Shifting Our Schools - Education : Technology : Leadership: Recent Episodes

Jeff Utecht

Jeff Utecht leads discussions with educators from around the globe on how educators and administrators are shifting their schools to meet the needs of today's learners.

What can a board book offer a baby who cannot yet speak or even hold it independently?

Award-winning author, illustrator, and art therapist Sandra Magsamen joins Tricia to discuss Hello, Baby, her new board book created for children from birth to age three. With bright illustrations, melodic language, playful terms of endearment, and a mirror that places the baby inside the story, the book is designed to support far more than early literacy.

Sandra explains how reading with a baby can build connection, vocabulary, attention, curiosity, and a growing sense of belonging. She also shares practical advice for parents, grandparents, and caregivers who may feel unsure about reading aloud: hold the baby close, play with the words, welcome the giggles, and do not worry about delivering a perfect performance.

The conversation also considers what happens when adults treat books as objects children may freely touch, explore, drop, and even chew. Sandra and Tricia discuss why a home filled with accessible books and a healthy tolerance for "uh-oh" moments can help children associate reading with pleasure, discovery, and agency.

Sandra closes by reflecting on her own growth as an artist. After more than 25 years of creating for children and families, she explains why successful artists still need to experiment, how becoming a grandmother is opening new creative directions, and why our work should be allowed to change as we do.

In this conversation:

What babies notice in illustrations
How reading aloud supports bonding and early development
Simple ways to make board books playful and interactive
Why babies benefit from seeing themselves in a book
The connection between reading, safety, and belonging
Why children should be allowed to handle and explore books
What mistakes and mess can contribute to creativity
How Sandra continues to grow after a long creative career

Hello, Baby is written and illustrated by Sandra Magsamen and published by Cartwheel Books, an imprint of Scholastic. It is intended for babies from birth to age three and includes an embedded mirror on its final spread. Learn more from Scholastic.

Thank you to our show sponsor: Unfurl

Learn more with Unfurl: https://unfurl.sh/

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When schools picture a student leader, they often imagine the confident speaker, the high achiever, or the student who already understands how to succeed within existing systems. But what about the students who are rarely invited to lead?

In this episode, Tricia speaks with educator and author Rachel Thrash about expanding student leadership beyond the familiar few. Her book, Let the Learners Lead: Empowering Student Voice to Co-Create School Culture, presents leadership as something every young person can practice, not a privilege reserved for students who already fit a traditional leadership profile.

Rachel explains how educators can move from simply asking for student input to genuinely co-creating with learners. She discusses why adults need the courage to admit they do not have every answer, what students gain when educators resist solving every problem for them, and how shared responsibility can strengthen student agency, belonging, and school culture.

The conversation also offers practical tools schools can use to make student voice more authentic and inclusive.

In this episode:

Why traditional student leadership models leave many learners out
The difference between student voice, student agency, and student leadership
How co-creation changes the relationship between educators and students
Why adults should resist rushing in to solve every student problem
How uncertainty can become part of authentic leadership
Practical ways to create more inclusive leadership opportunities
How shared responsibility supports belonging and school culture
What it means to treat leadership as a practice rather than a title

This conversation is for teachers, school leaders, instructional coaches, and anyone seeking practical ways to increase student voice, agency, belonging, and participation in school decision-making.

Featured guest: Rachel Thrash, educator and author of Let the Learners Lead: Empowering Student Voice to Co-Create School Culture

https://www.routledge.com/Let-the-Learners-Lead-Empowering-Student-Voice-to-Co-Create-School-Culture/Thrash/p/book/9781041155713

Thank you to our show sponsor: Unfurl

Learn more with Unfurl: https://unfurl.sh/

Are you subscribed to AI Forward?

One lucky listener can win a pro account, be sure to subscribe to AI Forward to learn more:

https://k12aileadershipbrief.substack.com/

What happens when historical research uncovers a truth you are not sure you want to know?

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Tricia speaks with author Christine Kuehn and her husband and research partner, Mark Schiponi, about Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor.

Christine's investigation began with a startling discovery: members of her family had been deeply involved with the Nazi Party, and her grandfather had been convicted for his role connected to the attack on Pearl Harbor. What followed was a 30-year search through family testimony, declassified FBI files, National Archives records, historical accounts, photographs, and long-buried memories.

Christine and Mark describe the emotional strain of researching a painful family history and the many times the project was packed away because the discoveries became too difficult to face. They also explain how they compared official records with family stories, handled contradictions, organized years of handwritten notes, and decided what evidence could be trusted.

The conversation also examines the craft of making history readable. Christine and Mark wanted the book to reach people who might never choose a conventional work of World War II history. They discuss weaving the past together with Christine's present-day investigation, writing nonfiction with the momentum of a novel, and removing compelling material when it no longer served the larger story.

For educators, the episode offers a useful exploration of historical inquiry, source evaluation, inherited narratives, memory, and the role storytelling plays in keeping difficult history visible. It raises questions that belong in history, humanities, media-literacy, and ELA classrooms:

How do we respond when evidence challenges the stories we have inherited?

What responsibilities come with uncovering painful history?

How can writers make complex historical research accessible without weakening its accuracy?

What can students learn by comparing personal testimony, archival documents, photographs, government records, and published histories?

Christine also reflects on secrecy, shame, and the realization that people are not responsible for their ancestors' actions. They can, however, decide how honestly they will confront that history and what choices they will make in their own lives.

In this episode:

• The emotional cost of investigating a family's Nazi past • Using declassified FBI files and National Archives records • Comparing family memories with documentary evidence • Turning 30 years of research into a coherent narrative • Writing history for readers who do not consider themselves historians • Confronting inherited shame and family secrecy • Deciding what to remove when it no longer serves the story • Teaching difficult history through human stories • Responding to historical denial and misinformation

Timestamps:

00:00 The emotional and practical challenges of the research 03:49 Organizing decades of evidence and handwritten notes 07:20 Why confronting painful truths can matter 11:36 Sharing a private family history with the public 15:15 Historical storytelling and what comes next 18:55 Creating the book's past-and-present structure 21:48 Knowing when a powerful passage must be removed

About the book:

Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn combines memoir, archival investigation, World War II history, Nazi espionage, and the secret history surrounding Pearl Harbor. The book follows Christine's effort to understand her family's involvement and the effects that secrecy had on later generations.

Content note: This conversation discusses Nazism, antisemitism, the Holocaust, Pearl Harbor, family trauma, and inherited shame.

Resources mentioned:

Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn Christine Kuehn's Politics and Prose conversation The United States National Archives Declassified FBI records and Freedom of Information Act research

Subscribe to Shifting Schools for conversations about education, historical and media literacy, emerging technology, storytelling, and the questions shaping how young people understand the world.

Christopher Nolan's Odyssey just earned nearly $300 million retelling a 3,000-year-old story — so what actually separates imitation from transformative interpretation?

In this episode, Tricia makes the case that cover songs are the perfect entry point into the AI and creativity conversation for educators. You'll trace how Aretha Franklin re-authored Otis Redding's "Respect," why translator Emily Wilson's critique of Nolan's film proves that interpretive choices matter, and how three human skills — reflect, re-envision, rework — map directly onto UNESCO's vision of students as AI co-creators rather than passive users. Tricia also shares a new free resource, "What Exactly Is Human Nature?," an interactive timeline that lets you listen backwards through the many renditions of one iconic song. If you've been looking for an invitational, art-first metaphor to bring colleagues into the AI conversation, this one's for you.

00:00 – Nolan's Odyssey: 2 a.m. sold-out screenings for a 3,000-year-old story

02:22 – Can a cover ever beat the original? Aretha Franklin re-authors "Respect"

04:23 – Emily Wilson's critique + three skills: reflect, re-envision, rework

06:27 – The skills in practice, and UNESCO's students-as-co-creators framework

08:47 – New resource: "What Exactly Is Human Nature?" interactive timeline

10:43 – Your debate homework, and an invitation to email the show: info@shiftingschools.com

Check out the resource:

https://triciafriedman.com/what-exactly-is-human-nature/

Learn more about our incredible show producer:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagheer-m/

You know him as Dani Rojas on Ted Lasso. He's also a professional footballer with El Paso Locomotive FC, a filmmaker, and now the author of a bilingual picture book, Fútbol Is Life! / ¡Fútbol es vida!, illustrated by James Rey Sanchez.

But before all of that? He was a life insurance salesman who sold nothing for a year.

This conversation is about what happens between the dream and the arriving. About injuries that turn out to be redirections. About why "be curious, not judgmental" might be the most useful thing we can teach — and keep learning ourselves.

In this episode:

(00:01) The gotcha question: is Cristo actually a superhero?
(01:27) The family example: why "the more you give, the more you receive"
(03:32) What team sports teach us about not being the star
(04:19) Injuries, rejection, and becoming a hustler: "I love when someone tells me no"
(09:22) The market scene: remembering to pause and notice
(10:31) What Dani Rojas reminds Cristo about joy
(12:55) Embracing where you come from as a superpower
(14:09) Collaboration, and never thinking you know everything
(16:30) Why a children's book is the perfect format for dreaming big

Quotes worth stealing:

"I love when someone tells me no. It might not be no here, but it might be yes somewhere else."

"Aim for the moon. If you don't hit the moon, you hit a star. And if you don't hit a star, you hit some space dust — and that's fine too."

"There's not one single way of being Mexican or being American or being Latino. We all bring something great to the table."

Links:

The book (Barnes & Noble): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/futbol-is-life-futbol-es-vida-cristo-fernandez/1148772346
More episodes: https://pod.shiftingschools.com

When Alex Campbell set out to teach sociology through true crime, he wasn't trying to catch a murderer. He was trying to make the stakes real. Nine years later, his high school students in Appalachia have restored names to victims of the "redheaded murders," helped families, and become the subject of a limited series with a perfect critic score. But as Alex tells it, the thing that mattered most was never on the syllabus: how much his students came to care.

In this conversation, Alex and Tricia dig into what it actually takes to hand young people a real problem — and why that's the whole point.

In this episode:

Why sociology and murder aren't apples and oranges — and how high stakes bring out the best in students
The surprise Alex didn't plan for: students connecting with victims who died decades before they were born
Schools as "the institution best at separating people" — and how project-based learning breaks down the walls
His three-part test for a real project: passion-driven, community-focused, interdisciplinary
Practical, permission-giving advice for teachers who find this exciting and scary — start small, start with a partner, use the resources that already exist
"You don't work for me": how buy-in reframes classroom management and reaches the students who've stopped believing in school's promises
Civics you can feel — freedom-of-information requests, and why John Benet Ramsey has a thousand websites and Lori Pennell had almost none
The creative gamble behind the series: victim-forward, not offender-forward, and a true-crime story that doesn't end tied up in a bow
Portraying Appalachia and teenagers with authenticity instead of stereotype
Using the series for professional development — what to watch for, and why it might matter more than you'd expect
Building a house, powerlifting, and teaching yourself: Alex on learning as a lifelong series of real problems to solve

Watch: Murder 101 is streaming now.

Every team has communication habits, but how many of those habits have ever been discussed out loud?

In this episode, Tricia introduces The Shared Kitchen, a free reflection and facilitation tool designed to help teams understand how each person prefers to communicate, receive feedback, make decisions, ask questions, and work through a project. Using stories about getting fired from a bartending job and accidentally adding unwanted sriracha to breakfast, she shows how easily we can mistake our own habits for shared expectations.

The tool begins with individual reflection before helping a team create its own shared "recipe" for collaboration. Participants consider questions such as how much context they prefer, when they like others to check in, what helps feedback land well, and what makes them feel trusted.

Tricia also shares how she built the interactive page using Claude Code and OpenAI Codex, including an experiment in asking the two coding tools to compete against one another. The result is both a practical resource for teams and a look at how generative coding tools can support educators and leaders who want to turn an idea into something others can use.

Access the page here: https://triciafriedman.com/the-shared-kitchen/

Award-winning author Christina Diaz Gonzalez joins Tricia to discuss Offside, her new bilingual middle-grade graphic novel about soccer, friendship, ambition, identity, and finding the courage to use your voice.

Although soccer brings the characters together, Offside is also a story about young people learning to form their own opinions rather than simply inheriting the assumptions of the adults around them. Christina explains why she wanted her characters to have real agency, including the ability to challenge gender stereotypes, rethink competition, navigate conflict, and sometimes help their parents see the world differently.

The conversation also examines how much may be happening beneath a young person's behaviour. A student who appears selfish, overly ambitious, withdrawn, or uncertain may be responding to pressures at home, shifting friendships, injury, loneliness, or the fear of no longer knowing who they are.

Christina shares the thinking behind writing a graphic novel in which English and Spanish appear together as part of the characters' lives rather than as separate translations. She also discusses Palmer, a young athlete who must reconsider his identity after an injury keeps him from playing. Through writing and journalism, he discovers another way to participate in the game and another way to create change.

Tricia and Christina also talk about the literary complexity of graphic novels, Christina's highly improvisational writing process, her earlier career in law, and the habit that continues to fuel her creativity: asking "What if?" about the people, stories, and possibilities she encounters.

In this episode:

• Why young people should be trusted to navigate conflict and form their own views • How Offside challenges gender stereotypes and inherited assumptions • The complexity behind students' choices and behaviour • Why bilingual graphic novels can support belonging and language learning • What happens when an athlete can no longer define himself through sport • Writing and journalism as tools for participation and change • Why graphic novels deserve recognition as complex literary works • Christina's "pantser" approach to writing without a traditional outline • How curiosity and "what if" questions generate new stories

This conversation will interest educators, librarians, families, coaches, and anyone looking for books that help young people think about identity, friendship, fairness, and the many different ways they can contribute.

Tricia Friedman shares a real-life story about a flooded basement, an insurance claim, and what it revealed about AI literacy.

After a major storm in Ottawa caused basement flooding, Tricia found herself facing the kind of problem many people recognize: too many damaged items, too many documents, too many decisions, and a process that can quickly become overwhelming. But this time, compared with a similar flood two years earlier, the experience felt different.

Using AI tools, Tricia organized photos of damaged belongings, created an insurance-ready inventory, reviewed policy details, searched for replacement costs, identified relevant local supports, and built a project plan for the weeks ahead. She also used AI to think through communication with the insurance company, plan around disruption at home, and even create a small family recipe resource in the middle of the chaos.

The point is not that AI made the flood easy. It did not. The point is that AI changed Tricia's capacity to respond.

For educators, that distinction matters.

Too often, school conversations about AI focus on shortcuts, cheating, prompt-writing, or which tool to use. This episode asks us to widen the frame. AI literacy is also about helping students become stronger problem solvers. That means knowing how to break down a complex situation, gather evidence, ask better questions, compare options, verify claims, communicate clearly, and decide what to do next.

This kind of AI literacy belongs across the curriculum. A flood insurance claim can become a math problem, a media literacy problem, a civics problem, a consumer rights problem, a writing problem, a design problem, and a wellbeing problem. That is the real invitation here: bring AI bigger problems, not just cleaner prompts.

In this episode:

Tricia explains how AI helped her organize a flood-related insurance claim.

She reflects on the difference between using AI for a task and using AI to manage a complex problem.

The episode explores why AI literacy should include verification, judgment, documentation, and communication.

Tricia makes the case that schools need to help students practice using AI in realistic, interdisciplinary situations.

She also raises an equity question: if AI can help people navigate systems like insurance, consumer rights, city services, and legal language, then every student deserves to understand how to use it responsibly.

For educators, this episode asks:

What kinds of real problems are we inviting students to bring to AI?

Are students learning how to check AI outputs against evidence, policy, data, and lived context?

How might AI help students see connections across math, language, civics, research, and design?

What does it mean to teach AI literacy as a form of agency, not just technical skill?

Big idea:

AI literacy is not mainly about knowing how to use a chatbot. It is about knowing how to think with a tool when the problem is complicated, consequential, and real.

Newbery Medal-winning author Jerry Spinelli joins the podcast for a conversation about writing, perseverance, childhood, and the stories that stay with young readers.

Known to many elementary and middle school teachers through books such as Maniac Magee, Stargirl, Wringer, and his latest book, Fifth Grade Top Dogs, Spinelli reflects on the long road to becoming a published author. Before his first book found a home, he wrote four novels that were rejected and spent nearly twenty-five years working toward publication. His story offers a useful reminder for K–12 classrooms: writing is not only about talent. It is also about patience, attention, revision, and staying with the work when it gets difficult.

In this episode, Spinelli talks about why stories matter, why a writer's first job is to pay attention, and why childhood remains so recognizable across generations. Haircuts, clothes, slang, and games may change, but children's feelings about friendship, fear, belonging, rivalry, and being understood remain deeply familiar.

For educators, this conversation connects directly to writing instruction, read-aloud culture, social-emotional learning, and the classroom power of books. Spinelli shares how he begins with noticing, moves into pages of notes, and then faces what he calls the difficult middle of a story. That process gives teachers a practical way to talk with students about creative stamina and the normal struggle of shaping an idea into finished writing.

The conversation also includes a moving story about a teacher whose students chose to keep listening to one of Spinelli's books instead of going outside for recess. For anyone who has seen a read-aloud transform the energy of a classroom, that moment will feel familiar.

Listen for:

Jerry Spinelli's twenty-five-year path to publication.

Why perseverance matters for young writers.

How noticing becomes the foundation of storytelling.

What teachers can say to students about the hard middle of a writing project.

Why books help students understand themselves and one another.

How classroom read-alouds can create lasting reading memories.

Featured book: Fifth Grade Top Dogs by Jerry Spinelli.

Optional chapter markers:

00:00 — Jerry Spinelli on rejection, resilience, and becoming a writer 02:37 — Why stories matter 04:15 — Fifth Grade Top Dogs, siblings, and understanding childhood 08:07 — Paying attention as the first job of a writer 13:00 — The Newbery Medal, reader letters, and the classroom power of read-alouds

In this Fourth of July weekend episode, Tricia Friedman speaks with Colin Woodard, director of Nationhood Lab at Salve Regina University's Pell Center, about national identity, civic trust, polarization, and the stories that shape how people understand belonging.

Woodard's work asks a question that belongs in every civics and history classroom: What story holds a nation together? Drawing from his background as a historian, journalist, and researcher, he explains why national identity is not abstract. It shapes how people understand who belongs, what freedom means, how communities make decisions, and what kind of future they believe is possible.

The conversation explores two competing visions of the United States: one rooted in civic ideals and the promise of equal freedom, and another rooted in exclusion, hierarchy, and inherited identity. For K–12 educators, this framing offers a powerful way to help students examine founding ideals without simplifying the conflict, contradiction, and struggle embedded in the American story.

Woodard also discusses polarization and why Americans may agree on more than they realize, even while political systems and media environments often push people into opposing camps. The episode closes with a look at social capital: the local relationships, associations, clubs, faith communities, civic groups, and shared spaces that help people know and trust one another.

This episode is especially useful for history teachers, civics teachers, humanities educators, curriculum leaders, and school communities preparing for America 250. It invites educators to help students think about national stories not as slogans, but as living civic questions: Who belongs? What do we owe one another? What makes trust possible? What kind of community are we trying to build?

Suggested classroom connections include civic identity, polarization, primary source inquiry, constitutional ideals, national myths, media literacy, local community research, social capital, civil discourse, and student reflection on belonging and responsibility.

In this Fourth of July weekend episode, Tricia Friedman speaks with historian and author Katie Kennedy about her new book, The Declaration Decoded, and the stories behind America's foundational documents.

For history and civics educators, this conversation offers a timely reminder: founding documents are not static artifacts to memorize. They were written by real people, shaped by conflict, compromise, risk, contradiction, and imagination. Kennedy helps bring those documents back into the realm of human storytelling, where students can see both the courage and complexity behind the words that continue to shape civic life.

This episode is especially relevant for K–12 educators looking for ways to make history feel alive without flattening it. Rather than treating the Declaration and other founding texts as finished products, Kennedy invites us to examine the conditions, debates, choices, and tensions that produced them. That approach can help students move beyond dates and quotations into deeper questions about power, voice, evidence, freedom, belonging, and responsibility.

Listeners will come away with ideas for helping students read historical documents with curiosity, care, and critical attention. The conversation also offers a useful entry point for educators preparing lessons around Independence Day, civic identity, primary source analysis, or the upcoming America 250 conversations.

This episode is a strong fit for history teachers, civics teachers, humanities educators, librarians, curriculum leaders, and anyone interested in helping young people understand how the past continues to shape the choices we make in the present.

Suggested classroom connections include primary source inquiry, civic discussion, historical thinking, document analysis, media literacy, and student reflection on how national stories are created, preserved, questioned, and revised.

In this episode, Tricia speaks with Jan Cress Dondi about the years-long research journey behind her USA Today bestselling WWII book. What began with the discovery of hundreds of family letters became a much larger act of historical reconstruction, combining personal correspondence, military records, National Archives research, firsthand family memory, and deep attention to the emotional lives of the people who lived through war.

Jan shares how she pieced together the stories of two young airmen connected to the Ploesti campaign, one of the most dangerous Allied efforts to disrupt Nazi Germany's fuel supply. She explains how her background in legal research helped her organize evidence, verify details, and shape a true story with the pace and emotional pull of a novel. Along the way, she reflects on why letters mattered so deeply to servicemen, how small clues can open major research paths, and why war becomes too abstract when we lose sight of individual human lives.

This conversation is especially rich for educators, history lovers, family historians, and anyone interested in how primary sources can help us understand the past. As schools and communities prepare for the U.S. 250th, Jan's work offers a powerful reminder that history is not only found in textbooks. It can also live in letters, family stories, archives, unanswered questions, and the persistence to follow a clue wherever it leads.

In this episode:

Jan's discovery of 500–600 family letters and how they shaped the book

Why the Ploesti campaign mattered during WWII

How personal letters and official military records can work together

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff and Tricia reflect on the 2025–2026 school year and what they are seeing as schools move into a more mature phase of AI work. The conversation moves beyond tools and prompt tips into the deeper questions now facing educators and school leaders: AI companions, student wellbeing, shadow AI use, schoolwide expectations, sustained professional learning, and the need to rethink pedagogy for a world shaped by information overload.

Jeff and Tricia discuss why AI support in schools can no longer be limited to one-off workshops. They share what they are hearing from school leaders, counselors, teachers, support staff, and districts that are beginning to ask for longer-term help. The episode also explores why honest, nonjudgmental conversations matter, especially when students and adults are already using AI in personal, social, and emotional ways.

00:00 — Opening reflection on the 2025–2026 school year Jeff welcomes listeners and invites Tricia to reflect on the year in AI and schools.

00:37 — AI companions become a serious school conversation Tricia shares why this was the year more school leaders became open to talking about AI companions.

02:39 — Companionship, loneliness, and parasocial relationships Tricia connects AI companion use to broader human patterns of connection, including parasocial relationship theory.

04:54 — Why school counselors need to be part of the AI conversation Jeff and Tricia discuss students turning to AI for advice and support, and how counselors can respond without dismissing students' experiences.

06:23 — Shadow AI use in schools Jeff explains why schools need to name the AI use already happening among staff, students, and support teams.

08:58 — Honesty, openness, and nonjudgmental conversations Tricia highlights what has not changed: the need for trust, honesty, and open dialogue.

09:18 — The "large breed puppy" problem Tricia explains why waiting to address AI is risky, using the analogy of training a large dog while it is still small.

10:00 — From one-off PD to sustained AI support Jeff describes a shift in what districts are asking for: longer-term cohorts, yearlong support, and multi-year planning.

11:49 — What can schools retire now? Tricia and Jeff discuss the chance to move away from outdated practices and ask more complex questions.

12:57 — From information scarcity to information overload Jeff argues that schools were built for a world where information was scarce, but students now need to be assessed on sense-making.

15:00 — New possibilities for learning Tricia points to opportunities for students to tell familiar stories in new ways and work with more complex problems.

15:28 — Summer episodes and favorite replays Jeff previews upcoming summer reflections and replays from the past year.

Looking for something thoughtful, funny, curious, and conversation-starting for Father's Day weekend? This episode may be just the thing.

We are welcoming back Brian Boone, a writer, researcher, and storyteller whose work reminds us that trivia is not really about random facts. It is about memory, meaning, surprise, and the pleasure of sharing something unexpected with someone else.

That makes this conversation especially fitting for Father's Day weekend. Trivia has a way of bringing people together across generations. It can turn into a car ride conversation, a dinner-table debate, a story you have heard before but somehow still want to hear again, or the kind of small shared fact that becomes part of a family's language.

In this episode, Brian talks about the research behind his work, the fandom that has gathered around it, and why his latest book could make a particularly good Father's Day gift for the dad, granddad, uncle, mentor, or curious person in your life who loves facts, stories, pop culture, puzzles, or simply knowing things no one else in the room knows.

This is a Father's Day weekend episode for anyone who has ever bonded over a weird fact, a favorite movie, a sports stat, a music memory, a book, a question, or the sentence: "Wait, did you know this?"

In this episode, we discuss:

Why trivia is not trivial How curiosity becomes connection Why odd facts often carry personal meaning The research and storytelling behind Brian Boone's work The fandom around his books and writing Why trivia makes such a good Father's Day weekend gift How shared knowledge can spark family stories, laughter, and conversation

Featured Guest: Brian Boone, writer, researcher, and author

Check out his book:

https://bathroomreader.com/

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff and Tricia talk about vibe coding: the emerging practice of using AI tools to help turn prompts, sketches, hunches, and half-formed ideas into working prototypes. They look at what this shift means for educators, students, school leaders, and anyone trying to understand how AI is changing the relationship between imagination and production.

This is not a conversation about replacing technical skill. It is a conversation about what becomes possible when more people can test ideas, build small tools, and learn through making.

Jeff and Tricia explore the promise, the messiness, and the limits of vibe coding.

In this episode, Jeff and Tricia discuss:

How vibe coding changes the entry point into programming and prototyping.

Why prompting, testing, revising, and debugging still matter.

How AI-assisted creation can support curiosity, experimentation, and iteration.

How vibe coding connects to design thinking, computational thinking, and digital humanities.

Questions to discuss if you use this episode as a team meeting resource:

What should students understand before, during, and after using AI to help them code?

How might vibe coding give more students access to building tools, games, simulations, websites, or data projects?

Where might you experiment with vibe coding in one small way this summer?

For educators: This episode can be used as a conversation starter for teams thinking about AI literacy, computer science, project-based learning, media literacy, or assessment. It also connects directly to digital humanities work, especially when students use code to explore stories, archives, maps, texts, timelines, or cultural data in new ways.

Possible staff discussion prompt: If students can now build working digital projects before they have mastered traditional coding, what do we want them to learn from the process?

Listen for: The difference between making something that works and understanding why it works.

Links we refer to:

https://triciafriedman.com/comedy-as-evidence-a-media-and-data-literacy-look-at-what-we-watch/

https://nextturnleadership.site/

What do we really mean when we tell young people to "be yourself"?

In this episode, Tricia Friedman speaks with Meredith Walker, co-founder of Smart Girls with Amy Poehler and author of Be Yourself and Other Bad Advice. Together, they question one of the most common phrases young people hear from adults: "be yourself." It sounds kind. It sounds simple. But for many young people, especially those still figuring out who they are, the advice can feel vague, confusing, or even impossible.

Meredith invites us to slow down and ask better questions. What does it mean to become yourself? How do young people sort through the noise of expectation, comparison, performance, and pressure? And how can adults offer support that feels more useful than a slogan?

The conversation also explores one of Meredith's favorite mottos: "get your hair wet." It is an invitation to join in, to stop waiting until everything looks perfect, and to enter the messy, joyful, human parts of life. For educators, caregivers, and anyone who works alongside young people, this episode is a reminder that becoming yourself is not a polished final product. It is a practice.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

How Meredith Walker thinks about the phrase "be yourself"

Why some well-meaning advice can leave young people without enough guidance

What adults can do instead of offering vague encouragement

How Smart Girls has helped shape conversations about curiosity, courage, and identity

Why "getting your hair wet" is a powerful metaphor for participation, joy, and self-discovery

How young people can begin defining identity on their own terms

Join us as Keala Kendall, author of the compelling gothic novel That Which Feeds Us, takes us through her creative process, the importance of representation in storytelling, and how horror can serve as a mirror to society's fears and unresolved histories. This conversation uncovers the layers behind her work, blending culture, history, and genre to provoke thought and evoke emotion.

Main topics covered: * Kendall's artistic process and how the novel evolved from initial inspiration * The significance of Hawaiian history, colonialism, and land in her storytelling * How research and world-building influenced the succinct yet powerful narrative * The role of horror in exploring societal fears and marginalized voices * The creative benefits of genre fiction, especially horror, in addressing difficult truths * Personal journey: reading influences, media inspiration, and her experiences as a Pacific Islander author * The novel's reception, including selection by Reese Witherspoon's Book Club, and its impact on conversations about Hawaii * The importance of representation and amplification of Pacific Islander stories in publishing * How fiction can be a tool for education and social change

Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to the novel That Which Feeds Us 00:30 - The inspiration and artistic process behind the book 01:25 - Use of horror to tell stories rooted in colonial history 02:16 - Hawaii as a gothic setting and its historical echoes 03:00 - How the novel balances brevity with depth and world-building 06:13 - Introducing the protagonist, Lihua, and her connection to Hawaii 07:03 - The significance of the book's title and themes of reciprocal land relationships 07:53 - The impact of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection 08:28 - What readers might discuss after reading the book 10:05 - Amplifying Pacific Islander voices and stories in publishing 11:17 - The concept of ghosts and history as a collective haunting 12:49 - Confronting Hawaii's dark history and media portrayals 13:17 - The influence of reading and media on her writing, including White Lotus and horror films 14:05 - Early ideas for the novel and Hawaiian cultural motifs in her stories 15:36 - How horror makes space for taboo topics and societal critique 16:24 - Early stories about sisters and the significance of land in Hawaiian culture 17:22 - Her transition from Massachusetts inspiration to homeland storytelling 18:07 - Influences from film and media, including Moana and Hollywood's depiction of Hawaii 19:02 - The intersection of media representations and authentic cultural narratives 20:58 - The pandemic's role in shaping her perspective on Hawaii's infrastructure 22:12 - Why horror's capacity for boundary-pushing makes it vital today 23:58 - The societal fears reflected in horror, from Godzilla to Get Out and Us 25:26 - The power of horror in sparking conversations and societal reflection 26:20 - Closing remarks and thoughts on the book's impact and importance

Keala Kendall is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of How Far I'll Go and Nobody Gets Left Behind in Disney's A Twisted Tales series. Hapa Native Hawaiian, she is a co-founder of Pacific IslandersPublishing and a past organizer of the charity Books for Maui.

This week, Tricia Friedman speaks with Veronica Roth, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent series and the author of Seek the Traitor Son, the first book in a new epic romance dystopian fantasy series.

In this conversation, Veronica shares how watching Taylor Swift perform during the Eras Tour helped her reflect on her own earlier work, her growth as an artist, and what it means to keep creating after a hugely successful series. She also talks about world-building, writing for young readers, creative confidence, and the challenge of beginning again as an author.

For educators, librarians, parents, and anyone supporting creative young people, this episode offers a rare look at how one of today's most widely read writers thinks about imagination, reinvention, and the stories that stay with readers.

00:00 — Welcome to the Show 01:00 — Veronica Roth's New Book, Seek the Traitor Son 03:00 — Looking Back at Divergent 06:00 — What Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Helped Veronica See 10:00 — Creative Reinvention After Huge Success 14:00 — Writing for Young Readers 18:00 — Building Dystopian and Fantasy Worlds 23:00 — What Inspires Veronica's Creative Process 28:00 — Advice for Creative Young People 32:00 — Why Stories Still Matter

This week, Tricia Friedman welcomes Dr. Brittney Cooper to the podcast to talk about her new picture book, Mama Says I'm Fine, illustrated by Tamisha Anthony. The conversation explores the story behind the book, the emotional weight of the phrase "you're fine," and how children's literature can hold care, resilience, identity, and family love.

Dr. Cooper also reflects on what it means to write with intention and to collaborate with artists, editors, and readers in mind. Known for her work as a New York Times bestselling author, cultural critic, professor, and public thinker, Dr. Cooper brings a layered perspective to writing for young readers and the adults who read alongside them.

Mentioned in this episode Mama Says I'm Fine by Brittney Cooper, illustrated by Tamisha Anthony. Dr. Brittney Cooper's Rutgers faculty profile. Dr. Brittney Cooper's TED Talk, "The racial politics of time."

Patricia Cornwell joins Tricia Friedman for a conversation about memory, writing, curiosity, forensic science, and the memoir she never expected to write.

In this episode, Cornwell reflects on the childhood experiences that shaped her imagination, including the early encouragement that helped her begin to see herself as a writer. She talks about learning to "populate the world with imagined characters," the role of journaling and archival memory in writing memoir, and why finding the opening hook still begins with one question: what am I seeing in my head?

The conversation also turns to the ethical weight of writing about violence. Cornwell explains why crime is not abstract to her, why she refuses to treat death as entertainment, and how her work through Kay Scarpetta has influenced readers, forensic science, law enforcement, and public awareness.

This is also a conversation about curiosity. Cornwell discusses her need to see, study, and understand things for herself, from forensic settings to archaeology, mummies, research trips, and the physical details that help stories come alive.

The episode closes with a reminder that feels especially timely: even as the forms of storytelling change, humans will always need stories.

In this episode Patricia Cornwell discusses:

How childhood imagination became a survival tool and a writing foundation

Why a fourth-grade teacher's encouragement still matters decades later

How she finds the "hook" for a book, including her memoir

The journals and early autobiographical writing that helped her reconstruct memory

Why writing about crime requires moral care, not exploitation

How Kay Scarpetta influenced forensic science, law enforcement, and reader behavior

Why curiosity keeps driving her research and creative life

The story behind the Annie Leibovitz photograph used for the memoir cover

Why stories will continue to matter, even as formats change

Tricia and Jeff talk about what AI literacy actually looks like in K-12 — past the policy memos, past the vendor pitches, past the "ban it or adopt it" debate that keeps stalling schools out.

They were very excited to receive questions from a student, and they used those as the structure for this conversation.

The conversation uses the Shifting Schools BAKE framework as a loose map: Balance, Adaptability, Knowledge-sharing, Empathy. A mindset-first approach for leaders who want to think clearly instead of react fast.

What Jeff and Tricia get into:

How to explain AI to a 10-year-old without overcomplicating it (and why metaphors help)
Where kids still need to struggle on their own — and why productive friction is identity-forming work
The first habits to teach when a child gets AI access: check it, don't trust it; notice when your thinking shuts down
Whether AI can actually make education more inclusive, and what has to be in place before it does
The mistakes schools and parents are making right now: banning instead of teaching, adopting without training, treating AI like an IT rollout instead of a relationship shift

Check out the free one-pager:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17ny-mD1QY450NdG5J4gVZzZE01qyFfOM/view?usp=sharing

This week Jeff and Tricia share their five top gifts to celebrate the special educator in your life.

They take you through why these five gifts celebrate creativity, learning, wellness, and show personal recognition during Teacher Appreciation Week.

Featured on the show:

WoofPack

https://woofpacks.ca/

SketchBox

https://getsketchbox.com/

PlantWave

https://plantwave.com/en-ca/products/plantwave

Back To The Roots

https://backtotheroots.com/collections/organic-mushroom-kits

Waking Up App

https://dynamic.wakingup.com/

What happens when you stop talking about students and start talking with them?

In this episode, Jeff Utecht sits down with high schoolers and asks a question most adults skip: what do you actually need from school right now? Not what teachers think they need. Not what the policy documents say. What the students themselves would name if someone gave them the mic.

What they share is honest, specific, and worth slowing down for. Some of it will confirm what you already suspected. Some of it will catch you off guard. All of it is a reminder that the people closest to the experience of learning have been telling us things we haven't always made room to hear.

If you're a school leader, classroom teacher, or anyone shaping the conditions students learn inside, this is a conversation worth bringing into your next team meeting.

What would shift in your school if student perspective wasn't a survey question, but the starting point?

This week Jeff talks with Nick and Marnie about why we want to help students stop waiting for permission and start building a bridge to a career on your their own terms.

In this episode, Jeff Utecht is joined by Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio, authors of The Business of You, a book that reframes career growth, personal branding, and leadership through a simple but demanding idea: you are already running a business, and that business is you.

Using the story of Sydney, a young professional trying to stand out in a crowded job market, Marnie and Nick explore what it means to move from passive applicant to active architect of your future. We talk about why so many people do everything "right" and still feel invisible, and what it looks like to become more intentional about the way you tell your story, build relationships, and create opportunities.

This conversation will be useful for college students, early-career professionals, career changers, and anyone who has ever felt stuck between doing what's expected and figuring out how to actually get noticed.

In this episode, we discuss:

What it means to think like a CEO of your own life and work
How to tell your story in a way people remember
The difference between networking and building real relationships
Why personal branding is really about clarity, not self-promotion
How to stay visible, strategic, and ready for what comes next

A few questions at the center of this episode:

Why do so many capable people struggle to stand out?
What makes someone memorable in a crowded field?
How can students and professionals build a network that actually matters?
What does "personal branding" look like when it's done with honesty and substance?
How do you stop chasing the next role and start attracting the right fit?

About the book: The Business of You follows Sydney as she begins to see that career success is not just about credentials or checking the right boxes. It is about ownership. Through her story, Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio offer a practical framework for building a career with more intention, more confidence, and more agency.

Why listen: This is a conversation about career strategy, but it is also about identity, voice, and self-direction. If you have ever wondered how to make your experience matter more, how to build a network without feeling transactional, or how to stop blending into the pile, this episode gives you a strong place to start.

Find the BAKE eBook: https://www.shiftingschools.com/

Learn more about our guests:

https://blueapp.ai

https://thebusinessofyou.ai

social media: @bluethebusinessofyou

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4sFfpWI

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marniestockman/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-coniglio-5b62153/

What can a graphic novel teach educators about belonging, friendship, and the inner lives of young people?

Sara Amini is an actor and author whose semi-autobiographical middle grade graphic novel Mixed Feelings started as a collection of essays before finding its real form. In this conversation, she and Tricia dig into why the graphic novel gave her a sharper way to tell a story about not fitting neatly into any one category, and what that means for the kids (and adults) who read it.

They talk about humor as a way into hard topics like racism, xenophobia, puberty, and loneliness. Sara explains how she thinks like a director when writing visually, and why graphic novels open up something different in classrooms that text alone doesn't reach. The conversation keeps circling back to a question worth sitting with: what are students carrying that we're not seeing, and what kinds of stories help us notice?

Want a free copy of Mixed Feelings? Email tricia@shiftingschools.com a screenshot of your podcast rating by April 15th to enter.

Alyson Gerber joins Tricia Friedman to talk about The Liar Society, why friendship is serious business, and what mystery stories can teach young readers and adults about belonging, trust, competition, and connection. In this conversation, Alyson shares why friendship sits at the center of her work, how middle grade fiction can help readers think more deeply about loneliness and identity, and why the best friends are the ones who cheer for your growth.

They also go behind the scenes of writing a mystery series. Alyson explains how she outlines her novels, why she uses the Save the Cat beat sheet, how she thinks about first scenes, pacing, chapter length, and twists, and what it takes to build a story that keeps readers turning pages. For teachers, librarians, and student writers, this episode also includes a practical prompt for helping young people start thinking like mystery writers.

This episode is a strong listen for anyone interested in middle grade books, children's literature, YA-adjacent reading culture, literacy, creative writing, mystery writing, friendship skills, belonging, and how stories help readers take themselves more seriously. Alyson also reflects on the people who encouraged her early in life, the role creativity can play in self-restoration, and why books can help readers step outside the boxes they have been placed in.

In this episode:

Alyson Gerber on why friendship is foundational
The Liar Society and the appeal of mystery for middle grade readers
Belonging, competition, and power dynamics in youth friendships
The loneliness epidemic and what fiction can teach us about connection
Why adults and kids are co-reading this series
How Alyson Gerber plots a mystery novel
Save the Cat, outlining, pacing, and suspense
A simple exercise for teaching students to think like mystery writers
Audiobooks, reading habits, and the creative life of a working author

Who this episode is for: Teachers, literacy leaders, school librarians, middle grade readers, parents, writers, and anyone thinking about friendship, belonging, and the kinds of stories that help young people feel seen.

What happens when we stop asking AI to do everything faster and start asking how it might help us understand people better?

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Andy Sitison, CTO of Share More Stories, for a conversation about empathetic AI, story collection, and why trust may be the real differentiator in the next phase of technology. Andy shares how his work uses AI not just as a productivity tool, but as a way to surface patterns in human experience by gathering and analyzing stories from real people.

Together, they explore what gets lost when efficiency becomes the main goal, why intent matters so much in AI use, and what educators can learn from the way thoughtful organizations listen to communities. Andy explains how story-based analysis can reveal not only answers, but better questions, helping leaders move beyond surveys and toward a deeper understanding of what people are actually feeling and needing.

The conversation also turns to schools. Jeff and Andy discuss why educators are often well positioned to use AI well, especially when the goal is support rather than replacement. From drafting difficult parent emails to making sense of complex data sets, Andy argues that AI works best when it helps humans communicate more clearly, think more creatively, and act with more care.

There is also a clear caution running through the episode: not every use of AI is a good one. Jeff and Andy push on the difference between meaningful application and empty automation, questioning whether some so-called AI advances are really just profit-driven systems wrapped in new language. It is a useful discussion for school leaders trying to separate signal from noise.

This episode is a thoughtful listen for anyone trying to hold onto human connection while navigating rapid technological change.

In this episode, we discuss:

What Andy means by "empathetic AI"
How Share More Stories collects and analyzes human stories at scale
Why stories can reveal questions leaders did not know to ask
What gets lost when efficiency matters more than empathy
Why trust and intent matter in AI adoption
Skills educators may need to help students live well with emerging technology
Practical, human-centered uses of AI in schools
Why better questions may matter more than faster answers
The difference between useful AI and AI added for its own sake

Memorable ideas from the episode:

"Trust is the next big X factor."
AI can help humans connect better when it is applied with care.
Story collection can be therapeutic for the storyteller and revealing for the organization.
The real power of AI may be in helping us handle complexity, then validate what matters most.
Schools need more than tools. They need thoughtfulness, context, and purpose.

Jeff Utecht is back with a brand new book for schools looking to understand what to prioritize in the era of AI.

Human Still Required is available for purchase, and you can get chapter one free:

https://humanstillrequired.com/

Learn all about it in this special bonus episode.

What does it take to write a story that faces darkness without surrendering to it?

In this episode, Tricia speaks with acclaimed screenwriter Billy Ray about his move into YA fiction with Burn the Water, a future-set story shaped by Shakespeare, political urgency, and a deep belief in young people's capacity to lead us forward. Their conversation explores community, imagination, hope, and the discipline of creating when the world feels bleak. Billy also offers a sharp look at his writing process, including what changed when he moved from screenwriting to novel writing, and why he sees writing less as inspiration and more as problem-solving.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

Why Billy Ray believes community is at the core of everything he writes
How Romeo and Juliet and The Hunger Games helped shape Burn the Water
Why setting a story 400 years in the future opened up new creative possibilities
What it means to write for teens living through uncertainty and disenfranchisement
Why hope is not passive, but something we practice
How writing can help us process emotion, perspective, and possibility
What surprised Billy most about shifting from screenwriting to novel writing
Why he approaches writing like a mechanic, not a mystic
How structure, routine, and problem-solving power his creative process

Memorable ideas from the episode: Billy Ray reflects on the role of story in helping us imagine better futures, even when the present feels unstable. He talks about art as a way to tell the truth through invention, and about the importance of refusing hopelessness. He also shares a compelling view of young people, not as passive inheritors of crisis, but as the very people who may lead us through it.

Episode takeaway This is a conversation about craft, courage, and the necessity of hope. For writers, readers, and anyone thinking seriously about the futures we are building, this episode offers both creative insight and moral clarity.

Join Tricia for a free Futures Literacy session:

https://triciafriedman.com/futureoffun/

What can a cheetah and a rescue dog teach us about trust, friendship, and belonging?

In this episode, Tricia Friedman sits down with bestselling author Jasmine Warga to talk about her newest book and the powerful themes at its heart: vulnerability, unlikely friendships, and the courage it takes to let someone truly see you.

Inspired by a real program in zoos where rescue dogs are paired with anxious cheetahs, Warga's story explores how connection can help both animals—and humans—feel less alone. Through the voices of a cheetah and a dog, the book opens up conversations about anxiety, trust, identity, and the universal desire to belong.

Together, Tricia and Jasmine explore how storytelling helps young readers navigate big emotions, why animals can sometimes say things humans cannot, and how asking questions—rather than providing answers—is often the most powerful way to write for young people.

They also go behind the scenes of Warga's writing process, from messy notebooks and long walks to the surprising freedom of writing a "zero draft."

This conversation is a powerful reminder that the stories we share with young readers can help build empathy, connection, and community.

🎧 Podcast Chapters 00:00 — Welcome + Why This Story Matters Right Now Tricia introduces Jasmine Warga and shares why the new book immediately resonated with her.

01:20 — Why Trust and Vulnerability Sit at the Heart of the Story Jasmine explains how the book explores the courage it takes to let someone see your "soft parts."

02:00 — Why the Story Is Told Through a Cheetah and a Dog How animal characters help young readers open their hearts to difficult conversations.

03:30 — The Real Zoo Program Behind the Book The fascinating practice of pairing rescue dogs with anxious cheetahs.

05:00 — How Jasmine Built the Two Main Characters Finding the emotional core of Chase the cheetah and Finnegan the dog.

07:10 — Why Everyone Needs to Hear "You're Good" A powerful moment about reassurance, belonging, and emotional validation.

07:45 — Jasmine Warga's Writing Process Walking, daydreaming, music, and asking questions instead of chasing answers.

09:15 — The Music That Soundtracked the Book Why The National and "You've Got a Friend in Me" became part of the creative process.

10:00 — Why Unlikely Friendships Matter for Kids How stories can help young readers connect with people who seem different from them.

12:10 — Experimenting as a Writer From A Rover's Story to a cheetah and a dog—why Jasmine loves exploring new storytelling lenses.

14:00 — Why Jasmine Starts Every Book with Questions How curiosity drives the themes of belonging and identity.

15:30 — The Power of the "Zero Draft" A strategy for overcoming perfectionism and writer's block.

17:10 — Which Character Is Jasmine Most Like? A fun reflection on perfectionism, identity, and the author's personal connection to the story.

About Jasmine Warga Jasmine Warga is a bestselling and award-winning author of books for young readers. Her stories explore themes of belonging, identity, friendship, and emotional courage, helping young people ask big questions about the world and their place in it.

In this episode, we sit down with Tui T. Sutherland, bestselling author of the Wings of Fire series, for a rich conversation about creativity, writing, world-building, empathy, and storytelling for young readers.

Tui shares how play, curiosity, and even dogs can support focus and imagination, why world-building starts with better questions, and how writers can balance community feedback with their own creative vision. She also reflects on the role of empathy, diversity, and self-exploration in storytelling, offering practical insights for aspiring writers, educators, and anyone interested in how stories shape young minds.

This conversation explores the creative process behind building immersive fictional worlds, developing memorable characters, and staying grounded in joy and curiosity while writing. Whether you are a fan of children's literature, interested in the craft of writing, or looking for inspiration around imagination and creative confidence, this episode offers plenty to take away.

00:00 How Dogs Support Creativity and Focus 02:40 World-Building That Makes Stories Feel Real 05:23 Balancing Reader Feedback and Creative Vision 07:56 Community, Empathy, and Representation in Storytelling 10:58 Writing as Therapy and Self-Exploration 14:30 Advice for Aspiring Writers 17:11 Imagining Worlds Through Play and Curiosity

Resources * Wings of Fire Series by Tui T. Sutherland — https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/authors/tui-t-sutherland/ * Scholastic — https://www.scholastic.com/ * Tui T. Sutherland on Twitter / X — https://twitter.com/tuitweets

In this episode, we sit down with beloved children's book author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds to explore how educators can ignite creativity and self-discovery in young learners. Peter shares why a single question can transform how we teach, and why imagination and dreaming big aren't luxuries but essentials.

What We Cover:

How teachers activate creativity through authentic, feeling-driven questions
Encouraging kids to explore many interests instead of choosing just one path
The vital role of imagination and dreaming big in personal growth

Chapters

00:00 The Impact of Educators on Creativity 05:33 Dreaming Big: Navigating Identity and Aspirations

What to win your copy of this book?

Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to enter the give-away.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/shifting-schools/

Deborah Goodrich Royce, author of literary psychological thrillers and a former actor, unpacks how she builds tension without forcing the outline. You will hear how sensory observation from her New York Botanical Garden work feeds scene-level detail, why she prefers a "reveal" that feels earned over a twist that feels gimmicky, and how an actor's training translates into characters with layered motives and believable self-deception.

What you will learn

How to pace a psychological thriller so the reader feels pulled forward, not pushed.
Character-first plotting: letting voice, backstory, and contradictions shape the turns.
Designing "good reveals" and planting signals that pay off cleanly later.

Key topics

Botanical observation as a storytelling skill (attention, pattern, detail).
Character development through lived experience and emotional memory.
Organic plot development: earning twists through setup, not shock value.

Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Deborah's background 01:00 Why the New York Botanical Garden matters to her creative life 01:57 Creative growth through lived experience 03:09 The Lincoln quote and what it signals in the book 03:37 Identity, deception, and what thrillers let us examine 04:55 Using "signals" from real life to build believable turns 05:46 The actor's lens on role, emotion, and subtext 07:10 Writing thrillers in a fast-paced media environment 07:48 "Organic" plotting: how reveals get earned 09:18 Creative community and collaboration 12:31 Openings, pacing, and keeping readers in the scene 14:59 Starting a new project: practical tools and habits 17:30 Visualizing the story with notes and systems 18:09 Readers, book clubs, and what she learns from conversations

Want to learn with Tricia this April?

Learn more:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/empathy-as-interface-rethinking-ai-in-education-tickets-1630138009669?aff=oddtdtcreator

In this conversation, author Steve Berry discusses his deep-rooted love for history, the intricate process of crafting thrillers that intertwine historical facts with modern narratives, and the importance of research in his writing. He also shares insights into his philanthropic efforts through the History Matters initiative, which focuses on preserving local history, and hints at future adventures for his protagonist, Cotton Malone, in unexplored regions of the world.

Takeaways

Steve Berry's love for history began in childhood. His writing combines action, history, and conspiracies. The formula for his books is 'the same but different.' Research is crucial for creating engaging narratives. The 'ooh factor' is essential in selecting historical elements. History Matters has raised nearly $3 million for preservation. Berry's research trips are meticulously planned. He seeks unique insights during his travels. Cotton Malone will explore new regions in future novels. Berry aims to continue writing for many more years.

Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of twenty Cotton Malone novels, six stand-alone thrillers, two Luke Daniels adventures, and several works of short fiction. He has over twenty-six million books in print, translated into forty-one languages. With his wife, Elizabeth, he is the founder of History Matters, an organization dedicated to historical preservation. He serves as an emeritus member of the Smithsonian Libraries Advisory Board and was a founding member of International Thriller Writers, formerly serving as co-president. Check Steve out on Facebook or his website

Chapters

00:00 The Roots of a Historian 02:58 Crafting Thrillers with Historical Depth 05:49 Researching History for Modern Thrillers 08:45 Giving Back: The History Matters Initiative 11:41 Future Adventures in Historical Fiction

Learn more about the brand new book from Jeff Utecht

https://humanstillrequired.com/

In this conversation, Sandra Magsamen discusses her approach to creating children's literature that emphasizes connection, love, and emotional intelligence. She shares insights into her creative process, the importance of feedback from readers, and how her work aims to foster self-love and connection between caregivers and children. Magsamen also reflects on her artistic journey, the role of perseverance, and the significance of storytelling in shaping lives.

Takeaways

Connection is at the heart of children's literature. Love is an action that caregivers can demonstrate. Books can provide comfort and emotional support to children. Feedback from readers is validating and inspires future work. Objects like books and blankets can hold deep emotional significance. Stories can change lives and shape worldviews. Curiosity fuels creativity and artistic expression. Perseverance is essential in the creative process. Every project is an opportunity to connect hearts. The act of reading together fosters intimacy and connection.

Chapters

00:00 The Heart of Connection in Children's Literature 02:48 Love as an Action: The Role of Caregivers 05:34 Impactful Feedback: Stories from Readers 08:31 The Power of Objects and Books in Shaping Lives 11:06 Curiosity and Creativity: Fueling the Artistic Journey

Learn more about our special guest:

https://www.sandramagsamen.com/

Learn more with Jeff and Tricia

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

Our show is produced by Sagheer M.

Learn more:

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01a20f0c0c32996d55

In this conversation, we explore the new collaborative picture book 'Rise Girl Rise', which explores themes of empowerment, friendship, and the importance of storytelling across cultures. They emphasize the book's role in inspiring the next generation and fostering a sense of shared humanity.

Gloria Steinem is a political activist, feminist organizer, and the author of many acclaimed books, including the national bestseller Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem. She is a contributor to the classic children's book Free to Be You and Me, which became a children's entertainment project, conceived, created, and executive-produced by actress and author Marlo Thomas, produced in collaboration with the Ms. Foundation for Women, and the Free to Be Foundation, both cofounded by Ms. Steinem, and most recently illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Ms. Steinem is also the co-founder of the National Women's Political Caucus and the Women's Media Center. In keeping with her deep commitment to establishing equality throughout the world, Ms. Steinem helped found Equality Now, Donor Direct Action, and Direct Impact Africa. To learn more, visit gloriasteinem.com.

Leymah Gbowee is a Liberian peace activist, social worker, and women's rights advocate. She is Founder and President of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, based in Monrovia. As a writer, Ms. Gbowee is the author of the inspirational memoir Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War, and author of the children's book A Community of Sisters, illustrated by Coleen Baik. Ms. Gbowee is perhaps best known for leading a nonviolent movement that brought together Christian and Muslim women to play a pivotal role in ending Liberia's devastating, 14-year civil war in 2003.

Chapters

00:00 The Power of Picture Books 02:43 Friendship Across Cultures 05:15 Legacy and Call to Action

The Shifting Schools podcast is produced and edited by Sagheer M.

How is artificial intelligence being used in the NFL today?

In this solo episode of Shifting Schools, Tricia Friedman explores how AI is already shaping professional football, with a special focus on Super Bowl Sunday. Rather than speculation, this episode looks at concrete, current examples of how AI is influencing advertising, predictions, player safety, and fan experience.

