TCAPSLoop Podcast

Greetings and Welcome to the final Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. Danelle Brostrom and I attempted to not be excessively maudlin and succeeded to some extent as we looked back on 8 years of potentially useful podcasting while "closing the Loop".

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.” ― Lucius Annaeus Seneca 

Reflections On A Project 

Why it Started

A fun, Innovative PD vehicle to share best practices with edtech.

Podcasts allowed for a long form conversation to help demystify technology for our educators and allow for thought provoking discussion from our amazing team of Edtech experts.

By the Numbers:

Number of years - 8; TCAPSLoop started podcasting early 2016. TCAPSLoop Weekly #1 was March 2017

Number of episodes - OVER 200!!!!!

Highlights:

Helped inspire and/or launch at least 3 other edtech podcasts (remember when we were TRENDING on apple podcasts????)

Favorite special guests 

Emmanuel Schanzer - data science -  in 2023

Stephie Luyt - books, books, books!

cast.org

Favorite episodes - top 3 I’d recommend for people to listen to RIGHT NOW

Universal Design for Learning with Cast.org | TCAPSLoop Podcast 2024

Considering Age Appropriate AI | TCAPSLoop Podcast 2024

ALL DIGCIT PODS, but especially Bonus Pod! Common Sense EDU Digital Citizenship Week Discussion | TCAPSLoop Podcast 2023 First DigCit pod: Oct 17, 2017

What's Next:

All things AI, Accessibility, Closing the design, use, and access divides (NETP), continued work on the MACUL Board serving the membership of MACUL (Conference chair for MACUL26 in GR - 50th anniversary of the org)

Recommendations

Hard Fork

Body Electric

Twenty Thousand Hertz

For the Purpose Of - Kent ISD

Tech Tool of the Week

Common Sense Media and cast.org :) 

Final Thoughts:

• Podcast series will still remain out in the ether for people to listen, reflect, share

Tech tools come and go. Good teaching is timeless.

Pause for people. Put down the device. Go outside. 

Where can we find you?

Danelle  - [email protected] or Linked In (brostromda)

Thank you for listening to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, Castbox, Overcast, Bullhorn, or wherever else you got your ear candy. gekawabamin meenawa and...

Thanks for listening and inspiring!

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. We are here to rebuke the commonly held belief that teachers have the summers off. Danelle Brostrom and Daneille Humphry from Northwest Ed discuss the past, present and future of our favorite summer event not associated with water, WIREDTC!  

The expert in anything was once a beginner." - Helen Hayes

• What is WIREDTC? What is the history of this event? 

 edWeb

Free professional development from industry leaders like Common Sense. 

Specifically, this upcoming one sounds AMAZING: Dreams Take Flight with THE BLUE ANGELS - edWeb

Goblin Tools

goblin.tools is a collection of small, simple, single-task tools, mostly designed to help neurodivergent people with tasks they find overwhelming or difficult.

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Special Guests: Daneille Humphry

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. I’m so pumped for this episode as we are joined by Melissa Sanjeh and Bryan Dean of cast.org. They are here to de-mystify UDL and get you on board to implement their amazing resources into your practice, in the classroom, or district-wide. This is a must listen for any educator invested in the education of ALL students.   

Key Goals of the Podcast:

1. Visibility for cast.org and what it can offer educators/schools

Audience for the Podcast:

• K-12 educators

• Administrators

Questions/Topics

1. What is cast.org? What are the goals of your organization? 

From a district leadership perspective, how do we make this into just something that we DO in our district/school?

Additional Questions:

1. Can you share some success stories or personal anecdotes about accessibility and UDL in action?

Cast.org 

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Special Guests: Melissa Sanjeh, Bryan Dean

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. Today's show includes potential pulitzer prize winning novelist, Danelle Brostrom as well as her ghost writer in this alternate reality, Stephie Luyt. We will be discussing all things Libraries including three school library associated bills currently working their way through Michigan State Congress and how they'll effect our Certified Librarians. We focus on Information Literacy, Artificial Intelligence and of course, Bluey.

