Podcasts about been wanting

Maybe you've thought of and questioned some of the traditions in marriage or maybe you haven't thought about it at all and just went along with it for the sake of "tradition". I think it's time for a lot of these traditions to die and could potentially lead to longer, healthier relationships and marriages. I'll cover my top 7 and please let me know what you think, if you agree or disagree, and share with a friend!   Time Stamps:   (0:10) Been Wanting to Talk About This for Awhile (1:30) Disclaimer Before We Begin (2:05) #1: Waiting to Move In Together Before Marriage (4:50) Data Around This Topic (8:00) Beware of Co-Signing Though (9:55) #2: Taking Your Husband's Last Name (14:00) Create Your Last Name (16:25) #3: The Woman's Family Paying For The Wedding (20:15) #4: Wedding Average Cost of 30-40k (24:24) #5: In-Laws Having a Say About Raising Your Children (27:40) #6: Getting a Prenup Is “Selfish” (31:40) #7: Getting Married Without Going Through Licensed Therapy (33:30) Recapping and Love To Hear Your Opinion! --------------------- Stay Connected: Instagram: @alyciaisrael Facebook: Alycia Israel Apparel: Be Your Own Daddy

Today, Shawnee Caruthers, the Director of Learner Experience at Getting Smart, is sitting down with Dr. Debbie Silver. Dr. Silver is an award-winning educator with 30 years of experience as a classroom teacher, staff development instructor, and university professor. As a former Louisiana State Teacher of the Year, Debbie is one of the nation’s most popular keynote speakers and professional development presenters, having given presentations around the world (including 49 states, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Africa, and Asia). In this conversation today, Shawnee and Debbie speak about the second edition of her beloved 2012 bestseller, Fall Down 7 Times, Get Up 8, titled, Fall Down 7 Times, Get Up 8: Raising and Teaching Self-Motivated Learners, K-12, which was released this month (May 2021). They discuss student agency, self-efficacy, what parents should be telling their kids, the importance of failure, and some of the key highlights from her newest book.   Key Takeaways: [:09] About today’s episode with Dr. Debbie Silver. [:41] Shawnee welcomes Debbie to the podcast! [1:01] Debbie shares what inspired her to pursue a career in education. [2:17] How education and humor collide. [3:53] Debbie shares her thoughts on how we can better teach joy and live joyfully. [10:02] Shawnee congratulates Debbie on her new book, Fall Down 7 Times, Get Up 8: Raising and Teaching Self-Motivated Learners, K-12, and Debbie shares what inspired her to write the original edition of the book in the first place. [13:12] Why Debbie jumped on the opportunity to do the new edition of her book. [16:45] How agency and equity both connect and differ. [19:56] Why agency is so powerful and important for children. [23:08] Why “failure isn’t an option” is such a harmful thing for teachers to tell their students. And why, instead, they should be preaching the importance of failure. [27:16] What Debbie wishes she knew earlier as a teacher. [29:41] Shawnee thanks Debbie for joining the Getting Smart podcast!   Mentioned in This Episode: Rashawn “Shawnee” Caruthers | Getting Smart Debbie Silver Fall Down 7 Times, Get Up 8: Raising and Teaching Self-Motivated Learners, K-12, by Debbie Thompson Silver Brené Brown Carol Dweck “‘I Wish You Bad Luck.’ Read Supreme Court Justice John Roberts’ Unconventional Speech to His Son’s Graduating Class” Corwin   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom sits down with Dr. Fernande Raine, a social entrepreneur who works towards re-imagining how we talk about, teach and use history as well as bringing civics education to the forefront. She currently heads Got history and The Learning Collaborative, two organizations that work to change the way we teach and think about history. Let’s listen in as Fernande and Tom talk about new approaches to history, democracy and changemaking. This episode of the Getting Smart Podcast is sponsored by The Invention Opportunity.  Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe. Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

This week, Tom Vander Ark is sitting down with Justina Nixon-Saintil, the Vice President and Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at IBM. Justina drives strategic, socially responsible programmatic investments that enable IBM’s technology and talent to address some of society’s biggest challenges worldwide. She also leads initiatives like P-TECH and SkillsBuilds and uses multi-sector partnerships to help create more inclusive and innovative schools and workforces. Justina was also Verizon’s liaison to President Obama’s White House Office of Science and Technology, U.S. Department of the Interior, and U.S. Department of Education. Earlier in her career, she was an engineer for the U.S. Department of Energy. Join in for today’s conversation to learn about how Justina’s unique career trajectory from engineering to social responsibility, the future of IBM, digital credentialing, P-TECH, SkillsBuild, skills-based hiring, how IBM is doing its part in addressing inequities in America, the state of corporate social responsibility, and much more.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About Screencastify, the leading K-12 screen recording solution. [:39] About today’s episode with Justina Nixon-Saintil. [1:33] Tom welcomes Justina to the podcast! [1:57] Justina speaks about her upbringing and early education. [4:10] Justina’s experience as the only African-American to graduate in her engineering class. [5:06] Tom and Justina speak about how we have to do a better job of introducing young people to the STEM field. [6:30] Is Justina encouraged by the response of leading companies like IBM to really live into their corporate social responsibility? [9:15] IBM’s stance on AI. [10:33] Justina’s thoughts on inequities in America (especially for women and People of Color) and how it fits into her role at IBM. [13:35] How IBM has been a leader in moving towards skills-based hiring as a strategy to attack inequity. [16:29] About IBM’s leadership in digital credentials. [17:40] About P-TECH. [20:29] Tom and Justina give a shout-out to Dallas ISD for having a P-TECH as the campus. [21:17] What is Open P-TECH? [22:20] Applications of AI that Justina is most excited about. [24:25] How does Justina continue to learn? [25:52] Tom thanks Justina for joining the podcast! [26:02] Thanks to Getting Smart’s sponsor, Screencastify.   Mentioned in This Episode: Screencastify.com/GettingSmart Justina Nixon-Saintil’s LinkedIn P-TECH SkillsBuild IBM Credentials Open P-TECH Dallas ISD   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today the Getting Smart team is sitting down with Mark White, an award-winning teacher, Principal, and Superintendent, as well as Dwight Carter, a nationally recognized school leader and Director of Student Support Services at Eastland-Fairfield Career Center in Groveport, Ohio. Recently, Mark and Dwight published the second edition of their book, Leading Schools in Disruptive Times: How To Survive Hyper-Change. With school leaders facing unprecedented disruption, Mark and Dwight draw the blueprint in their book for adapting schools to ever-changing times. They provide practical strategies for identifying and responding to disruptions; an overview of the CAT framework; real-life stories from exceptional educational leaders; tips on guiding teachers, staff, and students through the many lessons learned during the pandemic; and a grounded examination of radical disruptions schools will face in the years to come. Together, Tom, Mark, and Dwight discuss the new edition of their book, what they’ve learned in writing it, key lessons throughout their careers, and how educators can prepare students for a globalized world when many institutions are not ready for the constantly changing 21st century. Key Takeaways: [:08] About today’s episode with Mark White and Dwight Carter. [:45] Tom welcomes Mark and Dwight to the podcast! [:55] Did Mark and Dwight both grow up in Groveport, Ohio? How did they first meet? [2:34] Mark speaks about the challenges he faced becoming a Superintendent during a recession in 2009. [3:52] As a school leader for more than 18 years, Dwight shares his key takeaways for success as a high school leader. [5:41] What Dwight does as a school leader to set the tone in his building. [7:24] Dwight shares a story about hiring a live DJ to kick off the school year right! [8:07] Mark shares what he believes makes Dwight so successful as a school leader. [8:48] Tom congratulates Mark and Dwight on the second edition of their book, Leading Schools in Disruptive Times. [9:02] How did they come up with the idea to write a book on this topic? [11:00] When did Mark and Dwight begin to work on the updated edition? [12:53] Why the testing model in schools may be the one thing that is holding schools back the most. [15:15] How the pandemic pushed agility forward with schools and what that looks like today. [17:38] Mark elaborates on the factors that are shaping the schools of tomorrow. [18:44] Dwight’s hopes for how the pandemic will impact schools going forward. [19:25] In Chapter 1 of Leading Schools in Disruptive Times, it says, “If leaders are going to thrive, they have to use disruption to their advantage.” How can teachers do this? [22:14] Mark speaks about what it means to be globally ready and a post-pandemic world through transparency. [24:18] Dwight’s tips for school leaders on how to stay in closer touch with their communities. [26:56] Mark applauds American teachers on their rapid adaptation to change and shares his take on the importance of technology in education. [29:02] Dwight shares his thoughts on updating your technology so that it supports your learning agenda. [30:44] How does Dwight flip a bad situation into a positive one as a school administrator? [33:06] Mark’s advice for school and system heads leading in disruptive times. [34:17] Tom congratulates Mark and Dwight once again on the second edition of their book and thanks them for joining this week’s episode.   Mentioned in This Episode: Mark White Dwight Carter Eastland-Fairfield Career Center Leading Schools in Disruptive Times: How To Survive Hyper-Change (Second Edition), by Mark White and Dwight Carter Mindset Digital   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

Today Tom is joined by Fred Dust; the author of the new book, Making Conversation: Seven Essential Elements of Meaningful Communication. Fred is a former Senior Partner and Global Managing Director of the legendary design firm, IDEO. And in his new book, he shows how to design conversations and meetings that are both creative and impactful. Join the conversation as Tom and Fred discuss the four pillars of conversation, where conversation interconnects with design, and how we can do a better job of helping young people develop these skills.   Key Takeaways: [:08] About today’s episode with Fred Dust. [:40] Tom welcomes Fred to the podcast and congratulates him on his terrific new book! [:56] Fred shares his thoughts on why design thinking is now more important than ever before. [2:55] Would Fred agree that almost every step of design-thinking involves a conversation or a set of conversations? [5:58] Fred shares what prompted him to write his book, Making Conversation. [9:58] Why does a good and clear conversation start with commitment? [11:30] The second chapter of Making Conversation is on clarity. Fred elaborates on the importance of being metacognitive about what, how, and to whom you’re communicating. [15:31] Fred gives his take on code-switching and whether or not it should be something that we’re teaching. [19:32] The importance of being context-aware. [20:55] What constraints have to do with conversations. [23:24] About Screencastify, the leading K-12 screen recording solution. [24:09] How education can teach conversations and real dialogue in high school. [27:39] In writing, formative feedback is quite important. Is the same true for conversation? And if so, where and how should learners be getting formal or informal feedback on the way that they engage in dialogue? [30:15] The most important place to learn the art of dialogue at the secondary level. [32:15] Fred shares his thoughts on how we can educate the primary grades on dialogue. [34:31] Fred discusses how we can approach reconnecting with kids as fall approaches. [36:23] One conversation every kid should be having right now. [36:42] How Valor’s Powered by Compass program engages students around the country in thoughtful dialogue. [37:09] Tough conversations: how to have them. [40:20] Fred shares his personal mission and how he continues his learning. [41:52] Who should read Fred’s book, Making Conversation. [42:40] Tom thanks Fred for joining the Getting Smart Podcast.   Mentioned in This Episode: Fred Dust Making Conversation Making Conversation: Seven Essential Elements of Meaningful Communication, by Fred Dust High Tech High IDEO Elizabeth Warren The Power of Place: Authentic Learning Through Place-Based Education, by Tom Vander Ark, Emily Liebtag, and Nate McClennen Screencastify.com/GettingSmart Giving Voice to Values: How to Speak Your Mind When You Know What's Right, by Mary C. Gentile ChildArt Magazine Jan 2021 Issue Valor’s Powered by Compass Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 301: “Joe Erpelding on Magical Schools and Thrively”   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today, Tom is speaking with Dr. Christina Theokas, Chief of Applied Science at Turnaround for Children, about the whole-child design movement and the new Toolbox from Turnaround for Children. The Turnaround for Children Toolbox is an online hub created by educators, for educators — and is backed by science, research, and passion. With this tool, educators will be able to create a supportive environment, cultivate developmental relationships, and build students’ knowledge, skills, and mindsets. Prior to her role with Turnaround, Christina was the Director of Research at the National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST) where she studied the teaching practices, systems and structures, and leadership of high-performing urban schools; and worked with educators to implement those strategies in their schools. Join Tom and Christina for this fascinating conversation around why whole-child education matters now more than ever before, how to use the Turnaround for Children Toolbox, and how educators and ed-leaders can get started with implementing these mindsets and approaches in their strategies.   Key Takeaways: [:08] About today’s episode with Christina Theokas. [:52] Tom welcomes Christina Theokasto to the podcast. [1:22] Christina shares about her original introduction to whole-child learning and development. [3:59] What is whole-child learning and development? [6:25] Is social-emotional learning (SEL) a subset of whole-child learning and development? [8:38] As the Chief Applied Science Officer at Turnaround for Children, Christina elaborates on why the team has worked on a toolbox that summarizes the science of learning and development for educators. [12:42] About the tiered support resources within the Toolbox. [14:42] About the Well-Being index that is a part of the Turnaround for Children Toolbox. [16:24] Is there a secondary version and an elementary version of the Well-Being Index? [16:47] How often does Christina recommend that teachers use the Well-Being Index? [18:20] Is the Toolbox for teachers, school leaders, policymakers, parents, or everybody involved with education? [21:21] How will this dynamic resource change over time? [23:32] About Turnaround for Children’s Building Blocks for Learning resources. [25:32] The importance of student agency. [26:27] Christina’s parting words of advice for teachers and school leaders in getting started on their whole-child journey. [27:58] How Christina stays focused and productive as an individual learner. [29:23] Where to learn more about the Turnaround for Children Toolbox. [30:00] Tom thanks Christina for joining the podcast.   Mentioned in This Episode: Christina Theokas Turnaround for Children Toolbox Well-Being Index | Turnaround for Children Toolbox Building Blocks for Learning | Turnaround for Children Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 217: “How Educators Can Positively Impact a Child’s Cognitive Development with Dr. Pamela Cantor”   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today. Tom is sitting down with author and entrepreneur, Suneel Gupta, to discuss his new book, BACKABLE: The Surprising Truth Behind What Makes People Take a Chance on You. Suneel is the co-founder of Rise Labs, Inc. and teaches innovation on faculty at Harvard University. Using the seven steps inside BACKABLE, Suneel went from being the face of failure for the New York Times to being the “New Face of Innovation” for the New York Stock Exchange. His ideas have been backed by firms like Greylock and Google Ventures, and he has invested in startups including Airbnb, Calm, and SpaceX. Suneel also serves as an emissary for Gross National Happiness between the United States and the Kingdom of Bhutan. Tune in for today’s fascinating discussion as Tom and Suneel discuss how the “it” factor can be learned, what makes someone “backable,” failure, Gross National Happiness, and some of the biggest lessons and key concepts from his book, BACKABLE.   Key Takeaways: [:08] About today’s episode with Suneel Gupta. [:52] Tom welcomes Suneel to the podcast. [1:06] About Suneel’s rich career background. [2:22] Suneel talks about why surveying for Gross National Happiness is important, what initially got him interested in better measurement for societal progress, and key lessons he learned in speaking directly to the researchers in Bhutan who collect the GNH data. [6:05] What Suneel learned about the art of pitching in writing his book, BACKABLE. [9:10] What makes someone “backable.” [10:47] Suneel unpacks the second concept of what makes someone backable: “Put yourself in a story that makes your case memorable.” [14:41] Suneel elaborates on the sixth concept of what makes someone backable: “You can’t just wing it. You have to practice and you have to adjust based on feedback from practice.” [17:27] How high school and college could do a better job in helping people develop the skills necessary in order to become more backable. [21:48] Why everyone can benefit from reading BACKABLE. [22:29] About Screencastify, the leading K-12 screen recording solution. [23:15] How Suneel continues to learn. [25:45] Tom congratulates Suneel for his new book and thanks him for joining the podcast!   Mentioned in This Episode: Suneel Gupta BACKABLE: The Surprising Truth Behind What Makes People Take a Chance on You, by Suneel Gupta with Carlye Adler Rise Labs, Inc. Gross National Happiness TED Talk “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” by Sir Ken Robinson Screencastify.com/GettingSmart Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 302: “Kim Smith on Creating Schools, Companies and the Pahara Institute”   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today, Tom talks with Nate Kellogg of The Learning Accelerator and Gwen Baker of Bellwether Education Partners about the Strategy Lab — a project of the Always Ready for Learning initiative. The Strategy Lab is a networked learning community from The Learning Accelerator, in partnership with Bellwether Education Partners, working to accelerate the development of a more resilient and equitable education future. This work culminated in the Real-Time Redesign toolkit, an actionable resource for helping districts apply the key learnings and processes from the Strategy Lab work. Listen in as Tom speaks with Nate and Gwen about this important collaborative work within a network of schools and districts. And be sure to stay tuned until the end to hear from some of the participants themselves!   Key Takeaways: [:08] About today’s episode with Nate Kellogg and Gwen Baker. [:52] Tom welcomes Nate and Gwen to the podcast. [1:09] Nate tells the origin story of the Always Ready for Learning initiative as well its three projects: the Parabola Project, the Coaching Network, and the Strategy Lab. [2:34] Gwen shares how she and Bellwether get involved in this project and why they were personally compelled by it. [4:25] Nate shares about the districts they originally focused on when beginning this project. [6:02] Which services to Gwen try to quickly mobilize and offer to these partner districts with the Strategy Lab? [7:33] Was there any learning between these districts? Were they learning together about shifting their education to remote and when/how they might go hybrid or in-person? [8:32] Gwen elaborates on how the networking between districts was one of the most powerful tools for learning and growth. [10:34] Nate explains the Real-Time Redesign toolkit. [11:46] Would Gwen say that the toolkit is still highly useful for not only the participating districts but other districts as well right now? [12:57] Nate shares his predictions and hopes for what may be better or different in the fall with their partnered districts as a result of the work they’re doing. [15:22] Gwen shares her hopes and predictions for the fall as a result of the work that they’ve done with their partnered districts. [16:56] Does this COVID-19 era mark the end of the individual practitioner and the beginning of teaching teams and embracing new strategies and tools around personalized and competency-based learning? And if so, does Gwen see this as a permanent shift going forward? [18:40] Does Nate think that many of the districts that they’ve worked with will continue to have an online or virtual learning program post-pandemic? [19:49] Does Nate believe we will continue to see enriched online programs that incorporate more project-based learning and more community connections, as well as more hybrid programs that stick around long-term, post-pandemic? [21:04] Does Gwen have any predictions for new models that she thinks we’ll see in the fall or beyond? [21:58] Where to find more information about the Strategy Lab and the Real-Time Redesign toolkit. [22:44] Gwen shares some parting words to districts and leaders curious about the projects. [23:02] Tom thanks Gwen and Nate for joining the podcast! [23:19] The districts that participated in the Strategy Lab share their thoughts on the process and answer the questions: 1. What was the most powerful part of the Strategy Lab cohort? 2. What are they piloting as a result of the Strategy Lab and the Real-Time Redesign process? [23:34] The Chief Academic Officer of Indianapolis Public Schools, Dr. Warren Morgan, shares his thoughts on the Strategy Lab cohort. [26:55] The Director of Academics at the Austin Independent School District, Suzanne Newell, shares her thoughts on the Strategy Lab cohort. [30:42] The Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at Renton School District, Bob Ettinger, shares his thoughts on the Strategy Lab cohort.   Mentioned in This Episode: Nate Kellogg The Learning Accelerator Gwen Baker Bellwether Education Partners Strategy Lab Real-Time Redesign Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Indianapolis Public Schools Austin ISD Mastery Charter Phoenix Charter Academy Cedar Rapids Community School District Warren Morgan Suzanne Newell Balance With Blended Learning: Partner With Your Students to Reimagine Learning and Reclaim Your Life, by Catlin R. Tucker Getting Smart Podcast Ep.293: “Beth Rabbit and Asaf Bitton on the State of Health and the Parabola Project”   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today, Tom is sitting down with Thomas Homer-Dixon, the author of the new book, Commanding Hope: The Power We Have to Renew a World in Peril. Thomas is also the author of the well-received book, The Ingenuity Gap, and, the Director of the Cascade Institute at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC, Canada. Additionally, he also holds a University Research Chair in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo. In this conversation, Tom and Thomas discuss why and how the world is getting more complex, the role of complexity scientists, the focus of the Cascade Institute, the importance of young people developing a sense of agency, what schools can do to educate their students about climate change, and about his book, Commanding Hope.   Key Takeaways: [:08] About today’s episode with Thomas Homer-Dixon. [:38] Tom welcomes Thomas to the podcast. [:55] What is a complexity scientist? And what do they do? [3:51] The observations and systems that led Thomas to spot the ingenuity gap that he wrote about 20 years ago in The Ingenuity Gap. And is it worse today than it was 20 years ago? [7:17] Observations from Getting Smart’s “20 Invention Opportunities in Learning & Development” report. [9:37] Tom highlights how, increasingly, innovation in the public space requires a combination of public, private, and philanthropic funding. [10:17] Thomas highlights an advantage we have today: our capacity to ramp up combinatorial innovation. [11:48] What the Cascade Institute is, what they do, and its mission. [15:00] Tom congratulates Thomas on his new book and reads the opening passage. [16:13] Who is Stephanie May and why was she an inspiration for Thomas’s new book, Commanding Hope? [21:28] How important is helping students develop a sense of agency and knowing that they can have an impact on the world? How do students achieve a sense of agency? [24:29] How and where students should learn about climate change. [26:06] How schools and system heads should engage young people in solutions around climate change. [28:28] Simple cultural efforts schools can make to help create more awareness among their students on their environmental footprint. [29:35] The importance of creating space for young people to take on their own passion projects and go deep with them. [30:04] Thomas shares how he continuously learns. [32:38] Has Thomas read Bill’s new book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster? [32:57] Tom thanks Thomas for joining the podcast!   Mentioned in This Episode: Thomas Homer-Dixon Commanding Hope: The Power We Have to Renew a World in Peril, by Thomas Homer-Dixon The Ingenuity Gap: Facing the Economic, Environmental, and Other Challenges of an Increasingly Complex and Unpredictable Future, by Thomas Homer-Dixon Cascade Institute University of Waterloo “20 Invention Opportunities in Learning & Development,” by Getting Smart Staff Stephanie Middleton May Elizabeth May Greta Thunberg Difference Making at the Heart of Learning: Students, Schools, and Communities Alive With Possibility, by Tom Vander Ark and Emily Liebtag How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need, by Bill Gates   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

