Table Top Inventing | Connecting Educators & Innovators | Helping Parents Inspire Teens: Recent Episodes
Steve Kurti, Inventor, Inventing, Education, Purpose of Education, Teen Success, Learning, Maker Ed, Making
Multidisciplinary Projects with Zack Dowell [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode Can a fish be trained like a dog? Can a school project be both art and science as well as entertainment and curiosity? How do we … 089 – Multidisciplinary Projects with Zack Dowell Read More »
Designing Success with Tracy Hazzard [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode How does a young lady pursuing a career in biogenetics find herself a successful artist? How can a small company file a lawsuit against a huge … 088 – Designing Success with Tracy Hazzard Read More »
Games and Politics with Jay Obernolte [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode What is it like to write a video game from code in a printed book? Can techie kids learn to have good people skills? How … 087 – Games and Politics with Jay Obernolte Read More »
Understanding Engineers with Joanie Connell [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode How much does work-life balance matter to today’s professionals? Why do people communicate differently on email vs phone vs face-to-face? What are the effects of helicopter … 086 – Understanding Engineers with Joanie Connell Read More »
Young Makers with Peggy Healy Stearns [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode Can you learn to write software without programming experience? How is educational software unique? How important is technical confidence for young learners? Join us for … 085 – Young Makers with Peggy Healy Stearns Read More »
Succeeding at Education with Ted Dintersmith [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode Why would an entrepreneur and noted venture capitalist zoom in on education? How serious are the educational challenges we face in the US? Is there … 084 – Succeeding at Education with Ted Dintersmith Read More »
The Longterm View with Peter Skillen [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode Do kids really secretly enjoy hard problems? What happens when we let children control their own learning? What can US educators learn from Canadian educators? … 083 – The Longterm View with Peter Skillen Read More »
Getting What You Want with Scott Glaser [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode What is possible if you shut off the television? Can you really do anything you want, if you set your mind to it? How … 082 – Getting What You Want with Scott Glaser Read More »
Project-Based Learning with Ben Owens [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode Are there important innovators and inventors in public schools? Can being an engineer prepare you for the classroom? How can a public school bring project-based learning … 081 – Project-Based Learning with Ben Owens Read More »
Powerful Girls with Kiki Prottsman [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode When is the best time to introduce technology to your kids? Is there and advantage to introducing technical problem-solving early? How do we introduce coding in … 080 – Powerful Girls with Kiki Prottsman Read More »
Space Travel with Jason DiVenere [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode What is the best way to get a flight into space if you are not currently an astronaut? How serious is space tourism? How can we … 079 – Space Travel with Jason DiVenere Read More »
Math and Shop Class with Jonathan Schwartz [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode Join us for the interesting plot twists in today’s podcast.Can shop class make kids better at math? What thinking skills are learned in a … 078 – Math and Shop Class with Jonathan Schwartz Read More »
Robotics and Farming with Michael McMaster [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode Do you have to be an engineer to make robots? Are there any advantages to growing up on a farm? How hard is it to … 077 – Robotics and Farming with Michael McMaster Read More »
Flying High with Dr. Wayne Smith [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode Does your child want to become a doctor but doesn’t have the grades? Have you ever wondered what happens when you get put to sleep … 076 – Flying High with Dr. Wayne Smith Read More »
Innovators and the F-Word with Tony Wagner [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode How can we get teens to discover their innovation potential? What is the secret of educating for innovation? How much will innovation matter over the … 075 – Innovators and the F-Word with Tony Wagner Read More »
Hands-On Education with Stephen Bralley [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode What does it feel like to be a student with dyslexia? Do some forms of teaching create more powerful learning? What is the real meaning and … 074 – Hands-On Education with Stephen Bralley Read More »
Googling with Eric Hennigan [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode Have you ever wanted to work at Google? Does Google really have a climbing wall at the office? How important is practical programming experience if you want … 073 – Googling with Eric Hennigan Read More »
Excellence in Learning with Andrew Pudewa [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode How is the Suzuki Method related to writing? How can students get past the “blank page” road block? How can limitations actually increase creativity rather … 072 – Excellence in Learning with Andrew Pudewa Read More »
Finding Resonance with Dr. Steve Kurti [In This Episode][Guest Bio][Additional Notes][Text Transcript] In This Episode Do you have teenagers? We often think of teenagers as difficult or challenging, but is it possible that they are really the most innovative members … 071 – Finding Resonance with Dr. Steve Kurti Read More »
