Ideas and Thoughts

Patti Duncan is one of the most giving educators I’ve known. She has dedicated her life in service of children, adults and anyone who has a need. As she shares what being part of the Renaissance Faire Community means to her, you’ll understand exactly what I mean. She’s a dear friend and I’m privileged to share our conversation with you. Patti’s LinkedInPatti’s Twitter … Read the rest

When I think of Tim Childers it’s hard to picture him without a camera in his hand. While he downplays his skills, he is a model for what it means to be a learner. Curious, humble and willing to try new things without fear of failure. Tim shares not only his love for photography but how sharing his craft is integral to the process. Tim’s Photography BlogTim’s TwitterTim’s Youtube Channel … Read the rest

Diana Laufenberg is a sought-after facilitator in educational leadership and inquiry. While she has lived in a variety of places, her sensibility and view of the world are derived significantly from her life and experiences living in rural Wisconsin. She’s always fun to talk with and brings a smile to my face. The photo shows her with my dog Wallace who didn’t take long to find a new friend. Diana’s TwitterDiana’s LinkedIn … Read the rest

Jeremy Macdonald is the Director of Education for Ozobot. I’ve known Jeremy for years. We have a long-standing tradition of giving each other cash whenever we see each other. He’s always been a maker and now has taken his game up a notch from 3d printing to high-end furniture and woodworking. He shares some of his journey on Instagram and I get jealous of his skills and abilities. Jeremy’s TwitterJeremy’s InstagramJeremy’s Thingiverse … Read the rest

I’m not very cool, but at least I know very cool people. Julia Fallon and I have an ongoing joke about how old I am. The truth is we aren’t that far apart in age but our music tastes and talents would indicate otherwise. Julia is a well-respected leader in educational technology serving as the Executive Director of SEDTA. When she’s not working hard at trying to provide more access and equity for state-level education, she’s DJing Friday nights on Twitch. I know nothing about Djing but was grateful for the opportunity to chat with Julia about a newfound hobby and passion and how the role of community is so linked to learning. Julia’s TwitchJulia’s Twitter … Read the rest

Madeline Black is an educational leader extraordinaire. I’ve got to know her over the past 18 months or so as part of my role at ALP. She’s one of those people you look forward to seeing and talking to. I’ve learned a great deal from her and in fact, we shared a wonderful day together recently where I learned about another passion of hers. Today we talk about another interest of hers, that is gaming. In ALP we support a number of districts and schools with esports and Madeline is an integral part of that team. Her love of gaming as I discovered, was something that she’s been involved with for a while. Madeline’s TwitterMadeline’s Website … Read the rest

Jaime Casap is a well know speaker and former Google evangelist who is a strong advocate for the power of education as well as the importance of inclusion and opportunity for all. He has many passions outside of his career including photography. But recently he found golf. and of course, this had me intrigued so it was time for us to have a conversation. Jaime’s Youtube Jaime’s Twitter … Read the rest

I’ve been blessed to meet and get to know so many people throughout my career. Smart, thoughtful, innovative and caring people. But Kristi belongs in the special category of someone that is truly awe-inspiring. I met her eight years ago and was so moved, that I wrote a blog post. I don’t need to say much more other than to encourage you to take the time to explore her work and listen to our conversation. I hope you’ll be inspired to connect with her and take action. She’s basically Wonder Woman. Kristi’s website Beyond Hello Kristi’s Twitter … Read the rest

Those of you who know Gary Stager, likely know him as an advocate for learners to experience a world-class education that’s founded on constructivism, curiosity and community. Gary is an author, speaker, and teacher who has travelled the world preaching the gospel of powerful computing and thinking for children. Some of you likely know about his love of jazz but how many of you think of Gary as a tennis player? This was a newfound passion that was discovered during the pandemic and I was curious to know how this came about and how he’s thinking about it with the same lens he thinks about education. Enjoy the conversation with Gary and me. Gary’s Website Gary’s Blog Gary’s Twitter … Read the rest

