Building the Bridge

The guests on this exciting episode of Building the Bridge are Jess Kertz and Jostin Grimes, a pair of Education Specialists for Soundtrap at Spotify. Prior to joining the Soundtrap team, Jess was an educator in Chicago schools, and Jostin was an elementary school teacher in Atlanta and a program manager for STEM to the Future, among other roles.

In the interview, Jess and Jostin share the benefits of podcasting in the classroom with Dr. Oliver. They discuss how podcasting can be an effective learning strategy in any environment -- in-person, hybrid, or remote -- and how it helps students develop key 21st century skills.

Podcasting is a way for students to engage in project-based learning and tap into their creativity. Importantly, participating in podcasting is also a powerful way for students to foster their social-emotional skills. Many students use podcasting as a way to deeply explore their thoughts, ideas, and personal stories, and to share things they’d otherwise be reluctant to share. Listen to the episode to find out more about the links between podcasting and social-emotional learning (SEL), STEM, the 4Cs (creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking), and more.

About the Host

Dr. Wendy Oliver is a highly qualified Tennessee teacher and administrator who has pioneered digital learning across multiple states and school districts. She has authored digital teaching standards and developed software that allows teachers to self-assess their knowledge of digital instruction. No matter which hat she's wearing, her goal is simple -- to empower learners. Dr. Oliver is currently the Chief Learning Officer for EdisonLearning. Follow Dr. Oliver on Twitter @oliver_dr and learn more about EdisonLearning by visiting https://edisonlearning.com/

Social-emotional learning (SEL) has been a hot topic in education conversations, especially over the past year, as the COVID-19 pandemic has given schools and families alike a different perspective on students’ well-rounded needs. There are numerous ways to promote SEL, and using digital tools is an approach with significant promise.

On this episode, Angela Arnold, General Manager of OverDrive Education, and Beth Saxton, a Content Specialist with the company, join Dr. Oliver to discuss some specific ways digital books can support SEL. Prior to their current roles in the education world, each of the guests had experience as a public librarian.

Angela and Beth talk about the discussions we should be having with children, and identify key elements that play supporting roles in social-emotional health. The episode gives insight into what we can expect in the coming school year, along with promising new ideas to support students’ well-rounded development.

About the Host

Dr. Wendy Oliver is a highly qualified Tennessee teacher and administrator who has pioneered digital learning across multiple states and school districts. She has authored digital teaching standards and developed software that allows teachers to self-assess their knowledge of digital instruction. No matter which hat she's wearing, her goal is simple -- to empower learners. Dr. Oliver is currently the Chief Learning Officer for EdisonLearning. Follow Dr. Oliver on Twitter @oliver_dr and learn more about EdisonLearning by visiting https://edisonlearning.com/

Dr. Kristen Mattson joins us to discuss an important, evolving topic in our digital world: ethics.

She begins by defining what it means to be a digital citizen and dives into the importance of educating not only parents, but also teachers about digital ethics. Dr. Mattson has spent her career as an educator, giving a lot of attention to this topic, and has recently written a book answering some of the biggest questions.  She feels that technology is often taught in a silo, but her philosophy is that digital literacy and information media literacy skills should be embedded naturally within the content areas. When you include those higher order thinking skills, the curriculum is more engaging and relevant to the students.

The discussion continues by acknowledging that teachers need to point out to students that they are creating their digital footprints as young as age five, sometimes younger. Healthy classroom debates occur with older students surrounding the topic of privacy and security. We must decide how much data we are willing to give up to a technology company. Are we okay with it personally, and are we okay with it collectively as a society? Dr. Oliver’s interview with Kristen concludes with several helpful resources for teachers who are getting started with digital citizenship and digital ethics topics in the classroom.

Dr. Kristen Mattson’s new book Ethics in a Digital World: Guiding Students Through Society’s Biggest Questions can be purchased through this link: https://amzn.to/3uFADXp

About Our Guest

Kristen Mattson is a wife, mother of three, former English teacher and school librarian. She is currently an adjunct professor and consultant. She partners with educators in all content areas to integrate digital literacy, research skills, creation and innovation in the classroom. Kristen holds a bachelor’s degree in education, a master’s degree in instructional design and technology, and a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction leadership from Northern Illinois University, where she conducted a critical discourse analysis on secondary digital citizenship curriculum. Follow her on Twitter @DrKMattson

About the Host

Dr. Wendy Oliver is a highly qualified Tennessee teacher and administrator who has pioneered digital learning across multiple states and school districts. She has authored digital teaching standards and developed software that allows teachers to self-assess their knowledge of digital instruction. No matter which hat she's wearing, her goal is simple -- to empower learners. Dr. Oliver is currently the Chief Learning Officer for EdisonLearning. Follow Dr. Oliver on Twitter @oliver_dr and learn more about EdisonLearning by visiting https://edisonlearning.com/

Teacher Appreciation Week takes place annually the first full week of May, and this year we are especially grateful. Over the last year, teachers were asked to rapidly adapt to pandemic life while continuing to be there for their students and families. To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we invited third grade student Chloe back to the program, and she describes her transition from learning online to her return to in-person learning. Her amazing teacher, Señora Maria, made things comfortable for all students during this unusual year. Chloe is so thankful and provides her perspective and deep appreciation for her teacher.

