In this episode of Design Cast, Jason chats with Dan Thomas, a dedicated STEM teacher from Jamestown, New York. They discuss the value of play-based learning (PBL), the importance of creativity in the classroom, and Dan's upcoming projects.

Dan's Background:

·      33 years of teaching experience.

·      Currently teaches 7th grade STEM, covering robotics, coding, woodshop, metal shop, and CAD.

Teaching Philosophy:

·      Focuses on creating "aha moments" for students.

·      Emphasizes fun and play in learning, arguing that engagement leads to better retention.

Incorporating LEGO inEducation:

·      Dan uses LEGO for creative builds to spark student engagement and creativity.

·      Discusses the educational benefits of LEGO, including the development of cognitive skills.

·      LEGO's meaning in Latin: "I build" and the importance of open-ended building activities.

Current Projects:

·      Dan is retiring soon and working on the "Tech Ed Clubhouse," which aims to promote tech education and project-based learning.

·      He is writing a book titled "Where's the Fun in That?" focused on the role of play in education.

·      Plans to start a newsletter and has projects available on his website.

Daily Engagement:

·      Dan shares daily selfies with dad jokes on social media, emphasizing the importance of humor in education.

Resources Mentioned

Lego Foundation: learningthroughplay.com

Wakelet: wakelet.com

Books Recommended:

• "Play" by Dr. Stuart Brown
• "Flow" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
• "The LEGO Serious Play Method"

Connect with Dan ThomasWebsite: TechEd Clubhouse

LinkedIn: Dan Thomas on LinkedIn

Twitter: @CoachThomasTech

Closing ThoughtsDan emphasizes the importance of doing what you love and following your educational strengths. His passion for teaching and learning is evident throughout the conversation, inspiring educators and students.

In this episode of the Design Cast Podcast, host Jason welcomes Stephanie Simoes, a critical-thinking educator and founder of Critikid.com. Stephanie shares her journey into critical-thinking education and discusses the importance of teaching these skills to students, especially in the age of social media. She highlights the lack of critical thinking training in traditional education and the need for resources tailored for children and teens.

Stephanie explains her innovative approach, using storytelling and engaging content to teach concepts like logical fallacies through a sci-fi theme. She addresses the challenges of running a startup, focusing on marketing and financial sustainability. The conversation touches on her plans for expanding her curriculum to include media literacy and how she envisions her courses being used in classrooms.

• Importance of critical thinking in today's digital age
• Stephanie's journey and the founding of Critikid.com
• Creative approaches to teaching critical thinking through stories
• Challenges in Marketing and Financial Viability for Educational Startups
• Plans for expanding content to include media literacy
• Recommendations for tech tools and educational resources
• ⁠Critikid Website⁠
• Book: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
• Website: ⁠Thinking is Power⁠ by Melanie Trecek-King
• Follow Critikid on Instagram: ⁠@critikid⁠
• Connect on Twitter: ⁠@critikid⁠
• Find Critikid on Facebook: ⁠Critikid Facebook Page⁠

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing to the Design Cast Podcast and leaving a review. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and continue sharing valuable insights on education and design!

• #DesignCast
• #CriticalThinking
• #Education
• #EdTech
• #MediaLiteracy
• #TeachingStrategies
• #LearningThroughStories
• #InnovativeEducation
• #KidsAndTeens
• #LogicalFallacies
• #SocialMediaEducation
• #CriticalThinkingSkills
• #Parenting
• #Homeschooling
• #Educators
• #EducationResources

Hey everyone! I’m Jason Reagin, your host, and I’m thrilled to be back with a brand-new season of DesignCast after a year-long break.

In this episode, I’ll share what I’ve been up to, why I took some time off, and what’s next for the podcast. Whether you’re a long-time listener or new to the show, thank you for tuning in!

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In This Episode:

-What I’ve Been Up To: I’ve been busy with various projects, including teaching at an international school in Beijing, where my family and I have been living for the past few years. I’ve also been diving back into the world of design education, and I’m excited to share more about that.

-My New Book: I’m thrilled to announce the release ofmy book,The Future of Learning: Designing Innovative Spaces That Transform Schools and Inspire Tomorrow’s Leaders. It’s not a step-by-step guide but rather a deep dive into the philosophy and culture behind creating innovative learning spaces. You can find it on Kindle Unlimited or in paperback—check the notes below for links!

-Creative Pursuits: I’ve been exploring new creative outlets, including sharing my art, travel videos, and even Lego builds on Xiaohongshu (RedNote). It’s been an inspiring platform for me, and I’d love for you to check it out!

-New IB DP Design Technology Syllabus: The International Baccalaureate (IB) has just released a new DP Design Technology syllabus, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on it. Let me know what you think—I’m eager to discuss it in future episodes.