Get the free conversation guide to share with friends and family:

https://open.substack.com/pub/k12aileadershipbrief/p/five-signals-of-change?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

This episode is designed as a conversation resource for educators, families, and anyone gathering around the Super Bowl, offering five clear lenses for discussing AI's role in sports and society.

What role does AI play in Super Bowl commercials? Major brands, including OpenAI, are now using the Super Bowl to tell stories about AI itself, while many non-AI companies are using generative tools to shape persuasive advertising. Tricia invites listeners to compare past and present Super Bowl ads and consider how the rise of AI-driven storytelling may change the creative skills schools should prioritize.

What is the AI Influence Index and why does it matter? For the first time, startup Emberos is tracking which Super Bowl ads are most visible inside large language models during the game. Instead of asking people at the watercooler which ads were memorable, this index asks which brands "win" inside AI systems like ChatGPT.

Can AI really predict Super Bowl winners? Recent reporting from USA Today and CNET shows how generative AI models are being used to forecast playoff outcomes, Super Bowl scores, and even halftime show cameos. As these models improve, Tricia raises questions about how fans may rethink expertise, intuition, and luck in sports forecasting, and whether some fans will resist consulting AI altogether.

Why this episode matters for educators and families This conversation goes beyond football. It models how adults can talk with one another about AI's influence in everyday life, notice differing attitudes toward technology, and ask longer-term questions about which changes are likely to last over the next decade.

Key discussion questions listeners can use on Super Bowl Sunday – Does AI enhance or diminish creativity in advertising? – Should brands optimize for human memory or AI visibility? – If AI predictions outperform humans, how does that change our view of expertise? – Where should decision-making authority sit when AI informs player safety? – Does AI-driven commentary deepen or reduce the joy of debate in sports?

Subscribe to our free AI Forward newsletter to get the free conversation guide:

https://k12aileadershipbrief.substack.com/

Email thoughts or additional angles to Tricia at Tricia@shiftingschools.com.

What do puzzles teach us about being human. In this episode, Tricia talks with Allison Kane, Head of Puzzle Innovation at Highlights, about why puzzling matters far beyond entertainment. From Hidden Pictures and Wordle to classroom design and family learning, this conversation explores how puzzles build confidence, perseverance, and joyful learning across ages.

Learn more:

https://parents.highlights.com/printable-puzzles-and-mazes-puzzle-day-challenge

Allison shares her origin story as a lifelong puzzler, explains the idea of the satisfaction of the solve, and offers practical advice for educators and families who want to integrate puzzles into learning spaces. The conversation also looks at puzzle design, community building, and what adults model for young people when they choose curiosity over avoidance.

Topics covered Allison Kane's path from Highlights intern to Head of Puzzle Innovation Why puzzles support perseverance, confidence, and joyful learning The satisfaction of the solve and why payoff matters Puzzles as community builders in classrooms and families Designing puzzles that challenge without frustrating How educators can bring puzzles into classrooms easily What adults model for kids through playful intellectual challenge National Puzzle Day and the rise of puzzle communities

Puzzles are not just activities. They are invitations to practice thinking, persistence, and joy. When adults model engagement with challenge, they show young people that learning can feel good.

How do you move forward with AI in schools when staff confidence is all over the place?

Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman address one of the most persistent leadership challenges in AI literacy implementation. Within the same faculty, some educators are experimenting confidently with tools and workflows while others feel intimidated, skeptical, or frustrated by rapid change.

Jeff and Tricia frame the issue through a mindset-first lens and introduce practical leadership moves grounded in BAKE: balance, adaptability, knowledge sharing, and empathy. The conversation begins with a simple leadership truth: confidence grows through a beginner's stance, repetition, and low-stakes practice, not perfection on day one. Tricia shares a "pumpkin patch" analogy for learning something new and models how leaders can normalize experimentation and productive struggle for staff.

From there, the episode explores how leaders can reduce anxiety and build confidence by "level setting" foundational understanding of how AI works. When teachers grasp what is happening under the hood, they are more willing to engage, ask better questions, and try new workflows.

A central theme is personalization. Confidence increases when educators connect AI learning to what they already love about teaching, then use AI to enhance that strength rather than asking teachers to adopt tools for their own sake. The hosts also highlight the importance of playful, low-stakes experimentation outside of school contexts, from recipe support to pop-culture research challenges, as a way to learn tool boundaries without the pressure of classroom performance.

The episode closes with a clear leadership stance: sustained learning matters. AI capabilities are changing quickly, so professional learning cannot be treated as a one-time training. Adaptability requires ongoing documentation of experiments, time-stamped learning, and renewed emphasis on media literacy as AI becomes more persuasive and more embedded in everyday life.

If you are leading AI literacy in a school or district and trying to support both early adopters and hesitant educators, this episode offers a grounded approach to building momentum without fracturing culture.

In this episode, you will hear about leading AI literacy when teacher confidence varies widely, progress over perfection and the beginner's stance, differentiated professional learning for AI, foundational understanding of how AI works, low-stakes experimentation that increases staff buy-in, balancing voices of early adopters and skeptics, adaptability as AI tools evolve, and mindset-first change management through the BAKE Framework.

Explore the BAKE resources and multiple ways to engage, including a four-week email series, PLC slide decks, a live cohort, and school-wide implementation:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

Our show is edited and produced by Sagheer M. Learn more about his work:

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01a20f0c0c32996d55

Are you signed up for Crayola Creativity Week?

https://www.crayola.com/learning/creativity-week

Reach out to learn with us: info@shiftingschools.com

00:00 Welcome and Series Context Jeff frames the third and final BAKE episode and names the core leadership question about uneven staff confidence.

01:30 Why Confidence Gaps Are Normal When Learning Something New Using the beginner's stance and the pumpkin patch example to normalize discomfort and learning curves.

03:30 Progress Over Perfection in Teaching and Leadership Why educators often expect mastery too quickly and how modeling learning matters.

05:30 The Leadership Challenge of Mixed AI Confidence High flyers, hesitant staff, and the tension leaders feel managing both groups.

08:00 Level Setting: How Understanding AI Builds Confidence Why explaining how AI works reduces fear and increases willingness to engage.

10:30 Passion-Based Entry Points for AI Learning Connecting AI use to what educators already love doing in their work.

13:00 Playful, Low-Stakes AI Experiments Using non-school examples to explore AI without pressure or risk.

15:30 Pop Culture as a Confidence Builder The Taylor Swift research experiment and why interest drives learning.

18:00 Abundance of Information and Better Questions Why confidence grows when educators move from answers to inquiry.

20:00 Empathy First: Leading With BAKE Starting with empathy before tools, expertise, or expectations.

21:45 Knowledge Sharing Inside and Outside the Classroom Why sharing personal AI use builds collective confidence.

23:15 Adaptability in a Fast-Changing AI Landscape Why AI learning must be ongoing, time-stamped, and revisited.

25:15 Balance: Creating Space for All Voices Supporting both skeptics and early adopters through reciprocal dialogue.

27:15 Key Takeaways and Next Steps Mindset-first leadership, community, and how schools can engage further with BAKE.

AI literacy in the classroom looks like students practicing judgment, sense-making, and self-awareness while working alongside AI, not replacing thinking with tools. It emphasizes mindset before mechanics.

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman frame AI literacy through the BAKE Mindset:

Balance – Knowing when AI helps and when it doesn't
Adaptability – Updating learning practices as tools change
Knowledge Sharing – Making thinking visible and collective
Empathy – Designing learning with student experience in mind

How Does AI Change Research in Schools? AI changes how research starts and what counts as learning.

Instead of:

Finding information
Rewriting sources
Formatting citations

Students now practice:

Comparing perspectives
Identifying bias and heuristics
Deciding what matters and why

Research becomes an exercise in judgment, not retrieval.

The episode traces this shift historically—from card catalogs to microfiche to Google—and positions AI tools as the next evolution rather than a rupture.

The conversation highlights several skills that remain human-led:

Judgment – Evaluating ideas, not accepting outputs
Question Formation – Using AI to clarify what to ask next
Bias Awareness – Recognizing anchoring and confirmation effects
Metacognition – Noticing learning gaps and strengths

AI supports these skills but does not perform them on a learner's behalf.

What Does "AI as a Co-Learner" Mean? AI as a co-learner means:

Students remain responsible for decisions
AI offers scaffolding, variation, or clarification
Learning paths stay human-directed

This mirrors patterns already familiar in education, including IEPs, 504 plans, and differentiated instruction.

How Does AI Literacy Connect to SEL? AI literacy intersects with social-emotional learning by strengthening:

Self-awareness of strengths and gaps
Confidence in asking questions
Comfort with uncertainty and revision

As students work with AI, they gain clearer insight into how they learn—not just what they produce.

Who Is This Episode For? * Classroom teachers rethinking research and assessment * School leaders shaping AI literacy strategy * Instructional coaches and curriculum designers * Educators focused on mindset, SEL, and learning design

Series Context This episode is part of the BAKE Mindset series from Shifting Schools.

Ready to learn more:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

Do you love the way this show is edited and produced?

If you are looking for an amazing producer, learn more about connecting with our very own, Sagheer M.

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01a20f0c0c32996d55

In this episode of Shifting Schools, hosts Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman discuss their personal experiences over the holidays, leading into a broader conversation about the importance of mindset in education, particularly in relation to AI literacy. They introduce the 'BAKE Framework' as a tool for educators to navigate AI discussions, emphasizing the need for adaptability, empathy, and open communication. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in educational settings, encouraging educators to embrace change and foster a culture of experimentation and learning.

Takeaways

The importance of personal gifts and experiences in shaping our perspectives.

Mindset plays a crucial role in how we approach AI in education.

The Bake Framework offers a structured way to think about AI literacy.

Addressing concerns about AI requires empathy and understanding.

Adaptability is key for leaders navigating technological changes.

Misinformation about AI and its impacts must be addressed thoughtfully.

Conversations about AI should focus on perspectives and experiences.

Time is necessary for understanding and shifting opinions on AI.

Playfulness in experimentation can lead to better outcomes.

Educators should foster a culture of open dialogue and consideration.

Chapters

00:00 New Year Reflections and Personal Gifts 03:07 Mindset and AI in Education 05:47 The Bake Framework for AI Literacy 08:20 Addressing AI Concerns in Education 12:29 Adaptability and Playfulness in Leadership 17:46 Navigating Change and Misinformation 22:31 Conversations and Perspectives on AI

Learn more about Crayola Creativity Week

https://www.crayola.com/learning/creativity-week

Send Jeff and Tricia your questions and feedback:

info@shiftingschools.com

Learn with us in 2026

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

In this episode, host Tricia Friedman sits down with Dr. Michael Greger, bestselling author and founder of NutritionFacts.org, to explore why non-commercial, evidence-based health guidance matters more than ever. They discuss lifestyle medicine, plant-based nutrition, scientific integrity, cannabis research, and how small, testable behavior changes can dramatically improve long-term health.

What This Conversation Is Really About Health advice is everywhere — but trustworthy guidance is not. This conversation slows things down and examines how to make informed choices in a noisy, commercialized health landscape, without absolutism, hype, or fear-based messaging.

Dr. Greger shares:

Why he donates 100% of book proceeds to charity
How lifestyle medicine transformed his own family's health
What the science actually says about cannabis — both risks and benefits
Why updating guidance as evidence evolves is a strength, not a weakness
How social support, not willpower, determines whether health changes last

Key Topics Covered * Why non-commercial health information matters How financial incentives distort nutrition and medical guidance — and how to recognize bias. * Lifestyle medicine in practice Diet, movement, and daily habits as powerful tools for disease prevention and reversal. * Plant-based eating (defined clearly) What "plant-based" actually means — and what it doesn't. * Cannabis: separating evidence from ideology What newer human studies reveal about cancer risk, pain management, and safer use. * Scientific uncertainty and misinformation How peer-reviewed research works, where it fails, and how to interpret studies responsibly. * Behavior change that sticks Why short-term "experiments," bodily feedback, and social support outperform rigid rules.

Who This Episode Is For * Listeners overwhelmed by conflicting health advice * Educators, parents, and caregivers navigating cannabis conversations * Anyone curious about plant-based nutrition without extremism * People interested in evidence-based, non-commercial wellness guidance * Listeners looking for sustainable, realistic behavior change

About the Guest Dr. Michael Greger is a physician, internationally recognized speaker, and New York Times bestselling author of How Not to Die. He is the founder of NutritionFacts.org, a nonprofit providing free, evidence-based nutrition research, and a leading voice in lifestyle medicine.

Chapters

Introduction and Non-Commercial Guidance - 0:00
Dr. Greger's Personal Story and Motivation - 3:15
Importance of Repeated Guidance and Lifestyle Changes - 6:30
Updated Book Topics: COVID, Cannabis, and Misinformation - 10:45
Science Communication and Challenges - 15:00
Plant-Based Diet and Personal Health Experiments - 19:15
Social Support and Sustainable Lifestyle Changes - 23:30
Closing Thoughts and Positive Messages - 27:45

What does it look like when creativity becomes a global learning movement—not an add-on, but a connector across every subject?

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Tricia Friedman is joined by Cheri Sterman to explore Crayola Creativity Week, a free, cross-curricular program designed to help educators spark collaboration, confidence, and creative thinking in classrooms around the world.

Together, they unpack how Creativity Week connects creativity to every subject and career, why celebrity partners—from the Property Brothers to NASA astronauts—volunteer their time to inspire students, and how this year's themes emphasize social-emotional skills like collaboration and confidence in one's own ideas.

You'll also hear how:

over 13 million students across 122 countries participated last year—and why participation is projected to exceed 20 million
educators can access low-prep, high-impact resources available in multiple languages
families are invited into the learning through at-home creative challenges and shared student galleries
teachers can enter global sweepstakes, school grants, and creativity retreats designed to restore educator energy

Whether you're a classroom teacher, librarian, school leader, or parent, this conversation offers a practical and hopeful look at how creativity can unite learning communities—and why it matters now more than ever.

Explore printable thinking sheets, educator guides, and activity downloads designed to support creativity, collaboration, and confidence across grade levels and subject areas.

https://www.crayola.com/learning/creativity-week

This special Shifting Schools holiday episode isn't about trendy gadgets or generic gift lists.

Instead, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman share seven thoughtfully chosen gifts for educators—each matched to a specific kind of person and a specific kind of need. Some gifts are playful. Some are reflective. Some are deeply practical. All of them offer a meaningful boost during a season when educators are often running on empty.

This episode asks a practical question: "What might actually support someone through their days?"

Whether you're shopping for a colleague, a school leader, a family member, or yourself, this episode helps you gift with attention, care, and intention.

🎧 What You'll Hear in This Episode 1️⃣ TekXYZ Reflex Ball A surprisingly powerful wellness tool for educators stuck in back-to-back meetings. Jeff and Tricia explore why quick movement resets attention, boosts mood, and even brings a little playfulness into staff spaces.

Perfect for: colleagues, teens, or any educator who needs a fast energy reset.

2️⃣ Letters by Lantern Light A slow-burn, story-driven mystery told through monthly letters. This gift invites patience, curiosity, and narrative thinking—qualities educators value deeply but rarely get to savor themselves.

Perfect for: grandparents, ELA teachers, reflective readers, or monthly gatherings with friends.

3️⃣ Rocketbook Smart Notebook A bridge between handwriting and digital organization. Tricia and Jeff unpack why this tool works so well for teachers, leaders, students, and creatives who think best with pen and paper.

Perfect for: note-lovers, journalers, sketchers, and idea-catchers.

4️⃣ Tune Up Fitness Alpha Ball & Yoga Tune Up Therapy Balls The gift for people who say they "don't have time for self-care." These small tools fit under desks and into real workdays—encouraging somatic awareness and tension release in minutes.

Perfect for: administrators, teachers, staff lounges, and anyone carrying stress in their body.

5️⃣ Makedo Cardboard Construction Tools A maker favorite that proves creativity doesn't require expensive materials. Jeff and Tricia highlight how this kit supports problem-solving, collaboration, and playful design—for kids and adults alike.

Perfect for: families, makerspaces, staff retreats, and rainy-day creativity.

6️⃣ INQ Smart Pen For analogue thinkers who want digital power. This pen syncs handwritten notes in real time, making it ideal for deep learning, graduate work, and idea remixing.

Perfect for: master's students, researchers, and lifelong learners.

7️⃣ TheraBox Monthly Subscription A recurring reminder that someone is seen and appreciated. Tricia calls this her most universal gift—one that says "thank you" again and again.

Perfect for: anyone who gives a lot to others.

💡 Why This Episode Matters This conversation goes beyond shopping lists. It models intentional gifting—a practice that mirrors great teaching itself: noticing, listening, and responding to real needs.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by last-minute holiday decisions, this episode offers clarity, warmth, and ideas that actually fit educators' lives.

🛒 Official Gift Links * TekXYZ Reflex Ball → https://tekxyz.com * Letters by Lantern Light → https://lettersbylanternlight.com * Rocketbook Smart Notebook → https://getrocketbook.com * Alpha Ball & Yoga Tune Up Therapy Balls → https://www.tuneupfitness.com * Makedo Cardboard Tools → https://www.make.do * INQ Smart Pen → https://www.inqfactory.com * TheraBox Subscription → https://www.mytherabox.com

We'd love to know—which gift would you give, and to whom? Join the conversation by sharing this episode or tagging @ShiftingSchools. Subscribe to the podcast for more thoughtful conversations about learning, leadership, and the future of education.

You know Pentatonix – the multi-platinum selling acapella group is the number one most listened to musical acct of the holiday season. Co-founder and Grammy winner Scott Hoying is currently starring in Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars.

Scott Hoying and his husband Mark are now also authors of an innovative picture book which features text that doubles as lyrics to a new, original Christmas song. FA LA LA FAMILY celebrates the spirit of Christmas with a look at nontraditional families.

The reviews are loving their new book:

"A fun and festive dive into Christmas celebrations with diverse families."―School Library Journal "Cozy and filled with love." ―Kirkus

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Tricia Friedman sits down with Scott and Mark Hoying, creators and authors of a new children's book that challenges traditional definitions of family and centers love, creativity, and chosen community.

Together, they explore why representation in children's literature matters, how creative collaboration shapes healthy partnerships, and what their journey toward modern, inclusive parenthood has taught them about patience, communication, and imagination.

This conversation is especially relevant for educators, parents, and caregivers seeking stories that reflect diverse families—and for anyone curious about how creativity prepares us for life's biggest transitions.

Chapters

00:00 What Defines Family Today?
02:51 Creativity, Collaboration, and Partnership
05:46 Communication in Creative Relationships
08:51 Preparing for Parenthood Through Art
11:42 Why Representation in Children's Books Matters
14:27 Stories, Holidays, and Belonging

ABOUT: Scott Hoying is a GRAMMY award winning and Emmy-nominated singer, songwriter, and arranger from the multi-platinum selling acapella group, Pentatonix. He co-founded the group in 2010 and has headlined hundreds of shows all around the world. He is currently starring in Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. He is very active in the LGBTQ+ community and works closely with The Trevor Project. How Lucky Am I? is his first picture book.

Mark Hoying is a writer and marketing professional from Seattle, Washington. After graduating from the University of Washington, he met and began developing projects with his husband, Scott Hoying. He co-wrote the original Christmas single "Thank You" on Pentatonix's holiday album and currently manages the girl group Citizen Queen.

Fa La La Family is published by Macmillan Children's Publishing Group

In this episode of Shifting Schools, bestselling author Alan Gratz joins Tricia Friedman to explore the craft of storytelling, the role of creativity in education, and why curiosity is the engine behind both great writing and great learning. Gratz shares how baseball has quietly shaped the structure of many of his novels, how he approaches character development with authenticity, and why understanding a character's background is essential for emotional truth.

The conversation also digs into the need for interdisciplinary learning in today's classrooms and the value of teacher collaboration. Gratz argues that creativity isn't a mysterious talent—it's a skill that can be nurtured, practiced, and strengthened when schools design learning experiences that cross traditional subject boundaries.

Whether you're an educator, writer, or lifelong learner, this episode offers fresh insights into how storytelling helps us understand the human experience and how curiosity fuels both art and education.

🔑 Key Takeaways * Alan Gratz's novel has stayed on the bestseller list for five years, a longevity he describes as "never taken for granted." * He uses baseball as a metaphorical framework when structuring narratives. * Creativity is a teachable practice—not an innate gift. * Interdisciplinary learning increases student engagement and deepens understanding. * Strong character development depends on knowing a character's background, motivations, and contradictions. * Reading diverse perspectives cultivates empathy, curiosity, and creative thinking. * Gratz encourages exploring multiple creative pathways in writing and education. * Schools benefit when teachers collaborate across disciplines to build rich learning experiences.

🕒 Chapters 00:00 – The Legacy of a Best-Selling Author 02:57 – Baseball as a Creative Influence 05:43 – The Teachability of Creativity 08:46 – Interdisciplinary Learning in Education 11:37 – Character Development and Authenticity 14:20 – Curiosity and the Human Condition

ALAN GRATZ is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several highly acclaimed books for young readers, including Heroes: A Novel of Pearl Harbor, Two Degrees, Ground Zero, Allies, Grenade, Refugee, Projekt 1065, Prisoner B-3087, Code of Honor, and Captain America: The Ghost Army, an original graphic novel. Alan lives with his family in the Pacific Northwest. Look for him online at alangratz.com.

Huge thanks to our show sponsor Poll Everywhere!

Learn more

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht reconnects with Marcus DiPaola, a successful content creator and documentary filmmaker. They discuss Marcus's journey from working in news to becoming a prominent influencer on platforms like TikTok, where he has amassed over 4 million followers. The conversation delves into the challenges of content creation, the importance of writing skills, and the role of AI in enhancing creative processes. Marcus shares insights on his documentary work, including a recent project on protests and his upcoming film about food insecurity. He emphasizes the value of internships for aspiring creators and the dedication required to succeed in the industry.

Connect with him:

https://www.tiktok.com/@marcus.dipaola?lang=en

https://www.youtube.com/c/marcusdipaola

Takeaways

Content creation requires strong writing skills. Consistency is key in content creation. The journey to becoming an influencer is not instant. Internships provide invaluable experience for aspiring creators. AI can assist but cannot replace creativity. Documentary filmmaking involves significant research and planning. Understanding audience engagement is crucial for content success. Passion is essential to avoid burnout in content creation. Networking from internships can lead to lasting professional relationships. The landscape of content creation is constantly evolving.

Sound bites

"You have to be super consistent." "I make one 60 second video a day." "You have to be better than that."

Chapters

00:00 Reconnecting and Backgrounds 02:39 The Journey of Content Creation 05:29 Documentary Filmmaking and Its Challenges 08:23 The Role of AI in Content Creation 10:58 Advice for Aspiring Creators and Future Projects

Thank you to our Sponsor Poll Everywhere

Learn more about them:

https://www.polleverywhere.com/plans/education?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=shiftingschools&utm_campaign=shiftingschools

Are micro schools the future of personalized learning? In this high-impact episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht sits down with David K. Richards, CEO of ChangeMaker Education, to break down one of the fastest-growing movements in the education ecosystem: microschools.

With over 125,000 micro schools and 1.5 million students already learning in small, relationship-centered environments across the U.S., this episode delivers a deeply practical and future-focused look at why educators, parents, and policymakers are paying attention.

What You'll Learn in This Episode * What a micro school really is — and why its flexible size (5–150 learners) unlocks personalization * How the pandemic accelerated the movement, doubling homeschooling rates and driving families to seek community-based alternatives. * Why micro schools are not new—they're the modern reimagining of the one-room schoolhouse. * How micro schools fit across sectors: private, charter, district-partnered, and homeschool learning centers. * The regulatory landscape educators must understand—voucher programs, ESAs, accreditation, and state-by-state flexibility.

Key Insight From David Richards Teachers often underestimate how many entrepreneurial skills they already have—project management, relationship-building, instructional design, crisis navigation, and creative problem-solving. Micro schools simply give them a pathway to use those skills with autonomy, community connection, and purpose.

Featured Guest David K. Richards CEO, ChangeMaker Education Charter school founder • Former Chief of Schools • Micro school accelerator • Host of Changemaker EDU Podcast

Learn more or apply to launch a micro school at: changemakereducation.com

Huge thank you to our show sponsor, learn more about Poll Everywhere:

https://www.polleverywhere.com/plans/education?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=shiftingschools&utm_campaign=shiftingschools

What if our pets are communicating complex ideas—and technology is finally catching up? In this episode of the Shifting Schools Podcast, cognitive scientist and FluentPet founder Leo Trottier joins us to explore how breakthroughs in animal cognition, inter-species communication, and speech-button interfaces are reshaping the way humans understand pets.

Trottier unpacks the science behind communication-enhancing tools for animals, drawing from research in cognitive psychology, comparative cognition, and linguistics to explain how dogs and cats may be expressing needs, feelings, and even intentions. He also discusses how this emerging field could deepen human–animal bonds, strengthen empathy, and influence the future of animal welfare and education.

Listeners will learn:

How cognitive science informs FluentPet's design
What behavioral research reveals about dogs' communicative abilities
Why emotional connection with animals supports childhood empathy development
The ethical and rights-based implications of interspecies dialogue
How next-generation technology could expand communication across species

Perfect for educators, future-focused parents, animal lovers, and anyone curious about the intersection of science, empathy, and emerging technology.

Thank you to our show sponsor for making episodes like these possible.

Learn more about Poll Everywhere today

Summary

In this episode, Jeff Utecht discusses the critical importance of understanding where schools stand on the AI adoption curve. He emphasizes the need for leadership to actively engage with AI and for educators to integrate AI into their teaching practices. The conversation highlights the transformative potential of AI in education, urging schools to move from mere conversation to meaningful integration.

Learn more about our amazing show sponsor: Poll Everywhere

Takeaways

AI adoption is crucial for schools today.
Leadership must model AI usage and curiosity.
Schools are on a curve of AI adoption.
Teachers should empower students to engage with AI.
AI can enhance learning, not replace teachers.
Starting small with AI can lead to significant progress.
The goal is to move from conversation to integration.
AI tools should be used daily by educators.
Understanding AI is essential for future readiness.
Schools must not fall behind in AI integration.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of AI in Education 02:37 Understanding the AI Adoption Curve 06:01 Empowering Schools to Embrace AI

Discover how educators are using generative AI not to automate, but to elevate critical thinking and collaboration in K-12 schools. In this episode of Shifting Schools, host Tricia Friedman shows how "disagreement by design" and intentional prompt-engineering transform student and leadership learning.

What you'll learn:

What disagreement by design looks like in real classrooms and leadership teams
How prompt engineering unlocks student curiosity and systems-thinking mindset in K-12
Why writing bespoke GPT bots might just be the 'new essay' of our times

Who this episode is for: Any educator, school leader or district-innovator exploring how to responsibly integrate companion AI, AI avatars and prompt-driven dialogue into a learning ecosystem.

🧭 Key Topics * What "disagreement by design" looks like in real classrooms * How prompt engineering can unlock student curiosity * Why generative AI needs to serve learning, not automation * Examples of schools using AI for civic and digital literacy * Mindsets for leading change with courage and care

Want to try out the chatbots?

'All about Avatars' https://chatgpt.com/g/g-69000b1682a8819188039180edcc55ce-all-about-avatars

On the Rise of Livestreaming: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-68ffd3cfb750819197dfa42090d38076-making-sense-of-fanum-and-the-rise-of-streaming

Learn more about our amazing show sponsor: Poll Everywhere

Keep learning with Shifting Schools

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Generative AI and Its Misunderstandings 01:36 The Importance of Designed Disagreement in AI 03:57 Prompt Engineering: Thinking Like a Designer 09:26 Creating Custom Chatbots for Specific Needs 13:52 AI Literacy and Community Building Through Technology

A conversation that reminds us how curiosity, art, and iteration can reshape are necessary and may even be assets for our school leadership and the ways we nurture creative courage in young learners....

In this episode, Tricia Friedman sits down with author-illustrator Christy Mandin to explore what school leaders can learn from the creative process behind children's literature. Together they unpack how curiosity fuels empathy, how messy iteration sparks innovation, and how embracing the dark and uncertain moments of creativity can make us more compassionate educators.

What You'll Learn * Why boredom and unstructured time are essential ingredients for student creativity. * How to help students (and ourselves) become friends with the dark—embracing uncertainty as a path to growth. * Why modeling curiosity, reflection, and open-mindedness is one of the most powerful leadership moves.

Christy Mandin is the author and illustrator of multiple picture books. She's grown many interesting plants in her garden over the years but, so far, none with teeth or tentacles. She currently lives in Georgia with her husband and four children. Visit Christy online at christymandin.com or Instagram @christymandin

Learn more about our amazing show sponsor: Poll Everywhere

Keep learning with Shifting Schools.

The conversation about AI in education often starts—and stops—with cheating. But what if that's the least interesting part of the story? In this episode, Tricia Friedman speaks with the team behind the new show: The Homework Machine, MIT's Justin Reich and journalist Jesse Dukes. They unpack how generative AI is reshaping what we mean by integrity, creativity, and student voice. Together they explore how teachers can balance innovation with empathy, and what schools might learn from students already living in the AI age.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to The Homework Machine 02:47 The Importance of Listening to Students 05:45 AI and Academic Integrity: A Deeper Look 08:23 The Role of Relationships in Education 10:59 Challenges in Teacher-Student Relationships 13:46 Navigating AI in Education 16:38 The Need for Empathy in Educational Policy 19:15 The Impact of the Pandemic on Education 22:17 Engaging Skeptics in AI Discussions 24:41 Finding Balance in Educational Priorities 27:45 Creating Safe Spaces for Student Voices 30:27 Looking Ahead: Future of The Homework Machine

The Homework Machine is a mini series from TeachLab, a podcast that investigates the art and craft of teaching. Hosted by Justin Reich, MIT Professor and director of the MIT Teaching Systems Lab.

https://www.teachlabpodcast.com/

Jesse Dukes is a journalist and comedian who has done (nearly) all the jobs in podcasting and audio including producer, editor, executive producer, reporter, mix engineer, and teacher. Along with other projects, He's currently working with the Teaching System's Lab at MIT on The Homework Machine, a research and podcasting project about the arrival of generative AI in schools. He has taught audio storytelling at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke and Denison University.

Justin Reich is an associate professor of digital media in the Comparative Media Studies/Writing department at MIT and the director of the Teaching Systems Lab. He is the author of Failure to Disrupt: Why Technology Alone Can't Transform Education, and the host of the TeachLab Podcast. He earned his doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was the Richard L. Menschel HarvardX Research Fellow. He is a past Fellow at the Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society. His writings have been published in Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington Post, The Atlantic, and other scholarly journals and public venues. He started his career as a high school history teacher, and coach of wrestling and outdoor adventure activities.

We are grateful to our sponsors:

Poll Everywhere for supporting us this season, learn more:

https://www.polleverywhere.com/plans/education?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=shiftingschools&utm_campaign=shiftingschools

In this episode Tricia Friedman talks listeners through an example of how she vibe coding an app from start to finish.

Her vibe coding process of building an app blends AI literacy, digital humanities, and leadership design thinking.

What does this tell us about the future of using generative AI for projects in K12?

This episode is sponsored by our amazing friends at Poll Everywhere.

Join over 1 million educators using Poll Everywhere. Try it risk free for 30 days—we'll refund you if it's not a good fit. Listeners will gain insight into:

how AI-assisted app design reshapes collaboration and imagination in schools
what happens when storytelling meets software in project-based learning
why ethical AI, digital well-being, and student agency must anchor innovation

Ultimately, this episode challenges educators to think differently about what it means to "build." Tricia frames vibe coding as an invitation to design with empathy — where app creation, futures literacy, and educator creativity merge to model a more human-centered approach to technology in learning.

If you're curious about AI in education, digital storytelling, women in edtech, or the future of creative leadership, this episode offers a front-row seat to the evolving intersection of art, code, and compassion.

Today, a college diploma is no guarantee that graduates have the competencies that businesses need, including using emerging technologies, communicating, working in teams, and other necessary skills. So, it’s fair to ask, “Do students really need a college degree”?

Brandeis University President, and nationally respected higher education leader and researcher, Arthur Levine has been at the forefront of the changing role of higher education. Co-author of THE GREAT UPHEAVAL, HIGHER EDUCATIONS PAST PRESENT AND UNCERTAIN FUTURE, Levine argues that in the next 20 years, consumers of higher education will determine what higher education will be, and that every institution will have to change.

Today, the United States is undergoing change of even greater magnitude and speed than it did during the Industrial Revolution as it shifts from a national, analog, industrial economy to a global, digital, knowledge economy. At the same time, public confidence in higher education has declined. Threatened by a demographic cliff in most states where fewer students will be graduating from high school over the next 20 years, the increased competition for students means that a larger number of higher education institutions will be closing or merging with other institutions. It is expected that as many as 20 to 25 percent of colleges, particularly liberal arts colleges and comprehensive regional colleges, will close in the coming years.

Learn more about The Great Upheaval:

The book reveals that five new realities, none of higher education’s own making, will characterize the coming transformation:

Institutional control of higher education will decrease, and the power of higher education consumers will increase. In a range of knowledge industries, the advent of the global, digital, knowledge economy multiplied the number of content providers and disseminators and gave consumers choice over what, where, when, and how of the content they consumed. The same will be true of higher education. The digital revolution will put more power in the hands of the learner who will have greater choice about all aspects of their own education.
With near universal access to digital devices and the Internet, students will seek from higher education the same things they are getting from the music, movie and newspaper industries. Given the choice, consumers of the three industries chose round-the-clock over fixed-time access, consumer- rather than producer-determined content, personalized over uniform content, and low prices over high. In the emerging higher education environment, students are placing a premium on convenience—anytime, anyplace accessibility; personalized education that fits their circumstances and unbundling, only purchasing what they need or want to buy at affordable prices. For instance, during the pandemic, while college enrollments were declining, enrollment in institutions with these attributes, such as Coursera, an online learning platform, saw the number of students they serve jump. In the United States and abroad, Coursera enrollments jumped from 53 to 78 million. That 25 million student increase is more than the entire enrollment in U.S. higher education.
New content producers and distributors will enter the higher education marketplace, driving up institutional competition and consumer choice and driving down prices. We are already seeing a proliferation of new postsecondary institutions, organizations and programs that have abandoned key elements of mainstream higher education. These emphasize digital technologies, reject time and place-based education, create low-cost degrees, adopt competency or outcome-based education, and award nontraditional credentials. Increasingly, libraries, museums, media companies and software makers have entered the marketplace, offering content, instruction and certification. Google offers 80 certificate programs and Microsoft has 77. The American Museum of Natural History has its own graduate school, which offers a Ph.D. in comparative biology, a Master of Arts degree in teaching, and short-term online courses that teachers can use for graduate study or professional development credit. The new providers are not only more accessible and convenient, offering a combination of competency- and course-based programs, they are also cheaper and more agile than traditional colleges and universities which will lead to more contraction and closings?
The industrial era model of higher education focusing on time, process and teaching will be eclipsed by a knowledge economy successor rooted in outcomes and learning. In the future, higher education will focus on the outcomes we want students to achieve, what we want them to learn, not how long we want them to be taught. This is because students don’t learn at the same rate and because the explosion of new content being produced by employers, museums, software companies, banks, retailers and other organizations inside and outside higher education will be so heterogeneous that what students accomplish cannot be translated into uniform time or process measures. The one common denominator they all share is that they produce outcomes, whatever students learn as consequence of the experience.
The dominance of degrees and “Just-in-case” education will diminish; non-degree certifications and “Just-in-time” education will increase in status and value. American higher education has historically focused on degree granting programs intended to prepare their students for careers and life beyond college. This has been called “just-in-case education” because its focus is teaching students the skills and knowledge that institutions believe will be necessary for the future. In contrast, “just-in-time education” is present-oriented and more immediate, teaching students the skills and knowledge they need right now. “Just-in-time education” comes in all shapes and sizes, largely diverging from traditional academic time standards, uniform course lengths and common credit measures. The increasing need for upskilling and reskilling caused by automation, the knowledge explosion and Covid promises to tilt the balance toward more “just-in-time education, which is closely aligned with the labor market and provides certificates, micro-credentials, and badges, not degrees.

This episode is made possible by our partner Poll Everywhere

Poll Everywhere’s new version makes student engagement faster, simpler, and smarter. With AI-powered poll creation and seamless LMS integration, it’s built to transform lectures into truly interactive learning experiences. Try it out today with special promo code '25OFF'

In this conversation, Tricia Friedman speaks with authors Dylan Thuras and Jennifer Swanson about their ambitious book that explores the evolution of invention and technology. They discuss the importance of collaboration in science, the interdisciplinary nature of learning, and how curiosity drives innovation. The conversation also highlights the role of play in the invention process and how everyday objects can inspire new perspectives.

Dylan Thuras is the cofounder and creative director of Atlas Obscura. He lives in Rosendale, NY

Jennifer Swanson is an award-winning children’s author of more than forty-five nonfiction and fiction books, including National Geographic Kids Brain Games and Outdoor School: Rocks, Fossils, and Shells. She is also the creator and co-host of the award-winning podcast Solve It for Kids. Visit her online at jenniferswansonbooks.com and @jenswanbooks.

Chapters

00:00 The Ambitious Project Begins 02:52 Exploring the Evolution of Invention 05:56 The Power of Collaboration in Science 08:38 Interdisciplinary Learning and Curiosity 11:30 The Role of Play in Invention 14:23 A New Perspective on Everyday Objects

On this episode Jeff and Tricia catch up on all the learning they did last summer.

Hear them talk about gardening...and of course generative AI

Learn more about how to catch them this year:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman discuss their upcoming training sessions focused on integrating AI into education. They emphasize the importance of understanding AI's impact on the job market, the necessity of prompt engineering as a new skill for educators, and the need for AI literacy among students. The conversation also touches on the evolving nature of AI tools and the importance of addressing mental health concerns related to technology use among students.

You can learn more about the five part series:

https://web.cvent.com/event/19d647db-557e-4502-8a0c-17bd3325fe0b/summary

Takeaways

AI is reshaping the educational landscape and job market. Understanding AI's impact is crucial for educators and students. Prompt engineering is a vital skill for effective AI use. Generative AI can enhance learning and career exploration. Educators must engage with students about AI and its implications. AI literacy is essential for preparing students for future careers. The evolution of AI tools requires ongoing adaptation in teaching. Interdisciplinary approaches can enrich AI education. Mental health concerns related to technology must be addressed. Local context is important in AI training for educators.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI in Education 02:51 The Driftwood: Navigating AI's Impact 08:38 Understanding Job Market Changes 14:19 Prompt Engineering: The New Skill 20:05 AI Literacy and Its Importance 25:57 Engaging with Students on AI and Mental Health

On April 13th, 2018, Nepali New Year's Eve, the University of Texas at Tyler revoked full-ride scholarships it had previously awarded to 60 Nepali students. The university described it as "an administrative oversight." But the global education community knew that it was an unprecedented admissions crisis. The scholarships, which included tuition as well as room and board, were revoked well after most other US university application deadlines had passed. Thus, Nepali students had already declined offers from other institutions they had previously applied to. The moment UT Tyler's mass email hit the inboxes of these high-need, high-performing students, some were already midway through the visa process to attend UT Tyler, and all had celebrated the momentous feat of a hard-earned Presidential Scholarship. In the days following, Selena Malla at USEF-Nepal, Kathmandu, issued a call on social media for help. After seeing a call for support from Selena, Joan Liu, a university advisor at the United World College of South East Asia, Singapore, stepped forward to help. Joan assembled a group of counselors from several corners of the world to form a volunteer crisis management team. Joan Liu is on the show to explain how we can step up this September to support Second Chance.

Ready to learn more?

https://www.secondchance.global/

In this episode, Jeff Utecht, Tricia Friedman, and Dr. Curt Merlau discuss the transformative role of AI and data literacy in education and employment. They explore how Pivot, an AI-powered tool, helps unemployed individuals find better job opportunities and training. The conversation emphasizes the importance of data literacy for educators and the potential of AI to personalize learning and improve educational outcomes. They also highlight real-world applications of data in education and the need for teachers to embrace AI responsibly to prepare students for the future.

Connect with our guest on LinkedIN:

Vice President @ Resultant | EdD, Organizational Leadership and Learning Former Educator, Administrator, and now Consultant. Interoperability Nerd. AI Enthusiast

Connect with the work Dr. Curt does.

Chapters

00:00Introduction to Pivot and AI in Employment 02:15The Importance of Data and AI Literacy 06:27AI's Role in Education and Personalized Learning 10:08The Power of Data in Student Success 12:42Emerging Pathways and Career Opportunities 19:36Preparing Teachers for an AI-Driven Future Connect with Jeff and Tricia on LinkedIN Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffutecht/ Tricia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tricia-friedman/

In this conversation, Tricia Friedman and LeeAnne Lavendar discuss the evolving landscape of service learning and education. They explore the importance of experiential learning, community engagement, and the need for transformative teaching practices that resonate with students. LeeAnne shares practical examples and insights on how educators can adapt their approaches to foster curiosity, joy, and meaningful connections in the classroom. The discussion also touches on the significance of future-proofing education by equipping students with essential skills for the complexities of the modern world.

Chapters

00:00 The Future of Service Learning 05:52 Transformative Learning Experiences 11:33 Future-Proofing Education 14:30 Community Engagement in Education 19:16 Practical Approaches to Curriculum Design 22:39 Embracing Change in Education

Thank you to our amazing show sponsor: Alongside

In this episode, Jeff Utecht interviews Jack Brewster, CEO of Newsreel, discussing the importance of news literacy, the impact of misinformation, and how Newsreel aims to engage students with high-quality news. They explore the role of social media and AI in journalism, the skills needed for future journalists, and how educators can utilize Newsreel to enhance students' critical thinking and media consumption habits.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Newsreel and Its Mission 02:29 The Role of News Literacy in Education 05:09 Engaging Students with Newsreel 09:00 Misinformation on Social Media 09:49 Skills for Future Journalists 14:04 AI's Role in Journalism 17:32 Data Insights for Educators 21:49 Ensuring Accurate News Reporting

Jack has written for The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Time Magazine, Vice, Fortune, Newsweek, and The New York Daily News.

His reporting has been covered by The New York Times, Bloomberg, CNN The Washington Post, and other news outlets.

In September 2024, Jack and his then-colleague Sam Howard broke the story uncovering the source of the viral claim that Haitian migrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. In 2022, he led the team that conducted a landmark study on TikTok’s algorithm, which revealed its propensity to feed misinformation to young users.

Jack was previously a Fulbright scholar in Germany conducting research on news avoidance and young people’s changing media habits.

Get started exploring NewsReel today:

https://newsreel.co/about

Tricia Friedman and Dr. Joshua Scacco explore the evolving landscape of political communication, emphasizing the impact of technology and attention fatigue on democracy. They discuss the dual nature of change in political engagement, the importance of understanding human behavior, and the challenges posed by the entertainmentification of politics. Scacco highlights the need for future researchers to adapt to new communication styles and the role of regulation in shaping political messaging. The conversation concludes with a focus on building community and preparing individuals for meaningful democratic engagement.

Joshua M. Scacco (PhD, University of Texas at Austin) is the founding Director of the Center for Sustainable Democracy at the University of South Florida. He also is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication. Dr. Scacco specializes in political communication, media content and effects, and quantitative research methods. He is the co-author, with Kevin Coe, of "The Ubiquitous Presidency: Presidential Communication and Digital Democracy in Tumultuous Times" (Oxford, 2021). Dr. Scacco also serves as a Faculty Researcher with the award-winning Center for Media Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin.

Chapters

00:00 The Evolution of Political Communication 03:02 Navigating Attention in Modern Politics 06:54 Emerging Technologies and Political Engagement 12:30 Understanding Human Behavior in Politics 17:15 The Entertainmentification of Politics 21:28 Preparing Future Researchers 27:12 Regulating Information in Democracy 32:58 Building Community for Democratic Resilience

Connect with our guest

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jscacco/

Learn more about our show sponsor

https://www.alongside.care/shifting?utm_campaign=Shifting

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht interviews Dr. Annalies Corbin, author of 'Hacking School: Five Strategies to Link Learning to Life.' They discuss the origins of the PAST Foundation, the importance of STEM identity, and the five key strategies for educational reform. Annalies emphasizes the need for cultural relevance, student agency, and problem-based learning in education. They also explore the challenges educators face in implementing these changes, the impact of standardized testing, and the concept of wicked problems in education. The conversation highlights the importance of community involvement and the future of education in preparing students for their roles as engaged citizens.

Dr. Annalies Corbin is the Chief Goddess, Founder & CEO the PAST Foundation. In 2000, Dr. Corbin founded the PAST Foundation, an organization she envisioned could lead the way to connecting scientific research with classrooms, schools and communities. From 2000-2006, Annalies concurrently led the PAST Foundation and taught at East Carolina University’s Program in Maritime Studies. In 2005, when PAST opened its headquarters in Columbus, Annalies turned all efforts to building the PAST Foundation, assembling a team that could grow the reach and mission of linking learning to life.

From a single school partnership in 2006, Annalies has grown PAST’s supporters across the nation, building a reputation for both transforming teaching and learning by understanding tomorrow’s education needs. In 2015, Annalies’ commitment to transforming schools led to the development of PAST Innovation Lab. Connecting directly with teachers through online professional development courses, MAEd program and on- site workshops, PAST Innovation Lab impacts more classrooms and expands learning opportunities for teachers and students everywhere. In 25 years, PAST has impacted more than 3,000,000 students, over 25,000 teachers across 42 states, hosting nearly 20,000 visitors and building hundreds of partnerships.

Chapters

00:00 The Genesis of Hacking School 02:54 Understanding STEM Identity 05:47 The Five Key Strategies for Education 08:28 Challenges in Implementing Change 11:24 The Impact of Standardized Testing 14:09 Wicked Problems in Education 18:55 Understanding Wicked Problems 21:21 The Role of Educators in Navigating Complexity 23:39 Shifting Mindsets in Education 27:25 Building Community Support for Change 31:18 Preparing Future Citizens and Thinkers 34:22 The Importance of Educator Authenticity

Learn more about our sponsors and opportunities to connect with Jeff and Tricia this academic year:

https://pod.shiftingschools.com/

What if AI could help schools not just support educators as they work to manage student mental health needs, but prevent crises before they start? In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Elsa Friis, licensed clinical psychologist from Alongside, returns to discuss how her team is using clinician-built AI tools to support students, educators, and families. From building trust through anonymity to boosting classroom attendance, Elsa shares research, real stories, and the myths she’s constantly debunking.

🎧 You’ll hear about:

Why mental health support doesn't need to be 55 minutes long to make an impact
The surprising issue most students anonymously seek support for (hint: it's not test anxiety)
The difference between ChatGPT and what Alongside is actually doing with AI

Learn more about our guest:

Dr. Elsa Friis, Ph.D., Msc-GH, is a licensed psychologist, researcher, and behavioral health advocate who specializes in utilizing technology to expand access to youth mental health support.

She received her MS in Global Health and PhD in Clinical psychology from Duke University where she leveraged human-centered design to develop an app to support the implementation of a family therapy intervention in Kenya.

Dr. Elsa Friis has published over 20 peer-reviewed articles on the co-development, adaptation, and implementation of culturally salient youth interventions in the US and globally.

Clinically, Elsa has worked and trained in a variety of settings in NC and GA including schools, primary-care clinics, academic medical centers, and hospitals. She is trained in a variety of third-wave cognitive behavioral treatments for youth including DBT-A, ACT, and TF-CBT. She specializes in family-based approaches to treating anxiety, severe behavior concerns, and suicidal ideation.

Elsa firmly believes in co-creating products in partnership with the youth and stakeholders who will utilize them.

Learn more about the ground-breaking resarch they are doing:

https://www.alongside.care/shifting?utm_campaign=Shifting

[02:15] – What Alongside Does How Alongside supports students through tier one mental health interventions.

[05:30] – AI and Mental Health: What Makes Alongside Different Why this isn't just another ChatGPT wrapper—and how clinician-built tools matter.

[10:45] – The Power of Single Session Interventions How 5-minute check-ins can drive lasting change in student well-being.

[15:20] – What the Research Says About the Youth Mental Health Crisis Surprising findings about stress, social pressure, and how even fourth graders are feeling overwhelmed.

[20:00] – How Alongside Supports Educators Too Reducing burnout, building staff confidence, and offering private coaching tools for teachers.

[25:30] – What’s Next for Alongside New research, upcoming findings, and how to bring Alongside into your school or district.

How do we prepare students—and ourselves—for a world where AI grief companions and "deadbots" are a reality?

In this eye-opening episode, Jeff Utecht sits down with Dr. Tomasz Hollanek, a critical design and AI ethics researcher at the University of Cambridge’s Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, to discuss:

The rise of AI companions like Character.AI and Replika
Emotional manipulation risks and the ethics of human-AI relationships
What educators need to know about the EU AI Act and digital consent
How to teach AI literacy beyond skill-building—focusing on ethics, emotional health, and the environmental impact of generative AI
Promising examples: preserving Indigenous languages and Holocaust survivor testimonies through AI

From griefbots to regulation loopholes, Tomasz explains why educators are essential voices in shaping how AI unfolds in schools and society—and how we can avoid repeating the harms of the social media era.

Dr Tomasz Hollanek is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (LCFI) and an Affiliated Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Technology at the University of Cambridge, working at the intersection of AI ethics and critical design. His current research focuses on the ethics of human-AI interaction design and the challenges of developing critical AI literacy among diverse stakeholder groups; related to the latter research stream is the work on AI, media, and communications that he is leading at LCFI.

Connect with him:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13347-024-00744-w

https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/items/d3229fe5-db87-42ff-869b-11e0538014d8

https://www.desirableai.com/journalism-toolkit

📌 Key Takeaways * Teenagers are vulnerable AI users. Many systems simulate empathy while bypassing meaningful regulation or safeguards. * Consent needs a redesign. Hollanek proposes recurring consent mechanisms—a shift from passive pop-ups to informed, adaptive engagement. * AI literacy ≠ prompt engineering. We must move from tool proficiency to critical awareness of data footprints, systemic manipulation, and long-term impact. * Social AI is the new social media. Without thoughtful intervention, the pitfalls of social media could repeat—and intensify—with AI companions. * AI for cultural preservation. Ethical use of AI offers promise for sustaining languages and stories that might otherwise disappear.

🧠 For Educators: Use This Episode To * Spark classroom discussions on ethics, digital legacy, and emotional AI * Reflect on policy decisions around edtech adoption and student data consent * Explore speculative design as a student project to imagine future AI uses and risks * Guide students in analyzing AI’s impact on mental health and community memory

Thank you to our show sponsor, Alongside.

Learn more about their critical research:

Inside the report: > Teens are struggling with sleep more than ever > School-life balance feels out of reach at every age > Boys are looking for new ways to ask for help > Confidential, self-guided tools are resonating deeply with students.

https://www.alongside.care/shifting?utm_campaign=Shifting

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht speaks with Jackie Insinger and Monica White about their book, 'Spark Brilliance for Educators.' They discuss the application of positive psychology in education, the importance of addressing teacher burnout, and the transformative impact of the Spark framework on both teachers and students. The conversation highlights the significance of authentic connections in the classroom and the need for a systemic approach to improve school culture and mental health. Learn more:

https://www.sparkeducators.org/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Brilliance and Positive Psychology 02:40 Impact of Positive Psychology in Education 04:43 Teacher Burnout and Student Empowerment 09:37 The Platinum Rule: A Mindset Shift 13:37 Implementing the Spark Framework in Schools 20:37 Being Present: The Importance of Authentic Connection

Huge thanks to our series sponsor:

Alongside

In this conversation, Tricia Friedman speaks with Tania Tasopoulou, a business psychologist and organizational development expert with more than 25 years of experience in Europe and the GCC. Tania has led executive roles at global organizations including Coca-Cola HBC and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and began her career at Korn Ferry (formerly Hay Group S.A.), where she served as Expertise Leader for Talent Management and Leadership Development across Southeast Europe.

Now the founder of OrgDesignWays, Tania is pioneering conversations about the future of work, the transformative power of Generative AI, and how leaders can evolve alongside technology—not behind it. Together, Tricia and Tania explore how AI reveals patterns in human behavior, why psychology and philosophy are more relevant than ever, and how families and educators can help shape mindsets that are adaptive, creative, and future-ready.

Whether you’re an HR professional, educator, or executive navigating emerging technologies, this episode will challenge you to rethink leadership, learning, and the real future of human-centered work.

Meet our guest:

Tania is a business psychologist and organizational development expert with over 25 years of experience in Europe and the the GCC region, holding diverse executive roles in both Organizational Development and Business Operations.

Tania started her career as a consultant at Korn-Ferry (formerly Hay Group S.A.) where she was the Expertise Leader for Talent Management & Leadership Development for South East Europe, before moving to corporate roles in Coca-Cola HBC and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

Tania is deeply interested in the future of work and the transformative impact of technology, particularly Generative AI, on the work landscape. For this reason, Tania established OrgDesignWays, a pioneering company with the vision to lead the future of organizational development through People & AI.

Tania holds two BAs in Psychology, an MSc in Organisational Assessment and an Executive MBA.

Connect with our guest:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tania-tasopoulou/

https://orgdesignways.com/

https://www.taniatasopoulou.com/

Learn more about our show sponsors for our summer series:

https://pod.shiftingschools.com/

⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps 00:01 – Origins of a Futurist Mindset Tania shares what sparked her lifelong interest in organizational strategy and the future of work.

03:22 – Generative AI & Redefining Job Value What large language models reveal about how we value human contribution in the workplace.

05:23 – Why Humanities are More Important Than Ever A compelling case for blending psychology, philosophy, and technology in future-focused education.

07:31 – Chatbots, Comfort, and Asking Big Questions A study reveals students prefer asking questions to AI—what does that mean for learning?

09:22 – Fear vs. Opportunity in the Future of Work Why we need to shift our mindset to prepare for jobs that don’t exist yet.

12:32 – Raising Curious, Adaptive Humans Tania offers parenting insights on how to build confidence, resilience, and readiness for change.

17:32 – How Psychology Explains Generative AI From hallucinations to biases: Tania explains how psychology helps decode AI behavior.

21:44 – Interdisciplinary Leadership in the Age of AI Why leadership today means managing both people and intelligent systems.

