EPisodes: Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age

Ben Hilliam, one of EP's Community Leaders chats to Richard Andrew, of Learn Implement Share. Richard and Ben have a wide ranging chat through issues that affect students in Maths classrooms. They talk about prevailing attitudes to maths, the default settings of maths teachers, how teachers can change their practice to engage students and how to sustain student agency. Ben is a former Maths teacher, who now works with teachers through Education perfect. Richard is also a former maths teacher, who now runs professional development through his company Learn Implement Share.

How to manage stress, struggle and being your authentic self on your professional journey.

In our latest EPisodes podcast we share the first in a series of conversations between EP's Jimmy Bowens and Sarah Schubert.  In this EPisode, recorded in December 2021, titled "This Too Will Pass" Sarah and Jimmy discuss how to deal with uncertainty and change and what can help to maintain focus in our professional lives.

In this EPisode Jimmy Bowens chats with Education Perfect CEO Alex Burke about the journey EP has undertaken throughout the Pandemic so far, how it has been leading the team under the circumstances and what lies ahead for one of the fastest growing Edtech organisations in the world. 

Sadly,  today we bring you the final EPisode of the Loving Literature Series. In this EPisode Jimmy Bowens and Erini Christopoulos discuss the texts they love to hate to teach, be prepared,  because there may be some controversy with their choices as both texts are much loved favourites!  Again, this podcast is a great listen,  it will have you laughing and engaged as you reflect upon teaching, texts, teenagers and even the limitations of modern pedagogy. 

For the fourth instalment of the Loving Literature series Jimmy and Erini discuss the value in stepping outside of comfort zones in terms of the literature we typically favour in order to enrich our perspectives.  Jimmy and Erini also reflect upon the fact that in 2021 reading a book can often mean listening to a book in the car or when we are out exercising, and discuss how we may even select specific genres based on the method or device we intend to use to explore a story.

Education Perfect's Head of English, Jimmy Bowens speaks with Dr. Pete Stebbins PhD about how we can make teacher and school performances lift, prevent burnout and adapt and learn in order to maximise student growth and learning.  Dr. Stebbins explores the connections between teacher wellbeing, school leadership, administration and culture in relationship to capacity and collective teacher efficacy. Click the link below to join our Leaders Masterclass Series with Dr. Pete Stebbins for school leaders across Australia and New Zealand - Leading Flourishing Schools: Building High Capacity School Culture.  https://hsl.educationperfect.com/anz-leaders-eventYou can find Dr. Pete Stebbins worksheets as mention in the podcast here: https://www.hptschools.com/hpt-worksheets-download

Today we share the third instalment of the Loving Literature Series with Jimmy Bowens and Erini Christopoulos.  In this episode Jimmy and Erini explore the literature that impacted them significantly during their university years.  For Erini it was a dark Shakespeare play that set itself apart and changed her journey, for Jimmy it was Joyce that connected deeply with him and aligned with his artistic inclinations of that period. This episode is an extremely enjoyable listening experience as both Jimmy and Erini have a wonderful knack for setting the scene and transporting the listener back to the era in which the text impacted their life.

In the second part of the Loving Literature series Jimmy Bowens and Erini Christopoulos discuss the literature that had the biggest impact on their teenage years. For Jimmy he continued to be drawn to the dark and mysterious pull of the gothic genre. For Erini the dystopian genre stirred her own notion of social justice and political awareness.  Get ready for some nostalgia because listening to this podcast will have you looking back fondly to your own teenage years and the literature that had an impact on you and perhaps the path you followed into your adult years.  

In our current EPisodes series Jimmy Bowens and Erini Christopoulos discuss the literature that has shaped their passion for the written word. In the first EPisode of the series,  Jimmy and Erini explore the first books they remember having a significant impact upon them as children and then discuss the books that opened the door for them becoming true independent readers.  

In today's special episode Education Perfect's UAE Teacher Consultant, Mel Musgrove and Dubai based Contractor Teacher Consultant, Ravi Sekhon discuss the 2021 Education Perfect Language Championships which took place across 7 days in March this year. Over 118 million questions were answered by over 200,000 students across the globe! An incredible event! "Students love a good competition! Who doesn't want to be the global leader, or have the title of the best school in the world against 1,300 other schools that are competing in the competition?"

