Tech Lasso

In this episode Dr. Chris Hoang and Donna “Basic Tac” Walters have a wide-ranging, upbeat conversation with Jihan Johnston. She is the Hip Hop Edtech Diva, a community curator, College Esports Advisory Member, a Mom, and Co-founder and CEO of BeatBotics, an esports and gaming awareness company. Topics covered include esports, diversity, equity, digital equity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), education reform, and inclusion.  

Links: 

Jihan Johnston is an inspiring and accomplished tech industry professional, educational specialist, and a proud Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. member. Her unwavering passion for driving positive change through gaming and esports has propelled her to break barriers and uplift underserved communities. Originally from Philadelphia, Jihan earned her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Saint Augustine's University and later pursued a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. Motivated by her desire to empower adolescents, Jihan embarked on groundbreaking work, leveraging the power of gaming to promote financial and business literacy.  

Recognizing her expertise and dedication, Jihan was appointed an advisor member for the Onside Gaming Fund for Women Win, and Warrior GMR foundation. In addition, she serves as an educational specialist with the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF), where she champions educational opportunities for high school students through esports.  

As a co-curator of BeatBotics, Jihan's visionary leadership shines as she raises awareness of the transformative impact of digital technology in esports, gaming, metaverse, and AI, particularly in black and brown communities. Her trailblazing spirit and commitment to amplifying the voices of these communities are nothing short of inspiring. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in informatics, focusing on the rich culture of black HBCU esports, Jihan stands as the first African American female to embark on such academic research.  

Her groundbreaking work is a beacon of inspiration, paving the way for future generations to embrace their passions and make a lasting impact. Jihan Johnston's exceptional journey and unwavering dedication remind us of our power to uplift communities, break barriers, and inspire positive change. She is a true catalyst for transformation, leaving an indelible mark on the world and inspiring others to embrace their unique paths. 

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Tech Lasso is produced in collaboration with the Instructional Technology Outreach (ITO) Coordinators with support from the Technology, Learning & Support Services Department.    

Please note: The views expressed in the podcast are those of the presenters and may not be endorsed by the Los Angeles County Office of Education or the respective organizations of the guests.   

The podcast is recorded and produced with Soundtrap for Education, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.   

Credits - Music: Soundtrap.com, Bensound.com, Graphics: Canva.com  

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

Katherine Goyette is the Computer Science Coordinator for California Department of Education. She is an author, learner and educational leader who advocates for inclusive educational opportunities for all students within the communities they reside. Katherine was primary writer for California’s inaugural Computer Science Standards and is the founding president of the California Central Valley chapter of the Computer Science Teacher Association. She has been a keynote speaker, featured presenter, and panelist for organizations across the globe on a variety of educational topics. In previous roles, Katherine was a county office consultant, educational administrator, instructional coach, and classroom teacher. She spends her free time writing, playing piano, and spending time with her family. 

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:  

Day of AI 

https://www.dayofai.org  

CA Computer Science Standards 

https://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/csstandards.pdf 

ISTE AI Guides 

https://www.iste.org/areas-of-focus/AI-in-education 

Seasons of CS 

https://www.seasonsofcs.org/ 

CSforCA 

https://csforca.org/  

AI for K12 

https://ai4k12.org/  

CSTA 

https://csteachers.org/ 

To subscribe to the “computer-science-all” email list 

Write “Subscribe” in an email addressed to  “[email protected]” 

Wonder Explore Learn 

https://www.wonderexplorelearn.com/ 

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If you have recommendations or feedback for us, please complete this form. Additionally, we'd love to hear from you on social media or by email:  

Twitter @lacoe_ito  

Facebook @lacoeITO  

LinkedIn @lacoe-ito  

Email us at [email protected]  

Tech Lasso is produced in collaboration with the Instructional Technology Outreach (ITO) Coordinators with support from the Technology, Learning & Support Services Department.    

Please note: The views expressed in the podcast are those of the presenters and may not be endorsed by the Los Angeles County Office of Education or the respective organizations of the guests.   

The podcast is recorded and produced with Soundtrap for Education, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.   

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.  