In this conversation, Tricia Friedman and Rachael Mann explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on education, the workforce, and various industries. They discuss the importance of preparing educators and students for the changes brought about by AI, emphasizing that it's not too late to start engaging with these technologies. The conversation also touches on the intersection of AI with creative fields, the potential for AI to enhance career and technical education (CTE), and the need for a balanced perspective on the benefits and challenges of AI. Mann shares insights from her experiences and encourages a mindset of curiosity and experimentation with AI tools.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating the Shifts in Education and Work 06:28 AI's Impact on Medicine and Education 12:49 Art, AI, and the Concept of Self 18:53 AI in CTE: Expanding Opportunities 22:30 Preparing for an AI-Driven Future

Connect with Rachael Mann:

https://www.instagram.com/rachaeledu/

https://rachaelmann.co/

We are so thankful for our show sponsor!

Explore Alongside's brand new research report

Be among the first to dive into Alongside’s Pulling Back the Curtain on Youth Mental Health report — packed with insights from over 250,000 teen chats and activities during the 2024–25 school year.

Inside the report: > Teens are struggling with sleep more than ever > School-life balance feels out of reach at every age > Boys are looking for new ways to ask for help > Confidential, self-guided tools are resonating deeply with students. receive the full report.

In this conversation, Tricia Friedman speaks with Jerome James about the evolving landscape of engineering, the importance of curiosity and problem-solving skills, and how AI is changing the profession. They discuss the intersection of engineering and mental health, the significance of effective communication in energy management, and the qualities employers seek in engineers. Jerome shares insights on finding one's niche in engineering and the unexpected joys of making a positive impact through one's work.

Chapters

00:00 Engineering the Future: An Introduction 03:05 Curiosity and Problem Solving in Engineering 05:57 The Impact of AI on Engineering Mindsets 08:50 Engineering Meets Mental Health 12:00 Communicating Change in Energy Management 15:07 Experimenting with Change: A Personal Approach 18:52 What Employers Seek in Engineers 21:46 The Role of Hobbies in Building Confidence 24:55 Finding Your Niche in Engineering 27:57 Unexpected Delights of Being an Engineer

Learn more about our guest:

An active volunteer, Jerome donates time and energy to Global Shapers – a global forum dedicated to creating social change within local communities around the world – and the World Partnership Walk in Calgary – a non-profit organization dedicated to making significant and positive steps towards ending global poverty in the developing world. He also cares deeply about international and sustainable development and has spent time overseas volunteering in India with a micro-finance non-profit focused on supporting women to become economic engines in their own communities. As a mechanical engineer who has worked in the power industry, Jerome believes in a balanced approach when it comes to developing our resources. He also believes that economic prosperity goes hand-in-hand with diligent stewardship of our precious environmental resources.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesjerome/

We are so thankful for our show sponsor!

Join Alongside for a free webinar this June 26th

Be among the first to dive into Alongside’s Pulling Back the Curtain on Youth Mental Health report — packed with insights from over 250,000 teen chats and activities during the 2024–25 school year. This free webinar breaks down what today’s teens are really facing—and how schools can respond.

Join Dr. Elsa Friis, Ph.D., Head of Product and Clinical at Alongside, veteran educator Jess Bell, M.Ed., and teen advisor Priya Antony for a candid conversation on the year’s biggest mental health trends.Inside the report

Inside the report: > Teens are struggling with sleep more than ever > School-life balance feels out of reach at every age > Boys are looking for new ways to ask for help > Confidential, self-guided tools are resonating deeply with students. Save your seat now and be among the first to receive the full report.

What does it mean to embracing change in the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

Our special guest talks about the skills and mindset we need to embrace.

Welcome to our summer series on the future world of work. We kick it off with Ann Nakaska.

Ann Nakaska M.Ed. CDF has a background in psychology, education, and business. She specializes in career decision making and career planning with a special interest in career opportunities of the future. She believes that by people can prepare for the fourth industrial revolution workplace by developing a GET (Global, Entrepreneurial and Technological) Ready Mindset.

Connect with her:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-nakaska-ba-med-52315747/

https://constructivecareer.com/

Learn more about our series partner:

We are so thankful to our sponsor Alongside, learn more about the critical research they are doing and join them for a special webinar on June 26th.

Join Dr. Elsa Friis, Ph.D., Head of Product and Clinical at Alongside, veteran educator Jess Bell, M.Ed., and teen advisor Priya Antony for a candid conversation on the year’s biggest mental health trends.Inside the report: Inside the report: > Teens are struggling with sleep more than ever > School-life balance feels out of reach at every age > Boys are looking for new ways to ask for help > Confidential, self-guided tools are resonating deeply with students. Save your seat now and be among the first to receive the full report.

Sign up today.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating the Fourth Industrial Revolution 04:45 The Importance of a Get Ready Mindset 10:04 Integrating Entrepreneurial Skills in Education 14:12 Understanding Industry Dynamics 19:38 Focusing on Work vs. Job 25:25 Finding and Solving Problems 32:40 Researching Opportunities in a Changing World

Listeners voted and told us this summer they wanted us to tell them more about the future world of work.

Jeff and Tricia will bring listeners an incredible lineup of experts from a broad range of industries to tell us more about where we are heading.

The summer series is proud to partner with Alongside.

Tune in June 16th to catch the first episode in our summer of great conversations.

In this conversation, Erin Williamson from Love 146 discusses the organization's core values of defiant hope and unfiltered joy, emphasizing the importance of trauma-informed care in supporting youth who have experienced trafficking. She highlights the necessity of a collective effort in addressing these complex issues and the role of policy in protecting victims. The discussion also touches on the importance of teaching consent and navigating relationships, as well as how the public can support change through awareness and advocacy.

Erin Williamson is the Chief Programs & Strategy Officer at Love146, where she’s spent over a decade fighting child trafficking through trauma-informed care, prevention education, and survivor advocacy. With 20+ years in the field, Erin brings deep insight into protecting vulnerable youth and driving policy change—while balancing her role as a parent and education advocate. Erin holds a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) from American University & is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Learn more

https://www.facebook.com/love146.org/

https://love146.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-williamson-5b88b58b

https://x.com/Love146

Chapters

00:00 Defiant Hope and Unfiltered Joy in Action

05:03 The Importance of Trauma-Informed Care

09:13 The Collective Effort in Addressing Trafficking

15:42 Navigating Complex Relationships and Boundaries

21:26 Teaching Consent Across Generations

27:58 Rethinking Child Autonomy and Rights

33:11 The Role of Policy in Supporting Victims

39:50 How the Public Can Support Change

In this conversation, Dr. Loui Lord Nelson discusses the connections between technical theater and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), emphasizing the importance of intentional design in educational environments. The conversation explores barriers to implementing UDL, the significance of emotional connections in learning, and the necessity of fostering collaboration and community among learners. Dr. Nelson highlights the role of educators in creating inclusive and supportive learning spaces that cater to the diverse needs of all students. In this conversation, Loui Lord Nelson, Ph.D., discusses the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and how to make learning more accessible and engaging for all students. She emphasizes the importance of context in learning, the use of metaphors like sunsets to explain UDL, and provides practical resources for educators looking to implement UDL strategies. The discussion also touches on the significance of designing for barriers and fostering learner agency, as well as the iterative nature of design in educational settings.

Ready to learn more from our guest?

https://theudlapproach.com/

Chapters

00:00 The Intersection of Technical Theater and UDL 04:09 Intentional Design in Learning Environments 11:14 Barriers to Implementing UDL 17:44 Emotional Connections in Learning 22:14 Fostering Collaboration and Community 30:33 Accessible Learning Resources 31:33 The Sunset Analogy for UDL 36:10 Starting Points for UDL Implementation 40:31 Understanding UDL Gears 46:42 Designing for Barriers and Agency 52:44 The Design Workflow and Reflection

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht interviews Nicholas Bradford, founder of the National Center for Restorative Justice. They discuss the importance of restorative justice in education, the training and engagement strategies for teachers, and the current trends in school management and student engagement. Nicholas shares insights on the future of restorative justice, emphasizing the need for empathetic approaches in handling student conflicts and the importance of community engagement through conferences and workshops. Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Restorative Justice in Education 05:35 Trends in School Engagement and Management 11:31 Future of Restorative Justice in Education 17:26 Conferences and Community Engagement

Meet our guest:

With over 15 years of experience in the field, Nicholas has worked extensively to promote belonging, culture change, and accountability through restorative justice. He is the founder of the National Center for Restorative Justice and the author of A Real-World Guide to Restorative Justice for Schools. His work is informed by a unique blend of personal insight, academic expertise, and a 24-year career in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, making him a dynamic and deeply knowledgeable voice in this space.

https://www.nationalcenterforrestorativejustice.com/

This is a topic so nice, Jeff just had to talk about it twice!

If you missed last week's episode you might want to check it out first, it is a great precursor to this conversation where Jeff Utecht explores the integration of AI in trade classrooms, focusing on material selection, safety simulations, and the pedagogical benefits of using AI tools. He emphasizes the importance of preparing students for a future where AI is prevalent in the workforce, advocating for a collaborative approach where AI acts as a co-pilot in education. Through practical examples and insights, Utecht illustrates how AI can enhance learning experiences and improve efficiency in trade education.

Chapters

00:00The Future of AI in Trade Classrooms 02:59Material Selection and Optimization with AI 05:52AI-Driven Safety Simulations and Briefings 08:50Integrating AI into Classroom Practices 12:11Preparing Students for a Sustainable Future 15:00AI as a Co-Pilot in Education

In this episode, Jeff Utecht explores the transformative impact of AI in Career and Technical Education (CTE) classrooms, particularly in construction and welding. He discusses how generative AI tools can enhance learning and efficiency, providing real-world applications and examples. The conversation emphasizes the importance of preparing students for a future where AI plays a crucial role in skilled trades, highlighting the need for critical thinking and verification of AI-generated information.

Chapters

00:00 AI in CTE Classrooms: A New Era 04:49 Generative AI in Construction and Welding 10:03 Building Information Management Software 14:45 Computer Vision in Welding Education 19:55 Preparing Students for the Future of Trades

Takeaways

AI is revolutionizing CTE classrooms, making learning more interactive. Generative AI can optimize construction designs and processes. Students must learn to verify AI-generated information. There is a significant shortage of skilled labor in construction. AI tools can provide instant feedback in welding education. Building Information Management (BIM) software is essential for modern construction. Computer vision technology can enhance quality control in welding. Educators should pilot AI tools in their classrooms. Safety and critical thinking are paramount when using AI. Preparing students for the future of trades is essential.

In this episode of the Shifting Schools podcast, Tricia Friedman introduces a month-long challenge focused on playing with ideas. She discusses the importance of crafting personal stories as a means of reflection for educators and introduces a new generative AI bot designed to assist in this process. The episode encourages listeners to engage with the provided resources and share their experiences.

Ready to check out the bot?

https://chatgpt.com/g/g-680fda72d2b88191b55ebf3c763d5dbb-crafting-your-story-as-an-end-of-year-reflection

Wanna check out the free guide?

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/crafting-the-story-of-our-learning/

Takeaways

This May, we invite you to get playful and curious. Crafting stories can help educators reflect on their year. The free guide helps educators share their stories. Generative AI can enhance storytelling activities. The bot assists in building a narrative structure. Listening to each other's stories is valuable. Feedback from the community is essential for growth. The challenge aims to foster community engagement. Experimenting with tools can boost confidence in storytelling. Sharing stories can strengthen team dynamics.

This week we speak with internationally renowned physician and nutritionist, and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Michael Greger about his upcoming book, THE HOW NOT TO AGE COOKBOOK: 100+ Recipes for Getting Healthier and Living Longer is afully illustrated cookbook filled with recipes to make you healthier as you age.

In The How Not to Age Cookbook, decades of scientific research are put to use in over a hundred recipes that will leave readers feeling nourished for years to come. Each of these simple, nutrition-packed dishes (like chickpea and tempeh breakfast burritos, edamame bisque, pinto bean spread, or mushroom hummus wraps) uses ingredients that have been proven to promote a healthy lifespan drawing on inspiration from the places around the world where people traditionally live the longest.

Grounded in the latest nutrition science, The How Not to Age Cookbookis chock-full of delicious meals, snacks, and beverages that will keep the body both nourished and youthful. In addition to discussing interventions to regulate the eleven aging pathways, Dr. Greger will also share tricks for taking unpalatable powders and tips on how to cook legumes on the stovetop.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Healthspan and Cooking 03:00 The Role of Legumes in a Healthy Diet 05:51 Practical Tips for Healthy Eating on the Go 08:58 The Gap in Medical Nutrition Education 12:13 The Importance of Communication in Nutrition 14:54 Marketing Healthy Eating and Social Influences 18:01 The Social Aspect of Healthy Eating

Thank you to our show sponsor:

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

In this episode, Tricia Friedman discusses the importance of algorithmic literacy in media literacy, introducing a free guide designed for families and friends to engage in co-learning activities over the summer. The guide emphasizes emotional health and community engagement through various challenges that encourage participants to explore media's impact on their lives and relationships. Grab the link to the free guide:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yA8cP21EaM7mTUqEH_7BfyxWnEbRZQdr/view?usp=sharing

Thank you to our show sponsor:

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Media Literacy and Algorithms 01:12 Attunement Informed Media Literacy 04:33 Engaging Challenges for Media Literacy 08:25 Conclusion and Call to Action

Jeff Utecht and Aaron Makelky discuss the integration of AI in education, focusing on how teachers can effectively leverage technology to enhance student learning. Aaron shares his journey as a high school social studies teacher and how he began using AI tools like ChatGPT in his classroom. They explore the importance of teaching AI literacy, the need for structured learning environments, and the challenges of ensuring equitable access to technology for all students. The conversation emphasizes the significance of prompt engineering and the various levels of AI integration in assignments, ultimately advocating for a more informed and adaptable approach to technology in education. In this conversation, Jeff Utecht and Aaron Makelky explore the evolving landscape of education, particularly focusing on the integration of AI and digital tools in learning environments. They discuss the historical context of search tools, the importance of teaching students to leverage technology effectively, and the need to redefine traditional notions of cheating in the context of AI. The conversation emphasizes the necessity for educators to adapt to new technologies and prepare students for a future where these tools are commonplace.

Aaron Makelky is a husband, father, teacher, tech enthusiast, and leader. Passionate about helping professionals learn AI skills. Over 15 years of instructional experience, simplifying complex topics and making learning approachable and enjoyable. Expertise as an AI Integration Consultant guiding individuals, schools, and law, and SMB through the evolving world of artificial intelligence.

Focused on streamlining workflows, enhancing content creation, and building foundational understanding of AI. Committed to making technology accessible, human-centered, and effective for everyone.

Content creator with a track record of engaging tens of millions through videos, blog posts, and social media content. Known for experimenting with new ways to connect and inspire others. (Thanks TikTok for the viral videos).

Connect with him:

https://www.aaronmakelky.com/links

Huge thanks to our show sponsor:

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

Tricia Friedman discusses the upcoming Earth Day and introduces a free guide aimed at helping educators engage students in sustainability discussions. The SEED guide emphasizes the intersection of AI and sustainability, encouraging a comprehensive approach to environmental education. Additionally, Tricia highlights a student competition for designing a new logo for Shifting Schools, promoting creativity and collaboration among students. The conversation also touches on the Earth Species Project, which uses AI to understand interspecies communication, and the importance of considering the ethical implications of technology in our daily lives.

Ready to download the free guide now?

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/seed-free-guide/

Ready to learn about the student design competition?

https://www.shiftingschools.com/rebrand

Discussed this week:

Sustainability should be integrated across the curriculum.
AI can help address environmental challenges.
The Earth Species Project explores interspecies communication.
Students should consider the ethics of AI use.
Understanding technology's environmental impact is crucial.
The guide includes resources for various engagement levels.
Reader questions inspired the creation of the guide.
Feedback from educators is encouraged for future resources.

Connect with us:

info (at) shiftingschools.com

In this conversation, Tricia Friedman and Nicki Hambleton discuss the significance of visual note-taking, and why it is increasingly more necessary for our learners. They discuss the process of creating visual notes, the importance of fun in learning, and how visual note-taking enhances listening skills. Nicki shares her experiences and insights on how to overcome hesitation in visual note-taking and its potential connection to wellness initiatives in organizations. Big Ideas * Visual note-taking can help clarify thoughts about AI. * Engaging in fun activities enhances the learning experience. * The process of visual note-taking is as important as the outcome. * Slowing down can lead to deeper understanding and better listening. * Visual notes can serve as a personal archive of thoughts and ideas. * Anyone can learn to create visual notes, regardless of artistic skill. * Simple icons can effectively communicate complex ideas. * Visual note-taking can be a meditative practice. * Different people take away different insights from the same content. * Visual thinking can be integrated into wellness initiatives.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Attitudes Towards AI Through Visual Notes 05:06 The Importance of Fun in Learning and Note-Taking 10:16 The Art of Listening and Visual Note-Taking 16:10 Overcoming Hesitation in Visual Note-Taking 22:11 Connecting Visual Note-Taking to Wellness Initiatives

Connect with Nicki and find out how she can help your learning organization:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicki-hambleton-436bb086/

https://nihconsultancy.com/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/itsallaboutart/albums/72157635026374032/

Thank you to our amazing show sponsor

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

In this very short bonus episode, we let you know that we have received a ton of mail about Netflix's new hit show Adolescence.

In light of those requests we put together a brand new free guide to help you use this moment and that show's popularity for media literacy in both the classroom and the home.

Ready for the free guide?

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/a-media-literacy-moment-with-adolescence-your-free-guide/

Do you have requests for other free guides?

tricia(at)shiftingschools (dotcom)

This conversation explores the transformative impact of AI in education and the legal profession. The speakers discuss how generative AI can assist teachers in lesson creation, enhance student confidence, and streamline legal research. They emphasize the importance of collaboration with AI, the need for educators and lawyers to adapt to new technologies, and the mindset shift required to embrace these changes. The discussion also highlights the potential for AI to improve productivity and foster a culture of sharing knowledge among professionals.

Connect with Dr. Santamaria

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcasantamaria/

Chapters

00:00 The Excitement of AI in Education 07:02 Building Confidence in Multilingual Learners 11:47 AI's Impact on the Legal Profession 20:10 Embracing AI: A Mindset Shift 25:04 Connecting and Sharing Knowledge

Thank you to our special sponsor:

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

In this episode, Tricia Friedman discusses her exploration of AI's potential in enhancing conflict resolution skills. She shares insights from her research and the development of a conflict simulator bot designed to help users practice and improve their conflict navigation abilities. The conversation emphasizes the importance of feedback and collaboration in utilizing AI technology effectively.

Learn more about

Moxie

Consensus AI

and try out the bot mentioned in the episode:

https://chatgpt.com/g/g-67b5feb5a74c8191bb26074523bfc77a-conflict-simulator

BIG IDEAS

AI can assist in developing essential conflict resolution skills.
The term 'soft skills' undermines the importance of these abilities.
Conflict resolution is a critical skill in education.
Research shows that rehearsals improve our conflict management.
Dog play offers valuable lessons in conflict resolution.
The conflict simulator bot allows for role-playing scenarios.
Synthetic voices in AI can be surprisingly realistic.

BIG thanks to our show sponsor:

Neulight

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

This conversation explores the innovative virtual filmmaking program at Chad Lewis's school, highlighting the integration of technology, AI, and creative collaboration among students. The discussion emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary learning and the empowerment of students to pursue their passions in a supportive environment.

Takeaways

The virtual filmmaking program started with a new film instructor's initiative. Students learn to use Unreal Engine for virtual production. The program emphasizes storytelling, lighting, and camera angles as foundational skills. AI is transforming media creation and accessibility for students. Collaboration between different departments enhances the learning experience. Students are encouraged to bring their ideas to faculty without fear of rejection. The school culture promotes creativity and innovation among both students and teachers. The accessibility of technology has lowered barriers for students to learn and create. The importance of media literacy in understanding and critiquing content. A focus on the vocabulary of educational goals helps guide technology integration.

Chad Lewis has been the Director of Technology at Tampa Preparatory School in Tampa, Florida since August 2010. He oversees all facets of technology at the school, from network infrastructure and security to educational technology and training.

Learn more:

https://tampaprep.org/about/innovative-spaces/

Learn more about our student logo challenge:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/rebrand

Big thanks to our special show sponsor, learn more about how Neulight can support your community!

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

In this episode, Tricia Friedman introduces the Neurodivergent Nexus Bot in anticipation of Neurodiversity Celebration Week. She discusses the importance of viewing neurodivergence as a strength and shares her experiences using AI for deeper research. The episode highlights the bot's capabilities and encourages listeners to engage with it during the celebration week, while also inviting feedback for future podcast topics.

Ready to try it out?

https://chatgpt.com/g/g-67c60bad02d081919d23e47e9da20e21-neurodivergent-nexus-bot

Please take our summer podcast series survey:

https://us10.list-manage.com/survey?u=27660f931231d00899b80a484&id=a23c5890fd&attribution=false

We are so thanksful to our amazing show sponsor!

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Neurodiversity Celebration Week

03:02 Exploring the NeuroDivergent Nexus Bot

06:56 Engaging with AI for Neurodiversity

08:34 Feedback and Future Directions

Takeaways

Neurodiversity Celebration Week starts on March 17th.

AI can enhance research depth, not just productivity.

Positioning neurodivergence as an asset is crucial.

In this conversation, Tricia Friedman and Rio Cortez discuss the themes and creative processes behind Rio's latest work, 'The ABCs of Women's History.'

They explore the interdisciplinary approach to women's history, the importance of slow reading, and the joy of writing for children compared to adults. Rio shares insights into her collaborative process with illustrators and the significance of trusting readers to find their own meaning.

The conversation concludes with a look at future projects and the potential for more educational works. Learn more about this book and Rio Cortez: https://www.riocortez.com/

Want to connect further with Tricia or Jeff?

Reach out info@shiftingschools.com

Tricia Friedman and Robert Landau explore the integration of strengths assessments with AI, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual strengths in team dynamics. They discuss the various domains of strengths, the role of empathy in education, and how personal experiences shape these strengths.

Robert and Tricia go further into the importance of individualization strengths in understanding unique qualities in people, the role of strategic thinking, and the impact of AI in coaching.

Ready to connect with Robert Landau?

https://www.tworoadsed.org/

Want to try out the prompts Tricia used?

You are a human behaviour expert who is well versed in a variety of personality and strenghts-based tests. You will review the results for a person named Tricia. You will provide a close reading of the identified strengths and aim to give advice to her in terms of what she needs to be more mindful of when working with others. Break this all down into three distinct ideas, and explain your thinking. Be succinct but also remarkable.

2.

Review this information and pinpoint where the information is useful in terms of helping others understand how to best collaborate with this individual. Draft a one paragraph 'how to collaborate with me guide' for that person. Be highly specific.

Have thoughts about this conversation?

Reach out: tricia (at) shiftingschools.com

A huge thanks to our incredible show sponsor:

Neulight

In this episode of the Shifting Schools podcast, Tricia Friedman interviews Jeff Utecht about the importance of understanding generational differences in education and leadership. They discuss how each generation's upbringing shapes their expectations and behaviors, particularly in the context of technology and social media. Jeff emphasizes the need for educators and parents to adapt their approaches to meet the needs of today's students, who are influenced by a vastly different social landscape than previous generations. The conversation also touches on the challenges of parenting in a digital age and the importance of teaching responsible social media use.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Generational Understanding 01:15 The Importance of Understanding Generational Differences 04:39 Navigating the Generational Gap in Education 11:59 The Impact of Technology on Generational Perspectives 17:06 Parenting Across Generations 20:44 Training and Resources for Educators

Join Jeff and Tricia on April 17th for a special day of learning.

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

Have thoughts about this episode or want to put a request in for a follow up conversation?

info (at) shiftingschools.com

This week we bring you a special episode of another show you might like: Outliers.

"Outliers in Education" is a project of CEE, The Center for Educational Effectiveness. Find out more at effectiveness.org. Produced by Jamie Howell at Howell at the Moon Productions.

Jeff Utecht goes deep into how AI tools like ChatGPT-4 have the potential to revolutionize the classroom. Utecht helps us navigate the delicate balance of excitement and fear around AI's role in education, offering valuable insights into how educators can best serve their students in this new era. "Our job is to prepare students for their future, not for our past," according to Utecht. We explore the necessity for educators to evolve along with these groundbreaking tools to ensure students gain the relevant skills needed in an AI-driven world. Yet, how can we prepare students for a future we barely understand ourselves? Utecht challenges the common belief that AI hampers learning by drawing powerful parallels to the historical resistance faced by other technological advancements from calculators to the internet. He also shares practical advice on how to tackle challenges such as student cheating, the importance of clarity in educational goals and the three key A.I. policies you'll want to have in place as you begin the coming school year.

Links:

Three ways to leverage the big game (free pdf download)

Sponsor: Neulight and their MTSS AI product IntelliTier

Summary

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman discuss the intersection of the Super Bowl and media literacy. They explore how educators can leverage the Super Bowl's advertising to teach students about media literacy, storytelling, and critical thinking. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding advertising intentions, engaging families in discussions about media, and the role of AI in advertising. They also announce an upcoming webinar series focused on AI and media literacy, encouraging listeners to download a free guide for educators.

Takeaways

The Super Bowl is a prime opportunity for media literacy education. Every ad during the Super Bowl is carefully crafted with intentional choices. Engaging families in discussions about advertising can enhance media literacy. Storyboarding helps students understand the creative process behind ads. AI literacy is closely linked to media literacy in today's digital landscape. Educators can use past Super Bowl ads for comparative analysis. Understanding audience assumptions is key to analyzing advertisements. The social aspect of the Super Bowl can facilitate discussions about media. Students should learn to critically evaluate the messages in ads. The future of advertising may increasingly involve AI technology.

Chapters

00:00 Super Bowl Predictions and Media Literacy 02:58 Understanding Advertising Intentions 05:55 Engaging Families in Media Literacy 09:01 Storyboarding and Creative Thinking 12:09 AI and Media Literacy Connection 15:00 Future of Advertising and AI

Marcela Andrés takes us through the phenomenal book: Purposeful Educator Connections: Five Principles to Strengthen Relationships with Students , a transformative guide that offers practical strategies to help educators deepen their connections with students and drive meaningful change in the classroom. Marcela has dedicated her career to creating culturally responsive strategies that foster strong relationships between educators, families, and communities. Marcela’s work is focused on empowering educators to go beyond compliance and embrace the power of relationships as a foundation for student success. Her book highlights key principles that allow educators to create high-quality learning environments, foster meaningful interactions, and partner with key stakeholders to support students in fulfilling their life’s purpose.

Takeaways

Educators have a profound impact on children's lives. Community building is essential in education. School is about more than just academics. Human connections are vital for student success. Understanding context is crucial for effective teaching. Every child's experience is unique and should be acknowledged. Social capital among educators enhances the school environment. Deep relationships improve classroom culture. Investing time in relationships pays off in the long run. We are all working towards a common goal in education.

Learn more about Crayola Creativity Week:

https://creativity-week.squarespace.com/

Connect with Neulight:

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

Libraries can be a space for community building and idea exchange. During this new era of AI–what is already happening in the library?

That's what we explore this week with three different perspectives on the way the Librarian is a critical voice on all things AI.

Ready to meet our guests?

Zakir Hossain is a Teacher-Librarian and independent researcher. He’s passionate about academic integrity and artificial intelligence literacy development. Born and raised in Bangladesh, Zakir has lived and worked in Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Zakir can be reached via @DuZakir on X and zakir.reseachtl@gmail.com

Danny Glasner has been a technology coach, learning support, and for the past seven years, a library/media specialist otherwise known as a teacher-librarian. He has worked in schools for the past 21 years in Toronto, Istanbul, Hanoi, Zhuhai, Beijing, Phuket (as the whole school librarian for UWC Thailand), Ho Chi Minh City, and now Tirana, Albania. The library brings many of Danny’s passions together; love of reading, critical and creative thinking, artificial intelligence, technology in general, diversity, justice, belonging, sustainability, mindfulness, and global citizenship. The library Is a safe space where the entire learning community is made to feel welcome and seen. Danny utilizes his network to bring people together, to help students connect ideas, and to amplify their actions by broadening their audience. His passion for connecting people and ideas inspired him to co-found inTLlead.org, an international grassroots teacher-librarian leadership group, and #inTLchat, a hashtag and chat that connects librarians all over the world. He is the founding coordinator of 21st Century Library Connection Miniconference and the library strand for 21CLHK Main Conference held in Hong Kong, February 12-15 2025.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-glasner-99a833268/

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14262254/

https://www.instagram.com/dannyglasner/

https://groups.io/g/intllead

https://medium.com/@dannyglasner

Heeru Bhojwani is a dedicated librarian with over 25 years of experience, blending her expertise in literacy, research, and digital innovation. Beginning her journey in primary schools with a focus on literacy, she later advanced to secondary education, promoting research skills, student voice, and choice. Heeru is the co-founder of the Liferarian Association, where she coaches librarians, building their skill sets and supporting underserved communities by helping fund library initiatives. She established the National Jarul Book Award to honor excellence in children’s literature and has published three multilingual anthologies representing over 10 languages. Heeru has presented at NESA, ISTE, and collaborated with KSIPD, running workshops that inspire librarians.

https://heerubhojwani.com/

Liferarian.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heeru-bhojwani-76975011

Huge thanks to our sponsors:

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

https://creativity-week.squarespace.com/

On the show this week Jeff and Tricia talk with author, Pepper Stetler about the new book

A Measure of Intelligence: One Mother's Reckoning with the IQ Test.

Pepper Stetler is a Professor of Art History at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She writes extensively on issues facing people with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, The Progressive, the Ploughshares blog and Gulf Coast.

Stetler also researches and writes about the art and photography of early twentieth-century Europe and the United States. In 2022, she was awarded an Art Writer’s Grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation. She has written catalog essays for exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. In 2022, she curated Craft and Camera: The Art of Nancy Ford Cones, the first museum scale retrospective of the Cincinnati-based photographer.

Stetler grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. She received her BA from Barnard College, Columbia University and her MA and Ph.D. from the University of Delaware. She lives in Oxford, Ohio with her husband and her daughter, Louisa, whose general awesomeness inspired her to write A Measure of Intelligence.

Learn more about the book and connect with our guest.

https://www.pepperstetler.com/

Thank you to our show sponsor

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

This week Shifting Schools is sharing another podcast with you:

Women Talkin' 'Bout AI

🎙️ In this episode of Women Talkin' 'Bout AI, host Dr. Kimberly Becker welcomes Tricia Friedman, an all-around educational innovator who's been doing really future-forward and inclusive work in AI literacy and community building. In this powerful conversation, international educator and neuroqueer futurist Tricia uncovers the profound potential of AI in education while maintaining authentic human connections.

Key Insights:

-The critical need for AI literacy in K-12 and higher education

-Reimagining learning assessment in the age of generative AI

-How technology can deepen human understanding and creativity

-Innovative approaches to integrating AI without losing human connection

📚 Content Discussed in This Episode:

0:00 - Introduction

5:30 - AI in Education

15:45 - Challenges in K-12 Learning

25:20 - Reimagining Assessment

35:10 - Personal AI Experiments

45:30 - Future of Technology and Learning

Want to download the free guide Tricia talked about at the start of the episode?

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/your-free-shifting-schools-guide-more-generative-collaboration-in-2025/

In this conversation, Tricia and Joel Birch explore the transformative power of Lego Serious Play as a facilitation method. Joel shares his background in music and comedy, discussing how these experiences inform his approach to facilitating workshops. They get into the importance of play in communication, the dynamics of team interactions, and the unique benefits of virtual facilitation. The discussion highlights the role of a facilitator in creating a safe space for expression and the similarities and differences between K-12 education and corporate environments. Joel emphasizes the need for skilled facilitators to guide participants through the process, ensuring that everyone has a voice and can contribute meaningfully to the conversation. In this conversation, Joel Birch discusses his journey into facilitation, emphasizing the importance of inquiry learning and collaboration in education. He shares insights on engaging parents and caregivers, the role of play in building relationships, and innovative techniques for strategic planning and interviews in schools. The discussion highlights the need for creativity in educational practices and the value of creating low-stakes environments for meaningful conversations.

➡️ Ready to connect with Joel?

https://joelbir.ch/

🖍️ Learn more about Crayola Creativity Week!

https://creativity-week.squarespace.com/

👏🏻 Thank you to our show sponsor

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

Take-Aways from this episode:

Collaboration in education can alleviate change fatigue.

Play is essential for learning and relationship building.

Engaging parents in the educational process is crucial.

Facilitation can help capture diverse ideas in a community.

Innovative interview techniques can reveal true candidate potential.

Creating low-stakes environments fosters open communication.

Using physical objects can facilitate deeper conversations.

In this conversation, Jeff Utecht and John Gardner discuss the critical role of manufacturing in the American economy and the importance of education in preparing students for careers in this field. Gardner emphasizes the need to change perceptions of manufacturing, highlighting its high-tech nature and the lucrative opportunities it offers. They explore how K-12 education has shifted away from vocational training, leading to a shortage of skilled workers. The discussion also covers the importance of real-world applications in education and creating pathways for students to succeed in manufacturing careers.

Key highlights of this episode include:

+The manufacturing industry faces a potential shortage of 2.1 million jobs by 2030. +Education must adapt to prepare students for future careers, not past roles. +Manufacturing is a viable and lucrative career path for students. +Changing perceptions of manufacturing is essential for attracting new talent. +Real-world applications in education can engage students and enhance learning. +Vocational training should be integrated back into K-12 education. +Students need to see the progression of careers in manufacturing. +Local businesses can play a role in supporting education and training.

Learn more about John's book:

https://johngardnerauthor.com/product/manufacture-local-how-to-make-america-the-manufacturing-superpower-of-the-world

Thank you to our show sponsor

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

Creativity is essential. On the show this week we loved learning with Crayola's Cheri Sterman. Cheri is here to tell us all about the power of the upcoming Crayola Creativity Week.

Educators and families can register free for this event:

https://creativity-week.squarespace.com/

The conversation centers around Crayola Creativity Week, a free program designed to inspire and celebrate children's creativity. Cheri Sterman discusses the importance of nurturing creativity in children, the role of parents and educators in fostering creative confidence, and practical ways to integrate creativity into daily life. The event features a lineup of celebrity guests and aims to engage millions of children worldwide. The discussion emphasizes creativity as a vital life skill that benefits individual well-being and community building.

Ready to learn more about our amazing guest?

Cheri Sterman is a nationally recognized leader in child development and education, and a passionate advocate of creativity and the influence it has on a child’s future potential. Cheri most recently helped Crayola launch its advocacy initiative, Campaign for Creativity, which challenges conventional perceptions about creativity, sparking a new dialogue about the value of creativity and helping parents incorporate more creative moments into their children’s lives.

Cheri has served as vice-chair of the Partnership for 21st Century Learning and on the executive boards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Child Development Council. Cheri helps educators and community leaders expand their creative thinking. She hosts Crayola monthly online programs including: The Art of Learning, and Read Along-Draw Along where she interviews authors, illustrators, art therapists, and educators.

Cheri has served as a consultant to the National Governors Association, White House Commission on Children and Youth, Children’s Defense Fund, and the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities’ Turn-Around Schools Initiative.

You can connect with her on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheri-sterman-6862351ba/

Learn more about this week's show sponsor:

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

Erich Bolz is deeply versed in the field-tested Powerless to Powerful transformation frameworks developed by Gonzaga University professors Chuck Salina and Suzann Girtz which, when implemented with fidelity, are proven to increase student achievement and staff satisfaction. Utilizing cognitive coaching approaches, Erich helps school leaders and central office administrators (including Special Education directors) make sense of their day-to-day challenges while fostering transformational breakthroughs in both their work and personal lives.

Today on the show Erich and Jeff have a conversation about effective educational transformation. They also emphasize the importance of servant leadership and mission clarity in creating a positive school culture. The conversation also touches on leadership coaching, data-driven decision-making, and strategies for narrowing the achievement gap. They conclude by discussing the challenges of recruiting and retaining teachers in the current educational landscape.

Connect with Erich, his work and podcast:

https://bolzleadership.com/

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/outliers-in-education-from-cee/id1577590456

In this conversation, Jeff Utecht and Professor Brent Warner explore the intersection of AI and education, particularly focusing on multilingual learners. They discuss how AI can empower students to take control of their learning, the innovative techniques for vocabulary building through prompting, and the importance of teaching prompt engineering skills. Brent shares insights on redesigning rubrics to be more equitable and effective, while also emphasizing the importance of transparency in using AI in educational settings. The conversation culminates in Brent's upcoming book aimed at helping teachers integrate technology into their classrooms for multilingual learners.

Learn more about our guest:

Brent Warner is an award-winning community college professor focusing on integrating technology and innovation into the language learning process. He works with teachers and organizations across the globe to provide practical advice for helping English Language Learners take advantage of tech to help them communicate more clearly. He blogs about technology integration in the ESOL classroom for TESOL International, and he is the co-host of The DIESOL Podcast, focusing on innovation in ESOL.

www.BrentGWarner.com

www.DIESOL.org

https://brentgwarner.com/book/

https://www.tesol.org/blog/posts/using-ai-to-build-vocabulary-3-approaches/

Thank you to our show sponsor:

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht interviews Jose, founder and CEO of Neulight, about the transformative potential of AI in education. They discuss IntelliTier, which enhances the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework by simplifying data collection and providing personalized intervention strategies for students. Jose shares insights on the importance of user experience for teachers, the feedback received from early adopters, and the future of data-driven decision-making in education. The conversation emphasizes the need for technology to support educators in their roles, allowing them to focus more on student interaction rather than administrative tasks.

Jose's journey is nothing short of inspiring. As the son of Salvadoran immigrants who fled civil war, he's risen to become a tech innovator at giants like Microsoft and Netflix. Now, he's on a mission to revolutionize education through technology.

During his nearly decade-long tenure at Netflix, Jose led groundbreaking projects, including initiatives that brought in millions of new subscribers. But his most exciting venture is yet to come.

Learn more:

Neulight

Connect with Jeff and Tricia and look out for more ways to learn with them:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

In this conversation, Tricia and Laura discuss the intersection of ableism, artificial intelligence, and education. They explore how AI can serve as an assistive device to enhance access and equity, particularly in educational settings. Laura shares personal experiences and insights on how AI can foster curiosity and agency in learners, especially those with disabilities. They also touch on the importance of community support and sharing knowledge to create a more inclusive environment for all.

Ready to learn more about our amazing guest?

Laura Germishuys is a speaker and disability consultant, focusing on accessibility, workplace accommodations and transition coaching. She leverages AI to find creative solutions in the disability space. Laura was a learning professional for seven years specialising in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and believes strongly in the transformative potential of technology for equity in education. She cares deeply about animal rights, sustainable development, and social justice.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-germishuys-she-her-781278104/

Post AI in the Living Room

Thank you to our show sponsor for supporting us

Learn more

Reed Hepler discusses the changing role of archival work in the era of generative AI. He explains that while some may think archives and AI are incompatible, there are actually many ways in which AI can be useful in archival work. Reed also demystifies the role of archivists, highlighting their responsibility in acquiring, organizing, preserving, and interpreting historical records. He emphasizes the importance of structure, objectives, and perspectives in creating archives and offers insights into how AI can assist in the archival process. Reed also discusses the skills required for archival work, including curiosity, attention to detail, and the ability to find interest in seemingly mundane tasks. He compares generative AI tools to musical instruments, emphasizing the human element in using these tools effectively. Reed also advocates for open access and equitable access to information in education.

Connect with our guest:

Reed Hepler is a digital initiatives librarian, instructional designer, artificial intelligence practitioner and consultant, and M.Ed. student at Idaho State University in the Instructional Design and Technology program. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science, with emphases in Archives Management and Digital Curation, from Indiana University. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in History with minors in Anthropology and Religious Studies as well as a Museum Certificate. He has worked at nonprofits, corporations, and educational institutions encouraging information literacy and effective education. Combining all of these degrees and experiences, Reed strives to promote ethical librarianship and educational initiatives. Currently, Reed works as a Digital Initiatives Librarian at a college in Idaho and also has his own consulting firm, heplerconsulting.com. His views and projects can be seen on his LinkedIn page or his blog, CollaborAItion, on Substack.

Contact him at reed.hepler@gmail.com for more information.

heplerconsulting.com

reedhepler.substack.com

Thank you to our sponsors!

Neulight.io

Learn more about the upcoming FETC event:

https://www.fetc.org/

In this episode, we sit down with Fiona Goodall, a leading expert on the social applications of assistive technologies. Fiona helps us understanding how emerging technologies, particularly AI, can benefit neurodivergent learners and support social-emotional development.

We'll explore a compelling use case where AI is being leveraged not just for academics, but to help foster friendships and meaningful connections. Fiona will also share her perspective on the need for cautious optimism when it comes to AI - a mindset she believes is critical as this powerful technology continues to advance.

Learn more about our special guest:

Fiona is: Autism Consultant Owner & Director of Making Connections Toowoomba Making Connections Toowoomba was founded by Fiona Goodall, a Special Educator with over 20 years’ experience. Fiona holds a Bachelor of Education and Master of Special Education. She is also a certified facilitator of the PEERS® Program, Peaceful Kids Mindfulness and Positive Psychology programs, and is a certified facilitator of LEGO® Based Therapy. Fiona has a professional and personal interest in Mindfulness and Meditation. She is a Registered Meditation Teacher with the Meditation Association of Australia, and is currently studying a Diploma of Counselling.

Fiona has worked across all education sectors, including specialist autism settings, special education settings and mainstream schools, both in Australia and abroad. Fiona stepped into the private sector so she could devote her professional time, passion, and expertise to working directly with neurodivergent young people, and their families.

Fiona is a member of the Positive Partnerships Delivery Team, working with caregivers and educators of school-aged children on the autism spectrum to provide evidence-informed information through face-to-face and online workshops. Fiona is also a member of the Positive Partnerships Educators Reference Group.

Connect with her:

https://www.makingconnectionstoowoomba.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/makingconnectionstoowoomba/

https://www.instagram.com/makingconnectionstoowoomba/

Many thanks to our sponsors for making this conversation possible:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

On this week we speak with Dr. Federica Fornaciari, who is a Professor, a researcher, a children’s book author, and the Academic Program Director for the MA in Strategic Communications at National University.

She received a doctorate in Communication with a concentration in Electronic Security and Privacy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from Marshall University.

Her research and teaching revolve around emerging technologies, privacy issues, digital identities, frame theory, and media representation. Federica has published several peer-reviewed articles and book chapters including “The silver generation and beauty: does American culture provide models for positive ageing?” in Critical Studies in Fashion & Beauty; “Reframing Hate: The Changing Face of White Power Narratives” in Discourse Analysis and Conflict Studies. “What is Privacy Anyway? A Longitudinal Analysis of Media Frames of Privacy” in the Journal of Intellectual Freedom and Privacy, and “Pricey privacy: Framing the economy of information in the digital age” in First Monday. A storyteller at heart, Federica recently published her first children’s book titled “Rosa & Cammy: From Reggio to the World” to cultivate cultural bridges and ignite young minds with the magic of imagination. Federica’s multifaceted journey embodies the spirit of exploration, nurturing intellectual growth, and fostering connection amidst the ever-evolving landscape of communication.

Dr. Fornaciari discusses the concept of technological sublime and its application to AI. The technological sublime refers to the awe, admiration, and fear that arise when encountering a monumental technological advancement. AI, particularly generative AI, elicits a sense of technological sublime due to its ability to push the boundaries of human creativity and intelligence. However, there is also a sense of apprehension and concern about the societal impacts of AI and the potential loss of human values. The conversation also touches on the importance of privacy, media literacy, and critical thinking in the age of deepfakes.

Learn more about our guest:

https://www.nu.edu/degrees/arts-and-humanities/faculty/federica-fornaciari/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/federica-fornaciari/

Thank you to our show sponsor:

Lebra

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Professor Anna Mills discusses the evolving landscape of AI literacy in education, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to integrating AI into writing and learning processes. She reflects on the challenges of defining boundaries for AI use in academic settings, the importance of fostering intrinsic motivation among students, and the necessity of bridging the gap between K-12 and higher education.

Anna Mills has taught writing at public two-year colleges in the San Francisco Bay Area for 18 years and currently teach at College of Marin. Her OER textbook, How Arguments Work: A Guide to Writing and Analyzing Texts in College, has been used at over 65 colleges. She serves as the English Discipline Lead for the California community colleges OER Initiative, and her collection AI Text Generators and Teaching Writing: Starting Points for Inquiry is featured in the Writing Across the Curriculum Clearinghouse. As a consultant for OpenAI, she tested GPT-4 before its release. Currently, she serves as volunteer advisor on the teacher-created app MyEssayFeedback.ai and as faculty for the AAC&U Institute on AI, Pedagogy, and the Curriculum. As a member of the MLA/CCCC Task Force on Writing and AI, she helped launch Exploring AI Pedagogy: A Community Collection of Teaching Reflections.

Connect with our guest:

www.annarmills.com

https://x.com/AnnaRMills

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-mills-oer/

Thank you to our amazing show sponsor!

Neulight

In this episode, Jeff Utecht interviews Michelle Kassorla, an associate professor of English at Georgia State University, about using generative AI in higher education. They discuss the importance of teaching AI literacy, the role of AI in the writing process, and the benefits of using AI to support student learning. Michelle shares her insights on assessment, transparency, and the creative opportunities that AI provides for students. She also discusses the development of AI literacy standards for higher education and offers practical tips for integrating AI into the classroom.

Michelle Kassorla, Ph.D., an Associate Professor at Georgia State University, Perimeter College, has more than 30 years of experience teaching English and Composition. She teaches With and Against AI in Composition I and II courses, integrating AI into all assignments this academic year. She's on the AI Expert Panel for EDUCAUSE, leading the AI Literacy committee for Higher Education. A recipient of a Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Online Education fellowship, she published "Teaching with GAI in Mind" in the EDUCAUSE Review and co-authors a textbook and papers with Eugenia Novokshanova. She's a Co-Principal Investigator in the "Perceptions of AI" study at GSU. She shares her insights on LinkedIn and her blog, "The Academic Platypus." As a mother of eight boys, she's continually inspired to excel.

Connect with our guest:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkassorla/

Takeaways

Teaching AI literacy is crucial in higher education to help students understand the limitations and biases of AI models.

AI can be used to support the writing process by providing feedback on grammar and punctuation, generating topic ideas, and assisting with research.

Assessment should focus on voice, tone, audience, transparency, and accuracy rather than traditional grammar and punctuation.

AI can free up time for teachers to focus on higher-order thinking skills and creative aspects of writing.

Developing AI literacy standards for higher education can help guide educators in teaching AI effectively.

Thank you to our amazing show sponsor!

Lebra

https://www.lebrahq.com/

In this conversation, Jeff Utecht interviews Dr. Dayamudra Dennehy, a community college teacher, about the incorporation of generative AI in classrooms. They discuss the importance of including students in the conversation about AI and the need for a nuanced approach to ethics. Dayamudra shares her project of having students create AI manifestos as a way to explore the ethical use of AI. They also talk about the need for educators to have a growth mindset and be curious about technology. Dayamudra emphasizes the importance of educators being involved in the development of AI tools and holding tech companies accountable.

Dayamudra is tenured ESL community college faculty and active nationally as a community college online educator. Her current area of interest is the ethical use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in higher education. Dayamudra founded and led an educational non-profit with an India-based team, serving caste-oppressed students at a grassroots leadership academy. She has guided community projects in Guatemala and Hungry, taught in Indonesia, and studied in France, Japan, and Mexico. Dayamudra holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership, focused on Equity/Social Justice, was a Stanford EPIC Fellow, and is an ordained Buddhist, a meditation teacher, and a certified yoga instructor.

Ready to connect with our guest?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dayamudra/

Takeaways

Include students in the conversation about AI and the ethical use of technology.

Approach AI with a growth mindset and be curious about new tools and technologies.

Educators should be involved in the development of AI tools and hold tech companies accountable.

A nuanced approach to ethics is necessary when discussing AI in education.

Thank you to our amazing show sponsor!

Learn more about Lebra

https://www.lebrahq.com/

How do you see yourself in the future of learning?

This week on the pod guest Amy Oswalt is here to help us to think bigger about that question as well as the future of inclusivity in schools.

Ready to learn more about Amy?

Amy Oswalt is a passionate educator and leader with extensive experience in creating and implementing programs that cater to neurodiverse learners. As the Founder and Director of Conduit and Ask Different Questions, Amy has developed a platform that promotes inclusive education practices and neurodiversity awareness through workshops, consultations, and online resources.

Her work focuses on fostering academic, social, and emotional growth for neurodiverse individuals by developing strategic partnerships with families, schools, organizations, and community groups. Amy has a rich background in educational leadership, having served as the Director of Innovation and Head of Global Division and Online Programs at Lab School in Washington, DC. Here, she spearheaded the development and management of online programs, ensuring scalability and integrating cutting-edge educational technologies and methodologies tailored for students with learning differences.

Amy is particularly passionate about K12 imagination training and scenario thinking development. She integrates these elements into her educational practices to help students visualize and prepare for diverse future scenarios. By using strategic foresight and imaginative thinking, Amy equips students with the skills to navigate an ever-changing world confidently.

https://askdifferentquestions.com/

https://we-conduit.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-oswalt/

Thank you to our amazing show sponsor for supporting this season.

Learn more about Lebra

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Dr. Min Sun, a professor of education at the University of Washington, discusses the work of AmplifyLearn.ai, a center focused on harnessing the power of AI to improve teaching and learning. The center conducts scientific research, develops AI-powered education technology, offers training programs, and engages in public dissemination of research. Dr. Sun explains the development of Colleague.ai, a specialized AI assistant for K-12 educators that streamlines tasks such as lesson planning, differentiation, and grading. She emphasizes the importance of thoughtful design and research in AI development and envisions a future where AI transforms teaching and learning, making it more personalized, immersive, and collaborative.

https://education.uw.edu/about/directory/min-sun

https://www.amplifylearn.ai/

Colleague AI

https://www.linkedin.com/in/min-sun-8382aa9b/

Takeaways

AmplifyLearn.ai aims to harness the power of AI to improve the quality and equity of teaching and learning.

Colleague.ai is a specialized AI assistant for K-12 educators that streamlines tasks and enhances teachers' work efficiency.

The development of AI in education requires thoughtful design and research to ensure its effectiveness and impact on student learning.

AI has the potential to transform teaching and learning by personalizing instruction, creating immersive learning environments, and fostering collaboration.

Join Jeff and Tricia at Camp to discuss this episode and more!

https://camp.shiftingschools.com/c/start-here/

Thank you to our sponsor, Lebra!

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Dr. Laura Dumin obtained her PhD in English from Oklahoma State University in 2010. She is a professor in English and Technical Writing at the University of Central Oklahoma who has been exploring the impact of generative AI on writing classrooms. Laura has been experimenting with transformative learning (TL) tools and scholarship of teaching and learning methods (SoTL) in the classroom for over 7 years. She finds that when students are engaged in the lessons, learning can happen organically, leading to more interesting class periods and longer-term gains in understanding concepts.

Laura mixes her background in technical writing into all her courses, bringing ideas of audience and clear communication into assignments. When she is not teaching, she works as a co-managing editor for the Journal of Transformative Learning, was a campus SoTL mentor, and directs the Technical Writing BA and advises the Composition and Rhetoric MA program. She runs a Facebook learning community to allow instructors to learn from each other. https://www.facebook.com/groups/632930835501841

Big bold ideas explored this week:

Allowing students to use AI in their rough drafts and final drafts of papers can be a valuable learning experience.

Reflecting on the effectiveness of AI tools and using the right tool for the job is crucial.

Preserving individuality and voice in writing is important in the age of AI.

Having conversations with students about AI, including discussions on bias and prompt engineering, is essential.

AI can enhance accessibility in education and make learning more inclusive.

Connect with our guest:

www.linkedin.com/in/laura-dumin157

ldumin157.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/632930835501841

Thank you to our show sponsor Lebra

learn more:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Get ready to dive into the rapidly evolving world of AI and its impact on higher education. As the landscape of technology shifts faster than ever, how can today’s college students and Student Affairs professionals adapt? Our guest expert shares insights on the critical questions and tools that can shape the future of AI in higher education, exploring how AI is influencing both the academic and social experiences of students on campus.

Key Takeaways: * AI Integration in Higher Education: What does AI integration look like for today’s college students, and what should we hope it becomes? Our guest discusses the importance of thoughtful implementation, ensuring AI supports, rather than disrupts, the learning journey. * Beyond Academics – The AI Shift in Student Life: AI isn't just changing classrooms—it's influencing student life. From mental health support to campus services, hear about the ways AI is already shaping the college experience beyond academics. * One Big Question for Higher Ed: With the conversation around AI often polarized, what’s the one question our guest wishes more people were asking? We explore the key issue that could redefine the AI debate in universities across the globe.

Learn all about our special guest:

Dr. Claire Brady is a seasoned executive and recognized change agent and coalition builder with significant experience improving processes, leading digital transformations, building world-class teams, and achieving strategic goals. She is a proud graduate of Michigan State University (BA & MA), and the University of Central Florida (EdD).

Claire has served in executive VPSA roles at Lake-Sumter State College in Florida and Ana G. Mendez University in Florida and Puerto Rico. Claire also has 10+ years of undergraduate teaching experience. Claire is a nationally recognized educator and passionate advocate for AI in higher education. She is leading the charge in AI literacy as a vocal advocate across higher education. Claire is dedicated to equipping executive teams and student affairs professionals with the necessary tools and knowledge to leverage the immense potential of AI in their personal and professional lives.

Claire is an active member of regional and national associations and is engaged in her local communities by serving within organizations and on boards. Claire, her partner Ben, and their son Fox (13) live in Orlando. When she’s not picking up LEGO or discussing the intricacies of Minecraft, she enjoys travel, reading, exploring AI, TV, crafting, Broadway shows, trying new restaurants, and spending time with family and friends.

Website: www.drclairebrady.com

Socials: IG @drclairebrady

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairebradyedd/

Blogs: https://www.drclairebrady.com/blog

Thank you to our incredible show sponsor for making this series possible:

Lebra: https://www.lebrahq.com/ 📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with

Hayes Greenfield is founder of Creative Sound Play (CSP), a sound-based, generative learning system for Pre-K, as well as an award-winning jazz musician, notable film composer, and innovative educator. His book, Creative Sound Play for Young Learners (Routledge, Eye on Education Series, 2024), invites educators to use sound-making as collaborative educational play.

