Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

How do you build a network of learners and how does that network in turn shape you as a learner? On the podcast this week, Drea Weiner answers that question (and many others). This conversation is supported by our amazing sponsors: Stem Sports and MackinMaker At the heart of this conversation, we think about how we can cultivate the mindsets that promote STEM-based inquiry and set students up to be leaders in MakerEd. Drea reminds us that STEM learning intersects our entire curriculum and invites interdisciplinary learning and community connections. Let's learn more about our guest: Drea Weiner is the MiSTEM Network Regional Director for the Northwestern Lower MiSTEM Network region. She provides professional learning, support, community connections to education, grant writing guidance, and resources to educators in order to bring the best possible STEM education to students. Drea is one of the founders of Newton's Road 3D, a STEM professional learning community for teachers wanting to give their students the opportunity to learn soft skills like critical thinking and problem solving through 21st century technology. Follow Drea on Social Media: On Twitter On LinkedIN Learn all about the MiSTEM Network here Mentioned on this episode: 400,000 fabrication works short by 2024 Do you want to weigh in on this episode? Have questions for our hosts? Send us a voice memo! You can find it on our homepage at www.shiftingschools.com Click here to explore our HUGE library of free guides for K-12 Educators Learn more about the STEM book series mentioned and email us to win a free book! Click here Email us info (at) shiftingschools (dot com)

In this episode, Tricia and Jeff are talking about our relationships with social media, misinformation, disinformation and the role schools must play when leading for media literacy. This conversation was inspired by this recent article in the New York Times by Jenny Gross. Our guests talk about the influence technology has on learners of all ages. The look at what it might mean to help students build habits that ensure they come to their social media with curiosity and a desire to check for bias and become savvy consumers of information. They go on to mention that NPR has launched its annual student podcat competition. Jeff and Tricia offer listeners a special offer on two of the professional development options. Looking to build media literacy routines with learners of all ages? Check out our free guide today. Reach out to the hosts via info (at) shiftingschools (dot) (com) Other resources discussed: Canva image AI https://www.canva.com/features/ai-image-generator/ Open AI image creator https://openai.com/

Thanks to our special sponsors for their support of our show. Learn more by heading to StemSports.com and MackinMacker.com today. On this week Jeff and Tricia talk to Sevile Mannickarottu: Director of Penn's Bioengineering Educational Lab & Bio-MakerSpace-the only Bio-Maker Space in the world. They talk about what it means to create an archive and a legacy of learning. Sevile also shares ways educators can get started in creating a Makerspace. You can learn all about Sevile's work here. Check out the introductory video to the lab here. Also discussed in this episode is Backyard Brains, learn more here. Learn more about ways to learn with Shifting Schools at www.shiftingschools.com Do you want to connect with our hosts? Email info (at) shiftingschools (dot) (com)

Are you looking to take on a new challenge of leading learning at an upcoming conference? Would you like to refine the way you approach delivering professional development at your school? This episode is all about our recommendations for approaching the application process, as well as communicating what your session is all about with peers. The full guidance is available for you to download free, click here for more. This conversation came to be because a value podcast listener (like you!) reached out for advice after hearing us remind folks that Learning2 Asia is open for applications now until January 23rd. You can learn more about that opportunity here. Have a question you'd like to see Jeff and Tricia take on? Reach them at info (at) shiftingschools (dot com)

Sponsors Thank you to our sponsors for this mini-series on STEM and MakerSpace. Check out both StemSports.com and MackinMacker.com today. Find all the offers from all our sponsors at https://www.shiftingschools.com/offers Episode On this episode, we explore the joy of tinkering, the social-emotional case for making, and we question the benefits of cultivating a beginner's mindset. Whether you are an experienced teacher of MakerEd or you've never thought of yourself as a 'maker' this episode is for you. Our special guest on the show is Mike Bycraft. Mike Bycraft is an international educator who specializes in design, robotics, engineering, and makerspaces. He is the head of design and innovation at Korea International School. Prior to moving internationally, Mike taught AP and IB sciences in the United States, in Clark County School District. Mike has created design programs, makerspaces, and robotics curriculum for K-12 students. In 2021 his project of redesigning a controller was featured on the Makey Makey blog Learn more about his work in this video and through his website. You can connect with Mike on Twitter here. Pair this with one of our free resources Looking to partner with parents and caretakers when it comes to STEM learning? Get our free guide here. Explore over 60 free guides available from our website today.

Few educators would disagree with the idea that feedback is crucial for meaningful learning. So how can we support one another in striving for better feedback processes? As students move towards the process of setting goals for a new year, what are some of the conversations we need to prioritize in order to scaffold that planning? In this special bonus episode, we hear from educator Madalena Elshoff as she walks us through the way she leveraged on of our Shifting Schools free guides in order to reimagine feedback, goal setting, and classroom culture. Specifically we talk about the free guide "Learner Focused Goal Setting." Did you know our free resource library has over 60 free guides for educators to choose from? Visit our library here. Is there a resource you would like to see us work on for your school this year? Email Jeff and Tricia at info (at) shiftingschools (dot com) today! Members of our free newsletter community receive weekly updates on the latest free guide as well as additional resouces and ideas for the classroom. You can sign up for our newsletter here.