Welcome to Season 2 of Outside the Classroom. If this is your first time here, have a look at last season’s episodes where you’ll meet some interesting educators engaging in hobbies and passions that I hope you find fascinating. I’m kicking off season 2 with an old friend Tara McLauchlan of Winnipeg. Seems Winnipeg is a hotbed of educators with unique passions. I’ve known Tara for several years and always enjoy her creative approach to teaching and life. During the early months of the pandemic, I was curious to watch her with a new passion that many people seemed to embrace…the RV life. Have a listen and learn how Tara and her husband bought and rebuilt a used van and travelled across Canada. (Special guest, Tara’s kitty) Tara’s websiteTara’s TwitterTara’s Instagram Van Build 1 Van Build 2 Van Build 3Tara’s Linkedin … Read the rest

It’s fitting this is my 10th episode as Stephen Hurley and I met about 10 years ago and an amazing event called UnPlugd. I was so taken with Stephen and his story at the time that I wrote a blog post about him. He has since gone on to create Voiced Radio which is quite a thing in itself. … Read the rest

Shana White sits down to share her story of how she fell into powerlifting, the community and developing her competitive spirit. … Read the rest

I had no idea gold panning was a thing. So it was with great intrigue that I connected with Chris Kuchmak to have him share his journey and passion with gold panning. There’s a rich history that most would be familiar with but learning more about how folks are engaging with it today was fascinating. … Read the rest

This post was last updated on 4 weeks ago at 4 weeks ago One of the reasons I do this podcast is an excuse to reunite with friends and share a laugh. Amber and Kristina and I certainly accomplish this. At the same time, these two provide a lot more context to a topic I’m just beginning to understand. Enneagrams are not a new thing but one that seems to be gaining a bit more traction. This conversation will get you started I think and if you’re already into it, I know you’ll enjoy it even more. … Read the rest

This post was last updated on 4 weeks ago at 4 weeks ago Tim Wilson is one of the godfathers of educational podcasting. He was doing this 15 years ago. I’ve known Tim for this long and yet it’s not until recently that he has become a competitive archer. I find it fascinating when people take up new passions later on in life and it certainly is a wonderful example of the somewhat tired phrase of “lifelong learner” Tim shares some really great perspectives on goal setting around this new passion and along with his new coaching lens provides implications for everyone. … Read the rest

This post was last updated on 5 days ago at 5 days ago She’s kinda the reason for this podcast. When I think about people with fascinating interests or interests and passions I don’t completely understand, I think of Rafranz Davis. I’ve known her for years but her recent foray into all things BTS captured my curiosity. I’m grateful to have Rafranz tell us about why and how BTS has impacted her life. … Read the rest

Andrew Mead is nailing the Dad thing. He has built a pretty amazing backyard curling rink for his family. In this episode, you’ll learn a little bit about curling and what it takes to build and maintain a backyard curling rink. … Read the rest

My dear friend Porter and her husband Bill “have been living in a van down by the river.” Okay, bad joke but they have been living out of a trailer and now motorhome for several years. I had the pleasure of working with Porter during my time at Discovery Education and she has become not only a great friend but her and Bill’s lifestyle has always fascinated me. I’ve known much of what she shares here but had never captured their full story. Here you go. … Read the rest

This post was last updated on 4 weeks ago at 4 weeks ago I caught up with Craig Badura to chat about how he got into cooking and sharing it on Instagram. While we both share a love for golf and education, I’ve been watching him explore this aspect of his life outside education. spotify:show:3QnWuxokv6sKLgqX68kfe4 https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/outside-the-classroom/id1563043528… Read the rest

This post was last updated on 1 month ago at 1 month ago So excited that this is the premiere episode. Andi Arnold aka Smack Skellington talks about her journey into roller derby, the power of community and diversity. What a joy to spend time with this wonderful teacher from Idaho. … Read the rest

This post was last updated on 1 month ago at 1 month ago Time to fire up the old podcast machine. I’m really excited about this series which will feature conversations with educators about anything except education. Well, that’s not entirely true but what this isn’t is a dive into education but into the people who lead really interesting lives outside of education. Gary Stager says, “the best thing you can do for children is to be an interesting adult. That’s what I’m looking for: interesting adults. You’ll meet educators who are into cooking, roller derby, boy bands, backyard curling and remote living just as a start. Subscribe to your favourite feed. Enjoy. … Read the rest

