Students have every right to know why they are being asked to understand a particular concept and the pertinence it may or may not have to their lives. An issue arises when teachers don’t have sufficient answers to satisfy the curiosities of their students. When teachers or tutors don’t know how math can be used in the real world, these questions are ignored. Students are then forced to follow the curriculum blindly without getting a proper explanation regarding the innumerable applications of math.
I wanted to put an end to these unanswered questions in a short but potent video. And so I did my best to lightly touch upon some of the wondrous applications of math. But my efforts are nothing compared to the educational feats of the gargantuan YouTube channel called Numberphile (https://www.youtube.com/user/numberphile). With over 2 million subscribers to date, Numberphile is one of the largest math focused YouTube channels devoted to bringing complex and vibrant math concepts to the masses. The mathematicians on the channel are amazingly brilliant, and the passion exuded by each and every one of them is more than enough to engage young and old minds alike. One of the most eloquent of the presenters is a mathematician named James Grime, my guest on this podcast episode.
James can be seen in many videos about all sorts of fascinating math concepts. He clearly explains the origins of numbers like Pi and e (Euler’s number), and even devotes one episode to solving the math problem given in an acclaimed film about a math prodigy entitled “Good Will Hunting.” James is more than just a scholar; he is a powerful mouthpiece for the field of mathematics who inspires others to take interest in the field as well as understand the power that mathematics provides. Check out this amazing interview with one of the most famous mathematicians in the world. Hear why James chose mathematics as his area of study, and why he believes math education is so important for the public. If you want to learn more about James, go to his personal website at http://singingbanana.com/.
It’s an amazing feat to have created several viral videos. Making content that is easily shareable and widely popular is hard, and many content creators devote thousands of hours to unlocking this tricky puzzle. As difficult as it can be to craft engaging and enjoyable content, it is even tougher to construct math focused video tutorials to have such a universal impact. Tyler Tarver has reached this amazing milestone with ease, having developed math videos on his channel that have reached well over 300,000 views. What’s special about Tyler is not the fact that he’s well versed in mathematics, or that he uses good imagery when explaining concepts. His special power is his amazing personality. He manages to inject a hefty dose of humor and excitement into each of his video lectures, a potent combination that attracts students in droves from all around the world.
Tyler first began a YouTube channel to share comedic skits with the world. When you watch some of his comedic shorts on his second channel, you can immediately tell that he has a knack for entertainment. He is confident, well spoken, and hilarious. He speaks quickly with a noticeable southern drawl, and his lack of inhibition makes his comedy truly funny. But I think he hits on the best combination of entertainment and education in his many math lectures. Tyler noted that he first began to make math videos simply so that his students had the opportunity to learn at their own pace. He did not initially intend for it grow as large or as quickly as it has.
The fact that his YouTube channel, Tarver Academy, has become such an amazing resource for students seeking math help is a testament to Tyler’s incredible teaching talent. After spending 11 years in education, both teaching and working with administration, Mr. Tarver is a tried and true educator. He is on the forefront of the edtech world and a great role model for students everywhere. To hear all about Tyler’s journey in education as well as his top recommendations for education resources, check out the full episode. If you’re interested in watching and sharing his many math resources, visit his amazing YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/sirtylertarver.
Hollywood often glamorizes human beings with extraordinary talents. It’s fascinating for the public to analyze and consider personal tales surrounding almost superhuman powers. Sometimes we hear stories of folks with unbelievable physical traits that make them incredibly strong or agile. Other times we are taken aback by individuals who have dizzying intellects with regards to math or science. There is one functionality in our cerebral wheelhouse that we all undeniably wish was stronger: memory. No matter how well we remember our daily tasks, academic formulas, or basic facts about friends and family, we all want to be better. That is why most of look upon folks like Nelson Dellis with great envy.
Nelson is a 4-time U.S.A. Memory Champion who has set national records by memorizing 310 digits in 5 minutes as well as 193 faces and names in 15 minutes. He also famously learned and recited 10,000 digits of pi. Mr. Dellis has been featured across all major media outlets as a tried and true mastery of memory. Considering all of his accolades, Nelson is clearly one of those lucky individuals who was given a genetic gift of awe inspiring memory. His ability is most certainly fodder for a Hollywood blockbuster about a supernaturally gifted individual with an unfathomable natural talent.
Except that’s not Nelson’s story. Society wants to deify this man as a memory wunderkind, but Dellis claims that this is not the case. Nelson, by his own admission, is a normal guy with no special mental abilities or talents. His interest in strengthening memory began as he watched his grandmother’s bout with Alzheimer’s disease. He entered the world of memory competitions less than a decade ago wrongfully presuming that all memory champions were geniuses. But according to Nelson, these memory juggernauts do not have photographic memories. Instead, they are the product of intense training. Moreover, they use a confluence of ancient memorization strategies that end up giving them immense mental power and a veritable illusion of mental genius.
In this episode, Nelson explains precisely how he and his memory competition cohorts unraveled the secrets of memorization so they can use it to achieve seemingly impossible feats. He also explains how he trains students and executives to sharpen their memories so that they can exploit their own abilities for their personal betterment. Finally, Nelson discusses his memory software, “Art of Memory,” that he will be unveiling to the world as a tool to fortify memory abilities. To learn more about Nelson and his amazing work, check out the full podcast episode! To learn all about the Art of Memory, go to https://artofmemory.com/. You can also learn more about Nelson Dellis at http://www.nelsondellis.com/.
When I think about why I ended up in education, it boils down to a single word: passion. When I delve a bit deeper into the “why,” I see that dissatisfaction with my previous vocation was also a factor. Drilling down a bit further, I acknowledge that I was also spurred by an inner belief that studying mathematics can become a positive and enjoyable endeavor for anyone if he/she has the right foundation and mindset. In this episode, I had the privilege of interviewing someone who feels the exact same way about math. Jason Skoubye is not your average edtech pioneer. He is a former accountant who had a crazy idea about teaching mathematics: he wanted to build animations so kids had a real chance to develop a concrete number sense. It doesn’t sound that crazy until you realize that Jason has no background in either computer science or animation. He decided to take on an incredibly challenging task on a whim. That whim proved to be right.
Parents, family members, and friends all told him his vision was absurd. Why leave a successful career as an accountant to build something as complex as educational animations? Despite the wave of naysayers, Jason pressed on without hesitation. Slowly but surely, the resistance to his pursuit began to fade as his YouTube channel started to explode. Today, Math & Learning Videos for Kids has over 44,000 active subscribers. As Jason himself notes, the animation is not ultra sophisticated. Why? He’s not an animator by training. But interestingly enough, his audience actually prefers his simple and clear style. What he makes conveys concepts in a perfectly clear and stylistically appealing manner.
Jason was inspired to create his channel by the fact that he himself struggled with math as a child. In order to truly face his frustration with math head on, he ended up pursuing a career in accounting, one of the heaviest math related majors around. Now, instead of continuing down that path, he has opted to help other young minds make the jump from math frustration to math fluency. Jason’s next phase of edtech brilliance is to build his animations into a fully interactive math based video game called Math Mage. To learn more about Jason Skoubye and his amazing work for kids, check out the full podCast episode! If you are interested in viewing his website, go to https://www.commoncore4kids.com/.
Project-based learning is the innovative way to teach students by “doing” rather than “watching.” It’s an action-oriented pedagogy that has been receiving rave reviews for its potent ability to convey information and transfer a discrete set of skills. In sum, it is a way for students to “gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and complex question, problem, or challenge.” Take this amazing vehicle for learning and combine it with the goal to spread awareness about social justice issues, and you get Rock Your World.
According to the site’s Acting Director, Jessica Burnquist, Rock Your World is an innovative curriculum that pushes students to ask tough questions about the world. It gives students the power to acknowledge the political and social climates around them and determine what needs to be changed. Moreover, it is a movement that empowers students to both learn about human rights and influence the enforcement of these rights on a global scale.
The beauty of Rock Your World lies within its flexibility. Students are not only able to choose a cause that motivates them, but they can then pick a medium by which to deliver a message. Students in the past have created popular blogs, songs, and educational videos. Projects that are especially impactful and persuasive are often featured on the organization’s website, a bit of added incentive for motivated students seeking to spread a particular message. To learn more about Rock Your World, tune into the full episode! To check out the website, please go to http://www.rock-your-world.org/.
The Meredith Vieira Show was a daytime network talk show on NBC that had a solid run of two years. During the show’s existence, Meredith invited various panels of esteemed guests on air to discuss a range of political and social justice topics. One of her most epic decisions, in my opinion, was to devote a segment of her show to a rising star in the world of science education. Meredith invited a gentleman named Tom McFadden, science teacher and creator of the YouTube channel “Science with Tom,” to share some of his science inspirational lyrics and beats with the world. Tom did just that, but it wasn’t a solo effort. The notorious edu-rapper was accompanied by none other than Lil’ Jon. The show was a victory for both music and education, and the final message was clear: musically charged lectures deliver potent information while engaging young minds. Win, win, and win.
Tom McFadden is a longtime biology and science teacher. He is a stalwart advocate of the Next Generation Science Standards, which is a revolution in science education that deemphasizes rote memorization and instead focuses on the processes of scientific work. The general goal of the shift in standards is to empower students to “apply STEM principles to their lives,” even if they choose an academic or professional pursuit that does not lie directly in the realm of standard scientific pursuits.
Tom first began experimenting with music videos in the classroom after he received a Fulbright Scholarship to study in New Zealand. It was there that he completed a thesis on the impact of music videos in education, spurring him forward to become a prolific content creator in the realm of edu-tainment. Today, Tom’s YouTube Channel has nearly 15,000 subscribers and a collection of professionally produced science music videos. Tom often parodies existing popular songs in order to create his musical stylings. Some of his recent hits include a song about vaccinations entitled “My Shot,” a lesson on genetic material entitled “DNA,” and a track all about water conservation entitled “Drought.”
To hear the full rundown about this revolutionary educator, check out the entire interview! For more information about Tom McFadden, check out his awesome website
Duane Habecker has nearly 30 years of experience teaching mathematics. When it comes to classroom math education, Mr. Habecker is a master. His successful track record and trajectory have led him to the position of Mathematics Coordinator for all of Merced County. But Mr. Habecker is more than an impressive educator with a wealth of experience; he is a pioneer.
In the late 90s, well before YouTube had launched, Mr. Habecker began an experiment with video tutorials. He started recording himself giving math lectures on all sorts of topics. He then stored his videos on a Macintosh computer in his classroom. When students arrived at a new lesson, he would encourage them to watch a video from his math library. After reviewing the video, the students would then take to the textbook and begin solving practice problems. The experiment was a success, and Mr. Habecker’s students were mastering the material in an automated fashion.
When YouTube finally launched around Valentine’s Day of 2005, Mr. Habecker saw an opportunity to store his treasure trove of video tutorials online. By doing so, he empowered students from around the globe to watch and learn at their own pace. Fast forward to present day, and Mr. Habecker has an impressive 27,000 YouTube followers (and counting). His passion for education is palpable, and his video explanations are clear and to the point. He has spent a great deal of time building video modules for the Eureka Math curriculum, which is a hugely popular set of math textbooks used around the U.S.
While Mr. Habecker believes that video tutorials can be extremely effective for teaching mathematics, he maintains that there is a larger purpose at play with his YouTube channel. He contends that his method of teaching is training young minds to be lifelong learners. The world is changing rapidly, and the current way to imbibe information and learn skills is to figure things out on the web. We no longer require classroom instruction to build things and make products. Instead, all we need to do is run a quick Google search, find a solid video, and take notes. This means that the more frequently teachers make use of online learning, the better prepared their students will be for independent entrepreneurial pursuits as adults.