How does one start as a computer programmer and end up as a lawyer? How is a deeper perspective on history related to Maker Education? What is the difference between seeing the Mona Lisa on a website and seeing it in the Louvre? Our guest this week, Geoff Wiggs, has a few things to say about that. I also have a little bit of a "Don't try this at home" story in the Great Inventor's Secrets section. This is an official listener advisory message: Today's podcast is not for the faint of heart. The material is top-notch, but prepare your sensibilities.Read more ›
Can a robotics engineer actually be any good as a stand-up comedian? What happens if you retrofit your car with effects from a racing video game? Do real engineers play with Legos? How do you make your fridge shutoff automatically when you put on weight? Our guest today is Gray Bright. We laugh all the way through this interview, but we're talking about serious fun. Gray's creativity and mischievous ideas are infectious. Join us for a fun conversation about inventing, fun, and never growing up! Read more ›
How does someone who hates the idea of sky diving end up in a career as an aerial stuntman? What exactly do you have to do to lose your pilot's license three times? What is the value of risk? In the arena of life, is it more dangerous to play it safe? Our guest today is Troy Hartman, the man with a JetPack! Troy has an amazing story, and it's peppered with little choices that involved risks. Definitely check out the show notes today to see Troy's JetPack videos. We showed one particular video in all of our Inventor's Bootcamp summer camps in 2014 because he did such a great job describing the emotions and responses to risks. Let's tune in to hear what this engineer and pilot turned stuntman has to say about risk.Read more ›
Dr. Thornburg has worked in the field of educational technology since the early 1980's. His focus is on STEM education, and he is a strong proponent of tinkering as a pathway to helping children learn about engineering. He is the co-author of the book "The Invent to Learn Guide to 3D Printing in the Classroom" which is aligned to both the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core Math standards. Listen in as Steve and David talk the advantages of inquiry-driven, project based learning and what education means in a modern world.Read more ›
What is digital ethnography? How difficult is it to learn to use a 3D game creation engine? How would Maker Schools change how we do education? Why are initiation rituals a critical right of passage into a society? Speaking of rituals, today's guest Michael Wesch advocates the adoption of some curious rituals. Keep your headphones in or your bluetooth synced up, because today's podcast has enough quotable ideas to really stir your noodles. I won't give any spoilers, so let's listen in to the conversation Michael and I had recently at the Bakersfield College Learning Technologies Conference.Read more ›
In this episode, that originally aired on November 6, 2014, Steve and Dr. Linda Polin have a lively discussion about taking back education from the forces that have corrupted it, including the answers to questions such as:
How can you learn secrets directly from a great inventor? How do we take back education from the dark forces of the universe? How can we help students become who they were meant to be?
Stay tuned. Some of Linda's answers may surprise you!Read more ›
Welcome to the Table Top Inventing podcast where we discuss innovation, success, and the path to a good life for teens and those who guide them. We have a special treat for you today. I had an opportunity to bump into a successful executive at a business conference earlier this fall. I was so impressed by his story and the values of their company that I knew I had to find a way to bring his wisdom to our show.
Mark Stoleson is the CEO at Legatum a global private investment fund based in Dubai--The United Arab Emirates. I love the way Mark frames his experience. As you listen to this interview remember some of the greatest success stories began in humble places. It isn't about getting it right every time. Success is about how you face what life brings. Let's listen in for timeless wisdom from a life well-lived.Read more ›
Happy Thanksgiving! Welcome to the podcast where we discuss innovation and potential in teens. At this time of year, we explore gratitude and the effects of thankfulness on our lives. Today's episode is about "Hope"--specifically hope for parents and educators who may have a student with unrealized potential. If you need a shot in the arm or encouragement to stay the course, today is for you.
Allison is a professionally certified educational therapist and the Program Development Manager at the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD). As a young person facing chronic pain, she learned the value of hope and tenacity, and these experiences shaped her desire to see the full potential in students cultivated and bloom into beautiful things. Let's listen in for a hope-filled journey through the life of a passionate educator.Read more ›
This is the podcast where we discuss innovation, excellence, and entrepreneurship for teens and the adults who cheer for them. Today's guest is a personal development enthusiast.
Kevin Miller grew up as an entrepreneur. In fact from his earliest memories, he always thought of himself as an entrepreneur. Recently his enthusiasm for personal development led him to work with the Zig Ziglar brand, and he's now the host of "The Ziglar Show", one of the top 10 most popular business podcasts in the world! Listen in today to hear the exciting and gritty details of growing up as an innovator.Read more ›
This is the podcast where we discuss leadership and innovation for teenagers. I can't wait to introduce today's guest! We've been counting the days until Jonathan retired from his position at West Point so we could interview him for the show. While in active military service, he wasn't allowed to speak publicly about his experiences, and having previous experience as a researcher in civil service with the Navy, I understand why the military has such strict policies.
