The Journalistic Learning Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ed Madison and Journalistic Learning Initiative
The Journalistic Learning Podcast explores the question: What if we infused journalist strategies into English Language Arts courses to teach students media literacy, critical thinking, and effective communication skills?
Join hosts Ed Madison and Bo Brusco as they chat with ELA teachers who are leading or have led journalistic learning projects in their classrooms. Hear their stories of trial and triumph, as well as their tips and advice. Along the way, Bo will keep you up-to-date on relevant education news, and Ed will share quarterly Journalistic Learning Initiative updates.
Ed is a professor and researcher at the University of Oregon and serves as Executive Director of the Journalistic Learning Initiative (JLI), a non-profit organization that pioneers and promotes journalistic learning as a way of empowering students to discover their voice, improve academic outcomes, and engage in self-directed learning through project-based storytelling.
Bo is the Communications Manager of JLI, a former high school ELA teacher, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.
Many of the teachers you'll hear from have taken part in JLI's Effective Communicators Program, a 10-week, standards-aligned instructional plan that guides students through a journalistic learning project.
If you'd like to learn more about JLI, journalistic learning, or our Effective Communicators Program, visit journalisticlearning.org!
Our last episode with 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade ELA teacher, Kora Moore! We are so grateful to have gotten to chat with Kora and hear her experiences in the classroom. In this episode, she shares how the different grades she teaches have responded to journalistic learning and offers key pieces of advice for teachers considering leading journalistic projects in their classrooms.
Kora Moore teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th grade ELA at Lighthouse Middle School in Coos Bay Oregon. This is her second year leading a journalistic learning project in her classroom across the three grades she teaches. Last year, three of her students won an award for their published journalism piece.
In this episode, Kora shares the stories behind mementos she keeps at her desk in her classroom and we talk about the power of stories and how storytelling elevates the classroom experience.
Kora Moore teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th grade ELA at Lighthouse Middle School in Coos Bay Oregon. This is her second year leading a journalistic learning project in her classroom across the three grades she teaches. Last year, three of her students won an award for their published journalism piece.
JournalisticLearning.org
Group work can be difficult no matter the grade. Kora shares what she’s found useful when it comes to growing successful student groups in her class. This episode is particularly short, but we only have two more episodes with Kora!
Kora Moore teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th grade ELA at Lighthouse Middle School in Coos Bay Oregon. This is her second year leading a journalistic learning project in her classroom across the three grades she teaches.
Relevant Links:
Journalisticlearning.org
2024 edition of Black Student Magazine
Continuing our conversation with Kora! She talks about which phase of a journalistic learning project was the most demanding of her as an educator but was also the most rewarding and led to “one of those inspirational teacher moments.”
Kora Moore teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th grade ELA at Lighthouse Middle School in Coos Bay Oregon. This is her second year leading a journalistic learning project in her classroom across the three grades she teaches.
Links:
Journalisticlearning.org
Webinar: Connect Students to Their Community Using Journalistic Learning and In-Class Interviews
White House’s Improving Student Achievement Agenda 2024
In this episode, Kora shares how one of her reporter groups of students went from choosing rising gas prices as their investigative issue to the struggles of local restaurants. Helping students find a good local issue they care about can be a tricky part of a journalistic learning project, so tune in for some tips from Kora!
Kora Moore teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th grade ELA at Lighthouse Middle School in Coos Bay Oregon. This is her second year leading a journalistic learning project in her classroom across the three grades she teaches. Last year, three of her students won an award for their published journalism piece.
Relevant Links:
JLI’s website
Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s website
An Education Week article with more information on Black History Education in the US
Kora Moore teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th grade ELA at Lighthouse Middle School in Coos Bay, Oregon. This is her second year leading a journalistic learning project across the three grades she teaches. Last year, three of her students won an award for their published journalism piece.
In this episode, Kore shares how she heard about journalistic learning and a fun little experience she had teaching her kids about Wikipedia!
Note: As this is our first episode, we do take a little time to explain journalistic learning and the Journalistic Learning Initiative's (JLI) Effective Communicators Program.
Link to JLI's website: journalisticlearning.org
Link to JLI's Effective Communicators Program: journalisticlearning.org/effective-communicators/
On today’s episode: Dr. Victoria Waller stops by the podcast to discuss the difficulties children with learning disabilities face and the tools and solutions that can help them become confident in and out of the classroom.