STEM teacher and educator Lauren Pugh discusses with Jimmy Bowens her background, education and the way in which developing a curiosity mindset, Kiwi ingenuity and building confidence through the unpacking of answers has enabled her to become a successful woman in STEM.  Lauren talks about the way in which assessment driven outcomes can hinder women or girls in STEM and can create a negative experience for early learners in the field, curiosity and exploration should be the priority as opposed to overall outcome. She explores how communicating how to be confident and have a growth mindset through the traditionally challenging environment of online learning requires project based learning experiences, the weaving of educational objectives with a personal journey, and the proactive fostering of a go-getter attitude in girls."I never call STEM Science Technology and Maths. I say it’s a problem-solving mindset, a curiosity mindset. Being in STEM is more about how you think about things, and not necessarily about skills in those areas."

"We need to change our perspective of what success means in learning. Students also need to be told that it is okay to fail, that it is about the progression of your knowledge building and that we’re in this together!"Ben Hilliam, Jimmy Bowens and Philippa Kruger reflect on the last year. The highs and the lows of remote teaching and learning and how teachers around the world have coped with the stress of COVID-19. They also explore the ongoing impact of the global pandemic on our society and on the future of education.

Philippa Kruger talks to William Connor, a producer of the animated series Lifeswap, a series of short animated Skype conversations between two young men Jörg, 27 from Münster, Germany and Duncan, 27 from Wellington, New Zealand. William works on the Lifeswap episodes with his husband, animator Steffan Kreft. In this episode William discusses what goes on behind the scenes with Lifeswap and also gives some advice for us at the end of what has been a crazy year."As Language Teachers, [or] any kind of teacher, our job is to provide bridges for people to walk away from themselves, walk away from their narrow perspective and see themselves and their cultures and their languages, from the other side of a divide."

Ben Hilliam talks to Ian Stevens, the CEO and founder of Maths Adventures, a NZ based company that supports Maths teachers from primary to secondary schools. Ian has vast experience in Maths education, having been both a primary and secondary teacher, a lecturer, a Principal and the Team Leader of Numeracy at the Ministry of Education. Together they discuss the strategies around improving numeracy across all years of primary and secondary school, and the impact and limits of technology in aiding this process.

Jimmy chats to Edwin McRae, LitRPG author, narrative designer and narrative paramedic for the video games industry. Edwin has been a screenwriter and story designer for over 13 years now. After four years of writing for television, he started with Grinding Gear Games in 2010 and became lead writer on the creative team that took their online RPG, Path of Exile, from 80,000 players to 20 million players. Together, Jimmy and Edwin discuss how to nurture creativity and expression in students, communicating and maintaining relationships online, and what it means to be a narrative designer.

In this EPisode, Jimmy chats with Mitch Center, a highly experienced educational leader. Mitch is the founder of Center Educational Consulting. Together they explore his experience working with educational leaders to support, evaluate and empower teachers.Mitch's song recommendation = Lose Yourself by Eminem You can contact Mitch at mitch@centereducationalconsulting.comTo continue the conversation, join our Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age group on LinkedIn or Facebook.

In this EPisode, Jimmy chats with Cara Varian, Executive Director at the Harding Miller Education Foundation. The Foundation provides a unique scholarship program for high potential girls from low socioeconomic circumstances. "When you educate a girl you break the vicious cycle of poverty. Girls supported with equipment, money for resources and tutoring and coaching will be much more likely to complete high school and undertake further education after school." Scholarship application deadline is 16 October 2020.Cara's song recommendation = I wish I was a punk rocker by Sandi ThomTo continue the conversation, join our Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age group on LinkedIn or Facebook.

In this EPisode, Ben chats with Alexandra Tselios, founder and CEO of The Big Smoke Media Group. Together, they take a deep dive into the current abundance of conspiracy theories, how to deal with them when discussing them with students, the importance of education, and how robots are influencing education. To continue the conversation, join our Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age group on LinkedIn or Facebook.

