Titan Talk: Recent Episodes

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SMHS 11th-Grader Christina Bui Describes her 2017 Kidney Transplant
In this Titan Talk, SMHS juniors Janette Fu and Madison Ly ask fellow 11th grader Christina Bui to detail her 2017 kidney transplant.

1. What are the kidneys and what do healthy kidneys do?
2. Is it true that you only need one kidney?
3. How did you know you needed to get a kidney transplant?
4. Where did you get it done?
5. Do you know anything about the kidney donor?
6. What was it like to go under anesthesia?
7. How long did it take you to get back to school after your surgery?
8. Who was more nervous about it all. You or your parents?
9. Who else knows this story?
10. You're high school teachers don't know about this? Why not?
11. Why did you decide to tell your story now?
12. Does anyone look at you differently since your surgery? Your older brother, perhaps?
13. What do you want to do professionally?
14. Is there anything that you would like to say that we haven't yet asked you?

San Marino High School is a top-rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles southeast from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at https://www.sanmarinohs.org.

This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish AND it was edited by San Marino HIgh School junior Mark MacDermott.

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SMHS 12th-Grader Alan Tang Describes his Formula IV Race Car Driving Career

Formula IV race cars are open-wheeled, single-seater, racing cars intended for younger (aka junior) drivers all over the world.

They are equipped with the latest safety installations and can travel at speeds up to 180 MPH.

Alan has been racing Formula IV cars since 2012 and in this student-hosted interview, he answers a number of questions asked by SMHS juniors Janette Fu and Madison Ly.

1. How did all this get started?
2. Was this the first sport you tried?
3. Who was your mentor or the person you admire the most when it comes to car racing?
4. Describe in brief your weekly/monthly routine as a race car driver?
5. How much does a typical Formula IV cost?
6. How fast can your race car go?
7. How competitive is Formula IV racing?
8. Do you want to pursue a professional racing career in the future?
9. What kind of mindset do you have to have to race a Formula IV car?
10. Tells us about one of your greatest racing experiences
11. Who is your biggest supporter?
12. What motivates you to race?
13. What advice would you give to any other San Marino Titan wanting to do what you do?
14. Is there anything you want to say in closing?

San Marino High School is a top-rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles southeast from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at https://www.sanmarinohs.org.

This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish AND it was edited by San Marino HIgh School junior Mark MacDermott.

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AP Physics Teacher Johnny Devine Describes his Nationally Acclaimed Mars-Rover Project -Based Learning Opportunity

Johnny Devine is a Tacoma, Washington Nationally Board Certified high school science teacher with over 15 years of teaching experience.

In 2018, Johnny placed before his AP Physics students a project-based learning opportunity that not only called upon his students to figure out how they could successfully land a Rover-like vehicle on Mars but that also was fabulously described by journalist and PBL advocate Suzi Boss for the Edutopia website.

Johnny has a “personal passion” relating to an ever-present burning desire to create engaging, high school project-based high learning opportunities for his students.

In this episode of Titan Talk, Johnny not only describes in detail his Mars Rover PBL, but he also answers a number of other PBL related questions:

1. Describe your Mars Rover PBL and how/why you went down this path?
2. How do you respond to AP Physics teachers who might say that this PBL, along with all other PBLs, takes too much time away from the curriculum and therefore results in a dumbing down of the curriculum?
3. How do you respond to AP AP Physics teachers who might say that your PBL’s, along with all other PBLs, aren’t for the serious student?
4. How do you respond to AP AP Physics teachers who wonder if this PBL would require them to teach students how do things that they, the teacher, hasn't been trained to teach (i.e.m how to improve a student's public speaking skills, research and writing skills, presentation skills, tech and digital media skills, etc.
5. How do you respond to AP Physics teachers who might say that this PBL, along with all other PBLs would be too hard to grade?
6. How do you respond to AP Physics teachers who say PBLs are fine for social studies classes and english classes but have no real place in a science or math class
7. Would it be harder for an AP Physics teacher to implement your PBL in an online environment than in a face to face environment.
8. Working on any new PBLs now.
9. Is there anything you would like to say in closing?

Titan Talk is normally hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl, though for this particular Titan Talk SMHS AP Physics teacher Scott Barton sat in for Mr. Gayl.

Peter can be reached at ppaccone@smusd.us and Scott can be reached at sbarton@smusd.us

San Marino High School is a top-rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles southeast from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at https://www.sanmarinohs.org.