Topics:
2:00 The story behind Yes! Your Child Can book
06:41 Victoria’s opinion on full inclusion learning
08:27 Working with intercity children
09:03 Teaching students through music
12:08 The importance of finding a child’s passion
16:49 The importance of tapping into a child’s motivation
18:25 The fear of losing good teachers
21:18 Statistics about children with learning disabilities
24:00 Final Thoughts
To learn more about Victoria’s work or to view the resources she mentioned in the podcast or to purchase her latest book Yes! Your Child Can: Creating Success for Children with Learning Disabilities visit drvictoriawaller.com.
In today's episode, Mariaemma Willis stops by the podcast to share some tips for parents on finding their child's learning style and discusses the importance of doing so. Mariaemma is an author, speaker, consultant, and trainer.
Topics:
2:04 A breakdown of what a learning style is
05:40 Mariaemma explains how she helps teacher personalize their work with students
08:30 How parents can identify their child's learning style
12:51 Mariaemma talks about her book Discover Your Child’s Learning Style
14:46 Growth Mindset
16:05 How AI gives kids a personalized approach to instruction
23:12 Final thoughts about the importance of helping kids learn their learning style
To learn more about Mariaemma’s work or to view the book mentioned in the podcast, visit powertraitsforlife.com or visit her other website schoolathomemadeeasier.com if you want to know more about homeschooling or homework help.
On today’s episode: Cynthia Tobias is an experienced educator, motivational speaker, and best-selling author who specializes in helping people of all ages find their natural learning style. Today, we spoke with Cynthia about the importance of learning your unique learning style so that you can continue to learn and adapt throughout life’s changes.
Topics:
01:45 What do I need to concentrate?
05:30 Difference between Theory of Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles
06:30 Different learning styles
10:30 Teaching students how to learn
13:00 Resources for parents
16:00 Technology and learning styles
20:15 Talking with strangers
22:30 Advocating for learning styles in the classroom
25:30 Challenges as opportunity for growth
27:00 The importance of knowing how to keep learning
To learn more about Cynthia’s work or to view the resources she mentioned in the podcast, like the survey to help you discover your learning style, visit cynthiatobias.com.
On today’s episode: Erik Bean is an educational technology professional, author, researcher, and administrator who is widely recognized for leadership to improve pedagogy and andragogy in higher and secondary (K-12) educational markets. Today, we talk with Erik about his new book Bias is All Around You and how to help the rising generation decipher good information from bad information.
Topics:
02:40 What is bias?
05:45 How to help students search for good information and sources of partiality
12:30 Bias and passion
16:30 Outliers and information
18:30 The consequences of using bad information
25:00 Civics in education
27:00 Subjects to subjectivity
For more information about Erik Bean’s work on bias, check out his new book, Bias is All Around You now available for purchase on Amazon.
On today’s episode: Maria Vidas is a High Desert Middle School Spanish Language Arts Teacher and Dual Immersion Secondary Program Coordinator at Bend La Pine Schools in Bend, OR. Last year, she implemented our Effective Communicators Course in her classroom. Today, we talked with Maria about her experience as a dual immersion teacher and how programs like Effective Communicators benefit students of all backgrounds.
Topics:
02:00 Vida’s journey to becoming an educator
09:50 Bend’s community and student population
11:45 Effective Communicators in Maria’s classrooms
14:30 Issues of interest for Bend students
24:35 Sniffing out sensationalism in the media with students
On today’s episode: Author and instructional specialist Miriam Plotinsky joins us to talk about the ideas in her new book, Teach More, Hover Less. Some teachers can’t resist the urge to hover, but even with the best of intentions, hovering can limit the transformative experiences students might otherwise encounter if they are treated as active participants in the learning process. Listen to Miriam, Ed, and Bo chat about teaching more by hovering less.
Topics:
04:30 Hovering, what it is and looks like
07:20 Changing Teacher Education
10:30 Challenging the blank slate theory
13:10 Underlying philosophy of hovering less
16:30 Experimentation in the classroom
18:45 Warm demanders
22:00 Book banning
26:20 Giving kids choices and intrinsic motivation
For more information about Miriam Plotinsky and her work, visit miriamplotinsky.com. Her book, Teach More, Hover Less is available for purchase on Amazon and W.W. Norton.
On today’s episode: Author of 12 Middle School Superpowers, Phyllis L Fagell, joins us to discuss the plight of tweens living in a post-pandemic world and how parents and teachers can help them find humor, derive meaning from painful experiences, and feel a sense of belonging. Phyllis is a nationally board-certified school counselor, author, and therapist who works with kids and families in private practice.