In this EPisode, Jimmy talks with Wren Gillett, student voice advocate at Pivot. "In order to be able to speak on behalf of others, you need to recognise that you have a voice yourself." Wren was part of VicSRC’s executive committee for close to three years, and chaired the executive team within this time. She has a been a youth champion for charitable organisations and has spoken at multiple conferences and events across Australia. Wren is currently in her first year of university majoring in journalism, and continues to be a passionate spokesperson for young people. Together, Jimmy and Wren chat about the power and significance of student voice, agency, and empowerment.To continue the conversation, join our Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age group on LinkedIn or Facebook.

In this EPisode, Philippa catches up again with Keri-Lee Beasley, the High School Learning & ICT Coach at the Western Academy of Beijing. This insightful EPisode is packed full of ideas to support effective blended learning. Keri-Lee shares measures put in place to nurture student and staff wellbeing. She also recommends specific tools you can use in your practice and how using data to inform and guide your next steps with students is key. Lastly, Keri-Lee shares her hopes for future changes to education as a result of COVID-19.Links:Resources to support students' learning, activity and well-being -https://library.wab.edu/summerWAB Professional Growth resourcesScreencasting tool - LoomDoing your own assignments - dog-foodingVisuals and videos - Canva, FlipGridGetting to know your students tools - Icebreakers for Online Teaching or 100 Would You Rather questions for teenagers. For younger students, sift through these Icebreakers for online learning

In this EPisode, Jimmy talks to Kelly Hollis, Global Head of Science at EP. Kelly shares her education journey, from taking all the opportunities that crossed her way, to maximising teaching efficiency by flipping her classroom, and creating a culture of sharing and collaboration. Kelly is a wonderful example of authenticity, positivity, and innovation.To continue the conversation, join our Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age group on LinkedIn and Facebook.

In this EPisode, Ben Hilliam chats with Alethea Rea, PhD, who is a lecturer at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia. Together they discuss mathematics, statistics, and the importance of critical thinking and knowledge, especially in our post-truth era where opinion is often conflated with fact. It's a fascinating conversation which examines how public discourse can be improved through a better understanding of evidence.

In this EPisode, Ben Hilliam, Global Head of Maths, chats with Beka Roest, HoD of Social Studies at St. Andrew's College in New Zealand. They talk about how to approach teaching the Holocaust in a sensitive, meaningful, and integrated way. And how understanding history is important to navigate our present.Book references:Hitler's Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing FieldsOrdinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in PolandTeaching Resources:Holocaust Centre of New ZealandTo continue the conversation, join our Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age group on LinkedIn and Facebook.

"Language is all about patterns and connections. Connecting ideas, connecting cultures, connecting structures of language." This EPisode is supercharged with practical ideas to support all macro skills - reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Philippa Kruger, Global Head of Languages, chats with Suzanne Hill (HoD Languages at The King's School in Sydney, Australia) and Adele Scott (Advisory Officer Professional - Curriculum + Assessment, PPTA, New Zealand) about all things languages!To continue the conversation, join our Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age group on LinkedIn and Facebook.

In this EPisode Jimmy talks to Michael Arterberry, Executive Director of Youth Voices Center, Inc. Michael was awarded the Educator of the Year Award from Y-COP, the Youth Community Outreach Program in Mt. Vernon in 2016. They discuss motivation, encouragement, and dealing with trauma. Link to Michael's book - Be Encouraged - 250 days of motivation and encouragement.To continue the conversation, join our Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age group on LinkedIn and Facebook.

In this EPisode, Jimmy talks to Amanda Bickerstaff, CEO of Pivot Professional Learning. They discuss the latest research around educator perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on teaching and learning. Together, they explore the changes occurring in education at the moment, the importance of relationships, and the role of technology in learning. Will teaching change as a result of COVID-19? What role will technology play in our 'new normal'? How can we develop soft skills in students? And how can you seamlessly integrate technology in the day to day without doubling teachers' workload. To continue the conversation, join our Teaching and Learning in the Digital Age group on LinkedIn and Facebook.

In this EPisode, Jimmy chats with Richard Short, Storyteller-in-Chief from The Story Factory. What a joy it is to listen to two delightfully passionate literacy advocates. Richard is an experienced secondary school teacher and in 2014, completed a Master of Creative Writing. His first book of poetry (written under the pseudonym Rico Craig), Bone Ink, won the 2017 Anne Elder Poetry Award (of the Australian National Literacy Awards), and was shortlisted for the 2018 Kenneth Slessor Prize. Together they discuss the impact of stories, developing grit in students, and how allowing students to express their stories is vital and valuable.

