In this episode, we talk about student agency. It’s all about student choice and student voice in the classroom.

01:24 What is student agency?

02:01 It’s all about student choice and student voice in the classroom.

02:06 Compared to traditional model of “sage on a stage”

04:19 Student agency in the classroom

09:12 Action step for teachers

 

In this episode, we talk about student collaboration. How do you create an environment where students can learn from each other?

01:18 What is Collaboration? Why is it beneficial? 

01:55 Setting the stage for collaboration

* Groundwork / foundation

* The task with which the kids will collaborate

* Layout of the classroom

03:48 Team culture in the classroom

04:34 Having the right people in their own groups collaborating

07:41 Case study: an inquiry-based science classroom

11:33 Action steps for teachers

 

In this episode, we talk about the flipped classroom model of blended learning.

01:12 Flipped Classroom – what it is and what it looks like for students and teachers

02:17 Some pitfalls of the Flipped Classroom model

02:40 What are some of the creative activities that teachers can then be freed up to do in the classroom?

03:31 The riskier nature of the Flipped Classroom model – there’s more agency on the students themselves

04:50 Homework – the changing role of homework and the constant battle of homework

06:02 Need for parent buy-in for this model to work most effectively.

07:10 Issue of student access to devices.

08:59 Action steps for teachers

In this episode, we talk about the flex model of blended learning.

00:49 Blended Learning models

01:23 Definition of Flex Learning model in terms of station rotation

02:11 Difference between flex model and station rotation

03:11 Similarity to traditional classroom

03:27 Topic in Neuroscience exploring flow states

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

Writer Steven Kotler http://www.flowgenomeproject.com/

04:21 Tell us what kind of student-teacher feedback is with the flex model

06:02 Choosing the right option and figuring out your core values

What’s the difference in lift for the teacher and for the students

07:27 Case of effective implementation of the flex model in the classroom

08:49 Action steps for teachers

10:12 Is it best to develop the playlist by yourself as the teacher or can you co-create that with the students?

In this episode, we talk about blended learning and the station rotation model.

01:05 Station Rotation model – what it is, why it’s important and what it looks like in the classroom

02:15 Is it typically 3 stations as the benchmark that you’re looking for? Or can you do more or less stations from there?

02:48 Break down what a day would look like for this model, for the student and for the teacher.

06:10 What is the sort of feedback that you’ve heard or people typically get from implementing this model, from students?

07:14 Teacher feedback for the station rotation model

08:22 Action steps for teachers

Talk to your students

Beef up your behavior management. Set expectations.

Take an existing lesson, and see if you can split it into 2 or 3 stations.

In this episode, we talk about classroom set-up. How do you create an authentic classroom environment for you and your students?

00:59 Why do we still build a classroom environment the same way we’ve always built a classroom environment?

01:30 Christina’s thoughts on the personalization of a classroom

01:58 Personalizing a classroom in terms of blended and personalized learning

Physical and emotional side of classroom set-up

02:51 Nick’s experience learning as a kid who grew up with ADD issues

03:05 When does it make sense potentially, to not have desks, to have stand-up desks, to have treadmill desks?

05:09 Definition of classroom environment

The actual furniture in the room

The culture that you invite into your class

06:01 How much time do you think teachers invest in developing their classroom environment?

07:36 Case study of a unique classroom environment

09:12 Action steps for teachers

Take a look at your walls: Who do you have inspiring your kids on your walls?

How do we personalize learning for our diverse group of students? If personalization is the challenge, then blended learning is the tool, one of the solutions to get there.

00:48 The Be Education podcast as an offshoot of some of the work that we’ve done with the Meet Education Project

01:22 Christina’s work with teachers

01:35 Universal challenge: How do we create lessons that reach all the kids in front of us? How do we personalize learning for our diverse group of students?

01:55 If personalization is the challenge, then blended learning is the tool, one of the solutions to get there.

02:40 How do you make sure that you’re leveraging blended learning in the right way?

03:31 Small group instruction is the easiest first step to blended learning

04:06 Definition of blended learning

04:51 Definition of personalized learning, personalized instruction

05:57 Definition of small group instruction

06:35 Suggestions / action steps for teachers, administrators

Think about what you’re already doing and put yourself in that continuum of who’s doing the heavy lifting in the classroom

 

You want your students to be active participants in any lesson that you deliver.

Ask your students what they think about their learning.

10:05 Some teachers may struggle with the perceived giving up of the control of the classroom… Do you find that a lot in the classrooms you work with?

11:18 A teacher’s experience on teaching about the GDP of countries  

Welcome to the Be Education Podcast, brought to you by the Highlander Institute!

This first episode gives you an overview of what to expect from this podcast in terms of content, the frequency of episodes, and why we do what we do.

Hosted by Nick DiNardo and Christina Corser, this weekly podcast aims to provide actionable, research-based tips for teachers to drive education in their classrooms through blended learning and student engagement.

01:18 Meet Education Project podcast, produced in collaboration with the Highlander Institute

01:54 Christina’s story – idea behind the podcast

02:27 Podcast structure

Introduction of concept

Definition of concept

Case study / how it’s being used in the classroom

Action steps that can be used in the classroom

03:54 Next episode – Blended Learning