To learn more about Duane Habecker and his awesome YouTube channel, listen to the full podcast interview! To check out his YouTube channel, click here
In Episode 135 of the Scalar Learning Podcast, I spoke with Ross Jones, CEO of an edtech company called Emotuit. Jones is on the forefront of online learning with his revolutionary software that tracks and measures interest levels based on facial expressions. The purpose behind Emotuit’s powerful and sleek algorithm is to help educators better hone their lectures and assessments to maximize learning. Cerego is another ground-breaking education company with a similar purpose. What, exactly, is Cerego’s contribution to the eLearning space? In four short words, it’s this: masterful curriculum design guidance. Cerego has developed software that meshes with all sorts of education platforms. It allows educators to custom build lectures and assessments to optimize learning. What’s even more impressive is the software tracks how deeply various bits of knowledge are ingrained in a learner’s mind. Why is this especially important? Because there is no “one size fits all” formula for learning. Different students learn at different rates via different methods. In order for a learning system to be truly effective across the board, it must be fluid and dynamic. Anything less will only work for a subsection of the student population.
Andrew Smith Lewis, Co-founder and CEO of Cerego, believes that his supercharged eLearning optimization tool is changing the face of education. Personally, I agree. But don’t take my word for it, take a look at the amazing partnerships Cerego has already managed to form. Major players in the education field like edX, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, McGraw Hill, and Harvard (to name a few) have integrated Cerego into their online learning tools. To learn more about this amazing company and how to get your students involved with Cerego backed learning platforms, check out the full podcast episode! To learn more about Cerego, go to https://www.cerego.com/.
As YouTube science teachers go, Professor Dave is the cream of the crop. His channel, Professor Dave Explains, has over 88,000 active subscribers to date. Professor Dave, also known as Dave Farina, has a lengthy background in science education. But what makes Professor Dave truly stand out is a combination of two characteristics: humor and precision. His videos are extremely entertaining because of his onstage presence and great sense of humor. Yes, he is an amazing lecturer and can disseminate complex ideas with ease, but what keeps kids hooked into his channel is Dave’s terrific personality.
Another huge reason why his channel is popular is his dedication to high-quality videos with stellar animations. Science is an extremely visual subject, and Professor Dave knows how to effectively use editing tools to convey subjects in an engaging way. If your child is learning science in school and wants a fresh look at their curriculum, I highly encourage them to explore Professor Dave’s YouTube channel. It will not only provide an alternative means for explanations and tutorials, but it will most certainly inject some excitement into the process. To check out Professor Dave Explains, follow this link. To hear all about science and the importance of making it fun, listen to the full podcast episode.
One out of two families in the U.S. are financially fragile. What does that mean? It means that an unexpected expense of $2,000 would be cause for panic. A random doctor’s bill or school related expenditure of this magnitude would force a financially fragile family to seek a small loan or take on credit card debt. If you’re not shocked by this fact, then I’ll just have to be shocked for the both of us.
Why do so many families tend to live on the edge with respect to finances? According to Seamus Matthews, CEO and co-founder of Pennyowl, the root of the issue is a lack of financial education. To remedy this problem, Seamus and his team designed Pennyowl, a mobile app that teaches kids how to collect, spend, and save money. It’s a revolutionary system that trains the mind using virtual currency so that kids will understand how to handle money as teenagers and adults. As the app evolves, it will eventually use real money so that parents can dole out actual allowances and payments through the system.
What’s interesting about the market for Pennyowl is that both low-income and high-income families seem to love it. The low-income folks want to train their children so they avoid debt and eventually reach financial stability, while the high-income clientele seek to prepare their children for the risks and troubles that come along with inheriting reasonably large sums of money. It’s obvious that there is a massive need and demand for this product. If you’re interested in learning more, make sure to check out the entire episode! You can read all the specifications of the product at http://www.pennyowl.com.
As a teacher and private tutor, I interact with both middle and high school students regularly. One immutable fact that I have gleaned over the years is this: kids love YouTube. It provides a platform for videos about music, video games, fashion, and comedy to name just a few topics. Most of my students can recount every factoid about their favorite YouTuber. But my students don’t simply adore their digital role models, they seek to emulate them. In the last year, I’ve had at least 5 of my students between the ages of 10 and 16 launch their very own YouTube channel. Some have made channels about slime while others about sketch comedy and pranks. Kids today are fearless about putting themselves behind a camera and sharing their personalities with the world. Parents, however, are not so bold.
Many parents worry deeply about the images their children are projecting across social media. There is good reason for this. As the job market evolves in this highly digital time, scanning social media as part of the hiring process will only become more commonplace. Parents worry that without proper supervision and guidance, students could be setting themselves up for failure in the future.
I, of course, am a massive fan of YouTube and often encourage my students to put themselves on the platform. I recognize the concerns of parents, and admonish students that they should collaborate with their parents to avoid sticky situations in the future. I recently met a very talented individual who has done just that while in high school. Her name is Lauren Lee, and she is a YouTuber on the rise.
Lauren started her channel nearly two years ago during her sophomore year in high school. The deal she struck with her parents was that everything had to be reviewed before it could go live. It was an easy agreement to abide by because her channel was initially devoted to beauty tips. As the channel grew and evolved, however, the focus eventually shifted to travel. Again, her videos are upbeat and clean, so no issue has ever presented itself between her and her parents. With a subscriber base of over 4,000, Lauren is definitely an expert in the world of YouTubing. Tune into this episode to hear about Lauren’s journey and figure out how you can best guide your child in the quest for YouTube stardom. To learn more about Lauren, you can check out her amazing YouTube channel
Online learning is more than just the future of education; it’s fast becoming the modern methodology for learning. Virtual learning platforms like Reading Plus, Aleks, IXL, and Khan Academy are implemented in school curriculums across the board. We know these tools work, and not only do they deliver potent lessons, but they allow for self-pacing. Once students are able to learn at their own pace without distraction, they can flourish as learners and reach their true potential without inhibition.
As robust as these programs are, there is always a question of how to make them better. It’s a tricky conundrum because feedback is hard to come by. Sure, we can ask students what they like and don’t like, but those answers aren’t necessarily pure. They can be clouded by a distaste for a particular subject or online instructor. Moreover, it is difficult to self-assess and truly distinguish between productive and problematic pieces of a program. In the world of video courses, I am faced with this challenge constantly. As content creators, what are we to do?
Someone has found an answer. Ross Jones, CEO of Emotuit, has pioneered a way to extract real-time data from students about engagement for e-learning products. Here’s the best part: students don’t have to do anything extra to submit feedback. Emotuit’s software is able to utilize the embedded camera in a computer to snap photos of a student’s face intermittently in order to gauge engagement. By analyzing this data, Emotuit can tell content makers what works and what doesn’t. This pure data is untainted by any sort of bias. As content makers are able to utilize this information, course production will be optimized in a whole new way.
To hear the full scoop on Emotuit, make sure to check out the entire podcast episode. For more information on Emotuit, go to http://www.emotuit.com
After completing her training to become a pharmacist, Lisa Tran had second thoughts. Although her educational path had been long and costly, she had deep questions about whether her life was moving down the right path. Sure, her family was proud and her financial future seemed set, but she couldn’t escape the nagging feeling that she was meant to do something else. As her enjoyment for the profession began to fade, she was overwhelmed by an urge to pursue a different avenue. That avenue was in the realm of education, a path that she had already begun to plow.
While in school, Lisa Tran started an online company and YouTube channel called VCE Study Guides. For those unfamiliar with the Australian education system, VCE is a certification for those who successfully complete their high school studies in the state of Victoria. Lisa aptly noted long ago that there was not a reputable source for study aids with respect to VCE preparation. Accordingly, she launched VCE Study Guides in 2008. It has now grown to possess a healthy staff and a thriving YouTube channel with over 13,000 subscribers.
One of the most interesting pieces of Lisa’s story is her current focus on advising students regarding career choices. Since she herself had to struggle with choices and major transitions, often to the chagrin of her family members, she now devotes a great deal of time consulting young minds with regards to finding a pursuit of passion. In this episode, Lisa explains precisely how she mentors young students to make well-informed decisions about professional pursuits. For parents, this is a great episode to glean tidbits on how to best guide your own kids with respect to future endeavors. To get more information about Lisa, check out her YouTube channel and her company page, VCE Study Guides
We all want learning to be fun. Students hope for exciting and interesting lessons because they want to enjoy the process and be happy at school. Teachers seek enjoyable curriculum options because it means that students will be more dialed in and receptive to new information. But the quest for engaging lessons goes beyond what students and teachers want. The truth is that fun curriculums lead to higher rates of retention. When teachers are able to wrap lessons around play, mental development is bolstered. According to a study conducted by the Child Life Council, “Play was found to significantly promote cognitive and social aspects of development.”
For this week’s episode, I had a chance to speak with a true superstar in the field of education: Rae Pica. Rae is a huge proponent of “Active Learning,” a teaching pedagogy that utilizes movement and music to maximize student development and learning. Rae has cultivated an expertise in “the development and education of the whole child and children’s physical activity.” She is the proud founder and director of Rae Pica Keynotes & Consulting and has authored 19 books in the world of education, including Experiences in Movement and Music, the award-winning Great Games for Young Children, and Jump into Math.
One of Rae’s main philosophies in life and education revolves around the notion that people learn best when they are having fun. The idea that movement and music should be used in education comes straight from her core initiative to infuse learning with enjoyment. Working with young children for many years, Rae has used a number of physical activities to help children make mathematical connections. When teaching students to distinguish between terms like “under,” “over,” “big,” and “small,” Rae uses active exercises that engage children visually, physically, and auditorily.
For parents and teachers alike who are seeking to modify curriculums and activities to improve engagement, tune into this once in a lifetime opportunity to hear from a true expert in education. During the interview, Rae delves into a number of strategies and games that can be implemented to make learning fun. To learn more about Rae Pica, go to http://www.raepica.com/
For those of you that have been following me on my journey over the last four years, you know the struggles and great joy that I have experienced. You know my pain and confusion, my tribulations and revelations, an my eventual entrance into the world of math education. But for those who haven’t watched everything unfold, I want to provide a quick recap of my path thus far. I do this on the heels of a piece that was just posted about me in the Huffington Post.
I share this story for three key reasons. Firstly, I hope that adults and children alike can gain inspiration from what I’m seeking to achieve. There have been many ups and downs along the way, but it’s been 100% worth it. I hope that message resonates loudly and clearly. The second reason why I’m sharing this story today is I want my followers and listeners to know what is in the works over the next few years. I endeavor to build products and video courses that will hopefully make an indelible mark on the way mathematics is taught. At the core of my vision is a dedication to engagement, enlightenment, and empowerment.
Finally, I’m telling this story because part of this tale is the inherent belief that anyone can learn math. I would have never launched this business if I didn’t wholeheartedly believe that fact. Once you can accept that truism, you can address the real factor that negatively impacts most folks preparing for math tests: math anxiety. Recognizing that much of the obstruction in mathematics is caused from negative emotions helps students understand that the task at hand is doable. The barricade is a mirage, and with the right tutelage and learning tools, success is inevitable.
According to the College Board, the organization responsible for the creation of the SAT, nearly 1.36 million students took the SAT in 2016. This number is staggering considering the fact that 2.2 million graduating seniors in 2016 enrolled in colleges or universities around the country. That means that nearly 62% of college bound students are taking the SAT to gain admission to higher education. The SAT is not the only game in town; students have the option of also taking the ACT, a standardized test with equal weight in the college admissions process. But as the College Board revamped the format of the SAT in 2016 while simultaneously collaborating with Khan Academy to offer free test prep, students have been flocking back to the SAT.