Hayes began working as a teaching artist in public and private K-12 schools. He created and implemented curricula for K-12 students, and professional development workshops for special needs District 75 teachers in New York City. Notably, he created a Pre-K program for PNC Bank’s “Grow Up Great Initiative,” devoted five years to codifying CSP at the Lenox Hill Early Childhood Center’s Head Start program, and consulted at Bank Street Head Start.

Founder and lead educator for CSP, Hayes guides Pre-K teachers in his sound-based pedagogy and offers in-person and remote coaching sessions to accompany his self-paced video curriculum. An exceptional speaker Hayes has presented at the NAEYC, NHSA, A Joyous Celebration of Ideas, the Next Wave Center for Artistry and Scholarship, and other conferences.

A jazz musician, Hayes is proud to be endorsed by Yamaha, Vandoren, and Eventide. He has released 10 critically acclaimed CDs including two award-winning family CD’s Jazz-A-Ma-Tazz and Music for a Green Planet, and has performed at festivals and venues throughout the US, Canada, and Europe. Hayes’ Jazz-A-Ma-Tazz school assembly program has reached over 300,000 young people and his music has been wonderfully received and reviewed in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Wall Street Journal, Billboard, Child Magazine, Downbeat, Jazz Times and more. As film composer, Hayes has scored more than 70 films, documentaries, commercials, animations, and TV specials.

🎙️Connect with our guest

https://www.creativesoundplay.com/

https://www.hayesgreenfield.com/

https://www.instagram.com/creativesoundplay/

https://www.facebook.com/thehayesgreenfield

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiC0eCONgJfJSXJGO6fALsA

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

Our guest this week is an expert with AR, VR, and XR.

Meet Jeannine Charles who is committed to crafting immersive experiences that transcend the boundaries of reality.

Jeannine’s journey began with a solid foundation in Industrial Design, which provided her with a holistic understanding of form, function, and user experience. Fuelled by curiosity and a desire to explore new horizons, she has always been drawn to the intersection of technology and creativity. Her passion for visual storytelling led her to pursue a career in photography, which then led to the fields of film, narrative, mixed-media and virtual reality.

Jeannine pivoted and began her career in the tech space, exploring the possibilities of extended reality (XR) and how to catalyze the growth of media production in the immersive media landscape. This led her to the co-creation of her first VR prototype and the foundation of her XR production company, where she provides XR/AR/VR marketing solutions for mid-sized businesses.

Whether designing captivating virtual environments, interactive simulations, or innovative user interfaces, Jeannine strives to create experiences that captivate the imagination and push the boundaries of possibility.

__________

Connect with our guest:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcharlesaamxr/?originalSubdomain=ca

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

play:ground NYC is an organization that focuses on the rights of children and creating affirming spaces for play. They believe that young people should be given authority, autonomy, and respect, and that society often mistreats and oppresses children. The organization promotes sustainability by using recycled materials and repurposing junk for play. They emphasize the importance of people and allocate most of their budget to paying staff. Playground NYC offers play residencies and pop-up spaces for play, providing opportunities for children to lead their own learning and enjoyment. The organization trains play workers and aims to shift parenting approaches to allow for more play and risk-taking. Parents have noticed increased confidence and empowerment in their children as a result of their experiences at this special space.

Ready to learn more?

https://www.play-ground.nyc/

Our guest this week:

Yoni Kallai, the interim executive director, Head playworker and Co founder of play:groundNYC is dedicated to repairing the world in various ways. Working for young people's rights through promoting and supporting play, is his favorite.

Connect with Yoni: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anahita-shadkam-636ba944/

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

Dr. Julie Jones discusses the power of play and challenges the myth that play is separate from learning. She emphasizes that play is not the opposite of work, but rather the opposite of depression. A playful classroom integrates cognition, movement, and emotion, and focuses on student choice and engagement. Dr. Jones suggests that teachers explore their own play personalities and incorporate play into their classrooms. She also encourages adults to make play more accessible in their own lives through small, playful activities throughout the day. In this conversation, Dr. Julie Jones discusses the importance of play in our lives and how it can be incorporated into our day-to-day routines. She introduces the concept of play personalities, which are different ways in which individuals engage in play. The eight play personalities are Explorer, Director, Joker, Competitor, Kinesthete, Creator, Storyteller, and Collector. Dr. Jones emphasizes the need for educators to provide playful opportunities for students and highlights the impact of play on creativity, empathy, and overall well-being.

Dr. Julie Jones is an associate professor in Converse University’s Department of Behavior and Social Sciences. She maintains an active research agenda with interests ranging from urban planning to curriculum and pedagogy, always with a mix of creativity and play. She published her first book,The Playful Classroom in June 2020. Her second book, The Playful Life, was published in October 2022. Follow her on social media @JuliePJones_author, and view her full curriculum vitae at www.juliepjones.com.

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

Welcome to Season 8 of the Shifting Schools Podcast! This season, we're diving deeper into the topics that matter most to educators, with a special focus on practical strategies and innovative approaches. Get ready for new mini-series that tackle some of the most pressing issues in education today, including Generative AI—how it's reshaping the classroom and empowering both teachers and students—and Chronic Absenteeism, where we'll explore actionable solutions to keep students engaged and in school.

We're thrilled to be back with more insights, expert interviews, and thought-provoking discussions designed to equip you with the tools you need to navigate the evolving educational landscape. Don't miss out on this exciting new season—subscribe now and join us on the journey to transform education for the better.

Make sure to tune in and stay ahead of the curve with Shifting Schools, where we help you prepare students for their future, not our past.

Website: pod.shiftingschools.com Community: camp.shiftingschools.com Free Resources: shiftingschools.com Instagram: @shiftingschoolspod X: @shiftingschools

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Jackie Mader

Jackie Mader is a senior early childhood reporter at The Hechinger Report, where she has reported on a range of topics including teacher preparation, special education and policies that impact young children and families. Her work has appeared in newspapers and outlets nationwide, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, USA TODAY, TIME and NBC News and has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, The New York Press Club, the Education Writers Association and The Newswomen’s Club of New York, among others. In 2021, she was one of two American journalists chosen for the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma’s Early Childhood Development Fellowship and during the 2023-24 academic year, she researched and reported on child care policy as a Spencer Fellow at the Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Prior to journalism, she worked as a special education teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina.

🎙️Connect with our guest:

https://x.com/jackiemader

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with a remarkable leader with Skateistan, Hala Khalaf.

Skateistan is an international NGO that uses skateboarding as a tool for education and empowerment. It started with a few children in Kabul who were curious about skateboarding and has now grown into a global movement. The organization focuses on providing fun and inclusive spaces for children and at-risk youth to learn, play, and shape their futures. Skateistan has also created the Good Push Alliance, a social skate network that connects over a thousand skate projects worldwide. The organization emphasizes the importance of play and the valuable life skills that can be learned through skateboarding.

🎙️Connect with them to learn more:

https://skateistan.org/

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Nawal Qarooni.

🎙️Connect with our guest and check out her book:

https://nqcliteracy.org/

https://x.com/nqcliteracy?lang=en

Chapters

00:00 Empowering Children Through Choices and Leadership 02:28 The Role of Play in Decision-Making and Learning 04:17 Libraries as Community Centers for Play 07:41 Communicating the Value of Play to the Broader Community 12:55 The Power of Process-Oriented Play

Link from Nawal

https://www.loc.gov/programs/library-of-congress-literacy-awards/about-this-program/advisory-board/

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer? 🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free : https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series: MackinVision: https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/ Lebra: https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Courtney McLeod.

Courtney is an award-winning speaker and a professional life and leadership coach. Her super power is helping people experience and achieve things they never thought possible and she does this work through one-on-one and group coaching programs. She loves leading corporate team-building events and workshops designed to positively impact participants. Courtney infuses fun and playfulness into all aspects of the work she does because she believes in the transformative power of play.

🎙️Connect with our guest:

www.kick-assladies.com

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Dr. Paul Davarsi. Play and learning (aren’t they the same thing?) are his twin passions, and lie at the heart of everything he does. Paul teaches about games and play at the University of Toronto, where he is a founding member of the PlayLab. Paul makes games and playful experiences in his role as CEO and co-founder of Gold Bug Interactive, and he bring players together as the Executive Director of the Serious Play Conference. While based in Canada, Paul works with organizations around the world, including UNESCO, the US Department of Education, and diverse NGOs and cultural institutions. His work has been featured on PBS, NPR, CBC, the Huffington Post, and Polygon, among others.

🎙️Connect with our guest:

https://seriousplayconf.com/

https://goldbuginteractive.com/

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Dr. Peg Oliveira. Dr. Oliveira is a child development expert and an activist. Since receiving her doctorate in developmental psychology from Brandeis University, Dr. Oliveira has advocated for fair pay for early childhood educators, child care assistance for working parents and equitable access to high quality education.

Peg is currently the founding director of the Gesell Program in Early Childhood at the Yale Child Study Center. Peg navigated the transition of the historic Gesell Institute, a respected nonprofit child advocacy organization since 1950, into the Yale Child Study Center to honor Dr. Arnold Gesell, the founder of the Yale Child Study Center. Prior to her work with Gesell, Peg was a Senior Policy Fellow with CT Voices for Children as well as a consultant to the CT Office of Early Childhood and other child advocacy organizations.

Peg is a member the Board of Directors of the Becket Chimney Corners YMCA, and was the founding director of 108 Monkeys, a nonprofit yoga service organization.

🎙️Connect with our guest:

https://www.gesell-yale.org/

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Acey Holmes.

Acey Holmes is the founder of BoredLess, this week she discusses the importance of play for adults and its impact on social connection, work culture, and personal well-being. She addresses the myth that play is only for children and emphasizes the benefits of play across the lifespan. Acey shares insights on playful work design, non-cringy icebreakers, and the concept of personal play identities. She provides practical advice for incorporating play into daily life and highlights the significance of unstructured free play for children.

🎙️Take this episode further and learn more about our guest and explore her non-cringey questions:

https://playfulworkdesign.com/about

https://playfulworkdesign.com/blog/non-cringey-questions-to-start-meetings

Want to map out your personal plans for having a more playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Sharon Lauricella, Ph.D. and T. Keith Edmunds about "Hard Fun," and Ludic pedagogy.

🎙️Take this episode further by exploring the book from this week's guests:

https://niagarapencentre.com/shop/product/ludic-pedagogy-by-sharon-lauricella-hardcover-indigo-chapters-coles-80eb19

Want to map out your personal plans for having a more playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

This week's conversation challenges the myth that play is only for young children and emphasizes its value for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and adults. Sandra Chow is here and she highlights the role of play in professional development and collaboration, sharing examples from her own experiences. She emphasizes the need for accessible play spaces and suggests incorporating play into different environments, such as classrooms and libraries.

Sandra Chow is the Director of Digital and Innovative Learning at Keystone Academy in Beijing. She is dedicated to preparing the next generation for their future. With over 20 years of experience as an educator in Canada and internationally, she strives to prepare students and train educators to be instructional creators in a global community.

She is an ISTE Certified Educator, Apple Distinguished Educator and Professional Learning Specialist, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, and Google Certified Coach, Innovator, and Trainer, as well as a Global Competence and GCAA Certified Practitioner. Her experience as a professional accountant, educational consultant, and cross-cultural educator provides her with a unique perspective as a leader. She strives to prepare students and train educators to learn, teach, collaborate and create in a globally competitive society.

🎙️Connect with our guest and check our recommendation from her

Classroom Dollop
Math and Science Investigations (M.S.I.) | The Curious Kindergarten
IBreakout EDU - Educational Games
Pedagogy of Multiliteracies: Rewriting Goldilocks - 1st Edition - Heat (routledge.com)
Her team submission that won the National technology award - https://youtu.be/569g4D-AcnI?si=7i_lCYRwgMtQKx2Y

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free :

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

Liz Joy Moore discusses the power of play and how it can benefit both children and adults. She emphasizes that play is for everyone and that it is not impractical, even for adults. Liz believes that play is essential for connection, communication, and learning, and that it can be used to teach strategies for mental health and trauma. She suggests that professional development should incorporate play and that educators and parents should be role models for children by embracing playfulness. Liz also encourages individuals to find their own playful activities based on their curiosity.

Ready to connect with Liz?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizjoymoore/

Liz is a trauma-informed, experiential education and 'play' advocate. Her mindful leadership and facilitation exude an air of joy that brings a fresh perspective to how leaders and teams can best work with each other and serve our developing youth. With a background in Anthropology and cultural Geography, training in coaching, MBCT, yoga and mindfulness, and love for travel and outdoor adventures, Liz's experiences offer a unique approach to the art of human connection, inclusion and understanding.

Use special Promo Code 'SSPOD25' to take $25 off our 'Build A Bot' self paced course!

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store-2/p/buildabot

Thank you to our amazing sponsors for supporting the show!

MackinVision

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Our summer-long 'Power of Play' series starts now with special guest Allie Ticktin.

Allie’s mission is to empower children and their families through sensory play so that they can thrive through childhood and beyond. Allie is the author of the book, Play to Progress, where she provides parents with an overview of all 8 (yes, 8) senses and gives parents ways to enhance those senses at home. Allie uses the science of child development and the joy of play to boost childrens’ confidence and enhance development within all areas of their life, from social and emotional to physical and academic.

Allie believes that the best way to support children is by arming their parents, from inception, with the knowledge and skills necessary to encourage their child’s development for success through childhood and beyond. Allie began her work in pediatric development at the University of Michigan, where she earned her B.S. in Movement Science, and continued her studies at USC, where she received her M.A. and Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Allie is certified in Sensory Integration and hopes that one day one day quality open ended play will be considered as important as learning the ABC’s. When not at work, you can find Allie at the beach engaging her own sensory system, outside enjoying nature or on her spin bike. Allie also loves to bake vegan treats, read and color in mindfulness coloring books, which are her own regulation tools.

Connect with our guest:

www.play2progress.com

https://www.instagram.com/play2progress/

Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer?

🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free 🏖️:

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series:

MackinVision:

https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/

Lebra:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Play to Progress: Lead Your Child to Success Using the Power of Sensory Play

Tricia and Jeff are so excited about the soon to start 'Power of Play' summer pod series, so they thought they would bring listeners a special free resource to pair with it.

Would you like to be more intentional with play this summer?

Grab our free template and get started today:

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/

Tune in Monday for the first episode in our Power of Play series.

Reach out to Tricia and Jeff to share your thoughts on any of our resources:

info (at) shiftingschools (dot) (com)

In this conversation, Dr. Kenny Rodrequez, a superintendent from Grandview, Missouri, discusses the use of AI, specifically our show sponsor Lebra, from a leadership perspective. He shares insights on leveraging AI to build relationships, improve communication, and streamline administrative tasks within the school district. Kenny emphasizes the importance of personal connections and the positive impact of using AI to enhance community engagement and support staff members. The conversation highlights the practical applications of AI in education and the potential for creating a more efficient and connected school environment.

Ready to learn more about our guest?

Dr. Kenny Rodrequez became Superintendent of the Grandview C-4 School District in July 2016. Before serving as Superintendent, Dr. Rodrequez served for two years as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in the Grandview C-4 School District. Dr. Rodrequez has served in several capacities throughout his career. He was a music educator for 8 years in two different states, including being a band director, percussion instructor, and district music resource teacher. Dr. Rodrequez moved into school administration in 2003 and held site level positions of assistant principal and principal before moving into district-level positions of director and assistant superintendent. He was selected to create and implement the first Early College High School program in Tulsa through a partnership with Tulsa Community College. He directed the Tulsa Innovative School network, which served over 1,200 students in grades K-12, and served as a lead examiner for the Oklahoma Quality Award Foundation, based upon the Baldrige process.

In both Oklahoma and Missouri, he has done extensive work on the implementation of new teacher evaluation systems in an effort to raise academic achievement and build collaborative relationships between teachers and administrators. In 2020, Dr. Rodrequez was the recipient of the Communication Technology Award from the National School Public Relations Association for leadership in implementing cutting-edge communication technology to improve and expand outreach and engagement with education stakeholders . In 2023, he was selected as the Missouri Superintendent of the Year for 2024 by the Missouri Association of School Administrators. Dr. Rodrequez has a Bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University in Music Education, a Master of Science degree from Oklahoma State University in School Leadership, and completed his Doctorate degree from Baker University in School Administration.

Connect with him: kenny.rodrequez(at)grandviewc4.net

Ready to learn more about Lebra?

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Tricia and Jeff discuss the final week of their May Micro Menu Prompt Challenge, focusing on AI and executive function. They highlight the importance of executive function skills in enacting learning and provide three mega prompts to support the development of these skills. Tricia shares her experience using generative AI for gardening and landscaping, while Jeff explores the use of AI for project management. They also announce their upcoming summer mini-series on the power of play. Takeaways * Executive function skills are crucial for organizing and enacting learning. * Generative AI can be used for gardening and landscaping, providing information on plant identification and growth predictions. * AI can support project management by generating frameworks and motivational phrases. * The May Micro Menu Prompt Challenge offers a variety of prompts to explore different AI applications. * The upcoming summer mini-series will focus on the power of play and its impact on learning and well-being.

Ready to get the free guide they discuss today?

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/micro-menu-part-3-and-4/

Explore our new course Foundational AI Literacy

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store-2/p/ai-foundation

Huge thanks to our amazing sponsor Lebra!

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Take $25 off with special promo code 'SSPOD25'

Tell us more about your thoughts on our guide:

info@shiftingschools.com

Jeff Utecht and Tricia discuss the importance of AI literacy and introduce their AI literacy course. They also talk about the recent updates from OpenAI and Google in the field of AI. They highlight the significance of AI in social-emotional learning. They also explore the power of play and share prompts for creating interactive stories using AI. They emphasize the importance of involving parents in AI conversations and providing them with prompts to engage their children in learning over the summer.

Ready to get the free guide they discuss today?

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/micro-menu-part-3-and-4/

Explore our new course Foundational AI Literacy

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store-2/p/ai-foundation

Huge thanks to our amazing sponsor Lebra!

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Take $25 off with special promo code 'SSPOD25'

Tell us more about your thoughts on our guide:

info@shiftingschools.com

What are some of the big ideas inside this conversation?

AI literacy is important for educators and students to navigate the rapidly evolving field of AI.

Updates from OpenAI and Google highlight the potential of AI in various domains.

AI can support social-emotional learning and provide companionship for students.

Creating interactive stories using AI prompts can engage students and foster creativity.

Involving parents in AI conversations and providing prompts can promote learning over the summer.

Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman discuss the second menu for the May Micro Menu Challenge. They provide prompts and resources to help educators experiment with AI literacy. They also address common questions, such as how to keep up with AI developments and whether to upgrade to the paid version of ChatGPT. They emphasize the importance of community-based learning and the need to prioritize privacy when using AI tools. In this conversation, Jeff and Tricia discuss the limitations of generative AI and the importance of understanding its capabilities. They emphasize the need for educators to have an organizing principle, such as the Drive framework, to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of AI. They also explore the power of prompt crafting and provide a feedback prompt template for effective feedback in the classroom. They encourage educators to experiment with different prompts and share their experiences with their colleagues. The conversation concludes with a reminder to save $25 on Shifting Schools' asynchronous workshops using the code SSPOD25.

Ready to explore the menus?

Download them free:

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/may-micro-menu-1/

Thank you to our sponsor!

Learn more about Lebra today:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Jeff and Tricia introduce their new micro menu for the month of May, which focuses on experimenting with generative AI in different contexts. They emphasize the importance of actually interacting with AI tools and the power of collaborative conversations about the output.

They also mention their sponsor, Lebra, and answer questions about handling change and choosing the right generative AI tool. In this conversation, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman discuss the importance of getting familiar with and using generative AI tools, specifically ChatGPT. This episode also will introduce the Drive Framework, which stands for dialogue, re-imagine, interdependence, verify, and executive functioning. The framework provides a roadmap for educators to navigate AI literacy and leverage technology for deeper learning. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the Building Community prompt in the Mega Menu, highlighting the power of word choice and the importance of customization and critical thinking when using generative AI tools.

Ready to get your Micro Menu for May free guide?

📁 https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/may-micro-menu-1/

Reach out to Jeff to learn more about Lebra: jeff@shiftingschools.com

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Learn more about learning with Shifting Schools:

www.shiftingschools.com

This week Tricia interviews two of her alltime fav librarians about the role of librarians in cultivating AI literacy. Karina and Allie discuss the responsibility of librarians in fostering AI literacy, curating resources, and teaching AI ethics. They also explore the impact of social media algorithms on readers' preferences and the importance of providing guidance in book recommendations. The librarians share their favorite AI tools, such as Magic School, Diffit, and Curipod, and emphasize the need for librarians to experiment and find tools that work best for them. They also discuss the influence of TikTok and Bookstagram in promoting reading and recommend books they are excited to read.

Ready to learn more about our amazing guests this week?

https://www.tiktok.com/@alliethelibrarian

https://www.instagram.com/alliethelibrarian/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/cuethelibrarian/

https://cuethelibrarian.weebly.com/about.html

Chapters

06:22 Curating Resources and Teaching AI Ethics 11:13 The Impact of Social Media Algorithms on Readers' Preferences 15:43 Favorite AI Tools for Librarians 28:46 Guiding Readers in Book Recommendations

Huge thank you to our sponsors for supporting our podcast

Learn more about

Lebra

Gamestorm EDU

In this episode, Jeff Utecht interviews Chris Linsell, a real estate technologist, about the intersection between technology and real estate. They discuss the disruptions happening in the real estate industry and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in transforming the profession. Chris emphasizes the importance of soft skills, such as emotional intelligence, in addition to technical skills. He highlights the need for professionals to understand and interpret human motivations and emotions in order to effectively communicate and negotiate in real estate transactions. Chris also emphasizes the importance of continual learning and adaptability in a rapidly changing industry.

Chris Linsell is a real estate technologist, a sought-after real estate coach, and hands-on real estate professional with more than 13 years of experience buying and selling anything from modest starter homes to massive waterside compounds. Chris currently serves as the Director of Content for Luxury Presence. In this role, Chris leads an impressive team of content professionals in telling the story of Luxury Presence’s products, services, and people. Chris has worked as a trainer and development consultant for national real estate brands such as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices of Michigan and Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors, helping teams of all shapes and sizes realize their lead generation and overall business goals by finding new ways to demonstrate their expertise and authority in their local markets. Chris formerly served as the Senior Writer and Technology Analyst for The Close, the internet’s leading source of actionable, strategic insight for and by industry professionals.

Learn more:

chrislinsell.com

luxurypresence.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-linsell

Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting our show!

Learn more about

Lebra

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Gamestorm EDU

https://gamestormedu.com/

In this podcast episode, the creators of Professor AI, an AI startup supporting students with AP exams, discuss their journey and the development of their app. The founders, who are 11th graders in high school, explain how they came up with the idea and the importance of founder-market fit. They also discuss the challenges of AI hallucinations and how they overcame them by using open-source textbooks and integrating with Wolfram Alpha. The founders highlight the support they received from Microsoft and their participation in an accelerator program. They emphasize their goal of providing access to educational resources for all students. Pradyu Kandala and Abhay Chebium discuss their AI-powered education platform,

Professor AI, which aims to provide personalized tutoring and grading support for AP students. They address concerns about cheating and emphasize that the AI is designed to help students learn rather than replace teachers. The platform explains concepts in different ways and provides reliable sources for further study. They also highlight the importance of feedback from educators to fine-tune the platform and invite teachers to sign up for the waitlist and support their endeavor.

Takeaways

Professor AI is an AI startup created by two 11th graders to support students with AP exams. The founders identified a need for an AI system to help students with their AP coursework and exams. The founders received support from Microsoft and are participating in an accelerator program to further develop their startup. Professor AI is an AI-powered education platform that offers personalized tutoring and grading support for AP students.

Learn more about Professor AI today:

https://www.professorai.co/

Thanks to our amazing sponsors for making the show possible

Learn more about Lebra HQ

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Learn more about Game Storm EDU

https://gamestormedu.com/

Imagine students grappling with AI-crafted ethical dilemmas. They're not just learning about sustainability – they’re learning how to question, research, and discern credible information. It’s about nurturing critical thinking and responsible info consumption – the core of information literacy

🌎 Want to dig into our free guide 'Generative AI and Earth Day'?

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/earth-day-and-chatgpt/

Want to join Tricia and Jeff tomorrow?

Take $25 off you registration with promo code 'SSPOD25'

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store-2/p/ai-fueled-feedback-webinar

Huge thanks to our amazing show sponsors for supporting us in providing free resources:

Learn more about Lebra

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Learn more about Gamestorm EDU

https://gamestormedu.com/

Reach out to us anytime with questions!

info@shiftingschools.com

Our special guest this week is Zach, the host of the incredible podcast 'We The Children'

Zachary Fox-DeVol, or Zach, is a curious 12-year-old with a passion for the environment and a mind eager to learn more about our planet. In June 2020, during a summer writing project, Zach ventured into the world of podcasting and created "Rule Of The Bark" . This unique podcast, told from a dog's perspective, provides humorous interviews and helpful tips on raising dogs.

Zooming ahead to December 2021, Zach’s interest took a serious turn toward climate change. This led to 'We The Children,' where, at 12 years old, he dives into climate discussions and solutions from a youthful viewpoint. The podcast illuminates how kids like him care deeply about Earth's future and their actions' pivotal role in shaping a sustainable planet.

In the summer of 2023, Zach was honored to join an Australian Radio Station as a US Ambassador, engaging in enlightening interviews on Funky Kids Radio. Additionally, he’s taken up speaking engagements at schools and clubs, advocating for the environment, recycling, and composting among kids.

When he's not busy pondering our planet or podcasting, he enjoys working on magic tricks, playing chess, mastering the Rubik's cube, and spending time with his pets—a dog named Ewok and a cat named Pax.

Zach's "Production Team" includes his Kindergarten/Second-grade teacher and friend, Clare Marder, making his podcasting journey a collaborative and educational experience.

https://www.instagram.com/we_the_children_podcast/

x - @WeTheChildrenP1

Ready to learn more about his show?

https://www.wethechildrenpodcast.com/

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

https://gamestormedu.com/gamestormers/

Learn with Jeff and Tricia this Spring:

www.shiftingschools.com

Take $25 off any of our offerings with "SSPOD25" as a discount code.

In this episode, Jeff Utecht interviews Pete Huang from The Neuron, a daily newsletter that explores AI. They discuss the origin of The Neuron and how it started as an experiment with AI-generated content. They also explore the landscape of AI and its potential impact on various industries. Pete shares his insights on the future of AI, including the use of customizable GPTs. He also explains how AI is leveraged within The Neuron, particularly in automating repetitive tasks. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the role of AI in education and its potential benefits and challenges. The conversation explores the impact of AI on education and the need to prepare students for the future. It discusses changes in the classroom experience, the reevaluation of the purpose of education, and the importance of core skills. The uncertainty of future job skills is highlighted, along with the human touch in communication and the value of voice and persona. Pete Huang shares his journey to AI and provides insights into the current state of AI chatbots.

Takeaways

The Neuron started as an experiment with AI-generated content and has evolved into a daily newsletter.

The landscape of AI is constantly changing, with advancements in video generation models and image models.

AI can be leveraged to automate repetitive tasks and improve quality control in content creation.

AI has the potential to transform education, but the importance of human expertise and domain knowledge remains crucial.

Preparing students for the future requires reevaluating the purpose of education and finding a balance between practical skills and generalist education.

Core skills such as communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving remain important in the AI era.

Learn more about our Guest

Pete is the founder of The Neuron, a daily newsletter tracking the latest in AI read by 400,000 people every day. He's an investor, consultant and speaker on all things AI in business. Prior to this, Pete was a strategy leader at notable tech startups and a consultant at McKinsey. He has a graduate degree in computer science from Northwestern University.

https://www.theneurondaily.com/

https://twitter.com/nonmayorpete

Connect with Jeff and Tricia:

www.shiftingschools.com

In this conversation, Jeff Utecht interviews Tyler Rablin about his new book, 'Hacking Student Motivation.' They discuss the importance of feedback and assessment in motivating students, the impact of grades and assessment on student motivation, and the need for change in education. Tyler shares his experiences working with students in rural agricultural communities and the challenges they face in finding motivation in school. He also explains the concept of learning progressions and how they can replace rubrics to support student learning. The conversation concludes with Tyler expressing his excitement about the release of his book and the positive feedback he has received.

Takeaways

Feedback is a powerful tool for motivating students and should be broadened to include anything that helps students gauge their progress towards a goal.

Motivation is closely tied to student belief in their ability to succeed. It is crucial to provide evidence of success and create a supportive learning environment.

Learning progressions can be a more effective alternative to rubrics, as they break down learning goals into manageable steps and allow students to see their progress.

Ready to explore the book?

https://www.tylerrablin.com/book

Connect with Tyler online:

https://twitter.com/mr_rablin?lang=en

Learn more about our premium sponsor:

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Dr. Elsa Friis, of Alongside, discusses how their clinician-powered AI tool supports young people in need of mental health support. The conversation highlights the need for mental health resources in schools and the shortage of mental health providers. The use of AI in mental health is not a new concept, and it can provide a warm and validating space for young people to seek support. The conversation also addresses misconceptions about AI and emphasizes the importance of evidence-based strategies in AI tools. Alongside offers partnership options for schools and provides a demo for interested users. Ready to learn more about Alongside? https://www.alongside.care/ Did you know Alongside works directly with students? Learn more about their paid summer internship position for High School Students: https://www.alongside.care/jobs/mental-wellness-content-development-high-school-intern Learn more about our special guest:

Dr. Elsa Friis, head of mental health at Alongside, a clinician-powered AI tool can discuss the dire need for mental health services in the school setting, particularly as schools continue to be understaffed and our students need more support now than ever before. By offering tools like Alongside, which utilizes generative AI developed by clinicians and backed by research, schools around the country have been able to support their student population with personalized conversations to address anxiety, depression, relationship challenges and more, providing equitable support for every child.

As a licensed psychologist and global public health practitioner, I am passionate about improving the well-being of others through cognitive, behavioral, and relational strategies; and systemic interventions to address social determinants of health (e.g. structural racism, poverty, education and access to services). I have a background in utilizing community based participatory research approaches to develop and evaluate family-based interventions for child mental health in Kenya. My program of research focuses on developing novel technology and care models to support mental health intervention delivery by non-professionals (e.g. religious leaders) as well as trained mental health professions to expand access to evidence-based care.

Learn more about our brand new premium sponsor: Lebra

https://www.lebrahq.com/

Want to set up a call to learn more about Lebra?

email us info (at) shiftingschools.com

Dan White, CEO of Filament Games, discusses the future of learning games and the importance of game-based learning pedagogy. He emphasizes the shift towards focusing on skills and conceptual understandings rather than didactic knowledge transfer. White believes that game-based experiences should prepare students for the real world by imparting useful practices and higher-order thinking skills. He also highlights the impact of automation and AI on the workforce and the need to revisit what is worth teaching and learning. White shares insights on building collaborative partnerships and the power of play in improving people's lives.

Takeaways

The future of learning games lies in focusing on skills and conceptual understandings rather than didactic knowledge transfer.

Game-based experiences should prepare students for the real world by imparting useful practices and higher-order thinking skills.

The rise of automation and AI calls for a reevaluation of what is worth teaching and learning.

Ready to learn more about Dan and FIlament Games?

www.filamentgames.com

@filamentgames

IG: @filamentgames

Dan is the co-founder and CEO of Filament Games. Dan believes that good gameplay and good learning are complementary rather than oppositional forces. An alumnus of Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Dan earned an M.S. in Education Technology under seminal learning game scholars Drs. Kurt Squire and James Paul Gee. Prior to founding Filament, Dan worked as a teacher, an instructional designer, and a game developer. Dan’s passions include learning games, sustainability, mindfulness, and modernizing institutional education.

Thank you to our sponsor!

https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools

LUDIA AI is a free tool that helps educators cultivate a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) mindset by leveraging AI. The conversation explores the fear and misconceptions around AI in education and how LUDIA AI actually emphasizes relationships and centers humanity. LUDIA AI is designed to support teachers' time and thinking, providing ideas and options to adapt instruction efficiently. Educators can use LUDIA AI to plan and model UDL best practices, considering barriers and opportunities. Tips are provided for getting the most out of LUDIA AI, including being specific in prompts and engaging in a back-and-forth conversation. Anecdotes and feedback from educators highlight the varied uses and benefits of LUDIA AI. The conversation also discusses the importance of involving parents and caretakers in using AI tools like LUDIA AI to support homeschool partnerships and expand AI use beyond the classroom. The 4Ts model (Tell, Tinker, Tweak, Transfer) is introduced as a process for using LUDIA AI effectively. AI is seen as a tool for metacognition and decision-making, enhancing critical thinking and creativity. Listeners are encouraged to experiment with LUDIA AI and explore its potential in their educational contexts.

Ready to learn more?

https://www.smore.com/vcpmk

https://bit.ly/LUDIA_Bookshelf

Ready to connect with Beth and Jeremie?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bstarklifelonglearner

https://www.jeremierostan.com/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to LUDIA AI and UDL Mindset 01:15 Addressing Fear and Misconceptions about AI in Education 02:25 LUDIA AI as a Tool to Support Teachers' Time and Thinking 03:39 Using LUDIA AI to Plan and Model UDL Best Practices 06:01 Tips for Getting the Most Out of LUDIA AI 08:50 Anecdotes and Feedback from Educators Using LUDIA AI 11:48 Involving Parents and Caretakers in Using LUDIA AI 14:18 Expanding the Use of AI Beyond the Classroom 16:53 Using LUDIA AI for Homeschool Partnerships 18:13 The 4Ts Model for Using LUDIA AI Effectively 20:55 AI as a Tool for Metacognition and Decision-Making 23:45 Experimenting with LUDIA AI: One Thing to Try 24:24 Closing Remarks and Future of LUDIA AI

Thank you to our show sponsor!

https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools

On this week...

Dwight Gunning, a data scientist with a background in finance, discusses the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the finance industry. He emphasizes the importance of technology in finance and the need for financial institutions to stay up to date with AI to protect against fraud and build trust. Dwight shares his personal journey from economist to technology enthusiast and highlights the value of lifelong learning. He encourages individuals to develop a diverse set of skills and mindsets to adapt to the changing world.

Learn more about Dwight Gunning:

Based in Canada with Jamaican heritage, Dwight Gunning is deeply invested in integrating advanced AI technologies within the finance sector. Boasting over twenty years of expertise in FinTech, he currently works as an AI and Machine Learning Assurance Engineer at FINRA. Additionally, Dwight is the maintainer of the popular edgartools project and co-author of a book on Natural Language Processing.

www.linkedin.com/in/dwight-gunning

dgunning.com

Thank you to our amazing show sponsor for supporting our podcast:

https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and the Role of AI in Finance 02:07 The Importance of Technology in Finance 04:19 Transition from Economist to Technology 06:14 The Joy of Lifelong Learning 09:58 Skills and Mindsets for Future Careers 11:34 Balancing Strengths and Developing Empathy 13:46 The Benefits of Competitions and Create-a-thons 17:58 Creating a Space for Open-Mindedness and Collaboration 19:28 The Impact of AI on Finance and Trust 21:28 The Storytelling Aspect of Finance and AI 23:22 The Intersection of Finance and Human Psychology 24:05 The Future of AI in Entertainment and Storytelling 28:51 The Importance of AI Literacy in Finance 29:51 The Exciting Future of AI and Natural Language Interaction 35:29 The Role of AI in Learning and Productivity 39:39 The Future of AI in Visual Storytelling 42:03 The Importance of Human-Centered Skills in the Age of AI

The co-authors of the book 'Lessons of the Pandemic' discuss their research process, motivations, and recommendations for education. They emphasize the importance of teacher voice and perspective, as well as the need for a blended research approach using surveys, interviews, and focus groups. The chapters cover topics such as teacher workload, continuous innovation, recognizing teacher efforts, and the impact of social emotional learning on student well-being. The authors also provide advice for educators interested in conducting research and highlight the benefits of collaboration. Takeaways * Teacher voice and perspective are crucial in understanding the experiences and needs of educators. * A blended research approach, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups, provides a comprehensive understanding of the education landscape. * School leaders should consider the impact of teacher workload and prioritize protecting planning time and limiting unnecessary meetings. * Continuous innovation is essential in education, and educators should be open to change while school leaders should ensure changes are effective and supported by teachers. * Teachers' efforts during the pandemic should be recognized and celebrated, and the lessons learned should be acknowledged and applied in future crises.

David Marshall is an associate professor of educational research in the College of Education at Auburn University. Since 2020, much of his research on the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on K-12 education. Dr. Marshall has edited two books on the topic including "COVID-19 and the Classroom: How Schools Navigated the Great Disruption," one of the first books to share social science research documenting the first 15 months of the crisis. His research interests also include school choice and charter schools. Dr. Marshall's work has been published in leading journals of education research, policy, and practice. He taught middle and high school social studies in Philadelphia. Dr. Marshall worked for the Richmond Teacher Residency program in Richmond, Virginia in several capacities over a six-year span. He recently served two terms as chair of the Alabama Public Charter School Commission.

Tim Pressley is an associate professor of psychology at Christopher Newport University, where he is also a faculty member in the Master of Arts in Teaching program and the Center for Education Research and Policy. Before receiving his doctorate, Dr. Pressley was an elementary school teacher in Fort Worth, Texas. Currently his research focuses on teachers' lives, specifically on the impact COVID-19 has had on teachers, teacher effectiveness, and teacher burnout. His work has been published in leading education journals. Dr. Pressley is co-author of "Reading Instruction That Works (5th edition)". Giving teachers a voice on issues affecting their lives has been a driving force behind his research.

Connect with them on X: @marshalldavidt @tpress87

A huge thanks to our show sponsor!

https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools

Dr. Travis Wright is nationally-recognized expert on school-based support for children who have experienced trauma. He is the author of Emotionally Responsive Teaching: Expanding Trauma Informed Care for Young Children. Currently, Dr. Wright is an Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology and Early Childhood Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he is the founder/director of the BASES Project, a school-based intervention for young children experiencing homelessness, their families, and teachers. He also Faculty Director of the UW Morgridge Center for Public Service. Previously, he worked as a school-based mental health counselor, public school teacher, and early childhood educator in Washington, DC and Boston, MA. Dr. Wright is licensed as a professional counselor in the state of Wisconsin. * Broaden the understanding of trauma and move away from behavior-focused interventions. * Teach children from a place of safety and respect, focusing on building relationships. * Understand the perspective of traumatized children and create a safe learning environment. * Support young children experiencing homelessness in schools through programs like the BASES project.

Learn more

https://www.tcpress.com/emotionally-responsive-teaching-9780807768341

https://counselingpsych.education.wisc.edu/fac-staff/wright-travis/

Explore the Shifting Schools collection of free resources and opportunities to learn:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

Thank you to our amazing series sponsor!

https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools

Give us ten minutes and let us tell you about the ways to lean way into media literacy for the upcoming Superbowl game!

🏈 Explore our special free guide that kicks off with our BRASS framework and then takes you through ideas for activities:

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/three-ways-to-leverage-the-big-game-for-big-learning/

🗓️ Our three week AI cohort kicks off next week!

We only have a few seats left. As a listener you can take 50% off and join us by entering coupon code "PLC3W50" at checkout.

Learn more: https://camp.shiftingschools.com/c/plc-ai-playground/

Reach out to us to tell us about ways your community is amplifying media literacy

📧 info@shiftingschools.com

Dr. Lorea Martínez introduces the HEART model, which stands for Five Essential Social-Emotional Skills. The model aims to provide educators with a research-based framework for teaching and practicing these skills.

Martinez emphasizes the importance of seeing social-emotional learning (SEL) as a paradigm shift and life skills rather than just a checklist of tasks. She also highlights the significance of intentionality in practicing SEL and reflects on the validation of children's feelings. Martinez discusses the role of body language in comforting and the diverse ways of validation. She concludes by advocating for involving students in decision-making processes.

Takeaways Intentionality is crucial in practicing SEL and being aware of one's emotions, thought patterns, and behavior. 🤔

Validating children's feelings and creating a safe space for them to express their emotions is essential for their emotional well-being 😌.

Involving students in decision-making processes can empower them and foster a sense of ownership and responsibility in their school community 🏫.

Connect with this week's guest:

Website: https://loreamartinez.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loreamartinez/

Book link: https://amzn.to/31q9aiI

Tell us more about your thoughts on this episode:

info@shiftingschools.com

Learn about our amazing show Sponsor: Money Pickle!

https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools

Teaching with the HEART in Mind: A Complete Educator's Guide to Social Emotional Learning

Our special guest today:

Dr. Tony Walker serves on the executive team of The Jed Foundation (“JED”) – a national nonprofit that serves as a thought leader on school mental health and youth suicide prevention. JED works within Higher Education Institutions and PK-12 schools and districts to help leaders build systems that promote more positive mental health outcomes for youth. In his role, Dr. Walker leads JED’s Academic Programs team, supporting the implementation of JED’s programs and best practices of comprehensive school mental health and suicide prevention programming across our nation’s education landscape.

Previously, Dr. Walker worked in multiple roles in public education, including as a teacher, school counselor and most recently serving as an executive district leader over Student Support Services at Uplift Education, a high performing network of schools dedicated to providing excellent educational opportunities to more than 23,000 students in North Texas. Founding this work at Uplift in 2011, he established and supervised five large departments servicing 44 schools, including Counseling Services, Social Emotional Learning, Student Discipline and Restorative Practices, Prevention Programs, and Strategic Community Partnerships. Under his decade of leadership, Uplift developed and implemented one of the largest school-based mental health systems in Texas, allowing students and families direct access to licensed mental health clinicians in every school, robust SEL experiences, in-district family therapy services, and a full array of other wraparound programs and supports.

Further this conversation with the following links:

https://jedfoundation.org/

X (formerly Twitter) - https://twitter.com/jedfoundation

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JedFoundation

Instagram - https://instagram.com/jedfoundation/

This episode is sponsored by our partner at Money Pickle!

Discover the key to unlocking your financial success by scheduling a complimentary call with one of Money Pickle's trusted, third-party financial advisors.

With Money Pickle taking care of the matchmaking process and the advisor covering the cost of the call, all you need to do is share the topic of discussion and attend the meeting at a time that best suits you.

In this invaluable video chat session, you'll have the chance to delve into your financial aspirations, investment strategies, and retirement plans, propelling you further towards attaining true financial independence.

Now, here's even more good news for you: while there's no obligation, you have a unique opportunity to start an ongoing relationship with your matched advisor. They can offer you additional personalized services and the invaluable support you need throughout your investment journey.

Connect with them this year:

https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools

Our special guest today:

Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth (she/they), MD, MA, is the Chief Medical Officer for The Jed Foundation (JED), a national nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. Laura has provided thousands of patients with crisis intervention and mental health support in over ten different emergency rooms in New York City. Much of her career has focused on LGBTQ mental health, and she continues to see clients at the Hetrick-Martin Institute for LGBTQIA+ Youth.

We talk about the connection between media literacy and mental health.

Further this conversation with the following links:

https://jedfoundation.org/jed-storytelling/

https://mentalhealthmediaguide.com/

https://seizetheawkward.org/

This episode is sponsored by our partner at Money Pickle!

Discover the key to unlocking your financial success by scheduling a complimentary call with one of Money Pickle's trusted, third-party financial advisors.

With Money Pickle taking care of the matchmaking process and the advisor covering the cost of the call, all you need to do is share the topic of discussion and attend the meeting at a time that best suits you.

In this invaluable video chat session, you'll have the chance to delve into your financial aspirations, investment strategies, and retirement plans, propelling you further towards attaining true financial independence.

Now, here's even more good news for you: while there's no obligation, you have a unique opportunity to start an ongoing relationship with your matched advisor. They can offer you additional personalized services and the invaluable support you need throughout your investment journey.

Connect with them this year:

https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools?mc_cid=982e825316&mc_eid=a5d8879dfc

Our mental health series continues with Dr. Rina Bajaj. This conversation brings us great ways to reframe our inner monologue and strategies to refresh our approach to caring for self and combatting burnout.

This series is sponsored by Money Pickle, learn more about ways to connect with an advisor today: https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools

Learn more about our guest:

Dr Rina Bajaj is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist with over 17 years of experience within the field of mental health. In 2017, she founded her private consultancy, Rina Bajaj Ltd, which offers a specialist therapeutic service for adults and young people providing therapy, business consultation and coaching. She has worked with many international corporate companies providing workshops and training on areas including staff well-being, mental health awareness, mindfulness, creating a positive mindset, motivation, habit building and stress management.

Rina is a regular contributor to national and international media and her recent media contribitions can be viewed via: linkt.ree/drrinabajaj Rina has worked with many interesting clients over the years including celebrities, entrepreneurs, professional athletes, musicians and artists. Rina is trained in a range of therapeutic approaches and believes in matching the therapy to the client, rather than the other way around. Her areas of speciality include relationships, anxiety and trauma. In May 2023, she released an Amazon best-selling self-empowerment book called “The Magic in Me”. Broken down into three main sections; the relationship with the self, relationships with others and connecting with individuals’ own identity, wants and needs; the book offers readers daily exercises designed to help them strengthen their connection to their true authentic self. Spanning a recommended thirty days, with journaling space provided within the pages, readers will be encouraged to make time for reflection to boost their inner confidence, self-worth and purpose.

www.RinaBajaj.com

Instagram @DrRinaBajaj

tiktok @drrina8

recent media contribitions can be viewed via: linkt.ree/drrinabajaj

Want to tell us more about how your school will action ideas from this episode?

Reach out to Jeff and Tricia at info@shiftingschools.com

Learn more about our work and opportunities to learn with us at www.shiftingschools.com

Thanks again to our series sponsor Money Pickle for supporting our entire series on mental health!

https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools

Our first episode in our brand new mental health series kicks off with Dr. Deborah Offner.

This series is sponsored by Money Pickle, learn more about ways to connect with an advisor today: https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools

Our special guest Dr. Offner is here to help us think more specifically about ways to support the mental health of our school community. We also explore her brand new book:

Educators as First Responders: A Teacher's Guide to Adolescent Development and Mental Health, Grades 6-12

Ready to learn more about Dr. Offner?

Dr. Deborah Offner is an adolescent psychologist with twenty-five years of experience working in schools, colleges, and clinical practice. She is Consulting Psychologist at an innovative school in Boston that prepares students from communities with limited resources to attend competitive private high schools. She works with adolescents, young adults and their families in her private practice and consults to middle and secondary schools about student mental health.

https://www.deborahoffnerphd.com/

Want to tell us more about how your school will action ideas from this episode?

Reach out to Jeff and Tricia at info@shiftingschools.com

Learn more about our work and opportunities to learn with us at www.shiftingschools.com

Thanks again to our series sponsor Money Pickle for supporting our entire series on mental health!

https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools

How is Minecraft a powerful tool for building community, fostering inclusion, and engaging learners?

This week's amazing guest Mashfiq Ahmed has an answer for that question and tons of wisdom to share.

Meet this week's special guest:

➡️ Mashfiq Ahmed (he/him) is a high school chemistry teacher at John Dewey High School in Brooklyn, New York. He has been playing video games ever since he was 4-years-old and they have positively shaped him into the person that he is today. As a teacher, Mashfiq utilizes classroom gamification tools in order to support all of his students and make science more engaging. When the 2020-2021 virtual school year started, Mashfiq created an after school Minecraft Club in order for students to have a place to relax and de-stress through gaming during the pandemic. Since then, the club has grown to become something so much bigger than he could have possibly imagined. For example, Mashfiq’s Minecraft Club participates in esports building competitions with designs that promote equity, accessibility, and sustainability in New York City. Mashfiq strives to create a safe space for all, especially neurodivergent, people of color, and LGBTQ+ students, to express themselves through Minecraft and gaming. His Minecraft Club members are also Minecraft Student Ambassadors who have provided Minecraft training for other teachers and have showcased their work globally, such as at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference. Mashfiq hopes that the future of gaming continues to be more inclusive and accessible for everyone. Additionally, he is also a certified Minecraft educator and a global Minecraft mentor. Due to Mashfiq’s efforts he was recently inducted into The Game Awards Future Class of 2022, which honors inspiring individuals who represent the bright, bold, and inclusive future of video games.

🔦 Ready to connect with Mashfiq?

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrAhmedGaming

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MrAhmedGaming

Minecraft Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdhsminecraftclub/

Minecraft Club Linktree: https://linktr.ee/MinecraftClub

Leave a review of our podcast a win a free seat to the February AI cohort!

Learn more:

www.shiftingschools.com

email info@shiftingschools.com

In this episode, Jeff and Tricia discuss their favorite holiday food, introduce a new free guide on experimenting with AI for families, announce an upcoming series on mental health, promote an AI literacy cohort for PLCs and committees, highlight Jeff's work on Washington State guidelines and policies, mention upcoming conferences, discuss the link between AI literacy and DEIJ/media literacy, and tease the upcoming 2024 Protocols Free Guide. Takeaways Experimenting with AI can be a fun and educational activity for families, and a new free guide provides three ways to get started.

The next series on the podcast will focus on mental health, covering topics such as the mental health of educators and students.

An AI literacy cohort is available for PLCs and committees looking to develop AI literacy in their schools.

Links:

Get the Three AI Literacy Experiments for the Family:

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/three-ways-for-families-to-experiment-with-ai/

Learn more about our upcoming cohort:

www.shiftingschools.com Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Holiday Food 04:38 New Free Guide: Three Ways for Families to Experiment with AI 13:49 Upcoming Series on Mental Health 17:11 AI Literacy Cohort for PLCs and Committees 20:27 Jeff's Work with Washington State Guidelines and Policies 22:35 Upcoming Conferences: NCCE, IDEO, CESA 24:32 Linking AI Literacy to DEIJ and Media Literacy 30:34 Upcoming 2024 Protocols Free Guide 33:14 Closing Remarks and Appreciation

Join us for this bonus episode where Tricia is a guest on the BFIS 'The Future is Now Podcast.'

Ready to follow that show?

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-benjamin-franklin-international-school-podcast/id1714268067

Find all of the resources mentioned here.

Listener Challenge: - Be the first to review from your state and win access to our AI course bundle. Leave a review on any podcast platform and email us at info@shiftingschools.com.

How to Connect: - Follow us on everywhere: @shiftingschools and @shiftingschoolspod - Visit our website: https://www.shiftingschools.com - Email: info@shiftingschools.com

Episode Description: Join us for this bonus episode were host Jeff Utecht becomes the interviewee on the Have A Life Teaching Podcast. You can subscribe to the Have A Life Teaching Podcast here: https://pod.link/1702975996

Episode Highlights: 1. Shout-out to Listeners: A special thanks to our listeners in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and France for your wonderful ratings and reviews! Remember, the first reviewer from each state gets access to our exclusive AI course bundle. 2. Jeff Utecht - A Brief Introduction: Get to know our guest, Jeff Utecht, a leader in educational technology and innovation. 3. Key Discussion Points: - The Role of Technology in Education: Insights into how technology is reshaping teaching and learning practices. - Digital Tools in the Classroom: Strategies for integrating technology to enhance learning experiences. - Preparing for a Tech-Forward Future: Discussion on future trends and preparing students for a changing world.

Listener Challenge: - Be the first to review from your state and win access to our AI course bundle. Leave a review on any podcast platform and email us at info@shiftingschools.com.

How to Connect: - Follow us on everywhere: @shiftingschools and @shiftingschoolspod - Visit our website: https://www.shiftingschools.com - Email: info@shiftingschools.com

On today we speak with Dr. Peter Stiepleman, 2021 Missouri Superintendent of the Year.

We explore keys to a human-centered leadership approach.

Ready to meet our guest?

Peter Stiepleman, EdD. Author, Leadership Coach, and Inspirational Speaker Dr. Peter Stiepleman is a locally, regionally, and nationally recognized leader who uses the power of storytelling to help leaders design better systems and help make complex concepts easier to understand. Peter is a self-starting, creative leader with experience engaging with diverse communities, from the United States Embassy in Madrid, Spain, to corporate insurance offices in San Francisco, to the multilingual, multicultural schools in Oakland, California, to the rapidly growing City of Columbia, Missouri.

In 2021, Peter was awarded the Missouri Superintendent of the Year from the Missouri Association of School Administrators. Now living in Washington State, Peter consults and coaches aspiring and established leaders on how to make more predictably successful decisions. Additionally, Peter is the author of An Imperfect Leader: Human-Centered Leadership in (After) Action which introduces a human-centered leadership model and system-thinking tools to readers. He is also the host of a weekly podcast with the same name, An Imperfect Leader. In each episode, leaders from all across the nation reflect on decisions they made and the lessons they learned. Peter hopes his transition from superintendent to coach will improve leader longevity for superintendents and school leaders nationwide.

Ready to connect with Peter?

Twitter - @pstieple and @imperfectleadr1

Instagram - @animperfectleader

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a

Learn more with Shifting Schools in 2024:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

"What do I want my process to look like?" this is a question researcher, educator and author Maya Bialik would love to see more teachers think about right now. Our conversation thinks about the art and craft of teaching as it applies to AI and the range of AI tools available to us.

Our guest this week is:

Maya Bialik is a 7th grade science teacher from Boston, and the founder of QuestionWell AI. In the decade since earning her master’s degree in Mind, Brain, & Education from Harvard, Maya has worked directly with educators and jurisdictions around the world on many parts of the education system, from writing curriculum, to evaluating programs, running professional development, facilitating seminars and workshops, designing new standards, conducting research, and publishing books and papers on both primary research and theoretical frameworks.

Learn more about questionwell.ai and connect with Maya.

Also explored in our conversation are ideas on:

Ways to use AI for concept based learning.

Ways to engage AI for social emotional learning.

Ways AI will help us reconceptualize communication and creativity.

Connect with hosts of this show and let them know what mini series you'd love to see them get started on for 2024: info (at) shifting schools (dot com)

Find opportunities to learn with Shifting Schools all year:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

Join us as we discuss the implications of AI in educational settings, particularly focusing on how these tools can be integrated to foster inclusion and improve learning experiences with Max, a High School Student.

Key Discussion Points: AI and Social Interaction: Max highlights how AI tools can prevent social issues like being 'left on read' or 'ghosted', providing valuable insights in social situations.

AI as a Communication Filter: The discussion explores AI's role as a reflective tool, helping individuals consider their communication style and content.

AI in the Classroom: Addressing teachers' anxieties about AI, Max emphasizes the importance of firsthand experience with technology rather than relying solely on second-hand opinions or fears.

Big Idea Shared: Max provides a thoughtful, student-centered perspective on the use of AI in education, encouraging educators to listen to students and incorporate their feedback in AI integration.

Want to reach out to Max?