This week, the Getting Smart team is speaking with Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski about their new book, When You Wonder, You're Learning: Mister Rogers’ Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids. Gregg Behr is the Executive Director of The Grable Foundation, a father, and a children’s advocate whose work is inspired by the legacy of his hero, Fred Rogers. His co-author, Ryan Rydzewski, is an award-winning author, reporter, and speechwriter whose science and education stories span everything from schools to space travel to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Listen in as they discuss their new book and the themes of community, collaboration, and the enduring lessons of Mister Rogers. “Not only was [Mister Rogers] that loving grandfatherly figure who made us feel loved and capable of loving, but he was also a remarkable learning scientist.” — Gregg Behr   Key Takeaways: [:10] About today’s episode with Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski. [:46] Tom welcomes Gregg and Ryan to the podcast. [1:08] Gregg speaks about his educational background and the thread of ethics and character formation that run through his work. [1:57] How and when did Gregg discover the power of active learning that is behind Remake Learning? What is the origin story of Remake Learning? [5:44] Ryan shares why he decided to teach at East Baton Rouge Parish School System back in 2009 after receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing at the University of Pittsburgh. [6:23] Did Ryan have any classes in the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh? [7:01] Gregg shares when and how Mister Rogers entered the picture in his world. [8:28] Ryan speaks about his connection to Mister Rogers growing up and why he found him so inspiring. [9:21] Gregg shares about Fred Rogers’ presence across the Pittsburgh community. [10:39] Ryan elaborates on how the environment of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was highly engineered to enrich lives and future growth and how every script, song, and story was created in alignment with proven research that benefited children. [12:13] Why warmth and safety are so important in creating space for curiosity, and the ways in which Fred Rogers embodied warmth and safety that unlocked learning for children. [14:19] Gregg highlights other points of intentionality in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood that they uncovered while writing their book, When You Wonder, You're Learning. [15:04] Why they incorporated many song lyrics into their book. [16:22] Gregg shares what he believes Mister Roger was trying to evoke when he asked, “What might you do?” on his show. [17:54] Mister Roger has said, “Listening is where love begins.” What did Ryan learn about listening in writing the book? [19:33] Gregg shares what he thinks Fred Rogers’ advice would be today about working together and collaboration. [21:35] As a writer, did Ryan find this book easy or hard to write? [22:51] Gregg shares the main mission of their book, who they tried to address, and what they hoped to accomplish by writing it. [24:58] About a powerful new tool that every teacher should be using with their students: The Well-Being Index by Turnaround for Children. [25:50] Ryan shared what he learned about himself from working on this project and how he continues to learn going forward. [27:44] What Ryan is doing to make himself a better writer and his advice for young writers. [28:48] Gregg shared what he learned about himself from working on the book and how he continues to learn about the practice of philanthropy. [30:50] Tom and Jessica thank Ryan and Gregg for joining the podcast!   Mentioned in This Episode: When You Wonder, You're Learning: Mister Rogers' Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids, by Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Gregg Behr’s LinkedIn Ryan Rydzewski’s LinkedIn The Grable Foundation Remake Learning Teach for America The Pittsburgh Foundation Turnaround for Children The Well-Being Index by Turnaround for Children Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 208: “How to Raise Successful People with Esther Wojcicki”   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

Today Tom is sitting down with Dr. Trish Scanlon, CEO and founder of SoapBox Labs. Dr. Scanlon is one of the foremost leaders in voice technology — especially with regards to children’s voices. She has over 20 years of experience working in speech recognition technology, including Bell Laboratories and IBM. In 2018, Dr. Scanlon was named one of Forbes’ top 50 “Women in Tech.” In 2020, she was ranked sixth of seventeen global visionaries in voice by industry-leading publication, Voicebot.ai. Listen in as Tom and Dr. Scanlon discuss the possibilities of voice technologies, why children pose a unique challenge in the field, and how tech can be keeping ethics and well-being at the center. Don’t miss out on this A.I. deep-dive on learning, voice tech, and creating more access for learners with differences.   Key Takeaways: [:08] About today’s episode. [:54] Tom welcomes Dr. Scanlon to the podcast. [1:12] How did Dr. Scanlon become interested in voice technology? [2:32] Was Dr. Scanlon able to find advisors 20 years ago in voice technology? [3:50] Which machine learning tools are most useful in speech recognition? [5:24] When did Dr. Scanlon recognize that speech recognition was particularly challenging for children? [8:20] The origin story of Dr. Scanlon’s company, SoapBox Labs. [10:35] Dr. Scanlon explains the service that SoapBox Labs offers its clients. [12:37] About the Turnaround for Children Toolbox. [13:17] The current and planned applications for voice recognition, speech therapy, and voice tech in learning and development in the classroom. [15:53] How they manage varying accents in speech technology. [19:06] Discussing the challenges around the biases in voice recognition technology. [21:45] Other categories of assisted tech that Dr. Scanlon is excited about with regards to how they can better serve and create more access for learners with differences. [23:53] Is the next generation growing up as voice technology natives? How should we be managing or navigating this next generation of youth growing up as voice natives? [27:04] What Dr. Scanlon thinks students and teachers should know about machine learning today, as well as how and where we should be introducing this topic in school. [28:53] Why is Dublin a hot spot for ed-tech startups? Why have they become a world leader in technology? [31:13] How does Dr. Scanlon continue her learning? [32:26] Tom thanks Dr. Scanlon for joining the podcast.   Mentioned in This Episode: SoapBox Labs Dr. Trish Scanlon Voicebot.ai Toolbox | Turnaround for Children TechCrunch EdSurge Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 258: “Flynn Coleman on a Human Algorithm”   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

This week, Tom Vander Ark is joined by a group of young change-makers and Dr. Erin Raab, Chief Strategy Impact Officer of the Choice-filled Lives Network. Together, they discuss the “100 Days of Conversations” project, a collaborative project organized to catalyze conversations in communities across the country on each of the first 100 days of the new administration. Alongside Erin, three young men are setting the stage for impactful and life-changing conversations in Minnesota. These young men are Jose Perez, Cole Stevens, and Walter Cortina. And together they run an organization called Bridgemakers. Erin, Jose, Cole, and Walter share about the “100 Days of Conversations” project, Bridgemakers, and how it has impacted them, their communities, and the youth, parents, and system heads alike. The Getting Smart team loves the energy and urgency of this conversation as well as the continued emphasis on student voice. You will not want to miss out on this one!   Key Takeaways: [:08] About today’s episode. [:53] Tom welcomes Dr. Erin Raab and the three young men to the podcast. [1:11] Dr. Erin Raab speaks about her career and how reimagining education became a central part of her mission. [2:43] Dr. Raab speaks about where the insight that community conversations are key to unlocking potential comes from. [4:18] Dr. Raab shares about how she ran into the three young gentlemen accompanying her on the podcast today and what led them to work together. [6:00] Walter introduces himself and explains what Bridgemakers is all about. [6:49] Cole introduces himself and continues to share about what they do with Bridgemakers, the achievements they’ve had over the year, and how they tie in with the “100 Days of Conversations” project. [10:40] Jose introduces himself and shares how he connected with Bridgemakers. [12:58] Walter speaks about the other goals Bridgemaker is setting out to achieve. [15:03] Walter shares how he got involved with this work. [15:30] Walter shares how the High School for the Recording Arts (HSRA) has helped him do what he does today. [16:22] Cole speaks about his high school experience and why it has driven a lot of his passion for school. [17:57] Where did Cole’s passion for difference-making and reimagining education come from? [21:17] Dr. Raab shares more about the ins and outs of the “100 Days of Conversations” project. [24:30] Walter shares more about his experience with being both a participant and host with the “100 Days of Conversations” project. [25:42] Jose shares his own experience with the “100 Days of Conversations” project. [28:03] Cole shares his own experience with the “100 Days of Conversations” project and how Bridgemakers helped him with his agency and confidence. [29:28] Walter speaks about how both the youth and the adults come away from these conversations feeling enlightened and empowered. [30:31] Are school administrators and system heads generally sponsoring these conversations? How are they involved and what are the hoped-for outcomes for them as well as the students and parents involved? [33:19] How being a conversation host has changed Walter and the way he thinks about his path forward. Walter also shares what’s next on his roadmap. [35:00] Dr. Raab shares what’s next for the “100 Days of Conversations” project. She also shares what she’s learned through this initiative and the aspirations for change that she hopes will come as a result of it. [38:32] Cole shares about his next steps and how he is going to take his Bridgemakers experience forward. [42:05] Tom thanks all three young men for their leadership at Bridgemakers. [42:17] Tom thanks Dr. Erin Raab for her work and she shares where to learn more about the “100 Days of Conversations” project.   Mentioned in This Episode: Bridgemakers Choice-filled Lives Network Dr. Erin Raab | Choice-filled Lives Network “100 Days of Conversations” Project | Choice-filled Lives Network REENVISIONED Human Restoration Project Local Voices Network Youthprise High School for the Recording Arts (HSRA) Difference Making at the Heart of Learning: Students, Schools, and Communities Alive With Possibility, by Tom Vander Ark and Emily Liebtag   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