This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish AND it was edited by San Marino HIgh School junior Christian Liao

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PBLWorks CEO and NatIonally Acclaimed Project-Based Learning Advocate Bob Lenz Shares What He Knows About Project-Based LearningBob Lenz is a nationally recognized leader in high school redesign, Project Based Learning, 21st-century skills education, and performance assessment.

He is also the author of the book, Transforming Schools: Using Project-Based Learning, Performance Assessment, and Common Core Standards.

PBLWorks is a California-based educational organization whose mission is to bring quality Project Based Learning to all students in order to deepen their learning and achieve success in college, career, and life.

Before coming to PBLWorks, Bob was the co-founder of Envision Education, which put into practice a highly successful school redesign model that has opened a path to college for underserved urban students in three Bay Area high schools.

In this episode of Titan Talk, Bob answers the questions appearing below (all related to project-based learning)

1. How do you define the term PBL?
2. Can you give an example of a Physics PBL?
3. Can you give an example of an English Lit PBL
4. Is a mock trial a form of PBL? 5. Is a mock congressional hearing a form of PBL?
5. Is a knock-off TED-Ed Lesson or knock-off Crash Course video a form of PBL?
6. How do you respond to those who say that not all 'projects' should be considered PBL?
7. How do you respond to AP teachers who say that PBL dumbs down the curriculum and therefore fails to properly prepare AP students for the annual AP Exam?
8. How do you respond to those who say that PBL is great for social studies and English classes but not so great for math and science classes?
9. Do you agree with our principal that one of the best things teachers can do in the online era is to put one or more PBLs before their students?
10. Can you tell us about your book, Transforming Schools: Using Project-Based Learning, Performance Assessment, and Common Core Standard?
11. What do you say to teachers who want to learn more about PBL?
12. Is there anything you want to say in closing?

Titan Talk is normally hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl, though this particular Titan Talk was co-hsoted by SMHS Media Arts teacher Robbin Rae McCulloch.

Peter can be reached at ppaccone@smusd.us and Robbin can be reached at rmcculloch@smusd.us

San Marino High School is a top-rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles southeast from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at https://www.sanmarinohs.org.

This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish.

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Middle School Social Studies Teacher Patrick Stopford Describes his Experience with Online Teaching

Patrick Stopford is a Huntington Middle School social studies teacher with 13 years of HMS teaching experience, with the social studies course that he’s most enjoyed teaching being the 7th Grade Medieval World History course. He’s also enjoyed teaching the 8th Grade American History course.

But Patrick isn’t just known for the teaching of various social studies courses, he’s also known for the teaching of various filmmaking and film editing courses AND for all the good work that he has done lately using the internet to teach his students.

In other words, Patrick is one of our district's more experienced and more accomplished online teachers with MUCH of value to offer any teacher assigned to teach online in the fall.

For this episode of Titan Talk, Patrick answered the questions appearing below (all related to his online teaching experience.)

1. Briefly describe your online teaching experience from March 13, when school shutdown, to the present.
2. Assuming that in the fall there will be no face-to-face instruction . . . that the school and the district have decided to play it safe and keep us away from school for at least another two or three more months . . . what do you plan to use, Google Meet or Zoom?
3. If in the fall, I were to access your classroom during the first week of school, what would I see and hear when it comes to “get-to-know-you activities?” Are you planning to integrate any of these into your long-distance learning sessions?
4. What about when it comes to the teaching of content? How do you plan to deliver what the students need to know to pass your tests?
5. How do you plan to test?
6. Do you believe teachers should be permitted to require their students to present their face on camera?
7. Should teachers be permitted to require their students to present their voices on camera?
8. How do you plan to hold your students accountable? In other words, what are you going to do to prevent your students from checking out on class discussion?
9. Has anyone ever tried to bomb your online class sessions and if so, what did you do?
10. Have you yet in any way polled/surveyed your students to learn what they thought of your online instruction?
11. Do you plan at the end of the first semester to in any way poll/survey your students to learn what they thought of your online instruction?
12. Have you had any epic fails when it comes to your online teaching experience?
13. Do you believe that Zoom fatigue is a real thing and if so, what if anything do you plan to do in the fall to prevent your students from acquiring Zoom fatigue?
14. Is there anything else that you would like to say, that you haven’t yet said, about either your long-distance learning experience or your plans for the fall?