About the host:

Dr. Wendy Oliver is a highly qualified Tennessee teacher and administrator who has pioneered digital learning across multiple states and school districts. She has authored digital teaching standards and developed software that allows teachers to self-assess their knowledge of digital instruction. No matter which hat she's wearing, her goal is simple -- to empower learners. Dr. Oliver is currently the Chief Learning Officer for EdisonLearning. Follow Dr. Oliver on Twitter @oliver_dr and learn more about EdisonLearning by visiting https://edisonlearning.com/

Understanding how social media platforms are used by your children can help you make informed decisions about how to protect them when they are online.

Dr. Wendy Oliver provides an overview of popular social media apps and their uses including Discord, Instagram, TikTok and Messenger Kids. This informative podcast provides key information about social media privacy policies, their safety settings, and parental controls. It also delivers insight into the minds of teens and how social media can be used to manipulate devices for unrestricted screen time.

About the host:

Dr. Wendy Oliver is a highly qualified Tennessee teacher and administrator who has pioneered digital learning across multiple states and school districts. She has authored digital teaching standards and developed software that allows teachers to self-assess their knowledge of digital instruction. No matter which hat she's wearing, her goal is simple -- to empower learners. Dr. Oliver is currently the Chief Learning Officer for EdisonLearning. Follow Dr. Oliver on Twitter @oliver_dr and learn more about EdisonLearning by visiting https://edisonlearning.com/

Technological advances over the last decade have created a new path and new opportunities for Career and Technical Education (CTE).  Crystal Guiler, the Chief Academic Officer of Pointful Education, is a leader in the CTE space, and she joined this episode to share insights with Dr. Wendy Oliver.

Traditional CTE courses like welding and construction still exist, but there is now a whole new world which includes online CTE courses that provide training for Adobe programs, augmented and virtual reality applications, commercial drone piloting, and more. Many of the course offerings are certification courses, meaning students are able to earn professional certifications while they figure out what the next steps are in their career path. There are opportunities to gain knowledge and skills in technology and learn a vocation. Crystal explains, “The new CTE world is very different than it has been in the past and it really is both a college and a career track, not a college or career track.”

Listen to the full interview to hear how today’s innovative career and technical programs can provide worthwhile opportunities for your child or students.

About the host:

Dr. Wendy Oliver is a highly qualified Tennessee teacher and administrator who has pioneered digital learning across multiple states and school districts. She has authored digital teaching standards and developed software that allows teachers to self-assess their knowledge of digital instruction. No matter which hat she's wearing, her goal is simple -- to empower learners. Dr. Oliver is currently the Chief Learning Officer for EdisonLearning. Follow Dr. Oliver on Twitter @oliver_dr and learn more about EdisonLearning by visiting https://edisonlearning.com/

About the Guest

Crystal Guiler is the Chief Academic Officer of Pointful Education, a leader in innovative CTE and elective courses. Crystal has been working in the K-12 digital learning space for over 10 years, in roles ranging from coach, district administrator and curriculum specialist, to instructional designer and virtual learning project manager. She has developed more than 70 higher education and K-12 digital courses and has supervised the development of hundreds of additional digital training solutions.

In this extended episode of Building the Bridge, we’re delighted to share an interview with world renowned education scholar, Dr. Yong Zhao. In this conversation with Dr. Wendy Oliver, Dr. Zhao expands on some of the key points from his recent article “Build Back Better: Avoid the Learning Loss Trap.” In the article, he speaks to the risk of some wrong decisions schools might make as a reaction to Covid-19 challenges, and then shares a list of proven, research-based, global strategies to pursue instead.

Dr. Zhao will enlighten listeners with his thoughts on what has actually been lost during the pandemic (versus what was just never gained, and what we can do next), and why he advocates for children to develop a jagged profile of qualities vs. focusing on narrow subject matter such as reading and math. As a proponent of a whole child education, Dr. Zhao promotes social-emotional learning, mental health, and a variety of academic subjects as equally important components of education.

Additionally, Dr. Zhao describes how he views children as global citizens; what they need to know about their responsibilities, their goals, and their outcomes; and why online learning is here to stay as an effective piece of education access. This is an interview you don’t want to miss!