I also believe that strong innovators must believe in the future and their innovation with the same discipline that a soldier holds to the commands and structures put into place by an honor-bound military. So I had to interview Jonathan Silk to learn more about his philosophy of leadership. You'll find Jonathan's story and perspectives irresistible. Join me today as I interview an American hero.Read more ›
This is the podcast where we discuss curiosity and innovation for teenagers. I can't wait to introduce you to Sarah! Today she and I will be discussing the path we take to our ultimate career. Often when students finish college to enter the work force, there is a bit of a haze as they begin choosing where they will work. This confusion is normal if they've never taken the time to actually understand themselves.
Sarah Marcotte is a science and engineering communicator. She began her career in museums with Art History but through a bizarre experience on a New York City sidewalk, she fell in love with science and engineering--subjects she'd never given a second glance in high school. Join me as we follow Sarah's path to an exciting career!Read more ›
This is the podcast where we discuss success and innovation for teenagers. No spoiler alerts today, but if you are interested in teenagers getting a jump start, stay locked in here!
On the podcast we discuss an alternative to our modern conundrum of how to keep teens engaged in meaningful education. Carol Topp is an Engineer turned accountant--I know that's an unusual shift. In the last few years, she has worked with many teens in her accounting practice, helping them structure what she likes to call a "microbusiness". The experiences and learning that occurs in a microbusiness can be a great catalyst toward adding significance to the otherwise "dry learning" teens dread. Let's find out more about Carol's experience and explore some new possibilities.Read more ›
This is the podcast where we discuss the path to innovation and the good life. Over the last year, we have spoken with lawyers, CEOs, top-tier researchers, world-class educators, and other successful individuals. In today's episode, we are exploring a different facet of success: the ability to adapt.
Today's guest shares the experiences of lifetime of different opportunities from performing weddings to being a radio personality and everything in between. Let's listen in to find out more about Brent Gill.Read more ›
Students who struggle with math in middle school stand at a crossroads, and watch as career options slowly erode. Do you know any of those students? Have you ever personally felt the frustration of math limbo?
Today's podcast is an opportunity for a second chance. In fact, we hear second chance stories on our podcast quite frequently. If you know a teenager or a parent with a teen who needs a second math chance, subscribe to the TTI podcast in iTunes and share it with others.Read more ›
This is the podcast where we talk innovation. Today's guest is working to influence educational technology in Washington state. We delve in pretty deep to civic responsibility from the perspective of education as well as having girls in science, technology, engineering, and math. Which reminds me of a quote I saw the other day on a t-shirt:
Some girls like to chase boys. I just like to pass them!
Our guest today discovered in college that she loved computing and technology after getting politely pushed in other directions in high school. Julia Fallon is working with Educational Technology and Teaching Excellence in Washington state. She has a heart for helping students reach their full potential and for successful integration of technology into classrooms. Let's find out more about Julia's story.Read more ›
This is the podcast where we talk innovation. Today's guest innovates the old-fashioned way, and I think you are going to like Jim. I don't normally start my introduction right off this way, but after speaking with Jim, it seemed appropriate.
Small businesses like McWelco are getting more rare these days, but great wisdom is sometimes stored in strange places. Today, Jim McKinley tells us about how they survived 50 years and what he feels are the important values of a strong business and a successful life.Read more ›
How does a small town girl become an associate dean in a college of engineering? Do you have to get a PhD to have an important position in a university? What is ThinkBox, and why should we care about it? Join us as we consider the idea space within universities on today's podcast.
Our guest today is Lisa Camp. Lisa is the Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives in the Engineering School at Case Western Reserve University. I have a soft spot for Case because it is my alma mater for graduate school, and Lisa shares some of the cool things that are happening at Case and other universities around the country--particularly around makerspaces and the free exchange of ideas. Without further delay, let's find out more about Lisa.Read more ›
Hey there Innovators! Today's guest will challenge your perspective on the world! According to the late Dr. Reuven Feuerstein,
"The chromosomes do not have the last word!"
