Podcast appearances and mentions of heather staker

Heather is a researcher and author in the United States who has spent 15 years studying innovation in education and the rise of blended learning as the enabler of student-centered learning. She is the co-author of the Amazon bestseller Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools, as well as The Blended Workbook As the founder of Ready to Blend, Heather leads a team of 150 facilitators in the United States, Middle East, and South America who have been certified to deliver blended-learning workshops to their teachers.   Prior to this role, Heather was a senior research fellow for the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation and a strategy consultant for McKinsey & Company. She holds a BA magna cum laude in government from Harvard University and an MBA with distinction from the Harvard Business School. She is the mother of five children and lives in Austin, Texas. How student-centered learning matters. We can't just say go all in or go off and do wholly Waldorf method. Heather on Transformative Principal episode 210 and 211 What is the purpose of school? Having transparency on what kids were learning. Stay away from simulteaching. Opportunities: modalities of instruction that are out of the box. Look for synchronous group discussion. Collaborative experiences. 1 on 1 check ins. Constraints: children are empowered when they use technology to go to any destination - field trip analogy. Gate at the top, but also an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. Crash and tell.

This week on “The Learning Curve,” Gerard and Cara talk with Heather Staker, founder and president of Ready to Blend. They discuss her work with the late Harvard Professor Clayton Christensen and Michael Horn on disruptive innovation and schooling, as well as her book, Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools, and her recent publication, Developing a student-centered workforce... Source

This week on “The Learning Curve,” Gerard and Cara talk with Heather Staker, founder and president of Ready to Blend. They discuss her work with the late Harvard Professor Clayton Christensen and Michael Horn on disruptive innovation and schooling, as well as her book, Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools, and her recent publication, Developing […]

A former educator and Director of Innovation and Technology turned technology and mental health consultant, Mandy Froehlich's passion lies in reinvigorating educators back into their profession and support in their pursuit of divergent teaching. She consults with organizations in topics such as innovative pedagogical practices, technology department leadership coaching, 1:1 rollouts and LMS deployment, and the impact of mental health on innovation. Froehlich's also an adjunct for an organizational technology class for graduate students. Mandy is the author of several books for educators about mental health and how it impacts our teaching practice. Twitter: @froehlichm Website: https://www.divergentedu.com Books: DivergentEDU The Fire Within Reignite the Flames The Educator's Matchbook More about Blended Learning from Heather Staker: https://amzn.to/3aYfoZE

Heather Staker is a researcher and author in the United States who has spent 15 years studying innovation in education and the rise of blended learning as the enabler of student-driven learning. She is the co-author of the Amazon bestseller Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools (San Francisco: Wiley, 2015); The Blended Workbook (San Francisco, Wiley, 2017); and the popular report How to Create Higher Performing, Happier Classrooms in Seven Moves: A Playbook for Teachers (Christensen Institute, 2017). Heather has been a featured presenter in over 125 radio, television, podcast, webinar, and live events worldwide and in legislative hearings in the United States as a spokesperson for student-centered learning. As the founder of Ready to Blend, Heather leads a team of 150 facilitators in the United States, Middle East, and South America who have certified to deliver blended-learning workshops to their teachers. She holds a BA magna cum laude in government from Harvard University and an MBA with distinction from the Harvard Business School. She is the mother of five children and lives in Austin, Texas. Key Takeaways: 00:14 Heather's favorite thing about working with Young Learners 03:19 The Story behind the foundation of Ready to Blend 10:49 The Role of Adults in a Blended Learning Environment 16:37 Advice for Families and Educators who wants Change in the Current System 21:57 Is this Pandemic the best time to go non-traditional for learning? 26:47 Alternative Education, Is it an advantage or disadvantage to get into an elite university? 32:47 Metaphor that describes Blended Learning Quotes: "Try to honor their (children's) own path and help them find their gifts that they want to lean into." "One piece of advice is to do your due diligence about the micro school networks that are emerging right now, because it takes a substantial amount of intellectual property to create a really good curriculum or to know how to curate it correctly." "Most children want to feel like they're successful every day and they want to feel like they're having fun with friends." "For parents that are really wondering what to do right now with their high school students, I think this is a window of opportunity to be more experimental and still assume that they're on track for college." Social Links: Heather Staker LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherstaker/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/hstaker Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Heather-Staker/e/B00M7ESIA6%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share Ready to Blend Website - https://www.readytoblend.com/micros Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/readytoblend Podcast - https://www.readytoblend.com/podcast Books Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools (San Francisco: Wiley, 2015) The Blended Workbook (San Francisco, Wiley, 2017)

This conversation gets us talking about how to create a blended environments, the conditions needed to be successful and previews some of Heathers newest innovations and ideas. Heather Staker is an adjunct researcher for the Christensen Institute and president of Ready to Blend. She is the co-author of Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools (San Francisco: Wiley, 2015) and co-founder of Brain Chase Productions, which produces online-learning challenges disguised as worldwide treasure hunts for students in grades 1-8.