In the last year, I have signed up and taken both official tests. I have documented my experiences on my YouTube channel, providing score reveals for the SAT and the ACT. The primary purpose of taking these tests was to compare and analyze the math portions of the exams. Although I received perfect scores on both exams for the math portions, I did find that I liked the SAT math better. Although the questions can be longer and wordier, I felt the layout of the test and clarity of the questions were superior. I also like that they have now included a no calculator section, giving an edge to those folks who have developed a steadfast mental math ability over the years.
When it comes to preparing for the SAT, there are innumerable options. Students can sign up for classes, private tutoring, and online curriculums. When choosing affordable options, the online curriculums are certainly the best. But how is a student or parent to choose from all of the existing programs and video courses? Since I am in the industry of creating video courses myself, I decided to share the results of my research. While it is true that I also have a math course for the SAT, I will not be discussing my course in this article. Instead, I will only be comparing and analyzing the available courses from larger companies in the test prep world. Without further ado, here is my ranking of the available resources.
- Veritas Prep – $499
When it comes to online SAT courses, I believe that presentation and format is paramount. In order to engage young minds, the production quality needs to be top notch. In this respect, Veritas Prep has put in the requisite work. Their videos are crisp and clean, and the instructors they use are polished and knowledgeable. Instructors stand next to a whiteboard that projects both slides and problems, allowing them to interact with the whiteboard on camera. The main teacher for math, Cambrian, is energetic and fun to watch. The course includes nearly 5 hours of video content and an assortment of books containing practice exercises. Of the courses reviewed in this article, I place Veritas Prep at the top.
- Expert Prep – $799
If you enjoy the show Shark Tank, you may have seen Shaun Patel pitch his company to Mark Cuban. Mark liked the product pitch and decided to partner up with Patel. The fruits of their collaboration is Expert Prep. The positive aspect of this company is that it was founded by a person who earned a perfect score on the SAT in high school. Another plus is that the video production is reasonably high. The lectures are given with a small talking head in the upper left hand corner as the content of the lecture is given on slides in the center of the screen. The engagement level is reasonable, though I would have to say that Veritas Prep’s cast of teachers is definitely preferable. My one issue with this course is that it emphasizes the importance of strategy over knowledge, and I personally believe that the math should be thoroughly learned and understood as opposed to utilizing strategies as workarounds.
- Khan Academy – FREE
In many respects, Khan Academy is actually superior to Expert Prep and Veritas Prep. All of the content is free, and the quality of the sample questions is top notch. The authenticity of the questions is almost guaranteed by the fact that the College Board has partnered with Khan Academy. The only piece that could be improved is the engagement of the videos. While they are extremely clear, the videos are simply whiteboard projections with no talking head. In order to truly engage students, a face or person should be visible during the lectures (as proven by analytics gathered from major online education platforms like Udemy). Aside from that small point, this is a fantastic resource with amazing value.
- Princeton Review – $299
Princeton Review is one of the major players in the test prep industry. Their course contains 140 video lessons, 240 online drills, and 17 practice tests (though they are also counting the 8 practice tests made available by the College Board). The video content is comprised of teachers standing behind a glass wall using sharpies to write on said wall. Personally, I find this style of presentation to be slightly difficult to read, especially when the instructors are standing behind the writing. I found the teachers to have reasonable stage presence, and consider this to be a decent option given the fact that it is $200 less than Veritas Prep’s online SAT course.
- Kaplan – $299
This course boasts over 40 hours of video content along with over 1000 practice questions. They also have talking head videos, which contain narrations and explanations from actual Kaplan teachers. Like Princeton Review’s course, this class is on-demand and highly adjustable based on areas of strengths and weaknesses. It provides a great deal of content for its price, and should be considered for students seeking a low-priced option.
- ePrep – $299
Ths SAT video course provided by ePrep includes 112 video lectures and 924 video explanations. While this course is fairly content heavy, I take issue with the presentation of the explanations. The videos simply show the problem on a piece of paper with narration and a pencil drawing the solutions. It is like Khan Academy in the sense that there is no talking head, but the narration is much drier than on Khan Academy’s site.
- Prep Scholar – $397
Lastly, Prep Scholar provides an online SAT course that costs more than Kaplan and Princeton Review. After looking through the course myself, I cannot recommend it alongside these other courses, especially due to its price of nearly $400. The first thing to note is that Prep Scholar’s course does not contain videos; instead, they have pages of explanations that students must read in order to understand concepts. With the abundance of great video resources, it does not make sense to use a product without videos. Another issue with this course is that the math problems seem to be modeled after the old SAT (before 2016).
Dr. Kaye Otten has assisted children with behavioral challenges for over 20 years. But she didn’t set out to tackle this niche area of education at the onset of her career. She began her professional journey working as a second grade teacher in the midwest. While she may have anticipated a collection of mild-mannered and reticent students in her classroom, she was instead endowed with a classroom that contained heavy proportions of children with problematic behavior. In order to thrive at her place of employ, she began to immerse herself in the study of behavioral issues to decode the complex matrix of problematic behavior. Today, Dr. Otten holds a P.h.D. in special education works as a consultant for school districts and teachers to help guide the process of curbing and controlling difficult behavior. She has credentials in teaching early childhood, elementary, and special education in several states.
In her latest book, “How to Reach and Teach Children with Challenging Behavior,” Dr. Otten provides a lengthy framework, replete with concise and clear explanations, regarding the process of dealing with children who are prone to misbehavior. During our interview, Dr. Otten explained a number of key principles, including the notion that suspension at schools is a poor form of punishment. What she encourages instead is specialized forms of in-school suspension that focus on modeling and reinforcing positive forms of behavior.
One of the main points in her book is that proper socialization education is a cornerstone of good behavior. Dr. Otten explained how social education and integration can be tackled, and moreover, why it is so important to the behavior equation. We also touched on the value of executive functioning abilities and how they influence the way children feel at school.
Lastly, Dr. Otten noted the importance of choice. All people want to feel empowered in some way. When given no options or alternatives, students can often feel trapped. This feeling lends itself to disobedience and acting out. Accordingly, she recommends always providing options for individuals, no matter how trivial, so that some feeling of autonomy can exist. To reach out to Dr. Otten directly, email her at kayeotten@mac.com. Make sure to check out the entire episode to snag all the valuable nuggets of information from this seasoned education professional.
As an English teacher, Todd Brekhus noticed some issues with standard English curriculums. He could list a litany of intricacies that needed improvement, but one problem trumped all others: the love of reading was difficult to infuse.
This is an understandable problem given the standard dynamic of most classrooms. The typical protocol is to (1) assign a specific selection of books, (2) engage in coordinated discussions and activities regarding the assigned reading, and (3) assess students based on knowledge acquired from said books. The inherent problem with this approach is that certain children will not be drawn to the set of books assigned. This makes sense as interests are widespread. But how do you balance the aim to provide individualized content with the need to develop robust exercises to engage and assess understanding? Translation: how is it feasible for teachers to let their kids read anything they want and still teach?
In 2011, myON endeavored to answer this question. It was no small undertaking to say the least. While such a feat may have seemed impossible at the company’s inception, myON has risen to the challenge. Its quest and mission has evolved beautifully over the last 6 years, leading them to develop a robust online library of digital books and articles by partnering with over 60 publishers. The vast library of online material is not only spread across a number of interests and topics, but is bolstered by a suite specialized features meant to augment comprehension, including (1) customizable highlighting, (2) embedded dictionaries, and (3) and audio based reading capabilities. What’s special about the audio feature is that myON proactively dismissed the use of automated voice software, opting instead for a more authentic audio experience by employing professional actors to read the literature. The emblematic milestone of this company is its successful partnership with over 10,000 schools to date.
One of the most innovative and fascinating developments at myON is their newest product, myON News, which is a collection of self-created news content. Unlike most online reading programs that simply aggregate various resources, myON News is an actual content creator. The company employ writers to custom design news stories that are tied back into the resources contained in their extensive libraries. These custom written stories are perfect for classrooms because they are engineered to be fully in sync with lesson plans and activities included on the myON platform.
For schools aiming to bolster reading capabilities across a spectrum of grades and students, myON’s platform is an amazing tool worth exploring. For the full rundown of all available features and applications, check out the full podcast episode! To learn more about this trailblazing edTech company, go to http://about.myon.com/.
Tim Ferriss is, without a doubt, one of my favorite people on the planet. His working goal is centered around providing the public with a constant stream of invaluable advice to be successful. What does “successful” mean? Whatever you want it to mean. The actual target or goal is almost irrelevant. It could be fitness based, financially grounded, or relationship related. The point is that to feel content and successful, we need (1) a goal of some sort and (2) the means to achieve it.
Tim Ferriss’ extensive body of work seeks to uncover familiar patterns amongst the ultra successful. His aim for doing so is to uncover a veritable blueprint for achieving lofty and ambitious goals. I believe he has found what he set out to unearth. The insights that he continues to uncover, refine, and present to his audience are so unbelievably valuable and unique that they have led to incredible levels of success for his brand and his podcast. Hopefully, I’ve sold you on the value that Tim Ferriss is able to provide time and again. Without further ado, here is a condensed recap of some of the beautiful nuggets that especially resonated with me. To hear my full insights on the collection of quotes below, make sure to check out the full podcast episode!
Derek Sivers, Founder of CD Baby
“It’s not what you know, it’s what you do consistently.”
Neil Gaiman, Author
“The moment that you feel that, just possibly, you’re walking down the street naked, exposing too much of your heart and your mind and what exists on the inside, showing too much of yourself. That’s the moment you may be starting to get it right.”
Tony Robbins, Performance Coach
“Mastery doesn’t come from an infographic. What you know doesn’t mean sh**. What do you do consistently?”
Casey Neistat, Filmmaker
“What is the ultimate quantification of success? For me, it’s not how much time you spend doing what you love. It’s how little time you spend doing what you hate.”
Peter Thiel, Serial Company Founder
“[I]f you’re planning to do something with your life, if you have a 10-year plan of how to get there, you should ask: why can’t you do this in 6 months? Sometimes, you have to actually go through the complex, 10-year trajectory. But it’s at least worth asking whether that’s the story you’re telling yourself, or whether that’s the reality.”
Seth Godin, Author and Entrepreneur
“People who have trouble coming up with good ideas, if they’re telling you the truth, will tell you they don’t have very many bad ideas. But people who have plenty of good ideas, if they’re telling you the truth will say that have even more bad ideas. So the goal isn’t to get good ideas; the goal is to get bad ideas. Because once you get enough bad ideas, then some good ones have to show up.”
Scott Adams, Creator of the “Dilbert” Comic Strip
“[I]f you want something extraordinary, you have two paths: (1) become the best at one specific thing or (2) become very good (top 25%) at two or more things.”
Chase Jarvis, CEO of CreativeLive
“Creativity is an infinite resource. The more you spend, the more you have.”
Tracy DiNunzio, Founder and CEO of Tradesy
“If you spend your time focusing on the things that are wrong, and that’s what you express and project to people you know, you don’t become a source of growth for people, you become a source of destruction for people.”
Chris Young, Inventor
“The most interesting jobs are the ones you make up.”
Scott Belsky, Entrepreneur
“Sometimes you need to stop doing things you love in order to nurture the one thing that matters most.”
B.J. Novak, Director and Actor
“If you find yourself saying, ‘But I’m making so much money’ about a job or project, pay attention. ‘But I’m making so much money’ or ‘But I’m making good money” is a warning sign that you’re probably not on the right track or, at least, you shouldn’t stay there for long.”
Four years ago, Dr. Peter Esperenza sought to do something special with his high school math class. His objective was twofold: make math lessons (1) more potent and (2) widely accessible. Moreover, he wanted to flip the classroom so that instruction could occur at a self-regulated pace in the comfort of one’s own home, allowing for more in-class activities and hands on exposure to the material being covered.