Today's guest is from the National Institute for Learning Development. Kristin Barbour has been working with traumatic brain injury cases for years and now serves as the executive director for NILD. Brace yourself for some unbelievable insights with Kristin on today's interview.Read more ›
How do you escape from the burnout trap? What is the path from merely existing to really living? What will our kids learn from our work habits? Today's guest is from Hawaii, but not too long ago, he lived in Milwaukee, WI. He was sleeping 4 hours a night as a bread delivery guy and not getting much time with his kids, but now he's writing and speaking and loving life. How can such a change occur? Let's find out!Read more ›
What is so powerful about the question, Why? Is the path to success a straight road or a crooked and winding path? How is skateboarding related to corporate finance? Today's interview was recorded on a Sunday from a guest on Monday. How is that possible? Well David Seto is an interesting character, and I connected with him while he was in Hong Kong on Monday which was Sunday afternoon here in California! David has tried everything from law to finance and is now trying his hand at entrepreneurship. He grew up in NYC, and his parents literally owned and operated a "mom and pop" store. Let's find out how a kid from NYC grew up to be a curious coordinator of corporate finance. Read more ›
How can a math deficiency be a roadblock to your dreams? What does one do with 12 different college degrees? How can a college education prepare you for the new career landscape? With this focus, it should not surprise you that we seek out friends and colleagues such as Dr. Rachel Winston, a math-teacher with a passion to see high school students get into whatever college most fires their imagination. Rachel believes that education should ignite the brain's excitement for learning. Her passion for students, though, is very practical as anyone could observe by visiting her in the classroom. I hope every student can discover the passion for learning Rachel has found. Read more ›
How important are failures in the process of success? Just how different is a career in computer science in 1977 from the same degree in 2015? Can small town students find success in the "real world"? Today's guest is no stranger to innovation. Phil Drake started programming a computer in 1977 when computers still had to be programmed by hand if you wanted them to do anything. You might think that such a forward thinking individual would come from New York City or LA or San Francisco, but this entrepreneur started life on a farm as the son of the local "tax man". Let's listen in to the story of a fascinating homegrown businessman.
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How does a music teacher for a school district create a successful software business? What is the connection between entrepreneurial thinking and great school performance? How can farm work encourage a young man to become an entrepreneur? Listen in for the wide ranging answers in today's podcast!
Today our guest, Kirk Bowman, is from the great state of Texas, and he and I discuss the effects of entrepreneurial tendencies on his life trajectory. He started his first business as a farm kid selling blackberries and now has a software company and is starting a consulting business focused on helping businesses properly price their products. Join me for a fascinating discussion about how entrepreneurial thinking can shape your world.Read more ›
Is it possible that questions are more powerful than answers? What is the ultimate question? What are the Latin roots of the word "educate"? Today, Ed Kless and I will delve into deep water. Ed is a fellow podcaster. He is a businessman. He is a philosopher. He is a thespian. Let's find out more about our fascinating guest. Read more ›
How can normal public schools integrate STEM subjects deep into their curriculum? Why would a fine arts teacher need to know how to use an oscilloscope? What is an oscilloscope anyway? Listen in for the exciting answers in today's podcast! Today we get to take a peek into the mind and heart of a true "lead learner" from an elementary school in Albuquerque, NM. Many administrators claim the title of "Lead Learner" but few take it to the heights Alma Ripley has. Read more ›
How can a teenager from a good, decent, wonderful family end up making a mess out of their life by the age of 15? What is the path from poor teenage choices to a life of purpose and meaning? Where can parents look for some hope if their teen has taken a very bad path? Today I get the privilege of introducing you to one of the most remarkable individuals to be on our podcast, John Griffith. John's is truly a story of tragedy and triumph. I won't spoil the plot, so join me as we go on a journey through innocence and tragedy to great hope.
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How do we foster curiosity and innovation in kids? How does a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy sharpen your business skills? How important is human uniqueness? As with most of our guests, I can honestly say that Caleb Simonyi-Gindele is unique. His perspective on business seen through the lens of both a curious innovator and a trained Marriage and Family Therapist is truly one-of-a-kind. Let's dive in and pick the brain of a truly deep thinker.
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Can a student get A's in College Calculus after almost failing algebra in high school? How does a financial analyst find his way to becoming a Park Ranger? What is the power of a story to influence students, customers, or acquaintances?
Jody Maberry started off as a pretty bad high school student, but even though he dropped his Basic Algebra class twice in college for poor grades, two years later he was getting an A in calculus. Let's listen in to find out how this transformation occurred.
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Does being a drummer really correlate to strong logical skills? How important is reading books to success? How important is application in the learning process? Listen in for answers in today's podcast!
Let's introduce Tom Friedhof. Tom's company ActiveLamp creates beautiful, intuitive websites for some very well known brands. Yet he didn't get his start in the coding world in the normal fashion. Let's get the story from Tom. Read more ›
How do we create young adults that do NOT come back to live in our basements? What is role of parents in creating opportunities for their children? How important is it to hold children accountable for their decisions?
Our guest today is an expert on this subject of independent thinking and student choices in education. Dr. Yong Zhao started his educational career in the unlikeliest of places: the Sichuan province in China in the home of a poor peasant farmer. Let's follow his journey to independent thinking to find clues for our own children.Read more ›
How does a successful corporate professional at the top of his game recover from a layoff in December? How can buying a bottle of maple syrup be a life-changing experience? Does noticing and helping other people really matter in business? I'm excited, today, to introduce you to Jared Easley. Jared recently suffered a dramatic corporate downsizing incident that left him reeling but managed to silence all the doom and gloom voices that seem to plague us at moments like that. He cites as his inspirational turn around, the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" and the sincere gratitude of a podcast listener. Let's find out more about this fascinating story.