It was truly a delight to speak with Pernille Ripp. I’ve known her for some time and have watched her career as a leader in education and literacy grow over the past several years. She shares some of her personal challenges around parenting, her concerns for the future and what has gone well. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in more of these conversations, my co-author, Dr. Scott McLeod, has started a similar podcast, The COVID Chronicles which is focused a little more on leadership. Check it out!… Read the rest

Andy Mead is one of those educators who believes in deep relationships with students that usually include a bit of silliness and fun. While he doesn’t take himself very seriously, he indeed does take his role as principal very seriously. Andy gives you a nice overview of life as a principal in a COVID19 world. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in more of these conversations, my co-author, Dr. Scott McLeod, has started a similar podcast, The COVID Chronicles which is focused a little more on leadership. Check it out!… Read the rest

The province of Nova Scotia has had a devastating spring beyond COVID-19 2 air crashes and a mass shooting has rocked this relatively small province. Erica Phillips is a long time friend and new principal who has had to work extra hard to comfort and support her staff and community. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in more of these conversations, my co-author, Dr. Scott McLeod, has started a similar podcast, The COVID Chronicles which is focused a little more on leadership. Check it out!… Read the rest

Superintendent Susan Enfield is a 2018 Superintendent of the Year and a highly regarded leader with a focus on equity and high-quality student learning. What an honour it was to have a few moments of her time to explore the ways in which she is leading remote learning in the state of Washington. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in more of these conversations, my co-author, Dr. Scott McLeod, has started a similar podcast, The COVID Chronicles which is focused a little more on leadership. Check it out!… Read the rest

Norway is already sending some of its students back to school. Ann Michaelsen, a school leader gives us insight into how Norway is handling COVID-19 both from an educational and societal perspective. We talk about Norway, Finland and Sweden. Enjoy. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in more of these conversations, my co-author, Dr. Scott McLeod, has started a similar podcast, The COVID Chronicles which is focused a little more on leadership. Check it out!… Read the rest

Michelle Baldwin is a dear friend who teaches elementary school at Anastasis Academy in Colorado. Her school is centred around inquiry and Michelle and the team offer some of the best learning experiences you can find. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in more of these conversations, my co-author, Dr. Scott McLeod, has started a similar podcast, The COVID Chronicles which is focused a little more on leadership. Check it out!… Read the rest

Without question, José Vilson is one of the most important voices in K-12 education today. From his provocative writing both on his blog and his book, This Is Not a Test, to his advocacy in the educolor movement, his reach is far and wide. In addition, living in New York City provides him with an additional perspective on what it’s like to teach and live in one of the world’s hotspots of COVID19. Here’s my conversation with José. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in more of these conversations, my co-author, Dr. Scott McLeod, has started a similar podcast, The COVID Chronicles which is focused a little more on leadership. Check it out!… Read the rest

There are so many people that support educators beyond classroom teacher and district leaders. Melissa Emler represents those agencies that are critical at this time in ensuring students have the bandwidth and resources to be successful. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in more of these conversations, my co-author, Dr. Scott McLeod, has started a similar podcast, The COVID Chronicles which is focused a little more on leadership. Check it out!… Read the rest

Eric Langhorst is a long time connection of mine who has always been at the forefront of educational technology in his classroom. He’s also part of a district that had many things in place to transition as smoothly as possible into this new learning. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in more of these conversations, my co-author, Dr. Scott McLeod, has started a similar podcast, The COVID Chronicles which is focused a little more on leadership. Check it out!… Read the rest

Alaina Trott is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Chesapeake Public School Division in Virginia. She is part of a team and school division that has been focused on equity for several years. This time in our world has put their values to the test and they are definitely in a better position than many to understand and deal with equity issues as they represent a major concern in the Covid-19 world. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in more of these conversations, my co-author, Dr. Scott McLeod, has started a similar podcast, The COVID Chronicles which is focused a little more on leadership. Check it out!… Read the rest

I have a list in my head of smart people I’ve never met in person. Amy Fast is on that list. Her disposition and beliefs line up very closely with mine. She shares great stuff online and is willing to share her struggles as well as shining a light on those she serves. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in more of these conversations, my co-author, Dr. Scott McLeod, has started a similar podcast, The COVID Chronicles which is focused a little more on leadership. Check it out!… Read the rest