If you are unfamiliar with the term “Flipped Classroom,” it can be summarily described as follows (courtesy of www.numberbender.com): “A flipped classroom is one in which students watch and complete online lectures on the subject matter at home, and use their classroom time to work on problem sets with the help of their teacher and classmates.” It is a trend in education that is gaining unbelievable momentum, especially in the area of science and mathematics. As Philadelphia based teacher Mary Beth Hertz explains, flipped classroom environments allow students to “move at their own pace, review what they need when they need to, [and] catch up on missed lessons easily through the use of video and online course tools.”
As Dr. Esperenza began sharing his self-made videos with his class, he realized that a large repository was needed for his massive library of lectures. YouTube was the perfect home, as it not only had the capacity, but it was completely free. And so began Dr. Esperenza’s journey to upload hundreds upon hundreds of video lectures relating to algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Some of his most notable online lectures include Laws of Exponents, Evaluating Ratio and Proportion, and Introduction to Conic Sections. His tutorials employ the use of a physical whiteboard, clean and multicolored illustrations, and concise explanations. The clarity of his explanations is precisely why he has been able to garner over 800,000 views and 7,000 subscribers since the inception of the channel.
While the majority of the lectures are presented in English for his students at Barstow High School, Dr. Esperenza wanted to help folks in his native country of the Philippines. As such, he began to create math tutorial videos in his native tongue. The response has been overwhelming. A wave of students from the Philippines have recently subscribed to his fast growing channel to soak up all of the amazing information provided. As Dr. Esperenza noted, there are not many options for solid math explanations in the Filipino language.
Dr. Esperenza is not only a teacher, professor, and YouTuber, but he is also an author. In early 2016, he published The Power of the Flipped Classroom, a multi-touch book that explains the process of flipping a classroom. He has also published three academic papers on the effects of successful implementation of a flipped classroom. He not only describes the process, but he also sheds light on the positive outcomes achieved measured via grading statistics. If you want to hear Dr. Esperenza’s story and understand precisely how flipped classrooms are revolutionizing the education industry, check out this enthralling podcast episode!
If you have a child of any age, you no doubt have seen, touched, or experienced a “Fidget Spinner.” A fidget spinner is nothing more than a handheld wheel with a central axis point. They are sold in a multitude of shapes and designs, but the core commonality that binds them is their ability to be held and spun indefinitely. Lubrication between the joints enables them to go particularly fast, in some cases spinning at thousands of revolutions per minute. These quirky yet simple devices have actually been around since the 1990s, but have only recently exploded in popularity. Even I have had the opportunity to play with them, and I must say, they are oddly captivating.
But I don’t think it’s the look or feel of these devices that have catapulted them across headline news. The reason why these products seem to be so interesting and controversial is because of their categorization as a tool to ease the symptoms of attention related ailments that make it difficult for young students to focus in class. Makers of the spinning gadgets purport that these devices are “perfect for ADD, ADHD, anxiety and autism.”
When students have trouble focusing in class, a potential solution is to offer them something that they can touch during class so that they feel a sense of calm. This in turn enables them to silence the parts of their brain that could lead them astray, thereby allowing them to pay attention and absorb information more efficiently.
In theory, fidget spinners sound like an excellent fit for such a solution. They feel nice when they are spinning, are very simple to operate, and reasonably priced. The problem, however, lies in how they are actually used. Fidget spinners are extremely fun to play with, and that’s why I believe that they are dangerous in classrooms. I have seen many of my students use them, both in class and during tutoring sessions, and what I notice is that the devices are mesmerizing. Students aren’t able to simply touch them while paying attention to a lecture; instead, they want to watch them, move them around, and balance them on their fingers and noses. In short, fidget spinners end up becoming a larger distraction than help. “The spinner toys, in my opinion, and that of teachers I’ve spoken to, are just that – toys,” according to occupational therapist Stephen Poss. “Spinner toys are visually distracting, and I think that’s their major drawback.”
So where do I stand on the controversy surrounding these products? As long as my students are responsible with them, they are allowed to have them at school, but I definitely do not consider them to be helpful with respect to staying focused. I ask that they are put away during class so that students are not distracted. If you are being told that fidget spinners will actually improve your child’s attention or focus, I believe that you are being misled.
Here are links to the articles referenced in the podcast:
http://www.wlox.com/story/35364686/fidget-spinner-toy-or-therapy-tool
http://health.usnews.com/wellness/health-buzz/articles/2017-04-25/are-fidget-spinners-helpful-for-kids-with-adhd-autism-and-anxiety
http://www.livescience.com/58916-fidget-spinner-faq.html
I can say this with almost 100% certainty (perhaps 99.9%): if you are a person living on this planet, you enjoy listening to music. You may prefer the dark melodies and heavy guitar riffs of punk rock, or you might gravitate towards the light and upbeat sounds of electro pop. Whatever particular concoction of rhythms and sounds you prefer, rest assured that there is something that tickles your fancy.
There is something else you should know. While most folks readily profess a stalwart love for music, they simultaneously describe a deep hatred for mathematics. When thinking about classroom mathematics and modern music, it is natural to initially presume that the two are diametrically opposed, but this line of thinking is incorrect. The two are in fact inextricably connected (to hear more about the connection between math and music, check out my video on the applications of math). Music is simply an auditory extension of mathematics. Making good music mandates that composers adhere to numerical laws of rhythm, timing, and melody. Scales are literally mathematical rules applied to vibrational frequencies that seem be universal across the planet. Many famous composers like Iannis Xenakis openly use mathematical theories to create musical works of art.
But there is another connection to take notice of that is highly relevant to our young math students today. According to an article from Brain Balance, “using specific music and sounds may help to stimulate one hemisphere more than the other and possibly create more balance in the brain. As such, listening to music could improve a student’s cognition and ability to learn math skills. As recently as 2012, one study showed that listening to music during a math test could improve performance by 40 percent.” Translation: music can help you learn math! Moreover, the article purports that upbeat music and major tones in particular can bolster left hemisphere activities, which is directly relevant to logic based tasks like science and math reasoning.
I have known about the harmonious relationship between mathematics and music for some time now. Recognizing the interplay between the two was the impetus for me to begin the creation of a series of math music videos. I try to bridge the gap between music and math by literally singing about math related concepts. Moreover, I use the choruses as a sort of musical mnemonic device to give students the best opportunity possible to memorize tricky formulas and perform well on tests. To check out my latest math music video on special right triangles, click here.
To date, I have worked as a private math tutor, test preparation specialist, 6th grade math teacher, and online video course creator. Part of my duties in these various positions have led me to counsel students who are transitioning to new middle schools, high schools, and colleges. The question that I have received over and over from students and parents is this: should one prepare for a math placement test? It is an interesting question since most folks naturally assume that everyone should study before an exam. So why the confusion? Because most schools tell new students not to prepare for placement tests. The rationale is that placement tests are merely meant to gauge current math skills, and preparation for these tests might muddy the waters. Moreover, there is no passing or failing; these tests will simply be used to determine what level of math a student will enter when school begins. For example, a new 7th grader may either enter pre-algebra, algebra, or geometry based on their placement test results. So, as it stands, most teachers and counselors seem to be advising students to go into these tests without preparation. Do I agree? Of course not, and I will explain why in six simple reasons.
Caveat: I only recommend preparing for placement tests when the desire to do so comes intrinsically from the student. Forcing the issue means the student is not mentally or emotionally prepared to work hard, and that can be a problem if placed into a high math group. If, however, the student is pushing for the preparation, there is no need to fear. Their desire to perform well will carry them. I am in support of introducing the idea to a student, but if they do not latch onto the concept, then my recommendation is to let them be.
Reason 1: It’s easy to forget nuances and lose points even when math fluency and comprehension are strong
Who out there remembers the quadratic formula in its entirety? Who recalls precisely how to take the derivative of sin(x)? Who can still solve a system of linear equations? As an adult who is far removed from the study of mathematics, my guess is that you have completely forgotten all of these protocols and procedures. But guess what… even if you’ve only had a month or two away from these concepts, chances are that you’ve forgotten parts of these processes. Perhaps you remember the bulk of the quadratic formula, but you somehow thought the denominator was 2 instead of 2a. Or maybe you confused the derivative of sin(x) with the derivative of cos(x).
My point is this: it is very easy to forget a small component of these formulas and procedures, even when your comprehension at one time was flawless. Is it then fair or accurate for a multiple choice math placement test to penalize a student for a series of minor mishaps? Absolutely not. Aside from being fair, it is inaccurate. Accordingly, brushing up on these concepts is a must. Just to be clear, I’m not advocating a full on multi-week cram session where you embark upon a quest to learn massive amounts of new information. What I do recommend, however, is a thorough review of all the concepts you learned in the previous year. It will not misrepresent your abilities; to the contrary, it will let your true math prowess shine.
Reason 2: Math knowledge can be substantially ramped up in a relatively short period of time
Math is not like reading. Becoming a solid reader takes years of practice and devotion because it is such a highly complex process. While math can be highly complex as well, middle school and high school mathematics is comprised of a series of relatively simple operations. When I say simple, I do not mean math is easy. What I mean is that much of the individual math concepts taught at these levels can be understood and mastered in a relatively short period of time. It’s the reason why students preparing for standardized tests routinely see a much larger jump in math scores than verbal scores after preparing for a few months. As such, engaging in some focused practice and review in a short period of time can have a significant impact on one’s ability on a math placement test. Translation: the juice is definitely worth the squeeze.
Reason 3: It is very unlikely that you can perform beyond your abilities on a placement test (i.e. if you can get it right on the placement test, you most likely GET IT)
So many math education websites state that you should not prepare for placement tests because you want to be in an appropriate math class for your knowledge and ability level. Well, since final exams are meant to gauge a student’s understanding of class material, should students forego preparation for final exams as well? What about standardized tests? Don’t we want students to be placed at a university that is appropriate for their skill level? The point is that preparation is part and parcel of the education process, and how hard a student is willing to prepare is also indicative of their ability to succeed through perseverance. Moreover, if a student understands a concept to the point where they can provide a correct answer on a placement test, they GET IT. I do, however, concede that students should refrain from guessing on placement tests. That would be counterproductive. Educated guesses make sense, but blind guesses would serve no purpose in assessing placement.
Reason 4: You can always move backwards, but you usually can’t move forward
Let’s play out the worst case scenario of acing a math placement test. Assume that a student going into 7th grade crushes the assessment and is moved into geometry, a very advanced math class for 7th grade. Let’s also assume that the student is now experiencing great trepidation about geometry and feels as though algebra would be a better fit. The parents concur. Is it feasible to move the child from geometry backwards to algebra? Of course! Schools are extremely amenable to moving a student backwards if both the parents and student feel that such placement is appropriate. Going the other way, however, is extremely difficult, especially with prestigious college preparatory institutions. Schools in the upper echelon of academia can be rigid with respect to placement results. I’ve seen many students fall victim to these systems only to end up facing boredom all year long. In sum, shoot for the stars so that you have options.
Reason 5: If you have a tutor, you will be more than equipped to iron out any difficulties that may arise in a challenging math class
For students lucky enough to have access to outside help, there is nothing to fear. Whether it’s a private tutor, parent, or teacher who volunteers after school, having access to extra help should alleviate any stress about being placed in an advanced math class. Any concepts that are troubling can be cleared up in a very short period of time when personalized help is available.