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Can fooling around, goofing off, and playing help your innovating power? How can you use Monopoly(R) to teach kids better math skills? Is there really a killer strategy for playing Monopoly? Listen in for the playful answers in today's podcast. Today's guest knows quite a bit about play. He's a no-nonsense teacher in some respects because he works with middle schoolers, but on the other hand, he uses the game of Monopoly(R) to teach kids to master their math facts and hone their negotiation skills. Without further adieu, Tim Vandenberg. Read more ›
How does a cook in the army learn to become the Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World? What is the importance of Role Modeling? How important is having dinner together as a family? For 10 years, Lee Cockerell was directly responsible for the Disney Magic at Walt Disney World Resorts in Florida. Since then he has focused in on great leadership and training another generation of great leaders. Let's listen in as Lee shares some timeless treasures of leadership.
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What kind of a company gets started on a road trip? In the podcasting world, what is a "double-ender"? How does a boot-strapped US-based startup company get connected with a startup incubator in Chile? What kind of a company gets started on a road trip? In the podcasting world, what is a "double-ender"? How does a boot-strapped US-based startup company get connected with a startup incubator in Chile? Today's guests are quite familiar with the development of game-changing technology. Spencer Handley, Hannah Russell-Goodson, and Josh Lankford recently started a small company called PodClear. Their technology is already revolutionizing how I am conducting podcast interviews. Listen in for engagingly clear answers in today's podcast!Read more ›
How can educators integrate geeky-ness with accessibility? How important is documenting our learning to the larger educational community? and What exactly is a Kreg jig? Today's guest is no stranger to "hard fun". Josh Burker is an educational technologist with extensive experience. He particularly enjoys making technology "invisible" as well as extremely accessible which is a skill many teachers would like to see in their tech department. Josh has honed his skills and become a recognized expert on "Hard Fun", and his new book called "The Invent to Learn Guide to Fun" shares his extensive toolbox! Listen in for lively answers in today's podcast!Read more ›
How can you get your Kickstarter idea funded? Is it possible to be immune to a brain freeze? What would cause successful college students to abandon their degrees? Our guests from JuiceBoxx today do not sugar coat their feelings about formal learning. They aren't hostile to traditional learning, but they have learned how to learn, and that, my friends, has proven to be a very dangerous skill for them. Read more ›
Do you need a patent to make money on a great idea? What choices to inventors have to bring their ideas to market? Can you start a successful business as an art major? Our guest today is a well-known inventor and coach to upcoming inventors. His students have been on the television show "Shark Tank", and most of us have probably used one or more products designed and licensed by Stephen Key. Today's interview is a peak into the mind of a great inventor.
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How difficult is it to write and publish a book? You've heard of guerrilla warfare, but what is Guerrilla Marketing? Do you need to have a college education to write a book? Today our guest is the founder of a game-changing book publishing company, David Hancock! Morgan James Publishing is revolutionizing the way authors interact with their publisher. Publishing has never been easier, and no company has ever worked this hard to help authors succeed. Listen in to today's podcast to find out more!
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How difficult is it to write and publish a book? You've heard of guerrilla warfare, but what is Guerrilla Marketing? Do you need to have a college education to write a book? Today our guest is the founder of a game-changing book publishing company, David Hancock! Morgan James Publishing is revolutionizing the way authors interact with their publisher. Publishing has never been easier, and no company has ever worked this hard to help authors succeed. Listen in to today's podcast to find out more!