Read more in the recent article, Build Back Better: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11125-021-09544-y

About Dr. Yong Zhao:

Dr. Yong Zhao has been recognized as one of the most influential global education scholars. Currently, he is a Foundation Distinguished Professor in the School of Education at the University of Kansas and a professor in Educational Leadership at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education in Australia. He previously served as the Presidential Chair, Associate Dean, and Director of the Institute for Global and Online Education in the College of Education, University of Oregon. Dr. Zhao has published more than 100 articles and 30 books that focus on the implications of globalization and technology on education. Follow him on Twitter @YongZhaoEd

About the host:

Dr. Wendy Oliver is a highly qualified Tennessee teacher and administrator who has pioneered digital learning across multiple states and school districts. She has authored digital teaching standards and developed software that allows teachers to self-assess their knowledge of digital instruction. No matter which hat she's wearing, her goal is simple -- to empower learners. Dr. Oliver is currently the Chief Learning Officer for EdisonLearning. Follow Dr. Oliver on Twitter @oliver_dr and learn more about EdisonLearning by visiting https://edisonlearning.com/

In part two of this special crossover conversation with the CyberTraps Podcast, Dr. Wendy Oliver, Jethro Jones, and Frederick Lane continue their discussion about privacy, safety, and effective technology use in education. Listen to last week’s episode to hear the first part of the conversation.

Among the topics discussed in this episode, the participants share their observations on how parents and educators are managing the transition to a new digital learning environment, and what grace period the parties should be providing to one another as they get used to the new setup. There’s also discussion of the way schools are using funding to purchase technology, and how they can consider whether the technology used is truly furthering the mission of education. Especially with respect to privacy and safety concerns, there’s a lot to consider. One more important topic regards the downsides to conducting hidden surveillance through technology, and why an open and honest dialogue is more beneficial.

Make sure to subscribe to Building the Bridge on your favorite podcast app to get alerted to each week’s new episode!

More resources:

CyberTraps Podcast: https://apple.co/3dne2aC

Transformative Principal Podcast: https://www.transformativeprincipal.org/

SchoolX by Jethro Jones: https://bit.ly/3czoRY6

Not Your Mama's Classroom: What You Need to Know as a Parent About Your Child’s Digital Education by Dr. Wendy Oliver: https://amzn.to/3wc9qNh

This special episode of Building the Bridge is a crossover episode, recorded in collaboration with the CyberTraps Podcast. CyberTraps is co-hosted by Jethro Jones, a former principal who authored the book SchoolX and has hosted more than 500 episodes of the Transformative Principal podcast for school leaders, and Frederick Lane, an attorney, educational consultant, and author of the CyberTraps book series. On their podcast, Jethro and Frederick present an entertaining and informative look at the risks of technology in education, and what parents and educators should know.

In this lively discussion, Jethro, Frederick, and Dr. Wendy Oliver tackle the following big question: In a world that’s moving toward digital learning at a rapid pace (and in which the future of learning will continue to have a significant online component), what are the actions parents and educators can take to ensure the learning environment is safe?

The conversation reflects on the past year in education, including the educational choices parents have learned about while navigating the pandemic, and how they’ve used these choices to benefit their children. The experts also talk about how we maintain standards that contribute to effective learning in a more fragmented environment; the ethical issues with remote learning, including the impact on educator and student privacy; and why critical thinking is an essential component in the modern classroom.

In part two of this conversation next week, you’ll hear about finding the “right” technology, the difference between open dialogue and inappropriate surveillance, and more.

Make sure to subscribe to Building the Bridge on your favorite podcast app to get alerted to each week’s new episode!

More resources:

CyberTraps Podcast: https://apple.co/3dne2aC

Transformative Principal Podcast: https://www.transformativeprincipal.org/

SchoolX by Jethro Jones: https://bit.ly/3czoRY6

Not Your Mama's Classroom: What You Need to Know as a Parent About Your Child’s Digital Education by Dr. Wendy Oliver: https://amzn.to/3wc9qNh

The need to close the “digital divide,” a term that refers to disparities in device and broadband access, wasn’t new when the COVID-19 pandemic began. However, over the last year, the “COVID Slide” has entered the K-12 vernacular along with “learning loss,” one of the current buzz phrases in education. This refers to a perceived or actual lack of academic growth and/or lost learning time as schools have shifted to remote and hybrid models, often without the type of planning required to deliver an excellent digital education.

In this episode, Dr. Oliver explores the contributing factors that lead to “learning loss” and describes some of the things to look out for over the coming weeks and months, as educators implement strategies to begin new, positive trends in student achievement.

About the host:

Dr. Wendy Oliver is a highly qualified Tennessee teacher and administrator who has pioneered digital learning across multiple states and school districts. She has authored digital teaching standards and developed software that allows teachers to self-assess their knowledge of digital instruction. No matter which hat she's wearing, her goal is simple -- to empower learners. Dr. Oliver is currently the Chief Learning Officer for EdisonLearning. Follow Dr. Oliver on Twitter @oliver_dr and learn more about EdisonLearning by visiting https://edisonlearning.com/