Email us at info@shiftingschools.com

This special bonus episode points you to a recent conversation with Donna Hayword, US Principal of the Year (2023) via a brand new podcast: Sustainable Innovation from NEASC.

Sustainable Innovation: By and for K-12 educational leaders NEASC is proud to present this five-part podcast series created by and for educational leaders on themes of key importance including artificial intelligence (AI), technology in education, student agency, and building sustainable systems and cultures of innovation in our schools.

The NEASC Sustainable Innovation series serves:

Participants in the 2023 NEASC Leadership Conference who wish to prepare for and augment their in-person experience in Boston.
Educational leaders who wish to engage in learning opportunities and sharing of innovative practices aligned with the conference themes of sustainability, innovation, and inclusion.

Special thanks:

to our series sponsor -Small Wins Dashboard

Reach out to Tricia to let her know you'll be in Boston for the event OR to share an idea you have for a mini-series!

tricia (at) shiftingschools (dot com)

Delve into the transformative world of generative AI text-to-image technology and its burgeoning role in creative writing. Our journey begins with an exploration of how AI-generated images can act as creative catalysts for writers, offering a vivid, visual interpretation of their penned thoughts. We discuss the free guide available to help educators try out the 'tone words' and vocabular work Jeff and Tricia discuss.

Wanna grab the free guide?

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

We examine how integrating this technology into the curriculum can serve as a powerful tool for fostering creativity and enhancing storytelling skills among students. By bringing stories to life through AI-generated visuals, we uncover the potential for deeper engagement and inspiration among young writers.

Moreover, we tackle the critical aspect of AI literacy in K12 education. We discuss how exposure to AI technology through creative applications can demystify AI concepts, making them more approachable and understandable for students.

Join us for an enriching discussion that merges the boundaries of technology, education, and creativity, and discover how generative AI is not just a tool for creation, but also a gateway to learning and understanding the future of technology.

Ready to learn more with Jeff and Tricia?

Take $25 off the PLC AI Playground with special code 'SSPOD25' at checkout:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:18 - Introduction 00:01:48 - The All Inclusive AI Bundle 00:05:01 - Text to Image AI for Creative Writing 00:08:43 - AI Images and Copyright Issues 00:11:06 - Leveraging Style and Collaborative Prompt Authoring 00:15:17 - Introduction to Free Tools 00:16:22 - The Innovation Stage 00:17:18 - Free Guide and Feedback 00:17:32 - Appreciation for Free Guides 00:17:44 - Review and Access to AI Guide

How do we take a lot of this data that usually is hidden from students and teachers and kept in IT departments and make that part of the learning process of supporting us in our tech world? We ask big questions like that and more in today's conversation with Incident IQ's Emily Stapf.

Learn all about them: https://www.incidentiq.com/

We debunk a lot of misguided ideas about asset management, so ask yourself:

Are you falling for these common myths about asset management in schools?

Myth #1: Asset management is only relevant for large school districts.

Myth #2: Asset management is only about tracking devices.

Myth #3: Asset management is a burden on staff and adds unnecessary complexity.

In this episode, we will debunk these myths and reveal the truth about the importance of asset management in schools, providing valuable insights and strategies that can revolutionize your school's technology management practices.

Ready to learn more about our guest?

Emily Stapf works for Incident IQ as a Customer Success Manager. Based in Knoxville, TN, she comes to us from Knox County Schools where she was a computer technician and IT Asset Specialist. She earned a BBA from the University of Toledo in Marketing and Management. In her free time she and her wife are building a small cabin to enjoy with their two pups, Sam and Ollie. She also enjoys traveling, reading, running, puzzles, and crocheting.

https://www.incidentiq.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-stapf-46016591/

Key moments to watch out for:00:00:44 - Importance of Asset Management 00:02:09 - Teaching Opportunities 00:04:03 - Data and Reporting 00:07:16 - Budgeting and Planning 00:09:42 - AI and Generative AI 00:11:25 - Challenges and Passwords 00:15:48 - The Process of Learning a New System 00:17:14 - Incident IQ as a Single Pane of Glass 00:19:14 - The Importance of Visibility and Communication 00:20:06 - The Benefits of a System Made Specifically for K-12 Education 00:22:02 - Customer Support and Training

How can you take this episode further?

Check out the Events feature on the Incident IQ website to learn how you can easily manage room reservations and event scheduling.
Consider implementing asset management practices in your school or district to track and report on devices used by students, such as laptops and iPads.
Explore the benefits of using Incident IQ's reporting capabilities to track device repairs, software issues, and other asset management data.
Learn how asset management can be a teaching opportunity for students, parents, and caretakers, by emphasizing the importance of taking care of expensive technology.
Discover how Incident IQ's custom views and reporting features can help you analyze data on device issues by grade level, such as cracked screens or hardware damage.
Consider using Incident IQ's asset management system to budget for future device replacements based on lifespan and anticipated expiration dates.

Does this sound familiar? You integrate AI technology in your classroom, hoping to enhance student engagement and learning. However, you find yourself overwhelmed with the vast array of AI tools and unsure of how to effectively integrate them. This ineffective action leaves you feeling frustrated and disappointed, as you see little improvement in student outcomes. But imagine a different approach—one where the power of AI is harnessed to create a balanced and effective learning environment. Together, let's explore strategies to strike the perfect AI-human balance and achieve the results you desire.

My special guest is Terry Kearnes https://twitter.com/terrykteacher

Terry Kearnes, an elementary education teacher based in Vietnam, joins us as a guest on the podcast. With his classroom experience, Terry offers valuable insights into effectively integrating AI technology in his 4th grade classroom. Employing a project-based and standards-based approach, Terry's classroom is designed to foster student engagement and learning. Currently, his students are immersed in a unit called "Independent Me," where they have the opportunity to delve into various topics, including AI. Terry's interest in AI was sparked by its potential to enhance teaching and learning experiences. He has successfully incorporated AI tools into his lessons, using them for generating examples, lesson planning, and supporting vocabulary development. Through Terry's expertise, we will explore the importance of balancing AI integration with human interaction to create a conducive and effective learning environment.

AI levels the playing field for all students, giving them ownership of their learning and empowering them to take charge. - Terry Kearnes

In this episode, we discuss:

Enhance classroom learning with AI technology: Discover how AI can revolutionize your teaching methods and create a more engaging and interactive learning environment for students.
Elevate student writing skills with AI tools: Unleash the power of AI to provide personalized feedback and guidance, helping students improve their writing skills and boosting their creativity.
Personalize learning experiences with generative AI: Explore how generative AI can tailor educational content to individual student needs, promoting a more personalized and effective learning journey.
Strike the perfect AI-human balance in the classroom: Learn strategies to effectively integrate AI technology while maintaining the crucial human connection and interaction that fosters a supportive and collaborative learning environment.
Embrace the future of education with AI: Gain insights into the latest AI advancements and their potential impact on education, empowering you to stay ahead and embrace the exciting possibilities of AI in the classroom.

Enhancing Student Engagement and Learning AI tools can significantly boost student engagement by providing personalized and interactive learning experiences. By simplifying complex concepts and adjusting language levels, AI makes learning more accessible for students of varied proficiencies. Terry Kearnes' use of Poe.com exemplifies how AI can empower students, giving them more control over their learning and leveling the playing field for all.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

Check out Poe.com for a website that can help with AI examples and prompts for students.
Visit Code Breaker Edu's website at codebreakeredu.com to explore their Byte software, a great tool for vocabulary and language level adjustments. https://www.codebreakeredu.com/chat/
Encourage students to use AI tools like Chat GPT or Byte to rewrite research materials at a level they can comprehend, helping them understand complex concepts.
Explore the use of AI in the classroom to level the playing field for all students, including second language learners and multi-language learners.
Empower students to take ownership of their learning by allowing them to choose the language level for their materials when using AI tools like Byte.
Use AI tools like Byte to prepare for FMP reading tests by adjusting the level of the text to match each student's reading level.

Check out even more AI resources and free guides to support you at https://www.shiftingschools.com

In the ever-changing landscape of education, we bring you to the forefront of school transformation and innovation. Welcome to Shifting Schools!

I'm Jeff Utecht, an educator of 24 years and full time educational consultant. Each week I’m joined by the fantastic Tricia Friedman who is a passionate 20 year veteran English teacher and consultant.

Together, we unpack the biggest challenges and the most exciting breakthroughs in K-12 education. From harnessing technology to personalize learning to social emotional learning, Shifting Schools is your weekly dose of inspiration and practical strategies.

Do you ever wonder about how to engage your students more deeply? Or perhaps you're searching for ways to foster critical thinking and creativity in your classroom?

Look no further! Every Monday, we bring you conversations with educators, researchers and authors who are on the ground, making incredible shifts in classrooms and schools.

Shifting Schools is more than just a podcast; it's a community of passionate educators who are committed to making a positive impact in the lives of students.

So, whether you're in the classroom, leading a school, or supporting our educational systems, tune in to gain new perspectives, share ideas, and be a part of this transformative journey.

And don't forget to join our community and download over 80 free guides at shiftingschools.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @shiftingschoolspod for even more content and interaction!

Are you ready to be inspired? Are you ready to shift your thinking and your teaching? Then join us every Monday as we ask big questions about shifting schools one conversation at a time.

Website: https://www.shiftingschools.com

Podcast Site: https://pod.shiftingschools.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jutecht/podcasts

Follow us on Social:

https://www.instagram.com/shiftingschoolspod

https://www.tiktok.com/@shiftingschoolspod

Explore the profound impacts of digital literacy and political engagement initiatives by CIVIX, and discover resources that can transform classrooms into hubs of critical thought and respectful discourse.

We sit down with Dimitri Pavlounis, the Director of Research at CIVIX. Our discussion unravels around two pivotal programs at CIVIX: CTRL-F and PoliTalks, which are meticulously crafted to bolster digital literacy and political awareness among the youth.

Our guest explores the resources and tools available for educators aiming to ignite engaging political discussions in classrooms. They share a vision of nurturing students to practice active listening, perspective-taking, and respectful self-expression, laying down a robust foundation for contextual awareness in political discourse.

Links: - CIVIX Official Website - CTRL-F Program Overview - PoliTalks Program Overview - Center for Research And Evidence on Security Threats

Dimitri Pavlounis is the Research Director at CIVIX, a Canadian educational charity dedicated to building the skills and habits of active and informed citizenship among youth through experiential learning opportunities. As part of his work, he helped manage the development and evaluation of CTRL-F, a digital literacy program aimed at helping students navigate our polluted information environment. Prior to joining CIVIX, he completed his PhD in Media Studies at the University of Michigan.

Huge thanks to our amazing sponsor: Mackin!

https://home.mackin.com/

Want to continue your learning with Jeff and Tricia this week?

Their three week AI playground kicks off this Tuesday, November 7th

Learn more: www.shiftingschools.com

In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Erin Olson, an advocate of news literacy and a representative from the News Literacy Project (NLP). Drawing from her rich experience as a middle and high school teacher, Erin shares a poignant anecdote that underscores the indispensable role of news literacy in every classroom. She delves into the importance of educators adopting a systemic and strategic approach to news literacy, emphasizing its relevance in today's rapidly changing media landscape.

Celebrating over a decade of service, the News Literacy Project has been a beacon for educators navigating the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. Erin discusses the evolving role of AI in the news realm and how it has amplified the need for news literacy skills.

Journalism, as Erin articulates, is a cornerstone of a well-informed society. With the proliferation of information sources, understanding the role and responsibilities of journalists has never been more crucial. Erin shares insights into the ethos of NLP, which, while being a valuable resource for educators, also emphasizes a community-centric approach. This belief that news literacy is a collective responsibility resonates throughout our conversation.

Whether you're an educator, student, or just a curious individual, this episode provides invaluable insights into navigating the complex world of news in the era of AI. Join us for an engaging conversation that underscores the importance of discerning fact from fiction in today's information age.

Connect with our guest:

https://newslit.org/about/team/#staff-erin-olson

Learn all about NLP:

https://newslit.org/

Connect with our show sponsor!

https://home.mackin.com/

Discover how Sherard Duvall went from spinning beats to spinning tales that captivate and educate. In a surprising twist, this DJ-turned-filmmaker found that the language of screens held the key to bridging the gap between storytelling and education. Join him on a journey where the power of human connection meets the magic of screen language. Get ready to dive into the world of screen language, where the episode dives deep and enables listeners to:

Discover the power of media literacy education and how it can enhance student learning.
Understand the importance of screen language in our digital world and its impact on communication.
Learn effective strategies for teaching screen language skills to students of all ages.
Explore practical ways to integrate media literacy into the curriculum and make learning more engaging and relevant.
Empower your students to become critical thinkers and responsible consumers of media through media literacy education.

In this episode of the Shifting Schools podcast, you'll hear an insightful conversation between hosts Jeff Utecht and guest, Sherard Duvall. Sherard shares his passion for media literacy education and its importance in today's screen-driven society. Duvall encourages teachers to incorporate media literacy into their classrooms, providing resources and suggestions on how to get started. Throughout the episode, he emphasizes the need for individuals to understand and analyze screen language, as it is essential for navigating the digital world. With his expertise and practical advice, Duvall offers valuable insights for educators and parents alike, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in fostering media literacy skills and empowering students in the age of screens.

Learn more about our amazing guest:

Born Sherard Duvall in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Columbia, S.C., at 8 years old, “Shekeese” discovered his love for filmmaking, turning a personification tale about a day’s journey of a stamp into his first script. But it was Hip-Hop that first captured his heart after his mom gave him a hand-me-down fisher price record player and a 45” of LL Cool J’s Go Cut Creator Go - lying down in the bathroom near the space heater with headphones on, he became a child of hip-hop culture.

At 15, he began his hip-hop career, first djing basement and backyard parties for high school friends and sometimes during lunch, then after purchasing his first pair of Technics 1200s at 16, Shekeese Tha Beast was born. Exploding on the scene in 1996, his senior year of high school, at 17 he began djing first on Columbia’s WWDM then Hot 103.9FM, going on to DJ on several radio stations along the east coast from New York to Florida. He released several mixtapes and made his first appearance on BET with Dj Shakim at SC State’s Homecoming and MTV the same year on the infamous “Spring Break” filmed in Myrtle Beach.

In 1998, in his freshman year at the University of South Carolina he met Dj Kingpin and the two started the NonStop Hip-Hop 2-hour radio show on WUSC 90.5FM. The radio show evolved into “NonStop HipHop Live!” where Shekeese and Kingpin would hold weekly events showcasing hip-hop culture. It was during this time that Shekeese hooked up with SC Hip-Hop juggernaut Fat Rat Da Czar, becoming his manager and DJ. Eventually Czar, along with his longtime business partner LJ Chisholm, became part of NonStop Hip-Hop Live, the crew that established the nonprofit Love Peace and Hip-Hop in 2013. Love Peace and Hip-Hop’s World Famous Hip-Hop Family Day became one of the largest festivals in South Carolina music history, bringing over 20,000 attendees annually to Columbia’s Main Street.

It was in 1998 as a African-American History minor and Media Arts Film major that Shekeese first started exploring film as a creative expression. After graduation in 2001, he took a job first as Production Assistant at Columbia’s Mad Monkey, then in 2004 as an editor at Genesis Studios in Cayce, South Carolina. At Genesis he began to grow his filmmaking career; becoming an accomplished editor, director, and producer for commercial and documentary projects for VH1, Discovery Channel, ESPN,the American Cancer Society and many more. In 2009, Shekeese transitioned to filmmaking full time, adding Media Literacy and Film Education to his skillset. In 2013, he became the Director of Media Education at the Nickelodeon Theatre in Columbia, SC.

During this time Shekeese began to become more involved with community work, serving on boards for the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, The RAM Education Foundation and The City of Columbia Board of Zoning Appeals. He has served on advisory committees for SCETV, Historic Columbia, The North Columbia Business Association, and the Justice 360 Death Penalty Resource. Shekeese is also a 2022 SC Arts Commission Fellow, a 2023 Aspen Global Leadership Fellow, a 2021 Liberty Fellow, a 2016 Riley Fellow, a 2016 Leo Twiggs Arts Leadership Scholar, 2015 South Carolina 40 Under 40 and a 2014-2015 American Graduate Champion.

While continuing to satisfy his creative passion with art, music, film, and education projects, in 2012 he established OTR Films with guidance from his longtime partner turned entrepreneur FatRat Da Czar. In 2017, he launched OTR Media Group, a nonfiction entertainment, media literacy, and media strategy house that works with businesses and organizations that want to experiment with new ways of seeing and sharing the human experience through the moving image.

Today, Sherard “Shekeese'' Duvall is a film and messaging professional who resides in Columbia, S.C. He’s focused on nonfiction storytelling, media literacy education, media strategy, and is an ambassador of South Carolina Hip-Hop culture. He is currently in development of his documentary shorts series Blaktastik: Celebrating South Carolina’s Creative Black Culture.

Connect with him:

www.otrmg.com // FB - OTR Media Group // Twitter/IG: @otrmediagrp // @ShekeeseSMD

Special thanks to our amazing sponsor: Mackin!

In this episode Dr. Craft shatters misconceptions and reveals the power of gaming for building social-emotional skills. How can educators effectively integrate gaming into their SEL programs?

Are You Ready To Unlock the Power of Gaming? The power of gaming can be harnessed to forge strong peer connections among students. By instilling the elements of gaming in social-emotional learning, students can be encouraged to reflect on their emotions and reactions in gaming scenarios, apply insights to real-life contexts, and foster belonging within their peer groups. Thus, far from being a mere recreational activity, gaming can be a potent tool for facilitating improved student well-being and social-emotional growth.

Learn more about our amazing guest:

Dr. Kristen Craft has served as a teacher, principal, and district administrator in public education for the past 27 years. A champion of students, Dr. Craft is currently the Scholastic Esports Specialist for Generation Esports. She helps normalize esports in education by supporting schools and districts to create a scholastic esports pipeline.

Mentoring educational leaders, teaching aspiring principals at the university level, presenting at multiple conferences, and connecting with leaders across the country, Kristen knows the impact leaders can have on a school or district. The culmination of her time in administration at both levels represents a lifetime of love spent in the greatest profession.

She is the Gaming Concepts Podcast host and has been featured in several ed leadership podcasts and publications.

Kristen was named the 2021 Kansas Principal of the Year.

Twitter - @KristenEsports @GamingConceptsU @JoinGenEsports @HSELesports LinkedIn - KristenEsports, Generation Esports

Links explored in this episode

‍LGBTQ Students Finding Hope in Declining Mental Health via Esports in Schools

https://www.gamingconcepts.gg/

Huge thanks to our amazing Sponsor for this episode!

Mackin

For highlights from this conversation:

00:06:52 - Gaming as a Tool for Connection and Belonging Dr. Craft explains how gaming at school provides an opportunity for students to find their peer group, build friendships across different social circles, and strengthen connections, ultimately promoting a sense of belonging.

00:09:31 - Rethinking Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Dr. Craft reflects on traditional approaches to SEL and suggests that incorporating gaming into SEL programs can make them more authentic and relevant to students. By addressing real-life challenges and experiences in gaming, students can develop skills like anger management and empathy.

00:11:08 - Using Gaming to Teach Emotional Regulation Dr. Craft shares an example of using gaming to teach emotional regulation. By discussing instances of toxic behavior and anger in gaming, students can learn how to manage their emotions and react appropriately, not only within gaming but also in other aspects of life.

00:15:34 - The Stigma of Video Games The guest discusses the common misconception and stigma surrounding video games, particularly among parents. She shares her own experience and emphasizes the need to normalize esports in schools.

00:17:21 - Esports and Marginalized Populations The guest highlights the positive impact of esports on marginalized populations, specifically LGBTQ+ students. She mentions a study that showed significant growth in self-esteem among students who had mental health moments integrated into their gaming concepts curriculum.

00:18:13 - Rapid Transformation with Esports The guest discusses the transformative effects of implementing esports in schools. She shares the results of a study where students showed tremendous gains in self-esteem within just ten weeks. Esports provides a sense of community and inclusivity for students who may feel marginalized.

00:22:12 - Leadership Skills and Career Opportunities The guest emphasizes that esports develops leadership skills and opens up career opportunities in a rapidly growing industry. She mentions the diverse range of professions related to gaming, such as chiropractors, accountants, and lawyers. Esports prepares students for the future and helps them become successful adults.

00:25:50 - Getting Started with Esports The guest encourages educators to reach out for support in getting started with esports. She assures that starting is not as difficult as it may seem and that they can provide guidance and solutions for challenges related to attendance, grades, student engagement, and mental health.

00:30:25 - Combatting Pushback Dr. Craft discusses the importance of being prepared to combat pushback when championing initiatives for students, such as Esports. Leaders in education may face resistance, but pushing past it can make a tremendous difference in the lives of students.

00:31:16 - Creating a Welcoming Culture Dr. Craft emphasizes that adding initiatives like Esports can create an inclusive and welcoming culture in schools. It is essential for educational leaders to see and fight for all students, rather than discounting or shaming them.

00:31:52 - The Role of Educational Leaders Dr. Craft reminds leaders that their focus should be on the students, not themselves. Turning a blind eye to the needs of students is not who educational leaders should be. They should actively advocate for and support all students.

00:32:15 - Ending on a Powerful Note Tricia thanks Dr. Craft for sharing her expertise and passion. The conversation serves as a reminder that it is ultimately about the kids and their well-being. Dr. Kraft's insights provide inspiration for educational leaders to prioritize the needs of students.

In this episode of the Shifting Schools podcast, you'll join Tricia and Jeff as they dive into their recent experiences and reflections on AI and education. They're excited to share the consulting work they've been doing and the innovative ways they're incorporating AI into the classroom. Tricia discusses her passion for teaching creative writing and how she's been using AI-generated art to fuel students' creativity. Jeff, on the other hand, shares his experiences working with school leaders and presenting at conferences, highlighting the importance of teaching AI as an equity issue. They also discuss AI literacy and the need for everyone to advocate for fair and just AI systems. Throughout the conversation, Tricia and Jeff emphasize the transformative potential of AI in education and the importance of educators being actively engaged in the conversation.

Tricia and Jeff unveil their new offering, the Shifting Schools cohort, a three-week transformative program for educators. With access to live webinars, generative AI resources, and a supportive online community, this cohort promises to revolutionize the way educators integrate technology.

Check out Tricia's LinkedIn profile for more information on her work with AI-generated art for creative writing.
Google Be My Eyes to learn about the life-changing technology that helps blind and visually impaired individuals navigate the world.
Read more Google's partnership with the healthcare system to see the potential uses of AI in administrative tasks like filling out forms.
Join the Shifting Schools cohort to become part of a community of educators exploring the use of AI in education and receive personalized support and resources.
Follow the Unhinged Collaboration podcast for interviews and discussions about AI literacy and its impact on society.
Share your own experiences and insights with AI in education to inspire and support other educators at Shifting Schools Camp

Interested in learning more about our team discount for the 3 Week Cohort?

Email info (at) shiftingschools.com

Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:18 - Introduction Tricia and the host catch up and discuss their recent work in education consulting, including using AI-generated art in creative writing and exploring the potential of AI art in the business world. 00:02:01 - AI and Equity The host shares his experience of presenting on AI to school leaders and how they are embracing it as an equity conversation. They discuss the importance of AI literacy and its potential to be used for good in transformative ways. 00:04:57 - AI in Healthcare and Education The host mentions Google's partnership with hospitals to use AI in the healthcare industry, as well as the potential for AI to assist with administrative tasks in education. They highlight the early days of AI and the exciting possibilities it offers. 00:06:34 - AI for Good The conversation focuses on the ways AI can be used for good, such as the app "Be My Eyes" that helps blind or vision-impaired individuals by describing images and offering cooking suggestions. They emphasize the importance of understanding both the positive and negative aspects of AI. 00:09:47 - The Shifting Schools Cohort The hosts discuss the success of their cohort model in building a community of educators interested in AI. They highlight the benefits of diverse participation and the opportunity for rich dialogue and personalized support. 00:14:23 - The Power of Collaboration in Education The speaker discusses the importance of having a community to bounce ideas off and how technology can support educators in their work. 00:15:27 - New Offering for Winter Break The speaker announces a three-week cohort starting in November for educators who want to experiment with technology in their classrooms. 00:16:16 - Tailoring Content to Educators' Needs The speaker highlights the benefit of gathering feedback from participants to create relevant and engaging webinars that meet the needs of educators. 00:18:24 - Three-Week Cohort Overview The speaker outlines the structure of the three-week cohort, including live webinars, generative AI resources, weekly challenges, and a supportive online community. 00:19:25 - Team Discount and Limited Spots The speaker offers a team discount for schools that sign up with ten or more participants and emphasizes the limited availability of spots in the cohort.

SWAPNA KRISHNA writes about space, science, and technology. You can find her at the YouTube channel Ad Astra, and her work has been published at outlets such as Wired, Engadget, The Verge, NPR, and Slate.

Her new book provides a novel approach to mindfulness while learning more about science and history.

Pocket Nature: Stargazing: Contemplate the Cosmos to Find Inner Peace

Part of the Pocket Nature series, this petite volume features helpful tips for stargazing, plus thoughtful meditations related to stars, space, and the universe. In a cool palette with celestial illustrations, Stargazing is a must-have companion for amateur astronomers, space enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, and anyone looking to slow down and find time for contemplation. In these pages, learn about features of the night sky, from the Milky Way to moon craters to the planets in our solar system; read a brief history of stargazing in cultures around the world; and discover seventeen notable constellations to observe in the northern hemisphere throughout the year. With ruminative meditations on the universe, moonlight, stardust, and more, this pocket-size guide to the cosmos has everything you need to better understand and appreciate the night sky.

Learn more with Shifting Schools this year:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

Thank you to our amazing show sponsor: Mackin

https://home.mackin.com/

For nearly thirty years, Jennifer Miller has worked with educators and families to help them become more effective with children through social and emotional learning (SEL). She authored and illustrated the book “Confident Parents, Confident Kids: Raising Emotional Intelligence In Ourselves and Our Kids” and founded the organization by the same name ten years ago growing an international platform through her blog with more than 23,000 followers in 152 countries world-wide. She has served as a regular expert contributor to NBC’s TODAY Parenting, PBS WNET and Parent Magazine. She conducted and published original peer-reviewed research on parenting with SEL.” She co-founded SEL for Ohio, a statewide network to champion social and emotional learning and serves on the SEL for U.S. Leadership Council. She consults with schools, conducts research and offers webinars on parenting and SEL with partners in Ohio and nationally. She has her master’s degree in Instructional Leadership with a focus on social and emotional development and lives with her husband and fifteen-year-old son in Columbus, Ohio.

In this episode we dig into her research and her book Confident Parents, Confident Kids: Raising Emotional Intelligence in Ourselves and Our Kids--From Toddlers to Teenagers

Explore your copy soon

Connect with Jennifer Miller online:

https://confidentparentsconfidentkids.org

https://twitter.com/JenniferSMiller

https://www.facebook.com/confidentparentsconfidentkids

https://www.instagram.com/jennifersmithmiller1/

We are so grateful to our amazing sponsor: Mackin

They have made our special mini series on SEL possible. Please be sure to learn more about their resources:

https://home.mackin.com/

On this week...

We were so excited to have a conversation with Dr. Charles A. Barrett to dive deeper into his book:

Social Justice in Schools A Framework for Equity in Education

Our conversation explores:

Ensuring equitable access to key opportunities
Centering Relationships
Reflecting on how to build community

Find your copy:

Via this link

Learn about our special guest

Charles A. Barrett, PhD, NCSP, a district-level administrator in Virginia, practiced as a school psychologist for 13 years at the elementary and secondary levels. He serves as an adjunct lecturer at several universities, where he is actively involved in the training and development of future school psychologists. Dr. Barrett was named a School Psychologist of the Year by the Virginia Academy of School Psychologists. His past leadership positions within the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) include co-chair of the Social Justice Task Force and African American Subcommittee, chair of the Multicultural Affairs and Social Justice Committees, and Virginia Delegate to the NASP Leadership Assembly. Dr. Barrett serves on the editorial boards of School Psychology Review and School Psychology. He is a frequent speaker and workshop presenter for educators, families, and community organizations.

His website is www.charlesbarrett.org

We are so grateful to the team at Mackin for sponsoring this episode and the full SEL series.

Learn more about them:

Mackin

Want to discuss your thoughts on this episode?

send us an email info (at) shiftingschools.com or catch us at camp: camp.shiftingschools.com

On this week...

We were so excited to have a conversation with Dr. Novak and Dr. Rodriguez about their latest book

In Support of Students: A Leader's Guide to Equitable MTSS

Our conversation explores:

How to make change happen
What schools can do to better support ALL students
How leaders can upskill in order to foster inclusion in schools

Find your copy:

On Sale Now via Bookshop

Check out their special book group guide

Learn about our special guests

https://www.novakeducation.com/

https://kristanrodriguezcc.wixsite.com/ccapr

We are so grateful to the team at Mackin for sponsoring this episode and the full SEL series.

Learn more about them:

Mackin

Want to discuss your thoughts on this episode?

send us an email info (at) shiftingschools.com or catch us at camp: camp.shiftingschools.com

Jessica Lahey is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed and The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence. Jess was awarded the Research Society on Alcohol’s Media Award for “outstanding journalistic efforts of writers who cover empirical research on alcohol” […] “for her book The Addiction Inoculation and advocacy for the recovery community.” Over twenty years, Jess has taught every grade from sixth to twelfth in both public and private schools, and spent five years teaching in a drug and alcohol rehab for adolescents in Vermont, and serves as a prevention and recovery coach at Sana, a medical detox and recovery center in Stowe, Vermont. She has written about education, parenting, and child welfare for The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and her biweekly column “The Parent Teacher Conference” ran for three years at the New York Times. She designed and wrote the educational curriculum for Amazon Kids’ award-winning animated series The Stinky and Dirty Show, and was a 2019 Pushcart Prize nominee. Jess holds the dubious honor of having written an article that was later adapted as a writing prompt for the 2018 SAT. She co-hosts the #AmWriting podcast from her empty nest in Vermont.

This week as Jeff and Tricia launch the new Social Emotional Learning series they talk with Jessica specifically about her book The Gift of Failure.

Find your copy:

On Sale Now via Bookshop

Learn about Jessica Lahey's other work:

https://www.jessicalahey.com/

We are so grateful to the team at Mackin for sponsoring this episode and the full SEL series.

Learn more about them:

Mackin

Want to discuss your thoughts on this episode?

Join us at our camp!

camp.shiftingschools.com

Continue your learning with Jeff and Tricia

Learn how

www.shiftingschools.com

   Jeff begins by emphasizing how ChatGPT enable educators to offer tailored content and support to a diverse range of students, meeting them at their individual learning levels. He cites examples of how this AI-driven technology can adapt lessons, provide personalized feedback, and assist students with varying needs, making the learning experience more inclusive and engaging. Tricia further expands on this by discussing how ChatGPT can help educators save time and energy when it comes to fostering relationships with the parent and caretakers at their school.

Together, they explore how ChatGPT serves as an invaluable tool for educators seeking to provide customized learning experiences that empower every student to thrive academically and personally. Jeff and Tricia's conversation highlights big questions to ask when it comes to engaging with ChatGPT as a "differentiation machine" in the realm of student learning, paving the way for a more inclusive and accessible education landscape.

Check out the report mentioned in the episode:

https://economicgraph.linkedin.com/research/future-of-work-report-ai

Wanna grab one of the last seats remaining for their 3 Month Generative AI Cohort?

https://www.shiftingschools.com/learn

We loved getting to spotlight LeeAnne Lavendar's reflection, learn more about her work:

https://www.leeannelavender.com/

Share your thoughts with us on anything discussed here in our Shifting Schools Camp:

camp.shiftingschools.com

In this episode of the Shifting Schools Podcast, Jeff Utecht sits down with Elliot Mack, the co-founder of Daigon Esports, our generous sponsor for the esports mini-series. What do we discuss? * The educational benefits of esports * How Daigon Esports is shaping the future of educational technology * Ways to integrate esports into your classroom curriculum

What do we investigate? * Educational Technology * Esports in Education * Classroom Integration

Why Listen? If you’re an educator, administrator, or simply interested in the intersection of esports and educational technology, this episode is a must-watch. Learn how to bring the competitive, collaborative, and strategic world of esports into your educational setting. Links * Daigon Esports Website * Shifting Schools Resources * Subscribe to Shifting Schools

Join us as we unravel the stories that emerge when esports and gaming becomes a lifelong compass for learning. This week's guest is thought leader Janey Laney, a content creator and podcaster bridging the gap between education, gaming & tech.

Our guest takes us on a journey where gaming serves as a conduit for boundless education. Janey uncovers the profound community dynamics that power the world of gaming, weaving networks and inspiration together into a seamless fabric of connectivity. Delve into the unexplored corners of education, technology, and empowerment, and glimpse a future where gaming becomes a portal to careers and community and more.

Ready to connect with this week's amazing guest?

https://linktr.ee/JaneyLaney

Ready to learn more about our sponsor?

https://www.daigonesports.com/

Learn more with Jeff and Tricia this year:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

In this Off The Cuff episode, Jeff Utecht and Tricia dive into the exciting launch of https://camp.shiftingschools.com and their groundbreaking course on Leadership in AI. Discover how AI is shaping the future of education and why school leaders should be at the forefront of this technological revolution.

Key Points:

Introduction to https://camp.shiftingschools.com
- A new platform for educators and leaders to collaborate and share resources.
- Features and benefits of being a part of this community.
- Leadership in AI Course
- Importance of understanding AI in today's educational landscape.
- What educators can expect to learn and implement.
- The role of AI in Education
- How AI can aid in personalized learning.
- Ethical considerations in using AI in the classroom.
- Why School Leaders Should Care
- The influence of AI on decision-making processes.
- Preparing the next generation for an AI-driven world.

Resources:

https://camp.shiftingschools.com
Leadership in AI Course

How do we help students learn and play simultaneously? This week's guest explains how esports links to so many components of academic life. Curious about ways to leverage your existing curriculum, STEM and STEAM programs with esports? You need to learn more from our guest.

In recent years, esports has transitioned from mere entertainment to a thriving ecosystem that offers much more than thrilling competitions. We sit down with an expert to unravel how esports acts as a dynamic pathway for nurturing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) talents.

Ready to learn more about our guest?

Gerald Solomon is the Executive Director of NASEF.

Curious to learn more about NASEF?

Mission
NASEF is on a mission to provide opportunities for all students to use esports as a platform to develop STEAM-based skills and social emotional attributes such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities needed to thrive in work and in life.

Vision
To ensure that all students possess the knowledge and skills needed to be society’s game changers: educated, productive, and empathetic individuals.

We are SO grateful to our amazing sponsors who have made our mini series on esports possible:

Daigon

Unlock the potential of Esports for your school with DAIGON's platform, solutions, and expertise guiding your International School to success in the world of esports.

Looking to learn more with Jeff this year?

Explore our AI in Education Pathways today!

Hello, Shifting Schools community! Jeff Utecht here, as we wrap up our exciting journey into eSports Tricia and I wanted to share what we have coming up next for you in September.

As we start the new school year, we're diving in with a brand new mini-series focused on Social Emotional Learning, or SEL, a topic that we know is front and center in the minds of educators as we start another school year.

And we're not doing it alone. I'm thrilled to announce our guest list for this enlightening mini-series, a line-up of voices that will guide us through this landscape:

You’ll hear from Jessica Lahey, New York Times Bestselling Author

Charles Barrett, Author of 'Social Justice in Schools

Dr. Katie Novak, an Internationally renowned expert and author

Swapna Krishna, Known from Wired and PBS

And that’s just the start……

These thought leaders will share their insights, strategies, and stories, helping us understand how to connect with our students on a deeper, more compassionate level.

Join us as we uncover the keys to empathy, resilience, collaboration, and more. Subscribe to the Shifting Schools Podcast on your favorite platform, and let's embark on this journey together.

School's in session folks, and the next lesson is one you won't want to miss. Here's to shifting education together one conversation at a time. Until then….will see you on the network.

Check out even more at https://www.shiftingschools.com

Unravel the complexities of video game ethics as we embark on a dialogue with Dr. Leon Xiao, a distinguished expert at the crossroads of gaming and law. In this episode, we probe into the innovative ways gaming and law intersect, and how they shape the experience of game play. This episode helps us explore more pathways available in the gaming industry and asks us to think more creatively about how differing passions might intersect.

Ready to learn more about our guest?

Leon is a PhD Fellow at the IT University of Copenhagen. He also holds visiting appointments at Stanford Law School and the University of York’s Computer Science Department. Leon researches video game law, particularly the regulation of loot boxes, a quasi-gambling monetisation mechanic in video games. He uses empirical legal research methods and is passionate about open science.

Connect with our amazing guest online:

https://twitter.com/LeonXiaoY

https://sites.google.com/view/leon-xiao/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-xiao/

Thanks to our amazing sponsor for making this conversation possible. Learn more about Daigon Esports.

Would you like to learn more with Jeff and Tricia this year?

Find out more about ways to learn with Shifting School:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/learn

In this episode, we have the honor of sitting down with Joanie Kraut, the CEO of Women in Games International (WIGI), a leading organization that empowers women and underrepresented individuals in the gaming and eSports industry. Joanie Kraut has a unique perspective on the role eSports can play in communities and is dedicated to creating more future pathways for young enthusiasts interested in pursuing a career in the eSports realm.

Joanie Kraut shares her inspiring journey into the world of eSports and how her passion for gaming led her to a leadership role at Women in Games International. She discusses the organization's mission to foster diversity and inclusivity in the gaming world and explains how they are actively creating opportunities for aspiring individuals to enter the eSports industry. Joanie Kraut sheds light on the various programs, initiatives, and resources offered by Women in Games International that are shaping the future careers of young talents in eSports.

As the keynote speaker at The National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) event, Joanie Kraut talks about the significance of such a platform and how she intends to use it to address the key current themes and topics prevailing in the eSports landscape.

One of the crucial aspects of Women in Games International's work is providing mentorship to individuals seeking to advance their careers in the eSports industry. Joanie Kraut provides valuable advice for teachers who want to raise awareness about the vastness of the gaming and eSports industry among students. She sheds light on the industry's rapid growth and how it offers a plethora of diverse opportunities beyond playing games competitively. Joanie Kraut discusses the vital skills that aspiring professionals should cultivate, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and adaptability, to thrive in the dynamic world of eSports.

Meet this week's special guest:

➡️ For over fifteen years, Joanie has operated in tech and gaming within different verticals throughout her career. She has served as an advisor and consultant for studios, startups, and nonprofits in the gaming space. Her expertise resides in business development, financial strategy, and DEI initiatives. She is dedicated to eliminating barriers and increasing access and opportunities for all.

Joanie is a seasoned speaker on a range of matters, including optimizing data for analysis, how automation and machine learning technology can improve financial processing and the inclusion and advancement of women in leadership.

She is an advocate for equality and was recognized as a 2019 CalCPA Women to Watch in Finance & Accounting, Experienced Leader Award for her significant contributions to the profession and her community. She was also named a 2020 Top 100 Global Leaders in Finance by GCIF and Prism Events, an honor established to recognize fintech innovators and global financial leaders who drive significant industry impacts. In 2022, Joanie was named Most Influential CEO of 2022 by CEO Monthly for her work at WIGI and for committing her career to empowering those who feel powerless. Most recently, Joanie was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Los Angeles of 2023 by Women We Admire.

🔦 Ready to connect with our guest?

https://twitter.com/JoanieKraut

https://www.getwigi.com/

🎮 Connect with our sponsor 🎮

Daigon eSports

Unlock the potential of Esports for your school with DAIGON's platform, solutions, and expertise guiding your International School to success in the world of esports.

Ready to continue your learning with Shifting Schools?

Connect with our pathways and continue your journey of learning.

Reach out to us with your questions and comments, we LOVE hearing from listeners:

info(at) shiftingschools (dot com)

In this episode, we dive into the intersection of education technology and literacy with Dr. Miles Harvey. We explore the innovative teaching strategy of using video games as a powerful tool to enhance literacy skills and engage students in reading. Discover how this approach can transform K-12 education and foster a love for learning.

Meet this week's special guest:

➡️ Dr. Miles Harvey is a scholar gamer, middle years esports coach, streamer, and teacher educator from the University of New Mexico researching media literacy and digital game-based learning. He is a 7-12 Language Arts and Media Literacy educator in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Miles’ research interests focus on how students make sense of their learning through multimodal experiences afforded by mixed reality, video games, and research-based instructional strategies. He coaches New Mexico’s first-ever middle school esports team and competed in the North America’s first international middle school esports competition against Winnipeg, Manitoba. Miles recently published the world's first esports research anthology with over 35 authors from 6 different countries.

🔦 Ready to connect with our guest?

https://twitter.com/Educated_Lobo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/milesoflearning/
www.milesoflearning.com
https://www.twitch.tv/educatedlobo

🎮 Connect with our sponsors 🎮

Daigon and X-Sense

Unlock the potential of Esports for your school with DAIGON's platform, solutions, and expertise guiding your International School to success in the world of esports.

X-Sense is an innovative company providing home safety products, including cutting-edge smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and other smart home security systems designed to keep you and your loved ones safe 24/7. With easy-to-install devices and smart technology, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that X-Sense is always on guard. Protect what matters most with X-Sense.

Ready to continue your learning with Shifting Schools?

Connect with our pathways and continue your journey of learning.

Reach out to us with your questions and comments, we LOVE hearing from listeners:

info(at) shiftingschools (dot com)

On this episode Dr. Rachel Kowert busts myths about gaming.

If you are skeptical about what games can offer us, give this conversation some time.

Meet this week's special guest:

➡️ Rachel Kowert, Ph.D is a research psychologist and the Research Director of Take This. She is a world-renowned researcher on the uses and effects of digital games, including their impact on physical, social, and psychological well-being. In her current work, she serves as one of the primary investigators on the first grant-funded project from the Department of Homeland Security about games and extremism. She has spoken about her work to thousands of people across the globe, including the United States Congress, United Nations, and Department of Homeland Security. An award-winning author, she has published a variety of books and scientific articles relating to the psychology of games and, more recently, the relationship between games and mental health specifically. She also serves as the editor of the Routledge Debates in Media Studies series and the upcoming ETC press series Psychology of Pop Culture. Recently, she founded her YouTube channel Psychgeist, which serves to bridge the gap between moral panic and scientific knowledge on a variety of psychology and game-related topics. In 2021, Dr. Kowert was chosen as a member of The Game Awards Future Class, representing the best and brightest of the future of video games. Dr. Kowert has been featured in various media outlets, including NPR, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, New York Times, and Wired Magazine. To learn more about Rachel and her work, visit www.rkowert.com.

🔦 Ready to connect with Dr. Kowert?

www.rkowert.com

www.twitter.com/drkowert

www.takethis.org

🔗Learn more about Dr. Kowert's research:

https://rkowert.com/books/

🎮 Connect with our sponsors 🎮

Daigon and X-Sense

Unlock the potential of Esports for your school with DAIGON's platform, solutions, and expertise guiding your International School to success in the world of esports.

X-Sense is an innovative company providing home safety products, including cutting-edge smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and other smart home security systems designed to keep you and your loved ones safe 24/7. With easy-to-install devices and smart technology, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that X-Sense is always on guard. Protect what matters most with X-Sense.

Check out the great X-Sense deals for Amazon Prime Day.

Ready to continue your learning with Shifting Schools?

Connect with our pathways and continue your journey of learning.

Reach out to us with your questions and comments, we LOVE hearing from listeners:

info(at) shiftingschools (dot com)

How is Minecraft a powerful tool for building community, fostering inclusion, and engaging learners?

This week's amazing guest Mashfiq Ahmed has an answer for that question and tons of wisdom to share.

Meet this week's special guest:

➡️ Mashfiq Ahmed (he/him) is a high school chemistry teacher at John Dewey High School in Brooklyn, New York. He has been playing video games ever since he was 4-years-old and they have positively shaped him into the person that he is today. As a teacher, Mashfiq utilizes classroom gamification tools in order to support all of his students and make science more engaging. When the 2020-2021 virtual school year started, Mashfiq created an after school Minecraft Club in order for students to have a place to relax and de-stress through gaming during the pandemic. Since then, the club has grown to become something so much bigger than he could have possibly imagined. For example, Mashfiq’s Minecraft Club participates in esports building competitions with designs that promote equity, accessibility, and sustainability in New York City. Mashfiq strives to create a safe space for all, especially neurodivergent, people of color, and LGBTQ+ students, to express themselves through Minecraft and gaming. His Minecraft Club members are also Minecraft Student Ambassadors who have provided Minecraft training for other teachers and have showcased their work globally, such as at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference. Mashfiq hopes that the future of gaming continues to be more inclusive and accessible for everyone. Additionally, he is also a certified Minecraft educator and a global Minecraft mentor. Due to Mashfiq’s efforts he was recently inducted into The Game Awards Future Class of 2022, which honors inspiring individuals who represent the bright, bold, and inclusive future of video games.

🔦 Ready to connect with Mashfiq?

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrAhmedGaming

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MrAhmedGaming

Minecraft Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdhsminecraftclub/

Minecraft Club Linktree: https://linktr.ee/MinecraftClub

🔗Additional Links discussed and further ways to learn about Masfiq's work:

New York City's DIIT presents Minecraft Education - Battle of the Boroughs

The Battle of the Boroughs: A Win for Education and Esports

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS: EMPOWERING YOUTH FOR A SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE NYC

🎮 Connect with our sponsors 🎮

Daigon and X-Sense

Unlock the potential of Esports for your school with DAIGON's platform, solutions, and expertise guiding your International School to success in the world of esports.

X-Sense is an innovative company providing home safety products, including cutting-edge smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and other smart home security systems designed to keep you and your loved ones safe 24/7. With easy-to-install devices and smart technology, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that X-Sense is always on guard. Protect what matters most with X-Sense.

Check out the great X-Sense deals for Amazon Prime Day.

Ready to continue your learning with Shifting Schools?

Connect with our pathways and continue your journey of learning.

Reach out to us with your questions and comments, we LOVE hearing from listeners:

info(at) shiftingschools (dot com)

Our summer-long series on esports continues with a great conversation about aligning your curriculum with esports and leveraging esports as a way to build and nurture your school community.

Meet this week's special guest:

➡️ Mike Dahle is a Business Teacher at Elkhorn Area HS and President of the Wisconsin HS Esports Association. He was a second-year teacher when he learned how far PC gaming had come since his younger gaming days when a student gave a presentation on the League of Legends World Championship. Ever since that presentation, his interest in esports has grown exponentially. He started one of the first state associations that has since grown to 125+ schools around the state, serves as a Board Member for the Milwaukee Esports Alliance, serves as a Board Member for the Interstate Scholastic Esports Alliance, and is constantly trying to push esports to the next level in the state of Wisconsin.

🔦 Ready to connect with Mike?

Find him on Twitter

Connect with him on LinkedIn

Learn more about his organisation.

🎮 Connect with our sponsors 🎮

Daigon and X-Sense

Unlock the potential of Esports for your school with DAIGON's platform, solutions, and expertise guiding your International School to success in the world of esports.

X-Sense is an innovative company providing home safety products, including cutting-edge smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and other smart home security systems designed to keep you and your loved ones safe 24/7. With easy-to-install devices and smart technology, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that X-Sense is always on guard. Protect what matters most with X-Sense.

Check out the great X-Sense deals for Amazon Prime Day.

Ready to continue your learning with Shifting Schools?

Connect with our pathways and continue your journey of learning.

Reach out to us with your questions and comments, we LOVE hearing from listeners:

info(at) shiftingschools (dot com)

🏁This is the first in our summer-long series on esports!🏁

Meet this week's special guest:

➡️ Dr. Krista-Lee M. Malone is the Director of both the UW-Madison Game Lab and the game design certificate. Her past research has included MMORPGs massively multiplayer online role-playing games, the making of educational games in Taiwan (where she concurrently worked as a designer and consultant) and using game design in the social sciences, especially anthropology, and for community outreach. Dr. Malone is currently working on designing game for prosocial communities as well as experimenting with pedagogical uses of Twitch.tv and Discord. Outside of academia she works in user research and consultation and is a board member of MKEsports, an alliance aimed at positively growing the culture and connectivity of regional esports groups, gamers, businesses, and community partners. If you want to geek out with her, she can be found on Twitter and Twitch under the tag “GamerAnthro.”

🔦 Ready to connect with Dr. Malone?

Explore her university profile.

Find Dr Malone on Twitter.

As discussed on this episode check out this earlier interview via The Academy of esports

🎮 Connect with our sponsor: Daigon

Unlock the potential of Esports for your school with DAIGON's platform, solutions, and expertise guiding your International School to success in the world of esports.

Ready to continue your learning with Shifting Schools?

Connect with our pathways and continue your journey of learning.

Reach out to us with your questions and comments, we LOVE hearing from listeners:

info(at) shiftingschools (dot com)

On this episode of the podcast Jeff and Tricia speak with Allie Cornejo who is a High School Librarian/Lead Librarian in Harlingen, TX. She is chair of the TLA Public Relations and Marketing Committee, as well as chair for TASL's Legislative and Advocacy Committee, and co-hosts the Libraries Transform Texas Podcast. She is an enthusiast of YA lIt and graphic novels, and can often be found reading them late into the night with her booklight.

Ready to connect with this week's guest?

Twitter - @allie_cornejo, Instagram & Facebook - @alliethelibrarian

More about Libraries Transform Texas:

https://txla.org/tools-resources/libraries-transform-texas/

Books recommended on this episode

Miss Quinces: A Graphic Novel

The Weight of Blood

Indivisible

BookTubers Recommended

Hailey in Bookland

Jesse The Reader

Learn more about Shifting Schools

www.shiftingschools.com

Why do book groups need scaffolding?

How can we make the facilitation of book clubs just a tiny teeny bit easier?

That's what we discuss in this special episode.

To get the free guide explored in our conversation:

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/book-group-protocol/

Learn more about our AI offerings:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/learn

Follow us online and let us know what you are reading this summer

On Twitter

On IG

On TikTok

On this episode, we talk with Zackary Grady about their award-nominated production Gay Pride and Less Prejudice.

Learn all about that show:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26518740/

Learn more about Zackary:
https://www.thackarybinx.com/about

Check out the books he recommended:
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/40779647

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60141378-nikhil-out-loud

Take 25 dollars off the Media Literacy and Inclusion Shifting Schools Course:
Use promo code 'BABA25' at checkout:
https://www.shiftingschools.com/store-2/p/media-literacy-and-inclusion

On the podcast today is Angeline Aow, one author of the book Becoming A Totally Inclusive School.

This conversation helps us think about what we mean when we use the term 'inclusive.'

Would you like a discount on that book? Check out this special flyer.

Learn more about the special guest by exploring her website and services.

As mentioned in our conversation:

The Seven Is of Advocacy: What It Means To Be Intrepid Our 3-Month Generative AI Cohort

In this episode, we discuss our latest free on-pager to help you reimagine your relationship with social media this summer.

Inside that one-pager, we have our B.A.L.A.N.C.E. framework:

B - Boundaries: What is ONE new boundary you might set for your use of social media?

A - Assign an Intention: Know what you are going online for

L - Limit Notifications: Can you try to decrease the number of apps and notifications you receive?

A - Arrange and rearrange: Move apps around on your phone and notice how it influences use.

N - Notice your emotions: How do you feel before, during, and after using an app?

C - Consider experiments: Might you make one meal a day a tech-free time?

E - Emphasize curiosity: how might you encourage more conversations?

Ready to get the free one-pager?

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/summer-social-shifts/

Ready to check out the guide with more guidance on sparking conversations about our relationship with social media?

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/exploring-social-media/

Learn more about the 3-Month Generative AI Cohort and lock in our early bird rate before June 10:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store-2/p/3-month-generative-ai-cohort

On this episode we hear from Tan and Beth as they talk to us about the incredible new book:

Long-Term Success for Experienced Multilinguals "This practical, easy-to-implement, cross-curricular instructional framework includes strategies, implementation prompts, templates, and essential actions that create the conditions for experienced multilinguals to process content and clearly communicate discipline-specific ideas."

Learn more about our guests:

www.bethskelton.com

tankhuynh.com

And be sure to learn more about their book.

Use special code "Save20" on checkout to get a discount.

How are your conversations about generative AI tools like ChatGPT centering and focusing on equity and inclusion?

On this episode, we dig into that and provide listeners an opportunity to go further with our latest free guide!

You can download AI LIteracy and LGBTQ+ Inclusion here

Did you want to enter to win a seat to the June 3rd Pride and Less Prejudice celebrity panel?

Download the guide by 9pm EST on June 1st to enter or email tricia (at) shiftingschools.com by that deadline using the email subject 'enter to win' and you'll be entered.

Learn all about the June 3rd fundraiser here.

Research discussed on this episode:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2023/ai-chatbot-learning/

https://ideas.ted.com/you-can-help-fix-wikipedias-gender-imbalance-heres-how-to-do-it/

We are thrilled to share a free guide that will empower teachers and school leaders to capture meaningful reflections as they wrap up the academic year.

🤔✍️ Reflecting on the school year allows us to celebrate accomplishments, learn from challenges, and make valuable improvements for the future. 🎓💡

🔍 In this episode, you'll discover:

1️⃣ The benefits of end-of-year reflection that amplifies storytelling.

2️⃣ Strategies for facilitating reflective conversations with students.

3️⃣ A call to craft menus that dignify the work we do in education

Ready to get our free guide?

➡️ Crafting The Story of Our Learning is available to download free

https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/crafting-the-story-of-our-learning

Welcome back to Shifting Schools, the podcast where innovative educational approaches meet the ever-evolving landscape of learning. Join host Jeff Utecht as he converses with renowned educator, forward-thinking leader, and author of "The Design Thinking Classroom," Mr. David Jakes. In this episode, they explore the transformative power of design thinking in the educational sphere. Alongside the stimulating conversation, we're offering listeners a chance to win one of three copies of Jakes' inspiring book. However, this isn't all the episode has in store.

In their commitment to future-forward education, the team at Shifting Schools is excited to announce the launch of their 3-month Generative AI Cohort, a program designed to demystify AI for educators and bring its latest developments to their inboxes.

The Generative AI Cohort aims to empower educators by providing them with the tools and knowledge to integrate AI into their teaching methods. The journey kicks off each month with a 30-minute live webinar that simplifies AI and explores its applications in education. From there, educators receive a ready-to-roll resource each month, utilizing one of the AI frameworks. This enables them to apply their learning directly to their classrooms. The program also includes updates on AI's rapid evolution, a curated list of new AI tools to experiment with, and new favorite prompts for members to play around with. As an added bonus, there's an optional Slack channel for all cohort members to share, connect, and collectively shape the future of education. Together, this podcast episode and the Generative AI Cohort serve as a compelling invitation for educators to dive into the world of design thinking and AI, powering the future of learning.