Michael Horn, Heather Staker: Case Study on Connectivity Initiative | Steve Hargadon | Feb 24 2011 by Steve Hargadon

Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools by Heather Staker (with co-author Michael Horn), is a practical field guide for implementing blended learning. While grounded in Clayton Christensen’s theory of disruptive innovation, this dynamic reference book will not be easily outdated. Real-life examples, clear learning models, and sensible advice for all stakeholders implementing blended learning make the book more than just a one-time read. In short, Staker articulates both a vision and plan that empower next-generation learners and reenthrone teachers as coaches and mentors.   00:15   Intro to Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools 00:45   The wave of our educational future 00:55   Intro to Heather Staker, Founder and President of Ready to Blend 01:15   Also wrote companion book, The Blended Workbook (2017) 02:45   Book based on Clayton Christensen’s theory of “disruptive innovation” 03:40   Sustaining vs. disruptive innovations 04:25   Disruptive innovations offer a new value proposition and improve over time 05:10   What blended learning is and what it isn’t 05:45   Disrupting Class (2008) by Clayton Christensen, Michael Horn, and Curtis Johnson 06:00   Online learning, a technology enabler, poised to disrupt traditional class 07:00   Accessibility gives online learning its foothold 08:00   Key to academic achievement and overall well-being 08:50   First time disruptive technology has entered K-12 since the printing press 10:40   “Paris” metaphor can help persuade stakeholders to embrace blended learning 11:50   Focus on the “why” of redesigning schools  13:00   Efficiency: technology enables the blended approach 14:40   Agency: students no longer passive, sit-and-get learners 15:35   Inhumanity of current model: teachers now free to be individual mentors, coaches 17:00   Occasionally, pre-convinced parents advocate for blended learning 18:00   Online courses can fill a gap when no other option is available 18:45   Using electronic devices in school can meet some resistance 20:30   Nuanced rules for using electronic devices 21:35   Who are the teachers adopting blended learning? 22:25   Learning models (station & individual rotation, flipped) breathe new life into the classroom 22:40   Some teachers pioneer flex model, moving as “guide on the side” 23:20   Cage-busting leaders can drive online learning vision forward 24:25   Going after the “low-hanging fruit” in your educational environment 25:00   Educators: look for non-consumption areas (where there’s nothing at all) 26:00   Parents: implement after-school options, create flexible in-class arrangements 28:30   Common pain point: teachers feel replaced 30:25   First, articulate outcome (What student experience do you want?) 31:20   Students given control and accountability for own active learning 33:30   Teachers’ new role (just now being articulated) includes coaching 34:45   Benefits extending beyond the classroom 35:35   Equipping students with complexities yields lifelong learners 36:10   Risk: exposure to technology and virtual destinations not in learners’ best interest 36:30   Turning lifelong learners into “long life” learners 37:30   Recommendation: “Cool Facts” app (~12K fun, nonessential facts) BUY Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools Get the Cool Facts app!   Connect with Nonfiction4Life on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit

  Robyn Bagley is a former principal of Career Path High. She is now consulting now and working with Heather Staker on a project for Acton Academy. She is also chair of Parents for Choice in Education, located in Utah. You can email her here Acton Academy is an amazing model. Over 8,000 applications to start their own. How do we replicate that? How to approve partners and facilitate the success of their schools. How do you help kids not blow everything off? In a traditional model, we’ve removed all the opportunities to have kids lead. The first thing to think about is how to empower students. It kills their love for learning. You need to empower students. The second thing is to set up processes for accountability. It’s ok to fail as long as you are failing forward. Every student had a success coach with whom they met every week. Accountability: consequences like losing freedom and stopping college courses. Support: You must have good support systems in place. Lots of processes in place to help them stay on pace and set their goals. Three legs of a stool: Parents, students, school (teachers and administrators) We never apologize for bothering you with communication Four: give them something to be excited about in their pathway: i.e., have your certification when you finished school. The light came back on. The success coach was the real piece of accountability each week. Success coach had constant communication with parents, too. Give recognition with accountability. How to be a transformative principal? Collaborate with your team! Changing the culture from top-down directives to a collaborative culture.  

Robyn Bagley is a former principal of Career Path High. She is now consulting now and working with Heather Staker on a project for Acton Academy. She is also chair of Parents for Choice in Education, located in Utah. You can email her here The power of Networking with so many other people Operating at 30,000 feet vs ground floor. Policy vs. working in schools Giving parents and kids options to have more control over their learning. Statewide online learning You don’t really understand the challenges until you are in the trenches. First opportunity writing a charter. How desperate parents are for control and choice in their education. So many hoops to jump through. There’s a lot of silliness out there that takes away your focus on the kids. Issues that exist on the ground floor. Administrative and clerical work to satisfy reporting. Having the information in the system. Kids not required to be there, and balancing what the law required and what was good for kids. When you start to run into problems, be vocal to your elected officials. You can still give good things to kids even in the system. It’s teachers and a principal who is the change agent Top-down dictation makes it hard for people to innovate. Sharing of ideas in a collaboration is necessary!   Schedule a call with Jethro Are you feeling like you are always behind at school? Do you feel like you need about 2 more hours each day to accomplish everything? Here’s how I help principals work manageable hours: Create your ideal week, so that you can leave work at work and enjoy your life! Please take a moment to rate this podcast in iTunes or on Stitcher.  Please follow me on Twitter: @jethrojones for the host and @TrnFrmPrincipal for the show. Buy Communication Cards Show notes on TransformativePrincipal.com Download Paperless Principal.   Take Control of your email Web Site Transformative Principal on Stitcher Refer A Principal Best Tools for Busy Administrators Survey    