Welcome back to the Nevada Succeeds mini-series! This three-part series is all about leadership, innovation, and education opportunities within Nevada Succeeds — a Las Vegas-based education non-profit focused on empowering systems transformation through educator impact, policy, and design-thinking. This third part with Nevada Succeeds marks the finale of the series. Tom is joined by return guest Jeanine Collins, as well as Dr. Marion Smith, Dr. Kaleb Rashad, and Eric Chagala. Jeanine Collins is the founder and Executive Director of Nevada Succeeds; an Adjunct Faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and the Founder and Principal at Reflect Forward. Dr. Marion Smith is the Superintendent of Summit School District, Colorado. His Racial Equity Adaptive Leadership framework (R.E.A.L) is key to the Nevada Succeeds fellowship program design. Dr. Kaleb Rashad is the Creative Director of the High Tech High Graduate School of Education. Eric Chagala is the founding principal of the Vista Innovation & Design Academy (VIDA). Together, Kaleb and Eric have been hard at work on a new initiative called Unlocked, a Black-led 501(c)3 education non-profit, where they have had an instrumental influence on the mindset and methodology of the Nevada Succeeds’ InspirED Fellowship. In this episode, Jeanine, Dr. Smith, Dr. Rashad, and Eric discuss the future of leadership, preparation, and development, how they all connected and came to be collaborators with Nevada Succeeds, what human-centered and equity-focused design means to them, the importance of creative leadership, and their thoughts on how we can all become more thoughtful school and community leaders.   Key Takeaways: [:04] About the Nevada Succeeds mini-series. [1:22] About the third and final part of the series. [2:10] Tom welcomes special guest, Jeanine Collins, back to the podcast! [2:44] Jeanine introduces Dr. Marion Smith and shares how they originally connected. [4:29] Dr. Marion Smith shares about his career journey and rich educational history! [5:43] How did Dr. Marion Smith develop his racial equity adaptive leadership framework? What is it about and what does it aim to accomplish? [8:58] Jeanine shares why the framework resonates so much with her and why she wanted to incorporate it into the Nevada Succeeds fellowship. [11:04] Tom welcomes Dr. Kaleb Rashad and Eric Chagala to the podcast! [11:51] Kaleb shares how he and Eric came together to create Unlocked, a Black-led 501(c)3 education non-profit. [14:03] Jeanine shares what she loves about Eric and Kaleb and why she wanted to get them involved with Nevada Succeeds. [16:24] Eric explains what human-centered and equity-focused design means when it comes to VIDA and Unlocked. [18:32] Eric shares some practical examples of human-centered and equity-focused design and the results that it brings. [20:48] Marion speaks about what human-centered and equity-focused design means at a system level. [24:27] What is creative leadership? And why is it more important than ever? [28:22] Jeanine elaborates on how they keep the spirit and message of equity and justice alive amongst the Nevada Succeeds fellows! [30:08] On the Unlocked website, there is a quote about inviting kids to do work that really matters to them and their community. Eric elaborates on this and shares how, at VIDA, they are “tending to the souls of schools.” [31:24] Dr. Smith speaks about the kinds of experiences that people would benefit the most from in terms of preparing them to be thoughtful school and community leaders. [34:58] Kaleb shares about the ways in which we can prepare people to be thoughtful school and community leaders. [39:35] Eric shares how he believes people can become more thoughtful school and community leaders. [41:20] Jeanine shares what is on Nevada Succeeds’ roadmap and what she hopes to accomplish in the future. [43:11] Tom thanks everyone for joining the podcast! [43:40] Shawnee concludes the Nevada Succeeds three-part mini-series!   Mentioned in This Episode: Rashawn “Shawnee” Caruthers | Getting Smart Nevada Succeeds Nevada Succeeds InspirED Global Fellowship Jeanine Collins’ LinkedIn Dr. Marion Smith Jr.’s LinkedIn Summit School District, Colorado Educate to Liberate Consulting Dr. Kaleb Rashad’s Website High Tech High (HTH)Eric Chagala’s Website Vista Innovation & Design Academy (VIDA) Unlocked Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 263: “Kaleb Rashad on Race and Education in America” Difference Making at the Heart of Learning: Students, Schools, and Communities Alive With Possibility, by Tom Vander Ark and Emily Liebtag Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 314: “Up Close with Nevada Succeeds: Origins of the InspirED Fellowship” (Part 1) Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 316: “Up Close with Nevada Succeeds: Leading State Learning Transformation” (Part 2)   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

In this week’s episode, Tom is sitting down once again with special guest, Pavel Luksha. Pavel Luksha is a leading education futurist. He’s a Professor of Practice at Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO, the Director and founder of Global Education Futures, and serves on the advisory board for Whittle School and Studios. What drives Pavel forward is creating a world that works for everyone. He’s a global thinker and change catalyst focused on creating the discipline of social ecosystem gardening. Recently, Pavel contributed to a new future of skills report that is one of the best that the Getting Smart team has seen on the subject! The report was a collaboration between Global Education Future, WorldSkills Russia, and WorldSkills International and is titled, “Future Skills for the 2020s: A New Hope.” It summarizes interviews that Pavel conducted with leaders and experts all over the world and focuses on the three overarching skills that are needed to build a thriving future for all. These skills are: 1) Collaborate, adapt, and transform 2) Embrace future-orientations and technological tools, and 3) Embody well-being of people and planet as our primary purpose. Listen in as Tom and Pavel discuss what learners need to know and why we live in a VUCA place. If you’re working on a new portrait of a graduate (or a graduate profile) and are thinking about the skills that your learners will need in the 2020s, this is a must-listen-to episode!   Key Takeaways: [:10] About today’s episode with Pavel Luksha. [:45] Tom welcomes Pavel back to the Getting Smart Podcast! [1:42] As a world traveler, how has the last year been for Pavel without any international travel? [2:52] How were GEF, WorldSkills, and Pavel able to conduct this study during a global pandemic? [4:05] Pavel talks about the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world and how 2020 gave people the experience of a pandemic, one of the aspects of the VUCA world. [4:47] Tom outlines the three overarching skills that the report covers and Pavel speaks about the first of the three, “Collaborate, adapt, and transform,” and why it is so critical. [8:25] Pavel speaks about the increasing mutuality towards embracing well-being, as well as some of the counter-trends that they are seeing during the pandemic. [10:52] Pavel shares about the megatrends in the report that are transforming the nature of the global economy: Digitalization, Globalization, and Environmentalization. [15:03] Pavel elaborates on this idea of life-centered, transformative, regenerative, and circular economies — and why experts see this as a likely scenario. [17:00] Pavel gives advice to education leaders and highlights the factors that they should be thinking about in the 2020s. [20:05] Pavel elaborates on how education leaders should lean into artificial intelligence, big data, and exponential technologies. [22:12] Why Tom loves “Future Skills for the 2020s” report. [23:12] Pavel shares why they went sector-by-sector in the report. [24:12] Pavel has also released an in-depth report on learning ecosystems titled, “Learning Ecosystems: An Emerging Praxis for the Future of Education.” Pavel elaborates on what a learning ecosystem is and why they are worth studying. [30:38] Pavel provides some examples of what a healthy learning ecosystem looks like. [34:30] How does Pavel keep productive and stay focused on his learning even in the midst of a global pandemic? [36:46] Tom thanks Pavel for joining the podcast once again!   Mentioned in This Episode: Pavel Luksha (LinkedIn) Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 223: “Pavel Luksha on Educating for Purpose, Potential, and the Planet” Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO “Future Skills for the 2020s,” Report by GEF, WorldSkills Russia, and WorldSkills International Global Education Futures WorldSkills Russia WorldSkills International “Learning Ecosystems: An Emerging Praxis for the Future of Education,” Report by GEF and Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO Dream a Dream   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include ‘Podcast’ in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

Welcome back to the Nevada Succeeds mini-series with your hosts, Rashawn “Shawnee” Caruthers and Tom Vander Ark! This three-part series is all about leadership, innovation, and education opportunities within Nevada Succeeds — a Las Vegas-based education non-profit focused on empowering systems transformation through educator impact, policy, and design-thinking. In this second part of the three-part series with Nevada Succeeds, Shawnee Caruthers and Tom Vander Ark welcome Nevada State Superintendent, Jhone Ebert; Nevada Succeeds Executive Director, Jeanine Collins; as well as two teachers and InspirED Global fellows, Mike Lang and Jordana McCudden. Jhone Ebert is the Superintendent of Public Instruction at the Nevada Department of Education. Previously, she was the Senior Deputy Commissioner for Education Policy of the New York State Education Department and the Chief Innovation and Productivity Officer at Clark County School District. Jeanine Collins is the  Executive Director of Nevada Succeeds; an Adjunct Faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and the founder and Principal at Reflect Forward. Mike Lang is a Technology Teacher at Clark County School District who prides himself on innovation and teaching the whole student. Jordana McCudden is a teacher, instructional coach, and project facilitator at the Clark County School District. She has worked in education for 20-plus years and strives to have a positive impact on classrooms across the state. Together, they discuss Nevada Succeeds’s InspireED Global Fellowship, why they find it so valuable as educators and leaders, how it has impacted their future plans and outlook on education, and how it has helped aid their journeys (especially during a global pandemic).   Be sure to tune in (and stay tuned for part three of the series coming next week)!   Key Takeaways: [:04] About the Nevada Succeeds mini-series. [1:23] About the second part of the three-part mini-series. [1:38] Tom welcomes special guests, Jhone Ebert, Jeanine Collins, Michael Lane, and Jordana McCudden. [2:21] Jhone Ebert gives the lay of the land in Nevada and speaks about how many students and schools there are. [3:11] The state of affairs of education in Nevada, particularly in Clark County. [6:53] In addition to the pandemic, what other priorities has Jhone Ebert set for her department as Superintendent? [11:04] Jeanine speaks about Nevada Succeeds and how she and Superintendent Ebert connected. [13:38] Mike shares how he learned about the InspireED Global Fellowship, what he did in it, and why he found it valuable. [16:15] What it has been like for Mike to teach during a pandemic, how he has helped other teachers adjust their practice this year, and important lessons he thinks we should take with us, post-pandemic. [19:04] Jordanna speaks about her role in Clark County, how she became an InspireED Global fellow, and how it has impacted the way she is thinking about her future plans. [23:22] Has helping to shape education policies statewide been a byproduct of some of Jordanna’s leadership activities? [25:01] Jhone Ebert shares her excitement and gratefulness for sharing space with incredible educators and leaders. [26:17] Jeanine speaks more about the incredible Nevada Succeeds InspirED Global Fellowship and why it is so important — especially right now. [28:20] Mike speaks about his week going forward as an educator. [29:28] Tom thanks everyone for joining the podcast.   Mentioned in This Episode: Rashawn “Shawnee” Caruthers | Getting Smart Nevada Succeeds Nevada Succeeds InspirED Global Fellowship Jeanine Collins’ LinkedIn Jhone Ebert’s LinkedIn Mike Lang’s LinkedIn Jordana McCudden’s LinkedIn Las Vegas Sands Getting Smart’s Newest Report: “20 Invention Opportunities in Learning & Development”   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

Today, Tom is sitting down with three outstanding learners who are passionate about difference-making, innovation, and making the world a better place. All three students — Sofia Sanchez, Naila Moloo, and Aaryan Harshith — are a part of The Knowledge Society (TKS); one of Getting Smart’s favorite afterschool programs! Sofia Sanchez is passionate about synthetic biology, biotechnology, and innovation. Currently, she’s attending the Tecnológico de Monterrey high school in Mexico and focuses her studies on exponential technologies so that she can start a company that impacts the world in a positive way. Naila Moloo attends the Elmwood high school in Ontario and is passionate about sustainable energy — specifically where it intersects with nanotechnology. Naila loves to learn about anything related to emerging technology, ranging from quantum physics to space exploration. Aaryan Harshith attends the Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School in Ontario and is working to create a better, healthier world through the things he builds and the research he conducts. For the past two years, his primary focus has been on building a medical device to enhance cancer diagnosis during surgery — currently, he’s in the process of running human trials for it! Listen in as Tom speaks with these learners to hear about their motivations to change the world, the emerging opportunities they see, and how they practice continuous learning. They share about their passion projects, hopes for the future, how they would change high school if they could, their visions for difference-making in this world, and how TKS has aided them in their learning journeys. This is an episode that has left the entire Getting Smart team feeling incredibly inspired so be sure not to miss out!   Key Takeaways: [:08] About today’s episode with three incredible students. [1:38] Tom welcomes the three learners to the podcast! [2:51] Sofia shares how she became so passionate about synthetic biology. [3:31] How did Sofia discover TKS? [4:21] How did Sofia turn her interest in gene editing and the gut microbiome into an incredible project? [5:57] Was there any information on TKS about these topics or was Sofia’s learning self-directed through the internet? [6:32] Was Sofia assisted by a coach at TKS on any of the projects that she worked on? [7:21] Sofia speaks about her motivation for writing on Medium and hosting her own podcast, the 2045 Podcast. [8:51] Naila speaks about her project for a science fair that led to her winning a scholarship for TKS. [10:46] How did Naila become interested in sustainable energy, particularly superconductors? [12:40] Does Naila study these interests at her school, Elmwood, or does she explore them outside of school? [13:53] How did Aaryan find out about TKS? How long has he been in the program? And what kind of projects did he create for science fairs? What was his motivation? [15:55] How is TKS different from traditional learning at Aaryan’s high school? [17:10] What sparked Aaryan’s interest in a universal cancer vaccine? [18:39] Sofia speaks about her evolving philosophy around difference-making. [20:21] About Turnaround for Children’s Well-Being Index. [21:13] How TKS has helped Naila think about where she wants to make a difference in the world. [22:10] Aaryan shares what TKS has helped him with and inspired his vision for difference-making. [22:57] Aaryan shares his thoughts on college vs. other post-secondary options. [24:14] Sofia shares what is next for her after high school. [26:00] Naila shares about the ways in which she thinks that high school could be more valuable. [27:07] Sofia shares how she would change high school. [27:49] Aaryan speaks about the opportunities that high schools should provide their learners with. [28:22] Sofia shares her continuous learning tips for other young learners. [29:38] Naila shares how she continually learns and gives advice to other students. [30:34] Aaryan shares how he keeps learning and gives some advice to other learners as well. [32:05] Tom thanks Sofia, Naila, and Aaryan for joining the Getting Smart Podcast!   Mentioned in This Episode: The Knowledge Society (TKS) Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 305: “Navid Nathoo on What Education Can Learn From the Real World and The Knowledge Society” Sofia Sanchez’s LinkedIn Sofia Sanchez’s Website Sofia Sanchez’s Medium Profile 2045 Podcast by Sofia Sanchez Naila Moloo’s LinkedIn Naila Moloo’s Website Chronicles Of Illusions: The Blue Wild, by Naila Moloo Aaryan Harshith’s LinkedIn “LightIR: Changing the Way We See (and Treat) Cancer Forever,” by Aaryan Harshith | Medium Difference Making at the Heart of Learning: Students, Schools, and Communities Alive With Possibility, by Tom Vander Ark and Emily Liebtag Well-Being Index | Turnaround for Children   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Join hosts Rashawn “Shawnee” Caruthers and Tom Vander Ark in this special Getting Smart Podcast mini-series about the Nevada Succeeds InspirED Global Fellowship! This will be a three-part series all about leadership, innovation, and education opportunities within Nevada Succeeds — a Las Vegas-based education non-profit focused on empowering systems transformation through educator impact, policy, and design-thinking. Dedicated to building a state-wide ecosystem, Nevada Succeeds launched InspireED Global Fellowship in July 2020 in partnership with Las Vegas Sands. The goal of the fellowship is to empower educational practitioners to investigate Nevada education challenges and use design-thinking to develop actionable plans to determine solutions. In this first part of the three-part series with Nevada Succeeds, Shawnee and Tom Vander Ark welcome Jeanine Collins, Mary Jean Gallagher, and Chip Kimball to the podcast. Jeanine Collins is the founder and Executive Director of Nevada Succeeds; an Adjunct Faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and the founder and Principal at Reflect Forward. Mary Jane Gallagher is the former Chief Student Achievement Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister of the Ontario Ministry of Education. She also co-authored the book, The Devil Is in the Details: System Solutions for Equity, Excellence, and Student Well-Being. Chip Kimball was the previous Superintendent for Singapore American Schools and is now making his way over to the International School of Prague. In their conversation together, Jeanine, Mary, and Chip discuss the important work that Nevada Succeeds is doing, the challenges of system leadership today, strategies for developing young leaders, insights and advice on how leaders can innovate and be champions for equity in their school system, and much more. The Getting Smart team is honored to partner with Nevada Succeeds on this type of work and is so excited for all of you to listen in to these conversations with the many key players in the initiative! Be sure to tune in (and stay tuned for part two of the series coming next week)!   Key Takeaways: [:04] About the first episode in the three-part series with Nevada Succeeds. [2:03] Tom welcomes Jeanine Collins, Mary Jean Gallagher, and Chip Kimball to the podcast. [2:56] The backstory of Nevada Succeeds, about their mission, and how they have shifted their goals in the last year with COVID-19 by doing meaningful virtual and remote work. [5:09] Jeanine speaks about the amazing and diverse lead learners that they’ve assembled at Nevada Succeeds. [6:28] How did Dr. Kimble originally connect with Nevada Succeeds? And how does he think about the challenges of educator and school leadership today? [9:11] Jeanine elaborates on the learning agenda at Singapore American and how inviting 100 of his faculty members to visit 100 of the best schools in the world impacted their success. [11:36] Mary Jane Gallagher reflects on the challenges of system leadership today. [15:55] Jeanine summarizes how she thinks about leadership development, what it should look like, and how she has incorporated these ideas at Nevada Succeeds. [18:21] Chip speaks about strategies for developing young leaders. [20:32] Mary Jane shares her insights on important experiences for developing leaders. [23:36] Chip shares his thoughts on how leaders can innovate and be champions for equity in their school system. [25:27] Mary Jane shares her insights on leading for innovation while championing for equity. [29:28] Chip shares some additional insights on what they discovered after visiting 100 of the best schools in the world. [31:12] Jeanine shares her key insights on innovation and equity. [34:19] Mary Jane shares what is currently on her ‘shortlist’ for innovation opportunities. [36:04] Chip shares what is on his shortlist for innovation. [38:13] Jeanine shares what is on her own shortlist for innovation. [39:29] Tom chimes in with an innovation of his own and thanks Jeanine, Chip, and Mary Jane for joining the Getting Smart Podcast.   Mentioned in This Episode: Rashawn “Shawnee” Caruthers | Getting Smart Nevada Succeeds Nevada Succeeds InspirED Global Fellowship Jeanine Collins’ LinkedIn Mary Jean Gallagher’s Twitter Chip Kimball’s LinkedIn Reflect Forward University of Nevada, Las Vegas The Devil Is in the Details: System Solutions for Equity, Excellence, and Student Well-Being, by Michael Fullan and Mary Jean Gallagher Ontario Ministry of Education Las Vegas Sands Singapore American School International School of Prague The Knowing-Doing Gap: How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge into Action, by Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert I. Sutton Getting Smart’s Newest Report: “20 Invention Opportunities in Learning & Development”   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