Allison Curry is a born and raised Alaskan and did a tremendous job helping me understand their realities during Covid19. She’s a long time technology advocate with lots of expertise. She’d be a great person to connect with if you aren’t already following her on twitter. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in more of these conversations, my co-author, Dr. Scott McLeod, has started a similar podcast, The COVID Chronicles which is focused a little more on leadership. Check it out!… Read the rest

I’ve been privileged to work with Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach and Powerful Learning Practice supporting and coaching educators in Guam over the past several months. One of the great educators I’ve met and worked with is Solange Prudente, a teacher-librarian at Astumbo Elementary School. Solange shares about her work in that role as well as the way in which Guam is dealing with the crisis. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in more of these conversations, my co-author, Dr. Scott McLeod, has started a similar podcast, The COVID Chronicles which is focused a little more on leadership. Check it out!… Read the rest

What a privilege to interview Carla Pereira, the Director of Communications at Peel District School Board in Ontario. Carla is one of my favourite follows on Twitter both as a communications expert but also as a warm, funny human. Carla offers some unique perspectives in terms of messaging for parents, students and teachers. No doubt, these people are amongst the busiest during this time. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re interested in more of these conversations, my co-author, Dr. Scott McLeod, has started a similar podcast, The Covid Chronicles which is focused a little more on leadership. Check it out!… Read the rest

Chris Layton is a vice-principal in Oak Ridge Tennesee. Along with being a thoughtful leader, Chris’s school is in the enviable position of being a 1-1 laptop school that has worked hard over the past 5 years to embrace a blended learning model. As you’ll hear, there are still many challenges but he’s also creating opportunities for learning to thrive. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. … Read the rest

In this episode, I’m joined by Monise Seward a special education teacher in Georgia. Monise shares the very real needs and challenges that some of our most vulnerable students face. Her vast experience in this field sheds light on a number of issues. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. … Read the rest

Jarrod Lamshed tested positive for the Coronavirus a few weeks back. He’s also a teacher in Adelaide, Australia. So far, Jarrod is the only person I know who has tested positive. Jarrod shares his story as well as the efforts and challenges in Australia. We also discuss his love of singing. Be sure to connect with Jarrod either on Twitter or Facebook. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. … Read the rest

Jabiz Raisdana is an International middle school educator that I’ve known for many years. He is a very introspective person and I’ve always appreciated the way he has shared his journey as a person and educator. Today he shares what’s happening in Singapore in terms of how its country is handling the virus as well as how he and his school is handling the challenges of the crisis. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. … Read the rest

Chris Kennedy is one of the most respected educators I know. He’s the Superintendent of the West Vancouver School District. As expected he’s handled this crisis with calm and integrity. Chris lays out the expectations that the British Columbia ministry of education has mandated and it offers a clear plan for continuing the work of schools. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. … Read the rest

Grateful to chat with Rachael Postle-Brown a principal in Jenison, Michigan as she shares her challenges and efforts to support her staff. Also a surprise appearance by her daughter later on. Truly a delight to talk with this outstanding leader. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. … Read the rest

This post was last updated on 2 months ago at 2 months ago What I hope to be a series, this is the first conversation with an Illinois educator sharing his story about the impact and experience thus far with Covid19 and what it means to him as a Learning Commons teacher. You can listen or watch here but if you’re a podcast listener you can also subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify. … Read the rest

This post was last updated on 2 months ago at 2 months ago I’m a bit of a cart-before-the-horse kinda person. As well as a #seatofmypants gu. Sitting in numerous zoom calls, reading twitter feeds and other sources, it became clear that while we’re all dealing with the same kinds of issues, everyone is highly curious as to how each school, district, state, province or country is dealing with Covid19. While seeing all this unfold, I decided within about 10 minutes to start a podcast. Having played in the podcast world for over 15 years. (BTW, shout out to the EdTech Posse) I thought I’d dust off my snowball microphone, revisit my Spotify and Apple Podcast feeds, noodle around with a few technical things and go. As usual, I realized a bunch of things I hadn’t thought of or done and one of those things is a trailer or some way to introduce this to folks who don’t easily subscribe to podcasts or the #seatofmypants approach. I’m excited to do this and already have educators from Australia, Singapore, China as well as the US and Canada. I have teachers, librarians, principals, Superintendents and other educators ready to share their … Read the rest