Links for this episode:

Entery to win a copy of "The Design Thinking Classroom" before June 1, 2023

Sign up for the 3-month Generative AI Cohort

David Jakes Website

Amazon: The Design Thinking Classroom

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Ready for an Eggcellent Adventure?

Let's explore the Egg Drop Challenge with ChatGPT 🐣🔬

In this egg-ceptionally fun episode for Day of AI, your hosts Jeff and Tricia are breaking a few eggs as they explore the ultimate egg drop competition reimagined with ChatGPT as a learning buddy!

🥚 Episode Highlights:

1️⃣ We explore our Shifting Schools 'PROMPT' framework which helps give clear guidance for prompt writers

2️⃣ We preview a handful of the 18 prompt examples found in our latest free guide (see below to download!)

3️⃣ We talk about the skills involved in effectively integrating generative AI tools

🚀 Go further with our free guide. https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/reimagining-egg-drop/

💺 Save YOUR seat for our 3-month Generative AI Cohort!

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

Sponsor:

This episode is brought to you by Text Blaze. If you're an educator or a student looking for a powerful tool to boost your productivity, Text Blaze is the answer. It offers you snippets of text that you can insert anywhere you type, saving you precious time. Visit Text Blaze to learn how you can streamline your typing tasks.

Episode Overview:

In this episode of the Shifting Schools Podcast, we sit down with the incredibly inspiring Rebekah Lowell, a Maine-based author and illustrator with a remarkable story of survival and healing. Rebekah uses her experiences and deep connection with nature to craft beautiful and meaningful children's literature.

Key Links:

Website: https://rebekahlowell.com/
Book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Br8RmI
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebekahLowell
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebekahlowell/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebekahlowellstudio
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rebekahlowellart/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rebekahlowell

Join us next time as we continue our exploration of the changing landscapes of education and the people making a difference.

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On this episode, we think about ways to spread appreciation throughout the year.

Might your team benefit from spreading positive gossip about fellow team members?

How might that spark the practice of better noticing the strengths within your community?

We explore our latest free guide Positive Gossip that you can download by clicking this link.

This episode also explores research about the role of gossip, read more by clicking this link.

Ready to join our webinar coming up May 11th?

Learn all about Skills Based Assessment in the Era of ChatGPT

As a listener of this show you can take $25 off that webinar by entering special code "SSNEWS25" at checkout.

It is teacher appreciation week and we are thrilled to have the award winning Taylor Mali on the show to shower teachers with stanzas of support and care.

Taylor talks about his brand new book "The Teachers I Loved Best," as well as the collaborative process behind that book.

Listeners may remember his TED Talk 'What Teachers Make' that has now been viewed over 800,000 times.

On this episode we talk further about what it means to be an educator, how and why we need to expand on our definition for educator as well as the significance of emotional intelligence.

To connect with this week's guest you can find him across social media:

Website: TaylorMali.com Twitter: @TaylorMali Instagram: taylor_mali

Learn more about our guest:

TAYLOR MALI is a four-time National Poetry Slam champion and one of the original poets on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam. The author of six books of poetry including Late Father & Other Poems, he is also the inventor of Metaphor Dice, a game that helps writers think more figuratively. He lives in Brooklyn. OTHER FUN FACTS ABOUT TAYLOR MALI:

• In a game of SCRABBLE he once earned a score of 581.

• He is a 13th-generation resident of New York City, descended from Dutch settlers who arrived on island as immigrants and invaders in 1624.

• He convinced 1,000 people to become teachers and then donated 12” of his hair to the American Cancer Society.

• He was once the voice of all Burger King commercials.

On this episode, we ask you to consider the ways we might need to rethink traditional career fairs. If your school hosts 'world of work' events, have you thought about ways those events have changed with the needs of learners?

➡️ You can check out our Future of Work curated playlist by clicking here.

🔗 Other research links discussed in this episode 🔗:

Tech’s hottest new job: AI whisperer. No coding required.

How skills-based organizations can use AI to create the jobs of tomorrow Almost 40% of Gen Z is using TikTok and Instagram for search instead of Google, according to Google’s own data

Curious to see how plumbers are connecting with aspiring workers? Click here.

🦾 Ready to learn more about leveraging ChatGPT?

Join us for a webinar on May 11th, learn more here.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 📱Connect with us on Twitter: Send us your thoughts on this episode and your request for future conversations

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff interviews Dan Barak, from Text Blaze, a text-expansion tool that can save users time and make typing more efficient. Dan explains how Text Blaze can be used in education by creating shortcuts for frequently used phrases or words, which can be helpful for students and teachers. He shares examples of how Text Blaze has been used in education, such as providing feedback on writing assignments or taking notes in class. Dan also discusses how Text Blaze can be integrated into existing workflows and tools used in schools. We thank Text Blaze for being a sponsor of the Shifting Schools community and you can try Text Blaze for free at textblaze.me/shiftingschools

Welcome to this special episode of Shifting Schools, where we dive into the exciting world of AI in education, with a special guest ChatGPT. We discuss the potential benefits and concerns surrounding the use of AI tools like ChatGPT in the classroom and explore how educators can integrate this technology effectively to enhance learning experiences. Throughout the episode, we emphasize the importance of responsible and ethical use of AI, while highlighting the need for collaboration, personalization, and the development of higher-order skills.

In our conversation, we share practical tips for educators on how to adapt assessments, foster collaboration, and encourage ethical use of AI. We provide examples of creative assessment methods that focus on critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, enabling teachers to create engaging, innovative learning environments for their middle school and high school students. The discussion also covers the role of AI in shaping the future of education and how educators can stay informed and make the most of AI technology.

We encourage listeners to explore the possibilities offered by AI tools like ChatGPT and consider embracing them in their classrooms. By doing so, we can create a more engaging, collaborative, and effective learning environment that prepares our students for the challenges of the future. To learn more about ChatGPT and OpenAI, be sure to visit the OpenAI website. Don't miss this insightful episode that will leave you inspired to try AI in your own classroom!

Disclaimer: This episode uses AI created responoes from ChatGPT and an original AI created voice created at elevenlabs.io exclusivily for this episode.

In today's episode, we have a very special guest, Jennifer LaGarde, aka The Library Girl @jenniferlagarde, an incredible advocate for information literacy and the co-author of "Developing Digital Detectives" 📱🕵️‍♂️. Get ready for an engaging conversation about the importance of information literacy in the digital age, and how we can empower students to be critical thinkers and responsible digital citizens.

Key Points:

The Need for Information Literacy: Jennifer discusses the critical need for information literacy skills in today's digital world 🌍. She highlights the importance of teaching students how to effectively evaluate and use online information, navigate digital resources, and critically analyze media messages 📰.
Introducing "Developing Digital Detectives": Jennifer provides insights into her book "Developing Digital Detectives" 📕, which focuses on empowering students to become digital-savvy detectives who can effectively navigate the online world.
We also look at how Jennifer leverages online book talks to encourage readers of all ages.

Our Guest: Jennifer LaGarde

Jennifer LaGarde is a lifelong teacher and learner with over 20 years in public education. Her educational passions include leveraging technology to help students develop authentic reading lives, meeting the unique needs of students living in poverty and helping learners (of all ages) discern fact from fiction in the information they consume. Jennifer is the coauthor of the books Fact VS Fiction: Teaching Critical Thinking In the Age of Fake News (ISTE, 2018) and Developing Digital Detectives (ISTE, 2021) with Darren Hudgins. Subscribe to their free monthly information literacy newsletter here! A huge fan of YA Literature, Jennifer currently lives, works, reads and drinks lots of coffee in Olympia, Washington.

Follow her adventures at www.librarygirl.net or on Twitter @jenniferlagarde.

Visit textblaze.me/shiftingschools to get started saving time today!

Saturday, April 22nd is Earth Day.

While this week is an important week to put a spotlight on climate action and sustainability we need to be sustaining this conversation all year. So, how might ChatGPT help us co-create learning experiences with students?

On this episode, we explore our latest free guide that explores:

🌏 Ways to use ChatGPT to create ethical dilemmas

🌏 Using ChatGPT to create follow-up questions and direct us to resources

🌏 Create rough draft scripts that explore perspectives on the ethical dilemma

🌏 Draft social media campaign scripts

🌏 Create a March Madness-style bracket of key concepts related to climate change

Download our free guide here.

Learn more about our early bird discount on our upcoming webinar here.

Thanks to our sponsor: Visit textblaze.me/shiftingschools to get started saving time today!

April is School Library Month, and we are thrilled to bring you a conversation with award-winning librarian Karina Quilantán!

Looking for more information on School Library Month?

Click here for an overview

Click here for inspiration for celebrating your school librarian

Learn more about this week’s guest:

Karina Quilantán, also known as “Q.”, is an award-winning library media specialist, international presenter, and keynote speaker from the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. She has been an educator for over a decade and has earned array of digital credentials including Apple, Google, and Microsoft for Education certifications. Karina’s love for educational technology has allowed her to expand her library programming beyond the classroom and she loves finding innovative ways to keep her students and staff engaged in the learning process. In addition to her love of librarianship and professional development, she maintains several social media channels and moderates a professional learning network called RGV Library Squad which earned her the Texas Library Association Media Virtual Presence Award. Karina currently serves on the Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Committee, TxLA Social Media Committee, and is the Libraries Lead for MagiKids. She was also a TCEA Library Media Specialist Finalist in 2021 and was named the 2022 Texas Library Association Librarian of the Year. When she is not learning and empowering her community, she can be found playing video games, Magic the Gathering, or reading comics on her very comfy couch. You can connect with Karina Q. on any social media outlet by following her @cuethelibrarian or following her blog cuethelibrarian.com.

Be sure to also check out her amazing blogposts by clicking here.

Visit textblaze.me/shiftingschools to get started saving time today!

On this episode of the podcast Jeff and Tricia tell listeners all about the latest free guide:

"Kickstarting a critical conversation about equity and generative AI."

They explain why terms like 'algorithmic bias,' and 'search engine optimization' are important for students to understand as critical to the way we think about information literacy in the new era of generative AI tools.

Discussed in this episode:

Would you let an AI date for you?

Survival of the best fit

Facebook’s ad-serving algorithm discriminates by gender and race

Propagation of societal gender inequality by internet search algorithms

Do you want to get $250 dollars of Shifting School's store credit by being a 'critical podcast review partner'? Fill out this form before April 15th.

Learn more about our Equity and Generative AI Course here

Do you learn from your mistakes? Do your students?

In this episode we go deep into ways we can truly leverage mistakes as fuel for deeper learning, engagement, and reflection. We think more about the mindsets that help us unpack our mistakes and share them with our learning community.

Our fantastic guest this week is Eman Ismail whose podcast ‘Mistakes that Made Me’

is a great listen for Business and Entrepreneurship as well as any learning that focuses on Leadership.

Ready to learn more about this week's special guest?

Click here.

Follow Eman on Social Media:

On Twitter

On Instagram

Check out the resource from Eman that we discuss:

Available here

Thank you for listening to this episode!

If you like our podcast you may want to check out our bank of free guides available here.

A huge thanks to our sponsor for supporting us in making this episode possible:

Visit textblaze.me/shiftingschools to get started saving time today!

Thank you to our sponsor MackinVia for sponsoring today's episode.

Jeff's book recommendation: The Dip by Seth Godin

This week on the show we are honored to speak with Dr. Dana Goodier, the author of the book and podcast "Out of the Trenches". Dr. Dana Goodier has 23 years of experience in education. She has taught World Languages and English and worked as a middle school administrator. She completed her doctorate degree (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership early 2020. For her dissertation, she researched reasons parents were opting their students out of high-stakes testing at middle schools and how that affected the district accreditation rating. She often speaks at conferences, providing educators with techniques to minimize off-task behavior and to increase time on task. She is the host of the “Out of the Trenches” podcast, which features educators who share their stories of resiliency. She has also written the book "Out of the Trenches: Stories of Resilient Educators, which features much of her own story in educational trenches intertwined with stories of other educators who have faced challenges.

You can reach Dana at:

www.danagoodier.com

Twitter @danagoodier @outoftrenchespc IG: @outoftrenchespc LinkedIn

The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)

Welcome to the NCCE conference live episode sponsored by MackinVia. Today we explore the impact of Generative AI on education, digital and media literacy, and innovative projects happening in schools recorded on my Zoom H2n Mic.

We begin with a discussion on Generative AI in education. We delve into the ways in which AI can personalize learning and engage students, while also teaching them about the ethical implications of this technology and the importance of digital literacy skills.

Then we shift to the topic of digital and media literacy. We examine the critical role of media literacy in teaching students how to evaluate media sources and recognize misinformation.

Finally, we turn our attention to some of the exciting projects happening in schools hearing from teachers and tech coaches about the fun things that are engaging kids today.

The NCCE conference provides a valuable platform for educators to discuss how technology can enhance learning experiences for students. We thank MackinVia for sponsoring this episode and hope listeners enjoy this reflection from the NCCE23 conference. Join us next year at NCCE24! To learn more go to ncce.org.

Zoom H2N Handy Recorder

In this episode, we explore the transformative power of feedback for leaders. Drawing from the insightful article "How Leaders Can Get the Feedback They Need to Grow" from Harvard Business Review by Kim Scott, Liz Fosslien, and Mollie West Duffy (2023), we discuss the importance of seeking feedback as a means of enhancing trust in our learning community.

We examine the common barriers that leaders face when seeking feedback and consider key questions to reflect on in order to overcome these obstacles. From the fear of criticism to the illusion of knowing everything, we explore the mental roadblocks that can impede our ability to learn and improve.

We share our personal experiences with seeking feedback and reflect on the impact it has had on our leadership journey. Jeff and Tricia also offer actionable tips for leaders to create a feedback-friendly culture within their organization and establish meaningful connections with their team.

Want to leverage our free resources on feedback?

Find our free guide 'Reframing Feedback' here.

Do you want to sign up for our Podcast Critical Friend Cohort and receive our $250 worth of Shifting Schools store credit?

Fill out this form, please by March 30th.

Or reach out to us at info(at) shiftingschools (dot com)

On the show we are so excited to host Dr. Gina Picha! She explores the strategies and insight inside her new book: Conferring in the Match Classroom.

We explore what it means to help learners develop their math identity and to develop their capacity and confidence as problem solvers.

This conversation reminds us of the power of building relationships with students and ways we can build more casual conversations into our practice.

Learn all about Dr. Picha:

Dr. Gina Picha’s career in education began in Illinois where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in economics and later a master’s degree in education. Over the past fifteen years, Gina has worked as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, curriculum specialist and district math coordinator. In 2020, Gina graduated with a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Concordia University-Austin where she conducted research on teacher professional learning that includes time for teachers to reflect on their math identities.

Follow her on Twitter

Want to send us your feedback on today's episode?

Head to www.shiftingschools.com and send us a voice memo!

Special thanks to our amazing Sponsor:

MackinVia With 20 national awards, including ISTE Best of Show and Product of the Year, and 7 MLA Platinum Awards, MackinVIA is an accomplished digital content management system. https://home.mackin.com/digital/mackinvia/

This short and sweet episode asks for YOUR feedback.

It has now been a few weeks since we launched our learning opportunities for generative AI tools like ChatGPT.

Specifically, we launched:

Our 5-Day Generative AI Challenge

and

The Intersection of Equity and AI

We are thrilled to have folks asking us for follow up challenges and courses and we want to get to work designing them. We want to do that with YOUR needs and questions in mind.

So we are offering you a free pass if you agree to give us your feedback.

Want your free pass?

Please feel out this form by March 20th.

Do you want to have a longer conversation about a bespoke training for your community? We love cultivating partnerships, book a discovery call with us free:

click here to book your call.

Learn more about our resources at www.shiftingschools.com

Email us at info(at)shiftingschools (dotcom)

On this episode we explore what it means to 'be bold' in our personal and professional lives. This conversation features the research and insight of Shanna A. Hocking.

Shanna A. Hocking is a leadership consultant, philanthropic advisor, author, and speaker with 20 years of experience raising hundreds of millions of dollars and leading large teams at organizations such as the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Alabama, and Duke University. Her clients include universities, national nonprofit organizations, global businesses, and family foundations.

Shanna is the author of One Bold Move a Day: Meaningful Actions Women Can Take to Fulfill Their Leadership and Career Potential (McGraw Hill, November 2022), which was recognized as a November nominee of The Next Big Idea Club. Shanna's articles have been published on Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Fast Company, The Muse, and Motherly, and her expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, PIX11 News, Entrepreneur, Chicago Tribune, Today.com, Insider, and The Business Journals, among others.

Learn all about her book, connect and follow her using the links below:

Learn more about today's guest by clicking here.

Ready to order her book? Click here.

Connect with today's guest on social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannaahocking/

https://twitter.com/shannaahocking

https://www.instagram.com/shannaahocking/

Special thanks to our amazing Sponsor:

MackinVia With 20 national awards, including ISTE Best of Show and Product of the Year, and 7 MLA Platinum Awards, MackinVIA is an accomplished digital content management system. https://home.mackin.com/digital/mackinvia/

How are we helping parents and caretakers as they seek to learn more about digital literacy and social media?

On this episode Jeff and Tricia discuss recent research that makes the link between too much unregulated screentime and anxiety. So what do we do to help one another be more mindful of our social media use?

Jeff walks listeners through his PARENT framework and talks more about ways he can support your parent/caretaker audience and ways he can help your PTA sustain a conversation about social media in this ever-shifting landscape of digital literacy.

Ready to learn more about that framework?

Click here for more.

You can reach out to him at jeff(at)shiftingschools (dot com)to schedule a conversation to explore any of those options.

Tricia talks to us about the brand new free Shifting Schools resource "Exploring our Relationship With Social Media."

Ready to check out that free guide?

Click here for more.

As always you can explore our full collection of free guides, and sign up for our free newsletter at www.shiftingschools.com

Thanks to the show sponsor MackinVia for supporting us in making this podcast free for you!

Do you have thoughts on how SEL Day and SEL more broadly connects with social media? Weigh in on this episode and send us a voice memo! You can find the voice memo share button on our homepage at www.shiftingschools.com

Often the cliche 'the library is the heart of the school' is heard in literacy circles...but what does it mean to listen to a library's heartbeat?

On the podcast this week we hear directly from award-winning librarian Karina Quilantán about the journey she's explored in telling the story of her library.

We also discuss the way librarians and educators can learn from one another through social media. If you are curious to learn more about what a 'future-ready' library is all about, Karina has stellar advice to share.

Learn more about this week's guest:

Karina Quilantán, also known as “Q.”, is an award-winning library media specialist, international presenter, and keynote speaker from the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. She has been an educator for over a decade and has earned array of digital credentials including Apple, Google, and Microsoft for Education certifications. Karina’s love for educational technology has allowed her to expand her library programming beyond the classroom and she loves finding innovative ways to keep her students and staff engaged in the learning process. In addition to her love of librarianship and professional development, she maintains several social media channels and moderates a professional learning network called RGV Library Squad which earned her the Texas Library Association Media Virtual Presence Award. Karina currently serves on the Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Committee, TxLA Social Media Committee, and is the Libraries Lead for MagiKids. She was also a TCEA Library Media Specialist Finalist in 2021 and was named the 2022 Texas Library Association Librarian of the Year. When she is not learning and empowering her community, she can be found playing video games, Magic the Gathering, or reading comics on her very comfy couch. You can connect with Karina Q. on any social media outlet by following her @cuethelibrarian or following her blog cuethelibrarian.com.

Be sure to also check out her amazing blogposts by clicking here.

Did you love this week's episode?

Be sure to send us a voice memo and tell us your thoughts: shiftingschools.com

A huge thank you to this week's Sponsor: MackinVia

A few other reminders:

Save $50 at the upcoming NCCE conference here in the State of Washington March 21-23 by using the code shiftingschools50. It’s always a great conference and I’ll be there doing six sessions including two on ChatGPT and AI in education. We will also be recording a live Shifting Schoosl podcast with anyone who wants to join us in room 406 at 2:00 pm on March 23rd. Thank you to NCCE for sponsoring Shifting Schools and giving us a space to record an episode live. If you are going to the conference please make sure you stop by and say Hi and if you can join me at 2pm in room 406 and be a part of the podcast we’d love to have ya. Will be talking about trends during the conference, ah-ha moments, and just our takeaways. If you can’t make it to the conference make sure you follow using the #ncce23 on Twitter and be listening for that episode after the conference. Again that’s ncce.org and that offer code is shiftingschools50 of course it’s all in the show notes as well.

All podcast listeners can save $25 when they use the code SSPOD25 at checkout on any of our courses. Our 5-Day AI Challenge and Tricia’s steller The Intersection of AI and Equity are both for sale at the moment. With that discount code you get either one for $74. We send you an email with a link to the slide deck that includes everything you need to implement it in your school. A built in reflective journal, a facilitator's guide and videos walking you through the process. In fact I just took our 5 Day Challenge and used it in a PD training at a school district. So many great ways to use these resources. Don’t forget that’s $74 for a site license you are allowed and encouraged to give every teacher in your building their own copy. You don’t have to go to a website, there are no logins. We literally just give you the file to share within your school. It comes in both Google Slides and PPT format and of course, we’re here to support you every step of the way. So use that code SSPOD25 and start supporting the shift in your school around generative AI. That’s SSPOD25 at shiftingschools.com

Are you curious to learn more about what it might mean to become an International school educator? Have you ever considered an international move? Today's episode aims to help you dig into that curiosity and learn more about your potential next steps.

On this episode, we're speaking with the creators of Educators Going Global, a community that aims to connect and bring focus to international education.

Our guests today David and Audrey , who founded Educators Going Global. They share their vision for the website and podcast and discuss the resources and training opportunities it provides to teachers around the world.

Throughout the conversation, we hear about the challenges and rewards of being an international educator.

Whether you're an international educator looking to hear stories from others, or an educator interested in getting started on those next steps, our conversation provides you insight. Be sure to head over to https://educatorsgoingglobal.com/ to learn, listen, and connect even further.

Ready to get our new free guide "Exploring our relationship with social media"?

Click here and head over to shiftingschools.com to see our 70+ free guides!

Check out Jeff's recent episode about parenting and caretaking with social media and healthy digital habits in mind, you can read it here.

Today's guest is Andréa Jones and she's here to talk about her journey in becoming a social media strategist.

Andréa Jones is the creator and lead social media strategist at OnlineDrea.com

They help businesses create an impact beyond their brand through authentic social media marketing strategies that focus on building a community of real and engaged followers

She is also the founder of the Savvy Social Podcast and at the Savvy Social School.

Learn more about her work at onlinedrea.com

This episode hopes to help us think about the potential career pathways there might be via social media. Are your students interested in pursuing a career that you hope to learn more about? Reach out to us at info(at) shiftingschools (dot com).

Just a quick reminder before we get to today’s episode that you can save $50 at the upcoming NCCE conference here in the State of Washington March 21-23 by using the code shiftingschools50. It’s always a great conference and I’ll be there doing six sessions including two on ChatGPT and AI in education. We will also be recording a live Shifting Schoosl podcast with anyone who wants to join us in room 406 at 2:00 pm on March 23rd. Thank you to NCCE for sponsoring Shifting Schools and giving us a space to record an episode live. If you are going to the conference please make sure you stop by and say Hi and if you can join me at 2pm in room 406 and be a part of the podcast we’d love to have ya. Will be talking about trends during the conference, ah-ha moments, and just our takeaways. If you can’t make it to the conference make sure you follow using the #ncce23 on Twitter and be listening for that episode after the conference. Again that’s ncce.org and that offer code is shiftingschools50 of course it’s all in the show notes as well.

All podcast listeners can save $25 when they use the code SSPOD25 at checkout on any of our courses. Our 5-Day AI Challenge and Tricia’s steller The Intersection of AI and Equity are both for sale at the moment. With that discount code you get either one for $74. We send you an email with a link to the slide deck that includes everything you need to implement it in your school. A built in reflective journal, a facilitator's guide and videos walking you through the process. In fact I just took our 5 Day Challenge and used it in a PD training at a school district. So many great ways to use these resources. Don’t forget that’s $74 for a site license you are allowed and encouraged to give every teacher in your building their own copy. You don’t have to go to a website, there are no logins. We literally just give you the file to share within your school. It comes in both Google Slides and PPT format and of course, we’re here to support you every step of the way. So use that code SSPOD25 and start supporting the shift in your school around generative AI. That’s SSPOD25 at shiftingschools.com

In this episode, we are so excited to team up with fellow podcaster/educator Olivia Wahl. We discuss the emerging role of educational podcasts in inspiring, informing, and igniting curiosity in our educator communities.

Are you excited to learn more about our special guest Olivia Wahl and check out her podcast?

Twitter: Olivia Wahl & Schoolutions Podcast Instagram: Olivia Wahl, My Business Page & Schoolutions Podcast Facebook: Olivia Wahl, My Business Page & Schoolutions Podcast.LinkedIn: Olivia Wahl

Ready to explore the run-down of podcast episodes we explore in this episode?

Schoolutions Podcast with Host, Olivia Wahl
- S2 E1: We (still) Got This: What It Takes to Be Radically Pro-Kid with Cornelius Minor
- S2 E17: Spark Change & Make Your Mark in 2023 with the Refulgent Olivia Van Ledtje (@theLivBits)
- S2 E22: The Sharing Place: Supporting Children as They Process and Move Through Their Grief with Jill Macfarlane
Be a Better Ally Podcast
- Episode 14: We are Ready (with Kathleen Naglee)
Unhinged Collaboration Podcast
- Episode 7: What can music history teach us about collaboration?
Nice White Parents Podcast
Phenomenal Teaching Podcast (PEBC)
Heavyweight Podcast
This Week in Tech (TWIT) Podcast
Manoush Zomorodi
- ZigZag Podcast
Bridget Todd
- Internet Hate Machine Podcast
- There Are No Girls on the Internet Podcast

Free resources mentioned in this episode:

Download the free guide on leveraging the power of podcasts

Revisit our free webinar on using fiction podcasts for creative writing

On this week we speak with Jody Matey who enlightens us on why a better understanding of our sensory system can be of serious importance in the early years classroom (as well as across our campuses).

She expands on a blog post she wrote entitled "Self-Regulation & Understanding our Sensory Systems: An Inclusive Approach to Early Years PE" available on PhysEquity website here.

Jody walks us through tried and tested strategies that are brilliant for learners of all ages when it comes to processes stress and dysregulated emotions. Jody goes into detail in ways schools can leverage her tips with their parent and caretaker audience. You can find her menu here.

Ready to connect with Jody?

https://jodymatey.com/

Do you have thoughts about this week's episode? Want to let us know about an additional tip to consider? Head to www.shiftingschools.com and send us a voice memo!

Join Jeff at NCCE this year and save $50 when you register using code shiftingschools50

Use code SSPOD25 to save $25 on any course at shiftingschools.com

We asked our community of Shifting Schools newsletter subscribers to vote on this week's topic and they voted for a conversation on note-taking strategies.

(By the way did you know you can also sign up for our free newsletter at www.shiftingschools.com?)

Jeff and Tricia were so excited to discuss their nine favorite strategies in this week's episode:

Demystify the process: make space for learners to share what note-taking strategies they’ve developed by inviting students to so short share-outs or small group presentations.
Collaborative note-taking: invite groups or the entire class to collaborate on taking notes
Save the last word for me from Facing History: remember that you can use conversation as the catalyst for notes
Social silent reading: this might be Jeff's favorite--it is powerful for learners of all ages
Use protocols like those found in our free guide.
Use Jamboard-specifically our 'might mights' framework to gather questions. You can find that guide here.
Leverage annotation mentor texts using Genius.com
Invite students to record a video tour of their notes to be shared with others
Leverage ChatGPT to ask for a template and in small teams make improvements

Also as discussed if you are registering for NCCE use our special promo code for a discount:

shiftingschools50

Want to take 25 dollars off any of our Shifting Schools offers?

Use special promo code SSPOD25 on checkout

If you are passionate about STEM, Design, or Art this is a great episode to make time for!

On this episode we sit down with Jen Christiansen: a senior graphics editor at Scientific American, where she art directs and produces illustrated information graphics and data visualizations. She began her publishing career in New York at Scientific American in 1996, moved to Washington DC to join the art department of National Geographic, spent four years as a freelance science communicator, then returned to Scientific American in 2007.

We explore the power of Jen's new book Building Science Graphics: An illustrated guide to communicating science through diagrams and visualizations as a tool to help us think about the power of interdisciplinary learning.

You can explore that book and add it to your professional development library by clicking here.

Follow Jen Christiansen on Social Media:

LInkedIN

Twitter

Thank you to our special sponsors, learn more about StemSports and Mackin Maker today by clicking here.

Would you like to share your thoughts on this episode?

Send us a voice memo!

Head to www.shiftingschools.com or email us info (at) shiftingschools.com

Millions of dollars are spent on a single 30-second ad spot during Super Bowl Sunday. Now more than ever because of social media's influence the commercials that air during the big game get more talk time, more attention, and a more significant place in popular culture.

So how are we preparing families to explore media literacy and think critically about these massively powerful ad campaigns?

Our BRASS media literacy framework hopes to spark great discussion in and out of the classroom. That framework is a part of our brand new free guide: 'Three Ways to Leverage the Big Game for Big Learning,' and you can download it here.

Check out the other research about Super Bowl advertising explored in this show:

NFL accounts for 82 of 100 most-watched U.S. TV broadcasts of 2022 Super Bowl ads set the stage for marketing to millions If you use any of the ideas from our new free guide, we'd love to hear from you!

Reach out to us at info(at) shiftingschools.com

Also discussed on this episode:

Opportunities from NEASC

Click here

Learn more about saving on your NCCE registration!

Use our special promotional code "shiftingschools50"

On this episode we learn about the connection between sports and STEM. If you've been looking to do more with that link, this conversation is for you!

Our special guest is CEO and President of STEM Sports: Jeff Golner.

StemSports.com is a leading website dedicated to exploring the intersection of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with sports. The website provides articles, videos, and resources that showcase the ways in which STEM is shaping the world of sports, and how sports can inspire young people to pursue careers in STEM fields. Founded by a team of sports and STEM enthusiasts, StemSports.com has quickly become a go-to resource for coaches, athletes, and fans who are interested in learning more about the science behind their favorite sports. Whether you’re looking to improve your performance on the field or just want to gain a deeper understanding of the games you love, StemSports.com has something for you. In addition to its rich content offerings, StemSports.com is also dedicated to promoting STEM education and career development. The website regularly hosts events and initiatives aimed at inspiring young people to pursue careers in STEM fields, including STEM sports camps for kids and webinars for coaches. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just a curious beginner, StemSports.com is the perfect place to discover the latest and greatest in STEM and sports. So why not visit today and start exploring the world of STEM through the lens of sports!

We are very thankful to the folks at STEM Sports for sponsoring our special mini series on STEM.

Learn more about Jeff Golner:

Prior to venturing on his own, Golner enjoyed a long marketing, game operations and entertainment career with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 1997 to 2005, leaving as Senior Director of Game Operations. Golner produced close to 700 Major League Baseball games including playoff games and the four World Series games in 2001 that culminated with a Championship. Golner also served a three-year ticketing stint with the Colorado Rockies from 1994 to 1996.

Jeff and Tricia talk about the importance of curiosity as we continue to consider new tools like Chat GPT and generative AI. They explore what it might mean to think about generative AI as it intersects with information literacy and media literacy.

Patrick Holt (Dean of Learning at XCL World Academy) kindly shares what's being discussed at his school and how curiosity is being amplified in the classrooms and hallways. He takes us on a mini journey explaining what his journey with AI has been.

As always listeners are welcome to share their thoughts with us by sending a voice memo to the co-hosts via the SpeakPipe button on our home page at www.shiftingschools.com or by emailing us at info (at) shiftingschools.com

This episode also discusses what it will mean to center equity in our conversations about generative AI.

Learn more about ways to expand your learning on AI and take advantage of our special pre-sale discount: click here.

We hope this episode helps you get curious about what Chat GPT might mean for your community's learning.

This episode debunks a few misconceptions about Maker education and design projects. We have help with the debunking from Lindsey Simmons, an educator who has partnered with Mackin Maker, who have been a phenomenal sponsor of this show.

Our conversation goes on to explore ways we can use the design cycle in many different ways and how understanding that cycle can set us up for all types of projects in our personal lives.

Lindsey also helps us think about sustainability and the intersection of literacy and MakerED.

Learn all about Lindsey Simmons here. And follow her on social media here.

Have you heard about our pre-sale offer on now? Click here to learn more about our pathways for educators looking to leverage the power of Chat GPT and other Generative AI tools.

Reach out to us at info (at) shiftingschools.com to learn more

--

For the rest of the links mentioned in this episode:

Key Strategies for Maker Education (click here) via Mackin Maker

Three myths of making (click here) via Mackin Maker

Creating connections to the environment through making (click here) via Mackin Maker

-

Would you like to send us a message sharing your thoughts about this episode?

Find our SpeakPipe button at www.shiftingschools.com

Jeff and Tricia talk about Chat GPT and other generative AI tools. The big question in this episode is: How might you use Chat GPT as a thought partner this year?

We asked Chat GPT to help us out with the intro for this show, to tell us more about what misconceptions there are about Chat GPT. What did it tell us?

"ChatGPT is sentient or conscious: ChatGPT is a machine learning model, it does not have consciousness or self-awareness. It can only respond based on the patterns it has learned from the data it was trained on.
ChatGPT is always correct: ChatGPT is a powerful tool, but it is not infallible. It may make mistakes or produce nonsensical responses if it is given input that it has not been trained on or if the input is ambiguous.
ChatGPT can write any kind of text: ChatGPT is a language model, it can generate text based on patterns it has learned from the data it was trained on. However, its performance may vary depending on the specific task or genre of text. For example, it may not perform as well on poetry or creative writing as it would on news articles."

Jeff and Tricia also have a special offer for listeners: a big discount on the new 5-Day Generative AI Challenge. How might that challenge bring you a community-building learning experience?

Learn more about all of our AI support here.

We also have a special free guide to help your team learn more about tools like Chat GPT, click here to download it.

Do you want to share your thoughts about how generative AI tools will intersect with learning this year? Send us a voice memo, using the SpeakPipe button on our homepage: www.shiftingschools.com

Also discussed on this episode:

A collection of AI tools to experiment with:

https://theresanaiforthat.com/

Chat GPT for you and me via Wired: click here.

Learn more about ways to learn with Shifting Schools this year by exploring our full line up of professional learning pathways for K-12 educators by clicking here.

How do you build a network of learners and how does that network in turn shape you as a learner?

On the podcast this week, Drea Weiner answers that question (and many others).

This conversation is supported by our amazing sponsors: Stem Sports and MackinMaker

At the heart of this conversation, we think about how we can cultivate the mindsets that promote STEM-based inquiry and set students up to be leaders in MakerEd. Drea reminds us that STEM learning intersects our entire curriculum and invites interdisciplinary learning and community connections.

Let's learn more about our guest:

Drea Weiner is the MiSTEM Network Regional Director for the Northwestern Lower MiSTEM Network region. She provides professional learning, support, community connections to education, grant writing guidance, and resources to educators in order to bring the best possible STEM education to students. Drea is one of the founders of Newton's Road 3D, a STEM professional learning community for teachers wanting to give their students the opportunity to learn soft skills like critical thinking and problem solving through 21st century technology.

Follow Drea on Social Media:

On Twitter

On LinkedIN

Learn all about the MiSTEM Network here

Mentioned on this episode:

400,000 fabrication works short by 2024

Do you want to weigh in on this episode?

Have questions for our hosts?

Send us a voice memo!

You can find it on our homepage at www.shiftingschools.com

Click here to explore our HUGE library of free guides for K-12 Educators

Learn more about the STEM book series mentioned and email us to win a free book!

Click here

Email us info (at) shiftingschools (dot com)

In this episode, Tricia and Jeff are talking about our relationships with social media, misinformation, disinformation and the role schools must play when leading for media literacy.

This conversation was inspired by this recent article in the New York Times by Jenny Gross.

Our guests talk about the influence technology has on learners of all ages. The look at what it might mean to help students build habits that ensure they come to their social media with curiosity and a desire to check for bias and become savvy consumers of information.

They go on to mention that NPR has launched its annual student podcat competition.

Jeff and Tricia offer listeners a special offer on two of the professional development options.

Looking to build media literacy routines with learners of all ages? Check out our free guide today.

Reach out to the hosts via info (at) shiftingschools (dot) (com)

Other resources discussed:

Canva image AI https://www.canva.com/features/ai-image-generator/

Open AI image creator https://openai.com/

Thanks to our special sponsors for their support of our show.

Learn more by heading to StemSports.com and MackinMacker.com today.

On this week Jeff and Tricia talk to Sevile Mannickarottu: Director of Penn's Bioengineering Educational Lab & Bio-MakerSpace-the only Bio-Maker Space in the world.

They talk about what it means to create an archive and a legacy of learning. Sevile also shares ways educators can get started in creating a Makerspace.

You can learn all about Sevile's work here.

Check out the introductory video to the lab here.

Also discussed in this episode is Backyard Brains, learn more here.

Learn more about ways to learn with Shifting Schools at www.shiftingschools.com

Do you want to connect with our hosts? Email info (at) shiftingschools (dot) (com)

Are you looking to take on a new challenge of leading learning at an upcoming conference?

Would you like to refine the way you approach delivering professional development at your school?

This episode is all about our recommendations for approaching the application process, as well as communicating what your session is all about with peers.

The full guidance is available for you to download free, click here for more.

This conversation came to be because a value podcast listener (like you!) reached out for advice after hearing us remind folks that Learning2 Asia is open for applications now until January 23rd. You can learn more about that opportunity here.

Have a question you'd like to see Jeff and Tricia take on? Reach them at info (at) shiftingschools (dot com)

Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors for this mini-series on STEM and MakerSpace. Check out both StemSports.com and MackinMacker.com today. Find all the offers from all our sponsors at https://www.shiftingschools.com/offers

Episode

On this episode, we explore the joy of tinkering, the social-emotional case for making, and we question the benefits of cultivating a beginner's mindset.

Whether you are an experienced teacher of MakerEd or you've never thought of yourself as a 'maker' this episode is for you.

Our special guest on the show is Mike Bycraft.

Mike Bycraft is an international educator who specializes in design, robotics, engineering, and makerspaces. He is the head of design and innovation at Korea International School.

Prior to moving internationally, Mike taught AP and IB sciences in the United States, in Clark County School District.

Mike has created design programs, makerspaces, and robotics curriculum for K-12 students.

In 2021 his project of redesigning a controller was featured on the Makey Makey blog

Learn more about his work in this video and through his website.

You can connect with Mike on Twitter here.

Pair this with one of our free resources

Looking to partner with parents and caretakers when it comes to STEM learning?

Get our free guide here.

Explore over 60 free guides available from our website today.

Few educators would disagree with the idea that feedback is crucial for meaningful learning. So how can we support one another in striving for better feedback processes? As students move towards the process of setting goals for a new year, what are some of the conversations we need to prioritize in order to scaffold that planning?

In this special bonus episode, we hear from educator Madalena Elshoff as she walks us through the way she leveraged on of our Shifting Schools free guides in order to reimagine feedback, goal setting, and classroom culture. Specifically we talk about the free guide "Learner Focused Goal Setting."

Did you know our free resource library has over 60 free guides for educators to choose from?

Visit our library here.

Is there a resource you would like to see us work on for your school this year?

Email Jeff and Tricia at info (at) shiftingschools (dot com) today!

Members of our free newsletter community receive weekly updates on the latest free guide as well as additional resouces and ideas for the classroom. You can sign up for our newsletter here.

A new year is a time when many of us start thinking about new goals, and new habits we want to cultivate. And yet, how many of us have had the time and the opportunity to dig into the research on habit formation?

On this episode, Jeff and Tricia talk to Wendy Wood about her phenomenal book Good Habits, Bad Habits.

This episode puts a spotlight on some of the research and insight included in that book. Wendy Wood, explains why we have some misguided ideas about how habits are cultivated. Our conversation is a timely reminder of the importance and significance our learning environments have for learners of all ages. We hope this conversation inspires you to spark better, more meaningful conversations about habits and the role they play in your learning organization.

Ready to learn more about the guest on this week's episode?

Wendy Wood is a UK-born psychologist who is the Provost Professor of Psychology and Business at University of Southern California, where she has been a faculty member since 2009. She previously served as vice dean of social sciences at the Dornsife College of the University of Southern California. Her primary research contributions are in habits and behavior change along with the psychology of gender.

She is the author of the popular science book, Good Habits, Bad Habits, released in October 2019. This book was featured in the Next Big Idea Club and was reviewed in the New Yorker.

Ready to learn more about the conference mentioned in this episode?

Click here for more about applying to present at Learning2 in 2023.

In this replay episode from June, 2022 the number one listened to episode of the the year. Jeff reflects on the past year of shifting schools and how this conversation about cell phones is a microcosm for the educational shift at large we find ourselves in.

Jeff shares a snipet from his 2019 conversation with Microsoft around cell phones in the classroom and education at large. You can watch the full interviwe with jeff at this link.

This has been an incredible year for Shifting Schools. We went through a lot of transitions this year. From new album art and website logos from Chrissy to Tricia becoming a full time co-host on the podcast and taking on the role of Creative Content Extraordinaire. I’m happy to announce that Tricia and I will continue working together in 2023. How she finds time to do everything she’s involved in still blows me away. From her own podcast and newsletter Be A Better Ally to her new podcast Unhinged Collaboration. Her dedication to educators, education, students and the LGBTQ+ community at large is humbling to say the least. If you are not following Tricia on your social network of choice or have not added the Be A Better Alley and Unhinged Collaboration podcasts to your podcast app. You should do so as you start the new year.

Shifting Schools also became a top 10 podcast in K12 Education globally with Australia and Canada coming in at the top 2 countries our podcast is listened to outside of the U.S. We cannot thank you, our loyal listeners, enough for making this all possible. Thank you for your dedication to your students and to your craft as an educator.

That brings me to today’s reply episode. Our #1 listened to episode of 2022 will be no surprise I’m guessing to most of you as it deals with cell phones in the classroom. Episode 216 released on June 27th in which Tricia and I talk with our good friend Tyler Rablin about Cell Phones in the classroom.

Happy New Year Everyone!

On this special episode, Jeff and Tricia sit down with a listener of the show: Joe Taranto. Joe reached out to Jeff and Tricia about his experience podcasting with students. Joe shares what he has learned over the years of launching and sustaining a podcast that is truly student-led.

This episode is great for fellow educators who are curious about what a podcast might bring to their community as well as for educators reimagining student agency and student leadership.

We discuss practical strategies for sustaining a podcast and avoiding a few hurdles along the way.

Ready to learn more about Joe's student-driven podcast?

Check out The Eagle's View here

Connect with Joe on Twitter: @JoeRayTee School

Learn more about the school he works at: https://www.emerson-school.org/

Are you looking for more support in leveraging the power of podcasts?

Check out one of our recent free webinars for more ideas here.

Hoping to do more with podcasts as part of your professional learning?

As always you can find all of our free guides here.

Ready to learn more about ways Shifting Schools can help you shift practice in the new year?

Reach out to us info (at) shiftingschools (dot) (com)

The Port Townsend School District Website for the 2022 Salish Coast Elementary Children’s Film Festival

This year the Library/STEM program at Salish Coast Elementary hosted the 2022 SC Children’s Film Festival! It was created by our K-5 citizen-scientists as a “Call to Action for the Future of the Salish Coast Ecosystem” and our students are excited to share their voices to tell their stories to ask our community: “What Will You Do to Help?”

https://sites.google.com/ptschools.org/sc-childrens-film-festival-22/home

Novel Effect is a Seattle-based company that created a fantastic free app that follows along as you read aloud books and uses voice recognition software to respond at just the right moment with music, sounds, and character voices to help make storytime magic. They also have premium plans with educator discounts.

https://noveleffect.com/educators/

WeVideo is an easy to use, chromebook compatible, cloud-based editing platform that allows teachers and students to work collaboratively on creating gifs, videos, podcasts, and more.

https://www.wevideo.com/education

The Stop Motion Pro Studio app allows students to use the iPads to take photos of their original artwork and then, through software applications, put them together in a sequence to create movement in their animated films.

https://www.cateater.com/

Contact Denise: deniseaedan {at] gmail [dot] com

On this episode we are so excited to bring you words of wisdom from Eva Murray.

Eva Murray is an international speaker on the topics of data visualization, data culture and data communities ,she’s a published author, and is a driving force for women’s empowerment in the technology industry. You can learn all about her work at: evamurray.co.uk

Three questions are on our minds after learning with Eva:

1) What might we do to better tell stories with data and why might data visualization be a skillset to lean into more in 2023?

2) How are our learning organizations fostering listening skill sets: specifically putting greater emphasis on how we can best listen for understanding?

3) What's the relationship between data analysis and curiosity?

Connect with this week's special guest online

Via LinkedIN

Via Twitter

If public speaking is something you are working on for your new year's goals be sure to also give her book a look! You can learn more about it here.

Have you checked out our latest free guides?

Learn more about ways we offer support to learning organizations around the world here.

Have a theme or topic you want us to explore on the podcast?

Reach out info(at) shiftingschools (dot) (com)

About Swapna Krishna

Swapna Krishna is a science and technology communicator specializing in the geek space. She regularly creates science videos on TikTok and contributes to Wired, NPR, StarTrek.com, New Scientist, and Engadget. Krishna’s writing has appeared in outlets such as The Verge, Polygon, Fast Company, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Business Insider, and Slate. She is currently writing a book on stargazing for Chronicle Books (Fall 2023). You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Subscribe to Swapna’s brand new show Far Out on PBS

Far Out explores the future of science, technology, and culture and how these changes may affect humanity and life on Earth. With pop culture and sci-fi references, the series will be humorous and fun, but unafraid to ask tough questions and explore unknowns. Far Out is the inaugural show in a lineup of new STEM-related content coming to PBS Terra with support from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program. The grant will help elevate underrepresented voices in STEM media, in particular Black and Hispanic creators, as well as women in general.

Explore Swapna Krishna’s video games column in Wired:

https://www.wired.com/author/swapna-krishna/

On this episode, Jeff and Tricia bring listeners an abundance of news.

Up first they let listeners know that the 3rd annual collection of protocols is now available to download free.

Jeff and Tricia talk about the many ways protocols have been helpful to them as facilitators of professional learning, as well as for their own learning, reflection, and creative processes.

That free guide puts an emphasis not only on collaboration but also on ways we can seek to lead with belonging in mind.

Tricia and Jeff then move on to explore and discuss the brand new podcast playlists that listeners can explore. So far there are three playlists: one on storytelling, one on the future of work, and one that looks to expand a school's professional learning library.

Jeff also lets the community know about the new offers page where the Shifting Schools podcast family can learn more about special offers made possible through sponsors and partners.

This is the time of year that the Shifting Schools team would love listener feedback on what they'd like to see explored further on the podcast, listeners are reminded to reach out to info@shiftingschools.com

Lastly, two brand new professional growth opportunities are shared: one for educators looking to launch the start of their consultancy, and another for leaders responsible for leading learning on campus. Interesting in being a part of the first cohorts for either? Drop Jeff and Tricia a line to learn more about pre-sale savings: info@shiftingschools.com

In this free webinar from Jeff and Tricia we talk about using a backwards chaining approach to scaffling learning for students and why right now is a great time to introduce students to podcasts before the winter (or summer) holiday break.

A list of podcasts for studnets
What does it mean to "read" in today's world?
How we can use podcasts to scaffold creativing writing for students

Watch the free webinar on Youtube here and make sure to subscribe to not miss any of our upcoming webinars.

Make a copy of the presentation here

Thank you to Quizalize for being a sponor of the podcast. You can get 1 month free of their premium subscription when you visit this link.

Sponsors:

Quizalize.com Get started with 1 mont free premium subscrption when you visit bit.ly/SHIFTINGSCHOOLS

Guest: Francisco Cervantes

Francisco Cervantes is the Director of Creative Learning of the Scratch Foundation.

Francisco has extensive experience researching, designing, and implementing educational resources in K–12 computer science.

https://scratch.mit.edu/

https://www.scratchfoundation.org/

ScratchEd’s Creative Computing Curriculum Guide

This is an audio recording of the free webniar Jeff and Tricia did on YouTube.

Watch the webinar on YouTube and don't forget to subscribe to catch more live free webinars.

Make a copy of the slide presentation to keep

Sponsor:

Quizalize.com
Save 80% by signing up for a yearly premium subscription when you use the code SHIFTINGSCHOOLS at checkout. Good through December 4th.

Sponsors:

Quizalize.com
Save 80% on a yearly premium subscription when you use the code SHIFTINGSCHOOLS at checkout.

Join Jeff at the NCCE23 conference happening in Tacoma, WA. Stop by and say high or be on an episode of Shifting Schools as we record live from the conference on March 23rd, 2023

Today's Guess: Aaron Reiss

Aaron Reiss is a freelance researcher, journalist, and cartographer based in New York City. He publishes work in places like The New Yorker, The New York Times, This American Life, The Atlantic, NPR, The Pulitzer Center, and more.

Aaron's Twitter

Getting Started with Podcasting Learning Series

Google Earth adn Google MyMaps Professional Learning Pathways

Sponsors:

Quizalize.com
Save 80% off a 1-year premium subscription when you use offer code SHIFTINGSCHOOLS at check out!

Nanjing International School is seeking a PYP Coordinator
Interested applicants can learn more and apply online at www.nischina.org/employment

Education Concierge Podcast
https://justteachbasics.wixsite.com/globaled

Today's Guest: Dr. Sarah Lamdan

Sarah Lamdan is a professor at CUNY School of Law. She also has a master's degree in library science and legal information management and a law certificate in environmental law. Her research focuses on information law and policy.

When she's not teaching, she works on data justice projects across the spectrum from open government to personal privacy. She researches and writes about information access, surveillance & privacy, and informational capitalism. She's written a book about data analytics companies called Data Cartels (Stanford University Press).

Data Cartels (Stanford University Press)

Amazon Link

None

Sponsors

Quizalize.com sign up for your free account today!

Find Jeff everywhere @jutecht

Find Tricia everywhere @tricia-fried

Make a coyp of the Single Slide Pathway

Sponsors

Quizalize.com sign up for your free account today!

Our Guest: Fredrik van Huynh

Fredrik van Huynh is the co-founder and director at Absolute Internship, a leading global internship program placing university students with top companies online and in global cities around the world. e. Frequently covered by The New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek and BBC News as a career expert, van Huynh is recognized as one of Sweden's top entrepreneurs under 30, having built a multi million-dollar business from ground up.

Absolute Internship

High School Internship program

One of the tips

Fredrik TikTok

Find Jeff everywhere @jutecht

Find Tricia everywhere @tricia-fried

Play On Podcasts -- epic audio adventures that reimagine Shakespeare’s timeless tales, featuring original music composition and the voices of award-winning actors. Each episode explores plays from Macbeth to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in a way that you can actually understand, created specifically for the podcast form by some of America’s most exciting playwrights, directors, and composers, and performed by stage and screen’s best. Look out for their new series, Measure for Measure, and hear Shakespeare like you've never before.

Subscribe to Play On Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out Play On Podcast to hear Shakespeare like never before!

Guest: Ana Maria Torres

The Puerto Rican Miss Frizzle. Your favorite pop culture concierge. Design and BTEC Creative Media teacher at ISZL

https://twitter.com/MsTorresAbroad

Sponsors:

carneysandoe.com/institute

Guests:

Follow the social media for Nanjing International School as referenced by Kyle:

https://www.nischina.org/join-us/follow-us

Follow the social media for AES as described by Yiva:

https://twitter.com/aesdelhi

https://www.youtube.com/user/AESDelhiVideos

https://www.instagram.com/aesdelhi/

Follow the social media for ICS as described by Chris

https://twitter.com/ICSAddis

https://www.instagram.com/icsaddis/

https://www.youtube.com/user/ICSAddisAbaba

Sponsors:

The Journalism Salute Podcast

#NCCE23

Register for the conference here

Guest: Andréa Jones
Andréa Jones is the creator and lead social media strategist at OnlineDrea.com

They help businesses create an impact beyond their brand through authentic social media marketing strategies that focus on building a community of real and engaged followers

She is the founder of the Savvy Social Podcast and at the Savvy Social School.

https://onlinedrea.com/

Savvy Social Podcast Episode 200

Sponsors:

FlexiSpot.com
Save $20 on the E7 Standing Desk when using the code Shifting20 at check.

The Journalism Salute Podcast

Our Guests:

Stephanie ArakelianStephanie is a senior podcast marketing & audience development executive at CurtCo Media, developing marketing campaigns, promotions, and features for all podcasts in the CurtCo Media catalog. Jenny CurtisJenny is a podcast producer, host & creator with CurtCo Media. Shows include: SOLAR (Director/Producer/Voice of AL), Hollywood Unscripted (Host/Producer), A Moment of Your Time (Creator/Producer), and When Last I Left (Host/Producer).

Solar the Podcast

Sponsors:

Teacherwit.com Where teachers go to coonect!

Kids Stories Podcast

Guest: Bernie Weigand

I'm a licensed k-12 teacher in California and Oregon with endorsements that include Language Arts, Art, Spanish, French, Math and ESOL/Bilingual. I enjoy writing, making art, and homesteading.

Creativity is a human trait to express in many ways. Writing, actually seeing one's thoughts, is a distinctly human, wonderful tool, an expressive outlet that breaks the time barrier. I am writing an adaptable "template" curriculum, Ambassador Service Study, AmbaSS, to facilitate earning academic credit for doing student-centred, service learning projects while living with local people abroad, anywhere. Writing and reflection are integral parts of AmbaSS.

I'm convinced that learning is deeply relational, based in the sharing of experiences, language and culture. Young people today need the perspective of other languages and cultures in order to perceive and understand their own, especially in this ever-shrinking, more connected world. Learning another language connects more people to learn from each other. Connecting is what humans DO. Our ability to do it well can grow, and needs to. Because our world needs more understanding of our human diversity, AmbaSS exists.

Brick & mortar and online learning both have their important place, but face-to-face seems the best way to learn another language and culture. Our own language and culture was learned just that way: in real-time, same-place relationship. Immersing oneself in any experience is the best way to learn, to be engaged.