Today, Getting Smart team member Rashawn “Shawnee” Caruthers is sitting down with Margarita Geleske of Uncharted Learning and Tom Leonard, the Superintendent of Texas’s Eanes Independent School District. Margarita worked with the founding Uncharted Learning to create INCubatoredu, which helps students develop future-ready skills as they build real businesses. She also served as chairperson and trustee for the Barrington 220 Educational Foundation and as well as a trustee for Barrington Youth & Family Services. As a native of Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Tom Leonard served as Superintendent in the Barrington 220 School District in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago for seven years. He has been in his current role as Superintendent of Eanes ISD also for nearly seven years, having first entered the role in 2014. Together, Margarita and Tom talk about student engagement and powerful entrepreneurial experiences within the community. Listen in as Shawnee talks with these incredible guests about INCubatoredu as well as their secret to success in engaging communities and students! “We really need to change what we’re doing in our schools because the traditional curriculum that we’re using is not the world we’re living in now. And if we’re not venturing into entrepreneurial studies … we’re preparing kids for the world of the 1970s — and that’s gone.” — Tom Leonard   Key Takeaways: [:09] About today’s episode with Margarita Geleske and Tom Leonard. [1:10] Shawnee welcomes Margarita and Tom to the podcast! [1:48] Tom introduces himself and speaks about his school district, Eanes ISD. [3:05] How Tom and Margarita met. [4:28] About Uncharted Learning. [6:01] Tom shares about how Eanes ISD connected with Uncharted Learning and about INCubatoredu. [10:25] Why is community such an important focus for Tom and why it is important for Eanes ISD to partner with organizations such as Uncharted Learning? [11:50] Why the INCubatoredu program has been so impactful in particular. [12:29] How to connect your community with your school district. [14:10] How is a volunteer role in Uncharted Learning different from traditional roles? [16:27] How have their relationships with mentors and coaches changed (as well as the relationship between schools and communities) changed since the pandemic? And what have they done to combat any potential negative shifts? [19:54] About Getting Smart’s new report on what’s next in learning! [20:53] The transparent, real-world look into the lives of business owners that students were uniquely provided over the course of the pandemic. [22:09] What do business professionals bring to the student experience? [25:47] The importance of “failing forward.” [27:28] Tom shares why this work is so important to him. [29:09] Margarita shares her “why.” [31:56] How do people volunteer for the kinds of roles that Uncharted Learning offers? [33:24] Tom shares some suggestions on what Superintendents and school districts can do to build or rebuild engagement with their communities. [36:26] Tom and Margarita share some closing thoughts about community. [39:51] Shawnee thanks Tom and Margarita for joining the Getting Smart Podcast!   Mentioned in This Episode: Rashawn “Shawnee” Caruthers | Getting Smart Margarita Geleske’s LinkedIn Uncharted Learning INCubatoredu | Uncharted Learning Tom Leonard’s LinkedIn Eanes Independent School District (Eanes ISD) Barrington 220 Educational Foundation Barrington Youth & Family Services Barrington 220 School District Getting Smart’s Newest Report: “20 Invention Opportunities in Learning & Development” Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 216: “Don Wettrick on Teaching Entrepreneurship”   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include “Podcast” in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today, Tom has a conversation with David Michael Slater. David is a teacher at Pine Middle School in Reno — he's also an author of dozens of children's books and has been writing and teaching for over 20 years.   David believes that having another passion beyond the classroom is helpful for a teacher. In his first nonfiction work, Slater enumerates many of the bad, obsolete, and corrupted ideas that have become part of the basic operating system in American elementary and secondary education. The book is called, We're Doing It Wrong: 25 Ideas in Education That Just Don't Work—And How to Fix Them. In pithy, short chapters Slater exposes some bad assumptions and makes the case for how good ideas have gone bad.   Join David and Tom today as they go through several chapters of his book and discuss issues such as age-based education, why teachers are leaving the field, regarding the student as the client, helicopter parents and absent parents, the guidance gap, the writing crisis, and more.   Key Takeaways: [:16] About today's episode with David Slater. [1:11] David's educational background. [4:35] When did David start his writing career? And why? [5:40] How and when David writes. [6:14] Does David write by-hand or on the computer? [6:26] The background on his latest nonfiction book, We're Doing It Wrong. [8:05] Why is age-based education a problem? [9:13] One of the reasons why David wrote this book, and one of the main reasons why teachers are leaving the field. [10:41] David's take on chapter 6 of his book around student-centered learning. [12:19] What's wrong with the metaphor: the student is the client. [13:44] David's take on “helicopter parents”. [15:05] David's thoughts on absent parents. [16:25] David and Tom discuss the guidance gap. [17:40] David talks about the immense issue that is the writing crisis, and how David combats this within the school where he teaches. [23:43] David's concerns about automated writing feedback systems. [25:29] David shares some of the other topics and issues in his book, We're Doing It Wrong. [27:30] What David's next book is on. [28:35] What David is currently teaching at Pine Middle School and his other endeavor: We're Doing It Wrong website and podcast.   Mentioned in This Episode: Pine Middle School We're Doing It Wrong: 25 Ideas in Education That Just Don't Work—And How to Fix Them, by David Michael Slater David Michael Slater's Amazon Book Page Health and Science School Smart Parents: Parenting for Powerful Learning, by Tom Vander Ark, Bonnie Lathram, and Carri Schneider We're Doing It Wrong Website & Podcast   For More on Reimagining K-12: Listen to: Season 3, Episode 18 “What School Could Be: Ted Dintersmith on Powerful Learning”.   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include ‘Podcast' in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

Recently, Tom went to Europe to visit the founders of MyMachine. MyMachine is a 10-year-old nonprofit in Belgium that helps brings dreams to life by recruiting college design students and high school prototypers to help bring to life the dreams of elementary students.   While visiting MyMachine, Tom asked the three co-founders — Jan Despiegelaere, Piet Grymonprez, and Filip Meuris — about the origin story of MyMachine and how they've scaled up to help over half a million students worldwide gain creativity, entrepreneurship, and agency. Tom and the founders also discuss some of their favorite, standout answers to, “If we can build a dream machine for you, what would that machine do?”; the steps and educational levels involved in the process; the growth they hope to see for MyMachine in the educational system; and all about the skill benefits students gain from MyMachine.   Key Takeaways: [:14] About today's podcast and guest. [1:20] The MyMachine founders introduce themselves. [1:44] Co-founder Jan describes the location of MyMachine. [3:21] Do the co-founders feel that the education system is not keeping up with the thriving economy in Europe? [4:25] Filip tells the story of the origin of MyMachine. [6:30] When did Piet hear about this idea and come to think about it as an organization? [8:25] What is the prompt MyMachine gives to elementary students in the classroom? [9:30] Some of the answers from elementary students and the values and agency it builds for them. [12:10] One of the MyMachine answers that stood out most for Jan. [13:50] One of Filip's favorite MyMachine ideas. [15:33] Why are three groups of students (elementary, secondary, and higher ed) involved in the MyMachine process? [18:13] The skill benefits that the students gain from MyMachine. [21:07] What benefits do Jan's corporate and philanthropic partners see in the program? Why do they support MyMachine? [23:11] What does success look like to the founders? How will the world be better 5-10 years from now with the growth and success of MyMachine? [25:10] Does Jan see MyMachine making schools better and different in the future? [26:48] Filip's thoughts on what success looks like a few years from now.   Mentioned in This Episode: MyMachine-global.org “Teaching Students How to Bring Their Dreams to Life” (Piet's blog post on GettingSmart.com)   For More on Design Thinking, Check Out: S3:E35 “What's Up With All the Design-Focused Schools?” for a review on design-focused schools and S3:E32 “Michael Fullan Sees Global Momentum for Deep Learning” to learn why Michael Fullan is so optimistic that deeper learning is a global trend.   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include ‘Podcast' in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

This week, Tom Vander Ark speaks with Lydia Dobyns, CEO of New Tech Network, to talk about their new book, Better Together: How to Leverage School Networks for Smarter Personalized and Project-Based Learning. Tom and Lydia are excited about the potential of personalized and project-based learning but worry about the degree of difficulty for teachers. Their book suggests that schools working together in formal (or informal) networks to share models, tools, and professional learning to achieve their goals.   In this episode, Tom and Lydia discuss and share their ideas on a variety of topics from their book, Better Together; talk about some of their favorite school districts that use networks; and how the use of networks is transforming schools.   Listen in to learn more about their work, ideas, and their new book, Better Together!   Key Takeaways: [:14] About today's podcast and guest. [1:11] About Tom and Lydia's early careers and changes in the industry from technology. [5:20] When Tom and Lydia started thinking about networks and education. [7:06] How and when Lydia found out about New Tech Network. [9:43] About Tom and Lydia's book, Better Together. [10:36] Tom and Lydia's opinions on the Platform Revolution. [18:04] Lydia describes what a typical New Tech looks like it and how it works. [21:50] Lydia's favorite team-taught courses. [23:13] What it's like to teach at New Tech, how teachers are connected, and how learning is promoted across the network. [26:45] The networks Lydia has collaborated with over the last several years. [29:25] Mentionable charter management organizations. [30:59] Mentionable school districts that operate like networks. [32:10] Districts that use a portfolio strategy and use multiple networks. [32:49] What makes a good district and the next big learning for district leaders. [36:00] Lydia summarizes how leading in a network is different. [38:38] Tom and Lydia summarize their book, Better Together.   Mentioned in This Episode: New Tech Network Better Together: How to Leverage School Networks For Smarter Personalized and Project Based Learning, by Tom Vander Ark and Lydia Dobyns High Tech High New Tech High New Tech Network Hewlett Big Picture Learning EL Education New Visions for Public Schools Brooklyn Lab School Kettle Moraine School District Denver Public Schools DSST Public Schools STRIVE Preparatory Schools Rocky Mountain Prep Beacon Network Schools League of Innovative Schools Remake Learning Avonworth School District El Paso Independent School District   To Learn More: Check out GettingSmart.com/BetterTogether and NewTechNetwork.org for a ton of great blogs and information about working in a network.   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include ‘Podcast' in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!   Over the next year, The Getting Smart team will be pulling together workshops to explore the power of school networks. Email Taylor@GettingSmart.com or click on the Services tab on GettingSmart.com to learn more.

