Fellow podcaster Randall Black, host of The Randall Black Show, joins me to talk about his passion for sharing stories. We also discuss failure, what makes great PD, and the three different kinds of teachers there are when it comes to tech in the classroom. Randall is a vibrant, thoughtful educator who is working to make things better for everyone he meets, which makes conversation 51 a convo worth listening to.

Links:

Randall on Twitter
Randall's Website

Sponsored Link:

Rotary Club District 5370 Conference

Self-described Learning Commons Wizard Geoff Ruggero joins me for conversation 50. We talk about the new-found centrality of libraries in learning and how makerspaces are revolutionizing the library space and the actual profession of librarians. With pedagogy pushing further into PBL, design-based thinking, and 21st century competencies, Geoff outlines how his role is essential to pushing the forefront of education. We also talk a lot about cardboard.

Links:

Geoff on Twitter
Makedo
Nintendo Labo


Sponsored Link: YESS Painting

After doing several episodes together on the side, it's finally time to bring educator, podcaster and VoicEd man-about-town Derek Rhodenizer into the official Ed fold. We talk about podcasting, the value of reflection, teacher evaluation, and the best ways to mess with kids heads - and maybe even why you should.

Links:

EduThoughts (Derek's Podcast) 
Derek on Twitter
DerekRhodenizer.ca
AutoCrat (Google Sheets Add-on)

In an unusual turn, our normal panel of hosts is out, and in their stead, I'm joined by three student teachers. This episode, we talk about the wins and fails of their early teaching experiences, what works, what doesn't, and why board games aren't popular in British Columbia. It's an honest and inspiring look at the future of the teaching profession.

Links:

Splendor (Boardgame)
Settlers of Catan (Boardgame)
The Secret of Kellsf

Leanne Hanson bills herself as a, "bad influence, corrupting the world, one classroom at a time". Along with unpacking what that means, we talk about the need for educational reform, teacher catharsis, why acronyms are so cool, and why we ought to blame Francis Bacon for everything.

Links:

Leanne on Twitter
Bad Teacher on YouTube
James Veitch TED Talk

For this prime-numbered episode, I'm talking with Allison Fuisz. Don't worry - we get name pronunciations cleared up right away. Allison is a passionate educator devoted to helping students develop healthy worldviews. We talk about helping students to develop and maintain a curious attitude and how we can help them to be independent learners. We eventually wind up talking about what is perhaps most central to her practice: the UN Sustainable Development Goals; why their important, and how they can help students to become better learners and citizens.

Links:

Allison on Twitter
Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! by Dr. Seuss and Jack Prelutsky
UN's Sustainable Development Goals

Zach is a passionate educator currently working in Sudan, although his experiences have also seen him teaching in Vietnam and the US as well. We talk about the differences in student populations, plus the importance of creating a welcoming and dynamic environment for students.

Links

Zach on Twitter
educationrickshaw.com
Facebook Group - Over-Posting Educators

In setting out to discuss the future of education, it quickly becomes clear that this is an entirely too-complex issue to wrap up in just 40 minutes. Still, me and Joe Reimer give it a shot. We cover everything from smashing cell-phones, to boredom, to the power of the internet, to what the heck a teacher is supposed to do. We're not sure about any of it, but it's great food for thought.

Links:

Joe on Twitter
Shane on Twitter
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Fortnite

Phil Strunk, although relatively new to the teaching profession, is already a well-established personality in the twitter-sphere and his podcast, Wins & Losses, is a worthy addition to any and all education listening playlists. I sit down with Phil and we talk about what brought him to podcasting and why reflective practice is such an important element of a teacher's growth. We also segue into talking about the future and how we can best prepare our students for what lies ahead. Phil is a charismatic and thoughtful new teacher whose words are well worth listening to.

Links
Phil on Twitter (#Waledchat is every Thursday at 9pm EST)
mrpstrunk.blogspot.com

Nick Janna is a newly minted school leader in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We bridge the time gap to chat about his take on school leadership and what it takes to create a positive learning environment. Nick has a strong desire to see students flourish not just within the classroom, but also the community. From positive relationships, to figuring out how and when helping can actually hurt, we cover the gamut of what it takes to make a healthy school with engaged and global citizens.

Links:
Nick on Twitter
Learning2Europe - upcoming EDU conference in Luxembourg