EPT 005: Scott McLeod @mcleod

Scott McLeod is one of the nation’s leading experts on K-12 school technology leadership issues. He currently functions as a Director of Innovation for Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency and is the Founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE). He blogs regularly about technology leadership issues at Dangerously Irrelevant and is a frequent keynote speaker and workshop facilitator at regional, state, national, and international conferences. I have used his TEDx Talk in my classes and highly recommend watching it.

"When you are a teacher, you get to have fun with kids and do cool stuff."

As a history major, Scott thought it would be way more fun to teach History and Social Studies to kids. He did have some thoughts on becoming a pediatrician, but teaching sounded like so much more fun!

CASTLE: "is the only place in the country that focuses on the tech needs of an administrator"

As the founding director of CASTLE, Scott focused on how to help principals and superintendents facilitate and create tech ready learning environments for students and staff.

Scott talks about how to prepare graduates for the current world we live in:

"Jobs continued to be fungible, so there is really wonderful video on You Tube it’s called Humans need not apply"

Scott gives advice on how to start making small steps towards generating a culture shift. He talks about "genius hour" and "20% time" as easy ways to empower kids and give them more accountability and responsibility for their own learning.

As the topic turned towards passion, Scott talks about project based learning schools where kids are empowered and give a lot of control over how they choose to learn and what they spend their time doing. The other thing that Scott is passionate about is

TRUDACOT: "a new technology integration protocol to help teachers think on their own tech infused instruction"

Scott also shares some tactics he uses to stay on task. He has a very active Feedbin account tightly organized by categories. He uses automation systems like Buffer, Shareaholic, and the pocket Kindle app. One of my favorite strategies he shares, is:

"I shut off all the incoming channels and really focus on some productive work."

Burst of knowledge round:

An inspirational book that you read as a teenager or a young adult:

Scott McLeod: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.

A favorite blog that you read currently:

Scott McLeod: Will Richardson 

Who do you turn to for advice?

Scott McLeod: Fellow Ed Tech bloggers, mostly they seem to be on cutting-edge than other folks, also my local team.

What is the best piece of advice that you got early on in your career:

Scott McLeod: Stop giving kids fake choice and give them real choice.

If you are gonna be invited to one on one dinner with one who is currently living, who would you wanna meet?

Scott McLeod: Alfie Kohn

Define success (in less than 10 words):

Scott McLeod: Doing things you are passionate about and having fun doing them.

Define failure (in less than 10 words):

Scott McLeod: Failing to fulfill your potential, because of other’s ideas about yourself.

Two to three words that you dislike:

Scott McLeod: Yes, but.

Two to three words that you think have negative connotations but shouldn’t:

Scott McLeod: Make it better.

Define passion:

Scott McLeod: Passion is when your heart sings.

You can reach Scott in the following ways:

Website: http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcleod

Facebook: www.facebook.com/scottmcleod

Delicious: www.delicious.com/scottmcleod

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/scottmcleod

Google+: google.com/+scottmcleod

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/scottmcleod

Hope you enjoy this podcast episode!

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Shownotes at ai2020.com