Read more ›
How can 3D printers be used to enhance learning? What is the role of a teacher? What doors does our digital world open to us? Today on the show we have a panel of 4 students from the Pepperdine Master of Arts in Learning Technologies or MALT as the insiders call it. We take a deep dive on the role of a teacher and the power of maker technologies in the learning environment. Listen in!Read more ›
Can a robotics engineer actually be any good as a stand-up comedian? What happens if you retrofit your car with effects from a racing video game? Do real engineers play with Legos? How do you make your fridge shutoff automatically when you put on weight? Our guest today is Gray Bright. We laugh all the way through this interview, but we're talking about serious fun. Gray's creativity and mischievous ideas are infectious. Join us for a fun conversation about inventing, fun, and never growing up! Read more ›
How does a teacher in a rural US school end up in an International School in Thailand? What is it like to feel the blast of a terrorist bombing? How does a teacher navigate learning during an Ebola Crisis in Nigeria? Today's guest started his teaching career in a rural school with only 63 students and ended up teaching in the primary grades of 3 other countries across the globe. Henrique "Rico" Guerreiro shares insights into education in Americanized schools around the world has some interesting twists. Listen in to today's podcast for the curious answers to the questions above and a great conversation about education abroad!Read more ›
Could recent research be a breakthrough in Alzheimer's treatment? Is science more than equations and logical pursuits? Could it be that science is more about creativity than logic? Listen in to today's podcast for the surprising answers! Today's interview may bring some surprises. My discussion with Chris Schaffer, a professor at Cornell University, unearths some common myths and dusts off the truth about science. The perspectives in today's podcast are not for the faint of heart, so prepare for a massive unveiling.Read more ›
Where can I find a circus that employs engineers? Can learning to prepare sushi impact engineering ideas? How can we rebrand Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math to be fun? How do we make STEM subjects more like driving a Ferrari than like driving a grocery getter? Grab a hold of something solid because today's podcast is going to rock your world! Brent Bushnell, the founder and CEO of Two-Bit Circus, is going to blow the doors off. Brent and his business partner Eric have started a high-tech circus staffed not with circus barkers and tight rope walkers but with engineers, scientists, and computer programmers. Let's listen in to a high flying conversation! Read more ›
What is a Cube Satellite? Can normal schools really get their projects into space? Are there ways to simulate space conditions or run outerspace experiments without breaking the bank? How does a middle school teacher end up working at the National Science Foundation and starting a business getting middle schoolers into CubeSats? Few people understand fun, science, and teenagers better than our guest today. Kevin Simmons has a small business aimed at getting middle schoolers into space projects and satellite experiments. I don't want to spoil the fun so let's let Kevin tell us more about it.Read more ›
What is digital ethnography? How difficult is it to learn to use a 3D game creation engine? How would Maker Schools change how we do education? Why are initiation rituals a critical right of passage into a society? Speaking of rituals, today's guest Michael Wesch advocates the adoption of some curious rituals. Keep your headphones in or your bluetooth synced up, because today's podcast has enough quotable ideas to really stir your noodles. I won't give any spoilers, so let's listen in to the conversation Michael and I had recently at the Bakersfield College Learning Technologies Conference.Read more ›
What happens if you sneak through a police barricade in Russia? How can you find a marathon to run in Antarctica? How does traveling help you solve problems? Don't miss the answers in today's podcast! Our guest today on the podcast is a self-declared "Riskologist". We'll let Tyler describe what he means by Riskology. By combining travel hacking, introspection, studying introversion and extroversion, he has been helping people understand why traveling expands your ability to solve problems. He explores social psychology and shares research and insights about winning at life, work, and adventure by taking smarter risks. Tyler is the Chief Riskologist at Riskology.co. Without further adieu, Tyler Tervooren.Read more ›
What happens to trash once it hops into the trash truck from my garbage can? What is the value of a 4-year education beyond the classes offered? Why would federal investigators show up to a landfill? How do we turn play into learning? Today are talkin' trash with Mike Ghost! Well, not exactly like that... Today we'll be talking to a former district manager for Waste Management about what happens to your trash after it leaves the can at the curb. Along the way, we'll also discover how one man's journey through high school to college to the workforce and back to college led him to appreciate the value of an education. Read more ›
How does an embryonic heart form? How exactly does one set about 3D printing a fully human, fully compatible heart valve? How does failure influence innovation? Is there more to a 3D printed heart valve than just the printing?
Today we have an exciting interview with Jonathan Butcher, a research professor at Cornell University, and one of his graduate students, Daniel Cheung. Before we get started I'd like to remind you to share our podcast with your friends and colleagues. The ideas you hear on this podcast will literally change your world and your student's horizons. We discuss innovation, success, inventing, learning, and other crucial life skills. On today's show specifically, Jonathan and I discuss the role of failure in learning. We discuss the path to research success. Oh, and we jump head first into the topic of 3D printing heart valves. There was so much to cover that we skipped the inventor secrets in lieu of the great interview. Read more ›
Who exactly are Perspicacity and Perspicuity, and why are they on our podcast? What would make an insurance claims investigator participate in renaissance fairs? If the devil is in the details, why are they so important? What can cause a classroom full of budding mathematicians gape in amazement? Speaking of world change, on the show we have an investigator who pries into the business of large corporations. Now it's not what you might think, but I'll let Mark tell you more about what he does.Read more ›