Titan Talk is a San Marino High School teacher-hosted, interview formatted, bi-monthly podcast that seeks to highlight two kinds of educators: (1) those who have something of value to say in regards to teaching, learning, testing, and wellness and (2) those who have a personal story worth sharing.

Titan Talk is normally hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. Peter can be reached at ppaccone@smusd.us and Andrew can be reached at agayl@smusd.us.

This particular Titan Talk was hosted by SMHS Titan Shied advisor and SMUSD all-time great utility player Jose Caire and by SMHS Media Arts teacher Robbin Rae McCulloch.

San Marino High School is a top-rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles and a few miles from the Pasadena Rose Bowl.

This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12. The San Marino High School website can be viewed at https://www.sanmarinohs.org.

This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record and then edited by SMHS Junior Julia Beredo

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High School Principal and PBL Expert Dr. Daniel Ching Shares What He Knows About Project-Based Learning

PBL expert Dr. Daniel Ching is the principal at Minarets High School

Dr. Ching began his teaching career at Lemoore High School in 2009, after working as a firefighter for the Crane Valley Hotshots while he was in college at Cal State Fresno.

In 2010, he became a U.S. History and a World History teacher at Minarets. There he also taught Native American studies and coordinated the Veterans Day History Project.

In 2013, he became an Apple Distinguished Educator, and the following year he became the principal at Minarets. He was awarded the CVCUE Site leader of the year award in 2019.

Dr. Ching earned his Doctorate of Education from Brandman University in 2016.

Over the years, Dr. Ching has not only traveled nationwide presenting seminars on innovation in education he has also authored several books, including A PBL Revolution: Join the Movement to Transform Education One School at a Time Through Project-Based Learning (published in August of 2020).

In this episode of Titan Talk, Dr. Ching answers the questions appearing below (all related to project-based learning)

1. How do you define the term PBL?
2. Can you give an example of a Physics PBL?
3. Can you give an example of an English Lit PBL?
4. Is a mock trial a form of PBL?
5. Is a mock congressional hearing a form of PBL?
6. Is a knock-off TED-Ed Lesson or knock-off Crash Course video a form of PBL?
7. How do you respond to those who say that not all 'projects' should be considered PBL?
8. How do you respond to AP teachers who say that PBL dumbs down the curriculum and therefore fails to properly prepare AP students for the annual AP Exam?
9. How do you respond to those who say that PBL is great for social studies and English classes but not so great for math and science classes?
10. Do you agree with our principal that one of the best things teachers can do in the online era is to put one or more PBLs before their students?
11. What do you think is the ideal ratio of directed teaching to project-based learning? 60-40? 70-30? 80-20?
    12.. Can you tell us about your book, A PBL Revolution: Join the Movement to Transform Education One School at a Time Through Project-Based Learning?
12. What do you say to teachers who want to learn more about PBL?
13. Is there anything you want to say in closing?

Titan Talk is hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. Peter can be reached at ppaccone@smusd.us and Andrew can be reached at agayl@smusd.us.

San Marino High School is a top-rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles southeast from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at https://www.sanmarinohs.org.

This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish.

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School Superintendent and PBL Expert Dr. Michael McDowell Shares What He Knows About Project-Based Learning

Since 2015, PBL expert Dr. Michael McDowell has served as the superintendent of the Ross School District. Previously he served as the Associate Superintendent of Instructional and Personnel Services at the Tamalpais Union High School District, a school district that, during Dr. McDowell’s tenure, was recognized by the Marzano Research Laboratories as one of the most reliable educational organizations in the United States.

Over the years, Dr. McDowell has authored several books including Rigorous PBL By Design (2017), The Lead Learner, Developing Student Expertise, Teaching for Transfer, and forthcoming, The Busy Teacher

He is also the author of the 2020 Edutopia post, PBL to Encourage Interdisciplinary Work.

He’s also known for his keynotes and workshop offerings and as someone who has provided many practical tools and resources to thousands of teachers and leaders on almost every continent around the world.