Music credits: Soundtrap.com, Bensound.com     

Graphics: Canva.com  

Laura James is a seasoned educator with 35 years of experience who currently heads the Multimedia Services unit at the Los Angeles County Office of Education, providing professional development on effective instructional strategies and appropriate digital tools to enhance instruction. She has incorporated multimedia into her teaching and engaged students with interdisciplinary projects to increase student learning. As a member of the California County Education Technology Consortium, Laura participates in evaluating digital content for California Streaming, while also serving as co-chair of the Infrastructure Committee, responsible for overseeing the development and maintenance of the consortium's applications and servers.

Los Angeles County Office of Education provides support across the spectrum from technology training to curriculum and instruction support to foster youth guidance and support to counseling support, we cover the spectrum when it comes to supporting our schools here in Los Angeles County.

MultiMedia Services has the California Streaming app at media.lacoe.edu. It provides access to high-quality digital content through CaliforniaStreaming, Grolier Online, the California State Library and other partner content (Annenberg Learner, Docs Teach Pics4Learning).

If you have recommendations or feedback for us, please complete this form. Additionally, we'd love to hear from you on social media or by email: 

Tech Lasso is produced in collaboration with the Instructional Technology Outreach (ITO) Coordinators with support from the Technology, Learning & Support Services Department.   

Please note: The views expressed in the podcast are those of the presenters and may not be endorsed by the Los Angeles County Office of Education.  

The podcast is recorded and produced with Soundtrap for Education, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.  

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

Music credits: Soundtrap.com, Bensound.com   Graphics: Canva.com 

Chris and Jennifer Ormsby discuss digital literacy and LACOE’s eLibrary services in this episode. ELS provides K-12 educators throughout Los Angeles County with free access to the Educator Library. Get your eLS library card today at https://els.lacoe.edu/ . 

Jennifer Ormsby has been at LACOE for over ten years, reinventing the LACOE library as eLibrary Services. Formerly a selector for the LA County Public Library, she has established a digital collection for K-12 educators throughout the county, and also provides library resources for teachers and students in our LACOE schools and Sora consortium. With a teacher librarian credential newly in-hand, she is excited to be expanding LACOE's librarian-of-record services program, providing contracted school library services for county districts without a teacher librarian.  

Los Angeles County Office of Education provides support across the spectrum from technology training to curriculum and instruction support to foster youth guidance and support to counseling support, we cover the spectrum when it comes to supporting our schools here in Los Angeles County. However, did you know that we also have a library? That’s right, we have a library, and today we have Jennifer Ormsby who manages our library services.   

Contact eLS:  

If you have recommendations or feedback for us, please complete this form. Additionally, we'd love to hear from you on social media or by email: 

Tech Lasso is produced in collaboration with the Instructional Technology Outreach (ITO) Coordinators with support from the Technology, Learning & Support Services Department.   

Please note: The views expressed in the podcast are those of the presenters and may not be endorsed by the Los Angeles County Office of Education.  

The podcast is recorded and produced with Soundtrap for Education, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.  

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

Music credits: Soundtrap.com, Bensound.com   Graphics: Canva.com 

In this episode of Tech Lasso, Christopher Hoang and Scott Moss get to know Lisa Moe (@MissMoeTeaches) and her adventures with EdTech, Social Emotional Learning, STEM, and more.  

Lisa Moe teaches 6th Grade in Corona-Norco Unified School District and is known on Social Media as @MissMoeTeaches. She was named the 2020 Edwin Carr recipient in Educational Technology through California State University, Fullerton and the 2021 IACUE Blended and Online Educator of the Year.  

In 2022, she was featured on CBS Mission: Unstoppable as a leading female in STEM. She currently serves on the Inland Area CUE board and hopes to continue to make a positive and significant impact in the world of educational technology.    

If you have recommendations or feedback for us, please complete this form. Additionally, we'd love to hear from you on social media or by email: 

Tech Lasso is produced in collaboration with the Instructional Technology Outreach (ITO) Coordinators with support from the Technology, Learning & Support Services Department.   

Please note: The views expressed in the podcast are those of the presenters and may not be endorsed by the Los Angeles County Office of Education.  

The podcast is recorded and produced with Soundtrap for Education, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.  

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

Music credits: Soundtrap.com, Bensound.com   Graphics: Canva.com 

An eSports Conversation 

In this episode of Tech Lasso, Christopher Hoang, Donna “Basic Taq” Walters and Thomas Phelps discuss all things eSports. 