Topics:
02:15 The plight of tweens in a post-pandemic world
05:05 Social Media’s impact on tweens
10:00 The 12 Middle School Superpowers
12:00 The importance of humor
15:50 Development from elementary to high school
21:00 Building courage incrementally
23:00 Deriving meaning from painful experiences
25:45 Super Belonging
28:00 Optimism for supporting kids moving forward
You can purchase 12 Middle School Superpowers at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Target. To learn more about Phyllis’s work, visit phyllisfagell.com.
On today’s episode: Journalistic Learning Initiative (JLI) Co-Founder and Executive Director Ed Madison shares with his new co-host Bo Brusco what inspires him and the impact the JLI is having on students. In addition to being a JLI co-founder, Ed is a seasoned media professional with more than 30 years of distinguished work in journalism and an Associate Professor of Journalism at the University of Oregon.
Topics:
00:45 Meet your new co-host, Bo Brusco
02:40 How Ed began his career in journalism and production
06:35 Ed’s journey into education and founding the Journalist Learning Initiative
11:30 What Journalistic Learning is and its impact
14:10 Language Arts in Action blurb
14:40 What issue Ed would have investigated when he was in high school
16:05 The Journalistic Learning approach and intrinsic motivation
20:45 Ed’s focus on contribution
For more information about the Journalistic Learning Initiative and Ed’s work, visit journalisticlearning.org. You can check out Ed’s new book, Language Arts in Action, by visiting wwnorton.com.
How to Have Kids Love Learning is on summer break and will be back with new episodes in September. Stay tuned!
On today’s episode: Nonprofit founder Lakayana Drury
Drury is the founder and executive director of Word is Bond, a nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon, and inspired by the obstacles he overcame to discover his life path. He’s an educator, social entrepreneur, community organizer, and storyteller who uses art, poetry and photography to uplift hidden stories to inspire others to collective action.
Topics:
- 02:15 Drury’s journey and finding mentorship
- 07:46 Unpacking the school-to-prison pipeline
- 11:15 Feeling “Black enough” and navigating racial identites
- 15:43 Word as Bond and empowering young Black men
- 22:50 Backlash and “Whitelash” and new Black leaders
For more information on Drury’s nonprofit work, visit mywordisbond.org. If you want to reach out directly to Drury visit lakayanadrury.com.
On today’s episode: Educators Leah and Rena Dunbar
Leah and Rena Dunbar are twin sisters and educators, committed to community building, listening, and engaging in Courageous Conversations about race, gender, and class. Leah is a language arts and social studies specialist at the Lane Education Service District and Rena is a project specialist at the University of Oregon and works with indigenous communities.
Topics:
- 02:17 Creating a Courageous Conversations course
- 05:30 The “circle” of time and the backlash to discussions around race
- 09:30 Developing ethnic studies in Oregon
- 14:08 Community building around art and words
- 18:23 Disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline
- 25:51 Restructuring classrooms to encourage collaboration
On today’s episode: Director of graduate admissions at Florida A&M Hugh Durham
Durham is the director of graduate admissions and enrollments at the distinguished, historically Black University Florida A&M. On this episode, we discuss college admissions, HBCU’s, and his own personal story.
Topics:
- 02:00 Ways students can manage rising college costs
- 03:47 “Apply for two scholarships a week” and the benefits of casting a wide net
- 08:43 The importance of GPA’s.
- 11:05 How students are “uplifted” at HBCU’s
- 19:37 African American history is American history
On today’s episode: environmental journalist and lecturer Emilia Askari
Askari is a prize-winning environmental journalist, researcher, and lecturer at the University of Michigan, where she teaches science, health, and public policy reporting. She also teaches a bilingual, virtual exchange course with colleagues in Bogata, Colombia, where students collaborate on journalistic projects.
Topics:
- 02:00 The two golden ages of journalism
- 06:25 The challenges of covering climate change
- 11:10 The “fifth estate” and how students can make a difference
- 16:57 Middle schoolers and problem solving
18:56 Students collaborating across borders
On today’s episode: journalism educator Ellen Austin
Austin is a nationally recognized and distinguished journalism educator. She was the director of the journalism program at the Harker School in San Jose, taught journalism and English at Palo Alto High School where she created The Viking – the first all-sports, regularly published high school publication – and she previously taught journalism and English in Minnesota.