This episode is the second in the two-part series from Getting Smart's time spent at SXSW EDU. Getting Smart was a media partner at the conference and while there got to meet and interview thought leaders, change makers, and even a few students. If you haven't listened to part one yet, you can find it on GettingSmart.com.   Emily Liebtag interviews SXSW EDU attendees on why they attended the conference and what their predictions are about the future of work and learning. This episode she interviews Stephen Turnipseed, Executive VP and Chief strategy officer at Pitsco; Dr. Elaine Metcalf, Principal of Summit Technology Academy; and Saro Mohammed, partner at the Learning Accelerator. They discuss blended learning, their hopes for the future of learning, and why they love SXSW EDU. Lastly, Emily sits down with students from the MET School who share their experiences at the project-focused school. They talk about why they believe in the power of projects, the skills they think are the most valuable for graduates, and why they love the MET.   Key Takeaways: [:33] About today's podcast and guests. [1:28] About Stephen's Turnipseed's work and his thoughts on education becoming increasingly more connected. [4:05] Why Dr. Elaine Metcalf loves SXSW EDU. [4:54] What Dr. Elaine Metcalf sees as the diploma of the future. [6:50] Saro Mohammed's educational background and role at Learning Accelerator. [7:46] Why Saro is at SXSW EDU. [8:50] The skills Saro sees as necessary for students to be equipped with when facing college or career. [10:25] What skills should the diploma of the future include? [12:04] What could shift in education to get us to Saro's ideal future classroom? [14:15] Emily interviews student from MET and they all introduce themselves. [15:25] What the MET is all about and why these students love it. [17:50] What they're passionate about and investigating through their internships and projects. [20:14] How working on projects has helped develop their agency and learn about what they're passionate about. [22:28] What skills these students believe are going to most benefit them as a graduate.   Mentioned in This Episode: SXSW EDU First part of episode Sugata Mitra on Self-Organized Learning Environments Summit Technology Academy The MET High School Gabriel@ArtoftheCrane.com   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Over the next two weeks we'll be bringing you a special edition two-part episode from our time spent at SXSW EDU. Getting Smart was a media partner at the conference and while there, we got to meet and interview thought leaders, change makers, and even a few students. These episodes come just in time to help inspire and encourage you to submit your proposal to present at next year's conference. Check out SXSW's Panel Picker site and get your submission(s) in before July 20th! During the episode, you'll hear interviews with SXSW EDU attendees on why they attended the conference and what their predictions are about the future of work and learning. First, we speak with Connie Lie, a teacher, and founder of Project Invent — a program working to bring more invention programs and high-quality projects to high school students. Then, you'll hear from Jessica Millstone, Director of Engagement at BrainPop. Jessica shares why she loves SXSW EDU and what she believes the future of learning should look like. During the episode, Caroline on our team speaks with Tessa Simmons, a high school senior who attended and spoke at SXSW. Tessa shares how her education has been influenced by learning that happens outside of school hours and how having autonomy in her learning is important to her education. Next up, an interview with Ulcca Joshi Hanson — Associate Director of Education Reimagined — who speaks about schools she has worked with and the future of education. Lastly, we wrap up with a quick interview with Michael Crawford, Director of Strategy and Partnership at Real World Scholars, who shares his thoughts on why the future of learning will be connected. Stay tuned for part two of this episode next week, to hear more featured voices from SXSW EDU! Key Takeaways: [:17] About today's podcast and guests. [1:35] Connie Lie introduces herself and speaks about her work background. [2:19] About Connie's program, Project Invent, that helps bring real, authentic learning opportunities to students. [3:30] Are students managing projects on their own at Project Invent? [5:36] Did Project Invent's genesis come about from a high-quality learning experience of Connie's? [7:46] Why is it hard to do project-based learning well? How did Connie overcome these challenges? [10:03] Connie's tips for those getting started in a similar field as herself. [11:43] Jessica Millstone introduces herself and explains what she does. [12:18] Why Jessica is at SXSW EDU and why she loves it. [13:50] About the well-designed sessions and meet-ups at SXSW EDU. [15:51] The future of learning for students bringing strong connections even with the increasingly technological social media world. [19:02] What Jessica thinks is on the horizon for learning. [22:02] Tessa Simmons introduces herself and talks about the school she attends — One Stone. [23:54] How Tessa's education has been influenced outside the classroom, at One Stone. [25:26] About the student leadership at One Stone. How getting involved and having a say at the school has helped shape Tessa's learning. [26:45] How preparing material for the board of directors at One Stone has helped Tessa prepare for her future. [28:29] How has failure propelled Tessa forward? [30:11] Where Tessa has been able to take risks in her education at One Stone. [31:07] What is Tessa's hope for the future of learning and students just going into high school? [33:07] When Ulcca Joshi Hanson thinks about the future of education, what does she see? [34:30] Ulcca talks about Education Reimagined and explains what they do. [37:43] An example of a school Ulcca is working with that is competency-based learning, student agency, personalized, social and contextualized learning. [39:33] Ulcca's experiences growing up and how that helped lay down the path to her future. [43:14] Michael Crawford introduces himself and explains his work at Real World Scholars. [45:10] What does Michael see for the future of learning? [46:01] Would Michael describe a future grad of Real World Scholars as a ‘connected individual?'   Mentioned in This Episode: SXSW EDU Project Invent BrainPOP Education Reimagined Real World Scholars One Stone The MET High School Iowa BIG   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

Today, your host Jessica Slusser and Tom Vander Ark discuss the Pacific NW LX Summit at the Science and Math Institute (SAMi) that the Getting Smart team co-hosted a few weeks ago. There, they explored what powerful learning experiences for kids look like, how you create them, and why they're so important. Throughout the day, with Puget Sound educators, they explored what good learning design looks like.   In this episode, you'll hear from a variety of veteran educators describing what powerful learning experiences mean for kids and teachers. Tom speaks with Rebekah Kim, title; Juliana Finegan, title; Julie Kinzer, who develops and supports instructional coaches in Tacoma Public Schools; instructional coach, Ryan Prosser; Jason Lee Middle School Principal, Christine Brandt; Jason Kettler, title; and Tawnya, Coordinator of the Early Learning Center at SaMI.   Key Takeaways: [:15] About today's topic of discussion. [2:18] What does Rebekah Kim think of when it comes to powerful learning experiences? [3:04] What does Juliana Finegan think of when it comes to powerful learning experiences? [3:54] What does Woody Sobey think of when it comes to powerful learning experiences? [4:45] The key to making the makerspace at One Stone (the Foundry) such a magical place. [5:41] Woody speaks about the creation of makerspaces in the Renton School District. [6:40] What does Julie Kinzer think about when it comes to powerful learning experiences? [7:46] How Julie thinks of designing powerful learning experiences for instructional coaches. [8:26] What comes to mind for Christine Brandt when she thinks of powerful learning experiences. [9:41] What Ryan Prosser thinks about when it comes to powerful learning experiences. [10:43] How often Ryan gets the chance to work with teams, programs, and spaces. [13:35] What does Kelly Tanner think about when designing powerful learning spaces? [14:52] Kelly describes what she loves about the Science and Math Institute. [16:26] John Kettler and Tawnya describe the Environmental Learning Center (preschool) at SAMi. [18:43] What classes are in the makerspace at SAMi? [19:20] What kind of collaboration is there between the zoo and SAMi staff? [20:00] What does the mini theatre provide at SAMi? [20:34] John describes the space upstairs at SAMi.   Mentioned in This Episode: Science and Math Institute (SAMi) One Stone Makerspace: the Foundry Renton School District Tacoma Public Schools Environmental Learning Center (SAMi) Albertsons Companies Foundation Jason Lee Middle School Adam@GettingSmart.com   Want to Learn More About Hosting One of These Workshops at Your School? Send an email to Adam Kulaas, Getting Smart's Director of Learning Design. Adam@GettingSmart.com   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

This week on the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom is talking to his colleague, Emily Liebtag. Emily is the Director of Advocacy at Getting Smart. Emily has been a teacher, and a learner, in a myriad of different classroom spaces — ranging from K-12 public schools to online institutes of higher education.   In the last several weeks, The Getting Smart team has visited so many unique, innovative schools. They've been to cities across the country, visiting well over a dozen different schools — all of which serve as great examples of successfully implementing deeper learning, design thinking, and student agency.   In this episode, Tom and Emily talk all about their favorite design-thinking schools, positive trends happening in schools across the country, and the changes they have observed in schools after implementing design-thinking. They also discuss design-thinking across the curriculum, supporting design with skill-building, formative assessment, and extended challenges.   Key Takeaways: [:14] This week, Tom is talking to Emily Liebtag to discuss all of the amazing, innovative design-focused schools they have had the pleasure of visiting in the last several weeks. [:31] Emily's favorite school from the last several weeks: Agnor-Hurt Elementary. [3:40] About Tom's recent visit to Tacoma Public Schools' Science and Math Institute. [4:46] Why The Getting Smart team thinks design focus is so important in today's education. [6:50] How design-thinking has changed in education from years ago to now. [8:47] One of Getting Smart's favorite schools is One Stone, that is a great example of well-structured design-thinking methodology. [10:09] An example of a successful project by a student, that came out of a design-thinking school. [11:51] Positive trends taking over schools across the country. [14:28] All about D39 — a school that embodies these new, innovative trends. [15:36] What Emily loves about Del Lago Academy. [16:47] About VIDA school — a school that was going to shut down but reinvented themselves as a design-thinking school. [17:38] What Emily and Tom love about High Tech High in San Diego. [19:55] Tom's thoughts on Purdue Polytechnic Institute. [21:18] How the design-thinking frame helps students to incorporate different skills. [23:26] Some elements of design-thinking in Albemarle County Public Schools that have really stood out to Tom and Emily. [27:27] SAMI and other schools in the Pacific Northwest that Tom would like to shed a light on. [29:30] Recapping this week's episode. [31:25] Where to learn more about school visits.   Mentioned in This Episode: Emily Liebtag Agnor-Hurt Elementary School Albemarle County Public Schools Tacoma Public Schools: Science and Math Institute (SAMI) One Stone Design39 (D39) Del Lago Academy VIDA High Tech High High Tech High International El Paso School District Purdue Polytechnic Institute Carnegie Mellon University of Pittsburgh Grable Foundation Woodbrook Elementary School Design Tech High School Emily@GettingSmart.com (Emily's email)   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

Today, Tom has a conversation with Dr. Susan Bell, Superintendent of Windsor Locks Public Schools, a Connecticut district moving to mastery-based learning where students show what they know and progress when they demonstrate mastery.   Next month, after 17 years working with Windsor Locks, Dr. Bell will be joining the Mastery Transcript Consortium. There she will be helping schools and districts adopt new competency-based transcripts that help learners better communicate their capabilities and accomplishments.   In this episode, they discuss Windsor Locks's goals and efforts to becoming a mastery-based district, Susan's work at Windsor Locks and the strides she has made in her 17 years as Superintendent, and all about her new position at Mastery Transcript Consortium and the work she hopes to accomplish there.   Key Takeaways: [:15] About today's conversation with Dr. Susan Bell. [:50] About the community of Windsor Locks in Connecticut. [2:59] About Susie's early life and education. [3:40] Did Susie go to MCLA with the intentions of becoming a teacher? [4:23] Susie's start as a counselor at Windsor Locks, in 2001. [5:29] What did Susie study at the University of Hartford? [6:17] The importance of building a rich path to principalship. [7:52] About Windsor Locks's goals and how they were formed. [10:00] Windsor Locks's graduate profile. [11:09] Windsor Locks's efforts to become a mastery-based district and where the idea originated. [13:53] The challenge of becoming more competency-based and student-centered. [16:07] Did Dr. Susan Bell start in K-8? [17:20] How Susie's work has helped her reimagine high school. [21:09] Supporters that have helped Windsor Locks. [25:15] The progress being made through Susie's hard work. [27:11] Susie's new position at Mastery Transcript Consortium. [29:05] Why a new transcript and the work at MTC is so important.   Mentioned in This Episode: Windsor Locks Public Schools Mastery Transcript Consortium Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts University of Hartford Great Schools Partnership Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Connecticut Center for School Change Nellie Mae Education Foundation High Tech High Most Likely to Succeed film   Want to Learn More About Another Fantastic Connecticut Superintendent? Listen to: “S3: E16 Leading A Student-Centered Agenda: 10 Lessons from Mark Benigni”   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today on the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom interviews Jeff Dieffenbach, Associate Director of the MIT Integrated Learning Initiative (MITili). Prior to joining MIT, Jeff worked in strategy, product management, business development, sales, and marketing roles for a variety of traditional and digital education companies.   With Jeff's current role at MIT, he works with his team to better understand learning and education — and using that knowledge to better enable students and learners around the world to reach their fullest potential. MITili funds, connects, and shares research investigating learning effectiveness.   In this episode, Tom and Jeff discuss his current role at MIT at the ILI center as well as their overall mission. Jeff elaborates on how they conduct literacy assessments, he describes what he has learned about how learners grow and develop, and how they can help improve children's education.   Key Takeaways: [1:07] Welcoming Jeff Dieffenbach to the podcast. [1:13] Where Jeff went to high school and how he got hooked on to sailing. [2:15] How did Jeff get to MIT? [2:45] The interesting range of topics that Jeff studied at MIT (Tech policy and materials science) and why he chose to study them. [3:33] About Jeff's extensive career in education, ed tech, and business development and he made the switch from art engineering sciences. [4:39] About Jeff's current work at MIT's Integrated Learning Initiative and it's overall mission. [5:40] How they conduct literacy assessment at the Integrated Learning Initiative center. [7:07] About MIT's work with the Learner Positioning Systems at Digital Promise. [8:20] Jeff describes what he has learned about how learners grow and develop — particularly younger children. [9:55] Helping kids access information and re-apply it. How memory and storing information works and why we need to take advantage of it to teach more effectively. [11:46] Jeff's thoughts on deliberate practice. [14:45] At the policy level, what can states do to help improve children's educational experience? [16:17] The changes being made towards generative systems that take advantage of learning and moving away from the traditional, four-year degree and command and control teaching. [17:35] Does Jeff think that there's a reduced return on higher education? [19:38] Should we be optimistic about these new forms of learning? [21:13] The new movement towards education continuing into the workplace. [23:01] If we had better high school diplomas what would they signify, how would they be earned, and what kinds of experiences would go into them? [24:35] How might we express what a learner should be able to know and be able to do? [25:31] Anything new on the roadmap for MITili? [27:12] Where to learn more about the work Jeff is doing.   Mentioned in This Episode: Materials Processing Center at MIT MIT Integrated Learning Initiative Harvard Graduate School of Education Learner Positioning Systems (Digital Promise) Getting Smart's Blog Post on Melina Uncapher (from UCSF) “S3: E15 The Science of Deliberate Practice: What it Means for Education” (Gene Kerns)   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

Today, The Getting Smart team is super excited to bring you a conversation with Michael Fullan. As Tom would say, Michael is Canada's gift to education. For half a century and with 45 books to his credit, Michael has been the world's most persistent and persuasive advocate for powerful learning experiences. Michael is encouraged by the global momentum he sees with whole systems adopting deep learning strategies and policies.   If you've been on Getting Smart's blog recently, you know the team has started a project around rethinking the high school credential — so asking Michael about this topic was an incredible opportunity for the team.   Listen to this episode to hear Tom and Michael discuss the potential for better high school credentials and how the assessment system is changing — moving away from standardized tests and towards global competencies. Michael goes into detail, outlining the signs of progress and describing why he thinks the focus should be “life readiness” rather than college and career readiness. He also talks about the many books he has authored and co-authored and explains his ideas and theories from them and how they've shown up in education today.   Key Takeaways: [:16] About today's episode with Michael Fullan. [1:00] Tom welcomes Michael to The Getting Smart podcast! [1:06] About Michael's upbringing in Toronto, where he went to high school and college, and where he formed his deep interest in education. [2:26] About Michael's most recent book — his autobiography, Surreal Change: The Real Life of Transforming Public Education. [3:44] How Michael's book, Change Forces: Probing the Depths of Educational Reform, influenced Tom as a Superintendent in the 90s, and Michael's views on his ideas and theories in the book. [5:05] How The Challenge of Change and All Systems Go were pivot points for Tom. [5:51] About Tom and Michael's connection over Stratosphere. [6:30] More about some of the fantastic books and topics covered by Michael in previous publications. [8:48] How Michael thinks about the potential for a better high school credential, how the assessment system is changing (moving away from standardized tests), and the concept of global competencies. [11:56] About the shift from standardized tests to global competencies. [16:51] How should educators be certifying and helping students communicate their growth, capabilities, and accomplishments to employers and institutes of higher learning? [22:27] The importance of “life-readiness” and hands-on skills for students. [24:09] Is Michael interested in microcredentials or badges as a part of a system of communicating capability? [25:37] Michael's views on the world's current shift to deeper learning. [27:22] Michael's prediction for the next 12 months.   Mentioned in This Episode: Routledge Corwin High Tech High Surreal Change: The Real Life of Transforming Public Education, by Michael Fullan Change Forces: Probing the Depths of Educational Reform, by Michael Fullan The Challenge of Change: Start School Improvement Now!, by Michael Fullan All Systems Go: The Change Imperative for Whole System Reform, by Michael Fullan Stratosphere: Integrating Technology, Pedagogy, and Change Knowledge, by Michael Fullan The Power of Unstoppable Momentum: Key Drivers to Revolutionize Your District (and Integrate Technology in the Classroom), by Michael Fullan and Mark A. Edwards Coherence: The Right Drivers in Action for Schools, Districts, and Systems, by Michael Fullan and Joanne Quinn Deep Learning: Engage the World Change the World, by Michael Fullan, Joanne Quinn, and Joanne J. McEachen   Want to Visit a Deeper Learning School? Listen in to The Getting Smart team's walking tour of Design Tech High: “S3: E25 Building Transferable Skills: Design Tech High At Oracle Campus“ For even more on deeper learning, take a look at all of the blog posts on GettingSmart.com.   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today, Tom speaks with Chris Minnich of the Northwest Evaluation Association — more commonly known as the NWEA. Chris was named the new CEO of NWEA in the fall of 2017. In his new role at NWEA, Chris will help invent the future of assessment. Currently, about 1 in 5 students in America already monitors their academic using the NWEA assessment tests.   Previously to his new position at NWEA, Chris served as the Executive Director of the Council of Chief State School Officers. During his decade there, Chris led the chiefs through the update to federal education policy that brought an end to a decade of unprecedented federal control and investment in K-12 education.   In this episode, Tom talks to Chris about where he's been and where he sees the future of education and assessment heading. Chris describes a future where we combine adaptive assessment and performance assessment to know how all kids are doing in real time.   Key Takeaways: [1:06] Chris talks about his educational background and whether or not it impacted his career choice. [2:33] How Chris made it to the Oregon Department of Education. [3:37] About Chris' work in becoming an early leader in online assessment. [4:25] Why and when did Chris join the Council of Chief State School Officers? [5:51] About Chris stepping in to become the Executive Director at CCSSO after the time of strong federal involvement. [7:49] Why Chris decided to join the NWEA and what he wants he's looking forward to working on. [9:19] About NWEA, their goal, when the tests are given, and the subjects covered. [10:29] Does Chris see a way to use multiple forms of assessments together to both improve learning and to make mastery judgments? [14:00] The benefits of assessment. [15:25] Is there anything that could help teachers combine multiple forms of assessment? [17:09] About Chris' interest in assessment literacy and helping teachers make better use of formative data. [19:02] What Chris is looking to accomplish with NWEA in the near future.   Mentioned in This Episode: Oregon Department of Education No Child Left Behind Act Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Dreambox Learning iNACOL   Want to Learn More About High-Quality Formative Assessment? Listen in to the conversation with experts and teachers from Austin, Dallas, and Tulsa in: “S3: E14 What is Formative Assessment? Voices from the Field”   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