ServiceSynergy.org

MadroneArtwork.com

AmbassSS.com

Service Learning Abroad Resources One-Pager

Sponsor:

FlexiSpot.com

Save $20 on the Pro Plus Standing Desk (E7) when you use offer code shifting20 at checkout.

Guest: Nancy Lhoest-Squicciarini

After 36 years of working in schools, I continue to wake up each day passionate, enthusiastic and proud to be an educator. My goal is to facilitate teams to elevate their collective wisdom to positively impact student learning. I am a motivated and personable professional who has the ability to successfully implement and facilitate a range of learning opportunities and experiences.

Links:

Nancy's Twitter

Nancy's LinkedIn

Jeff and Tricia walk through their free Shifting Schools podcasting resources that can be found in the free resource area at shitingschools.com. They cover how to support and create strucutres for students to learn about podcast and how to create strucutures that support podcast PD in our buildings and districts.

You can download the presentation along with all the links to resources here.

Sponsors:

Flexispot.com

Use code shifting20 to save $20 on the E7 Pro Plus Standing Desk at checkout.

Check out the Shifting Schools Pathway on Google MyMaps to start having your students create mapping stories today!

Guest: Sriharsha Devulapalli

Sriharsha Devulapalli joined The San Francisco Chronicle in 2022, after finishing his master's degree in data journalism from Columbia University. Prior to this, he was working as a Product Manager for Blue Sky Analytics where he helped build a mapping platform for environmental data.

Previously, he was a software developer with Mint, where he was responsible for data visualizations for the newspaper’s daily data journalism page – Plain Facts. During his time there, Harsha wrote and produced data visualizations focusing on politics, development and economic issues in India.

Devulapalli also brings with him experience outside of journalism. He had worked with the Urban Design Lab at the Earth Institute, Columbia University and the Hyderabad Urban Lab. He enjoys cities, maps, long walks, vistas, all things transit and making people curious.

Links:

About Harsha

Harsha's Twitter

Book: How Charts Lie (Aflliliate Link)

How Charts Lie: Getting Smarter about Visual Information

Off script and off the cuff Jeff and Tricia hit record and then talk about some of the updates happening at Shifting Schools. New website layout, new logos, and new social media. Please a FREE give a way to the first 10 people who leave us a auido recording at https://podinbox.com/shiftingschoolspod tell us what you like about the Shifting Schoosl podcast or if you have a recommendation for an episode you'd like to hear...we're all ears....

NYTimes article: Gen Z Tiktok Search Engine of Choice

Find us on Tiktok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@shiftingschoolspod?lang=en

Jeff at https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffutecht

Tricia at https://www.tiktok.com/@tricia_fried

Shifting Schools Pathways

Our Guest: Jennifer LaGarde

Jennifer LaGarde is a lifelong teacher and learner with over 20 years in public education. Her educational passions include leveraging technology to help students develop authentic reading lives, meeting the unique needs of students living in poverty and helping learners (of all ages) discern fact from fiction in the information they consume. Jennifer is the coauthor of the books Fact VS Fiction: Teaching Critical Thinking In the Age of Fake News (ISTE, 2018) and Developing Digital Detectives (ISTE, 2021) with Darren Hudgins. Subscribe to their free monthly information literacy newsletter here! A huge fan of YA Literature, Jennifer currently lives, works, reads and drinks lots of coffee in Olympia, Washington.

Follow her adventures at www.librarygirl.net or on Twitter @jenniferlagarde.

Our Guest: Linda Flanagan

LINDA FLANAGAN is a freelance journalist, researcher, and former cross-country and track coach. A graduate of Lehigh University, Flanagan holds master’s degrees from Oxford University and the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy and was an analyst for the National Security Program at Harvard University. She is a founding board member of the New York City chapter of the Positive Coaching Alliance and a 2020–21 advisory group member for the Aspen Institute’s Reimagining School Sports initiative, and her writing on sports has appeared in The Atlantic, Runner’s World, and on NPR’s education site MindShift, where she is a regular contributor.

https://twitter.com/LindaFlanagan2

Link to Book on Amazon

None

Our Sponsor:

https://www.prideandlessprejudice.org/events

Our Guest: Gabrielle Merite

Gabrielle Merite. Proper noun. Scientist-Turned-Designer powered by plants and activism.

She is not: a graphic designer with 30+ years experience or qualified in fine arts.
She is: a Science graduate, creative, analyst, advocate for humanity, cat lady and feeling awkward writing this at the third person.

I specialize in provocative imagery that ignites imagination, inspires and sometimes shocks. Deeply passionate about social justice and our responsibility as humans to be there for one another, I choose to communicates analytic ﬁndings with honesty, rawness and compassion. My mission is simple. To help ethically-driven organisations uncover important truths and share stories with intention.

In my work, the faces behind behind the figures matter. In places where numbers are usually found, I use faces. Because subjects aren’t dots. Quite often, they’re people. Like you (and me).

Offering a collaborative approach, I become a member of your team, breathing life into numbers so your audience truly feels their importance.

https://gabriellemerite.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkue1l5OYho&list=PLad95_ux5CXnpkUTzXNhz1b8GCgbi_J9L

https://www.gabriellemerite.com/portfolio/

Our Sponsor:

https://www.prideandlessprejudice.org/events

Our Guest: Gabrielle Merite

Gabrielle Merite. Proper noun. Scientist-Turned-Designer powered by plants and activism.

She is not: a graphic designer with 30+ years experience or qualified in fine arts.
She is: a Science graduate, creative, analyst, advocate for humanity, cat lady and feeling awkward writing this at the third person.

I specialize in provocative imagery that ignites imagination, inspires and sometimes shocks. Deeply passionate about social justice and our responsibility as humans to be there for one another, I choose to communicates analytic ﬁndings with honesty, rawness and compassion. My mission is simple. To help ethically-driven organisations uncover important truths and share stories with intention.

In my work, the faces behind behind the figures matter. In places where numbers are usually found, I use faces. Because subjects aren’t dots. Quite often, they’re people. Like you (and me).

Offering a collaborative approach, I become a member of your team, breathing life into numbers so your audience truly feels their importance.

https://gabriellemerite.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkue1l5OYho&list=PLad95_ux5CXnpkUTzXNhz1b8GCgbi_J9L

https://www.gabriellemerite.com/portfolio/

Shownotes

Guest: Allen Hillary

Allen is a data storyteller who’s passionate about building community and curating articles that highlight the importance of data narratives. He has spent 20 years in Fortune 500 companies using data analysis and analytics to help sales and marketing leaders make informed decisions. What he's learned is that numbers alone are not memorable and managers are not making decisions solely based on them. Empathy and communication are key in getting the work done. Allen created Data Heroes to spotlight notable figures who used data to make an impact on society. In reading these stories it’s his goal to inspire others to appreciate the art of telling their own.

https://twitter.com/AlDatavizguy

http://www.datastories.cc/

Data Stories is planning to launch Community Training Boot camps for educators later this fall. The boot camps will be a weekend session where educators can bring storytelling into their classroom and have a new way of showing my students how to look at the world that is inclusive, empathetic, and utilizes technology and data. More details to come but we’re definitely looking for those interested for our first cohort. Contact me at Allen@datastories.cc

https://allenhillery.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/allenhillery/

https://bedatalit.com/

Media Literacy Routines: Check out templates and strategies to set up routines that help learners become more media literate. These routines are perfect for launching at the start of the year.

Explore the free guide on this topic here: https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Media Literacy Routines: Check out templates and strategies to set up routines that help learners become more media literate. These routines are perfect for launching at the start of the year.

Explore the free guide on this topic here: https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Show Notes:

Check out our latest free guides

Webinar link: Magnifying Metacognition

Webinar link: Spotlighting Softskills

The podcast on Youtube

Our new Instagram for the podcast: @shiftingschoolspod

Our new TikTok for the podcast: @shiftingschoolpod

Guest: Matthew Courtney

Matthew Courtney helps schools help kids, and he wants to show you how to leverage the power of education research and data to drive continuous improvement in your districts, schools, and classrooms.

https://www.matthewbcourtney.com/

Twitter: @mbcourtneyedd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbcourtneyedd/

Direct Book Link: https://www.matthewbcourtney.com/edaintheclassroom

Book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3w7XH3T (Affiliate link)

Spotlighting SoftSkills: Learn about six different tried and trusted methods for embracing, celebrating, and rehearsing different soft-skills. Explore the free guide on this topic here: https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs Slide Deck here: http://gg.gg/softskillsshiftingschools

Show Notes:

Check out our new series of courses on being efficient with Google Workspace.

Our Guest: Dr. Monica Burns

Dr. Monica Burns is a curriculum and edtech consultant, author, and founder of ClassTechTips.com. She works with schools, districts, and organizations to provide actionable and engaging professional development. Monica started her blog in 2012 to help make edtech easier for fellow educators and launched the Easy EdTech Podcast to support educators who want to simplify and streamline technology integration.”

https://classtechtips.com

https://www.edutopia.org/article/5-questions-help-you-make-edtech-decisions

https://classtechtips.com/2022/07/26/educators-save-time-173/

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/tech-tips-for-parent-newsletters-monica-burns

Bounce Episode for our podcast community. This is the audio recording of our free flash webinar that was delievered on August 3rd, 2022. You can find the video recording on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn and our Facebook page.

Coaching for Metacognition: Try out our micro-menus that help you have engaging coaching conversations with scholars and peers that boost a culture where we are more mindful of our mindset, emotional literacy, and self-awareness.

Link to the slide deck here

Explore the free guide on this topic here

  **Show Sponsor:**

https://libsyn.com/

Use the code: friend and get your first month of podcast hosting free!

On this episode of the podcast Tricia talks with Janet Avery, superintendent and founder #IDedchat Co-Founder #edcampidaho . They talk about common challenges school leaders face as well as the importance of networking and soft skills. Connect with Janet:
https://twitter.com/averyteachhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-avery-14147333/ Explore the free resource discussed on this episode:
https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs Twitter #IDedchat - Twitter Search / Twitter The latest Tweets on #IDedchat. Read what people are saying and join the conversation. Twitter #edcampidaho - Twitter Search / Twitter The latest Tweets on #edcampidaho. Read what people are saying and join the conversation. Twitter Janet Avery, EdS (@averyteach) / Twitter Superintendent #PSD285; Former Curriculum Director, MS Principal, and English Teacher; Mom; Wife; Golfer. Love my PLN! Founder #IDedchat Co-Founder #edcampidaho Shifting Schools Resource Library — Shifting Schools Shifting School's Resource Library - a collection of FREE Guides (pdfs) - enter your email to download one or all of them!

The Port Townsend School District Website for the 2022 Salish Coast Elementary Children's Film Festival This year the Library/STEM program at Salish Coast Elementary hosted the 2022 SC Children's Film Festival! It was created by our K-5 citizen-scientists as a "Call to Action for the Future of the Salish Coast Ecosystem" and our students are excited to share their voices to tell their stories to ask our community: "What Will You Do to Help?"
https://sites.google.com/ptschools.org/sc-childrens-film-festival-22/home Novel Effect is a Seattle-based company that created a fantastic free app that follows along as you read aloud books and uses voice recognition software to respond at just the right moment with music, sounds, and character voices to help make storytime magic. They also have premium plans with educator discounts. https://noveleffect.com/educators/ WeVideo is an easy to use, chromebook compatible, cloud-based editing platform that allows teachers and students to work collaboratively on creating gifs, videos, podcasts, and more.

https://www.wevideo.com/education

The Stop Motion Pro Studio app allows students to use the iPads to take photos of their original artwork and then, through software applications, put them together in a sequence to create movement in their animated films. https://www.cateater.com/ Contact Denise: deniseaedan {at] gmail [dot] com

Show Sponsor:

https://libsyn.com/

Use the code: friend and get your first month of podcast hosting free!

Guest: Tiffani Bova
Tiffani Bova is the global growth evangelist at Salesforce and the author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book GROWTH IQ: Get Smarter About the Choices that Will Make or Break Your Business. Bova has been named to the latest Thinkers50’s list of the world’s top management thinkers and is a welcomed guest on Bloomberg, BNN, Cheddar, MSNBC, and Yahoo Finance, among others

Connect with Tiffani

https://twitter.com/Tiffani_Bova

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanibova/

Listen to her podcast

https://www.tiffanibova.com/whats-next-podcast/

Explore her website

https://www.tiffanibova.com/

Growth IQ: Get Smarter About the Choices that Will Make or Break Your Business

Guest: Nathalie Nahai

A favoured speaker, consultant and facilitator to Fortune 500 companies, Nathalie has lectured at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions (from Cambridge and UCL universities, to Lund and Hult business schools), and her experience as a skilled communicator has seen her present at SXSW, host the Guardian Changing Media Summit and hold main stage interviews at the Web Summit.”

Connect with Nathalie:

https://www.nathalienahai.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathalienahai/

https://twitter.com/NathalieNahai

Learn more about her work:

https://www.nathalienahai.com/the-hive-podcast/

https://www.businessunusualthebook.com/

https://www.nathalienahai.com/press/

The interview referenced

https://www.nirandfar.com/nathalie-nahai-interview/

The Values Map

https://thevaluesmap.com/

Book time to chat with Jeff Utecht

Getting Started with Podcasting Pathway

Joe Casabona Joe started his career almost 20 years ago as a freelance web developer before realizing his true passion, which is sharing his years of knowledge about making websites, podcasting, and course development to help podcasters of any size make money.

https://casabona.org

https://podcastliftoff.com

https://twitter.com/jcasabona

Castos.com

Buzzsprout.com

Guest: Iain Fish
Upper School Principal at IS Luxembourg. Always learning and doing my best to keep it all in perspective. Follow Iain on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/IainFish5

Global Issues Conference 2022

https://www.globalissuesnetwork.eu/gin-conference-2022

More about GIN

https://globalissuesnetwork.org/

This week we Tricia Friedman and I chat with Tyler Rablin about his recent tweets and articles about how he is shifting his mindset to the use of cell phones in his classroom.

Guest: Tyler Rablin
ELA teacher, writer, and assessment/edtech consultant.

Follow Tyler on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/Mr_Rablin

Subscribe to Tyler’s Blog:

https://teacher-totter.blogspot.com/

Tyler’s recent post in EdSurge:

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2022-06-06-the-case-for-making-classrooms-phone-free

Subscribe to our newsletter for more:

www.shiftingschools.com

This week Tricia and I chat with Dori Clark, writer, speaker, author on life and learning. We chat about learning, passions, networking and giving yourself a summer project to keep your fire burning.

Follow Dorie Clark on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/dorieclark

Watch her TED Talk:

https://www.ted.com/talks/dorie_clark_the_real_reason_you_feel_so_busy_and_what_to_do_about_it

Get a Sneak Peak at her latest book:

https://dorieclark.com/thelonggame/

Learn more about her books:

https://dorieclark.com/books/

Guest: Justin Shaifer
Justin’s goal is to be for STEM what ESPN is for sports. Because of his own life experiences, he inspires young people to embrace their inner nerd despite their surroundings. Learn all about today’s guest:

https://www.justinshaifer.com/bio

Follow them on Social:

https://www.instagram.com/mr.fascinate/

Check out their TEDx talk:

https://www.justinshaifer.com/speaking

Segment discussed in this episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C1vGWranuI

More about ECIS’s summer learning:

https://www.ecis.org/deij/

Follow them online:

https://twitter.com/ECIS_DEIJ

About Swapna Krishna

Swapna Krishna is a science and technology communicator specializing in the geek space. She regularly creates science videos on TikTok and contributes to Wired, NPR, StarTrek.com, New Scientist, and Engadget. Krishna's writing has appeared in outlets such as The Verge, Polygon, Fast Company, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Business Insider, and Slate. She is currently writing a book on stargazing for Chronicle Books (Fall 2023). You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Subscribe to Swapna’s brand new show Far Out on PBS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTUfdSaZD74

Far Out explores the future of science, technology, and culture and how these changes may affect humanity and life on Earth. With pop culture and sci-fi references, the series will be humorous and fun, but unafraid to ask tough questions and explore unknowns.

Far Out is the inaugural show in a lineup of new STEM-related content coming to PBS Terra with support from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program. The grant will help elevate underrepresented voices in STEM media, in particular Black and Hispanic creators, as well as women in general.

Explore Swapna Krishna’s video games column in Wired:

https://www.wired.com/author/swapna-krishna/

Show Sponsor: Thank you to TeacherWit:

https://www.teacherwit.com/

Upcoming Opportunities:

https://www.theptc.org/ctc105

Learn more about Pride and Less Prejudice:

https://www.prideandlessprejudice.org/

On Twitter:

https://twitter.com/LessPrejudice

Subscribe to their newsletter:

https://www.prideandlessprejudice.org/newsletter

Book Lisa Forman is featured in: https://gracepointpublishing.com/bookstore/books-cards/thriving-in-business-strategies-for-the-lgbtq-entrepreneur/

Book time to chat with Jeff Utecht Lyndsey D’Arcangelo I never set out to be a sports writer. I grew up in Buffalo, New York wanting to be the next Judy Blume and a bestselling author. But life had a different plan. After graduating from Randolph Macon College in 2000 with a degree in English/Creative Writing, I set off on a twisty writing journey. I spent time as a web writer for a college, a high school sports journalist for a small town weekly paper, and a copywriter at The Buffalo News. Eventually, I combined all of the skills I learned along the way, and began a career as a freelance writer — writing articles for print, taglines for advertising companies, feature profiles for a national lesbian magazine, and working on my first young adult LGBTQ fiction book.

Twitter handle https://twitter.com/darcangel21

Lyndsey’s website https://lyndseydarcangelo.com/

Subscribe to the newsletter

Learn more about the coaching program

Book time to chat with Jeff Utecht

Show Sponsor Thank you to TeacherWit

Starting and Sustaining Pride

Book time to chat with Jeff Utecht

Elena Aguilar Elena Aguilar is a writer, leader, teacher, coach and podcaster. She is the author of six highly acclaimed books: The Art of Coaching, (2013) The Art of Coaching Teams (2016), Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators (2018) and The Onward Workbook (2018) and Coaching for Equity (2020) and The Art of Coaching Workbook (2020). She has also been a frequent contributor to Edutopia, ASCD’s Educational Leadership, and EdWeek Teacher.

Elena is the founder and president of Bright Morning Consulting, an organization committed to helping individuals and organizations create the conditions for transformation. She has taught tens of thousands of folks how to have conversations that build a more just and equitable world. Elena can be heard demonstrating these conversations on the Bright Morning Podcast.

About Elena Aguilar and Bright Morning Consulting

Preorder The PD Book

Listen to The BrigThe PD Book: 7 Habits that Transform Professional Development: Aguilar, Elena, Cohen, Loriht Morning Podcast (Episode 100: Announcing The PD Book)

The PD Book: 7 Habits that Transform Professional Development

Show Sponsor Thank you to TeacherWit

Book time to chat with Jeff Utecht

What Should You Do in 2022

Link to Youtube version

Show Sponsor

Thank you to TeacherWit

Book time to chat with Jeff Utecht

Our Guest: John & Kyle Hattie

John Hattie is Emeritus Laureate Professor at the Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Australia. He is one of the world’s best known and most widely read education experts and his Visible Learning series of books have been translated into 29 different languages and have sold over 1 million copies.

Kyle Hattie is a Year 6 Teacher working in a primary school in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Over his 10-year career, he has taught at many year levels, from Prep to Year 6 in both Australia and New Zealand. Kyle has held various leadership titles and has a passion for understanding how students become learners.

Link to book on Amazon

John Hattie’s Website

Twitter: John Hattie

Twitter: Kyle Hattie

None

Show Sponsor

Thank you to TeacherWit

Check out the Learning2 Asia conference April 23rd

Check out the Learning2 podcast

Book time to chat with Jeff Utecht

Our Guest: Tricia Friedman

Creator of queerwisdom.com and the allyed.org podcast and the learning2 podcast, Tricia Friedmanis a leader in supporting and leading sessions on diversity and equality around LBGTQ+ students in our communities, schools and classrooms.

Tricia’s Twitter account

Queerwisdom.com

Allyed.org

Learning2 podcast

Show Sponsor Thank you to TeacherWit

Check out the Learning2 Asia conference April 23rd

Check out the Learning2 podcast

Check out this year’s lineup at the NCCE Conference

Shifting Schools Google Coaching Certification Program

Our Guest: Dr. Gaither

Dr. Gaither is a social & developmental psychologist studying social identities. She runs the Duke University Identity and Diversity Lab

Dr. Gaither’s Twitter Account

Duke University Identity and Diversity Lab

Show Sponsor

Thank you to TeacherWit

Check out the Learning2 Asia conference April 23rd

Check out the Learning2 podcast

Links mentioned in this episode:

Shifting Schools Google Coaching Certification Program

Certified Coach Program | Google for Education

Connecthub.io

https://sospodcast.org/episode202/

Our Guest: Jack Rhysider

Jack is the creator of the popular podcast Darknet Dairies. In this episode he talks about how he got started in podcasting and the journey it took to get there. We chat about his educational journey and his thoughts on what we should be teaching in schools.

Jack’s Twitter Account

Darknet Dairies Twitter Account

Darknet Dairies Podcast

Resources for those interested in getting into information and Cyber Security as a career

Find all of our Free Guides:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Follow our panelists

https://twitter.com/KNaglee

https://twitter.com/mrduffdouglas

https://twitter.com/dphelps1113

https://twitter.com/_eriksson

Learn more about our Coaching Cohort:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/ss-pdpathway-cp

TEDx Talk referred to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9De8J2bfYoU

Show Sponsor

Thank you to TeacherWit

Check out the Learning2 Asia conference April 23rd

All Month long our focus is on instructional coaching. Our goal is to bring you resources, stories, and ideas for instructional coaches from instructional coaches around the world.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Shifting Schools Free Resource: Sustaining a Culture of Coaching

Shifting Schools Google Coaching Certification Program

Certified Coach Program | Google for Education

Connecthub.io

Episode 158 with Heather Dowd and Patrick Green

Steve Murphy

Enumclaw High School - Enumclaw, WA

Social Studies Teacher & Instructional Technology Coach (TOSA)

Teaching for 24 years

Technology Coach (TOSA) for 2 years

Twitter: @murphyhusky1

Instagram: @murphyhusky1

Jennifer Longmire

Enumclaw School Dist. Enumclaw, WA

Instructional Tech Support Teacher

I’ve been in education 26 years (22 in the classroom and 4 years in this role.)

@JenLongmire1

jennifer_longmire@enumclaw.wednet.edu

Amy Truchon

Burlington School District , Burlington, VT

Technology Integration Specialist Pk-5

@atruchon

Cory Cummings

Giddens Elementary School - Seattle WA

Educational Technology Specialist

I have been in education for 9 years (formerly a 3rd and 4th/5th-grade teacher) and this is my first year in this role.

@Cory_Cummings1

ccummings@giddensschool.org

Cassie Schilperoort

Instructional Technology Coach (PreK-12); This is my 4th year in this role. I previously taught 3rd and 4th grade, and I was an Intervention Specialist in Reading and Math for Grades 1-4.
@CassSchilp

Heather Dowd

Mentor Coach, Shifting Schools, @heza

Show Sponsor Thank you to TeacherWit

Check out the Learning2 Asia conference coming 23rd of April.

The month of March kicks off our focus on all things instructional coaching. Our goal is to bring you resources, stories, and ideas for instructional coaches from instructional coaches around the world. This week we chat with Dave Caleb, an instructional coach and photography teacher in Singapore.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Shifting Schools Free Resource: Sustaining a Culture of Coaching

Shifting Schools Google Coaching Certification Program

Episode 158 with Heather Dowd and Patrick Green

Dave’s Websites

The Photography Tool Kit

YouTube Channel

Show Sponsor

Thank you to TeacherWit

The month of March kicks off our focus on all things instructional coaching. Our goal is to bring you resources, stories, and ideas for instructional coaches from instructional coaches around the world.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Anne Sugar’s Forbes Article

Shifting Schools Free Resource: Sustaining a Culture of Coaching

Shifting Schools Google Coaching Certification Program

Next week’s guess David Caleb’s YouTube Channel

Guest: Kristina Pennell-Götze

Kristina (she/her) is a queer Filipino-Australian creator, teacher, mother, and activist, currently teaching Drama and English Language & Literature at the Berlin Brandenburg International School in Brandenburg, Germany. She is passionate about actively pursuing equity and justice through student voice and amplifying the experiences of the global majority and marginalised folks through theatre. With 10 years of teaching experience in both public (UK) and international (Germany) schools, and a Bachelor of Education from QUT in Australia, Kristina is currently studying a Master of Educational Leadership as she pursues school leadership to shift the narrative of dominant culture and cultivate an environment that celebrates resiliance and healing.

https://www.thecomingoutmonologuespodcast.com/

Twitter

LinkedIn

Tricia Friedman

https://allyed.org/

Twitter

Links mentioned in this episode:

https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/survey-alarming-number-educators-may-soon-leave-profession

https://twitter.com/_WISEducation

https://wiseducationblog.com/

https://www.schoolmanagementplus.com/category/publications/wellbeing-international-schools-magazine/

sadie.wiseducation{at}gmail.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Our Free Guide

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Edutopia Article:

https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-lead-empathy

HBR Article:

https://hbr.org/2017/01/the-neuroscience-of-trust

Learn more about our all inclusive plan for your PLC

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store/empowered-plcs

We love hearing from our listeners, let us know what you’d like support with:

info@shiftingschools.com

Links mentioned in this episode: The Thinking Stick Posts: Moving into the CAVE

Second Life Best Practices Conference

SLearning 2.008 Pre-Conference

BarCamp Bangkok

Sherri Smith-Dodgson LinkedIn- Sherri Smith-Dodgson

Miss Science

Virbela

Learn About FRAME

FRAME EDU Metaverse (by iTeacher)

Links mentioned in this episode:

Shei Ascencio

https://twitter.com/Shei_Asc

https://www.instagram.com/servlearn/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shei-ascencio-5963aa97/

SDGs App

Service Program templates from Orenda Learning https://bit.ly/3G3jxYd

LeeAnne Lavender: I am offering a 4-week online course starting February 10th called “Becoming a Digital Storyteller”. It’s meant for teachers who are new to digital storytelling or those who want to grow their practice in this area, and it is jam-packed with ideas, resources and connections to educators who are doing amazing work with digital storytelling. Registration deadline is February 7th. Course link: : global-citizenship-hub.teachable.com/p/becoming-a-digital-storyteller

UNESCO Storytelling for Intercultural Understanding: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000370336

For podcast creation: https://www.soundtrap.com/

For writing: https://storybird.com/membership-educator

& https://www.culturestreet.org.uk/activities/picturebookmaker

Influential educators

Cathy B K

CBK Associates / The Complete Guide to Service Learning

https://cbk-associates.com

CBK Associates resources: https://cbkassociates.com/?page_id=437

Laurence Myers

https://twitter.com/laurence_myers?s=20

https://www.facebook.com/groups/sustainserveandlearn/

https://sustainserveandlearn.weebly.com/

Alice Whitehead

https://www.orendalearning.com/who

https://bit.ly/3G3jxYd

Ismael Matovu Nkoba

Ismael Matovu Nkoba

https://lutha.org/

Nantume Masturah

https://twitter.com/NantumeMasturah?s=20

GirlUp Angola

https://www.instagram.com/girlupangola/

https://girlup.org/

SDG App

https://sdgsinaction.com/

https://sdgs.un.org

d’Arcy Lunn
Teaspoons of Change

Steve Sostak and Aaron Moniz
Inspire Citizens

Student: Ayush and Ananya Chopra

https://www.sdgsforchildren.org/

The Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, & Social Action (Free Spirit Professional™)

Links mentioned in this episode:

Download over 60 free guides here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Making Assessment Meaningful - Asynchronous Learning Pathway

https://www.shiftingschools.com/ss-pdpathway-mam

Leading the Change: PD’s Next Chapter - Asynchronous Video Presentation

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store

Christina Botbyl

National School Reform Faculty (NSRF) for Critical Friends Group activities and protocols:
https://nsrfharmony.org/

https://nsrfharmony.org/protocols/

Become a certified Critical Friends Group coach:
https://nsrfharmony.org/open-trainings/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/cbotbyl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-botbyl-470a174b/

Cult of Pedagogy: Building professional learning playlists
https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/student-playlists-differentiation/

Links mentioned in this episode:

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Half of all College students take an online course

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/10/13/new-us-data-show-jump-college-students-learning-online

Chris Nitti

Digital Age Coordinator

Hoquiam School District

email: cnitti (at) hoquiam.net

twitter: https://www.twitter.com/hoquiamesports

facebook: http://facebook.com/hoquiamesports

Links mentioned in this episode:

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

https://brenebrown.com/articles/2018/10/15/clear-is-kind-unclear-is-unkind/

Links mentioned in this episode:

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Explore this weeks sponsor: Tract:

https://teach.tract.app/

Access Code: ShiftingSchools

TED TALK

https://www.ted.com/talks/a_j_jacobs_my_journey_to_thank_all_the_people_responsible_for_my_morning_coffee

Show Notes:

Steve Murphy
https://twitter.com/murphyhusky1

Jen Longmire
https://twitter.com/JenLongmire1

Tyler Rablin
https://twitter.com/Mr_Rablin

Monica McAtee
Moses Lake Tech/Math Coach

Show Notes:

Leave a review

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shifting-our-schools-education-technology-leadership/id185888113

Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/shifting-our-schools-education-591504

The opinions expressed by our panel members are their own, and they do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of their employers.

Our Panel:

Melissa Dean
Twitter and insta: @dean_of_math

Blog: http://deanofmath.wordpress.com

Book: Unschooled, anticipated publishing date: Christmas 2021

http://www.codebreakeredu.com/

Cynthia Nambo

Twitter: @cynn1

Zaretta Hammond: Culturally Responsive Teaching & the Brain

The Case Against Zeros

Shannon Schinkel

Twitter:@DramaQueenBRC

Blog: http://www.mygrowthmindset.home.blog

Tyler Rablin

Twitter: @mr_rablin

Blog: https://teacher-totter.blogspot.com/

Links to follow up with Jorge Valenzuela

https://www.lifelonglearningdefined.com/

https://twitter.com/JorgeDoesPBL

https://www.edutopia.org/profile/jorge-valenzuela

Tool to help regulate emotions

https://www.edutopia.org/article/simple-tool-help-teachers-regulate-their-emotions

Thank you to our show sponsor Tract.

Signup before the end of 2021 to get your free account forever:

https://teach.tract.app/ use code: SHIFTINGSCHOOLS

Tract Learning Through Teaching Lesson Plan

Steve Barkley:

Website: https://barkleypd.com/

Podcast: https://barkleypd.com/podcasts/

Links mentioned in this episode:

Lunch Time Learning Series Nov, 30, Dec. 1 and Dec. 2 at 12:00 GMT - 8
https://www.shiftingschools.com/store
Use code: LLSNEW50 to save 50%!

Rachelle’s Links:

Blog: www.Rdene915.com

Books: bit.ly/pothbooks

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thriveinedu-by-rachelle-dene-poth/id1534150166

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rdene915

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelledenepoth/

Getting Smart blogs https://www.gettingsmart.com/author/rachelle/

Purchase Worldwise Learning:

https://us.corwin.com/en-us/nam/worldwise-learning/book276011

Connect with the authors:

https://twitter.com/carlamarschall

https://twitter.com/TeachGlobalEd

Excerpt of the book:

https://www.gettingsmart.com/2021/09/22/a-vision-for-transformative-education/

Links mentioned in this episode:

Explore our new PD menu!

https://www.shiftingschools.com/menu

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Teachers are Barely Hanging On. Here’s What They Need.
https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/barely-hanging-on/

Debbie Lovich: 3 tips for leaders to get the future of work right
https://www.ted.com/talks/debbie_lovich_3_tips_for_leaders_to_get_the_future_of_work_right

The Nap Ministry

https://twitter.com/TheNapMinistry

Thank you to our sponsor Tract

Use code SHIFTINGSCHOOLS at teach.tract.app today!

Get started with free resources at teach.tract.app/resources

Links from this episode

PBLWorks
https://www.pblworks.org/

Storyline Design, www.storyline.org to learn more about the Storyline approach.

GRASPS task overview from Wiggins and McTighe 2006.

3 Common PBL Problems and Solutions (from Edutopia)

5 PBL Pitfalls to Avoid (From Edutopia)

Environmental Science and PBL Book - (published by ISTE)

Lucas Educational Research on PBL

International Storyline Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, March 25-27, 2022 https://storyline.education/outputs/conference-in-gothenburg

Creating Worlds, Constructing Meaning: The Scottish Storyline Method, by Jeff Creswell, published by Heinemann Books https://www.heinemann.com/products/07244.aspx

Links mentioned in this episode:

Explore our new PD menu!

https://www.shiftingschools.com/menu

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Learn more about our free webinar

https://www.shiftingschools.com/webinars

Links mentioned in this episode:

Explore our new PD menu!

https://www.shiftingschools.com/menu

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Connect with today’s guests on Twitter

https://twitter.com/techiehouse

https://twitter.com/ianhoke

https://twitter.com/ramsdensuzy

https://twitter.com/fayleong

Links mentioned in this episode:

Explore our new PD menu!

https://www.shiftingschools.com/menu

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Marianne Stenger’s Article

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/why-curiosity-enhances-learning-marianne-stenger

Links mentioned in this episode: Explore this weeks sponsor: Tract:

https://teach.tract.app/

Access Code: ShiftingSchools

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Connect with our guests on Twitter:

@Shei_Asc

@KristinaPennell

@realsabijoy

@tsbray

@_WISEducation

@Such__is__life

Connect with Sabrina Joy Stevens

https://linktr.ee/realsabijoy

Our Sept. 30th learning opportunity:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/ss-pdpathway-seltoolkit

Links mentioned in this episode:

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Connect with our guests on Twitter:

@dphelps1113

@NIS_Head

@KanakoSuwa

@johnjoricher

@_WISEducation

@jackiefrens

@angemolony

@klbeasley

@JenLongmire1

Our Sept. 30th learning opportunity:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/ss-pdpathway-seltoolkit

Links mentioned in this episode:

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Articles quoted from:

https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/why-teacher-teams-are-more-critical-than-ever

https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/21/08/why-coalitions-aren%E2%80%99t-just-political-campaigns

Our Sept. 30th learning opportunity:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/ss-pdpathway-seltoolkit

Verification: h0ucIU7AkP8oH4LOMByK

Links mentioned in this episode:

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Article quoted from:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/24484250

https://www.edutopia.org/article/6-exercises-get-know-your-students-better-and-increase-their-engagement

https://nickalchinuwcsea.blogspot.com/2021/08/golden-thread-to-grasps-whennlost.html

Learn about Podcast PD:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/podcast-pd

Nameshouts:

https://www.nameshouts.com/

Links mentioned in this episode:

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Article quoted from:

https://www.edutopia.org/article/play-will-be-more-important-ever-preschool-year

https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/08/06/336360521/play-doesnt-end-with-childhood-why-adults-need-recess-too

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2019/03/03/boost-productivity-20-the-surprising-power-of-play/?sh=2fb21ca37c05

On offer:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store

Links mentioned in this episode:

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Article quoted from:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/harmoncullinan/2020/06/11/mental-models-and-metaphors-how-to-stay-on-the-same-page-when-youre-not-in-the-same-place/?sh=4ef01d3a3b90

Shifting Strategies two for one deal:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/ss-pdpathway-ssbl

Guests in the episode:

@angeaow

@NancyinLux1

@KNaglee

@MathTeach_BEW

Links mentioned in this episode: Find the free guide that supports this episode:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Follow the authors on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/heza

https://twitter.com/pgreensoup

Learn more about their book:

https://www.cmdigitalage.com/

Check out the Coaching Program led by Heather:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/ss-pdpathway-cp

Links mentioned in this episode:

Follow the author on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenniferabrams

Check out her website:https://jenniferabrams.com/

Learn more about her book: https://jenniferabrams.com/books/

Find the free guide that supports this episode:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Links mentioned in this episode:

Follow the author on Twitter: @TracieAddy

Check out her website: https://sites.lafayette.edu/addyt/

Learn more about her book: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vvgsc_Qk2VPadCI7YNT4wrYRalTc520I/view?usp=sharing

Find the free guide that supports this episode:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Links mentioned in this episode:

Follow the author on Twitter: @AlexSVenet

Check out her website: https://unconditionallearning.org/

Learn more about her book: https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393714739

The book review shared in this episode:

https://medium.com/human-restoration-project/june-2021-equity-centered-trauma-informed-education-by-alex-shevrin-venet-9654cc7ded3

Find the free guide that supports this episode:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Check out our PD offerings on right now!

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store

In this episode I chat with Madeleine Mortimore, she is a researcher at Logitech for Education who speak to the intersection of technology and learning from a researcher’s perspective. We chat about the research Logitech has gathered this past year and how we can use that to look at the classroom of the future.

Madeleine serves as the Global Education Innovation and Research Lead at Logitech. She has worked in various areas of EdTech, as an international educator, a strategy associate with one of the largest online high schools in the U.S., and also launched an EdTech startup at the Harvard Innovation Lab.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Shifting Strategies two for one deal:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/ss-pdpathway-ssbl

Links mentioned in this episode: Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Dorie Clark Article:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/dorieclark/2014/04/01/what-great-leadership-looks-like/?sh=5e369d635ade

Shifting Strategies two for one deal:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/ss-pdpathway-ssbl

Links mentioned in this episode:

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

How to Get Your Students to Ask More Questions

https://www.middleweb.com/40383/how-to-get-your-students-to-ask-more-questions/

Research and Curiosity

https://hbr.org/2018/09/research-83-of-executives-say-they-encourage-curiosity-just-52-of-employees-agree%27

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

See what’s On Offer here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store

Edsurge Article

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-05-07-why-social-emotional-learning-is-suddenly-in-the-spotlight

Links mentioned in this episode:

Download our free guide here:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Thank you to our sponsor of this episode Mote:

justmote.me/shiftingschools

Mindshift Article mentioned in podcast:

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/57720/how-schools-can-help-kids-heal-after-a-year-of-crisis-and-uncertainty

Links mentioned in this episode:

Thank to Prezi Video our show sponsor:
Get your free upgrade at: https://prez.is/shift/

Download this weeks free guide along with 39 others at: https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Links mentioned in this episode:

Free Guide: Shifting into Summer
http://bit.ly/shiftingintosummer

www.shiftingschools.com

Schools finding home in hopeless time

https://www.edutopia.org/article/schools-finding-hope-hopeless-time

Start a to don't list

https://ideas.ted.com/is-your-to-do-list-making-you-nuts-start-a-to-dont-list-instead-with-inspiration-from-author-adam-grant/

Power of podcast episode

https://sospodcast.org/episode157/

Leading Equity Podcast

https://www.leadingequitycenter.com/podcast

Hechinger Report

https://hechingerreport.org/twenty-six-studies-point-to-more-play-for-young-children/

This Week’s Free Guide:
http://bit.ly/SSportportfolios

3 Part Podcast Challenge Survey
https://forms.gle/CD1aEWUT9AmiVGYn7

For all 3 parts of this PD Praxis Challenge
shiftingschools.com

Links/research mentioned in this episode

http://rbteach.com/blogs/courage-lead

https://education-reimagined.org/educators-as-futurists-a-conversation-with-stanford-d-school-leaders/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcHT10xICKg

https://www.ambition.org.uk/blog/designing-effective-professional-development/

https://hbr.org/2017/01/the-neuroscience-of-trust

http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/109004/chapters/What-Makes-a-Question-Essential%A2.aspx

Links mentioned in this episode:

Our show sponsor Mote:
justmote.me/shiftingschools

Free Guide for Challenge: Coaching Conversations
https://bit.ly/SScoachingconversations

Join our newsletter and explore all the resources to support you in undertaking the challenge for this week

http://shiftingschools.com

Sarah Presteridge in the February 2009 issue of Teacher Development Journal (login required)

http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=1&sid=44a35cf7-f5bd-4968-a3f7-c45cc0bb78e2%40sdc-v-sessmgr01&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwLHNzbyZzaXRlPWVkcy1saXZl#db=ehh&AN=39768751

Links mentioned in this episode:

Join our newsletter

http://shiftingschools.com

Free Guide: Top Ten Protocols

http://bit.ly/10protocols2021

Your next greater hire is graduating from a community college

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2021-04-26-your-next-great-hire-is-graduating-from-a-community-college

Mentioned in this episode:

Free PDF Guide:
http://bit.ly/SScoachingconversations

Shifting Schools Coaching Program:
https://www.shiftingschools.com/store/p/sscoaching-2

Measuring Coaching Impact:
https://skillshop.exceedlms.com/student/path/37078/activity/52791

Generating Coaching Enthusiasm in Your School:
https://skillshop.exceedlms.com/student/path/37078/activity/52794

Mentioned in this episode:

Our Free Guide: Tapping into the power of podcasts
bit.ly/TAWeek2021

The Real Solution to Learning Loss: Valuing Teachers and the Teaching Professionhttps://www.edsurge.com/news/2021-04-27-the-real-solution-to-learning-loss-valuing-teachers-and-the-teaching-profession Looking for ways to use our podcast with your team?

https://www.shiftingschools.com/eplcs

Learn more about our all inclusive plan for your PLC

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store/empowered-plcs

Mentioned in this episode:

Our Show Sponsor: Mote
http://justmote.me/shiftingschools

Our Free Guide: Tapping into the power of podcasts
http://bit.ly/SSpowerofpodcasts

Audiobooks or Reading? To Our Brains It Doesn’t Matter
https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/audiobooks-or-reading-to-our-brains-it-doesnt-matter

The Benefit to Using Podcasts in the Classroom
https://www.readingrockets.org/article/benefits-using-podcasts-classroom

Looking for ways to use our podcast with your team?

https://www.shiftingschools.com/eplcs

Learn more about our all inclusive plan for your PLC

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store/empowered-plcs

Mentioned in this episode:

Free Guide:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Looking for ways to use our podcast with your team?

https://www.shiftingschools.com/eplcs

Learn more about our all inclusive plan for your PLC

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store/empowered-plcs

Mentioned in this episode:

Free Guide:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Looking for ways to use our podcast with your team?

https://www.shiftingschools.com/eplcs

Learn more about our all inclusive plan for your PLC

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store/empowered-plcs

Links shared in this episode:

Krya's Instagram
https://instagram.com/kyrascartoons

Trinity's Instagram
https://instagram.com/trinityj21

How to Talk and Listen to Teens with Mental Health Struggles
https://www.npr.org/2021/03/24/980776808/how-to-talk-and-listen-to-a-teen-with-mental-health-struggles

Free PDF Guide: Listening to Learners
https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Mentioned in this episode:

Free Guide:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Looking for ways to use our podcast with your team?

https://www.shiftingschools.com/eplcs

Learn more about our all inclusive plan for your PLC

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store/empowered-plcs

Show Sponsor:
Mote Chrome Extension
https://www.justmote.me/shiftingschools

Mentioned in this episode:

Making Assessment Meaningful:
https://www.shiftingschools.com/store/p/making-assessment-meaningful

Reframing Feedback Free Guide:
https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

How to Make Sure Grades Are Meaningful and Useful to Students
https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-make-sure-grades-are-meaningful-and-useful-students

Looking for ways to use our podcast with your team?
https://www.shiftingschools.com/eplcs

Learn more about our all inclusive plan for your PLC
https://www.shiftingschools.com/store/empowered-plcs

Mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about feedback with our self-paced pathway

http://gg.gg/ssfeedbackpathway

Looking for ways to use our podcast with your team?

https://www.shiftingschools.com/eplcs

Learn more about Tyler’s six part series!

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store

Price and Less Prejudice Webinar
https://www.prideandlessprejudice.org/

Books Mentioned:

Embedded Formative Assessment
https://www.amazon.com/Embedded-Formative-Assessment-practical-strategies/

Grading Smarter Not Harder
https://www.amazon.com/Grading-Smarter-Not-Harder-Assessment/

Embedded Formative Assessment - practical strategies and tools for K-12 teachers

Mentioned in this episode:

Find the free guide mentioned: https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Looking for ways to use our podcast with your team? https://www.shiftingschools.com/eplcs

Learn more about our all-inclusive plan for your PLC https://www.shiftingschools.com/store/empowered-plcs

Mentioned in this episode:

Priya Parker on Brene Brown’s podcast https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-priya-parker-on-the-art-of-gathering/

The learning opportunities for March:

https://www.shiftingschools.com

Looking for ways to use our podcast with your team?

https://www.shiftingschools.com/eplcs

Learn more about our all inclusive plan for your PLC

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store/empowered-plcs

Mentioned in this episode:

Zaretta Hammond
https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/culturally-responsive-teaching-strategies/

Priya Parker on Brene Brown’s podcast

https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-priya-parker-on-the-art-of-gathering/

The learning opportunities for March:

https://www.shiftingschools.com

Looking for ways to use our podcast with your team?

https://www.shiftingschools.com/eplcs

Learn more about our all-inclusive plan for your PLC

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store/empowered-plcs

Mentioned in this episode:

Alfie Kohn’s Blogpost https://www.alfiekohn.org/blogs/cl/

Our Free Guide ‘Co-Authoring Rubrics’ can be found https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Looking for ways to use our podcast with your team?

https://www.shiftingschools.com/eplcs

Learn more about our all inclusive plan for your PLC

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store/empowered-plcs

We love hearing from our listeners, let us know what you’d like support with:

info@shiftingschools.com

Jeff’s Blog http://www.thethinkingstick.com/

Our Free Guide ‘The Digital Fishbowl’ can be found https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Looking for ways to use our podcast with your team?

https://www.shiftingschools.com/eplcs

Learn more about our all inclusive plan for your PLC

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store/empowered-plcs

We love hearing from our listeners, let us know what you’d like support with:

info@shiftingschools.com

Ready to start exploring our Free Guide on using portfolios?

Find it: https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Check out the example teacher portfolio:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yrYUVBBz00sZxR8u6HTu-pqnxRLW7te7xf3lN0FTrKc/edit?usp=sharing

Learn more about our approach to using this episode as a ready to roll staff or PLC meeting:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/eplcs

Is your PLC looking for an all inclusive plan?

Get Empowered PLCs for your entire school for just $50 today:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store

We love hearing from our listeners!

Send us an email info@shiftingschools.com or leave your feedback on our Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/jeffutecht

Adam Grant’s To Don’t List: https://ideas.ted.com/is-your-to-do-list-making-you-nuts-start-a-to-dont-list-instead-with-inspiration-from-author-adam-grant/

Follow Jeff’s Home Renovation work: https://www.instagram.com/g3homes/

Find the free guide mentioned in this episode: https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Is your PLC looking for an all inclusive plan?

Get Empowered PLCs for your entire school for just $50 today:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store

We have a free map to help you use this episode with your peers: https://www.shiftingschools.com/podcasts

Ready to dig into the free resources explored in this episode?

You can find our free guide on Wikipedia here and get our free guide on learning to Search like a pro where we store our developing collection of free plug and play resources:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Did the Solar Flare Digital Do Now interest you?

You can ALSO grab that by clicking:

http://bitly.ws/bhCd

If any of the resources inspire you to use them, we would LOVE to hear about it!

Send us an email sospodcast@gmail.com or leave your feedback on our Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/jeffutecht

Is your PLC looking for an all inclusive plan to put forward in 2021?

Empowered PLCs has you covered. For a limited time, you can purchase it for your entire school for just $50.

https://www.shiftingschools.com/store

Learn more about ways to use this episode to engage and empower your team of teachers by heading to: https://www.shiftingschools.com/podcasts

Ready to dig into the free resources explored in this episode?

You can find our free guide on Wikipedia here and get our free guide on learning to Search like a pro where we store our developing collection of free plug and play resources: https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs

Did the Solar Flare Digital Do Now interest you?

You can ALSO grab that by clicking: http://bitly.ws/bhCd

If any of the resources inspire you to use them, we would LOVE to hear about it!

Send us an email sospodcast@gmail.com or leave your feedback on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jeffutecht

Is your PLC looking for an all-inclusive plan to put forward in 2021?

Empowered PLCs has you covered. For a limited time, you can purchase it for your entire school for just $50. https://www.shiftingschools.com/store

Learn more about ways to use this episode to engage and empower your team of teachers by heading to: https://www.shiftingschools.com/podcasts

Tan shares 5 specific strategies to meaningfully integrate emotional intelligence into our already packed teaching schedules. The framework he will share can be applied K-12 and the specific examples that he will share come from his teaching experience (5-12). He even allows us to see and listen to his synchronous time with his students.

This was a highly interactive session and so you might want to check out the chat transcript and the video version at shiftingschools.com under the resource menu.

This recorded webinar is designed for classroom teachers to explore the idea of what "safe space" means in classrooms— digital or otherwise. For space to truly be safe, it must take into consideration racial and power dynamics that exist in our schools. This webinar will explore the connection between these things and provide examples of how to create racially and culturally conscious safe space in classrooms.

Jeff talks through some of the conversations he has been having with school leaders as well as state organizations and state governments on the future of education after the pandemic.

Check out our free PDFs for educators as shiftingschools.com

Another free webinar from Shifting Schools. This time we learn from Steve Murphy and JB Blair. Two teachers in the same district find ways to have their classes work together on projects across schools and across grade levels. Community comes in many forms, creating one within your district is just another way to support students in understanding how to work in a networked world.

Links:

Slide Deck

Padlet Link

A recorded webinar with Trevor MacKenzie. Trevor is an educator and author of two books on inquiry classrooms.

Link:

https://www.trevormackenzie.com/

This episode is a recording from our free webinar series over at Shifting Schools. If you would like to join us live for the discussion we’d love to have you. You can sign up at shiftingschools.com and join us live and of course continue to listen to the recordings here. You’ll also find the video version of this webinar along with the slide deck on the Shifting Schools website and in the show notes to this podcast.

Please enjoy this recorded webinar with Georgina Gonzalez on Strategies and Tools for Digging into Difficult Conversations with Teens.

When we go through disruptions like this it’s a struggle. It’s a struggle to be open to and have hard conversations with ourselves and with our colleagues around the changes that we’re going through. In this free webinar, Jennifer Abrams walks us through important planning strategies to help us authentically engage with the dialogues that challenge us. Learn more and get access to the PDF handout at sospodcast.org

Steve Murphy joins us for the Shifting Schools Free Webinar on Creating Global Citizens. Steve is a Technology Coach and Social Studies Teacher in the Enumclaw School District.

Link:

Slide Deck

Chat File

Deidre Holmberg is a consultant with STEMCore Consulting, LLC. In this role, she supports the

implementation of STEM initiatives, authors culturally relevant, standards-based STEM/STEAM

curriculum for signature programs in numerous districts, and coaches school administrators and teachers on all aspects of STEM design, computational thinking, and the Science and Engineering Practices. Using an integrated approach, Deidre often leverages current events and bioethical dilemmas to make student work relevant, meaningful, and timely. Deidre is particularly interested and experienced in closing the persistent opportunity gaps for students in STEM and in building cohorts of diverse, highly capable STEM professionals for the 21st century workforce.

This week Tyler Rablin takes us through feedback that matters and what that means in today's complicated learning environments. We know feedback is essential to learning so how do we make sure we are giving feedback that works for students.

Show links can be found as sospodcast.org

This week we talk about communication with guest Dan James. In a time when educators are worried more than ever about creating connections with students, learn some tips we can use to truly make sure we communicating in effective ways? A great session with ideas and tips to start practicing and using today.

Links:

Dan James Website
One-pager of terms

A recording of a free webinar I gave back in June as part of our Shifting Schools series. We have free webinars starting the week of Aug. 17th running through the month of September at least. You can register to join us live at shiftingschools.com or we'll be releasing them here as well in the coming weeks.

Links to Slide Deck for Webinar

Welcome back to a new episode and season 4 of Shifting Our Schools. Excited to be back at the microphone sharing my thoughts, trainings, webinars, and conversations with all of you. We kick off season 4 with an email I wrote to a State Department of Education when asked my opinion on attendance policies in remote learning.

Tyler Rablin a High School ELA teacher and Tech Coach shares with us his grade book and assessment practices as he moved from a traditional way of grading to a mastery way of grading. This is the recording of a free webinar that Tyler gave as part of the ReImagine WA Ed program we have just wrapped up across the state of Washington. Titled: Meaningful Assessment: Grading for the Future, Tyler walks us through how you can rethink your grading and assessment practices to align with today’s best practices.

Links:

Chat file from Webinar

Slide Deck

One Page Handout

This episode is a recording of a Free Webinar we hosted as part of the ReImagine WA Ed program. These Webinars are open to any and all educators around the world and are free to join or listen to later. We will be releasing them here as podcasts as well.

This webinar hosted by Chris Butler who many of you regular listeners know as “Chris the Tech Coach” My co-host here at Shifting Our Schools and Erin Dickey a High School teacher and long time friend of Chris’s lead us through their Project-Based Awesome Webinar.

4 Steps of making Blended Learning manageable. We will look at preparing for next school year with good teaching strategies at the forefront. By Steve Murphy & Stefan Troutman

Links:

Chat file from Webinar

Slide Deck

This is a recording of the free Webinar offered by the ReImagine WA Ed team who have been supporting over 4000 Washington State educators on the journey of distance learning. Led by Jen Longmire and Shannon Cunningham we dive into the 5 Steps to bring Choice and Voice into your lessons.

Links:

Chat file from Webinar

Presentation

The ReImagine WA Ed team and I continue to support close to 4500 educators across the state of Washington adding another 1100 educators who started this week. We're excited to bring you this live AMA session we did on YouTube for educators across the state of Washington and around the world.

This week I share a webinar that Greg Bamford and Tara Jahn did last week titled: Design for Resilience Framework for the Future of Schools. A great conversation around leadership looking at the 20-21 school year.

Links:

Video

Blog Post

Presentation Slides

Chat Stream

Patrick Green and Heather Dowd take their best selling book Classroom Management in the Digital Age and apply lessons from it to our new Virtual Classrooms we find ourselves in. This was a Webinar sponsored by ReImagine WA Ed. Find out more about how Washington State is meeting the needs of teachers and students at reimaginewaed.com

Book (Amazon)

Website

Text file from Webinar

#CMDigitalAge Community

The team at #ReImagineWAEd and I host a YouTube Live event for educators across the state of Washington as we continue to reimagine education for our students in this state and beyond!

Link:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqvzgO9d6DU

A stream of consciousness about the power of giving students and parents choice or ownership over what is learned. This is the reason we are seeing ChoiceBoards being popular during the COVID-19 Crisis.