We’re wrapping up Season 2 of our EPisodes podcast with Philippa talking to Sue Pommarede, HoD of Languages at Woodford House, Havelock North in New Zealand. “The most important thing is to keep communication with the students”. Sue explains how she has adapted her teaching practice and how she incorporates and maximises a range of online tools. She shares her school’s plans for supporting teacher and student wellbeing, and emphasises the importance of maintaining the element of fun in lessons and with her colleagues.

Empathy in education is so important, especially in these challenging times. In this EPisode, Jimmy chats to Paula Prouse, Leader of Pedagogy at EP. “I just have so much empathy and compassion for the educators who have been thrust into this online world”. Paula shares her wisdom on how to plan and manage remote teaching efficiently and explores the positive elements of teaching during isolation.Paula’s song recommendations:Active = Bakermat & Goldfish feat. Marie Plassard │Games Continued Chilled = Beethoven │ Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92, second movement

In this EPisode, Jimmy chats with Chris Higgins, Global Head of Humanities at EP. Together they discuss the importance of human connection, especially in these changing times. "What is truly important? It's human connection. It's the environment. It's these things that are fundamentally important to who we are as people". Chris shares ideas on how to set yourself up for success with each virtual (or otherwise) meeting. He discusses strategies such as goal setting and pre-contracting to set expectations so communication can be effective and inclusive.Chris' song recommendations:Chilled = Harrison Storm | Be Slow Active = Sigala | Just Got Paid

In this EPisode, Jimmy chats with the wonderful Erini Limnatites, Head of English Australia and Teacher Consultant at EP. "We need to consider wellbeing above work". Erini shares her wisdom after transitioning from the classroom to working remotely three years ago. There are some real gold nuggets in this bite-sized conversation.

In this EPisode, Philippa chats to Keri-Lee Beasley, the High School Learning & ICT Coach at the Western Academy of Beijing, which has now been closed for 7 weeks due to COVID-19. Keri shares the systems and processes the school has put in place. She discusses different strategies and routines which have worked well in implementing a remote learning program and also talks about this challenging situation from a personal perspective as a parent.Useful links for educators:wab.edu/online-learning aisgz.org/covid-19/parent-student-resources jarrettlerner.com/activities/ - Art activitiesyoutube.com/watch?v=RmzjCPQv3y8 - lunch doodles from Mo WillemsAdobe Spark site for Online Learning for useful tools to create and share learning experiences spark.adobe.com/page/Y8Y1hObmi0qCA/ refined for China specifically by colleague Nadine Bailey https://library.wab.edu/MS/Teachers/

In this EPisode, we share our wisdom and top tips for keeping students engaged in a remote learning environment. Philippa chats to Bec Ramsey, our EP teacher consultant in South Australia. Bec previously worked as a Pedagogy Coordinator at Open Access College in South Australia, the only online school in the area, and has a lot of experience in remote learning and distance education. Bec shares some tips and tricks for keeping students engaged in the remote learning environment.

In this EPisode Special, Jimmy Bowens talks to Mary O'Bryon, assistant principal of Korea International School in Jeju, South Korea. As Covid-19 causes more and more organisations and institutions to close their doors Mary provides detailed insight into how her staff, community and local officials are dealing with the situation in order to minimise disruption to teaching and learning.

In this EPisode, Philippa chats to Faraday Pang, the Assistant Head of the Languages Faculty at Presbyterian Ladies College in Sydney. Faraday shares her experiences as a language teacher and provides some practical ideas to help with differentiation in the classroom. She also offers some suggestions on how to get students excited and keen to learn languages. Recommended reading:Jessy Tu - Chinese As A Second/Additional Language Teaching Station International Chinese Teaching Strategy Book For TeachersRobyn Moloney and Hui Ling Xu - Teaching and Learning Chinese in Schools: Case Studies in Quality Language EducationResearch articles by Dr Jane Orton and Prof Angela ScarinoAs a business, we want to generate engaging discussions with sometimes challenging statements, the views expressed in interviews are the speaker's own. Join us linkedin.com/groups/8803378/ or facebook.com/groups/2470979552995678 to engage more.