Topics:
- 02:48 Austin’s journalism journey
- 07:14 Puting “English language arts” to work with journalism
- 13:00 The need to build agency and problem solving skills
- 17:28 Understanding students’ (and teachers’) free speech rights at school
- 22:56 The importance of creating representative newsrooms
- 30:21 Unpacking distrust around “the media” and the future of journalism
On today’s episode: education scholar and author, Yong Zhao
Zhao is an education professor at the University of Kansas and at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education in Australia. His work focuses on technology and globalization’s impact on education. His latest book, co-authored with fellow KU professor Rick Ginsberg, is Duck and Cover which explores the outdated and ill-informed ideas that plague our school system and how we can rethink them.
Topics:
- 02:30 How ‘chance’ can become opportunity
- 08:38 The problem with education reforms in the U.S.
- 12:03 How the concept of the ‘achievement gap’ hurts students
- 15:30 Entrepreneurial thinking in the classroom
- 19:45 Giving teachers agency in reform efforts
- 21:30 How Chat GPT can help students
On today’s episode: founder and executive director of Press Pass NYC Lara Bergen
Bergen is a former educator and the founder and executive director of Press Pass NYC, an organization that offers support, training, resources, and opportunities for New York City public schools to create journalism classrooms and student newspapers.
Topics:
- 02:13 The power of children book writing
- 06:42 Starting a school newspaper with students
- 09:50 Bringing journalistic learning to under-resourced schools
- 14:58 How Press Pass NYC works with teachers and students
On today’s episode: educator and public speaker Sarah Frayer
Frayer is an award winning educator, consultant, curriculum developer and the CEO of the APTI Model, an education consulting firm that offers evidence-based, social-emotional learning strategies and tools. She’s also co-founder of Reflective Pages, a nonprofit that aims to build muliticultural and comprehensive curriculums in schools.
Topics:
- 01:56 Teaching as a calling
- 04:44 Advocating for your needs
- 09:48 The APTI Model and social-emotional learning
- 11:26 Helping teachers acknowledge bias
- 14:32 The power of community service
- 16:39 Reflective Pages
- 17:38 “You’re your child’s first teacher”
For more information on Frayer’s work, you can visit the APTI Model website at aptimodel.com.
On today’s episode: special education professor and researcher Rhonda Nese
Nese is an assistant professor in the Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences at the University of Oregon College of Education. Her research focuses on reducing exclusionary school disciplinary practices. She also provides technical assistance to state, district and school level teams across the nation.
Topics
- 02:08 Implicit bias explained
- 05:06 Unpacking the school-to-prison pipeline
- 08:08 Helping teachers understand the “why” behind behavior
- 11:45 Alternatives to suspension
- 14:56 Helping students re-adjust to the classroom post-Covid
- 17:00 How parents can advocate
For more information on Nese’s work, you can visit her website neselab.org or follow her on Twitter at @nese_lab.
On today’s episode: English professor at Arizona State University Jessica Early
Early is an English professor at Arizona State University. She’s also the director of the Central Arizona writing Project at ASU, and a former high school English teacher. Her latest book, Next Generation Genres, offers educators an alternative framework for writing instruction, one that offers compelling writing genres like op-eds, profiles, and podcasts, all relevant to students.
Topics
- 02:00 Why we should move beyond 5-paragraph essays
- 03:40 Genres vs modes
- 06:23 Bringing non-fiction writing into the classroom
- 11:20 The Turning Point essay
- 14:27 Allowing students to write for impact
- 16:56 Navigating censorship
On today’s episode: Former special education teacher Betsy Ballard
Ballard is a retired teacher who taught in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she worked as a family and consumer science teacher and also in special education. For years, she’s worked to support parents trying to navigate bureaucratic systems to get appropriate services for their children.
Topics
- 01:58 Challenges for special education students during Covid
- 04:56 Empowering parents with knowledge
- 09:00 How to effectively advocate for students
- 12:30 Assumptions students of color face
- 15:33 Resources for parents
For more information or questions, you can reach Betsy Ballard at joyfulspirit2007@yahoo.com.
On today’s episode: Former special education teacher Betsy Ballard
Ballard is a retired teacher who taught in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she worked as a family and consumer science teacher and also in special education. For years, she’s worked to support parents trying to navigate bureaucratic systems to get appropriate services for their children.
Topics
- 02:13 Special education systems vary across states
- 06:23 How students “fall through the cracks”
- 09:22 The benefits of mainstreaming classes
- 12:30 IEP legalese and the problem with just checking boxes
For more information or questions, you can reach Betsy Ballard at joyfulspirit2007@yahoo.com.