Links:

A Framework for Understanding Poverty - A Cognitive Approach - https://www.amazon.com/Framework-Understanding-Poverty-Cognitive-Approach/dp/1948244187

A Framework for Understanding Poverty - A Cognitive Approach (Sixth Edition)

This is a recording of a YouTube Live Keynote that I delivered to the educators of Washington State as we prepare to roll out a 3 phase continual learning plan to support districts, schools and educators make the most of continual learning.

Link to Slide Deck: http://gg.gg/aesdvirtualkeynote

This week our happy hour conversation focused on where schools are at rolling out devices and we start to turn our attention to the next phase of distance learning, assessment. Again…everyone was sharing links to resources and ideas in the chat. I have added those to the show notes over at sospodcast.org/episode119/ so please do head there if you hear something in the podcast and want to follow up with that resource. Stay safe and stay healthy

Do to the COVID-19 pandemic schools around the world are shutting their doors. Here in the state of Washington, we have been closed for two weeks already and now are being required by the state to continue learning for students. Here are some thoughts and actions you can take as you head into your own virtual school reality. Show notes at http://sospodcast.org/episode118/

This week I host the first of what I hope to be virtual happy hours with teachers and tech coaches who find themselves either preparing for virtual learning or are already in it. During the show, they also shared a host of resources for others to use. So many that I can’t add them all to the show’s description so you’ll need to go to sospodcast.org/episode117/ where you’ll find the resources shared and mentioned in this weeks episode.

Last week I was consulting at the International School fo Luxembourg and had an opportunity to sit down and chat with my good friend John Mikton. Much like myself, John has been in virtual learning situations before and as the school prepares to close John shares what they are doing with staff now to prepare for a closer as schools around Europe continue to close due to the spread of COVID-19

This week I share tips and recommendations for going virtual school as my state, Washington, along with many of my international friends find themselves gearing up for are already in virtual school situations. You can find the full transcript of this episode on my blog at: http://www.thethinkingstick.com/virtual-school-tips-and-recommendations/

A great three days interacting and learning from other educators around the Pacific Northwest and beyond. A final reflection on the conference with my friends and Tech Coaches from Moses Lake, WA. Stefan and Monica

After the first day of NCCE2020 in Seattle, I sit down with Tyler Rablin, Patrick Green and Chris Butler to reflect on our Day 1 take aways from NCCE2020

This week Chris Butler and I chat with Julie McDowell a teacher turned coach turned consultant with iReady. A conversation that covers a range of topics

This week Chris Butler and I have a chat with Jessia Fife and Linda Stairet two High School Teacher who team teach in a blended-learning, project-based, flexible seating enviornment….that’s right they have the trifecta. You’re going to love this one and don’t forget to check out the video of their classroom in the show notes.

Link to video:

http://gg.gg/fife-stairetroom

This week Chris Butler and I chat with Pat Zuniga a High School Teacher who calls his classroom "tech inclusive'. A great conversation on the power of technology to transforming learning for students.

This week Chris Butler and I chat with Ern Dickey a High School teacher digging into the idea of true student lead learning in her classroom. A fantastic conversation about inquiry and student ownership of learning.

This week Chris Butler and I chat with Taylor Newman a Middle School Teacher from Texas who is flipping her classroom using a whole host of tools. A great conversation on using technology to transforming learning for students.

A conversation with Middle School Teacher Kaci Presnell about her relationship with students, cell phones in the classrooms and Project-Based Learning in her classroom.

Links:

Kaci's Instagram: @blendedcoffeeandclass

Kaci's Twitter: @kacisunshine_

Chris's Twitter: @TechTeachTravel

This week I reflect on some conversations that I have had recently and how that had led me to believe you can be a paperless classroom or a blended learning classroom but you can't be both.

This week Chris Butler and I have a chat with Tyler, Cassie, and Chris from the Sunnyside School District. A rural school district here in the central part of Washington State. Last November I was invited to be a part of their first Leveled UP conference and was so excited by the experience the participants had I wanted to have them on to share with you how they went about making it happen.

Starting off the new year with a great conversation about school leadership and setting the culture that you want as a leader starts with servant leadership.

Chris Butler and I reflect on the 2019 and set the stage for 2020 as we record the last episode for 2019. We'll be back every Wednesday starting January 8th, 2020.

Links:

Ordinary to you Amazing to others (video)

This week Chris Butler and I chat with Collin Gibbs a Social Studies teacher who shares his system for success he uses with his students. Collin also shares his “technology checklist” with all of you. You can find a link to it in the show notes to this episode. It’s a Google Slide so you can make a copy of it for yourself…if you do use and update it for your specific classroom please share your with the community as well. We all learn when we all share. A great episode with some really powerful nuggets of knowledge.

Links:

Technology Checklist: http://gg.gg/gibbstechcheck

Twitter: @collinjgibbs

This week Chris Butler and I chat with new tech coach David Stiner and talk about the ups and downs of being a coach and coaching strategies when you are the only technology coach in the district.

Links:

Twitter: @madtechteacher

CodeCombat: https://codecombat.com/

TikTok Education in India:
https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/17/tiktok-education-edutok-india/

TikTok as a High School Club:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/19/style/high-school-tiktok-clubs.html

https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/11/13/tiktok-powerful-teaching-tool-or-classroom-management.html

Our last conversation of November with the authors of Classroom Management in the Digital Age our free give away this month. Remember you can enter to win a free copy of the book by leaving a Flipgrid response to this week's question.

Links:

Book

Twitter:

#CMDigitalAge
Patrick Green
Heather Dowd

Classroom Management in the Digital Age: Effective Practices for Technology-Rich Learning Spaces

A great conversation with 6th Grade ELA teacher Kenzie Munn who teaches at a school that focuses on Project-Based Learning. She uses a host of different apps and has her classroom set up for students to have flexible seating. Check out a video of her classroom in our show notes below:

Links:

PearDeck: https://www.peardeck.com/googleslides
EdPuzzle: https://edpuzzle.com/
FlipGrid: https://www.flipgrid.com
Quizizz: https://quizizz.com/

Flexible Seating Video: http://gg.gg/munnclassroom2019

Reach out to Kenzie
@McKenzieMunn on twitter
@miss.munn on Instagram

What a fantastic conversation for our 100th episode of Shifting Our Schools. Chris Butler and I catch up with Tisha Richmond and talk about supporting teachers as a coach and the power of Personal Learning Networks (PLNs).

Links:

Voxer App: https://www.voxer.com/
Glide Apps: https://www.glideapps.com/
Marco Polo App: https://www.marcopolo.me/
Slack: https://slack.com/
3Ps Reflection Protocol: Practice reflecting in Privately spaces, Protected Public spaces, and in Public spaces.

Tisha Richmond:

Book: https://amzn.to/2NA8Cxo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tishrich
Website: https://t.co/r4ajooEQ0T
ISTE Talk: https://youtu.be/PDe8SZp3DHU

Make Learning Magical: Transform Your Teaching and Create Unforgettable Experiences in Your Classroom

This week Chris Butler and I chat with Adam Polluck an IB International Teacher working in Hangzhou, China at a school that focuses on a Project-Based Learning approach. Adam walks us through how he and his colleagues structure 32-week in-depth PBL experiences for students.

Links:

Adam Polluck: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-pollock-3b5b006/

Enter to win a free copy of Classroom Management in the Digital Age by sharing your thoughts on this week's question:

What structures do you put in place in your own Project-Based Learning environment to make sure students are successful?

This week Chris Butler and I chat and have a first look at the newly released Common Sense Media Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens.

Links:

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/the-common-sense-census-media-use-by-tweens-and-teens-2019

A reflection on trainings I have been giving recently and the use of student monitoring software in a 1:1 classroom. Let's use the software to start conversations, not as a punishment for opening a tab.....BTW....that doesn't change behavior.

This week while working at the International School of Luxembourg (ISL) I sit down with my good friend Ashley Sawyer and we talk about her 3rd-grade classroom and some of the units she has done with her students that use technology in authentic ways. We also discuss the new portfolio system we are setting up here at ISL and are looking for ideas and suggestions if you have been using Google Sites with 3rd Graders as portfolios.

Thanks to Katy McKee a technology coach in the Royal School District for sending this article to me that has me thinking and reflecting on the idea of engagement. Worth a read:

Link:

What is engagement in a learning experience? https://www.goguardian.com/research-and-insights/state-of-engagement-2019/

How do you assess learning when it happens in the process of creating not the product? All too often we assess the product but that is not where the learning occurred. How can we assess learning when it is actually happening...in the process of creating. I invite you to leave a FlipGrid comment over at sospodcast.org and join the conversation on assessing learning.

Link:

Great video to share with your students as well. Obvious to you. Amazing to Others.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcmI5SSQLmE

Here you go! My top Chrome Extensions for Students to start the new school year. My goal is for you to hear my 5 and then share your favorite chrome extensions that you like to use with students either at #sospodcast or at our Flipgrid at flipgrid.com/sospodcast.

Links:

Flipgrid: flipgrid.com/sospodcast

Share to Classroom

Screencastify

Selection Reader

Mercury Reader

Grammarly

To kick off August and a month of 1:1 Summer of Fun we start with my reading of the peer-reviewed article I wrote along with Doreen Keller that was published in May 2019. We start with the Connectivism Learning Theory, a theory that talks about the connected ways in which we learn. It's the foundation for my own thinking in changing classrooms and schools.

Links:

Critical Questions in Education - Volume 10, Issue 2, Special Issue on the Digital Academics

As we continue on our August theme of 1:1 Summer of Fun I break down two of the major mind-shifts I believe need to happen before we worry about the actual technology in the classroom. Understand that we are redefining what it means to be "Knowledgable" and how we must shift to helping students organize their own learning in a decentralized knowledge world. I hope you enjoy!

Links:

White Paper: gg.gg/juconnectpaper

Flipgrid: flipgrid.com/sospodcast

A fantastic way to end our conversation with Enumclaw Educators taking to Steve Murphy a High School Social Studies Teacher who's real passion right now is connecting his students to the world outside his classroom. Steve is always looking for new connections around the world to bring into his classroom. Feel free to hit him up on Twitter if you would like to connect with this great teacher and his class of global citizens.

Links:

Steve's Twitter: https://twitter.com/murphyhusky1

Steve's Blog: https://murphyhusky1.wordpress.com/

This week a conversation with Rebekah Cheney a secondary science teacher who using the real world as her platform to teaching science.

Links:

https://www.zooniverse.org/

A great conversation with Tom Riddell a Middle School History Teacher who focuses on bringing current events into his classroom to help students make connections in history.

This week I have a conversation with Jen and Bob the two tech coaches at Enumclaw School District as they reflect on this year working with educators, the PD trainings that we ran what results did they see from the trainings in their schools. Tech Coaches... this one is for you!

Links:

Bob's Instagram: beaver_Knievel

Jen's Twitter: jenlongmire1

Jeff’s Paper: http://gg.gg/juconnectpaper

Jeff’s Webinar: http://gg.gg/jumicroweb

A great conversation with Allison a High School Science teacher who talks about her classroom, what's important to her as a teacher and some fun projects she did with her students this year.

Also I personally had two projects released this last week. A peer-reviewed article I wrote was published as well as a Webinar Interview I did with Microsoft. You'll hear more about those in this weeks podcast and links below to watch and read.

Links:

Mammals Suck Blog and Mammals March Madness Plans: http://mammalssuck.blogspot.com/

School in the Cloud: https://www.theschoolinthecloud.org/

Jeff's Paper: http://gg.gg/juconnectpaper

Jeff's Webinar: http://gg.gg/jumicroweb

This week I have a conversation with Nicole a Middle School and High School Music teacher who talks about using technology in the music classroom.

Links:

Nicoles Blog: https://nicolelaborte.wordpress.com/

This week a great conversation with Dan, a Middle School Art Teacher, who teaches 3D Animation using the open-source program Blender with his 6-8 grade art students.

Links:

Dan’s Blog

Blender 3D Animation Software

What a fantastic show talking science with Bobby and Julie from the Enumclaw School District. Two Middle School teachers who are using something called a "Learning Tracker" that they have created for their students to self-assess throughout the year. Julie was kind enough to share some templates and examples with me to share with you. So have a listen to the podcast and then go view some amazing examples of structuring learning in the science classroom.

Links:

Bobby's Blog

Julie's Blog

Blank Learning Tracker Template (So you can create your own)

Learning Tracker Template Master created for Force and Motion Unit (So you can see how Julie create's it for students)

Learning Tracker Student Example: (View Only) Julie writes "I actually don't grade them on their tracker because I want them to feel like they have the freedom and autonomy to record their learning however it works best for them."

This week I have a great conversation with JB Blair a Middle School English teacher who talks about his philosophy and creating learning experiences that adhere to the 3Rs. Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships. You're going to love hearing some of the ways he uses technology to bring relevance to his classroom.

Links:

JB's Blog

Blog Post on Mission Statement

Vlog on persuasive texting assignment

Enumclaw Case Study

This week I get to kick off my exit conversations with Enumclaw Educators with a conversation with Gunner Argo. Gunner is a High School English Teacher at Enumclaw HS how has been involved in a year-long blended-learning PD experience with me. You're going to enjoy hearing from this thoughtful teacher about his classroom, his approach, and what he learned from his big project this year.

Links:

Gunner's Blog

Enumclaw Case Study

This week I go over some questions I was recently asked by a school district as they get ready to launch there 1:1 program next year. I hear very similar questions all the time, so thought I would just turn my responses into this week's podcast. Let me know if you agree or disagree with anything I say. Leave a comment on our Flipgrid or reach out to me personally if you'd rather.

Links:

Now booking August Keynote and PD sessions. Will out the contact form here at sospodcast.orgjeffutecht.com

The Mirage: An in-depth look into teacher professional development and what does and does not work

Andragogy: The adult learning theory

This week what a pleasure to sit down with Monica and Stefan from Moses Lake to talk about the trainings we've been doing together all year, what we're seeing and to explore a bit more their YouTube Challenge they have going on just between the two of them. A great reflective podcast!

Links:

Monica's YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/2KXcBol Monica's Twitter: https://twitter.com/monimcatee

Stefan's YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/2KVi6nr Stefan's Twitter: https://twitter.com/MosesLakeHS

This week it was a great honor to sit down with Andy Torris a mentor and friend through the years who was always willing to allow me to take risks as a teacher and try things out and was right there with me supporting me as a leader.

Links:

Avenues: https://www.avenues.org/ Andy's Twitter: https://twitter.com/atorris Andy's LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewtorris/ Andy's Blog: http://www.sentimentsoncommonsense.com/

Just a quick episode this week challenging educators to teach the specific skill of calendaring in a digital world. Today's calendars are so powerful yet as I talk to students I find that very few actually use them to strucutre their very busy lives. Let's take some time to specifically teach this very important skill.

Links:

Avenues School: https://www.avenues.org/ Google Calendar Tips and Tricks: http://bit.ly/2U98ZPo Outlook Calendar Tips and Tricks: http://bit.ly/2U99hWu iPhone Calendar Tips and Tricks: https://cnet.co/2U9AWqq

Such a great time chatting with Patrick Green. I get the privilege to chat with him often. Today I hit the record button so you could hear our chat and thinking outload. A great conversation about Hacking School, YouTube, and Spreadsheets.

Links:

Patrick Green: @pgreensoup https://twitter.com/pgreensoup

Website: http://www.pgreensoup.com/

Youtube: http://bit.ly/2SSz5Xp

Book: https://amzn.to/2SStIrh

EdPuzzle: http://www.edpuzzle.com

50 Ways to Use YouTube in the Classroom

I meet up with Scott McLeod in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia of all places and we talk about his new book: Harnessing Technology for Deeper Learning, the 4 Shift Protocol and other educational technology topics.

Links:

The Book: https://amzn.to/2O8VZGo

Scott McLeod: @mcleod

Blog: http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org

Julie Graber: @jgraber

Harnessing Technology for Deeper Learning (A Quick Guide to Educational Technology Integration and Digital Learning Spaces) (Solutions for Creating the Learning Spaces Students Deserve)

This week I sit down with Jessica Udd a Kindergarten teacher in the Auburn School District in Washington. Jessica teaches in a 1:1 classroom and takes us through how she's building technology skills with her students.

Links:

Twitter: @Mrsuddskinders: twitter.com/mrsuddskinders

Clever: clever.com

Symbaloo: www.symbaloo.com

Seesaw: web.seesaw.me

Flipgrid: www.flipgrid.com

30 Days of Free PD for Teachers: edurolearning.lpages.co/30-days-of-free-pd

#HeyLookUp for Parents: edurolearning.lpages.co/heylookup

Full Transcript here: sonix.ai/r/1mXSPvsoHiDd8yaB2L369WgN

This week I have a conversation with Danny Baur. An Author, Consultant, and Online Community Manager. His focus on school leadership lets us talk about managing change around technology.

Links:

This week's free PDF and Course discount: http://www.sospodcast.org/ct

Download the 3 questions Danny asks each day: http://betterleadersbetterschools.com

Investigate his mastermind: http://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mm

Buy his new book, The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap: http://bit.ly/blbsroadmap

This week Chrissy, Kim and I take time out to reflect on how three teachers who happen to teach at the same time at an International School in Bangkok end up where we are today. A little background on us as a company and our journey.

Links:

#HeyLookUp email series for parents (https://edurolearning.lpages.co/heylookup/)

All our parenting resources (https://edurolearning.com/parents/)

Parenting resources for schools (https://edurolearning.com/parentlearning/)

Connected Teacher Resources (Free PDF and Discount courses) (https://edurolearning.com/connected/)

This week Lissa and I chat with John Nash, Associate Professor and Department Chair for the Department of Educational Leadership Studies at the University of Kentucky. We spend some time talking about the changes happening at the University level and dive deeper into our new partnership with our stackable certificates that can lead to a Master's Degree or even PhD.

Links:

John Nash

COETAIL.com

Partnership Announcement (with Free PDF)

Who Do You Follow When Starting Your PLN (Free PDF)

This week I walk through a science lesson I did to start a unit on states of matter with 7th graders at a school I was working at a few years ago in Germany.

Structure:

The outline goes something like this.

10 minutes to research a topic, where you get your information I don’t care just learn as much as you can about a topic in 10 minutes

3-5 minutes depending on the age of the students to share your new knowledge with others in your class.

10 minutes as a class to bring our new knowledge together to see where we want to go next in the form of what questions do we still have?

5 minutes looking for patterns within our questions to create big ideas or themes that we can dive into.

Each student decided what idea or theme they want to study, which one is most interesting to them and form groups around those interests to study and learn more about to report back to the whole class.

Links: Connected Educator Micro-Credential (with free PDF) Integrating Digital Citizenship into your Curriculum Course ($15)

This week Lissa Layman and I talk about the new partnership between our Micro-Credential COETAIL (Certificate of Educational Technology and Information Literacy) and the University of Kentucky Educational Leadership Studies' Certificate of Educational Technology Leadership and how this partnership is bringing together the research-based practices of a University with the practical application of COETAIL to create an amazing stackable certificate program.

Links:

COETAIL.com

Partnership Announcement (with Free PDF)

Connected Educator Micro-Credential (with free PDF)

Integrating Digital Citizenship into your Curriculum Course ($15)

This week I catch up with Tanya LeClair in China to talk about her must have iPad apps for the elementary classroom.

Lower Elementary (PreK-3) * Seesaw * Book Creator * Shadow Puppet * FlipGrid * Osmo App

Upper Elementary (3-5) * Seesaw/ Flipgrid * Padlet * Nearpod * Apple Clips * Adobe Spark * Hopscotch

Tanya’s Links Twitter: @Tanya LeClair website: http://tanyaleclair.strikingly.com/ Don’t miss out on a year of learning with Tanya and Jeff and the Eduro Learning 1 to 1 Micro-Credential.

As our 1:1 Summer of Fun comes to an end I share with you some of the other resources that we released this summer that you might not know about and you get to hear a Lunch Keynote I delivered this month at a STEM conference here in the State of Washington. Enjoy!

Links:

Eduro Learning 1:1 Teacher YouTube Playlist

1:1 Micro-Credential Sign-Up Today!

Keynote Slide Deck (PDF)

As our 1:1 Summer of Fun marches on I take time to explain a bit more of why we created the micro-credentials at Eduro Learning and who they were created for while at the same time pushing you to make this year of making learning engaging for all students.

Links:

Gallup Student Poll on Engagement: https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/03/23/gallup-student-poll-finds-engagement-in-school.html

1:1 Microcredential with this week’s free download:

10 Hidden Features of Google Docs every student should know about: http://bit.ly/2Mtzxbc

This week I record a podcast while teaching a one-credit technology in an education course at Whitworth University. To talk about and help demonstrate the power of connections I had Michael and Trina from Auburn School District join me for about a 30-minute conversation. Both Michael and Trina give tips for new teachers entering 1:1 schools as well as share some of their favorite units from this past year that allowed the world to be their curriculum.

Links:

Free Download:

10 Hidden Features of Google Docs https://edurolearning.com/1to1/

Discounted Course: Fake News and our Responsibility to be tech literate https://edurolearning.com/1to1/

This week I chat with Steve Murphy a good friend and 1:1 classroom teacher of four years. Steve and I chat about tips and tricks for setting up your LMS in the new year to make sure it is successful. We talk a lot about Google Classroom as that is what Steve uses. However, these tips and tricks are not Google Classroom specific and can be used with any Learning Management System (LMS). It's about the setup, not the actual platform you use.

Links:

This weeks free PDF Download: 10 Hidden Tricks of Google Docs that every student should know about http://www.edurolearning.com/1to1/

This weeks discounted course: Teaching with Google Classroom https://edurolearning.com/product/teaching-with-google-classroom/

Steve Murphy: Twitter: https://twitter.com/murphyhusky1

This week I share my 5 must have apps for teachers and students in the 1:1 classroom. This is my list what's yours? Share your "Must Haves" on social media using #sospodcast and please tag me as well so I can see your list too.

5 Must Have's for Teachers

“A Home Base” LMS - Google Classroom - http://classroom.google.com
Questions embedded into video for feedback - Playpostit or Edpuzzle https://learn.playposit.com/learn/ and https://edpuzzle.com/
Padlet and FlipGrid - quick questions, quick feedback students don’t need to have a login https://padlet.com/ and https://www.flipgrid.com
Class Calendar
Video/Audio Recordings

5 Must Have's for Students

Calendar - that syncs across all devices
A todo list app - Google Keep http://keep.google.com
Password program like 1Password or lastpass https://1password.com/ and https://www.lastpass.com/
Adobe Spark Account https://spark.adobe.com/home/
Earbuds

A great conversation with Micheal a Tech TOSA in the Auburn School District as we talk about the pedagogy that changes in a 1 to 1 classroom and how he created highly structured, loosely organized learning environments with his students and now how he helps teachers do the same.

Links from Michael:

Twitter handle is @ASDtech_Michael.

School Twitter: @AuburnSD

Living Computers Museum + Labs: livingcomputers.org/

Auburn School District #408 site: www.auburn.wednet.edu

Debra Hernanz and I chat about tips, tricks, and ideas for managing distractions in the 1 to 1 classroom. Debra's Links: https://www.chronicle.com/specialreport/The-Distracted-Classroom/ Twitter: @debrahernanz Instagram: remember2day Blog: http://blogs.evergreenps.org/hernanz/

A bounce episode for all you Shifting Our Schools subscriber out there. I get a chance to chat with Joey Taralson, VP of Engagement at Flipgrid.com. At the end of June Flipgrid announced they were acquired by Microsoft and becoming part of the MicrosoftEDU team. Shifting Our Schools listeners know how much I love Flipgrid and talk about its uses often. It was great to hear the history of how it started, where they currently are and plans for the future. Congrats to the entire Flipgrid team on their acquisition and I'm excited to see what's next!

Joey's Links:

Twitter handle: @taralson Flipgrid twitter: @flipgrid, #FlipgridFever Flipgrid Live event info: Register for livestream:

flipgridlivestream.splashthat.com Attending in person: flipgridlive.splashthat.com

As we continue our 1:1 Summer of Fun one of questions always come back to Professional Development for educators and how do we do it right. According to research done by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation called "Teachers Know Best: Teachers views on Professional Development" (http://k12education.gatesfoundation.org/resource/teachers-know-best-teachers-views-on-professional-development/). Schools are not doing a very good job and most educators feel like PD is a hoop that needs to be jumped through. As educators why are not better at offering PD for our teachers. In this episode I chat with Tyler Rablin who's school district is rethinking PD in the face of the Internet and trying to find a way to give teachers more choice and voice in their PD options. 1:1 Summer of Fun links: Freebie: 30 Days of Free PD email series http://www.sospodcast.org/30days Discount: $25 for the course Digital Citizenship in the Classroom http://www.sospodcast.org/1to1/ Tyler's Links: "Teachers Know Best: Teachers views on Professional Development" (http://k12education.gatesfoundation.org/resource/teachers-know-best-teachers-views-on-professional-development/) @Mr_Rablin (https://twitter.com/mr_rablin) Website: https://teacher-totter.blogspot.com/

Kicking off our 1:1 Summer of Fun this week with a great podcast with Tisha Richmond, a culinary teacher in Oregon has had completely gamified her classroom. So many great nuggets and takeaways you'll want to take notes on this one. 1:1 Summer of Fun links: Freebie: 30 Days of Free PD email series http://www.sospodcast.org/30days Discount: $15 for the course Fake News and the Responsibility to be Digitally Literate http://www.sospodcast.org/1to1/ Links for Tisha Richmond @tishrich - https://twitter.com/tishrich website: https://www.tisharichmond.com/

This week I sit down and chat about dealing with cell phones in the classroom. It might just be the hottest topic in education at the moment. I swear every conversation I have with teachers somehow some way turns to cell phones. In this episode I talk about how I go about handling these conversations with teachers as well as how I would structure my high school classroom today to meet students where they are.

Talk about it: I find that if you start the year talking about cell phones in the classroom and face the fact that they are there you can continue to talk about them all year long. "I want you to have them, you want to have them so let's work together to make sure we're using them when we're supposed to." Is always a great start. A) it shows that you respect them B) You bring them into the fold of creating the cell phone policy for the class.
Respect: I'll respect that you have a life outside this classroom and for better for worse it doesn't end when you walk through that door. However, at the same time, I need you to respect this learning environment for you and for others. If you need to use your phone because something crazy is going on in your life...just ask.. I won't disrespect your connected life and you do not disrespect the limited time we have together as a group.
Continual learning: Constantly have discussions about "being connected". Learn why SnapChat is so "addicting" to them. Why are streaks so important? I find 99% of the time teenagers just really want someone to care and "get" their life. Bring articles in the classroom about kids being over connected and discuss those (so many blog posts here). We have to engage them in the conversations about being connected and understanding the pressure they are feeling in order to have the conversation to put it down and pay attention.

An article from Brad Stulberg (https://www.outsideonline.com/2297671/most-eco-minded-toughest-gear-planet) came across my twitter feed yesterday. He writes for the blog outsideonline.com and if I were teaching HS today this is the type of article that when I found it I would share and discuss with my students.

It's a really good article that talks about some research around what happens just having our phone around us. But he ends the article with four things we can all do.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Remove your phone from your visual field (for example, out of the room where you're trying to work or out of your bedroom at night). Doing so immediately dampens its pull on you.
Schedule Device-Free Time: Make hard rules for certain activities during which you'll absolutely keep your phone out of sight. Examples: at the gym, on a hike, during deep-focus work, watching television with your significant other, and perhaps most important, when you're sleeping.
Monitor Your Usage: Apps like Moment, which tracks how much time you spend on your device, surface trouble spots and bring greater overall awareness to how (and when) you use your devices.
Tech-Free Mornings: For the first 30 minutes after waking, don't interact with technology. Instead, use this time to set an intention for the day; fully immerse yourself in a ritual like coffee, meditation, or yoga; or do a chunk of deep-focus work.

This week I catch up with some students from Nampa, Idaho who are finishing up their first year of 1:1 program and fill us in on what's working and not working for them. It's always great to hear from the kids and what a great way to kick off our "1to1 Summer of Fun". Links: Eduro Learning 1:1 Micro-Credential: http://www.sospodcast.org/1to1/ East Valley Middle School: http://eastvalley.nsd131.org/ EVMS Ed Tech Blog: http://evmsedtech.edublogs.com/ ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â'¬Å" posts written by EVMS teachers and someday students! Twitter: @TimRigsbyTech Email: trigsby@nsd131.org Phone: 208-468-4760 ext 4637

A bounce episode for those of you who are regular subscribers. I did a quick reflection on the Google I/O conference a few weeks back and decided Apple needed a little love as well. So just a quick reflection from me on the WWDC18 Keynote and trends that I see affecting in education in the future. Enjoy!

[caption id="attachment_754" align="alignleft" width="300"] Morning in Seattle[/caption] This week I sit down outside on my deck, taking in the view and reflect on a couple articles that came my way via Twitter. Links: Is Technology Bad For the Teenage Brain? https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-04-03-is-technology-bad-for-the-teenage-brain-yes-no-and-it-s-complicated Skills of the Future: How to Survive in a Complex New World http://www.gettingsmart.com/2018/01/skills-of-the-future-how-to-thrive-in-the-complex-new-world/

This week my passion gets the best of me as I talk about some of the emails I have received this past year with pushback that schools and districts are receiving from parents when they roll-out a 1:1 program with students. Links: Zoom H2n Mic (The one I use in this episode and I carry with me. Great for the classroom as well.) The Future Is Now Conference Eduro Learning Parent Resouces

Zoom H2N Handy Recorder

This week I have a chat with Ryan Harwood, an international educator who is living in Ghana at the moment. Ryan is also a COETAIL graduate and just finished facilitating his first COETAIL Cohort. We chat about being a connected educator, being an international educator and his COETAIL journey.

Show Links:

Ryan Harwood Twitter: @rharwood17 Website: https://ryanharwood.com/ COETAIL Final Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxIVueGBEGk Twitter hashtags: #AfricaEd (International educators in Africa) #Nesachat (International educators in the Middle East)

This week I have a chat with Erin Dickey a High School English Teacher an co-producer of the Project-Based Awesome podcast. A great conversation on how she runs her entire English and Social Studies classes on a PBL model. Links: Erin Dickey Twitter: https://twitter.com/ogybuns Podcast: https://www.projectbasedawesome.com/ Student Project: https://kevinpeurrung.wixsite.com/israelandpalestine Right Question Institute: http://rightquestion.org/ Canva: http://www.canva.com Sway: https://sway.com/ Adobe Spark: http://spark.adobe.com 1to1 Podcast recording times....SIGN UP TODAY! http://www.sospodcast.org/1to1

Thank you for subscribing to the Shifting Our Schools podcast channel. A reflection on the Google I/O 2018 Keynote and what it means for us in education. Links Tech Crunch: https://techcrunch.com/tag/google-i-o-2018/ The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/8/17320962/google-io-keynote-2018-announcements-news-android-p

In this episode, I have a chat with Tim Rigsby from Nampa, Idaho, and his school districts 1:1 rollout and his role as an instructional coach. Show Links: Edulastic: edulastic.com ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â'¬Å" excellent tool for formative and summative assessments that are aligned to standards and have the look and feel of many state-mandated tests

Mindomo: mindomo.com ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â'¬Å" similar to popplet, allows users to build mind maps

NNU Doceo Center and the HACK Model: https://doceo.nnu.edu/ & https://doceo.nnu.edu/professional-development-and-workshops/hack-model-of-innovative-instruction - who we have partnered with for support with our 1:1 rollout and personalized learning journey

East Valley Middle School: http://eastvalley.nsd131.org/

EVMS Ed Tech Blog: http://evmsedtech.edublogs.com/ - posts written by EVMS teachers and someday students!

Twitter: @TimRigsbyTech

Email: trigsby@nsd131.org

Phone: 208-468-4760 ext 4637

This week I reflect on my manual labor weekend helping my wife flip a house north of Seattle. I woke up sore, tired and excited. Why? Why is doing stuff so much fun? How can we have students make more stuff? Questions: Where did I learn how to do all this? Why is manual labor so much fun? Why did I sleep so well? Challenges: 1. Find a way to have your students make something physical. Give them the challenge to build a tower, a bridge, a wagon for the Oregon Trail out of popsicle sticks. There is so much learning and feeling of accomplishments when we do manual labor and we get to see our progress. 2. Find a way to bring movement into your classroom. Find a way to get students up and moving! Links: The Shift Key Podcast: http://elpn.edurolearning.com The Future Is Now Conference: http://www.sospodcast.org/tfin Date: June 27, 2018 Where: Seattle, WA Time: 8-4 Parking Includes 6 STEM Clock Hours available Jeff's Wife New Passion: http://www.g3-homes.com

Jeff has a brain dump of thoughts based on the work he's been doing at conferences and with school districts over the past couple weeks in Burns, OR, Port Angeles School District and Enumclaw School District. Shout Outs: Sheryl Woods: Thanks for including Shifting Our Schools in your podcast list! Check out her blog here: http://www.teacherladyky.com/ Thanks to @lutes_johnson for your image and sharing your student's storyboard. Loving using storyboards to incorporate the design process in my classroom! Problem:bullying Plan to fix problem: create an anti-bullying campaign by creating a Tynker animation to share with others @gotynker @jutecht pic.twitter.com/eIhIibYsbz

— Mrs. Johnson (@lutes_johnson) April 17, 2018 Shark tank Pitch 1......#harneytech18 with @jutecht @MrVaudrey @Jstevens009 @mrmatera pic.twitter.com/DTgOUvHv8Q

— Eric Nichols (@IamEricNichols) April 13, 2018 Tech Generations: 55+ = Phone calls and Facebook 35-55 = Email and Facebook 22-35 = Text messaging and Notifications on their phone The Future is Now Conference: June 27 ,2018 Seattle, WA Bringing Business and Education Together https://edurolearning.com/tfin

In this episode, I talk through my ideas on teaching a "Media First Generation" and why we in education need to think differently when it comes to engaging them in meaningful work that speaks to their media first brains. Links: Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation https://www.amazon.com/Millennials-Rising-Next-Great-Generation/dp/0375707190 Pew Research: Defining Generations http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/03/01/defining-generations-where-millennials-end-and-post-millennials-begin/ New York Times: Generation Z Name https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/31/style/generation-z-name.html Common Sense Media: Census on media use by kids age zero to eight 2017 https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/the-common-sense-census-media-use-by-kids-age-zero-to-eight-2017

Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation

This week I'm joined by Photo Joseph and Chrissy Hellyer as we talk about having students be creating in the classroom and how video and photos are a great way to engage the media first generation. You can reach out to Joseph here: joseph@PhotoJoseph.com http://www.PhotoJoseph.com youtube.com/photojoseph facebook.com/photojoseph instagram.com/photojoseph twitter.com/photojoseph linkedin.com/in/photojoseph

In this episode, Mark Hofer from the College of William & Mary joins David Carpenter in I to talk about the work he is doing with school districts through the Center of Innovation and Learning Design at the college. A great show that hits on some key points of what it takes to shift a school and district. @markhofer http://www.wmcild.org http://www.mysparklearning.com http://schoolretool.org/

This week I have a conversation with Doug Belshaw from the UK. Doug has made his way from the classroom to being involved in multiple different projects including the Open Badge Alliance. A great conversation about digital badges and the future of where they are going. Links: Doug Belshaw: http://dougbelshaw.com/ Badges Newsletter: http://www.badges.news Badges Wiki: http://www.badges.wiki Open Badges: https://openbadges.org/ Badge Alliance: http://www.badgealliance.org/ Open Badge Factory: https://openbadgefactory.com/ Badgr: https://info.badgr.io/ Credly: https://credly.com/

Highly Structured, Loosely Organized learning enviornments are what is needed in a technology rich classroom if we are going to use technology in authentic and purposeful ways in learning. In this episode I talk about what that means, how I applied it to a 6th grade class and ask for you to help me get more examples of what this looks like in your classroom. Links: http://www.internetlivestats.com/ Ratio/Percentage Spreadsheet (GSheet) (Excel) Leave a comment/idea here: sospodcast.org/questions Sign up for 30Days of Free PD here: sospodcast.org/30days

This week I catch up with Chris Butler from the Project Based Awesome podcast and website to chat about his Project Based Awesome website and materials they are creating for educators over there and talk about project based learning and where it's headed.

YouTube Podcasts http://www.sospodcast.org https://www.edutopia.org/article/best-education-podcasts-2017 https://midnightmusic.com.au/music-tech-teacher-podcast/ Twitter hashtags #musedchat Twitter Lists for easy management https://www.cybraryman.com/edhashtags.html Flipboard https://flipboard.com/@Eduro Pinterest Google+ Communities http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/05/10-google-plus-communities-every.html Audible Books http://www.audible.com RSS Feeds Feedly: http://www.feedly.com Webinars Online Certifications: Google Educator Certs; Microsoft in Education Certs https://edutrainingcenter.withgoogle.com/certification_level1 https://education.microsoft.com

Listen in at Kim Cofino leads a discussion about the learning curve students face today when they have laptops in schools and mobile devices in their lives. A great international conversation that includes the voices of our favorite 5th grade student @thelivbits

SlideShow Used for this Session YouTube 2017 Facts * User Percentage by Age + 18-24 - 11% + 25-34 - 23% + 35-44 - 26% + 45-54 - 16% + 50-64 - 8% + 65+ - 3% + unknown age - 14%

Go Live on YouTube (click on image to enlarge) Step by Step guide to setting up and using YouTube Screencastify extension for Chrome Browser Flipgrid.com - 90 second videos for reflections, feedback and ?????

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Kim leads a discussion with international educators on using social media today and focusing in on the app Musical.ly. This is a continued conversation from episode 35 from last week so makc sure you got back and listen to that one as well...even before this one.

A great conversation with Olivia a 5th grader and more widely known as LivBits on the network. You're in for a real treat as she explains to us the draw to musical.ly for her and her friends and social media in general. You're going to want to follow this girl. http://www.thelivbits.com/ https://twitter.com/thelivbits

Kim Cofino leads a discussion with some international teacher friends around how social media is different in different countries and across different ages.

Jeff sits down with Scott Beebe, Chef Innovation Officer for the Marysville School District, to discuss how do...or do administative walk-throughs change in a tech-rich classroom.

This week Kim Cofino, Ben Sheradan and Clint Hamada sit down to discuss their top 3 tips for your 1:1 program.

Welcome Back! Thank you to those of you coming back to Shifting Our Schools and a big welcome to all you new listeners. This episode is made to help bridge the gap between our 2008-2009 show and bringing Shifting Our Schools back in 2018. It's been quite the journey and Shifting Our Schools was a large part of my own personal journey into starting COETAIL and Eduro Learning. In this episode, I tell my personal journey starting from High School to restarting Shifting Our Schools and looking forward to the future of podcasting. Episode Notes: Great to be back - that was a long break

Telling my story - my journey that has brought me back here to Shifting Our Schools

1994 - Elementary Experience - Mrs. Hubble

1994 - 95 - Olympic College (18)

1995 - 96 - Traveling Microscope Show (19)

1996 -97 - Graduate with AA Degree - go to EWU (20)

1997 - 1999 - Graduate with Elem. Degree (22)

Play around with Windows 3.1
Tech class Website and Projector

1999 - First job as 4th grade teacher (23)

Get Married (22)
AlphaSmarts
Server room
Website for school
WeCareSports.com

Summer of 2000 - Pack up everything we own and drive to New York (24)

2000-2002 Robert Gray Elementary (26)

Box of Apples
School Website
Technology in K-12 Education: Envisioning a New Future.
Gates Grant
Continue building for WeCareSports.com
9/11
Earthquake

2002 - 2005 - Saudi Arabia (25)

Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Technology
6 Grade Teacher
5th Grade Teacher
Admin Degree in the Summers via WSU
IT Director
Moodle
1:1 Palm Pilot Program with 12th graders
Wire School for wireless

2005 - 2008 (32)

'05 ES Tech Teacher - Start The Thinking Stick
Offered VP position - turning point
Install Moodle SARAs outbreak
'06 Technology Resource Facilitator
Roll out Moodle across the schools
Start talks of 1:1
Middle School Tech Teacher
Told the world I was Dyslexic
'08 - Plan 1:1 Roll Out
'08 start SOS Podcast - David Carpenter
Start On Deck Podcast
Start Gourmet Geeks.tv
Start Presenting
Wanting something different
Google Time
Move to ISB

2008 - 2012 (36)

ES Tech Coach
Workshops at Schools
Plan 1:1 Roll Out
2009 stop SOSpodcast
Stop Gourmet Geeks
'07 Start Learning2

2009 - Start COETAIL

2010 - Write Reach with 20% time

2012 - COETAIL Taking off

Consulting every weekend
Something has to give

2012 - 2013 (37)

A year of free PD in the State of WA as I travel Internationally consulting
COETAIL is growing online
2013 - 250,000 miles

2014 - 2017 (41)

2014 - Beyond COETAIL
2014 Start Eduro Learning
Clint, Mads, Simon, Kim, Chrissy, Dana, Me
2014 - SUNY pulls out of COETAIL
2015 - Marysville Contract
2016 - Everett Contract
2016 - Start planning Micro-Credentials
2017 - Launch Micro-Credentials
2017 - Co-Author book with Kim and Chrissy
2017 - Restart SOSpodcast
Stories from Educators
Conversations with Kim, Chrissy,
Our Advisory Team,
COETAILers
teachers we meet

Your Connected Classroom: A Practical Guide for Teachers

Justin Medved joined Jeff and David to talk about IB. Essential Question How can the IB curriculum be shifted? Links of the Week Jeff and Justin: Dennis Harter's post on who surfs the Web David: International School of Toulouse IB site Sign Off Next show date is December 16 at 8:00 PM Bangkok time. Andy Torris will join us. Look to add "sospodcast" to your Skype contacts list so that you can call and join in the conversation. Essential Question for the show: How to recruit to be an international educator? Don't forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Diigo bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

Essential Question How to recruit to be an international educator? Links of the Week Jeff: Innovative Educator, David: Panda Smith's Electronic Portfolio, Amanda's Post on Recruiting, David's Post on Recruiting Sign Off Next show date is January 27 at 8:00 PM Bangkok time. Not sure who the guest will be. Look to add "sospodcast" to your Skype contacts list so that you can call and join in the conversation. Essential Question for the show: What blend of blended education works for you? Don't forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Diigo bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

Jeff and David catch up and plan the season. Essential Question From Morocco to Bangkok: How goes it? Links of the Week David: Check out the beauty of Morocco Jeff: Daneah & Jeff are interviewed at Women of the Web 2.0, Blended Learning (from Andy), K-12 Conference Chat Archive: 7:52 jutecht: Cool new chat features 8:04 mrichme: Hi guys from Arundel, Maine 8:06 jutecht: Hi mrichme.....good to see ya :) Thanks for joining us tonight. 8:06 jutecht: Liking the new ustream chat...good upgrades. ;) 8:06 mrichme: I would agree 8:11 jutecht: This is what I love about overseas living....the amazing cultures you get to be in. 8:13 jutecht: David's school: http://www.cas.ac.ma/ 8:18 atorris: hello gents! 8:19 jutecht: Hey @atorris....good to know ustream's not blocked or the website. 8:20 sarahgrace7: figured out how to login. Hello from Beijing! 8:20 atorris: VPN my friend. I ma currently in the UK... virtually! 8:20 jutecht: Hi Sarah......thanks for joining us 8:21 jutecht: @atorris.....gotta love the VPN! 8:21 sarahgrace7: definitely love the VPN here in China 8:22 atorris: sarah... sshhh... it's a secret ;-) 8:22 jutecht: Interesting....never thought about the location of the international school have to do with more risk taking staff....there's some food for thought. 8:22 atorris: inshallah, inshallah 8:23 mrichme: I think that is a very good point. 8:24 jutecht: Our small school in Saudi moved quickly....but a lot of people were more the risk taking type...and of course we had a good admin. ;) 8:25 atorris: Jeff.. that guy in Saudi was nuts. 8:26 jutecht: I know.....crazy guy let me start a handheld program. 8:26 atorris: Our 1:1 IB teachers are struggling with the load of content and managing the need for them to spend valuable classroom time on teaching a few technology skills. Do you see this as an issue?? 8:27 atorris: Like I said Jeff... crraaazzzyy! :-0 8:28 atorris: Hi all!! 8:28 atorris: shhhhh... it is a secret! 8:28 atorris: ;-) 8:31 atorris: GREAT IDEA! 8:32 atorris: Captive set of kids to build skills with over time! 8:33 jutecht: That's a great idea...there's almost a month of school after the IB exams you could do some great tech stuff. 8:34 jutecht: @atorris....you on Skype? 8:34 atorris: Too early to tell at a deep level. I have always found the kids to be very connected to each other in ways that one would not normally expect. Common notes are common. 8:34 atorris: Google docs 8:34 atorris: wikis are everywhere! 8:35 atorris: our school is wiki crazy this year. 8:35 jutecht: http://www.coetail.asia 8:36 atorris: I have been approached by a stateside school on a collaborative project that is "cutting edge". I had to tell the guy we had been doing that kind of stuff for two years running. 8:42 atorris: Ahhh... the dreaded h1n1 effect on PD! 8:44 atorris: Ughh... Edline! 8:44 jutecht: No.....not Edline! 8:45 atorris: i just read a report where a combo of traditional educational delivery AND online coursework delivers higher academic achievement! 8:45 atorris: I will try to find it. 8:48 atorris: Here it is: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=59695 8:48 atorris: "Blended instruction" 8:48 jutecht: @atorris yep....blended learning is the future! 8:51 jutecht: http://www.edtechtalk.com/WomenofWeb2.0 8:52 atorris: Ahhh.... the Thinking Chick! 8:52 atorris: She's awesome! 8:55 atorris: RFID lockers???? Nice! 8:56 atorris: Give this kid some kudos if you get a chance! http://portal.saschina.org/video/media/8088/Biosphere_8_-_Cassandra/ 8:57 howhat: we're looking forward to having Kim at YIS this weekend 8:58 jutecht: She's excited to come! 8:58 howhat: I'll see I can find some IB teachers for you all 9:00 atorris: I will try to be available. This is the first day I have been home in an evening in 3 weeks! 9:00 atorris: 12/2/09 See er... hear you then! 9:00 howhat: it's great having SOS back, thanks jeff 9:00 atorris: clear as bell here! 9:01 jutecht: That's good 9:01 jutecht: glad auido was great 9:02 atorris: zaijian! 9:02 jutecht: Later! 9:02 atorris: grrr........ 22 degree>>???? 3 here today! 9:03 jutecht: Thanks everyone! Sign Off Next show date is December 2 at 8:00 PM Bangkok time. Justin Medved will join us. Look to add "sospodcast" to your Skype contacts list so that you can call and join in the conversation. Essential Question for the show: How can the IB curriculum be shifted? Don't forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Diigo bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

Introductions Cheryl Capozzoli, Rob Newberry and John Mikton joined David and Jeff for tonight's podcast. Essential Question How can we help teachers take more risks in their teaching and learning?

Introductions Chris Blessing from the Mont'Kiari School in Malaysia joined David and Jeff for tonight's podcast. Essential Question How to do a school tech makeover on the cheap? Blog Posts of the Week Jeff: Wired for Learning, U of the People student responsibilities, 21st C Educators Chris: Mahara for Open Source E porfolios, Chris' Wiki for PD David: The Virtual High School, Learning Activity Types Wiki Sign Off Next show date is June 4 at 7:00 PM Bangkok time. John Mikton will join us. Essential Question for the show: How can we help teachers take more risks in their teaching? Don't forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Diigo bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

Introductions Andy Torris from Shanghai American School joined David and Jeff for tonight's podcast. Essential Question How to measure how shifted your school is? Blog Posts of the Week Jeff: Facebook and Academics Andy: Chief Learning Officer, The Thinking Chick David: Listing of Shifted Schools Sign Off Next show date is May 21 at 7:00 PM Bangkok time. Christian Blessing will join us. Essential Question for the show: How to do a school tech makeover on the cheap? Don't forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Diigo bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

Introductions Mark Hofer of the College of William & Mary and Michael Kelly of The Harriet Tubman Free School joined David and Jeff for tonight's podcast. Essential Question How are we preparing pre-service teachers to be shifted educators? Blog Posts of the Week David: Clay Burell's post on teacher prep programs. Michael: Ben Grey's blog Jeff: No more Encarta, The University of the People Mark: iLearn Technology blog Sign Off Next show date is not set. John Mikton will join us. Essential Question for the show: How can we help teachers take more risks in their teaching? Don't forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Diigo bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

Introductions Kim Cofino of the International School Bangkok and Amanda DeCardy of Shanghai American School joined David and Jeff for tonight's podcast. Essential Question How to move students from being dependent to independent learners? Blog Posts of the Week David: Lian, a 7th grader's blog Amanda & Kim: Armitage's Army Room 202 Math Video Room 229 Jeff: 21st Century Writing Chemical Paradigms Sign Off Next show is Thursday Marth 28th. The time is not set. EARCOS region teachers will be our guests. Essential Question for the show: What are some of your best lesson ideas? Don't forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Diigo bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

Introductions Dianna Pratt of the Singapore American School and Scot Hoffman of Bombay American School joined David and Jeff for tonight's podcast. Essential Question Which comes first, shifted practices or 1:1 laptop program? Blog Posts of the Week David: Cynthia Curry's Blog Dianna: The book Laptops and Literacy Jeff: Andy Torres' blog Scot: TLT Toys from American School Bombay Sign Off Next show is Thursday Marth 12th at 7 PM Bangkok time. Kim Cofino and Amanda DeCardy will be our guests. Essential Question for the show: How to move students from being dependent to independent learners? Don't forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Diigo bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

Introductions Jim Reese of the Washington International School and Harvard's Project Zero joined David and Jeff for tonight's podcast. Essential Question How to make the shift systemic and sustainable in our schools? Blog Posts of the Week David: 21st Century Learning: Why Change Jim: Ron Ritchhart's Intellectual character: What it is, why it matters, and how to get it Jeff: Stanford Professional Development Review Sign Off Next show is Thursday February 26th at 7 PM Bangkok time. Dianna Pratt and Scot Hoffman will be our guests. Essential Question for the show: Which comes first, shifted practices or 1:1 laptop program? Don't forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Diigo bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

Introductions Chris Lehman of the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia joined David and Jeff for tonight's podcast. Essential Question Once shifted, where do we go next? Blog Posts of the Week David: Digital Ethnography Chris: Measuring UP: What Educational Testing Really Tells Us Jeff: Horizon Report, David Warlick at EduCon 2.1, Flat Classroom Conference Sign Off Next show is Thursday February 12th at 7 PM Bangkok time. Jim Reese will be our guest. Essential Question for the show: How to make the shift systemic and sustainable in our schools? Don't forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Diigo bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

Introductions Greg Moncada, HS Principal at the American International School Vienna, joined Jeff and David for the show. Essential Question How to recruit shifted teachers? Blog Posts of the Week David: David Warlick interviews Chris Lehman for his Connect Learning podcast. David asks Chris what he looks for in new hires in episode 92 & 98 in iTunes. Or go directly to the pages for 92 & 98 in David's Site. Also, take a look at the tech-oriented questions Jeff and Andy came up with for recruiters to use especially if their schools have 1:1 laptop programs. Jeff: Michael Wesch writes about the next transformation in education. Kaplan University has a very engaging video sharing their approach to how they work to meet the needs of students. Greg: Shared a video about students making connections in their learning. The link will soon be posted here.

Note: Those listeners looking to learn more about how to recruit internationally might find David's article in Edutopia helpful to get you started. Sign Off Next show is Thursday January 29th at 7 PM Bangkok time. Chris Lehman and Brent Loken will be our guests. Essential Question for the show: Once shifted, where do we go next? Don't forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Diigo bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

Introductions David and Jeff hosted tonight's show with no guests Essential Question What are some shifted practices in our schools? Blog Posts of the Week Jeff and David shared- Panda Smith's Blog Room 202's Blog Room 202 Wiki Chrissy Hellyer's Blog Sign Off Next show is Thursday January 15th at 7 PM Bangkok time. Greg Moncada, HS Principal at the American International School Vienna will be our guest. Essential Question for the show: How to recruit shifted educators? Don't forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Diigo bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

Introductions Jonathan Becker and Jeff Nugent joined David and Jeff for tonight's show. Essential Question What prevents administrators from shifting? Some take aways from the discussion: -There is limited number of U.S. professors (six) who work in school leadership who focus on technology and forward thinking education. Our education leadership programs are not preparing our administrators to lead schools towards School 2.0. -There are education leadership grad school standards that don't include much on managing change in education. -Higher education is just so slow to change, to bring about programmatic change. -Barriers: So many items on the plates of our administrators that it is overwhelming to ask them to set up learning communities and support learning 2.0 initiatives. -Administrators don't have to know all the ICL tools but need to know how to support the curriculum development that supports learning 2.0. Blog Posts of the Week Here is what Jon, Jeff, Jeff and David shared- Apple Learning InterchangeSchool Tech Leadership Practical Theory Sentiments on Common SenseDisrupting Class via Amazon Sign Off Next show is Tuesday December 9th at 7 PM Bangkok time. David and Jeff will be sharing examples of shifted practices from Hsinchu International school and the International School of Bangkok. *Don't forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Diigo bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns

Introductions John Mikton and Paul McMahon joined Jeff and David for the show. Essential Question How to shift when the administrators are not on board? Some take aways from the discussion: -You have to start with the admin before you contemplate shifting. They are the power brokers and are connected to the board and the finance. Sometimes they simply don't understand. How to make time for conversations? It is a sales situation. IT Director on Admin team. Being part of management team helps build relationships to these power brokers. -The IT Director needs to have an educational background to know. -Schools hiding behind the IB and AP programs. Safe and often not questioned by many parents. Why would an administrator take a risk on Learning 2.0 instructional techniques? -How to shift the IB and AP learning outcomes to be project assessed? -How to retrain our communities about what is learning? -Get shifted educators at the admin conferences to help educate the leaders. David's post, Paul's and John's posts on this EQ. Blog Posts of the Week David: Schooling by Design: Mission, Action and Achievement by McTighe and Wiggins Jeff: ID: The Quest for Meaning in the 21st Century by Susan Greenfield Paul: Anytime Anywhere Learning John: Walking the Talk by Carolyn Taylor Sign Off Next show is Thursday November 27th at 7 PM Bangkok time. Our guests will be Jeff Nugent and Andy Torres Essential Question for the show: What prevents administrators from shifting? Don't forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Diigo bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

Schooling by Design: Mission, Action, and Achievement