Reason 6: It is better to busy than be bored
Counselors constantly warn students of the dangers of being placed in a higher than appropriate math class. They admonish parents and students alike of how high level math classes can leave unprepared students feeling overwhelmed or anxious. But what about the alternative? What about the dangers of being bored? Boredom can destroy a child’s love for mathematics. Stagnation is a recipe for indifference. Moreover, the likelihood that a child will be completely overwhelmed with no ability to catch up is very small if the child possesses intrinsic motivation. Again, this entire article is premised on the fact that a child is preparing for a placement test because of his own desire. If a student indeed wants to prepare, they will likely embrace whatever challenge may come their way. So, it is with no hesitation or second thought that I leave you with this final recommendation: if a student wishes to prepare for a math placement test, by all means, let him do so.
On April 5th, 2017, I landed in San Antonio, Texas, for the very first time. Sure, I enjoy Tex-Mex, and yes, I was excited to roam the River Walk with the looming possibility of meeting Tony Parker, one of my favorite NBA guards of all time. But that’s not why I came to the home of the Alamo. I had embarked on this southwestern journey with a specific purpose in mind: to learn as much as possible about the vast field of math education. I had come, unequivocally, to milk the most talked about math education conference in the United States: the National Council of Teachers of Math’s Annual Conference!
The NCTM is the world’s largest mathematics education organization, boasting a membership of over 60,000 individuals. Each year, the NCTM hosts a massive annual conference that attracts nearly 9,000 math educators from across the globe to share their insights, strategies, and experiences to improve the entire education process for teachers and professors everywhere. Naturally, I had to be there.
I was beyond excited when I arrived in San Antonio. I imagine it’s the same feeling a budding musician experiences when attending the Grammy’s for the first time. The city’s conference center was filled with math wunderkinds and education superstars. I was elbow to elbow with esteemed research professors and secondary school math zealots that had so much to offer. As soon as I set foot in the main hallway, I immediately downloaded the NCTM conference app and began planning my tour of lectures. And let me say, this conference had an insane amount of lectures to choose from. At the end of each lecture, I perused dozens of lecture titles and descriptions before making a selection for my next stop. Of the many lectures I attended during the conference, there were three that stood above the rest. And by the way, this in no way means that the other lectures were not on the same level; this is simply a collection of three lectures that were particularly impactful for me given my ongoing efforts to use technology and games in concert with math education.
The first all-star lecture was given by Tinashe Blanchet, proud owner of a math education blog: http://mrsblanchet.net/. Mrs. Blanchet is a teacher brimming with passion and enthusiasm for math. But why, precisely, did I find her presentation so powerful? Yes, she is a charismatic and dynamic speaker, but what really intrigued me was her topic: math music videos. Mrs. Blanchet, like me, infuses math with music to maximize student engagement. She posts her math music videos on YouTube and has so far received great praise from students, parents, and teachers alike. Her presentation went through her process and many of her great works in this arena. It was amazing to hear her inspirational story, and I was able to glean a great deal about her methods when creating math music ensembles. Finally, it was especially nice to hear her reaffirm a hunch of mine: math focused audiovisual productions are extremely effective learning vehicles when executed correctly.
The next highly memorable experience was attending a lecture by Mary Kemper, another blogger who runs the website https://agreaterimpact.wordpress.com/. Mrs. Kemper gave a powerful presentation about integrating animation into math education. She made an excellent case for the use of quality video animations to augment comprehension of key concepts. She explained how using basic programs like Keynote and iMotion can provide potent opportunities to develop compelling animations that can drastically improve understanding and retention of all sorts of math concepts.
Finally, the most interesting and interactive of the presentations was given by Ralph Pantozzi, math teacher extraordinaire and recipient of the 2014 Rosenthal Prize for Innovation and Inspiration in Math Teaching. Mr. Pantozzi led a compelling and thought provoking exercise on the probability of flipping of coins in succession. The in-depth explanation of the entire presentation can be found in the podcast episode, but in short, it was an amazing classroom activity that not only engages a class but develops a deep and concrete understanding of probability and how it changes based on action. It was a great deal of fun to say the least, but the best part of the experience is that it gave me some amazing ideas to put into action as my class begins its study of probability.
All in all, it was one of the most useful and enjoyable conferences I have ever attended. I can’t wait until the next one, and I only hope that I too will earn an opportunity to share some of my insights and experiences with the math educators in attendance.
Every teacher must face a tough decision: “do I teach my class at a steady but slow rate to allow for everyone to keep up, or do I plow through the material in order to satisfy the advanced pocket of students while employing a ‘sink or swim’ classroom policy?” Moving slowly might keep the entire class on pace, but doing so risks losing some of the students to boredom. Conversely, while moving rapidly might pacify those eager to learn, it may simultaneously disenfranchise students who need more time and repetition to properly digest new material.
Nowhere in education is this dilemma more pronounced than in mathematics. Some students learn math concepts seamlessly with very little practice needed. Others, while fully capable of deep and thorough comprehension, need a substantial amount of review and repetition before mastery is achieved. While working as both a classroom teacher as well as a private math tutor, I have seen these distinctions amongst students time and again. As a private tutor, I have the luxury of modifying my instruction on an individual basis so that it meshes with each child’s learning style and speed. Teaching a classroom, however, poses a different challenge.
This episode dives into my quest to solve this quandary by way of implementing a self-paced pre-algebra curriculum for my 6th grade class. I discuss the creation and employment of a custom-made online pre-algebra course used in tandem with on-demand individual instruction. In short, the results have been amazing. Not only have my students enjoyed this self-guided journey through pre-algebra, but it has provided freedom and flexibility that has allowed for unforeseen flourishings. Students that have historically experienced struggles in mathematics have suddenly come to life and surpassed many of their classmates. Other highly motivated students have pushed immensely hard and managed to match the progress of the advanced math group. Using this new format has been challenging at times, but the overall benefits for the students have been innumerable.
This episode also discusses the work of Natalie McCutchen, a teacher and self-pacing pioneer who runs a self-paced pre-algebra course at her elementary school in Franklin, Kentucky. Her classroom setup also relies on a confluence of video tutorials and on-demand individualized instruction. One important part of her class is that she reminds her students that working individually is a privilege, and those who use their time inefficiently will be placed into a standard classroom setting to ensure steady progress. To hear all the details, check out the full podcast episode!
In this week’s roundtable, Huzefa interviews three students from the class to give their take on the Yosemite trip, talk about the upcoming holidays, and chat about the ISEE exams.
In this week’s student roundtable, Huzefa interviews four students to discuss the recent class trip to Yosemite! Listen in on this ripe conversation about the life altering trip that took place over five days in one of the most beautiful places on the planet!
In this week’s student roundtable, Huzefa interviews “Jamie” and “Emily” to discuss the colorful and action packed week. Including in the discussion are the upcoming Yosemite trip, the Dia de los Muertos festival, and the upcoming student election. As a special surprise, the two students engage in an impromptu debate surrounding the student election, and an insightful and eloquent debate unfolds on the air. This is an INCREDIBLE roundtable!!
In this week’s student roundtable, Huzefa interviews “Chuck” and “Larry” to highlight their passions regarding 6th grade band and the ocean. Hear all about this week’s triumphs as well as what the students would do differently with regards to learning and the incorporation of video based projects.
In this week’s student roundtable, Huzefa interviews “Billy Bob” and “Joe” to highlight their passions regarding working with younger students as well as writing poetry. Hear all about this week’s triumphs as well as what the students would do differently if possible.
In this week’s student roundtable, Huzefa sits down with “Jessie” and “Emily” to discuss the most recent week of school. Huzefa listens to their favorite and least favorite parts of the week along with their ideas going forward. Emily and Jessie focus on Oceanography as well as the Walk-a-thon!
In this week’s student roundtable, Huzefa sits down with “Nymphadora” and “Taylor” to discuss the most recent week of school. Huzefa listens to their favorite and least favorite parts of the week along with their ideas going forward. Taylor and Nymphadora specifically talk about the school newspaper and experiences at oceanography.
Huzefa is joined by Khalil Fuller, CEO of Learn Fresh and creator of NBA Math Hoops, an interactive way to learn math using sports. Khalil talks his revolutionary product, which has been officially sponsored by the NBA. NBA Math Hoops is now being used in more than 1,000 schools and has paved the way for strong arithmetic and basic math fluency.
In this week’s student roundtable, Huzefa sits down with “Enrique” to discuss the most recent week of school. Huzefa listens to their favorite and least favorite parts of the week along with their ideas going forward. Enrique shares his thoughts on the Escape Room, Kinder Buddies, and Oceanography at the beach!
In this week’s student roundtable, Huzefa sits down with “Alice” and “Jessie” to discuss the most recent week of school. Huzefa listens to their favorite and least favorite parts of the week along with their ideas going forward. Finally the students get to flip the script and Huzefa a couple of questions as well!
After 35 years of waking up as late as possible, Huzefa finally turned into true morning person that loves waking up early. Join Huzefa as he describes the numerous benefits of waking up early, and moreover, how to develop the habit of early rising.
To check out the article, go to http://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=http%3A//www.forbes.com/pictures/gglg45gfd/benefits-of-early-risers/&refURL=https%3A//www.google.com/&referrer=https%3A//www.google.com/
In this episode, Huzefa runs through all the various number types that exist. For students and parents who want a quick refreshed on the relationship between number types (real, rational, imaginary, etc.), make sure to tune in!
Welcome to the inaugural Student Roundtable episode! Join Huzefa as he sits down to discuss the first week of school with three of his students. Huzefa listens to their favorite and least favorite parts of the week along with their ideas going forward.
Starting tomorrow, Huzefa will interview his students on a weekly basis every Friday. This will be an amazing opportunity for students to voice their opinions about the curriculum and general school dynamic as well as offer feedback to to their teachers. Tune into this brief episode to get an idea of what’s in store for the Student roundtables.
In this episode, Huzefa interviews Zach Latta, an education wunderkind leading the charge for kids who are aspiring programmers. Tune into this interview to hear all about an amazing way for kids to be proactive coders and develop apps and websitses that they truly want to use.
To visit Hack Club, go to http://hackclub.com
In this personal episode, Huzefa shares a life event and how his lengthy journey of self-development prepared him to handle the potentially tumultuous transition with ease. Moreover, he explains precisely why emotional strength is so important to being happy and successful in life.
Huzefa touches on the hugely important area of emotional development called Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Check out this episode to understand precisely what SEL is, why it’s so massively important, and how to help your kids develop socially and emotionally to be healthy, happy, and productive.
To check out the related article, go to http://www.edutopia.org/blog/why-sel-essential-for-students-weissberg-durlak-domitrovich-gullotta
After beginning his first day as a 6th grade teacher, Huzefa shares some huge insights and revelations he gained about standardized tests and general student concerns.
In this episode, Huzefa shares an awesome article from PBS.org about a father’s journey to develop an amazing activity for his two daughters who yearn to start a business knitting scarves for dolls.
To check out the article, go to http://www.pbs.org/parents/adventures-in-learning/2016/06/small-business-startup-activity/
Schools constantly talk about the importance of exercise and physical activity. Unfortunately, some kids aren’t that into team sports. For those children that don’t like prototypical sports, martial arts is an amazing way to get excercise and gain amazing mental focus. Tune into this episode to hear precisely why participation in martial arts can be so rewarding.
To check out the article, go to http://breakingmuscle.com/family-kids/7-reasons-why-your-child-should-practice-martial-arts
Huzefa interviews Chris Pedregal, founder of the education company Socratic. After appearing on the Forbes 30 under 30 for pioneers in education, Chris’ revolutionary company is changing the face of education. Hear about this amazing app and how it helps students learn chemistry using a confluence of artificial intelligence and open source feedback from educators around the world.
To check out the company website, go to www.socratic.org
Download the FREE app in the app store today!
