Education Empowered: Recent Episodes
NC Rethink Education
Welcome to Education Empowered part of the Virtual Instruction Support Services Division of NCDPI. The Rethink Education NC initiative focuses on rethinking education through purposeful blended learning instruction. Like and Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite streaming service. ~ Hosted by Kristine Barberio and Betsy Hicks.
In the third installment of our Transformation Tales series, Angie Conklin, Digital Teaching and Learning Facilitator from Onslow County Schools shares her unique experience over 30 years in NC education. She highlights the instructional technology changes she has seen over her career, her experience during a devastating hurricane with virtual learning before the pandemic, and how Onslow County has led the way with providing high quality, seamless instruction to students. Her experience as a Badged Facilitator in Cohort 3 helped her expand her toolkit to support blended learning in transformational ways.
In the second installment of our Transformation Tales series, Katie Bostian, Rowan-Salisbury Schools District SIOP coach shares her experience using blended learning to transform professional development for educators across the district. Katie shares her experience gained as a Badged Facilitator in Cohort 3. She outlines how all educators can support Multi-Lingual Learners with effective SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) strategies supported by blended learning instructional methods.
Watch this Instructional video on how you can use Rethink K-8 Content to plan and implement station rotation in your classroom. For this lesson, we used 8th-grade Social Studies Content Module Nine, Lesson Five focusing on Homefront and Propaganda in World War II. Supporting this video you can utilize our planning document found at BIT.LY/RETHINKED8SS. Designed to utilize the Rethink Education Content found on our Available Content Document, this lesson includes:
- A teacher-led station for conferencing, scaffolding, and review
- An online station, unveiling North Carolina's homefront during World War II
- An offline station, delving into primary source documents.
- An enrichment/extension station, where students analyze propaganda posters and build persuasive arguments.
5th grade Science Educators can use this free station rotation lesson plan and video focusing on NCSCOS Standards 5.P.1 and 5.P.1.1. This video is a mini-PD on how to set up and implement the 4 stations with the support of the lesson planning document. Designed to utilize the Rethink Education Content found on our Available Content Document, this lesson includes:
- Pre and Post Assessment
- Extension and Remediation options
- Hands on Experiment
- Content Vocabulary
- Small Group Instruction
This is designed to be a mini professional development opportunity. This instructional video is designed to help educators consider implementing the FLEX model of blended learning through the use of Genius Hour / Passion Projects. This extension activity allows for learners to drive their own learning through self-designed projects in areas of interest. Designed to be used in conversations with other educators, this interactive video allows for conversation while providing real life examples from NC educators who have implemented blended learning.
This short video is designed to be a mini professional development opportunity encouraging educators to consider making a mindset shift from being an instructor to a facilitator of learning. This core concept of blended learning helps to increase student engagement and ownership of their learning while freeing the educator to provide more personalized and differentiated instruction.
The first episode in our Transformation Tales Series features Liz Cronan, a 27 year educator from Alexander County Schools currently working as an Instructional Coach after spending most of her career as a 5th grade teacher. In this episode, she will share her inspirational story of how blended learning practices she learned in our Badged Facilitator Cohort transformed her educational practices increasing student engagement, building strong durable skills with students, and allowing more time to differentiate and personalize learning.
In this episode, we continue our conversation with district leaders from around the state sharing how Rethink Education has transformed their schools. They share how NCDPI can continue to support their ongoing needs with school transformation. Join us as we take stock of the powerful work Rethink Education and its district/school partners are doing to share blended learning instructional methods and empower educators to make a difference in the lives of NC students.
In this episode, we are taking stock of the impact Rethink Education has had around NC by hearing from district leaders on how our program has transformed their schools. They share where they hope to see our program go next and some powerful WOW moments. Join us as we speak with NC educational leaders and take stock of the work Rethink Education has done and continues to do.
Join us for Part 4 of our series on Blended Learning with Special Populations of students. This episode focuses on students who have behavioral challenges, emotional needs, or are at the top-tier of the MTSS process. These students may be in Alternative Education environments or within the general school setting. First, you will hear from Sheneka Lassiter from Wayne County Public Schools. This inspirational 24-year educator is working as a HS Math teacher at Wayne Middle/High Academy, an alternative education setting in Wayne County Schools. She will share her perspective on the wrap around support provided in Alternative Education settings and how we can reach students with significant challenges. Next, we will share a portion of Episode 2 of our podcast sharing the innovative "Find Your Fit" program created by Dr. Michelle White when she was at Chowan Middle School that redefines ISS and serving high need students in the general education environment. Finally, we will hear from Cohort 2 Badged Facilitator, Mark Grega, Principal of Asbury Academy, an Alternative Education school in Lincoln County Schools. He will share how his experience in Cohort 2 of the Blended Learning Facilitator Pathway has impacted his experience leading his school.