Donna "BasicTaq" Walters is the founder and Executive Director of College Esports, a California non-profit organization seeking 501c3 status that supports educators, community leaders, and government officials in creating sustainable, engaging, and inclusive esports and video game programming. As part of College Esports' offerings, Donna formed the California Esports Collective, an internship-style program with a focus on developing student leadership, creating a middle and high school-to-college esports recruiting pipeline, and reducing the college-to-career gap through hands-on learning backed by a premium network of endemic connections. Prior to starting College Esports, Donna launched initiatives and consulted on the development of esports programming for several large brands such as the California State University system, CSU Entertainment Alliance, California State Fair, Big Sky Conference, Sacramento State University, San Jose Sharks, CORSAIR, along with multiple professional esports organizations. Donna currently presents at national conferences in both the esports and higher education spaces as a speaker, moderator, panelist, and event host.  
 

Thomas Phelps 

Teacher, ABC Unified School District.  

If you have recommendations or feedback for us, please complete this form. Additionally, we'd love to hear from you on social media or by email: 

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Tech Lasso is produced in collaboration with the Instructional Technology Outreach (ITO) Coordinators with support from the Technology, Learning & Support Services Department.   

Please note: The views expressed in the podcast are those of the presenters and may not be endorsed by the Los Angeles County Office of Education or the organizations they represent.  

The podcast is recorded and produced with Soundtrap for Education, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.  

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

Music credits: Soundtrap.com, Bensound.com    

Graphics: Canva.com 

In this episode, Alexis Candelaria, a SPED teacher from Los Angeles County, and ITO Coordinator Christopher Hoang speak with Lauren Burlison, known as the Canvas Queen for her tips and tricks on integrating Canvas LMS into the classroom seamlessly, on Canvas, AI, and how to support our students in the classrooms and at home in learning, especially with the rapid rise of generative AI.

To learn more about Lauren, check out her YouTube page. Additionally, she will be presenting at the LACOE AI Symposium on August 4th. Be sure to register and and see her in-person!

Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and follow us on social media.

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If you have recommendations or feedback for us, please ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠complete this form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Tech Lasso is produced in collaboration with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instructional Technology Outreach (ITO) Coordinators⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with support from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Technology, Learning & Support Services Department.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   

Please note: The views expressed in the podcast are those of the presenters and may not be endorsed by the Los Angeles County Office of Education.  

In this unedited episode of Tech Lasso, the LACOE ITO Coordinators and special guest, Cameron Smith, a Long Beach teacher, visit Leandro Otero and Jostin Grimes from Soundtrap in Pod City in downtown Los Angeles to discuss what Soundtrap is doing for students and educators.

Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and follow us on social media.

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If you have recommendations or feedback for us, please ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠complete this form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Tech Lasso is produced in collaboration with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instructional Technology Outreach (ITO) Coordinators⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with support from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Technology, Learning & Support Services Department.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   

Please note: The views expressed in the podcast are those of the presenters and may not be endorsed by the Los Angeles County Office of Education.  

In this brief episode, Christopher Hoang, Mark Schwanz, and Kyip briefly touch on the structure of the upcoming season and invite the audience to register and attend to AI Symposium on August 4th at the LACOE office.

Registration for the AI Symposium: https://ito.lacoe.edu/workshops/registration.pl?run_mode=create&workshop=693

Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and follow us on social media.

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If you have recommendations or feedback for us, please ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠complete this form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Tech Lasso is produced in collaboration with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instructional Technology Outreach (ITO) Coordinators⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with support from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Technology, Learning & Support Services Department.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   

Please note: The views expressed in the podcast are those of the presenters and may not be endorsed by the Los Angeles County Office of Education.  

In the last episode of the 2022-2023 school year, Christopher Hoang, Kyip, Alejandro Chavira, and Mark Schwanz share and discuss their own perspective and thoughts on the different topics that arose during this season and provide their take on a variety of topics from esports to identity to AI to coding. Additionally, Tech Lasso will go on a two week break and return on July 5th.

Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and follow us on social media.

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Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lacoeITO ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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If you have recommendations or feedback for us, please ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠complete this form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Tech Lasso is produced in collaboration with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instructional Technology Outreach (ITO) Coordinators⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with support from the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Technology, Learning & Support Services Department.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   

Please note: The views expressed in the podcast are those of the presenters and may not be endorsed by the Los Angeles County Office of Education.