Dear Senate Education Committee Members,

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and questions about the “Library in Every School” bills that are sponsored by Senator Camilleri (SB741, SB742) and Senator Bayer (SB743).

At yesterday’s Senate Education Committee Meeting, members of the committee asked for data about school libraries. The Michigan Association of School Librarians (MASL) has a wealth of data and we will share some of it below in several forms.

Please reach out if you have questions about this data or would like to meet to have any of your questions answered.

Thank you very much,

Kathy Lester

>MASL Advocacy Co-Chair, Immediate Past-President AASL, Adjunct Faculty Wayne State University

Alexa Lalejini

>MASL Advocacy Co-Chair, School Librarian, Rockford Public Schools

Stephie Luyt

>MASL Advocacy Co-Chair, School Librarian, Traverse City Area Public Schools

Carrie Betts,

>MASL President, School Librarian, Birmingham Public School District, AASL National School Library of the Year

Christine Beachler, 

>MASL President-Elect, School Librarian, Lowell Public Schools

DATA ABOUT THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS

Correlation between reading scores and school librarians in Michigan

According to the latest data, Michigan 46th in the nation in the ratio of students to school librarians (ratio of 2788 students per school librarian from 2021-2022) and 43rd in 3rd grade NAEP reading scores.

Michigan Study About the Impact of School Librarians

In Michigan, a Library of Michigan research study showed that school library media programs have a statistically significant positive impact on reading achievement in grades 4, 7, and 11. Specifically, this study showed that schools with librarians have 35 percent more fourth graders who score proficient or above than school without librarians (see page ix of the study). The Michigan reading test scores rise with the extent to which the state’s school library programs are headed by qualified school librarians. The relationship between school libraries and test scores cannot be explained away by other school or community conditions at any school level.

The Impact of Michigan School Libraries on Academic Achievement: Kids Who Have Libraries Succeed

Other research and data about the positive impact of school librarians

The Michigan Association of School Librarians has put together a document that summarizes the different ways that school librarians have a positive impact on students and includes links to research for each item.

bit.ly/slibevid

A good article that summarizes much of the research

The article below is a great article that summarizes much of the research.

Lance, K.C. & Kachel, D.E. (2018).  Why school librarians matter: What years of research tell us. Phi Delta Kappan, 99 (7), 15-20.

An infographic about the impact of school librarians on students with cited research studies: bit.ly/slheights

Teaching Books is the new Sora extra! 

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Special Guest: Stephie Luyt

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. After several rather stress inducing weeks at TCAPSLoop towers we decided to keep this episode light by focusing on some great tech tools to get you through the stretch run of the school year. So let’s start the calming process by inhaling this weeks TCAPS Loop Moment of Zen:

Canva for podcasting

1. How To Create a Podcast in Canva

Google Classroom Practice Sets

1. Practice sets - Google for Education

AI Test Kitchen from Google

Comic Sans Criminal

Additional Inspiration:

• Dr. Nagler Named COSN EmpowerED Superintendent of the Year

Bluey. Just watch it. 

• Watch - Bluey Official Website   

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. This episode dives into the world of AI prompts with guest Pete Milne, REMC Director! We explore best practices for crafting effective prompts, ensuring responsible AI use, and leveraging Pete's expertise to elevate your ed-tech game. Buckle up and get ready to unlock the appropriate use of AI in your practice!

Crafting Powerful Prompts: Pete shares key tips for creating clear, concise, and effective prompts that guide AI tools towards your desired outcome.

Reliable Sources & Verification: Learn the importance of including reputable sources in your prompts and double-checking information for accuracy.

Responsible AI Use: We discuss crucial considerations like avoiding PII (Personally Identifiable Information) and verifying sources to ensure ethical and responsible AI integration.

Practice Makes Perfect: Pete emphasizes the importance of practice when crafting prompts. Explore scenarios like those offered by Common Sense Education (https://www.commonsense.org/education/collections/ai-literacy-lessons-for-grades-6-12)) to hone your skills.

AI as Your Partner: AI is best used as an assistant or thought partner, not a replacement for our expertise.