What is the best strategy for starting a makerspace in your school? How long should you take to plan your makerspace before you get started? Is flying by the seat of your pants a good idea or a bad one? What are the key features of an 8 foot tall DIY teeter totter? Stay tuned for the answers in today's podcast. Our guest today is Laura Fleming. Laura is a librarian and media specialist at New Milford High School in Jew Jersey. A little over a year ago, she started a makerspace in her library, and the results have been unbelievable. I'm not a big fan of spoilers, so let's get straight to the interview.Read more ›
What would lead a music director to a career in computer coding? How can you get people to read your online posts even if the content seems at first to be bland? Is it really necessary to create an explosion every time I light the grill? Why did Nikola Tesla wiggle his toes 100 times every night? What does all this have to do with inventing and education? Our guest today, Ben Meredith, is a self-taught web developer who creates great WordPress plugins. If you aren't familiar with WordPress, it is a web kit to help average people start a website. Forbes says that 20% of Websites are now powered by WordPress--that's somewhere north of 60 million websites powered by WordPress--and Ben is developing plugins for this extremely powerful web force. Listen in to see what Ben has to say about the power of the web and self-education.Read more ›
What is the career path from a mail room clerk to the Marketing Director for a multinational company? What does a marketing guy think about the need for algebra? What is the secret for starting a conversation with someone you don't know? What is my secret weapon for taking a shallow conversation to a deeper level? Stay tuned for the answers in today's podcast. Our guest today, Larry Roland, is the marketing director for a major multinational transportation company. Larry shares some candid thoughts about what it means to be educated and how he got his own education.Read more ›
Do you have to be a techno-geek to start a makerspace? Why are school makerspaces a great social equalizer? How large a log can a small SUV pull? What is Steve's favorite kind of chainsaw? Tune in to today's podcast to find out the answers to these and other questions. On today's show, we are featuring Judy Houser. Judy started a Makerspace this last fall, and we decided to share her story because many teachers want to know how REAL PEOPLE start a makerspace. I suppose that's no offense to mad scientists like me, but we do want to spread the word that Makerspaces can be started by anyone with a big idea. Tune in to today's podcast to meet Judy and find out the answers to these and other questions.Read more ›
How does someone who hates the idea of sky diving end up in a career as an aerial stuntman? What exactly do you have to do to lose your pilot's license three times? What is the value of risk? In the arena of life, is it more dangerous to play it safe? Our guest today is Troy Hartman, the man with a JetPack! Troy has an amazing story, and it's peppered with little choices that involved risks. Definitely check out the show notes today to see Troy's JetPack videos. We showed one particular video in all of our Inventor's Bootcamp summer camps in 2014 because he did such a great job describing the emotions and responses to risks. Let's tune in to hear what this engineer and pilot turned stuntman has to say about risk.Read more ›
How exactly does an artist find their way into Bacteriology? How are gratitude and Top Fuel dragsters related? What truly drives us at Table Top Inventing? What is the difference between useful and meaningful information? Here today to talk about science, curiosity, and creativity is our guest Liz Heinecke, the Kitchen Pantry Scientist.Read more ›
How does a classroom Knucklehead become the Teacher of the Year? From the perspective of a statewide Teacher of the Year, what skills create the best teachers? What is the relationship between Teaching and Learning? What lessons can a teenager learn from 100,000 volts?! Do small children really make the best scientists? Listen in to today's podcast to learn the answers to these and other fascinating questions.Read more ›
How does one start as a computer programmer and end up as a lawyer? How is a deeper perspective on history related to Maker Education? What is the difference between seeing the Mona Lisa on a website and seeing it in the Louvre? Our guest this week, Geoff Wiggs, has a few things to say about that. I also have a little bit of a "Don't try this at home" story in the Great Inventor's Secrets section. This is an official listener advisory message: Today's podcast is not for the faint of heart. The material is top-notch, but prepare your sensibilities.Read more ›
Our guest this week is Ian Roy. Ian is deeply involved establishing a makerspace on the campus of Brandeis University. They are about six months into their odyssey and are having a great time. Their first serious project has been with the E-nabling The Future mission to 3D print prosthetic hands for those who need them. He is also the research technology project lead and helps with odd work-flow analysis issues. In the great inventor secrets this week we talk about cowboys and innovation. Come find out the connection!Read more ›
In this week's episode we have a harrowing tale, a story of honor and duty, and some words for reflection at this time of year. We also interview Suzie Ama, professor of media arts at Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, CA. Suzie has some thoughts about lifelong learning and what it means to be educated in a modern world.Read more ›
Today's guest is Gene Sherman from Vocademy - the Makerspace in Riverside, CA. Gene and his tribe of makers mounted a successful crowd funding campaign on fundable.com, and last year opened their first makerspace in Riverside. Gene loves to make things, and today we'll find out why he's so passionate about makerspaces.Read more ›
How can you boost your creativity and innovative potential? How much of a difference is there between simple knowledge transfer and hands-on approaches to education in the real world? What criteria do business professionals use to seek out educational experiences? Listen in today to hear the answers to these burning questions. My guest today is Justin Lukasavige. Justin is an entrepreneur and internet marketing consultant. We asked Justin to discuss the entrepreneur's view of education, and some of his answers may surprise you.Read more ›
How can you learn secrets directly from a great inventor? How do we take back education from the dark forces of the universe? How can we help students become who they were meant to be? Stay tuned. On the podcast today, we're going to reveal the answers to these and other questions. Today, Linda Polin and I will talk about taking back education from the forces that have corrupted it. Some of her answers may surprise you.Read more ›
John Westrum is the Vice President of Operations at Afinia, a division of Microboards Technology, LLC. John has been instrumental in introducing the Afinia 3D printer into the US market, and has a long-term view on products and sales with his 20+ year tenure as a VP at Microboards. John knows his business inside and out including the marketing and sales, the support and engineering, as well as the purchasing side.