On today’s episode: Education professor and consultant William Kist
Kist is an education professor emeritus at Kent State University, an education consultant, and a former high school English teacher. For over 20 years, he’s worked with schools and districts on a national level, with a focus on integrating technology in the classroom. His book, Curating a Literacy Life, gives teachers and parents resources to help students make sense of their media landscape.
Topics
- 02:00 Bringing New Media into the English classroom
- 04:00 Embracing the smartphone
- 10:03 The Curation Model explained
- 13:23 Teaching students boundaries
- 16:36 Online learning’s potential
- 20:48 AI in the classroom
- 23:00 Listen to your child’s music
Follow William Kist on Twitter @williamkist.
On today’s podcast: Former New York Times Learning Network editor Katherine Schulten
Schulten was editor-in-chief of the New York Times Learning Network, which publishes free teaching resources for middle and high school teachers and students. She’s also the author of the recent book Coming of Age in 2020, a compilation of writing and artwork submitted by students that reflects how youth across the country coped during a tumultuous year.
Topics
- 02:08 Explaining journalism basics in the digital age
- 07:00 JLI and journalistic learning
- 08:56 Approaching hot-button topics in the classroom
- 13:56 The future of journalism and AI chatbots
- 18:00 What’s next for Katherine and the power of journaling
On today’s podcast: Former New York Times Learning Network editor Katherine Schulten
Schulten was editor-in-chief of the New York Times Learning Network, which publishes free teaching resources for middle and high school teachers and students. She’s also the author of the recent book Coming of Age in 2020, a compilation of writing and artwork submitted by students that reflects how youth across the country coped during a tumultuous year.
Topics:
- 03:00 Origins of Coming of Age in 2020 and elevating student voice
- 08:09 Understanding the engaged generation
- 11:00 “Pulling out the phone” and the challenges of talking face-to-face
- 16:12 How the Times reaches students everywhere
On today’s podcast: Entrepreneur and educational researcher Ayize Sabater
Dr. Sabater is an entrepreneur, researcher, author, and educator who’s confounded several organizations, including a Montessori Public Charter School in Washington D.C., and his latest venture, the Black Montessori Education Fund. His research interests include family engagement and culturally relevant pedagogy.
Topics
- 02:06 What is Montessori education?
- 05:00 Economic and cultural barriers to Montessori
- 10:18 The Montessori classroom: organized chaos
- 14:06 Measuring student performance
- 18:20 Resources for families, and fostering independence at home
- 23:14 Bringing Montessori to the masses
For more information about Montessori education, you can visit amiusa.org.
On today’s podcast: educator and professional development specialist Augusta Mann
Mann is the originator of Touching the Spirit, a culture-centered set of teaching practices for accelerated student achievement. Her approach specifically benefits students of color in the areas of phonics, vocabulary, reading and writing comprehension. She’s a professional development specialist, literacy professional, and former classroom teacher, who’s led workshops across the U.S.
Topics
- 01:56 Culture-centered teaching explained
- 05:16 Touching the Spirit in action (example: Dancing Definitions)
- 12:24 Developing self-efficacy
- 14:10 Power of performance and community
- 16:12 Challenges facing African American students, and accelerating teaching
For more information about Touching the Spirit, you can visit Augusta Mann’s website at successfulteachers.com.
On today’s podcast: Professor Nichole Kelly
Kelly is an associate professor at the University of Oregon’s College of Education, researching eating behaviors, body image beliefs, and their impact on mental health. In this episode, we discuss the recent lawsuit against tech giants launched by Seattle Public Schools and social media’s role in student life.
Topics
- 02:00 Social media and eating disorders, and “documenting your life” online
- 06:44 Being “perfect” in public, and parenting in the digital age
- 11:32 Keeping the lines of communication open with your child
- 14:08 How we can better define “healthy”
- 19:33 Reclaiming identities
Also, for educators, JLI offers a free lesson plan, videos, and related materials at: http://socialmediamindfulness.org
On today’s podcast: journalist Eder Campuzano
Campuzano is K-12 reporter for the Star Tribune, the largest daily newspaper in Minnesota. Before that, he was the education reporter for the Oregonian, focusing his coverage on marginalized students. He’s an alum of the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, where he worked at the Daily Emerald, the college’s award-winning student publication.
In this episode, we discuss his journalism career and the ways journalism can help students unpack complex issues in the classroom.