  Heather Staker is a former Mckenzie Consultant and coauthor of the book Blended Learning: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools. Download the “Getting Clear on Technology Purchases” guide. Questioning our own assumptions is a huge piece of opening up what learning can look like. Every child has their genius. There is value in finding the right path for each child. Some teachers can be great at different things. Allow teachers to specialize and micro credential. How to match kids up with the right kinds of teachers that really help them. Coming at the content in a variety of ways. Sustaining innovations allow us to serve our customer even better. Disruptive innovation completely changes the paradigm. Online learning - adults are not unlike children. When we are more engaged and active learners we are able to learn much better. Blended Learning Live seminars - not traditional sit and get instruction. Helps people learn in a different way. How to be a transformative Principal? Walk your building and note any instances that technology is replacing them, and then make sure you change the message. Schedule a call with Jethro Are you feeling like you are always behind at school? Do you feel like you need about 2 more hours each day to accomplish everything? Here’s how I help principals work manageable hours: Create your ideal week, so that you can leave work at work and enjoy your life! Please take a moment to rate this podcast in iTunes or on Stitcher.  Please follow me on Twitter: @jethrojones for the host and @TrnFrmPrincipal for the show. Buy Communication Cards Show notes on TransformativePrincipal.com Download Paperless Principal.   Take Control of your email Web Site Transformative Principal on Stitcher Refer A Principal Best Tools for Busy Administrators Survey    

Heather Staker is a former Mckenzie Consultant and coauthor of the book Blended Learning: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools. Download the “Getting Clear on Technology Purchases” guide. Senior in High School as a state school board member Reasonable and balanced voice that represents the whole. Interested and well-versed in innovation Clayton Christensen Center for Disruptive Innovation It’s not just efficiency, it’s common sense to give kids information at their pace. Agency is so important. Disrupting Class Actin Academy program for core skills. 7 types of blended learning What challenges do we still face? Schools lead with 1:1 announcements. How to address 1:1 issues? Lead with a very clear plan for how they use online learning. District and vendor level must prevent teachers from having to be the tech wizard. Help teachers to reimagine their role. Factory model settings do not give teachers the opportunity to do increase the humanity that can be in our schools. Mentors and tutors for each child. Not getting to deep work? Station rotations can prevent this. Not every blended learning model is perfect. How to create higher performing classrooms in 7 moves. Younger ages, recommended 20 minutes max per day on screens. “Certain children“ aren’t capable, but every child can learn It’s the adults. We get in our own way. Schedule a call with Jethro Are you feeling like you are always behind at school? Do you feel like you need about 2 more hours each day to accomplish everything? Here’s how I help principals work manageable hours: Create your ideal week, so that you can leave work at work and enjoy your life! Please take a moment to rate this podcast in iTunes or on Stitcher.  Please follow me on Twitter: @jethrojones for the host and @TrnFrmPrincipal for the show. Buy Communication Cards Show notes on TransformativePrincipal.com Download Paperless Principal.   Take Control of your email Web Site Transformative Principal on Stitcher Refer A Principal Best Tools for Busy Administrators Survey    

One-to-one programs where all students have a computer or laptop are increasing. What is required to have a successful 1:1 program in your classroom. @larryferlazzo @Ajay460 @hstaker @Bamradionetwork Heather Staker is the president of Ready to Blend, a training firm for student-centered learning. She is the co-author of the Amazon bestseller Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools. Anne Jenks is the principal of a TK - 5 elementary school in Oxnard, California. She is a Leading Edge Certified teacher and the 2015 CUE Site Leader of the Year.

Raise your hand if you purchase those thick summer learning workbooks for your kids. Now keep them raised if you’re successful in getting them to complete their allotted assignments all summer long. If you’re hand is still raised, congratulations, you’re the one super parent on the planet who has accomplished this feat. The rest of you, read and listen on! I have a confession to make. Part of me really hates summer vacation because it’s a long stretch of 10 weeks when my kids are not in school, not in a routine, are either running from camp to camp or bored out of their minds. As someone that works from a home office, it’s really challenging to manage. Arguing over doing workbooks just adds another dimension of strife to our summer days. That’s why I was so excited when I heard about a cool summer adventure called Brain Chase to help the kiddos keep their academic skills strong and give them a consistent task to focus on. I’m joined today by Brain Chase co-founder Heather Staker. Heather gives us the audio tour of what Brain Chase is all about and why she and her husband Allan felt strongly that this product needed to be invented.