In this EPisode, Jimmy chats with Sandra Jenkins, a passionate and highly successful educator who champions e-learning, assessment for learning, and habits of mind. They discuss the importance of teachers' support, empowerment and positive leadership in order to foster confident, independent learners. Sandra has recently retired since recording this EPisode.As a business, we want to generate engaging discussions with sometimes challenging statements, the views expressed in interviews are the speaker's own. Join us linkedin.com/groups/8803378/ or facebook.com/groups/2470979552995678 to engage more.

Jimmy chats to Alex Burke, a passionate storyteller, leader and innovator in the tech industry, and CEO of Education Perfect. Alex talks about first impressions of working in the education sector and how culture building is vital to developing good internal and external relationships around learning.

In this episode, Jimmy Bowens converses with Dr. Jennifer Williams, a professor of education at St. Leo University in Florida and author of Teach Boldly Using Edtech for Social Good. Jennifer is a self-confessed education activist and is an influential proponent of effective literacy strategies. Listeners, you are encouraged to pledge your support for the Children’s Rights to Read initiative co-authored by Jennifer on the International Literacy Association’s website and you are welcome to download the free Global Goals book which was co-edited by Jennifer. Twitter: @JenWilliamsEdu

Philippa chats to Rachel Chisnall, a science and chemistry teacher at Taieri College in Dunedin, New Zealand. Rachel is also a Microsoft Innovative Educator Fellow and is part of the Microsoft Innovative Educator programme. Recently she has been involved in the Sustainable Development Goals Innovation Lab project, which is a network of educators that seek to improve education for students in rural areas or refugee camps of Africa. This EPisode looks at the power of collaboration and how connected teachers can make a difference.

In this EPisode, Jimmy chats with Sean Forde, Elementary EdTech Coach at Chadwick International in Songdo, South Korea and founder of World Read Alouds. This candid, humorous, and inspiring chat is jam-packed with ideas on how to incorporate technologies into your classroom, collaborate with other educators, and become globally connected. Sean brings the fun and the silly to the classroom in this uplifting EPisode, as well as being a passionate advocate for literacy and global connections.

Suskya Goodall is a researcher currently exploring the most effective drivers of teacher well-being. In this wide ranging conversation, Suskya reveals and unpacks what she has discovered about well-being practices through her research and recounts how her own teaching experiences led her to this field of expertise.Glossary:Hauora - Hauora is a Māori philosophy of health unique to New Zealand. The concept of well-being encompasses the physical, mental and emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of health.Ako - The concept of ako describes a teaching and learning relationship, where the educator is also learning from the student and where educators’ practices are informed by the latest research and are both deliberate and reflective.Kura – a schoolTe whare tapa whā - A holistic health and wellness model. The four cornerstones of Māori health are whānau (family health), tinana (physical health), hinengaro (mental health) and wairua (spiritual health).You can find Suskya at https://www.thewellbeingcollective.nz/

Philippa Kruger, Global Head of Languages, chats to Juliet Kennedy, an experienced language teacher, researcher, and professional expert at Future Learning Solutions. Together they discuss intercultural communicative language teaching and suggest practical ideas on how to implement it in your classroom.Acronyms used in this podcast: TPDL = Teacher Professional Development for LanguagesiCLT = Intercultural Communicative Language TeachingNCEA = National Certificate of Educational Achievement, the main national qualification for secondary school students in New Zealand.TKI = Te Kete Ipurangi. Resource centre provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Education.

Jimmy Bowens, Global Head of English at Education Perfect, chats to renowned educational leader and EdTech Consultant at Ignite EdTech, Craig Kemp. They explore social media as a way for teachers to connect and learn and discuss the implications of technology for students today.

Philippa Kruger, Global Head of Languages at Education Perfect, chats to Florence Lyons who is the Future Focused learning strategic leader and a French teacher at Matamata College, NZ. Florence is currently completing her doctorate in the field of feedback. They explore tips and latest research around feedback and provide practical implications for the classroom teacher.