ClassCast Podcast

ClassCast Podcast Ep.065 features Dr. Sam Fecich, an education professor, author, speaker, and podcaster who works with pre-service teachers. She and host Ryan Tibbens discuss teacher preparation, how we can attract and train the best talent, why pedagogy and content both matter, and more. Sam's enthusiasm is infectious, so you're sure to find this episode both engaging and enlightening. Worried about the national teacher shortage? We cover it. Wondering how to help talented young people get into education? We cover that too.

In addition to authoring two books designed to help pre-service and new teachers, Sam produces the Edumagic Podcast for pre-service teachers. She recently spoke with our host, Ryan Tibbens, on her show about purpose, priorities, and organization. Be sure to check out Edumagic!  You can contact Dr. Fecich on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and via her website. 


Table of Contents (*highlights)

1. 0:00-6:45 -- Intro to Dr. Sam Fecich
2. 6:45-11:04 -- The Purpose of School According to Sam
3. 11:04-16:29 -- Working with Pre-Service Teachers *
4. 16:29-23:26 -- Is Content King? Learning & Professional Development Needs **
5. 23:26-36:13 -- Addressing the National Teacher Shortage & Attracting New Teachers **
6. 36:13-45:15 -- Sam's Ideal School *
7. 45:15-49:43 -- Sam's Book & Movie Recs
8. 49:43-50:33 -- Wrap Up

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The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!

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ClassCast Podcast Ep.064 features host Ryan Tibbens sharing his thoughts on school choice while concluding a five episode mini-series on school choice. After engaging, informative discussions with Citizen Stewart (pro-school choice), Jennifer Berkshire (pro-public school), Neal McCluskey (pro-school choice, and Jon Hale (pro-public school), Tibbens tries to connect the dots, share the learning, and make meaningful predictions about the future of school in the United States. Over half the episode focuses on the positive aspects of school choice -- freedom, specialization, individuality, and more -- but in the final 20 minutes, Tibbens explores the potential problems, including decreased community control, monopolies, reduced quality, and -- most importantly -- the abolition of publicly funded education. Whether you are pro-choice or pro-public schools, this episode includes a synthesis of ideas that is sure to make you second guess your biases. 

Support the show! If each listener donated just $2, we could fully fund the ClassCast Podcast! Please consider making a small donation to keep the discussion alive.

Table of Contents (*highlights)

1. 0:00-4:32 -- Intro & Recap of School Choice Mini-Series
2. 4:32-9:51 -- Previous Connections to School Choice
3. 9:51-15:18 -- Is "Choice" Good? *
4. 15:18-24:26 -- Choice, M4A, Specializing, & Informing Parents *
5. 24:26-33:16 -- Racism & School Choice
6. 33:16-47:04 -- Tibbens' Problems with School Choice **
7. 47:04-54:04 -- The Best Path Forward: Choice and the Public System **
8. 54:04-56:58 -- Final Thoughts/Wrap-Up

The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!

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ClassCast Podcast Ep.063 features education historian, professor at the University of Illinois, and author Jon Hale discussing school choice, its dark history, and the problems it may spawn in the future. Much of Jon's work focuses on past school choice movements and Civil Rights era freedom schools; he makes invaluable contributions to the on-going ClassCast discussion of school choice and freedom by provide clear historical context and common sense predictions about what the future may hold. Jon's upcoming book, The Choice We Face: How Segregation, Race, and Power Have Shaped America's Most Controversial Education Reform Movement, addresses the same topics in greater detail; he is also the author of The Freedom Schools: Student Activists in the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement and To Write in the Light of Freedom.

Table of Contents (*highlights)

1. 0:00-5:37 -- The Purpose of Education According to Jon Hale
2. 5:37-10:51 -- The Appeal of School Choice
3. 10:51-21:12 -- The History of School Choice & Race **
4. 21:12-27:38 -- Freedom Schools
5. 27:38-36:26 -- Jon's Ideal School *
6. 36:26-39:34 -- Why School Choice Has Momentum & School Reform Doesn't
7. 39:34-46:23 -- Public Schools & Community Cohesion
8. 46:23-54:00 -- Are Public Schools Actually Failing? *
9. 54:00-1:04:04 -- Final Thoughts & Recommendations *

Recent and upcoming ClassCast Podcast episodes feature public school advocates, school choice advocates, and the kind of thoughtful discourse that should inform our national conversation as well as individual listeners' opinions on school choice, public schools, funding, equity, justice, and opportunity. Let us know what you think about each part of this series and how you feel about school choice. 

