No Such Thing: Education in the Digital Age

I'm fascinated by this analogy that came up in a recent episode about being dropped in a new place without language. So I want this episode to be a travel guide. Let's drop into different places and talk about what makes the languages of code relevant in that space.Meg Ray is a computer science education consultant. Meg teaches education courses at NYU and Hunter College. She was the founding Teacher in Residence at Cornell Tech were she was responsible for the design and implementation of a coaching program for K-8 CS teachers in New York City schools. Meg is an experienced high school computer science teacher and curriculum developer. She served as a writer for the CSTA K-12 CS Standards and the CSTA/ISTE CS Educator Standards and as a special advisor to the K12 CS Framework. She conducts research related to teaching CS to students with disabilities and CS teacher preparation. Recently, the Python Software Foundation awarded her a grant to develop a user-friendly site that can serve as a hub for Python education. Meg is the author of the book Code This Game!Notes from this episode:Book, "Because Internet: https://gretchenmcculloch.com/book/AIforall.org: http://ai-4-all.org/Computer History Museum: https://computerhistory.org/Living Computer Museum in Seattle: https://livingcomputers.org/Grace Hopper: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_HopperChibi Clip by Chibitronics: https://chibitronics.com/shop/chibi-clip/MakeCode: https://makecode.com/aboutJi Qui: http://technolojie.com/NexMap.org: http://www.nexmap.org/Keith Zoo, artist: https://keithzoo.com/Odd Dot.com: https://www.odddot.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A discussion among a unique group of K12 leaders in CA building a brand-new middle school with future pathways at the center of their design.Kristin McKennaDirector of College and Career ReadinessMadera Unified School DistrictKRISTINMCKENNA@maderausd.orgKristin McKenna is the Director of College and Career Readiness for Madera Unified and has been with Madera Unified since 2009 when she was hired as an Agriculture Teacher at Madera South High School. In 2015 Kristin became the Coordinator of College and Career Readiness and moved to the Director role in July 2018.  In these roles Kristin supports the teachers in Madera Unified’s 25 career pathways, and helps build industry partnerships to align with the courses.  She manages all of the CTE specific funding and is responsible for writing new grants as they become available. Kristin received her Bachelors of Science Degree and Teaching Credential at Fresno State University, her Masters in Agriculture Education from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and her Administration Credential through Madera County Office of Education.Alyson RoccoPrincipalMadera Technical Exploration Center (Madera TEC)Madera Unified School Districtalysonrocco@maderausd.orgAlyson Rocco is Principal at the Madera Technical Exploration Center - “Madera TEC.” She was a Madera High School graduate and is returning to the district after fifteen years in Clovis Unified, ten as a classroom teacher and five in administration. Alyson taught kindergarten, first, second and fifth grade at James S. Fugman Elementary School then moved to the Guidance Instructional Specialist (aka Vice Principal) there. She was then promoted to a Learning Director at Clovis North Educational Center which serves 7th-12th grade students. Alyson oversaw English, Academic Block, Drama, Choir, Forensics and CTE Education Pathway.Alyson received her Bachelors of Arts and Teaching Credential at San Diego State University, her Masters in Education from Fresno State University, and her Administrative Credential through Fresno County Office of Education. Theron CosgraveSenior ConsultantSwanson & Cosgrave Consulting (www.swansonandcosgrave.com)cosgrave@sbcglobal.netTheron Cosgrave (aka “Cos”) is a national consultant who works with educators on a wide range of issues including project-based learning, curriculum development, school design, leadership development, and strategic planning. His firm, Swanson & Cosgrave Consulting, works with districts across the country along with intermediaries like ConnectED, JFF, NAF, and EPIC. Prior to consulting, Theron spent a decade as a high school social studies teacher and Assistant Principal. Theron holds a B.A. in Political Science and M.A. in Education from Stanford University, and a M.A. in Education Administration from San Francisco State University.Links from this episode:Madera Unified Schools: https://www.madera.k12.ca.us/Madera California: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madera,_California Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Christopher Emdin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University; where he also serves as Director of the Science Education program and Associate Director of the Institute for Urban and Minority Education. He is the creator of the #HipHopEd social media movement, and author of the award winning book, Urban Science Education for the Hip-hop Generation and the New York Times bestseller For White Folks Who Teach In the Hood and the Rest of Ya’ll too.For a longer bio, check show notes, and if you haven't heard it, pop back to Episode 58 to listen to my first conversation with Chris and Edmund Adjapong. Links from this episode:Nipsey Hustle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nipsey_Hussle, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm1s2VS9BdyXL9FU4a-W_cQDr. Chris