In this episode of Titan Talk, Dr. McDowell answers the questions appearing below (all related to project-based learning)

1. How do you define the term PBL?
2. Can you give an example of a Physics PBL?
3. Can you give an example of an English Lit PBL?
4. Is a mock trial a form of PBL?
5. Is a mock congressional hearing a form of PBL?
6. Is a knock-off TED-Ed Lesson or knock-off Crash Course video a form of PBL?
7. How do you respond to those who say that not all 'projects' should be considered PBL?
8. How do you respond to AP teachers who say that PBL dumbs down the curriculum and therefore fails to properly prepare AP students for the annual AP Exam?
9. How do you respond to those who say that PBL is great for social studies and English classes but not so great for math and science classes?
10. Do you agree with our principal that one of the best things teachers can do in the online era is to put one or more PBLs before their students?
11. Can you tell us about your book, Rigorous PBL by Design?
12. Can you tell us about your August 2020 Edutopia article “PBL to Encourage Interdisciplinary Work?"
13. What do you say to teachers who want to learn more about PBL?
14. Is there anything you want to say in closing?

Titan Talk is hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. Peter can be reached at ppaccone@smusd.us and Andrew can be reached at agayl@smusd.us.

San Marino High School is a top-rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles southeast from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at https://www.sanmarinohs.org.

This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish.

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High School Social Studies Teacher Andrew Gayl Describes His Experience with Online Teaching and His Plans for the Fall

Andrew Gayl is a San Marino High School social studies teacher. He has been teaching at San Marino since 2006 and while there has become mostly known as a 9th and 10th grade World History teacher, though he’s also taught US Government, Health, and PE.

Aside from the above, Andrew is also known for the way in which he makes all students feel welcome in his class and for the fact he has has quickly become one of the district’s more experienced and accomplished online teachers with much of value to offer any/all teachers assigned to teach online in the fall.

In this episode of Titan Talk, Andrew answers the questions appearing below (all related to his past online teaching experience and his plans for teaching online this fall)

1. Briefly describe your online teaching experience from March 13, when school shutdown, to the present.
2. Given that the school year will start off with no face-to-face instruction, what do yo plan to use to connect with your students, Google Meet or Zoom?
3. If in the fall, I were to access your classroom during the first week of school, what would I see and hear when it comes to “get-to-know-you activities?” Are you planning to integrate any of these into your long distance learning sessions?
4. What about when it comes to the teaching of content? How do you plan to deliver what the students need to know to pass your tests?
5. How do you plan to test?
6. Do you believe teachers should be permitted to require their students to present their face on camera?
7. Should teachers be permitted to require their students to present their voice on camera?
8. How do you plan to hold your students accountable? In other words, what are you going to do to prevent your students from checking out on class discussion?
9. Have you yet in any way polled/surveyed your students to learn what they thought of your online instruction?
10. Have you had any epic fails when it comes to your online teaching experience?
11. Any epic successes?
12. Do you believe that Zoom fatigue is a real thing and if so, what if anything do you plan to do in the fall to prevent your students from acquiring Zoom fatigue?
13. Is there anything else that you would like to say, that you haven’t yet said, about either your long distance learning experience or your plans for the fall?

Titan Talk is a San Marino High School teacher-hosted, interview formatted, bi-monthly podcast that seeks to highlight two kinds of educators: (1) those who have something of value to say in regards to teaching, learning, testing, and wellness and (2) those who have a personal story worth sharing.

Titan Talk is normally hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. But for this Titan Talk, SMHS Media Arts teacher Robbin Rae McCulloch hosted while I served in the role of co-host.

Robbin can be reached at rmcculloch@smusd.us. Andrew can be reached at agayl@smusd.us. And I can be reached at ppaccone@smusd.us

San Marino High School is a a top rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, and Library.This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at https://www.sanmarinohs.org.

This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish.

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Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher and High School Social Studies Teacher Gail Denham Describes Her Experience with Online Teaching and Her Plans for the Fall

Gail Denham is a Carver Elementary School kindergarten teacher. She has been teaching at Carver since 2009 and while there has also become known for teaching various high school social studies courses. In fact, for the past ten years, Gail has taught a six week summer school World History course to 9th and 10th graders.