- School Choice Series Part 1: Ep.060 -- Citizen Stewart -- School Choice & Educational Opportunity (3/21/21)
​- School Choice Series Part 2: Ep.061 -- Jennifer Berkshire -- The False Promises of School Choice (3/29/21)
- School Choice Series Part 3: Ep.062 -- Neal McCluskey -- School Choice & Liberty (4/5/21)

The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!
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Support the show! If each listener donated just $2, we could fully fund the ClassCast Podcast! Please consider making a small donation to keep the discussion alive.

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ClassCast Podcast Ep.062 features Neal McCluskey PhD, the Director of the Center for Educational Freedom at the Cato Institute, discussing school choice, individual liberty, and the future of education with host Ryan Tibbens. Neal has spent most of his career studying public policy with a focus on education; he is a leader in the national school choice conversation, has written and edited three books on the subject, and explains his beliefs and goals through a lens of respect for individuals and their liberty. In this conversation, Neal explains how school choice will (and won't) affect community bonding, civil rights, and public funding. While he does concede that most school choice supporters would like to see lower taxes and/or educational costs, he doesn't agree with host Ryan Tibbens' concern that school choice legislation now will ultimately lead to the end of publicly funded education. Much as Jennifer Berkshire's (Ep.061) new book is leading the discussion against school choice, Neal McCluskey and Corey DeAngelis's new book, School Choice Myths: Setting the Record Straight on Education Freedom, is making waves in the education policy arena. This episode is Part 3 of the ClassCast Podcast mini-series on school choice; don't miss the others!

Recent and upcoming ClassCast Podcast episodes will feature public school advocates, school choice advocates, and the kind of thoughtful discourse that should inform our national conversation as well as individual listeners' opinions on school choice, public schools, funding, equity, justice, and opportunity. Let us know what you think about each part of this series and how you feel about school choice. 

- School Choice Series Part 1: Ep.060 -- Citizen Stewart -- School Choice & Educational Opportunity (3/21/21)
​- School Choice Series Part 2: Ep.061 -- Jennifer Berkshire -- The False Promises of School Choice (3/29/21)

Table of Contents (*highlights)

1. 0:00-5:05 -- Neal's Background & Entry into Education Policy
2. 5:05-10:47 -- School Choice's Effects on Communities *
3. 10:47-19:16 -- School Choice: Liberty & Respect for Individuals *
4. 19:16-30:38 -- The Purpose of School According to Neal
5. 30:38-54:46 -- Civil Rights, Diversity, & School Choice *
6. 54:46-1:08:38 -- Is School Choice a Step Toward Ending Public Funding for Education? **
7. 1:08:38-1:15:26 -- Compromise: Teachers' Unions & School Choice
8. 1:15:26-1:18:40 -- Neal's Ideal School
9. 1:18:40-1:26:40 -- Final Thoughts, Book/Movie Recs, & Wrap-Up

The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!

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ClassCast Podcast Ep.061 features Jennifer Berkshire, an education journalist, podcaster, and co-author of a great new book about school choice,  A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door. She and host Ryan Tibbens discuss school choice, racial and economic inequality, the politics behind the choice movement, and problems that school choice is likely to cause. Throughout the discussion, Jennifer shares her own experience being bused across town to a public school, her concerns about how school choice may exacerbate current inequalities, and even asks a few questions of the host.  This is the second installment of the ClassCast Podcast School Choice Mini-Series; you can listen to the first episode with Citizen Stewart here and watch for additional episodes coming soon.

You can learn more about Jennifer and work by following her on Twitter, listening to the Have You Heard? Podcast, or visiting the website for A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door.

Upcoming ClassCast Podcast episodes will feature public school advocates, school choice advocates, and the kind of thoughtful discourse that should inform our national conversation as well as individual listeners' opinions on school choice, public schools, funding, equity, justice, and opportunity. Let us know what you think about each part of this series and how you feel about school choice. 

Support the show! If each listener donated just $2, we could fully fund the ClassCast Podcast! Please consider making a small donation to keep the discussion alive.