-Future Plans for DesignCast: I’m looking to broaden the scope of the podcast and would love your input on new ideas, guests, and content formats. I’m also considering creating an eBook summarizing past episodes and hosting live webinars. Let me know what you’d like to see!

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Connect With Me:

- Xiaohongshu (RedNote): Diskon4no

- BlueSky: diskon4no.bsky.social

- Landing Page:https://zaap.bio/diskon4no

- Amazon Author Page:https://www.amazon.com/author/jasonreagin

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Support the Show:

If you enjoy Design Cast, pleasesubscribe, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world to me, and I’m excited to bring you more content in the coming months. Let me know what topics or guests you’d like to see in future episodes—I’m all ears!

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Stay Tuned:

This is just the beginning of Season 9, and I’ve got some amazing guests and topics lined up. Thank you for being part of this journey—let’s make this season the best one yet!

#DesignCast #Education #InnovativeSpaces #DesignThinking#IBDesignTech #CreativeEducation #JasonReagin #Season9

On this episode of #DesignCast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Lindsay Lyons.  Lindsay calls herself an ‘Educational Justice Coach’ and when you listen to this episode you can see why!  What an amazing journey she has been on for many years as she has worked with all kinds of organizations regarding #Equity #Inclusion #SocialJustice #Diversity.  She describes her work as ‘co-creating’ lessons, units, and curriculum around these timely and important topics!

Connect with Lindsay and check out her podcast at her website: https://www.lindsaybethlyons.com

On this episode of #DesignCast, I was joined by Darrin Peppard.  Darrin is a “Leadership Coach, Speaker, Author, & Publisher” and has a website named ‘Road to Awesome.’ He and I talk about the ups and downs of leading in today’s educational environment. I am certain you will find some joy and knowledge through listening to this episode!

Connect with Darrin through his website: https://roadtoawesome.net

On this episode of Design Cast, I had the pleasure of speaking to Adam Morris.  Adam is the “Schools Technology & Integrations Director” at Faria Education Group.  We talk all things EdTech and listening to his perspective about using a Professional Network Model to improve platforms and systems is interesting and refreshing!

You can connect with Adam through his LinkedIn profile: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morris-08905a20/

For this episode of #Design Cast, I had the pleasure of speaking to Mr. Jarrett Brown.  Jarrett is currently the Assistant Head of Secondary & MYP Coordinator at Leman International School in Chengdu, China. He teaches MYP Language and Literature, I&S, Language Acquisition, and the MYP Personal Project. He is an MYP Workshop Leader, Site Visitor, Reader, and Building Quality Curriculum senior reviewer. Additionally, he does some consultant work for Faria/ManageBac.  Previously, he has worked in international schools in various roles including Action and Service Coordinator, Individuals and Societies Department Head, Camp Coordinator, and Swim Team Coach. He has worked at Suzhou Singapore International School, Qatar Academy, and the American International School of Salzburg.

Connect with Jarrett:

https://www.facebook.com/jarrett.brown

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrettbrown/

Twitter: @brown5001

I had the privilege of speaking with Claudio Zavala Jr. for this episode of Design Cast. Claudio is a true Renaissance man with many talents and interests. He is an educator, photographer, YouTuber & videographer. We have an awesome chat about where he finds inspiration for his videos and how he gets to help students around the world with Adobe Express.  I know that you will find so much value in this conversation!

Connect with Claudio:
https://bio.link/claudiozavalajr (connect to all of his socials through this link!)

For this episode of​ Design Cast, I spoke to AJ Crabill.  Improving student outcomes is AJ Crabill’s focus. He serves as Conservator at DeSoto, Texas ISD. During his guidance, DeSoto improved from F ratings in academics, finance, and governance to B ratings. He’s also Faculty at the Leadership Institute of Nevada and Director of Governance at the Council of the Great City Schools. He served as Deputy Commissioner at the Texas Education Agency and spearheaded reforms as board chair of Kansas City Public Schools that doubled the percentage of students who are literate and numerate. Crabill is a recipient of the Education Commission of the State's James Bryant Conant Award.

Connect with AJ!

https://www.facebook.com/ajcrabill/

https://www.twitter.com/ajcrabill7/

https://www.instagram.com/ajcrabill7/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajcrabill/

https://www.youtube.com/AJCrabill

Find out about his books:
https://www.ajc7.com/p/books.html

For this episode of Design Cast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Jill DuBois! Jill is a veteran elementary teacher and owns her own publishing imprint where she shares her stories of inspiration and helps others tell their stories!  She is creating content full-time for her own website and for her podcast, in addition to the professional development provider that she works with.  Our conversation was about her journey to becoming a published author and illustrator.  Ultimately, her mission is to impart joy through her words and action!

I have no doubt you will enjoy our conversation as much as I did!

Connect with Jill:

www.impartedjoy.com

www.facebook.com/jilliandee 

www.instagram.com/jilliande 

www.linkedin.com/jill-dubois 

www.twitter.com/JillDuBois22