In this episode, Huzefa dives into the following four lessons that are worthwhile to unlearn: (1) filter what you say, (2) follow orders without question, (3) don’t quit things because you don’t like them, and (4) you have to be good at many different things. Tune in to hear Huzefa’s take on each one.
Writing is one of the most important skills that must be mastered in life. No matter what you do professionally, you must learn to write clearly and effectively. In this episode, Huzefa shares a list of 11 amazing books on the craft of writing, courtesy of famed author Jerry Jenkins, so that your child can make the leap from good to great as a developing writer.
To check out Jerry’s article, go to http://www.jerryjenkins.com/best-books-on-writing/
Although Huzefa spends a great deal of time training students to succeed on standardized tests like the ISEE, SAT, ACT, and a host of others, he takes a step back this episode to assess whether standardized tests hurt the education system. Huzefa shares an article from Fairtest.org to get a better grip on the topic, and shares his insights along the way with respect to these tests.
To check out the article, go to http://www.fairtest.org/reports-high-stakes-testing-hurts-education
MBA programs have started to take GRE scores in lieu of GMAT scores. This change begs the following question: should you take the GRE, GMAT, or both? In this episode, Huzefa analyzes both tests and provides guidelines and principles to follow when trying to figure out which test is best for you.
To check out Magoosh’s article on the topic, go to http://magoosh.com/gre/2014/gre-vs-gmat/
As the school year gets underway, Huzefa shares 19 thought provoking and conversation sparking questions for parents to get more involved in their children’s education.
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What academic standards do you use, and what do I need to know about them?
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How will you respond if or when my child struggles in class?
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What are the most important and complex (content-related) ideas my child needs to understand by the end of the year?
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Do you focus on strengths or weaknesses?
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How are creativity and innovative thinking used on a daily basis in your classroom?
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How is critical thinking used on a daily basis in your classroom?
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How are assessments designed to promote learning rather than simple measurement?
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What can I do to support literacy in my home?
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What kinds of questions do you suggest that I ask my children on a daily basis about your class?
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How exactly is learning personalized in your classroom? In the school?
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How do you measure academic progress?
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What are the most common instructional or literacy strategies you will use this year?
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What learning models do you use (e.g., project-based learning, mobile learning, game-based learning, etc.), and what do you see as the primary benefits of that approach?
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What are the best school or district resources that we should consider using as a family to support our child in the classroom?
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Is there technology you’d recommend that can help support my child in self-directed learning?
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What are the most common barriers you see to academic progress in your classroom?
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How is education changing?
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How do you see the role of the teacher in the learning process?
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What am I not asking but should be?
To check out the original article, go to http://www.edutopia.org/blog/19-questions-for-parents-terry-heick
After completing an amazing workshop about Design Thinking, Huzefa shares everything he learned about this practical and immersive pedagogy. Join Huzefa to hear all about Design Thinking so that you can modify the way you interact and engage with your kids to foster learning.
To check out the article mentioned, go to http://www.stanforddaily.com/what-is-design-thinking/
The world of education experts share their thoughts on what a utopian education system of the future should look like. As Huzefa shares information from this article from the Atlantic along with his own insights, try and glean information and advice that can be applied to your child’s education and emotional development.
To check out the article, go to http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/08/what-students-should-know/497927/
What began as a teacher’s pet project morphed into a successful Kickstarter campaign and eventually an incredible teaching tool. You ever notice how much you learn about football while playing Fantasy Football? One teacher did, and subsequently endeavored to create a fantasy platform to encourage the learning of geography and politics. Join Huzefa as he shares information about FANschool, an innovative and fun way to learn about the world.
To check out the article, go to https://www.engadget.com/2015/09/04/fantasy-sports-in-schools/
Courtesy of lifehack.org, Huzefa shares an awesome list of socially engaging and mentally stimulating board games. If you’re looking for an alternative to video games that is both educational and fun, you definitely need to check out this episode. Get the full list of amazing games along with Huzefa’s personal recommendations.
To check out the article, go to http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/15-fun-board-games-that-exercise-your-brain-and-make-you-smarter.html
Huzefa shares an article from Psychology Today on three areas of education that schools often have difficulty with: bullying, emotional learning, and life skills. Hear the recommendations from this article along with Huzefa’s insights on these topics.
To check out the article, go to https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creative-development/201608/how-schools-sometimes-fail-our-children
Huzefa takes a look at the fad that has swept the world: Pokemon Go! After checking out the game himself and researching the issue robustly, Huzefa offers his opinion on the game and let’s parents know that he’s not a huge proponent of the game.
In this episode, Huzefa shares an article with 10 amazing suggestions for fun and educational activities to do with your kids before the craziness of school begins.
To check out the article, go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-usky-/10-things-to-do-with-your_b_5622350.html
In this historic episode of the Scalar Learning Podcast, Huzefa interviews Professor Steve Drizin from Northwestern University. Professor Drizin is the co-founder of the Center on Wrongful Convictions of Youth and heads up the legal team that represents Brendan Dassey. Brendan is the nephew of Steven Avery, and the two are the subject of the famed documentary series “Making a Murderer.” In an unbelievable twist, Professor Drizin’s team received a federal ruling last week overturning Brendan Dassey’s conviction. Tune into this amazing episode to hear what is next for Brendan, how the amazing ruling was reached, and why Professor Drizin is so passionate about his career as an attorney.
To learn more about the Center on Wrongful Convictions of Youth, go to http://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictionsyouth/
In this episode, Huzefa runs through the top 30 under 30 education innovators in the EdTech space. Huzefa shares this list from a Forbes Magazine article, noting the most interesting companies to check out along the way. Tune in to this episode to be on the cutting of edge od apps and websites that can be used to help facilitate your child’s education.
To check out the article, go to http://www.forbes.com/30-under-30-2016/education/#16334ccb4f23
Huzefa recounts his first attempt at using Responsive Classroom techniques during a lecture presented at a self development conference. Hear precisely how the various techniques were integrated, and moreover, how this pedagogy can be used by other educators to improve the classroom experience.
Huzefa shares an article from Forbes Education that lists the 20 universities world wide that have created the most millionaires. Take a listen to see how your alma matter stacks up, and moreover, how the information might affect your child’s choice of school.
In this episode, Huzefa shares an article from Frugal mom on the merits of developing an effective morning routine to keep your kids on point when preparing for school each morning.
To check out the article, go to http://www.frugal-mama.com/2012/08/ease-the-morning-rush-and-assign-simple-chores-with-a-get-ready-for-school-checklist/
Huzefa interviews Ray Ramos, a representative from ALEKS, an online math education platform. Ray talks about the inner workings of the platform, how kids can use it both at home and at school, and also answers questions from several of Huzefa’s students.
For more information, go to www.aleks.com
As the school year begins, Huzefa speaks to students and parents of students that are about to enter the brand new world of high school. Check out this episode to get seven powerful tips on how to make sure the first high school experience is not only fun but also successful.
To check out the related article, go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/todd-vanduzer/7-high-school-tips-for-fr_b_8694068.html
Huzefa shares a synopsis of an amazing self-development and parenting book called “Grit,” written by psychologist and teacher Angela Duckworth. This book is a testament to the notion that hard work and commitment trumps innate ability, and moreover, there is a way to imbue children with the ability to tough it out.
In this episode, Huzefa interviews Earl Hunter II, a responsive classroom expert and consultant, explains the ins and outs of this revolutionary style of teaching. For kids craving more social engagement and a higher level of passion at school, this is the episode for you.
To learn more, go to https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/
As the summer winds down, Huzefa shares tips on how to help motivate your kids to get their summer reading complete before the school year kicks off. Help your children avoid the anxiety of lingering work by motivating them in positive ways to get their work done in a fun and enjoyable way.
To check out a related article, go to http://www.celebrations.com/c/read/tips-to-get-kids-to-finish-their-summer-reading-lists
After receiving an email from a listener requesting a list of books related to leadership, Huzefa sits down to compile a full collection of all the most influential books he has read over the last three years. For the short list of the books (in no particular order), here they are:
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The War of Art
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The Power of Now
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The Talent Code
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The Power of Habit
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The Inner Game of Tennis
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Awaken the Giant Within
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No More Mr. Nice Guy
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The Obstacle is the Way
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Awakening Your Inner Genius
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David and Goliath
Huzefa shares a quick list of back to school supplies for all students. Tune in to make sure that your child is at the height of preparedness, both at school and at home, when the school bell rings for that first time this year!
To check out a related article, go to http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/middle-school-back-to-school-supply-list/
Bill Davidson, educator and Singapore Math consultant, joins the show to talk about the ins and outs of the Singapore Math pedagogy. Bill has worked with countless teachers across the country in an effort to train them to be effective math educators with the Singapore Math curriculum. Tune into this episode to hear precisely how this form of teaching works, and moreover, how to implement the strategies at home if your child’s school is not a Singapore Math institution.
To check out Bill Davidson’s show, go to www.teacherbilldavidson.com
In this episode, Huzefa explains his stance on violence in games and movies, drawing from a recent adventure to the movie theater to watch a particularly violent film. Hear Huzefa’s explanation as to why he feels that violence in media is not a good thing, and moreover, why it can have potential heavy ramifications.
To check out the related article, go to https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/inside-out-outside-in/201212/violent-video-games-and-movies-causing-violent-behavior
Join Huzefa as he enumerates his top reasons for loving his life as an educator. See if these reasons resonate with you, and moreover, if there are tidbits of information and insight about education that you can apply with your children at home.
To check out Huzefa’s music video for the Quadratic Formula, go to https://youtu.be/IfpkQVyqK7c
In this episode, Huzefa shares an amazing article from Scientific American that describes a revolutionary study that unearths the mechanism behind memory clusters and how strong and lasting memories are formed. Join Huzefa as he not only reads through this articles, but shares his insights into how this knowledge might be applied to the learning process for students.
To check out the article, go to http://www.scientificamerican.com/articles/how-the-brain-builds-memory-chains/
After reading “The 50th Law,” an incredible self-improvement book by famed author Robert Greene, Huzefa created a book report of sorts to fully process the information and advice. In this episode, Huzefa shares his summary of the book along with major takeaways and applications. Tune in to hear the tips that can be applied to all walks of life for folks striving for greatness.
To check out the book, go to https://www.amazon.com/50th-Law-50-Cent/dp/006177460X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470670658&sr=8-1&keywords=the+50th+law
In this episode, Huzefa speaks with Dr. Nicole Anders, a psychologist in the Las Vegas area with a special expertise in child psychology. Dr. Anders sheds light on the all important question of why some kids seem to battle endlessly with their parents while others have no problem following directives and taking advice. Join Huzefa as he not only gets amazing answers to this fascinating question, but also unearths some amazing answers and insights with respect to modifying parenting styles to fix this issue once and for all.
In honor of the summer olympics, Huzefa discusses the International Mathematical Olympiad, an annual international competition for students under the age of 20 to compete against each other via a six question math test. Huzefa discusses the logistics of the competition, the qulification process, as well as sample problems.
To check out the Wikipedia article on the competition, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Mathematical_Olympiad
In this episode, Huzefa reads from the “Art of Problem Solving” to describe strategies to tackle truly tough and perplexing problems. The information shared in this episode has applications beyond mathematics and academics, and can be used to work through any of life’s most difficult challenges.
To check out the article, go to http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/articles/hard-problems
In this continuation of episode 66, Huzefa discusses the ins and out of flipped learning. He also shares insights from an educator who has now recorded and released over 100 videos for his class as part of his flipped learning curriculum.