Emdin: https://chrisemdin.com/For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood (And the rest of ya'll too): https://www.amazon.com/White-Folks-Teach-Hood-Rest/dp/0807028029Computer Science for All, NYC Department of Education: http://cs4all.nyc/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jacob Martinez is a social entrepreneur, tech educator, keynote speaker and cutting-edge community collaborator. Martinez believes technology has the potential to break down socioeconomic barriers and unlock economic growth for youth and their communities. As the founder and executive director of Digital NEST (Nurturing Entrepreneurial Skills with Technology), Martinez turned a vision into reality by creating a modern, collaborative workspace for local youth to receive high-tech training.The opening of the first Digital NEST in 2014 garnered national attention as a model for bridging the digital divide experienced by youth living in low-income, rural communities. Today the NEST continues to expand, with more than 1200 members at two regional centers; its main location in Watsonville, CA and since April 2017, a Digital NEST pilot in Salinas, CA.Martinez’s inspiration for Digital NEST is built on more than a dozen years of experience and research in teaching tech as a way to overcome economic disparities and achieve equity for Latinos and girls. His early work focused on promoting careers in STEM for youth through an award winning after-school program teaching middle-school girls to create computer games. The program serves hundreds of students in 15 Santa Cruz County schools.Martinez has presented his work and research to the National Science Foundation, to technology companies Google, Mozilla, and Infosys; to the Computer Science Collaborative Project, the University of California, and the National Girls Collaborative Project. Martinez spoke in 2015 at the first White House Tech Meetup and was named by TechCrunch as one of 2014’s Top 10 Men in the Country Supporting Women in Technology.Martinez has been widely recognized for his work as a community leader developing innovative approaches to solving social problems across diverse populations. Martinez founded the Santa Cruz County Ag-tech Meetup, co-founded the Watsonville Film festival, is a Community Advisor for Opportunity Fund and hosts a podcast focused on the intersection of agriculture and technology.He is a frequent speaker at technology and educational conferences and symposia, and has been honored by business, community, and educational institutions for his innovation and leadership. He was named the 2015 Santa Cruz County Entrepreneur of the Year, has provided thought leadership on the impact of tech and underserved student populations, and also received a recommendation letter from former United States Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta.Martinez graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and received his Master’s in Instructional Science and Technology from California State University, Monterey Bay.Links from this episode:Digital Nest: https://digitalnest.org/Jacob Martinez: https://digitalnest.org/oldsite/?page_id=2847Better Schools Won't Fix America, Nick Hanauer, Atlantic Monthly: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/07/education-isnt-enough/590611/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This conversation is with a group of founders designing novel learning experiences to engage learners. The conversation explores each approach, and what values they bring to what they design and build for learners. How does "engagement" relate to what skills, identities, and dispositions these experts hope that learners attain including but not limiting to computer science.Armando Somoza is a new media artist, technologist, social entrepreneur, and educator. He is committed to the creative application of immersive learning experiences, cultural entrepreneurship, and digital technologies as an agent of provocation and change. He holds an MFA in Emergent Digital Practice and a BA in Ethnic Studies. He is a career educator, artist, and technologist currently serving as a graduate level Adjunct Professor at NYU Steinhardt and CEO & Co-Founder of Rapport Studios, a creative agency that exists to disrupt, awaken, and reorient people’s relationship to knowledge and culture. Our product, CodeSCTY, leverages original hip hop music and youth culture to teach computational thinking and coding - like Schoolhouse Rock for coding.Chenits Pettigrew is an accomplished musician, educator, entrepreneur and creative director. Through innovative curriculum development, live performance, multimedia creation and master classes, his work aims to foster sustainable change. He has worked with arts and community organizations domestically and internationally in pursuit of this mission. He is the co-founder of Soul Science Lab, a music and multimedia production company and Chief Creative Officer of Rapport Studios, a creative education agency. At Rapport he is focused on building dynamic content for CodeScty, a product that uses original hip hop music to teach computer science concepts. Chenits holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies from Pennsylvania State University and an interdisciplinary Master’s in Music Business & Tech and Art as Activism from New York University. Leandra Tejedor and her cofounder Alexandra Diracles are proving that the best way to teach teens, especially girls, computer programming is go where they live: social media videos. It's a Javascript coding curriculum that can be used as a stand-alone course or a unit within a CS course. Vidcode has reached over 150,000 students (62% girls) in 113 countries, and recently partnered with Snapchat to help enable teens to code their own snapchat filters. Tejedor holds a degree in design and interactive media from Ramapo College.We often forget how rare it is that any of us as learners truly stumbles upon a deep motivation, a love for a topic, or enthusiasm for new skills out of nowhere. And yet, so many of the approaches we take through institutional learning make the assumption that you - empty vessel awaiting relevant knowledge - are eager to dive in.  