Over the last two years, John has seen the interest and demand for desktop 3D printers grow into education from what had predominantly been commercial and hobbyist applications. As education demands have increased, John’s interest involvement in the workshop focuses on working with individuals and organizations to develop curriculum to support STEM initiatives utilizing 3D printers. Although John does not have a background in Education/Academics, he is impassioned with a belief that STEM is a critical part to student learning.Read more ›
Our guest today is Dan Miller. Dan is the author of “Forty-eight Days to the Work You Love Preparing for the New Normal”. He regularly advises professionals who have lost their way on the road to career fulfillment. Dan is on my community of 48 days.net now has over 14,000 members and is innovate in “Coaching with Excellence” has been always sold out. His Forty-eight Days Podcast, which by the way I have listened to for over two years now, is listed in the top most popular business Podcasts on iTunes. Today we will be discussing the changing job market and how that impacts the education students will need to succeed in this new economy.Read more ›
This summer, Table Top Inventing brought our Inventor's Bootcamp to Chattanooga, TN. We had to swing by the famous Chattanooga Library 4th Floor Makerspace, of course! Listen in as Steve chats with Meg and Geoff about the changing role of libraries, the impact of maker technology on education, and the SnoriCam, invented by two guys with the last name of Snori who weren't related to each other!Read more ›
Gary Stager is one of the world's leading experts and advocates for computer programming, robotics and learning-by-doing in classrooms. In 1990, Dr. Stager led professional development in the world's first laptop schools and played a major role in the early days of online education. In addition to being a popular keynote speaker at some of the world's most prestigious education conferences, Gary is a journalist, educator, consultant, professor, and software developer.
Sylvia Martinez works in schools around the world to bring the power of authentic learning into classrooms, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math subjects. Sylvia speaks, writes, and advocates for student-centered, project-based learning, gender equity in technology, computer programming, and life-long learning. For the past ten years, Sylvia was President of Generation YES, a non-profit working to empower young people to improve their schools and communities with modern technology.
Together this dynamic duo has written a fantastic book titled, "Invent to Learn". Steve sat down with them in Atlanta at the ISTE conference to chat about education around the world and the shifting tide that maker education is bringing to schools in this country.Read more ›
Today on our podcast we will be talking with Alex Huthmacher. Alex is the Manager of Network Infrastructure at 21st Century Fox where he Manages projects, configures network devices, firewalls, switches, load balancers, etc. Before working at FOX Alex was network engineer at Sandia National Laboratories where he focused on security in network integration. Alex has also worked at the Xerox data center in San Diego where he helped them migrate the infrastructure to Texas. We like to tease Alex that he can't keep a job for longer than a year... but the reality is that with his skills, he is constantly in demand for increasingly complex positions requiring his level of expertise. With all this experience you might expect a much older man, but Alex's determination, hands-on experience, and insatiable curiosity have served him well at his young age. Read more ›
Dr. Thornburg has worked in the field of educational technology since the early 1980's. His focus is on STEM education, and he is a strong proponent of tinkering as a pathway to helping children learn about engineering. He is the co-author of the book "The Invent to Learn Guide to 3D Printing in the Classroom" which is aligned to both the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core Math standards. Listen in as Steve and David talk the advantages of inquiry-driven, project based learning and what education means in a modern world.Read more ›
My guest today is Eric Sheninger. Eric is a Senior Fellow and Thought Leader on Digital Leadership with the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE). He began his career in education as a high school Science Teacher, but realizing that his true passion was leadership, he went on to the district level and ultimately became the principal of New Milford High School. He has distinguished himself as a thought leader in education and won many awards. As a writer, Eric has an award winning blog, a great new book called "Digital Leadership", and almost 70,000 followers on Twitter.Read more ›
We are excited to share the thoughts of a fantastic K-5 educator. Clark Barnett has been an educator for 13 years in grades K-5. During this tenure he has spent the majority of his time teaching 4th grade. Clark earned his Master’s of Education Technology from Pepperdine University in 2005, and in addition to teaching 4th grade, he has been an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University since 2006. Over the past 4 years he has been teaching with iPads in the classroom and is currently piloting the only 1-to-1 tablet classroom in the Conejo Valley USD. Read more ›