It began with this tweet: I hear some suggest everyone should learn to code. Ok. But should everyone learn basic woodworking? electrical work? cooking? plumbing? automotive? Those are all good things but is time part of the issue? How do all these good things get taught? Just thinking out loud.— Dean Shareski (@shareski) September 10, 2018 When I say “thinking out loud” that’s not some kind of coy add-on, I truly am curious and enjoy hearing a broad range of perspectives. Gary Stager offered to take a deeper dive into this statement and so myself, Gary and Shana White took a stab at it.  Gary referenced this slide as he shared: … Read the rest

This post was last updated on May 6th, 2017 at 09:04 pm Old school podcast, from a car, in northern Alberta.   A response to this post from Bud Hunt. [podcast]http://ideasandthoughts.org/podcasts/podcast57.mp3[/podcast] Enjoy.  … Read the rest

I had an idea on a flight today. [podcast]http://ideasandthoughts.org/podcasts/SPIKE1.mp3[/podcast] Smart People I Know presentation My other podcasts Now add your questions or ideas. Thanks.    … Read the rest

I wasn’t completely happy with my last post. No, not because some people told me I pretty much was a loser because I was too lazy to fix my spelling, but because I don’t think I clearly articulated the difference between how publishing is different today. Here’s a hint at the analogy I tried.                  … Read the rest

wil p via Compfight It's been over 5 years since Randy Pausch delivered his last lecture. If  somehow it passed you by, watch the video and even get the book.  As I was preparing for some work with administrators I recalled a short story from the lecture. I've trimmed it and would be happy to see others share this little story with other leaders. There's a simple but powerful lesson here. One that has the potential to empower others. Know any leaders like this? [podcast format=”video”]http://ideasandthoughts.org/video/pausch.mp4[/podcast]… Read the rest

I said I would podcast more so I am. Just trying to be regular.  Here are a few links to this podcast: CBC Spark Randoll Stross, The LaunchPad YCombinator Flipped Classroom Pros and Cons The sound is pretty raw. I recorded while walking the dog and there was a bit of wind. I used Audcaity's Noise Removal tool but I probably didn't use it correctly. It's useable but not great. Good thing it's only 7 minutes. Also if you'd like to subscribe via itunes, this link will put them in your itunes library and sync to your device if that suits your fancy.  [podcast]http://ideasandthoughts.org/podcasts/podcast55.mp3[/podcast] … Read the rest

Zac invites me to explore further my recent post and invites his friend Dave, who offers a different perspective. So we hop on Skype and talk. As a bonus, my daughter, a young teacher herself, joins us later on in the podcast to offer some of her own insights.   I have to say, podcasting and conversation is a hugely underutilized format. The lack of ability to monitor, edit and delete ourselves and hear folks in authentic, real time conversation is something I'd love to hear more. So if you have 50 minutes, which I'm sure most of you don't, you might enjoy this talk and find out whether or not your dentist needs to be passionate and whether this idea of passion is as big a deal as we sometimes think it is.  You'll also learn what Zac will do for free.  [podcast]http://ideasandthoughts.org/podcasts/podcast54.mp3[/podcast]   Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dainec/59778641/… Read the rest

Today I listened to this full interview with Douglas Rushkoff on Spark. Rushkoff's advocacy for everyone to understand code is something worth considering. There were three big ideas that I took from this interview. Perhaps not entirely new ideas but ones that were presented in a slightly new way.  1. Being creators makes us better consumers I know from experience that my time spent learning how to make movies has made me a more critical and also a more appreciative viewer. Knowing how something is made, even if we're not experts is valuable. In this case, Rushkoff shares how knowing programming and code even at a basic level will help us understand the technologies we use every day. When we realize how much time we all use this stuff, it becomes even more important than knowing the technical reasons but the moral implications as well. I remember in my Masters studies examining the question of whether technology can be neutral. I don't think it can and yet it becomes difficult to engage in that conversation unless you have an understanding of how it's designed. 2. We'll be  the last generation that understands digital and analog. If you're older than say … Read the rest