Topics
- 02:07 Covering education news in two different cities
- 04:37 Learning loss, both academic and socio-emotional
- 07:13 The pandemic’s toll on teachers
- 09:20 How parents feel race and history are unpacked in the classroom, in Oregon and Minnesota
- 12:22 Eder’s early school experience and how its informed his reporting
- 15:05 Feeding students’ “metiche” with journalistic learning
- 17:41 The importance of local knowledge and community reporting
On today’s podcast: Dr. Ron Beghetto.
Beghetto is an internationally recognized expert on creative thought and action in education settings. He’s a professor at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University, and serves as the editor for the Journal of Creative Behavior.
In this episode, we discuss his work exploring creative learning in and beyond the classroom and the development of students’ creative confidence.
Topics
- 01:53 The “Tyranny of the Lesson Plan” explained
- 09:36 How to move away from expectations and getting it “perfect” on the first try
- 15:36 Legacy projects and letting students students find problems
- 20:26 How journalistic learning helps students leave a mark
- 24:11 Ron’s work and website (ronaldbeghetto.com)
On today’s podcast: Dr. Ulcca Joshi Hansen
Hansen is the chief program officer for Grantmakers for Education, the largest forum in education philanthropy, and has worked in the education field for two decades. She’s also the author of the new book The Future of Smart which explores how we can build an education system that nurtures the unique, human capabilities of each child, and lay the groundwork for a more equitable and humane future.
In this episode we discuss her book, her career in education, and how we can redefine the word “smart.”
Topics
- 02:00 What’s the factory model of education?
- 05:13 “Right brain” and “left brain” differences explained
- 07:20 How scarcity influenced dividing lines around education
- 09:50 What the standards and accountability movement misses
- 11:55 What’s the “holistic indigenous worldview”?
- 14:50 How can you spread individualized teaching to everyone?
- 20:24 Changing education through a difficult political environment
On today’s podcast: education researcher and strategist Ross Anderson
Anderson is the co-founder of the Creative Engagement Lab which promotes creativity among educators and students. He’s led large research projects, including numerous collaborations with the Journalistic Learning Initiative, and has published articles on creative development, educational change, and arts integrated teaching and learning in numerous peer-reviewed journals.
In this episode, we discuss creativity in the classroom and why creative development matters.
Topics
- 02:02 How did creativity get left behind in discussions about improving education?
- 07:30 Incorporating creativity across different subjects
- 12:58 What does promoting creativity in the classroom look like?
- 18:54 Risk taking in journalistic learning
- 22:30 How can parents support their child’s freedom and creativity
On today’s podcast: educators and curriculum designers Melissa Wantz and Rachel Guldin.
Wantz is a former middle and high school English teacher with twenty years of classroom experience. She’s also a former print reporter, newspaper columnist and communications consultant – experience that proved invaluable when she helped create and design JLI’s Effective Communicators program.
Guldin is a visiting assistant professor at Denison University in Ohio, and a former public school teacher, who’s taught English at the elementary and middle school level, among other subjects. Her classroom experience along with her research focus on media literacy helped her co-design the instructional materials for the Effective Communicators program.
In this episode, we discuss the power of journalism, media literacy, and how to unpack difficult subjects in the classroom.
Topics
- 02:43 Challenges of classroom learning in a Post-Covid world
- 07:57 The Effective Communicators program explained
- 15:43 How does journalism drive student interest?
- 20:53 How teachers can apply the Effective Communicators program in their classroom
- 25:15 The power of journalistic learning
On today’s podcast: education thought leader and former journalism teacher Esther Wojcicki.
Wojcicki taught a renowned journalism course at Palo Alto High School in California for 27 years and is a highly sought speaker on education reform. She is also the board chair of Creative Commons, a nonprofit focused on education and learning, and is a co-founder of the Journalistic Learning Initiative.
In this episode, we discuss her teaching career at Palo Alto and the power of project-based storytelling.
Topics
- 03:36 Wojcicki’s Palo Alto program
- 07:47 The TRICK method
- 10:03 Publishing student work
- 13:09 Taking the grandkids to Target
- 17:48 Giving teachers more control in the classroom
How to Have Kids Love Learning explores ideas and strategies for parents and educators help students to thrive. Host Ed Madison is a professor and researcher at the University of Oregon and serve as Executive Director of the Journalistic Learning Initiative, a non-profit organization that empowers middle and high schools students discover their voice, improve academic outcomes, and become self-directed learners through project-based storytelling. Teaching students to become effective communicators is at the heart of JLI’s work.