November Learning

In this episode, Alan speaks with Ewan McIntosh, Founder of NoTosh, out of Edinburgh, Scotland. The two begin with a discussion about Ewan’s work with design thinking for developing a new learning ecology within an International Baccalaureate school in Barcelona, Spain. This leads in to a conversation about the emotional process teachers go through in relinquishing some of their established control within the classroom. Finally, they discuss the role of school leaders and the key shifts they must make in order to jump into the design thinking process within their schools. Ewan has been a keynote speaker, a pre-conference master [...]

Welcome to the November Learning Podcast Series. In this episode, Alan speaks to Shannon Miller, Teacher Librarian and Technology Specialist at Van Meter Community School in Van Meter, Iowa. The two discuss today’s enhanced role of a library as a learning commons, how parental involvement is vital within her learning space, how giving ownership of learning to students accentuates their interest in learning and why being globally connected is a necessity for any modern-day educator. Shannon will be a keynote speaker, a pre-conference master class facilitator and a session presenter at this year’s BLC conference. For more information and to [...]

In this episode, Alan speaks with Stacey Roshan, an AP Calculus and Algebra II teacher at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland. Alan talks with Stacey about the transformation of her classroom to one that utilizes the flipped classroom model, after attending BLC in 2010. Using this model, Stacey has seen vast improvement in her students understanding of advanced math concepts. Her insights on how she got started, how she got her message out to parents and how she manages her class will be very valuable to those looking to make this shift. Stacey will run a pre-conference master class and [...]

In this episode of the November Learning Podcast Series, Alan speaks with Shilpa Yarlagadda, a current student at Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California, and founder of Club Academia. Alan and Shilpa discuss how Club Academia, a global resource of education material created for students and by students came to be. They also discuss how the work in Club Academia is highly valued by many students as well as how the Club Academia team ensures that their published work is of the highest quality. Shilpa will be a keynote speaker and presenter at this year’s Building Learning Communities Conference, being held in Boston, Massachusetts in [...]

In this episode of the November Learning Podcasts Series, Alan speaks with Dr. Mitch Resnick, Professor of Learning Research and Director of the Scratch Team at MIT. The two discuss why coding is such an important element to bring into the educational process, at all ages, and they exchange their ideas on why global publication through an online community add an important aspect into this online, coding tool. In the end, Dr. Resnick also shares an exciting announcement about upcoming developments. Dr. Resnick and the Scratch team will lead a pre-conference master class at this year’s Building Learning Communities Conference, being held in Boston, Massachusetts [...]

In this episode of the November Learning Podcast Series, Alan speaks with Kathy Cassidy, a first grade teacher in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. Since 2005, Kathy’s first grade classes have shared their learning with the world through a class blog. Kathy shares how this opportunity has expanded the boundaries of learning with classrooms around the world, and has helped her students become leaders in building online community. Additionally, Kathy shares the thoughtful process she uses in keeping her students safe as they share in this online environment. Kathy will be a presenter at this year’s Building Learning Communities Conference, being held in Boston, Massachusetts in July. [...]

Alan is honored to have this interview with Peter Reynolds; award-winning author & illustrator of children’s books and founder of FableVision. Peter shares inspiring stories of how he started publishing newspapers with his brother when he was in first grade and how his math teacher changed his life by embracing his interests when he was twelve. These experiences guide Peter’s thoughts about the role of creativity for students, teachers and the very core of what education can be. Peter will be a presenter at the 2013 Building Learning Communities Education Conference,  http://www.novemberlearning.com/blc. We invite you to BLC. Peter invites you to the creative studios at FableVision, on the waterfront in Boston, during the BLC festivities. [...]