But Gail isn’t just known as someone who does a great job of teaching the students found at both ends of the San Marino Unified School District, she’s also known for being one of the district’s more experienced and accomplished online teachers with much of value to offer any/all teachers assigned to teach online in the fall

In this episode of Titan Talk, Gail answers the questions appearing below (all related to her past online teaching experience and her plans for teaching online this fall)

1. Briefly describe your online teaching experience from March 13, when school shutdown, to the present.
2. Assuming that in the fall there will be no face-to-face instruction . . . that the school and the district have decided to play it safe and keep us away from school for at least another two or three more months . . . what do yo plan to use, Google Meet or Zoom?
3. If in the fall, I were to access your classroom during the first week of school, what would I see and hear when it comes to “get-to-know-you activities?” Are you planning to integrate any of these into your long distance learning sessions?
4. What about when it comes to the teaching of content? How do you plan to deliver what the students need to know to pass your tests?
5. How do you plan to test?
6. Do you believe teachers should be permitted to require their students to present their face on camera?
7. Should teachers be permitted to require their students to present their voice on camera?
8. How do you plan to hold your students accountable? In other words, what are you going to do to prevent your students from checking out on class discussion?
9. Has anyone ever tried to bomb your online class sessions and if so, what did you do?
10. Have you yet in any way polled/surveyed your students to learn what they thought of your online instruction?
11. Have you had any epic fails when it comes to your online teaching experience?
12. Do you believe that Zoom fatigue is a real thing and if so, what if anything do you plan to do in the fall to prevent your students from acquiring Zoom fatigue?
13. Is there anything else that you would like to say, that you haven’t yet said, about either your long distance learning experience or your plans for the fall?

Titan Talk is a San Marino High School teacher-hosted, interview formatted, bi-monthly podcast that seeks to highlight two kinds of educators: (1) those who have something of value to say in regards to teaching, learning, testing, and wellness and (2) those who have a personal story worth sharing.

Titan Talk is normally hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. But for this Titan Talk, Huntington Middle School teacher and San Marino Teacher Association President Leticia Aranda sat in for Andrew.

Peter can be reached at ppaccone@smusd.us and Andrew can be reached at agayl@smusd.us.

San Marino High School is a a top rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, and Library.

This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at https://www.sanmarinohs.org.

This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish.

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High School Science Teacher Scott Barton Describes his Experience with Online Teaching and Plans for the Fall

Scott Barton is a San Marino High School science teacher with 13 years of SMHS teaching experience. During this period of time, he’s most enjoyed teaching the AP/Honors Physics course, though he’s also enjoyed teaching the Regular Physics and Geometry course.

But Scott isn’t just known for his teaching of various academic courses, he’s also known for the teaching of various social studies courses. This past academic year, for example, he taught an Government and Economic course and this past summer he taught a World History course.

One other thing Scott is know for is the fact that he’s one of the more experienced and accomplished SMHS online teachers with MUCH of value to offer any teacher assigned to teach online in the fall.

On this episode of Titan Talk, Scott answers the questions appearing below (all related to his past online teaching experience and his plans for teaching online this fall)

1. Briefly describe your online teaching experience from March 13, when school shutdown, to the present.
2. Assuming that in the fall there will be no face-to-face instruction . . . that the school and the district have decided to play it safe and keep us away from school for at least another two or three more months . . . what do yo plan to use, Google Meet or Zoom?
3. If in the fall, I were to access your classroom during the first week of school, what would I see and hear when it comes to “get-to-know-you activities?” Are you planning to integrate any of these into your long distance learning sessions?
4. What about when it comes to the teaching of content? How do you plan to deliver what the students need to know to pass your tests?
5. How do you plan to test?
6. Do you believe teachers should be permitted to require their students to present their face on camera?
7. Should teachers be permitted to require their students to present their voice on camera?
8. How do you plan to hold your students accountable? In other words, what are you going to do to prevent your students from checking out on class discussion?
9. Has anyone ever tried to bomb your online class sessions and if so, what did you do?
10. Have you yet in any way polled/surveyed your students to learn what they thought of your online instruction?
11. Do you plan at the end of the first semester to in any way poll/survey your students to learn what they thought of your online instruction?
12. Have you had any epic fails when it comes to your online teaching experience?
13. Do you believe that Zoom fatigue is a real thing and if so, what if anything do you plan to do in the fall to prevent your students from acquiring Zoom fatigue?
14. Is there anything else that you would like to say, that you haven’t yet said, about either your long distance learning experience or your plans for the fall?

Titan Talk is a San Marino High School teacher-hosted, interview formatted, bi-monthly podcast that seeks to highlight two kinds of educators: (1) those who have something of value to say in regards to teaching, learning, testing, and wellness and (2) those who have a personal story worth sharing.

Titan Talk is hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. Peter can be reached at ppaccone@smusd.us and Andrew can be reached at agayl@smusd.us.