Table of Contents (*highlights)

1. 0:00-2:14 -- Spacesedu.com (Check it out!)
2. 2:14-10:16 -- Introduction to Jennifer Berkshire & Her School Experiences
3. 10:16-17:59 -- Can Schools Fix Social Inequality & Meritocracy? *
4. 17:59-25:00 -- Reagan's Politics, Education History, & School Choice
5. 25:00-32:10 -- School Choice, Taxes, & "Poisoning the Well"
6. 32:10-35:01 -- The Purpose of School According to Jennifer
7. 35:01-40:49 -- Standardize Testing, School Choice, & Inequity *
8. 40:49-50:06 -- School Choice, Race, & Economics *
9. 50:06-59:25 -- Is Choice within the Public System Possible? *
10. 59:25-1:01:54 -- Jennifer's Ideal School
11. 1:01:54-1:04:57 -- Jennifer's Book & Movie Recommendations

The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!

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ClassCast Podcast Ep.060 features Chris "Citizen" Stewart discussing school choice, educational opportunity, dismantling oppressive systems, and empowering individuals with host Ryan Tibbens. Citizen Stewart is CEO of the Brightbeam Network, founder of Citizen.Education, host of the UnPublic Podcast, co-host of the 8 Black Hands Podcast, a former school board member, father of five, and school choice advocate.  In this episode, we discuss the value of choice, the significance of freedom for all citizens, why school choice appeals to many poor and minority families, and how great education should be tailored to individuals rather than aggregates. Stewart shares observations on school consolidation, economies of scale, parenting, and why school choice might be the future of education in America.

Approach this episode with an open mind, curious intellect, and vision for what schools should be. If that "should be" is different from what currently exists, then various school choice models could be the path forward. On the other hand, a move to nationwide school choice could undermine our participation in local communities, dedication to serve others, and our long-term dedication to funding education for all students.

You can learn more about Citizen Stewart at @citizenstewart on Twitter, @citizenstewart on Instagram, and @iamcitizenstewart on Facebook.  You can also see his advocacy at Brightbeam Network and Citizen.Education. 

Upcoming ClassCast Podcast episodes will feature public school advocates, choice advocates, and the kind of discourse that should inform our national conversation as well as individual listeners' opinions on school choice, public schools, funding, equity, justice, and opportunity. Let us know what you think about each part of this series and how you feel about school choice. 


Support the show! If each listener donated just $2, we could fully fund the ClassCast Podcast for the entire year. Please consider making a small donation to keep the discussion alive.

Table of Contents (*highlights)

1. 0:00-7:53 -- Intro to Citizen Stewart & Teacher Quality
2. 7:53-10:32 -- The Purpose of Education According to Citizen Stewart
3. 10:32-17:00 -- Parents' Responsibilities in Education *
4. 17:00-29:04 -- Can School Choice Become a Reality? **
5. 29:04-35:00 -- Equity, Funding & Other Elements of School Choice
6. 35:00-42:04 -- School Consolidation, Cultural Conformity, & Civic Education *
7. 42:04-48:13 -- Citizen Stewart's Ideal School *
8. 48:13-53:08 -- Citizen's Own School Experiences
9. 53:08-1:01:16 -- Race & Educational Opportunity
10. 1:01:16-1:07:55 -- Citizen Stewart's Entry to School Policy *
11. 1:07:55-1:14:29 -- Final Comments; Book/Movie Recommendations; Contact Info

The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment where you listen.  Leave a comment to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have questions!

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ClassCast Podcast Ep.059 features host Ryan Tibbens exploring the concept of "learning loss," how it's being applied during the COVID-19 pandemic, and why most of these discussions are biased, flawed, and misleading. If you pay attention to education-related news, then you know that politicians, state education boards, testing companies, university researchers, school choice advocates, and even some local school leaders have been ranting about "learning loss" for months. But you may not have considered how narrow and limited that discussion has been.  Are students really 3-6 months behind? Are the disparities between racial and socioeconomic groups insurmountable? If we really want to promote top-quality education for all citizens, if we really want to create life-long learners, then shouldn't we all be concerned? 

The sky is not falling. Learning hasn't stopped. "Learning loss" is a talking point for those hoping to capitalize on the pandemic, but the situation isn't nearly as dire as they would have you believe.  Tibbens takes the long view and points out why "learning loss" isn't going to cripple a generation.  Don't panic (and carry a towel).

The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!

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ClassCast Podcast Ep.058 features Iman Ghanizada, aka "The Certs Guy," a young star at Google, newly published author, and former student of host Ryan Tibbens. Iman shares ideas about his new book, Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect: All in One Exam Guide, about how technology can improve education, and how people must maintain strong morals and respect if they truly want to live good lives and serve others. Tibbens taught Iman in 9th grade English during his first year as a teacher, so the episode begins with a little catching up but quickly moves on to focus on Iman's goals of mentorship, representation, and personal development.  If you are interested in how technology is reshaping our world, how young leaders are building networks to support others, or even how to get certified as a Google Cloud Architect, this episode is for you. 