This episode, Tom speaks with Maura Marino — CEO of Education Forward DC. Before helping launch Education Forward DC, Maura held a number of positions at NewSchools Venture Fund where she worked for 8 years. There, she learned a lot about the national picture and how the trends around entrepreneurship and scaling success looked in public education. She was able to see, up close, organizations that were making huge changes in education.   For the last 20 years, NewSchools Venture Fund has really been the epicenter of education entrepreneurship. Originally founded by Kim Smith, NewSchools really took the idea of designing and incubating new school models to the next level. Since leaving NewSchools, Maura started up Education Forward DC to help support visionary leaders in the city who are working to ensure that all students have equitable access to excellent public education.   In their conversation, Tom and Maura talk about her education; studying at Stanford University, Harvard Business School, and Teachers College of Columbia University; as well as her prior careers, teaching at East Palo Alto and working with NewSchools Venture Fund. She discusses the work and progress made at NewSchools, her work and mission with Education Forward DC, and their work with Education Cities and harbormaster organizations.   Key Takeaways: [:33] Tom welcomes Maura Marino to the podcast. [:36] About Maura's upbringing and education in New Jersey. [1:39] How and why she ended up going to Stanford University in California. [2:31] About Maura's teaching career after college in East Palo Alto, CA. [4:40] Why Maura decided to go to Harvard Business School, after getting her Masters from Columbia. [5:50] Was going to Harvard Business School a good experience for Maura? [7:04] The different positions Maura held at NewSchools Venture Fund (where she stayed for 8 years). [8:19] More about NewSchools and the visionary work of the early leaders. [10:52] About the two-year-old organization Maura helped launch called Education Forward DC, and about its mission. [11:52] Does Maura's work with Education Forward DC build on any cities in particular? [13:25] Does Maura see NewSchool development remaining an important part of creating a healthy ecosystem in DC? [16:29] How the DC Public Charter School Board are an important part of the success story. [17:44] Is school improvement an important part of Education Forward DC's agenda? [18:33] NewSchools relationship with the district now. [19:34] Does Maura have the sense that these ecosystem leaders (or “quarterback organizations”) can help bring sustainability to an urban innovation and improvement agenda? Can they be part of the bridge that keeps things together in a city when the district may be undergoing change? [21:46] Does working with like-minded schools in a network resonate with Maura and her work with Education Forward DC?   Mentioned in This Episode: Stanford University East Palo Alto Academy Harvard Business School NewSchools Venture Fund NewSchools Summit U.S. Department of Education Education Forward DC Education Cities New Schools for New Orleans DC Public Charter School Board   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

The Getting Smart team takes a digital trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma to take a look at their vibrant education community.   In 1998, Oklahoma passed a law providing free access to pre-kindergarten. Since then, families in Tulsa have benefited from leading-edge programs, supported by the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Schusterman Family Foundation. Improvement and talent development efforts are coordinated by ImpactTulsa; a regional non-profit.   In this episode, Tom speaks with Kathy Seibold, Executive Director at ImpactTulsa, and Jessica Smith, Director of Early Learning at Impact Tulsa. Also joining the conversation is Sophia Pappas, who led Early Learning in New York City before joining the Kaiser Family Foundation to advance early learning in Tulsa. The three experts discuss the expanding access to programs and ongoing efforts to improve quality — including building the capacity of early learning teachers.   Listen in to learn more about early learning in Tulsa with Tom, Kathy, Jessica, and Sophia.   Key Takeaways: [1:27] About ImpactTulsa efforts as a member of the Strive Together Network. [3:10] About Jessica's work as the Director of Early Learning at ImpactTulsa. [4:18] How Oklahoma's law of providing free preschool for all children for all four-year-olds came to pass. [5:58] About Sophia's background in early learning and how she got to her position in Tulsa. [8:10] Where Kaiser's commitment to early learning came from. [9:03] About Kaiser's early learning focus on children from pre-conception through age eight. [11:22] How this comprehensive early learning manages to work with the funding provided. [13:18] The Kaiser Family Foundation's investment agenda — how do they invest and what do they focus on? [15:18] About Tulsa's scaling and their continuous improvement model. [18:00] What does good early learning look like? [21:54] Their views and strategies for improving the quality of home-based childcare. [23:35] Would Jessica like to see an even higher percentage of children in quality preschool? [24:11] What would be a good goal for a community to achieve (in terms of the percentage of children attending pre-k)? More about ImpactTulsa's upcoming initiatives and efforts to spread the message of the value of pre-k. [26:07] Sophia's and Kathy's views on strategies to train and compensate early childhood workers and teachers. [30:31] If a community came on a field trip to Tulsa, where would Kathy take them to learn more? [31:20] If an advocate in another community were thinking about where to get started, what advice would Sophia give them? [32:44] Online resources Sophia recommends to those who want to learn more. [34:02] More about the CAP Tulsa program and Tom's talk with Steven Dow, CAP Tulsa's Executive Director.   Mentioned in This Episode: George Kaiser Family Foundation Birth Through Eight Strategy for Tulsa (BEST) Schusterman Family Foundation ImpactTulsa ImpactTulsa.org/PreKTulsa Strive Together Network Teach for America University of Oklahoma Tulsa Community College Center on the Developing Child (Harvard University) National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) Child Trends CAP Tulsa   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today, the Getting Smart team dives into a conversation about industry-defined student competencies at Del Lago Academy in Escondido, just north of San Diego — with Alec Barron and Brett Goldsmith.   Alec Barron is a Science Coach in the Escondido Union High School District and has taught a variety of science subjects for grades 6-12. He is one of the founding teachers of Del Lago since it first opened in 2013 and was part of the team that helped set up the school. At Del Lago, he developed a program called Competency X that provides the opportunity for students to develop a digital science portfolio to track and reflect evidence of their competency with science and engineering practices. The students earn badges that are validated by industry experts — like Brett Goldsmith, from Nanomedical Diagnostics — who joins Alec on this podcast.   Brett Goldsmith is the co-founder and CTO of Nanomedical Diagnostics — a nanotech company building biosensors that speed up medical research and diagnostics; The first such tool in the world. He's also one of Del Lago's business partners that help define what STEM graduates should know and be able to do.   Join Tom, Alec, and Brett as they discuss their backgrounds in the sciences; Del Lago's genesis and current goals and focus; Brett's nanotech company, Nanomedical Diagnostics; Alec's program, Competency X; and all about the use of digital badges and how they help support authentic, competency-based learning and work experiences that help students build rich, digital portfolios to support their college applications and career aspirations.   Key Takeaways: [:17] An introduction to the topic and guests today — Alec Barron and Brett Goldsmith on industry-defined student competencies. [2:15] Tom welcomes Alec and Brett to the podcast. [2:22] How Alec came to study chemistry in college. [3:08] About Brett's physics background in college. [3:35] How Alec went from hard sciences to student-centered learning. [6:10] Do Alec and Brett see science as a field that lends itself to competency-based progressions rather than a set of linear progressions? [9:50] How did Alec get to Del Lago? About the genesis of Del Lago and their main focus. [10:54] How Brett made the switch-up from working in the Navy to starting up a nanotech company. [12:16] How did Brett make the contacts needed to start and run his new nanotechnology business? What his company currently does and has accomplished. [13:47] What Brett looks for in hiring new talent for his team at nanotech company, Nanomedical Diagnostics. [15:38] Alec explains what his program Competency X sets out to do. [17:47] How Brett got involved at Del Lago. [18:41] Does Brett see the world of science and engineering moving towards more authentic forms of evidence (i.e. digital badges)? [19:35] How Alec has developed badges in terms of grade sizes in comparison to each other. [21:39] Are widespread are the badges use? Are they being used outside of Del Lago? [22:54] Could the badges work with other subjects (such as english or Math)? [23:52] How winning the recent Assessment for Learning Project grant has helped advance the work at Del Lago. [25:37] Brett speaks on how internships are involved in Competency X. [26:52] An example of what a good internship experience would be like. [30:42] Do Brett and Alec see the possibility of more subjects in the future being taught in this way (with digital badges and authentic learning experiences)? [33:55] What's on Alec's roadmap for Competency X.   Mentioned in This Episode: Del Lago Academy Brett Goldsmith Alec Barron Nanomedical Diagnostics Competency X LRNG Escondido Union High School District University of Colorado Center for Collaborative Education Assessment for Learning Project   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

Today, the Getting Smart team is discussing the future of transcripts with Matt Pittinsky, CEO of Parchment. In high school, Matt considered himself to be a lousy student — but the experience made him think that education could be different and better. So, after College, he co-founded Blackboard, which became the leading learning management system. Fourteen years later it was acquired for $1.6 billion. Matt then went back to school and earned a Ph.D. in Sociology at Columbia, then later moved down to Phoenix to teach at Arizona State University. While in Arizona, Matt discovered Docufide; a transcript service. He invested in the company, became the CEO, and rebranded the company in 2011 as Parchment — what it is known as today.   Matt is passionate about turning credentials into opportunities. He believes the academic record is not as effective as it could be in admissions, employment, or even in licensing. In this new world where anyone can learn anything, anywhere — how we track, verify, and share capabilities is becoming a big deal.   Listen in as Tom interviews Matt about credentialing and the future of transcripts.   Key Takeaways: [:15] About today's topic and guest: the future of transcripts with Matt Pittinsky. [1:35] Matt's early education. [2:26] Why did Matt initially want to become a teacher? [2:56] How Matt ended up at Columbia University. [3:48] How Matt originally got connected to Parchment. [4:29] The mission of Parchment. [5:20] What Parchment does and how it works. [6:09] Parchment's customer base and where their revenue comes from. [6:34] The focus of Parchment's upcoming annual conference. [7:45] The current programmatic and technology trends in credentialing that are influencing Parchment. [8:54] The global shift of transcripts becoming more useful but complicated. [9:35] Why Matt feels as though there's a great opportunity for a credential management platform. [11:11] How does Matt feel about the Mastery Transcript Consortium (a group of independent high schools that are trying to build a new transcript format)? [15:30] Does Matt think more authentic, evidence-based transcripts are making an impact on his business? [18:41] Is Matt optimistic or skeptical on the current tech trends in credentialing? [21:59] Matt's case for how a distributed ledger — particularly Parchment — verifies and shares credentials more conveniently and less expensively than traditional approaches. [24:55] Does Matt see an extensive learner record belonging on Blockchain in the future? [29:18] The two holy grails: Longitude record and an extensible learning record, pulling from a broader set of educational service providers. [30:20] Does Matt see these extensible learner records as distributed databases?   Mentioned in This Episode: Parchment Blackboard Columbia University Arizona State University Mastery Transcript Consortium Blockchain Coursera Dreambox Scottsdale Unified School District Khan Academy   Want to Learn More About Innovations in Higher Ed? Listen to “S3:E3 Accessible, Affordable, Achievable HigherEd for Working Adults”, which features Paul LeBlanc; President of Southern New Hampshire University.   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Four years ago Satya Nadella took the helm at Microsoft. Under his leadership, the value of the company has tripled, and some think it could be the first company worth a trillion dollars. The story of the culture and strategy refresh are told in Satya's new book, Hit Refresh, co-authored by Greg Shaw and Jill Tracie Nichols.   In this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom interviews Greg and Jill, who have both have impressive careers beyond co-authoring. Greg and Jill both worked with the last three CEOs at Microsoft and have a great perspective on the ups and downs of the company. Greg also managed public relations at Microsoft in the '90s after serving as a speechwriter in the Reagan white house. In the 2000s, Jill Tracie Nichols led communications for Steve Ballmer and — after a quick transition — became Satya Nadella's Chief of Staff. Tracie is also the founder and CEO of Tracie Group — a company that helps kick-start new companies and helps them build their vision, voice, and brand to successfully make an impact in today's competitive market.   In this conversation, Greg and Jill discuss the importance of the cultural refresh at Microsoft (based on Carol Dweck's growth mindset), the challenge of meeting the unmet — and often unarticulated — needs of customers, and valuable tips on writing and publishing.   Key Takeaways: [1:26] Tom welcomes Greg and Jill to the podcast, and Greg gives some background about himself. [2:59] What made Greg think of himself as a writer in High School and College? [4:04] How did Greg land his position at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C.? [5:26] How Greg came to manage public relations for Microsoft. [6:35] Greg's move from Microsoft to The Gates Foundation. [7:43] The first project Greg and Tom worked on together at The Gates Foundation. [8:58] About Jill's schooling background. [10:23] What made Jill think of herself as a communicator and writer? [12:04] The delicate balance between the challenges and passion for writing. [12:55] What Greg has discovered about himself as a writer. [15:57] The challenges of the writing processes and what Jill and Greg enjoyed about working together. [17:42] Jill's transition from working with Steve Ballmer to Satya Nadella. [19:52] The origin story behind Hit Refresh. [21:26] About the growth mindset culture that Satya shifted Microsoft towards. [22:40] Jill gives some examples of how Satya attempted to incorporate a growth mindset into the culture, signaling that growth mindset was a priority. [25:48] The tech optimist Greg sees in Satya. [27:56] Can technology can boost inclusion and be disruptive? What Greg sees as the future of technology and mankind. [31:47] How writing Hit Refresh has helped Greg think about civic infrastructure and the engagement we need to help communities be successful in the future. [35:30] Jill's thoughts on the evolution of machine intelligence and companies looking to build technology for the future. [37:40] How did Greg manage the process of writing Hit Refresh with all of his other projects. [39:34] How has Greg's writing changed since working collaboratively? [41:48] Jill and Tom's views on working collaboratively. [42:55] Jill's editing tips for writing. [44:33] Jill and Greg's advice and tips and secondary school teachers in helping teenagers become better writers and communicators. [49:08] Where to find Jill and Greg online.   Mentioned in This Episode: Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft's Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone, by Satya Nadella, Greg Shaw, and Jill Tracie Nichols The Gates Foundation Tracie Group The Writing Life, by Annie Dillard Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck Steve Gleason Greg Shaw's Linkedin   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