Join us for Part 3 of our series on Blended Learning with Special Populations of students. This episode focuses on several unique groups of students within NC including Migrant students, students from Military families, Native American students, and McKinney Vento students. We are excited to share the powerful perspective of Luann Llewellyn, Director of Federal Programs in Surry County Schools. Luann is a 21-year educator who has supported students in a variety of roles. She shares her dedication to all students on this powerful episode that highlights the impact of blended learning on students and their families in these vibrant special populations throughout our state.
Join us for Part 2 of our six-part series, as we speak with Maguy Yancey from Wayne County who will share her extensive experience supporting Multi-Lingual Learners along with discussing the needs of McKinney Vento students (students who experience transience in their housing). She created a rich conversation about the ways blended learning can break down barriers and celebrate each child's unique contributions to the classroom community. You will be inspired by all we learned by speaking with this career educator who supports our MLL students in meaningful ways.
Join us for Part 1 of our six-part series, as we speak with Joann Blumenfeld, leader of the Catalyst and GIST programs with The Science House at NC State. She will share her extensive experience supporting Exceptional Children through innovative programming with a strong focus on STEM opportunities. Joann invites any NC educator to join in their Reach For the Stars Be a Star Student Resource Fair on April 22. Supporting this conversation will be Nkecha Rucker, Piedmont-Triad Virtual Instruction Consultant with the VISS Rethink Education team. Nkecha brings her career knowledge as an EC teacher and leader to help educators get inspired to use blended learning to support EC students in innovative ways. This powerful and inspirational conversation will change the way you view the possibilities for ALL students!
Our conversation with Dr. Catlin Tucker continues. This episode features our discussion about how blended learning can allow an educator to provide timely and helpful feedback to students while minimizing teacher workload outside of the school day, effective groupings, and much more!
Your Blended Learning Blueprint for Rethinking Your Next School is just what you need as you plan for the new school year. Join us as Dr. Catlin Tucker - author, podcast host, and blended learning expert, shares her wealth of knowledge and experience on how to use blended learning to transform your classroom
Are you ready to begin Blended Learning instruction in your school or classroom? Think Big but Start Small focuses on specific strategies to implement blended learning in small and intentional ways as you think big about the possibilities. Learn from Cohort 1 Blended Learning Facilitators who have implemented blended learning in their schools.
This powerful episode features educational experts discussing mental health, social emotional needs of students, and using blended learning to increase student engagement and build classroom community while implementing effective classroom management routines and procedures.
Part 2 features Kendra Cameron Jarvis, Blended Learning Coach and Jake Miller, EdTech speaker, coach, and enthusiast, author of Educational Duct Tape: An EdTech Integration Mindset, math and science teacher, and host of Educational Duct Tape and EdTech News Brief podcasts. They discuss how shifting from an instructor to a facilitator of learning can increase student engagement and reduce behavior concerns and how blended learning can be pivotal in building classroom community.
This powerful episode features educational experts discussing mental health, social emotional needs of students, and using blended learning to increase student engagement and build classroom community while implementing effective classroom management routines and procedures.
Part 1 features Laura Conway, MS Counselor, Dr. Michelle White, Principal, Tericia Eller, Northwest PD Coordinator for Rethink Education, and Sarah Luckey, 4th grade teacher and Cohort 1 Badged Facilitator. They are sharing their experiences with students and educators post-pandemic and ways to address some of the most pressing needs of our students.
This episode will center on why there is a need to “ReThink” education. We will introduce you to our innovative initiative funded by the US Department of Education with a grant awarded to NCDPI by talking with Melissa Davis, Director and Rachel Wright-Junio, Program Manager for Rethink Education. Then, we will share from Cohort 1 participants who will share how the challenges of the pandemic during remote and hybrid teaching led to breakthroughs in their instructional practice and creative ways to serve students.
Welcome to the introduction episode of Rethink Education Podcast called "Education Empowered". In this introduction episode, learn about Rethink Education, a project from the Virtual Instruction Support Services division at NCDPI. Learn about Blending learning and meet your hosts, Kristine and Betsy. We hope you will take and share our fun survey - "The Teacher FeaturED survey"