Table of Contents (highlights*) 

1. 0:00-5:13 -- 9th Grade English
2. 5:13-10:55 -- Why Write and Teach? *
3. 10:55-17:47 -- The Purpose of Education
4. 17:47-24:59 -- How the Internet Decentralizes Learning *
5. 24:59-31:25 -- Morality in Tech
6. 31:25-37:34 -- Blockchain: Decentralizing Education
7. 27:34-43:39 -- Certificates vs Degrees
8. 43:39-46:12 -- Communication: The Value of Schooling
9. 46:12-56:42 -- Iman's Ideal School *
10. 56:42-1:08:53 -- The Certs Guy: How to Think, Help Others, Increase Representation, & Advance Careers *
11. 1:08:53-1:15:23 -- Iman's Recommendations & Wrap-Up

The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and  at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions! 

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ClassCast Podcast Ep.057 features host Ryan Tibbens examining the motivations behind returning to in-person schooling this spring. Many community members, particularly teachers, have been shocked by how rapidly local officials have shifted their positions on distance vs hybrid options this winter. What people often fail to realize is that the return to school is not motivated by infection rates, a few loud parents at school board meetings, or even the quality of education. Rather, there are financial and political interests at play, and government officials -- local, state, and federal -- see the writing on the wall. 

Don't forget to like, subscribe, follow, share, and leave a positive review. The ClassCast Podcast doesn't pay for promotion, so your support and referrals are vital. Get more commentary, innovation, news, occasional snark, and school memes by following the ClassCast Podcast on Facebook & Instagram @ClassCastPodcast and on Twitter @ClassCastPod. You can also access current and archival content at www. ClassCastPodcast.com. 

If you are interested in advertising on the ClassCast Podcast, please inquire via the contact forms on our website. 

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ClassCast Podcast Ep.056 features teacher, innovator, author, lawyer, and speaker Rachelle Dene Poth discussing virtual reality and augmented reality in the classroom, accessing VR hardware for students, and preparing students and teachers alike for the technology of tomorrow. After speaking with Taylor Freeman, an AR/VR industry leader and Forbes 30 Under 30 winner, in ClassCast Podcast Ep.046, host Ryan Tibbens made exploration of VR in education a top priority for future podcasts. Crowdsourcing ideas for future interviews led to Rachelle, a talented foreign language and STEAM teacher who has presented at ISTE, ASCD, and professional development events and conferences across the country. In this episode, Rachelle describes her amateur beginnings in the AR/VR space, how she gradually incorporated the technology into her STEAM and foreign language classes, and offers ideas to help other teachers access the technology for their students. If you are interested in AR/VR, or if you are a teacher or parent who wants to bring learning to life for your students, check out this discussion with Rachelle Dene Poth (and then listen to Ep.046 with Taylor Freeman)!

You can keep up with Rachelle at www.rdene915.com and follow her on Twitter @rdene915.  Her books -- In Other Words: Quotes That Push Our Thinking, The Future Is Now: Looking Back to Move Ahead, Unconventional: Ways to Thrive in EDU, Chart a New Course: A Guide to Teaching Essential Skills for Tomorrow's World, and True Story: Lessons That One Kid Taught Us -- are available on Amazon.com, her website, and many education booksellers.


The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and right here at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions! 
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Table of Contents (Highlight clips*)

1. 3:19-8:40 -- Intro to Rachelle Dene Poth & Her Work with Virtual Reality/Augment Reality
2. 8:40-17:49 -- AR/VR Equipment in the Classroom *
3. 21:08-23:01 -- What VR Has in Store for Us **
4. 23:01-27:48 -- Why Isn't EdTech More Kid Friendly?
5. 27:48-38:37 -- Rachelle's Education & 9,000 Degrees
6. 38:37-45:39 -- Rachelle's Ideal School **
7. 45:39-53:42 -- Rachelle's Education Books & Being an Author
8. 53:42-55:42 -- Rachelle's Book/Movie Recs.
9. 55:42-56:58 -- Final Wrap-Up & Contact Info 

~~ And be sure to check out Spaces, a great digital portfolio and collaboration software that empowers teachers and students to focus on learning and growth. They helped to make this episode possible. ~~

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