Today especially, we're obsessed as a country with "readiness." For the future, for jobs, for the challenges of tomorrow, but nobody every got ready for anything by having others shove it cram it down our throat. As many of you are aware, thoughtful, well-designed onramps can be the difference between pushing through an already cracked door, and feeling around aimlessly for a secret opening in a library wall like in a scene from Harry Potter. You get what I'm saying - meet everyone...Links from this episode:Kiki Dance ChallengeVidCodeCodeSCTYMark Guzdial, University of Michigan: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Sweeting is a Digital Publishing Manager and Content Strategist for New Learning Times. He manages a team of writers whose goal is to create and curate compelling digital content that deepens an understanding of forward-thinking learning, teaching, and research.This episode, Brian and I consider a sort of "unboxing." He brings us four recent articles covered by New Learning Times. It's the first I've heard anything about them, and you get to come along as we unwrap the story - my understanding of the story - as we go. As always, my thanks to Brian and the talented team at New Learning Times. I hope you'll go check them out.The New Learning Times (NLT) provides daily coverage of the transformation of learning opportunities in the information age for those shaping the future of education. NLT is produced at the EdLab at Teachers College, Columbia University.The editorial frame for NLT is governed by our understanding of three major trends, which we have termed “The New 3R’s.” Far beyond mere reform, the education sector is undergoing a major Reformation, a profound reconfiguration of the customs, institutions, and relationships that together constitute the foundations for learning opportunities around the world. Spurred by rapid developments in communications and computation, the education sector is also experiencing a Renaissance of new ideas, processes, and possibilities to support learning across the lifespan. The rapid introduction and convergence of these emerging political, technical, and artistic forces is creating the conditions for a Revolution in what is becoming the new learning sector. The New Learning Times seeks to chronicle the major transformation in learning possibilities.Links from the episode:New Learning Times: https://newlearningtimes.com/Kinful Lets Students Learn Social and Emotional Skills Through Play, by Melanie Hering: https://newlearningtimes.com/cms/article/6302/kinful-lets-students-learn-social-and-emotionalLearn Chemistry in Virtual Reality With HoloLAB Champions, by Sara Hardman: https://newlearningtimes.com/cms/article/6224/learn-chemistry-in-virtual-reality-with-hololabIdeally, I Want It Al, by Rebecca Sullivanl: https://newlearningtimes.com/cms/article/6293/ideally-i-want-it-all Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Bio: Bernard BullMy work focuses upon educational innovation, learner-driven communities, futures in education, social entrepreneurship in education, and the intersection of education and digital culture.Dr. Bull most recently served as Chief Innovation Officer, Vice Provost of Curriculum and Innovation, and Professor of Education at Concordia University Wisconsin. There he led a University-wide effort to refine and expand low-residency and online learning opportunities for adult and post-traditional learners.Now President at Vermont's Goddard College, Dr. Bull is a widespread and active voice in the K-12 and higher education landscape regarding alternative and experimental education; emerging practices in grading, assessment, and credentials; self-directed learning; nurturing learner agency and ownership; and the intersection of education and digital culture.He is the author of several books, including Missional Moonshots: Insight & Inspiration in Educational Innovation, What Really Matters: Ten Critical Issues in Contemporary Education, and Adventures in Self-Directed Learning.Links from this episode:Austin Kleon: https://austinkleon.com/Martin Seligman, Flourish: https://www.amazon.com/Flourish-Visionary-Understanding-Happiness-Well-being/dp/1439190763What Is In The Air: https://whatisintheair.com/RESLE, Boise State: Chris Haskell, Boise State: https://dochaskell.com/Barry Fishman, U. Michigan: http://www.soe.umich.edu/people/profile/barry_fishman/90+ Education Documentaries to Challenge & Inspire: https://etale.org/main/2014/03/18/45-education-documentaries-to-challenge-inspire/To Know For Real, edited by Benson and Adams: https://www.amazon.com/Know-Real-Pitkin-Goddard-College/dp/0912362200 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here's a cool episode for you. Before I get started let's talk about these tracks. It's easy to overlook, when