REMC 2Central

• REMC Association of Michigan

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. Danelle's leveled up after her successful quest through MACUL 2024 and will guide us into the exciting realm of Developmentally Appropriate AI in Education. We know our youngest learners must develop the necessary critical thinking skills to navigate a landscape where AI will be ubiquitous. So, gear-up, fellow ed-tech explorers, as we embark on a journey through bytes, and building blocks.

Thoughts on Access vs. Exposure in regards to AI in schools

Generative AI has potential benefits for education and risks that must be thoughtfully managed.

Early Elementary - Bite sized digital citizenship, scaffolding to big ideas

• AI is not a human

• AI hallucinations

Later Elementary

• Problem solvers, if we aren’t careful, they will learn to rely on this kind of tech rather than solving their own problems

Middle School 

• CAUTION! “Over 13? Let’s get them on AI!” Developmentally what do we know about middle school brains?  They lack impulse control. Set guardrails and limits. 

High School

• High school students are fast becoming sophisticated users of programs like ChatGPT.

AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 6–12 | Common Sense Education

Rate, Review and Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, Castbox, Overcast, Bullhorn, or wherever else you get your ear candy. 

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful, From the Desk of the Director, episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. Evan O’branovic is already back up for a second helping at the Edtech Buffett. In todays episode, we'll talk trends and tips to leverage technology for enhancing student engagement, streamlining administrative tasks, and fostering a collaborative learning environment while attempting to avoid rambling incoherently for 20 minutes.

“We shape clay into a pot, but it’s the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want - Tao Te Ching

• What's the difference between an Learning Management System (LMS) and a Classroom Management System (CMS)?

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Evan Obranovic, Larry Burden

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another "Potentially Useful" episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. We are excited to be joined by Amber Wade, Wayne RESA’s Assistive Technology Consultant to follow up on our NETP conversations concerning Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Accessibility and provide some potentially useful tips for educators attempting to implement UDL in their practice.

Key Goals of the Podcast:

1. Increase understanding of UDL

Audience for the Podcast:

• K-12 educators

• Administrators

General Accessibility Questions:

1. For educators unfamiliar with accessibility, what's the simplest way to explain its importance in education?

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Questions:

1. Can you explain the core principles of UDL in a way that educators can easily understand?

Implementation and Challenge Questions:

1. What are some of the biggest challenges educators face when implementing UDL?

Alt+Shift: Every Learner Has Special Needs. Learners do not need to be “ready” to be included.  Programs need to be ready to support all learners.

Digital Promise Edtech Pilot Framework: The Edtech Pilot Framework provides a step-by-step process to help education leaders and technology developers run successful educational technology (edtech) pilots.

Rate, Review and Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, Castbox, Overcast, Bullhorn, or wherever else you get your ear candy. 

Thanks for listening and inspiring!

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden

Special Guest: Amber Wade

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful, From the Desk of the Director, episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. It’s part 3 of our NETP series so strap in as we uncover the gap between those with tech access and those without, and explore how it shapes learning. We'll dive into impacts and share possible solutions to bridge this divide.

Follow along by downloading the National EdTech Plan (NETP): A Call to Action for Closing the Digital Access, Design, and Use Divides

Some Key Points:

• Digital Infrastructure and Devices (inside and outside of school)
  • Availability

• Note that this section also includes info on making sure your data is accurate about the haves and have-nots.

• Accessibility
  • Accessibility

• Digital Health, Safety, and Citizenship (Focus on both in school AND OUT)
  • Digital Health - mindful tech use, setting digital boundaries, healthy sleep routines

All while keeping in mind a lens of equity and potential unintended consequences.

NETP Recommendations for Closing the Access Divide  

1. Develop a “Portrait of a Learning Environment” to set expectations around habits and abilities no matter what the space. (States, District) 

Professional Learning on the go. You likely know this if you are a listener of ours… podcasts are a great place to get digestible chunks of professional development. 

One of my recent favorites is: 

AEM Center: The Accessible Learning Experience Podcast

Rate, Review and Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, Castbox, Overcast, Bullhorn, or wherever else you get your ear candy. 

Thanks for listening and inspiring!

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram

Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!

Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden, Evan Obranovic

Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden

Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.