San Marino High School is a a top rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles and a few miles from the Pasadena Rose Bowl. This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12. The San Marino High School website can be viewed at https://www.sanmarinohs.org.

This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish.

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High School Social Studies Teacher Adam Norris Details How He Became a Youtube Celebrity
Adam Norris is a Maryvale High School, AP US History teacher. Maryvale High School is located near Buffalo New York, and Adam has been teaching there since 2006. Over the years, he’s become known as both an outstanding US History teacher and as someone who since, 2013 has produced an ever-increasing number of high quality, 3-5 minute youtube videos designed to teach AP US history students everywhere what they need to know to pass the annual exam. For the production of these videos, Adam has become enormously popular. I would even go so far as to say that Adam has become every A.P. U.S. History student’s best friend.

Adam appears on this episode of Titan Talk to primarily detail how and why he became such a popular youtube content delivery celebrity. He also describes how and why he became a high school US History teacher. And towards the end of the podcast, he share his thoughts regarding all the changes that the College Board brought to the world of AP US History this past summer.

Titan Talk is a San Marino High School teacher-hosted, interview formatted, bi-monthly podcast that seeks to highlight two kinds of educators: (1) those who have something of value to say in regards to teaching, learning, testing, and wellness and (2) those who have a personal story worth sharing.

Titan Talk is hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. If you have any questions, Peter can be reached at ppaccone@smusd.us and Andrew can be reached at agayl@smusd.us.

San Marino High School is a a top rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles and a few miles from the Pasadena Rose Bowl. This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12. The San Marino High School website can be viewed at https://www.sanmarinohs.org.

This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish.

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Former High School Cheerleader Elizabeth Anguili Details her Twist and Turn Journey to High School Cheer Coach.

Elizabeth Angiuli is the San Marino High School Cheer Coach and in this Titan Talk podcast, Angiuli describes how any why she became the San Marino High School Cheer Coach.

It’s a wonderful story with many twists and turns and it all begins in her sophomore year at SMHS, when Angiuli made the SMHS Cheerleading team.

Titan Talk is a San Marino High School teacher-hosted, interview formatted, bi-monthly podcast that seeks to highlight two kinds of educators: (1) those who have something of value to say in regards to teaching, learning, testing, and wellness and (2) those who have a personal story worth sharing.

Titan Talk is hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. Peter can be reached at ppaccone@smusd.us and Andrew can be reached at agayl@smusd.us.

San Marino High School is a a top rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles and a few miles from the Pasadena Rose Bowl.

This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the San Marino High School website viewable at https://www.sanmarinohs.org.

This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish.

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AP Placement Program Head Trevor Packer Describes the New Online CED's, AP Classroom, and More
Trevor Packer is the the head of College Board’s Advanced Placement Program. In other words, he's the guy who is responsible for the ongoing development and management of 38 AP courses taken each year by 2.5 million students in subjects ranging from Biology and Calculus to Studio Art and World History.

Trevor has led the AP Program since 2003, emphasizing in particular a redesign to focus the AP courses and exams on the knowledge and skills most essential for college success.

For most of this podcast, Trevor answers questions relating to three major changes that College Board recently brought to the world of AP:

1. The launching of a number of new and/or revised course and exam descriptions, complete with advice on pacing and a much clearer indiction of the important content and skills that a student needs to learn in order to earn a score of 3 or better.

2. The launching of AP Classroom, with its “Personal Progress Check questions and its bank of 15,000 old AP questions .

3. The launching of the new registration procedures

Toward the end of the podcast, Trevor also answers a few questions about the AP US Government course.

Trevor can be reached via email at TPacker@collegeboard.org.

Titan Talk is a San Marino High School teacher-hosted, interview formatted, bi-monthly podcast that seeks to highlight two kinds of educators: (1) those who have something of value to say in regards to teaching, learning, testing, and wellness and (2) those who have a personal story worth sharing.

Titan Talk is hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. This is Peter's and Andrew's first ever podcast.

Peter can be reached at ppaccone@smusd.us and at @PeterPaccone. Andrew can be reached at agayl@smusd.us

San Marino High School is a a top rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles and a few miles from the Pasadena Rose Bowl. This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12.

The San Marino High School website can be viewed at https://www.sanmarinohs.org

This particular podcast lasts 54 minutes and 18 seconds.