we talk about Maker Ed, that a lot of the greatest maker educators I know are makers themselves. Lou Lahana is also known on the interwebs as Techbrarian, and he wrote and produced tracks at the beginning and end of this episode. He's a great inspiration to remind us all, as Tasker Smith from MIT reminds us in this episode - we need stay inspired...consider it like facing turbulence on an airplane...put the mask on ourselves first.It's a different format: in this episode I reached out and asked some of my favorite Maker Educators to send me recordings where they just jam into the mic a bit about resources that they often recommend to other educators, or folks just interested in what they do. I'm so grateful to a rockstar group of five featured in this episode, and hope that we can make it a more regular thing. My thanks (in the order that you hear from them) to:Lori Stahl-VanBrackal: linkedin.com/in/lori-stahl-van-brackleTasker Smith: linkedin.com/in/taskersmithJennifer Latimer: linkedin.com/in/jennifer-latimer-31219b6Dr. Matthew Farber: linkedin.com/in/mattfarberDr. Lou Lahana: Techbrarian.comLinks from this episode:Innovators Mindset, George Couros: https://www.amazon.com/Innovators-Mindset-Empower-Learning-Creativity-ebook/dp/B016YTBZKOLaser Cutters (Universal Systems): https://www.ulsinc.com/Make Magazine: https://makezine.com/Instructibles: https://www.instructables.com/Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Prototyping Library: http://prototypinglibrary.com/Epilogue Laser Sample Club: https://www.epiloglaser.com/resources/sample-club.htmInvent to Learn, Martinez and Stager: https://inventtolearn.com/Connecting Gaming, Kafai and Burke: http://www.yasminkafai.com/connected-gamingAdBusters: https://www.adbusters.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guests are experts in this space that you wouldn’t have seen quoted in recent coverage but maybe should’ve. Davin Sweeney is an independent college counselor with Collegwise who worked for ten years as an admissions counselor at the University of Rochester. He also hosts a podcast called “The Crush” featuring interviews with people who have interesting perspectives to share on the college and college admissions landscape. Leia Petty is a HS Guidance Counselor of ten years and social justice activist living in Brooklyn, NY. And Luke Nonas-Hunter is a high school senior in NYC's High School for Math Science and Engineering, recently released from the arduous process of college admissions - he'll be a freshman at Olin College in September.My guests are experts in this space that you wouldn’t have seen quoted in recent coverage but maybe should’ve.Links from this episode:Doug Webber on The Crush: https://www.crushpodcast.com/doug-webber-2/Mark Moody, The Myth of Fit: https://msquaredcollegecounselor.wordpress.com/What was that test in China? The Gaokao: https://www.businessinsider.com/sample-questions-from-chinas-gaokao-one-of-worlds-toughest-tests-2018-6Dr. Wayne Au: https://www.uwb.edu/education/about/faculty/wayneauFairtest.org - list of test-optional colleges: http://fairtest.org/John Bockenstedt - Higher Ed Data Stories: https://highereddatastories.blogspot.com/In the NewsLink, New York Times: Operation Varsity BluesLink: HuffPost Stanford Accepts No One: Just to be clear: Bruni’s column was satire, a jokey riff about how colleges and universities take outsize pride in trumpeting how many applicants they reject. In reality, Stanford announced last week that 2,063 high school students have been admitted to the class of 2020, giving the Bay Area school an acceptance rate of 4.69 percent — not zero percent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A discussion with Kate McGregor of Mountain View’s Computer History Museum about women we should all know from computer history.Kate McGregor: Kate is a STE(A)M advocate, museum educator, content developer and curriculum designer striving to help students, families and educators to explore concepts of problem-solving and innovation through the lenses of computer science and computer history, with activities that encourage critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity. At the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, Kate manages Family & Community guided and self-guided programming, events and activities for diverse intergenerational audiences. She leads the Museum’s efforts to expand program offerings through onsite and offsite family and community programming, in order to create meaningful points of engagement for visitors of all ages, backgrounds and knowledge bases. Kate developed and leads the Museum’s flagship Design_Code_Build program which engages middle school youth from all parts of the community.From their website:The Computer History Museum is a nonprofit organization with a four-decade history as the world’s leading institution exploring the history of computing and its ongoing impact on society. The Museum is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of computer history and is home to the largest international collection of computing artifacts in the world, encompassing computer hardware, software, documentation, ephemera, photographs, oral histories, and moving images.Links from this episode:Computer History Museum: https://www.computerhistory.org/COBAL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COBOLReshma Saujani: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reshma_SaujaniWoGrammer: https://wogrammer.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.