To check out the article on flipped learning, go to http://www.edutopia.org/blog/100-videos-lessons-flipped-classroom-joe-hirsch
Flipped learning is one of the most talked about trends in education today. It is an amazing way to utilize class time for group activities and real problem solving, allowing students to absorb lectures and basic concepts independently at home. Join Huzefa and Professor Sam Otten, host of the MathEd Podcast, as they explain precisely how flipped learning works and why it’s so effective. Additionally, Professor Otten explains what being a mathematician is all about.
To check out the MathEd Podcast, go to https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/math-ed-podcast/id582075221?mt=2
Vicki Glembocki recently wrote an article on parents.com that offers some amazing tips and insights on how to get kids to stop ignoring and start obeying. The beauty of the article is that the advice is logical, practical, and easy to implement. Join Huzefa as he discusses the article while sharing his own insights along the way.
To check out the article, go to http://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/advice/5-ways-to-get-kids-to-listen/
To check out the book that is mentioned, the title is “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk.”
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have conducted a study to determine precisely what happens in your brain when processing and solving math problems. The goal is to apply the information learned to develop more robust and versatile education curriculums to improve student comprehension and mastery. Join Huzefa as he discusses the study and describes the four stages of cognition during math processing.
To check out the New York Times article on the study, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/29/science/brain-scans-math.html?_r=0
Huzefa revisits the topic from episode 50, and explains precisely why there is a disconnect between the message promoting mistakes and the seemingly contradictory notion in school that mistakes irrevocably harm your GPA. This episode dives into the real world applications of mistakes when it comes to building a business and thriving at a job. Moreover, it explains how mistakes can be used safely as a learning vehicle during school while still maintaining a healthy GPA.
Huzefa shares tips from U.S. News ans Unigo on how to maximize odds for getting to into U.S. colleges as an international student. If you are applying to an American school from another country, make sure to tune in to this important show that will tell you precisely what you need to consider when aiming to get into a school in the states.
To check out the article from U.S. News, go to http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-admissions-experts/2011/09/14/what-are-some-tips-for-international-students-applying-to-us-colleges
On the heels of filming a fun music video about the quadratic formula, Huzefa devotes an entire episode to discussing the real world uses of quadratic equations. Join Huzefa as a he shares from an article that describes the following applications to the following fields: (1) ballistics, (2) economics, and (3) textiles.
To check out the article, go to http://www.montereyinstitute.org/courses/Algebra1/COURSE_TEXT_RESOURCE/U10_L2_T1_text_container.html
Huzefa is joined by Dan Finkel, a mathematician with a plethora of teaching experience. Dan is also the founder of Math for Love, an education organization that advises dozens of schools on math curriculums in ths Seattle area. Join Dan and Huzefa as they discuss how math education should be modified to foster creativity and interest, and also how games can be used to bolster math fluency.
Math for Love: mathforlove.com
Prime Climb: primeclimbgame.com
Tiny Polka Dot: tinypolkadot.com
TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytVneQUA5-c
Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics: http://www.hcssim.org/
Huzefa shares and discusses and article from Edutopia about why the process of creation is so important to learning. Following on the heels of yesterday’s episode about makerspaces, Huzefa answers the question of why making and creation stimulates the mind in such an effective way compared to standard modalities of education.
To check out the article, go to http://www.edutopia.org/blog/making-is-essential-to-learning-youki-terada
Huzefa explores the revolutionary and popular approach to learning called Makerspaces, a centralized location for students to collaborate, design, and create based on their unique visions. Huzefa not only defines and discusses these cauldrons of learning, but he also offers 5 ways to make sure that they are well suited to foster creativity and ingenuity for all types of learners.
To check out the article on how to optimize makerspaces, go to http://www.edutopia.org/blog/makerspaces-equal-access-to-learning-laura-fleming-billy-krakower
Huzefa dives into an amazing methodology for math instruction called Singapore math. After using the curriculum himself for half a year and then attending an immersive workshop run by a Singapore Math expert named Bill Davidson, Huzefa shares everything he has learned to give insights to parents on how to tweak and optimize math instruction to improve fluency, conceptualization, and mastery of mathematics.
To check out Bill Davidson’s website, go to http://www.teacherbilldavidson.com/
In this information packed episode, Huzefa is joined by education enthusiast and famed podcaster Jeffrey Bradbury, host of the top rated education show TeacherCast and Coordinator of Technology Integration for the Westwood Regional School District. Jeff joins the show to talk about technology and kids and, moreover, how to use technology effectively. Jeff also shares his opinion on video games and whether or not he feels they pose a threat to young kids.
To learn more about Jeff, go to http://jeffreybradbury.com
To check out the TeacherCast podcast, go to http://www.teachercast.net/
Vocabulary is a major component of the ISEE, and in particular is tested directly on the Verbal Reasoning section of the exam. In this episode, Huzefa is joined by education expert Ron Seagal, owner of True Education Solutions, who discusses a plethora of excellent tips to get kids intrinsically excited about developing a robust vocabulary. Ron also shares his tips for the top notch education tools and apps that he uses for his students.
To contact ron, email him at ron@tesbest.com
To check out Wordly Wise, go to http://www.wordlywise3000.com/
To check out Newsela, go to https://newsela.com/
This episode explores the Fields Medal, a prize that has been dubbed the Nobel Prize of mathematics. In particular, Huzefa discusses a recently purchased book called the Birth of a Theorem, a fascinating tale about what it’s like to be a mathematician. The book is written by Cedric Villani, one of four winners of the Fields Medal in 2010. Huzefa offers a quick rundown of his take on the book thus far, and also shares a lovely excerpt from the book that explains a complex equation used to model the behavior of gases. Tune in to hear the first thoughts on the book after Huzefa barreled through the first hundred pages on his flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and come back to hear his final thoughts after completing this fascinating read.
To check out the book on Amazon, go to https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Theorem-Mathematical-C%C3%A9dric-Villani/dp/0374536678/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469115015&sr=8-1&keywords=birth+of+a+theorem
Huzefa parses and analyzes an amazing article by Zane Claes, author the Skill Cook Book blog and software engineer at Airbnb. Zane reviews a number of amazing and prominent neuroscience studies that offer beautiful insights into hacking and optimizing the learning process for students. Join Huzefa as he not only explains the studies and research contained within Zane’s article, but also offers tips and strategies to optimize learning in light of the new data and information.
To check out Zane’s blog, go to http://www.skillcookbook.com
While in the midst of lecturing for a Law Preview course, Huzefa offers his 6 tips on how to suceed during the first year of law school. Drawing from his own experiences and what particular regimens allowed him to get the grades to transfer to Northwestern and nab a summer associate position with one of the best patent firms in the world, Huzefa shares the essence of his formula for good grades and ultimate preparedness.
To check out Law Preview, go to http://www.lawpreview.com
Huzefa is joined by Jonathan Venuto, the COO and interim CEO of Gilt Japan. Jonathan describes his career path after Harvard Business School, discussing his work as a consultant for Bain, and eventually working for the fashion company Gilt Group. Tune in to hear Jonathan’s amazing rise to CEO, and specifically how math has been an integral part of his formula for career success.
To learn more about Gilt Group, go to http://www.gilt.com/
In this episode, Huzefa discusses precisely why we have a cultural aversion to making mistakes that can be unintentionally restrictive and mentally oppressive. Huzefa shares mistakes from his own experience that have helped him grow as an educator and a person. He even reads from an insightful article on the value and benefits of making mistakes often.
To check the aforemrentioned article, go to http://www.purposefairy.com/6464/7-reasons-why-not-making-mistakes-is-the-biggest-mistake/
This episode features the Anna Riggan, the creator of the top rated education podcast “A cup of English.” Anna is a former high school and college level educator who has a passion for teaching the intricacies of the English language to all eager students across the globe. Her podcast has been running since 2008, and has helped many folks learning English as a second or third language grasp the cultural nuances, tricky pronunciations, and grammatical oddities of English. During the show, Anna offers her views on learning the English language as well as a list of potent resources for English education.
To check out her show, go to http://www.acupofenglish.com
While teaching math to a 4th grade class, Huzefa decided to use the Jeopardy game to excite his kids and engender a bit of enthusiasm about math. What he saw was astounding. The kids were extremely engaged during the game and everyone seemed to be having a blast! It was such a hit that kids from other math sections began asking if they could play as well. Huzefa even recorded the entire game and edited down to a 15 minute game show like video. Listen to Huzefa’s experience as well as advice to avoid common pitfalls with respect to the competitive mindset. To check out the Jeopardy template for Powerpoint, click here:
http://www.edtechnetwork.com/powerpoint.html
There are a number of formulas that are absolutely essential to success on the math portion of the ACT. It is, however, not only important to memorize them; the onus is on students to develop a deep and sincere understanding of how to apply them. Join Huzefa as he goes through each of the formulas with a succinct explanation of how to apply them, along with the sharing of an article on precisely how to go about effectively understanding these various formulas.
http://www.mathsdoctor.co.uk/blog/10-top-tips-to-help-memorise-maths-formulae/
http://blog.prepscholar.com/the-31-critical-act-math-formulas-you-must-know
This episode features Ike Ramos from the revolutionary education company Flocabulary. Ike Ramos is both a District Sales Manager and Artist at Flocabulary. Ike attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he received his bachelor’s and honed his skills as a DJ, producer and MC. While in Austin, he released several projects and shared stages with many hip hop legends including Method Man, Guru, Buckshot, Lil Wayne, Rakim and others. Ike explains the merits of learning with music, and describes exactly how your kids can use music to aid their education.
http://www.flocabulary.com
Student blogging is a widespread trend in schools across America. It is a fantastic way for kids to get more engaged in the writing process as well as reflect on things they have learned in school or elsewhere. Huzefa shares the many benefits of blogging by sharing two articles on the topic, one written by a precocious 8th grader who successfully launched and ran a school related blog.
5 Reasons Your Students Should Blog
The Benefits Of Student-Led Blogging Projects
Join Huzefa as he discusses the top 7 reasons why schools will reject applicants. This discussion has relevance to students applying to private middle and high schools, colleges, and graduate schools.
https://magoosh.com/blog/what-are-the-most-common-reasons-schools-reject-applicants/
Huzefa discusses the importance of drinking plenty of water each day, and moreover, the dangers of being dehydrated. Huzefa also shares precisely how much water kids should be drinking on a regular basis in order to be healthy.
After taking a break from coffee himself, Huzefa shares his thoughts along with two articles on the pros and cons of coffee. One article espouses 7 benefits of drinking coffee, while the other provides 10 negative effects of the beverage. Take a listen, read the articles, and decide for yourself.
https://authoritynutrition.com/why-is-coffee-good-for-you/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/quit-coffee_b_1598108.html
Huzefa discusses the new trend of the gamification of education across all subjects and topics. He shares from several articles on edublogger to provide a thorough and well rounded perspective about the pros and cons of gamification.
The Gamification of Education: No Badges Here
http://avenue4learning.com/2016/05/12/we-dont-need-badges-for-reading/
http://www.theedublogger.com/2015/01/20/gaming-in-education-gamification/
Huzefa is joined by Chris Lele, a GRE and SAT expert for the revolutionary standardized test prep company called Magoosh. Chris discusses all of the changes on the new SAT as well as his recommendations for studying as well as whether or not to take the SAT along with the ACT.
www.magoosh.com
chris@magoosh.com
www.magoosh.com/blog/predictions-about-the-college-boards-new-sat/
Huzefa is joined by Tsubasa Manabe, a former professional poker player who has been in some of the highest stakes online poker games in the history of the sport. Tsubasa shares his journey into the poker world as well as how he used the expected value of math to inform his bets and decisions in the game.
http://www.runitonce.com/
Huzefa shares an article from Magoosh on how to boost a high school student’s chances for college admission when dealing with a low GPA. He discusses six distinct ways to shoot for the stars and maximize the odds of getting into a solid academic institution. To check out the article, click on the link below:
http://magoosh.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-admissions-odds-when-you-have-a-low-gpa/
In this episode, Huzefa explains the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) and talks about how you can register, what it costs, and what to expect on the test. Join Huzefa as he discusses frequently asked questions regarding the exam.
https://www.erblearn.org/services/isee-overview/faqs
Join Huzefa as he explains precisely what IQ, or intelligence quotient, actually measures and why it’s an effective predictor for academic and economic success. Finally, Huzefa goes through the 10 people alive today with the highest IQs in the world.