A new year is a time when many of us start thinking about new goals, and new habits we want to cultivate. And yet, how many of us have had the time and the opportunity to dig into the research on habit formation? On this episode, Jeff and Tricia talk to Wendy Wood about her phenomenal book Good Habits, Bad Habits. This episode puts a spotlight on some of the research and insight included in that book. Wendy Wood, explains why we have some misguided ideas about how habits are cultivated. Our conversation is a timely reminder of the importance and significance our learning environments have for learners of all ages. We hope this conversation inspires you to spark better, more meaningful conversations about habits and the role they play in your learning organization. Ready to learn more about the guest on this week's episode? Wendy Wood is a UK-born psychologist who is the Provost Professor of Psychology and Business at University of Southern California, where she has been a faculty member since 2009. She previously served as vice dean of social sciences at the Dornsife College of the University of Southern California. Her primary research contributions are in habits and behavior change along with the psychology of gender. She is the author of the popular science book, Good Habits, Bad Habits, released in October 2019. This book was featured in the Next Big Idea Club and was reviewed in the New Yorker. Ready to learn more about the conference mentioned in this episode? Click here for more about applying to present at Learning2 in 2023.

In this replay episode from June, 2022 the number one listened to episode of the the year. Jeff reflects on the past year of shifting schools and how this conversation about cell phones is a microcosm for the educational shift at large we find ourselves in. Jeff shares a snipet from his 2019 conversation with Microsoft around cell phones in the classroom and education at large. You can watch the full interviwe with jeff at this link. This has been an incredible year for Shifting Schools. We went through a lot of transitions this year. From new album art and website logos from Chrissy to Tricia becoming a full time co-host on the podcast and taking on the role of Creative Content Extraordinaire. I'm happy to announce that Tricia and I will continue working together in 2023. How she finds time to do everything she's involved in still blows me away. From her own podcast and newsletter Be A Better Ally to her new podcast Unhinged Collaboration. Her dedication to educators, education, students and the LGBTQ+ community at large is humbling to say the least. If you are not following Tricia on your social network of choice or have not added the Be A Better Alley and Unhinged Collaboration podcasts to your podcast app. You should do so as you start the new year. Shifting Schools also became a top 10 podcast in K12 Education globally with Australia and Canada coming in at the top 2 countries our podcast is listened to outside of the U.S. We cannot thank you, our loyal listeners, enough for making this all possible. Thank you for your dedication to your students and to your craft as an educator. That brings me to today's reply episode. Our #1 listened to episode of 2022 will be no surprise I'm guessing to most of you as it deals with cell phones in the classroom. Episode 216 released on June 27th in which Tricia and I talk with our good friend Tyler Rablin about Cell Phones in the classroom. Happy New Year Everyone!

On this special episode, Jeff and Tricia sit down with a listener of the show: Joe Taranto. Joe reached out to Jeff and Tricia about his experience podcasting with students. Joe shares what he has learned over the years of launching and sustaining a podcast that is truly student-led. This episode is great for fellow educators who are curious about what a podcast might bring to their community as well as for educators reimagining student agency and student leadership. We discuss practical strategies for sustaining a podcast and avoiding a few hurdles along the way. Ready to learn more about Joe's student-driven podcast? Check out The Eagle's View here Connect with Joe on Twitter: @JoeRayTee School Learn more about the school he works at: https://www.emerson-school.org/ Are you looking for more support in leveraging the power of podcasts? Check out one of our recent free webinars for more ideas here. Hoping to do more with podcasts as part of your professional learning? As always you can find all of our free guides here. Ready to learn more about ways Shifting Schools can help you shift practice in the new year? Reach out to us info (at) shiftingschools (dot) (com)

The Port Townsend School District Website for the 2022 Salish Coast Elementary Children's Film Festival This year the Library/STEM program at Salish Coast Elementary hosted the 2022 SC Children's Film Festival! It was created by our K-5 citizen-scientists as a "Call to Action for the Future of the Salish Coast Ecosystem" and our students are excited to share their voices to tell their stories to ask our community: "What Will You Do to Help?" https://sites.google.com/ptschools.org/sc-childrens-film-festival-22/home Novel Effect is a Seattle-based company that created a fantastic free app that follows along as you read aloud books and uses voice recognition software to respond at just the right moment with music, sounds, and character voices to help make storytime magic. They also have premium plans with educator discounts. https://noveleffect.com/educators/ WeVideo is an easy to use, chromebook compatible, cloud-based editing platform that allows teachers and students to work collaboratively on creating gifs, videos, podcasts, and more. https://www.wevideo.com/education The Stop Motion Pro Studio app allows students to use the iPads to take photos of their original artwork and then, through software applications, put them together in a sequence to create movement in their animated films. https://www.cateater.com/ Contact Denise: deniseaedan {at] gmail [dot] com