This episode, the Getting Smart team continues on their road trip, heading towards Tulsa, Oklahoma to chat with Dr. Deborah Gist.   Dr. Gist grew up in Tulsa, earning her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of Oklahoma. After teaching in Texas and Florida — earning a couple of east coast masters degrees and a Ph.D. from Penn — she ran Serve DC; an extension of the D.C. mayor's office. She went on to lead the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in DC. Three years later, she became Chief in Rhode Island where she ran, what Tom called, “the most innovative and inclusive state planning process.”   Now back in Tulsa, Dr. Gist is serving as the school's Superintendent, where — despite some of the lowest funding in the country — she is leading an agenda to Create powerful learning experiences for all students; cultivate safe, supportive, and joyful school cultures; attract, develop, and retain a highly effective and empowered team; and incubate and implement innovative classroom, school, and district designs.   The Tulsa team is serious about dramatically improving the secondary school experience. Listen in to learn more about Dr. Gist's work at Tulsa Public Schools, the challenges they're working to overcome from being underfunded, the improvement strategies they're implementing, and how they are planning to redesign secondary learning entirely.   Key Takeaways: [:14] Some background on Dr. Gist's career and work with Tulsa. [2:54] Three years in as Tulsa's Superintendent, what does Dr. Gist see headed in the right direction? [4:33] About Tulsa's efforts to reimagine secondary learning entirely. [5:55] Overcoming the challenges of being underfunding through incredible resources. [7:03] About the great team they have in place at Tulsa. [8:08] One of Tulsa's biggest challenges from being underfunded — attracting and developing a teaching core. [10:52] Why schools joined the Summit Learning Network in Tulsa. [12:00] The other improvement strategies they're using across the city. [13:07] Why receiving support from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation for the formative assessment project is important. [13:50] Collective impact — alive and well in Tulsa. [15:49] Tulsa's work and focus towards high school redesign.   Mentioned in This Episode: “Inclusive and Iterative Plan Drives Rhode Island Forward,” by Tom Vander Ark Serve DC Chiefs for Change Tulsa Public Schools Impact Tulsa XQ Super School Project Summit Learning Network Tulsa Teacher Corps   Want to Learn More? During the podcast, Dr. Gist mentions the formative assessment project sponsored by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. To learn more about that, check out: “S3:E14 What is Formative Assessment? Voices from the Field”. For another example of a great new school, listen to: “S3:E9 iLead: Student-Centered, Career Focused, Accelerated Learning”. To read more on Impact Tulsa, check out the blog featuring this podcast on GettingSmart.com.   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

Recently, Tom and Adam spent 3 days in Boise, Idaho touring One Stone — an innovative school rooted in Design Thinking. Tom and Adam were joined by the school's National Advisory team, including; Eduardo Briceño, Julia Freeland, Sasha Barab, Tony Lewis, and Alex Hernandez.   While celebrating and reflecting upon this innovative high school's growth and development, the team was able to sit down and unpack the ‘why,' ‘how,' and ‘what' of measuring what matters. Listen in as the advisory team shares their thoughts on this topic — taking a look at mindset assessment tools, qualitative vs. quantitative feedback, the challenges of measuring feedback, and much more.   Key Takeaways: [:51] An introduction to One Stone and their desired learning outcomes. [1:34] Eduardo's thoughts on the extent to which we can and should measure a growth mindset. [3:35] The importance of qualitative feedback vs. quantitative. [5:13] How and when Eduardo believes One Stone's mindset assessment tools should be used. [6:10] Is that information from those results aggregated? [6:58] Does Alex see any schools that are doing a good job at providing formative feedback around mindset? [8:50] Providing qualitative feedback and the difficulties of measuring it. [11:54] Julia's thoughts on mindset and how to make it important in education. [14:02] Thoughts on measuring mindsets in a quantitative way. [16:13] Opinions on measuring and quantifying Social Emotional Learning skills and feedback. [19:19] Thoughts on giving and receiving feedback, and the challenge of measuring it. [20:38] How much of the mindset, creativity, and skills category should be part of a competency-based system? [25:29] Does Sasha see gamification as a part of the answer to measuring hard stuff? [26:09] What kinds of feedback can be given to young people about difference-making? [27:56] Ways to help prepare people to make a difference and help them build confidence in their impact-making skills.   Mentioned in This Episode: One Stone “S2:E56 Student-Led One Stone is Transforming Boise” DSST Public Schools Michael Crow, ASU's President ASU: School for the Future of Innovation in Society   Want to Learn More About One Stone? Check out “S2:E56 Student-Led One Stone is Transforming Boise”.   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

Today Tom Vander Ark is talking with Dr. Carmen Coleman and Dr. John Marshall. Carmen serves as Chief Academic Officer and John as Chief Equity Officer, of Jefferson County Public Schools. The two have worked together to shape powerful, equitable, high-quality learning experiences for the over 100,000 students in Louisville, Kentucky and are united in their thoughts and beliefs on how to address urban school district needs.   Even though they've only known each other for seven months, Carmen and John's partnership is already strong and is deeply rooted in the notion that all students deserve a richer set of challenging experiences that prepare them for the innovation economy — also known as Deeper Learning. Listen in to learn more about the work John and Carmen are doing for the community and students of Louisville.   Key Takeaways: [1:26] About John's pathway to getting to JCPS, how he became Chief Equity Officer and the history behind the position. [3:42] About the focus on Deeper Learning in Louisville. [6:34] Why Deeper Learning and equity are central to JCPS's equity agenda. [8:05] The challenge of making Deeper Learning central to a high-challenge community. [9:01] How JCPS finds the middle ground between personalized and rigorous project-based learning. [13:01] What does a Chief Equity Officer do? John's role at JCPS. [15:05] How Carmen's role at JCPS intersects with John's. [17:40] What tasks and challenges would John work on with a Chief Academic Officer? [19:04] Is John a problem-finder or a problem-solver? [20:10] What John and Carmen have learned about leadership and promoting equity and Deeper Learning simultaneously. [22:50] How John describes his leadership approach. [25:03] What Ms. McCormick (one of JCPS's teachers) is doing, in relation to Deeper Learning. [25:45] The process of funding $800,000 for digital learning proposals. [27:32] John's progress on reducing suspensions and removing subjective code of conduct rules.   Mentioned in This Episode: Jefferson County Public Schools Deeper Learning Eastern High School New York Performance Standards Consortium Ed Week   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

In today's episode, Mary Ryerse sits down with Eric Schneider, Assistant Superintendent of Minnetonka Public Schools, which serves over 10,000 students and is located in the greater Minneapolis area. Eric and his team have taken a unique approach to gathering input for strategic planning that drives innovation, including the use of a platform to crowdsource ideas. This process has been used by districts in several states now under the umbrella of the nonprofit, InnovateK12.   If you'd like to learn more about the district's approach to innovation success, join Mary and Eric as they discuss how Eric and his team helped build Minnetonka's strong culture of innovation, how other districts are starting to use some of the strategies they've developed, what Eric is doing with InnovateK12, and how he's making a difference in Minnetonka and beyond.   Key Takeaways: [1:03] Eric talks about his background in education and his role currently in Minnetonka. [3:48] The district's process of planning activities that engage the whole district in innovation challenges and strategic planning. [9:00] How this process has evolved and what it looks like today. [12:55] How this model has migrated to other districts and environments, the difference between traditional strategic planning and innovation strategic planning, and whether or not most districts tend to replace their current strategic planning process or not. [16:23] How their model also doubles as a talent development strategy and helps breed teachers into leaders. [20:29] Indicators and metrics Eric uses to determine success. [24:00] An idea that came out of this process that is directly impacting learning in a classroom today. [29:52] Where to learn more about the model.   Mentioned in This Episode: Minnetonka Public Schools InnovateK12 St. Cloud State University United Health Group's Optum @TonkaEric (Twitter)   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Adam Kulaas and Emily Liebtag from The Getting Smart team sit down to chat about school coaching. As more and more schools work to shift their models of teaching and learning, coaching is becoming the key component to driving that change. When coaching is done right it can be really transformative for educators alike.   Listen in to hear Emily and Adam unpack school coaching and discuss what Adam has learned in both the past and present in the school coaching space — and what he hopes will come in the future. Adam and Emily further discuss what he has seen unfold in schools with good teaching models, how he believes schools can transform to make their learning become more student-centered, what motivated him to get into school coaching, to begin with, and what effective coaching looks like to him.   Key Takeaways: [1:30] What school coaching looked like back when Adam started coaching (two decades ago). [4:47] What motivated Adam to get into school coaching and what the sorts of change he wanted to see were. [5:42] What Adam has seen unfold and evolve in school coaching that has led to good teaching models today. [6:38] The importance of instructional coaches being able to build strong, transparent relationships. [9:14] What effective coaching looks like to Adam and Emily. [13:00] Adam unpacks how schools can transform their learning to become more student-centered. [16:02] One of Emily's favorite leaders that she finds most inspiring. [17:13] How does Adam customize coaching to each new school or educator. [20:18] Where Adam sees learning and education headed with tech in the coaching space. [24:24] Where Adam sees coaching headed and what he thinks leaders need to know next. [28:26] The four lessons about coaching Emily learned from Adam during the duration of the podcast! [29:30] Where to find out more about the work Adam is currently up to.   Mentioned in This Episode: “S2:E55 Coaching for High-Quality Project-Based Learning” Daniel Pink @AdamKulaas on Twitter The Getting Smart Team Page   Want to Learn More About Coaching and its Effects on Education? Listen in to “S2:E55 Coaching for High-Quality Project-Based Learning” to hear from New Tech Network coach, Andrew Biros on coaching for PBL.   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

On today's episode, Tom is talking with Tess Posner, Executive Director at Al4ALL — a new Oakland nonprofit that is introducing artificial intelligence to high school students — and, more specifically — girls. The goal is to help high school students learn to use AI for good and to increase diversity and inclusion in computer science.   AI4ALL is really aligned to one of the recommendations from Getting Smart's December report, “Ask About AI,” which focused on the future of work and learning. In the report, Tom called for connecting experts and high school students to close the guidance gap and help more people use AI for good. AI4ALL is a great example of the solution Tom was envisioning — and as he says, he's nearly “doing jumping jacks” out of excitement for this conversation!   Listen in to hear more about Tess and the work she's doing at AI4ALL, how her interest in AI and computer science formed, how she connected with Samasource and AI4ALL, her take on integrating new tech and AI into schools, and her current mission and goals for AI4ALL.   Key Takeaways: [1:47] In 2015, Tom started noticing the rise of AI and made it his personal study topic for 2016. He reads some excerpts from his “Ask About AI” paper and how he discovered AI4ALL. [5:47] Where Tess went to high school and how that helped give her an interest in the education field. [6:43] Why Tess studied math at St. John's College. [8:27] What sparked Tess' interest in social entrepreneurship. [10:26] The importance of traveling as a learning experience. [10:52] How Tess came about connecting with Samasource. [12:44] How Tess' interest in AI formed. [15:32] When and how Tess spotted the guidance gap in STEM careers (including AI). [18:11] The founding story of AI4ALL and what the alumni have gone on to accomplish. [20:55] How Tess sees AI4ALL's mission today. [22:00] About AI4ALL's current focus: After-school and summer camp programs. [23:03] What's on AI4ALL's roadmap. [24:16] The challenge of educating teachers on AI and integrating new tech into schools. [27:15] Tess's take on the current ‘coding for all' trend. [29:25] Where to find out more about Tess and AI4ALL. [29:46] About Tess's SXSWedu panel and SXSW Interactive panel.   Mentioned in This Episode: If you'll be at SXSWedu, tweet the team @Getting_Smart and use #SXSWedu, or email Jessica at Jessica@Gettingsmart.com to set up a time to meet!   SXSWedu Events: Join Tom on Tuesday for a meetup on The Rise of AI & What It Means for Education. And join Tess on Wednesday for her panel on AI in Education: Opportunities & Challenges.   AI4ALL “Ask about AI: The Future of Learning and Work,” by Tom Vander Ark Hewlett Foundation Smart Cities That Work for Everyone, by Tom Vander Ark with Mary Ryerse South Shore Charter Public School St. John's College In Defense of a Liberal Education, by Fareed Zakaria Samasource Samaschool Tech Hire Initiative IBM Watson Stanford University University of California, Berkeley Princeton University Carnegie Mellon University CreAIte Code.org CSforALL   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

