Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

Tricia Friedman discusses the upcoming Earth Day and introduces a free guide aimed at helping educators engage students in sustainability discussions. The SEED guide emphasizes the intersection of AI and sustainability, encouraging a comprehensive approach to environmental education. Additionally, Tricia highlights a student competition for designing a new logo for Shifting Schools, promoting creativity and collaboration among students. The conversation also touches on the Earth Species Project, which uses AI to understand interspecies communication, and the importance of considering the ethical implications of technology in our daily lives. Ready to download the free guide now? https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/seed-free-guide/ Ready to learn about the student design competition? https://www.shiftingschools.com/rebrand Discussed this week: Sustainability should be integrated across the curriculum. AI can help address environmental challenges. The Earth Species Project explores interspecies communication. Students should consider the ethics of AI use. Understanding technology's environmental impact is crucial. The guide includes resources for various engagement levels. Reader questions inspired the creation of the guide. Feedback from educators is encouraged for future resources. Connect with us: info (at) shiftingschools.com

Nicki Hambleton, an expert in visual note-taking, shares her insights on how this engaging technique can enhance learning and listening skills. She emphasizes the fun factor in education and discusses overcoming hesitation in drawing. Visual notes not only clarify thoughts, particularly on complex subjects like AI, but also serve as a personal archive and foster deeper understanding. Nicki highlights the potential of visual note-taking as a meditative practice, along with its connections to wellness initiatives in educational settings.

In this very short bonus episode, we let you know that we have received a ton of mail about Netflix's new hit show Adolescence. In light of those requests we put together a brand new free guide to help you use this moment and that show's popularity for media literacy in both the classroom and the home. Ready for the free guide? https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/a-media-literacy-moment-with-adolescence-your-free-guide/ Do you have requests for other free guides? tricia(at)shiftingschools (dotcom)

Dr. Marc Santamaria, an ESL instructor and immigration attorney, dives into the transformative role of AI in education and law. He discusses how generative AI can revolutionize lesson planning, boost confidence in multilingual learners, and streamline legal research. The conversation emphasizes a mindset shift towards collaboration with AI, encouraging educators and lawyers to adapt to new technologies. Dr. Santamaria also highlights the potential for AI to enhance productivity and promote knowledge sharing in professional communities.

In this episode, Tricia Friedman discusses her exploration of AI's potential in enhancing conflict resolution skills. She shares insights from her research and the development of a conflict simulator bot designed to help users practice and improve their conflict navigation abilities. The conversation emphasizes the importance of feedback and collaboration in utilizing AI technology effectively. Learn more about Moxie Consensus AI and try out the bot mentioned in the episode: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-67b5feb5a74c8191bb26074523bfc77a-conflict-simulator BIG IDEAS AI can assist in developing essential conflict resolution skills. The term 'soft skills' undermines the importance of these abilities. Conflict resolution is a critical skill in education. Research shows that rehearsals improve our conflict management. Dog play offers valuable lessons in conflict resolution. The conflict simulator bot allows for role-playing scenarios. Synthetic voices in AI can be surprisingly realistic. BIG thanks to our show sponsor: Neulight https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

This conversation explores the innovative virtual filmmaking program at Chad Lewis's school, highlighting the integration of technology, AI, and creative collaboration among students. The discussion emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary learning and the empowerment of students to pursue their passions in a supportive environment. Takeaways The virtual filmmaking program started with a new film instructor's initiative. Students learn to use Unreal Engine for virtual production. The program emphasizes storytelling, lighting, and camera angles as foundational skills. AI is transforming media creation and accessibility for students. Collaboration between different departments enhances the learning experience. Students are encouraged to bring their ideas to faculty without fear of rejection. The school culture promotes creativity and innovation among both students and teachers. The accessibility of technology has lowered barriers for students to learn and create. The importance of media literacy in understanding and critiquing content. A focus on the vocabulary of educational goals helps guide technology integration. Chad Lewis has been the Director of Technology at Tampa Preparatory School in Tampa, Florida since August 2010. He oversees all facets of technology at the school, from network infrastructure and security to educational technology and training. Learn more: https://tampaprep.org/about/innovative-spaces/ Learn more about our student logo challenge: https://www.shiftingschools.com/rebrand Big thanks to our special show sponsor, learn more about how Neulight can support your community! https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

In this episode, Tricia Friedman introduces the Neurodivergent Nexus Bot in anticipation of Neurodiversity Celebration Week. She discusses the importance of viewing neurodivergence as a strength and shares her experiences using AI for deeper research. The episode highlights the bot's capabilities and encourages listeners to engage with it during the celebration week, while also inviting feedback for future podcast topics. Ready to try it out? https://chatgpt.com/g/g-67c60bad02d081919d23e47e9da20e21-neurodivergent-nexus-bot Please take our summer podcast series survey: https://us10.list-manage.com/survey?u=27660f931231d00899b80a484&id=a23c5890fd&attribution=false We are so thanksful to our amazing show sponsor! https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1 Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Neurodiversity Celebration Week 03:02 Exploring the NeuroDivergent Nexus Bot 06:56 Engaging with AI for Neurodiversity 08:34 Feedback and Future Directions Takeaways Neurodiversity Celebration Week starts on March 17th. AI can enhance research depth, not just productivity. Positioning neurodivergence as an asset is crucial.

Rio Cortez, a New York Times bestselling author noted for her children's books, dives deep into the art of storytelling. She discusses the importance of slow reading, making complex themes like women's history accessible for young audiences. Rio highlights the joy of writing for children, emphasizing collaboration with illustrators to enrich narratives. The conversation also touches on fostering trust in readers and the role of creative connections in education, hinting at exciting future projects that promise to further explore diverse histories.

Tricia Friedman talks with Robert Landau, founder of Two Roads Education and an expert in strengths-based leadership. They discuss how integrating strengths assessments with AI can enhance team dynamics in education. Robert emphasizes the significance of empathy and individualized strengths in shaping effective collaboration. They explore the contrast between AI coaching and human interaction, highlighting the emotional depth lost in AI tools. Personal growth through understanding strengths and the evolution of these traits across generations is also a key theme.

Generational differences are crucial for educators and leaders to understand. Each generation's unique experiences shape their behaviors and expectations, especially regarding technology and social media. The podcast dives into how parenting styles have evolved, discussing the balance between independence and oversight. It emphasizes the importance of teaching responsible social media use while adapting educational strategies for today's digital landscape. The conversation also highlights the need for media literacy and understanding among different age groups.