ClassCast Podcast

​In this third segment from ClassCast Episode #005, teacher and philosopher Jim Dunning and host Ryan Tibbens discuss how we do school, how we should do school, and how students' goals and agency affect the morality of our educational institutions. Starting off with how schools operate and why reading and lecture may (or may not) offer value, they move on to the differences between teacher and student goals, exam scores, and student agency. Ultimately, the question is this: Is school, as it currently functions, moral?

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ClassCast Episode 005 features a wide-ranging discussion between teacher and philosopher Jim Dunning and our host, Ryan Tibbens.  With a focus on schools and how they support (or fail to support) effective education, these accomplished teachers address everything from purpose to data to unschooling while citing their expansive personal and professional experiences as well as a variety of research.  Dunning's ideas about parent and student choice are bound to challenge, and perhaps intrigue, even the most progressive educators, students, and policymakers. Leave your questions and responses in the comments below because, after Tibbens catches up on his reading, we hope to host a second conversation with Dunning to dig deeper into unschooling, homeschooling, and the future of parent and student choice in education.

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In this segment from ClassCast Episode 005, teacher and philosopher Jim Dunning and host Ryan Tibbens discuss data in schools, the purpose of schools, and the morality (or possible immorality) of schools.  Schools collect a lot of data -- do they use it? If so, how and why?  What is the purpose of public school? Do schools achieve or fully live up to that goal? Are schools moral? If you had to redesign education from the ground up, would you create anything that looks like schools today?  Each of these topics is addressed in earnest both in this clip and in other parts of the full conversation.  Watch for the full release of ClassCast Episode 005 later this week! 

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In this first segment from ClassCast Episode 005, teacher and philosopher Jim Dunning and host Ryan Tibbens discuss schooling, unschooling, and how individual freedom and quality education might be intertwined.  Both men have long, distinguished teaching careers and use their experiences and expertise to analyze the function of public school, home-school, and unschool with a handful of other topics and anecdotes mixed in.  If you are interested in quality education, school reform, or making good choices for your own students, check out this clip.  And don't forget to watch/listen to the full episode and additional clips, all of which will be available soon. 

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The fourth episode of the ClassCast podcast features filmmaker and Qur'an teacher Esraa Abo Oun and our host, Ryan Tibbens, as they talk about school, education, making movies, ELL classes, Islam, Syria, and more.  Check out some of Esraa's work on Instagram at @esraa_abooun and at @JihadFilm. 

Esraa Abo Oun is a former student of Mr. Tibbens, graduating from Broad Run HS in 2014 and George Mason University in 2018. She is an accomplished artist, designer, filmmaker, and teacher/student of the Qur'an.  Esraa moved from Syria to the United States in 8th grade, just before the start of the Syrian Civil War.  Her concerns about human rights, peace, education, and faith help to highlight issues that we must all face if we are to create a better, safer, more peaceful world.  Despite less-than-perfect sound quality thanks to the library's loud HVAC system and a children's play-date next door, this is an excellent episode that takes a different tone than previous recordings.  Coming Soon -- watch for ClassCast Episode 005, featuring teacher, debate coach, philosopher, and social critic Jim Dunning!

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In this clip from ClassCast Episode 004, filmmaker and Qur'an teacher Esraa Abo Oun and host Ryan Tibbens discuss student voice in education and how students can (or should) seek knowledge.

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The fourth episode of the ClassCast podcast features Esraa Abo Oun, an artist, filmmaker, Qur'an teacher and student, and former student of Ryan Tibbens, our host.  

This clip features discussion of Malcolm X's legacy as well as updating curricula to better reflect modern values and students' needs.  Additional clips (and the full episode) will be available soon.  Leave comments below with your questions an ideas!

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The fourth episode of the ClassCast podcast features Esraa Abo Oun, a filmmaker, Qur'an teacher and student, and former student of Ryan Tibbens, our host.  Due to a less-than-ideal environment for recording (a "quiet" room in the library that provided a loud air conditioner and noisy children's play date next door), the sound quality is a bit rough.  However, we've been working hard to filter out the distractions and improve the clarity of Esraa's voice.  

This clip features discussion of ELL class, Esraa Abo Oun's film "Jihad," the meaning of the word "jihad," and childhood in Syria.  Any person with an interest in understanding Islam, Syria, media bias, and refugee and immigrant experiences should check out this clip.  Additional clips (and the full episode) will be posted as editing and audio mastering are complete.  Leave comments below with your questions an ideas! 

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In this segment of Episode 003, teacher, writer, and feminist Jessica Berg discusses US Women's Soccer, the sexual division of sport, and equitable pay with our host, Ryan Tibbens. This clip fits well with an article posted elsewhere on ReadThinkWriteSpeak: Equal Pay for Equal... What?

If you enjoy this segment, checkout the full audio of Episode 003 here!

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In this segment from ClassCast Podcast Ep.003, host Ryan Tibbens speaks with teacher and Women's Studies creator Jessica Berg about curriculum implementation, teachers' intellectual property rights, standardized testing, language barriers, improving schools, and more. This clip is candid, quick, and funny -- enjoy! 

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