You may remember back in 2015, SXSWedu had a special screening of Most Likely to Succeed, a film produced by Ted Dintersmith. Well, he's also the author of Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the Innovation Era, along with Tony Wagner. And his new book, What School Could Be: Insights and Inspiration from Teachers across America, comes out on April 17th, outlining everything he has learned from the 50-state tour following the release of Most Likely to Succeed. In this episode, Tom talks with Ted about this journey to advocating for next-generation education.   Ted's work as a venture investor put him in the middle of the formation of the new innovation economy. He uniquely appreciates the impact of exponential technology and the future of work. It has given him real urgency about promoting quality education — especially engaging project-based learning where young people build agency, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration skills.   Tune in to hear more of Tom and Ted's fascinating conversation on their hopes and goals for the future, the process of filming Ted's movie — as well as the process for writing his new book, his own education growing up, what attracts him to next-gen learning, and his thoughts on where he sees education headed in this new innovation era.   Key Takeaways: [:15] Introduction to the guest today and upcoming events for the Getting Smart team. [2:04] Where Ted went to high school and the experience he had there. [3:28] Ted's college experience at the College of William and Mary. [5:46] Ted's support for the undergrad research at William and Mary. [7:50] How Ted got to Stanford and why he decided to make the switch from physics to engineering. [10:22] About Ted's Ph.D. in engineering. [11:31] Emerging in the information age. [12:55] Spending more than 20 years in venture capital, Ted reflects on the timing of when he got out of school linked with the opportunity of becoming an investor. [15:14] Ted's thoughts on us being in a new era of artificial intelligence. [23:14] Where Ted learned about Larry Rosenstock, the President of High Tech High. [26:34] What initially attracted Ted to High Tech High? [28:21] The process of creating his film Most Likely to Succeed with Greg Whiteley. [33:31] How Ted now thinks about the purpose of school. [36:00] The remarkable changes in education in the last 25 years. [41:23] About Ted's new book coming out this spring, What School Could Be. [43:55] Where to learn more about Ted's new book. [45:18] Where to find more about the film, Most Likely to Succeed. [47:03] Embracing change. [49:40] An important message that Ted wants to triple underline for all listening.   Mentioned in This Episode: If you'll be at SXSWedu, tweet the team @Getting_Smart and use #SXSWedu, or email Jessica at Jessica@Gettingsmart.com to set up a time to meet!   SXSWedu Events: ‘Don't Let Data Hold You Back', ‘Why Innovate Alone? Harness the Power of Networks', and ‘The Rise of AI & What It Means for Education Meet Up'.   What School Could Be: Insights and Inspiration from Teachers across America, by Ted Dintersmith Most Likely to Succeed: Preparing Our Kids for the Innovation Era, by Ted Dintersmith and Tony Wagner Most Likely to Succeed (Film) The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation William and Flora Hewlett Foundation High Tech High New Tech Network Big Picture Learning Expeditionary Learning The College of William and MaryStanford University Larry Rosenstock John Dewey Ted Sider Rudy Crew Tony Wagner Waiting for Superman Greg Whiteley No Child Left Behind Act Mitt Harvard Graduate School of Education Tugg.com Most Likely to Succeed film Innovation Playlist on mltsfilm.org   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today, Emily, the Director of Advocacy from the Getting Smart team, sits down with Jen McMillan of Detroit Prep. Jen is the Co-Founder and Head of School at Detroit Prep Academy — an elementary school located in the Indian Village neighborhood in Detroit's east side. They're a proud expeditionary learning school, with an intense focus on multiple dimensions of student achievement and a commitment to mastery of knowledge and skills, character development, and high-quality student work. After years of teaching in different schools across the country, Jen has learned key lessons in leading a school and is truly focused on putting students and families first.   Emily is super energized this episode and ready to share about her recent trip to Detroit Prep, so join her and Jen to hear more about the current education climate in Detroit, all about what's working well at Detroit Prep, and all the great things Jen is putting forward.   Key Takeaways: [2:00] All about Jen's background and current role at Detroit Prep. [2:52] How Jen got to where she is currently at Detroit Prep. [4:43] What Jen has seen this past couple of years in Detroit's education system. [7:25] About Detroit Prep's diverse student body and individualized support to give all children a first-class education. [9:23] Detroit Prep's current building hosting. [10:19] All about Detroit Prep's deeper learning experiences. [11:11] Detroit Prep's six habits of character and weekly goal student goals. [13:17] The element of community and bringing the community experience to the school. [15:11] What the switch to the new curriculum has been like for teachers. [19:00] What a culturally responsive classroom looks like day-to-day for teachers and students. [23:49] What brings Jen hope and joy about teaching and learning in 2018.   Mentioned in This Episode: Detroit Prep Getting Smart Blog   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today, Tom Vander Ark is chatting with Superintendent of Meriden Public Schools, Mark Benigni. As a long-time resident and former Mayor of Meriden, Mark is committed to bringing about positive change in the local schools. In fact, they've already accomplished a lot so far. Mark has been Superintendent for over seven years and Meriden has been nationally recognized as a blended and personalized learning leader.   In this episode, Mark and Tom discuss the shift to student-centered learning, more voice and choice through personalized learning and experiences, extended learning time in several of their elementary schools, and the creation of a highly collaborative leadership climate and culture.   Key Takeaways: [1:18] Where they're located in Connecticut and a little bit about the schools. [1:39] The changes Mark has seen in both the city of Meriden and the school system. [2:10] Their school system that serves an economically challenged population. [2:57] What Mark thinks he got right in his first couple of years as a new Superintendent. [5:13] Working collaboratively with other school districts — Mark's take on working with other urban Superintendents and districts in Connecticut. [6:34] Looking back, what Mark would do differently in his years as a Superintendent. [7:38] Personalized learning efforts at Meriden Public Schools. [9:20] How Mark framed and managed the shift of becoming a blended and personalized learning leader. [11:32] Background on the initiative from a few years back when they refocused on student-centered learning. [13:30] What a good example of student-centered learning looks like in Mark's district. [15:10] How are Meriden schools thinking about the shift to competency-based learning. [16:41] How competency-based learning is a long-term shift and the steps they're taking towards it. [19:45] What's on the horizon for Meriden. [21:07] Would Mark encourage other people to take on the position of a Superintendent? [21:49] What Mark would encourage people to learn if they're interested in becoming a Superintendent.   Mentioned in This Episode: Meriden Public Schools John Barry Elementary School   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today, Tom sits down with Gene Kerns, Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at Renaissance Learning, to discuss his recently published book Unlocking Student Talent: The New Science of Developing Expertise. The book is based on the growing body of evidence around purposeful practice and implications for K12 education and is made up of three main sections: student engagement, how deliberate practices can be incorporated into general education, and the process of developing independent learners.   Throughout today's episode, Gene and Tom discuss each section of the book in-depth, covering topics such as: coaching for excellence, the importance of motivation when it comes to deliberate practice, bringing purposeful practice back to education, striving for higher levels of expertise, and Gene's recommendations for implementing deliberate practice from the elementary to the high school level.   Key Takeaways: [1:42] Where Gene first began teaching. [2:05] Educational Leadership: The focus of Gene's studies at Delaware. [2:33] How Gene became Chief Academic Officer at Renaissance Learning. [6:00] When Gene's interest in deliberate practice formed. [8:00] Gene's goal when creating his book: bringing purposeful practice to education. [9:55] What Gene learned about deliberate practice, motivation, and striving for higher levels of expertise while writing his book. [12:50] Diving into the second section of the book: Gene summarizes what he learned about practice and its role in education. [14:45] The importance of coaching deliberate practice. [17:20] The challenge of gathering a deeper understanding of each learner's motivational profile. [19:03] Helping teachers find the balance between ‘drill vs. scrimmage.' [22:31] The magic of myelin: Not just psychology; but biology. [25:03] Resistance, results, and the new term: reachfulness and its meaning. [27:40] The importance of recovery (between deliberate practice). [29:31] Gene's recommendations for deliberate practice from the elementary to the high school level. [32:34] Coaching for excellence: What it means in education. [34:25] The importance of student agency. [36:52] The implications for Gene and Renaissance as a result of writing his book. [39:47] It's all about feedback: The importance of providing feedback to teachers and learners to improve performance. [41:17] Where to learn more about the work Gene is doing.   Mentioned in This Episode: Renaissance Learning Unlocking Student Talent: The New Science of Developing Expertise, by Gene Kerns Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How., by Daniel Coyle Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else, by Geoff Colvin Anders Ericsson Brainology (Carol Dweck) When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, by Daniel Pink Steven Pinker Doug Lemov Mike Schmoker   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Recently, Tom Vander Ark and Mary Ryerse of the Getting Smart team were with teachers and administrators from the Austin, Dallas, and Tulsa School Districts, talking about formative assessment. These districts are all part of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation sponsored initiative called “How I Know,” which aims to design meaningful, formative assessment practice. This is a multi-year project that will support teachers' development and implement formative assessment practices in the classroom.   In this podcast, Tom interviews the “How I Know” project team and asks them two main questions: What is formative assessment? And, what are your hopes for the project? You'll hear from over half a dozen project participants on each topic, including Michael & Susan Dell Foundation's Project Lead, Cheryl Niehaus; Project Lead, Danielle Neves; Executive Director of Teaching and Learning from the Tulsa Public Schools, and Dallas Teacher Residency Co-Founders, Robert Dehaas and Elizabeth Kastiel; Nancy G. of WestEd; first grade teacher, Stephanie Peppers from Tulsa; Administrative Supervisor of Academics, Katie A. from Austin, Texas; and Tracy Nájera from Education First.   Key Takeaways: [1:28] Tom asks Cheryl what formative assessment is and why it's important now. [3:28] Danielle's thoughts on formative assessment. [4:46] Formative assessment; broader than reading, writing, and problem-solving. [5:15] What formative assessment is to Elizabeth. [5:48] A variety of strategies; Robert's thoughts on formative assessment and the importance of teachers working with the students. [6:27] How Elizabeth views formative assessment from both the students' and teachers' perspectives. [6:37] Nancy speaks about the process of formative assessment and teachers' role in the process. [7:30] How Stephanie works with primary school students in regard to formative assessment. [8:11] The tools and strategies that formative assessment includes. [9:30] Katie speaks about the different forms formative assessment can come in. [10:14] Katie's thoughts on extended challenges, promoting deeper learning, and rethinking learning experiences. [12:14] What Danielle, Robert, and Elizabeth want from the initiative and their hopes for the next couple of years. [15:04] Further thoughts from Nancy, Stephanie, and Tracy on formative assessment. [16:14] How Stephanie sees the “How I Know” initiative helping in her classrooms in the future. [17:14] Hopes for the future for the school districts as a result of the initiative. [18:22] Why this initiative is so timely right now and how it complements other initiatives. [19:19] How formative assessment practice is critical to creating more personalized learning models. [20:19] What success will look like, if all goes as planned.   Mentioned in This Episode: Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Tulsa Public Schools Dallas Teacher Residency Education First   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list.

In today's episode, Tom interviews Marie Bjerede, a former tech executive who is an advocate for student agency. Marie was a former Vice President for Chip Maker Qualcomm and is a 25-year veteran of high tech and wireless communication. She has pioneered new management strategies, has led a design center for Qualcomm, and has a unique appreciation for jobs of the future. She's the President of Agentic Learning and since leaving the tech field she's been doing work for the One-to-One Institute and CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking).   In this discussion, you'll hear Marie describe the skills that will be important in five years from now and what schools can do to plan for these skills that will be necessary for students to have mastered. Tom and Marie also discuss the importance of student agency, as well as her recommendations for launching successful initiatives to promote both teacher and student agency.   Key Takeaways: [:51] Tom welcomes Marie to the podcast and she speaks a bit about her upbringing and what brought her to the States from Sweden. [1:50] Marie's current work with organizations on education technology. [2:25] The story on Marie becoming Qualcomm's Vice President and the skills it took to get the position. [4:47] Marie's perspective on being one of the few female managers and executives in technology. [5:35] The key to Marie's development in her career. [7:21] The genesis of Marie's interest in human development and education. [8:34] Preparing young people for the future; Marie's advice to teenagers as they enter the workforce. [10:00] The importance of agency today and why it'll be even more important five years from now. [15:21] Why high agency learning initiatives can end up not being as successful as hoped and where typical district initiatives launching project-based learning are falling short. [19:06] Why Marie believes it's key to first develop teacher agency. [20:47] Marie's view on teacher's focusing on either; remaining devoted to a handful of identified outcomes, or being open to a new set of new possibilities. [23:05] How Marie describes her ideal high school learning experience. [25:05] Self-organizing teams: Marie's alternative to constructing organizations where teachers don't feel oppressed or abandoned. [28:00] Marie's suggestions for how to construct the self-organizing team initiative in a sustainable way. [32:30] Where to find out more about Marie's work.   Mentioned in This Episode: One-to-One Institute CoSN Qualcomm Tony Wagner P21 Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel Pink AgenticLearning.org Marie's Getting Smart Blog Posts   Suggested Reading: If you enjoyed this conversation and want to learn more, check out: “What is Agentic Learning and Why is it Important,” by Marie Bjerede and Michael Gielniak   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

During Tom's recent trip to Europe, he stopped in Paris to talk with one of the most innovative, international educators out there; Lower School Director Daniel Kerr, of the American School of Paris. Originally a Canadian, Daniel made the decision to go to College in Maine and take a teaching job in Abu Dhabi. There, he met a Counselor, originally from Nova Scotia, who later became his wife. Together they became hooked on international education and accepted positions at the Jakarta Intercultural School, where they taught at for 7 years. After that, they led a school in Shanghai, Ecuador, and now in Paris, where they currently work.   When asked about his nomadic lifestyle, Daniel replied that he really enjoyed becoming a citizen of the world. He speaks five languages and his kids, who are 10 and 12, have visited a dozen countries. It's safe to say that the Kerr family is hooked on the benefits of international education!   In this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom sits down with Daniel to learn more about his life as an international educator, the American School of Paris, Daniel's goals and challenges in international education, and what he thinks all American educators should know about international education.   Key Takeaways: [2:09] Daniel's background: where he went to school, how he got to Abu Dhabi, how he made the move from Abu Dhabi to Jakarta and met his wife, meeting Tim Stuart, his first school leadership role in China, and his move to Ecuador. [7:29] The languages Daniel has basic proficiency in and what life is like as an international educator. [8:59] The opportunities presented to Daniel's kids as an international educator. [10:00] Where Daniel calls home. [10:25] Daniel describes some of the best teaching conditions he's seen in international schools. [12:00] Goals and challenges in international learning. [14:50] What it is like leading an international school; the turnover rate and creating a cohesive plan and team. [16:18] The education needed for the parental community. [18:45] What the American School of Paris is trying to improve on. [21:03] What the ASParis design thinking labs are about. [21:54] Their goals, curricular wise. [22:19] What American educators should know about international educators. [23:52] What Daniel has learned about America.   Mentioned in This Episode: American School of Paris Jakarta International School (Now Jakarta Intercultural School) Tim Stuart   For More Information on International Education Read Getting Smart's report on Creating the Future of Learning — a story of the transformation of the Singapore American School.   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list.  

Today's topic is design thinking. Design thinking is everywhere in education right now — or, at least it should be. It's on a ton of Getting Smart's blogs and they even use it internally to help their partners reach their goals — whether it be designing a new school, helping to turn around an existing school, or working on resources for educators and school leaders. But what is design thinking?', ‘How does it play into the work of school design and leadership?', and ‘How does someone get started?'.   The Getting Smart Team's Director of Advocacy, Emily, and Director of Coaching, Adam, get together in this episode to discuss all aspects of design thinking. A lot of educators are just now getting familiar with design thinking, so Emily and Adam dive into the topic to explain what exactly it is, how it can improve their practice, and to rethink how they facilitate learning. Adam has been using the design thinking approach for years and has lots to share, so tune in to this week's episode to join the conversation.   Key Takeaways: [1:00] Emily explains why they want to discuss design thinking and welcomes Adam to the podcast. [1:37] What is design thinking and why is it coming to be a really hot topic in education today? [3:48] Some fun examples Adam has seen throughout the years. [4:26] The many different ways that design thinking can be applied. [5:38] How Adam has seen design thinking used in his years of leading schools. [10:50] The element of empathy in solution-based learning and design thinking. [12:00] The importance of having seen the world through a design-based lense. [15:10] The design thinking Adam has seen in his kids' games that encompass collaboration, creating, and iterating as they go. [16:46] Where Adam recommends getting started with design thinking. [21:15] Adam's favorite resources when it comes to finding design thinking inspiration. [22:45] How purpose is key in engaging in design thinking.   Mentioned in This Episode: Stanford D.School One StoneSeth Godin Poke the Box: When Was the Last Time You Did Something for the First Time? by Seth Godin Daniel Pink Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel Pink   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Jessica@GettingSmart.com, Tweet @Getting_Smart, or leave a review. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list.   Twitter-Specific Quotes:   “[Design thinking] is one of those ‘simply-complex' concepts that there are lots of iterations of.” — Adam   “Design thinking itself can be applied in PBL classrooms or … in a playspace setting — There are lots of different ways it can be used.” — Emily   “[Design thinking] almost becomes this foundation for how you see the world.” — Adam   “I would definitely establish a sense of ‘why' [in design thinking].” — Adam   “Our team embraces the idea that we're constantly learning.” — Adam  

I Finally Got a Chance to Get to a New Mixtape Series I've Been Wanting to do for Some Time Now. A Series Dedicated to Music for the Ladies. Music Ladies Love. Music about the Ladies. LADIES NIGHT - The Pre Lime, Cocktails Edition. Enjoy. Don't Forget to Roll with Me on TritterGram @djSinToronto Salt N Pepa - Whatta Man Ne-YO - Miss Independent Rihanna - Rude Boy (Acapella) P. Diddy feat Usher & Loon - I Need a Girl (Part 1) Ashanti - Happy Soul For Real - If You Want It Brandy & Monica - The Boy Is Mine Toni Braxton - You Are Makin Me High 702 - Where My Girls At Alicia Keys - Girlfriend Britney Spears - Hit Me Baby One More Time TLC - No Scrubs Ace Of Bas - All That She Wants Buju Banton - Girl You Make My Day Beyonce - Love On Top Diana King - Shy Guy LL Cool J - Doin It Nsync & Nelly - Girlfriend Shanice - I Love your Smile Soul 4 Real - Candy Rain Xcape - Do You Want To Brownstone – If You Love Me (Flatline Drum Edit) Coko - Sunshine Britney Spears - Oops! I Did It Again SWV - Right Here (Remix) Mary J Blige - You Don't Have To Worry SWV - You're The One Total – When Boy Meets Girl Zhane - Sending My Love 112 - Only You Foxy Brown - Get Me Home Destiny's Child - No No No Mary J Blige - Real Love Beyoncé - Get Me Bodied Katy Perry - This Is How We Do Lil Mo & Fabolous - Superwoman Mariah Carey ft Mase & the Lox - Honey Rihanna - If It's Love Syble - Don't Make me Over Troop - Spread My Wings Ralph Tresvant - Sensitivity Ace Of Base - The Sign Beyonce - Single Ladies J lo & Fabolous - Get Right (watts Remix) Jagged Edge - Where The Party At Salt-N-Pepa - Shoop Gwen Stephani && Eve - Rich Girl Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way (Acapella) Janet Jackson – That's The Way Love Goes Next - Too Close Next - Wifey Puffy - I Need A Girl (Part 2) Beyonce - Naughty Girl Backstreet Boys - Quit Playing Games Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop ***Bonus Track***