Name of book: Awakening your Inner Genius
http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/question455.htm
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2011/04/what-does-iq-really-measure
Top 10 Most Intelligent People of The World
Vocabulary is important for reading, writing, and standardized test prep. When viewed the right way, it can be a fun and engaging activity. Join Huzefa as he shares an article from Scholastic on precisely how to help your kids develop their vocabulary. Additionally, he shares three iPhone apps for learning new words.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/readingline/pdfs/ProfessionalPaper.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6PoUg7jXsA
The Monty Hall problem is a famous paradoxical question that references the popular gameshow called “Let’s Make a Deal.” It has been the subject of many discussions and lectures because it has such a simple yet counterintuitive answer. Join Huzefa as he presents this tantalizing brain teaser and then explains the answer in two direct and simple ways. To check out his YouTube explanation, go to the link below:
Huzefa shares 10 apps to help kids grow their math fluency in a fun way. Monica Burns, founder of ClassTechTips.com, has written an excellent article on the topic that Huzefa parses on the show. Check out these recommendations to help your kids get the best possible opportunity to master mental math!
www.edutopia.org/blog/10-apps-for-math-fluency-monica-burns
Jane Davidson, founder of “How Do I Begin,” joins the show to discuss her adult education focused company. Jane is dedicated to bringing information to adults on topics like music production, writing, and marketing. Jane has a long history in standardized test prep, and applies her knowledge and expertise to the work that she’s doing today. Check out her website at www.howdoibegin.com
So what do you do when panic strikes and your mind draws a blank? How do you re-center yourself and charge forward with ferocity and confidence? What you do is this: write everything down from the problem. This is the most important part of the problem solving process. As you read a tough math question, write down the pertinent data and establish relationships by setting up equations. This exercise will help you see solutions that were previously difficult to decipher.
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The average of 4 different integers is 75. If the largest integer is 90, what is the least possible value of the smallest integer?
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Solution X is 10 percent alcohol by volume, and solution Y is 30 percent alcohol by volume. How many milliliters of solution Y must be added to 200 milliliters of solution X to create a solution that is 25 percent alcohol by volume?
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On a certain multiple-choice test, 9 points are awarded for each correct answer, and 7 points are deducted for each incorrect or unanswered question. Sally received a total score of 0 points on the test. If the test has fewer than 30 questions, how many questions are on the test?
So how can willpower be developed? How can students engineer a perfect level of self-control and discipline? Just like actual muscle fibers, willpower must be exercised in the right away. Overexertion can be exhausting and counterproductive, whereas just the right amount of use can (1) optimize productivity and (2) augment one’s willpower capacity. For folks who are interested in bolstering their willpower muscle, here are five quick tips.
Huzefa provides a thorough list of 35 awesome resources for students to find amazing and free educational videos. To check out the websites yourself, read the article posted below:
35 Sources for Curated Educational Videos
Huzefa is joined by Gabriel, a pilot for a major commercial airline. Gabriel explains why math is so important for his day to day work as will as his future ambition to become a commercial astronaut.
In this episode, Huzefa offers five tips to help teach young kids how to manage time effectively. Admittedly, time management gets easier with age, but there are concrete steps that parents can take to help young kids to learn the requisite skills.
For more information, go to http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/time-management-for-kids/
On this special episode, Huzefa is joined by his dad to talk about mechanical engineering and its strong connection with math. If your child has an interest in engineering, this is an information packed episode.
Andrew K Miller joins the show to talk about project based learning, a revolutionary pedagogy that puts projects and inquiry based learning at the helm of education. Join Huzefa as he discusses the merits of project based learning and, moreover, how to get your kids exposure to this amazing new style of teaching.
For more information on PBL, go to www.andrewkmiller.com
Music and academics go hand in hand. Join Huzefa for this episode as he explains precisely why music education is a key part of a well rounded education, and moreover, how music immersion can shape brain structure for the better.
Athletic participation can have a huge positive impact on academic performance. Huzefa parses precisely why athletics are so good for academic participation, and moreover, how to be supportive regarding athletics. Finally, Huzefa covers the perils of forcing athletic participation when kids are not intrinsically motivated.
Article on forced participation: http://www.livestrong.com/article/523031-negative-effects-of-parents-that-push-their-children-into-playing-sports/
In this episode, Huzefa describes 10 awesome resources that are intended to get your kids excited about math. The resources are all free, and will hopefully help to not only inspire but explain some missing pieces of the math puzzle. For your convenience, here is a quick link to the resources:
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http://ed.ted.com/lessons?category=mathematics
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http://www.yummymath.com/
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http://mathsframe.co.uk/
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http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/search/?q=math&selected_facets=supplemental_curriculum_hierarchy_nodes%3A1184&selected_facets=&display=math
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http://www.learningwave.com/abmath/
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http://illuminations.nctm.org/
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http://www.thirteen.org/get-the-math/
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http://www.multiplication.com/
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http://jmathpage.com/
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http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/math-dude
In order to get an authentic and sincere feel for the revamped and redesigned SAT, I personally took a real life SAT in May of 2016. To hear about my experience with the test (as well as to hear my score), check out this episode! If you’re interested in watching my live reaction to my actual SAT score, check out this video on the Scalar Learning YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da_J2fI-afg
Dr. Richard Freed, author of the book “Wired Child,” joins the show to discuss his concerns regarding video game use for young children. Dr. Freed explains precisely why video games can be so addictive, and offers solid steps and advice for parents seeking to protect their children from the perils of video games.
Northwestern University School of Law graduate Michael Saliba joins the show to discuss his career as a corporate attorney. Michael explains how he uses arithmetic and mental math on a regular basis to assess deal contracts and profit projections.
Samir has worked in the technology sector since 2000, when he was employed by Microsoft as a technology specialist. Since then, he has worked for some of the largest and most profitable companies in the technology world. In addition to his amazing expertise in all things related to technology, Samir dives into his extracurricular passions of quantum mechanics, astro physics, and machine learning to discuss the applications of math in these highly technical fields.
If the idea of trading commodities and currencies interests you, check out this episode. Former arbitrage trade Jasper Ribbers describes the life of a trader after working for one of the best trading firms in the world for nearly seven years. Hear the details of the job along with the numerous mathematical applications.
Of all the important academic exercises, none are as critical to your success as routine reading. Throughout your education, teachers will assign mounds of textbook reading in social studies, English, the sciences, and beyond. While it is imperative that you take your assignments seriously and blast through your requisite reading, that is simply the bare minimum. This episode parses the science behind habit formation and gives advice on how to cultivate an organic desire to read.
After researching and analyzing dozens of official ACT tests, Huzefa developed a test preparation strategy revolving around targeted focus of prevalent topics. Hear the topics in order of frequency so you or your child can organize and optimize their study strategy.
If you enjoy books like Freakonomics, this episode is for you! Dr. Michael Housman joins the show to discuss his work in the data science industry, and how he has made astonishing discoveries about human behavior by crunching numbers and generating mathematical equations.
Teaching high school students is very straightforward. Kids in their mid to late teens are often focused and self-motivated to learn and perform. They are thinking about college and beyond, and usually have some goals in mind that they would like to achieve. Young children, however, are not as determined to plow through hours of mathematical tutelage as their older counterparts. They are substantially more disconnected from the real world and career ambitions. Tune in to hear 5 powerful tips that can help engage young minds and motivate them to work hard.
Working in the construction industry requires a lot of foresight, hands on knowledge, and most importantly, math fluency. Timothy Bemus, co-owner of Valdivia Construction, explains precisely why fractions, arithmetic, geometry, and trigonometry are necessary to success in construction engineering.
Finding an excellent tutor can make a tremendous impact on a child’s ability to succeed academically. Parsing material after school with a guiding hand can fully illuminate subjects that are otherwise difficult to grasp. Translation: with the right set of mentors, all students can develop into confident adults with healthy GPAs. Most parents are well versed in the art of finding a nicely fitting academic institution, but very few are aware of the highly nuanced process for vetting a tutor. Here are six key components that parents should evaluate when searching for a tutor.
The College Board recently redesigned the SAT from top to bottom. After analyzing the test in great detail, I will share the major changes to the math section along with tips and strategies to maximize your score with this brand new format.
Asking parents for help can be a difficult undertaking for kids. It can make them feel embarassed or unsuccessful, and these feelings can be amplified if a parent approaches homework the wrong way. Tune to hear exactly what you should and shouldn’t do as a parent if you are planning to help your child on a regular basis.
There are seven distinct learning styles to be aware of: (1) interpersonal, (2) intrapersonal, (3) verbal, (4) logical, (5) visual, (6) auditory, and (7) kinesthetic. Math comprehension can vary wildly depending on which category (or categories) your child falls within. Depending on a particular teacher’s pedagogy, a child may thrive or experience difficulty in math class. Learn the categories so that you can understand your child and help him/her succeed in math!
Hear Huzefa’s play by play for the night before a big test like the SAT, ACT, LSAT, and so on. He covers everything from what you should eat, what you should do to relax, and what time you should wake up on test day.
Alex Munchak, a teacher, private tutor, and education enthusiast joins the show to give parents and teachers alike amazing information on the best online tools and resources to bolster English proficiency in a fun way! Hear Alex dole out helpful tips, provide useful recommendations, and even sing a grammar jingle!
Learn how mathematics is intricately connected to video game design and development. Howard Marks, the founder of Activision, joins the show to talk about why math knowledge is so fundamental to building video games. Hear his incredible education related insight along with his remarkable entrepreneurial success story.
While it may sound bizarre and made up, math anxiety is an actual condition that is quite common amongst students. It is similar to other sorts of anxiety or fear a person might encounter when doing something that is personally terrifying such as public speaking, interacting with strangers, or being around scary animals. Huzefa shares four key strategies to cope with and eventually eradicate math anxiety.
Join Huzefa as he chats with Aris, one of his most dedicated pupils from Northern California. Aris candidly discusses his journey as a student with dyslexia, explaining how he eventually overcame his learning difference and developed a sincere love for academics. After making the principal’s list and gaining admission into Stanford University’s High School Summer College, Aris shares his valuable insights into how he learned to achieve success in school.
Need to carry out some quick arithmetic to figure out how much money you owe your buddy? Pull out your phone and type away. It’s that simple. So why the heck do kids need to memorize the multiplication table? Because it is still crucial to a successful math career and a promising life thereafter. Don’t believe me? Tune in to hear precisely why mental math is still tremendously important and absolutely foundational.
Huzefa is the founder of Scalar Learning. He is an education specialist, an online curriculum developer, a teacher, and a private tutor.
After high school, he attended the University of Michigan where he majored in computer science and economics. He then worked as a software developer for nearly three years before attending law school at Northwestern University. Because of his software expertise, he went on to become a patent litigator at two of the most prestigious intellectual property law practices in the country.
During his legal career, he worked with a number of fortune 500 companies who needed help protecting their patents. After practicing law for four years, he finally realized that he had to make a change. Patent law wasn’t his end all be all. So what was he to do? “If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” It was that very sentiment led him back to math education as a full time career.
In this inaugural episode, Huzefa shares his story of personal growth and development, and explains precisely why he left a career in patent law to pursue a labor of love in the field of education.