Ready for a day of big ideas, real classroom strategies, and educators who actually get it? In this episode of the OCCUE Podcast, Eric and Dan give you a sneak peek at OCCUE TechFest, the annual meetup of innovative educators from across Southern California. They talk keynotes, standout sessions, student voice, AI, creativity, and the Community Connections that turn hallway conversations into real collaborations. TechFest is happening February 7 at Serrano Intermediate School in Lake Forest. If you care about where education is headed, this episode is your preview pass.

Andy Osborn
On X: @8_bit_teacher
On Instagram: @8_bit_dad

This episode you are in for a treat. Eric, Dan and Andy interview OCCUE Virtual Event Donnie Piercey! 

Donnie is a world traveller who has partied with penguins in Antarctica, yet stays humble teaching fourth grade in the same neighborhood of Lexington Kentucky where he lives. He was Kentucky's 2021 Teacher of the Year, and is the author of 50 Strategies for Integrating AI Into the Classroom.

Andy Osborn
On X: @8_bit_teacher
On Instagram: @8_bit_dad

Listen in as Eric, Dan and Andy discuss the upcoming OCCUE Virtual Event, TechFest and other related news.

Andy Osborn
On X: @8_bit_teacher
On Instagram: @8_bit_dad

OCCUE TechFest 2025 & Spring CUE 2025 in the same episode?! Buckle up! 

Episode cohosts Andy Osborn & Megan Gibbs examine highlights from OCCUE TechFest 2025. Then they dive into what sessions they are excited about at Spring CUE 2025 which is right around the corner. Oh, and you find out why the dry erase board is the single most important invention of this century. This little "orange slice" of an episode clocks in at just under 15 minutes so it's perfect to listen to on your way out to Palm Springs. Take a listen to an all new episode of Building CUEmmunity with OCCUE!

🍊 Come be a part of our CUEmmunity!  🍊

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Resources:

• Google NotebookLM TechFest 2025 "Deep Dive" Podcast:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OIdBKMCgxFhXMCnX5zlYWnFH55b_9Z8N/view?usp=sharing 
• Spring CUE 2025 Conference Info & Registration:  https://cue.org/networks/events/30793 
• Spring CUE 2025 Conference Agenda:  https://www.springcue.org/conference-agenda/
• Building CUEmmunity with OCCUE Podcast Webpage:
  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2220607

This episode was recorded on Monday, March 17, 2025.

Send us questions, comments, or dumb dad jokes at [email protected]. You may be featured on the show and earn some sweet, sweet swag! 😎

Andy Osborn
On X: @8_bit_teacher
On Instagram: @8_bit_dad

Episode cohosts Andy Osborn & Megan Gibbs interview Kami representative, Central California CUE Board Member and fellow podcaster, Steve Martinez. They preview OCCUE Virtual Event i2i: Inspire 2 Innovate with AI, OCCUE TechFest 2025 and Spring CUE 2024. They also discuss what edtech they have been using to kick off the school year and Andy explains why he can't buy camouflage pants. So strap in and get ready people because this one is long and worth your while.

Come be a part of our CUEmmunity! 🙃

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Resources:

• Kami:  https://www.kamiapp.com/ 
• Brisk:  https://www.briskteaching.com/ 
• Suno:  https://suno.com/
• OCCUE Website:  https://occue.org
• OCCUE i2i: Inspire 2 Innovate with AI virtual event:
  https://cue.org/topics/16319/events/102281
• Link to apply to be a presenter at i2i Virtual Event on the event page.
• OCCUE TechFest 2025 event information will be posted on the occue.org website soon!
• Spring CUE 2025 Conference:  https://cue.org/networks/events/30793
• Building CUEmmunity with OCCUE Podcast Webpage:
  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2220607

This episode was recorded on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

Send us questions, comments, or dumb dad jokes at [email protected]. You may be featured on the show and earn some sweet, sweet swag! 😎

Andy Osborn
On X: @8_bit_teacher
On Instagram: @8_bit_dad

What do you call a lazy AI? Ctrl-Alt-Defeat-ed. 

This episode, Andrea Earl co-hosts along with Megan Gibbs. We briefly interview special guest, generative AI wizard Kevin Le, recap highlights from OCCUE TechFest 2024, preview Spring CUE 2024, discuss our favorite generative AI tool, and tell AI-generated dumb dad jokes. All in under an hour. You can only get quality content like that here, people.

Come be a part of our CUEmmunity! 🙃

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Resources:

• Quizizz:  https://quizizz.com/?lng=en
• Brisk:  https://www.briskteaching.com/ 
• ChatGPT:  https://chat.openai.com/auth/login
• OCCUE Website:  https://occue.org
• TechFest 2024:  https://occuetechfest2024.sched.com/
• Spring CUE 2024 Conference:  https://cue.org/networks/events/30793
• Building CUEmmunity with OCCUE Podcast Webpage:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2220607

This episode was recorded on Monday, February 19.

Be sure to send us questions, comments, or dumb dad jokes at [email protected]. You may just be featured on the show and earn some swag! Sweet! 😎

Andy Osborn
On X: @8_bit_teacher
On Instagram: @8_bit_dad

Welcome Edtech-ers! On this episode, Andrea Earl guest hosts along with Megan Gibbs and Andy Osborn. We discuss OCCUE TechFest 2024, Spring CUE 2024, ideas for going back to school after a break, and of course tell dumb jokes.

Come be a part of our CUEmmunity!

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This episode was recorded on Sunday, January 7.

Be sure to send us questions, comments, or dumb dad jokes at [email protected]. Your question, comment, or dumb joke may just be featured on the show and earn you some swag! Sweet!

Andy Osborn
On X: @8_bit_teacher
On Instagram: @8_bit_dad

Welcome Edtech-ers! This episode we spotlight Andrea Earl!

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Andrea is a Certificated Learning and Achievement Specialist in the Santa Ana Unified School District with over 40 years of experience in education. She enjoys supporting teachers with a focus on delivering high-quality, meaningful learning experiences using technology tools. She supports teachers, support staff, and administrators in all things instructional technology. She's a Google Certified Trainer, and Canvas Certified Educator, and holds a California Certificate for Online & Blended Instruction. She's a mom, BSA formerly known as Boy Scouts of America Assistant Scout Master, long-time math teacher & High Powered Rocketry mentor.

She also just happens to be our OCCUE President as well!

We also discuss the OCCUE Virtual Event coming up October 11, OCCUE TechFest, Spring CUE, our most underrated tech tool, and yes...another dumb dad joke.

You won't want to miss it!

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This episode was recorded on Tuesday, October 3.
Be sure to send us questions, comments, or dumb dad jokes at [email protected]. You may just be featured on the show and earn some swag!

Andy Osborn
On X: @8_bit_teacher
On Instagram: @8_bit_dad

Welcome Edtech-ers! This episode we interview the wonderful Megan Gibbs who may just very well become our show co-host! We could be so lucky.

This episode was recorded on Monday, August 7.

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Show Notes:
To learn more about Dual Immersion...
Center for Applied Linguistics: https://www.cal.org/
Dual Language Schools: Duallanguageschool.org
California Association for Bilingual Education: https://www.gocabe.org/
To learn more about Depth and Complexity...
Naomi O'Brien's work:
https://readlikearockstarteaching.com/depth-and-complexity-in-the-classroom/
Ian Byrd's work: https://www.byrdseed.com/introducing-depth-and-complexity/?ref=hpTED talk by Rita Pierson: https://www.ted.com/talks/rita_pierson_every_kid_needs_a_champion?language=en

Andy Osborn
On X: @8_bit_teacher
On Instagram: @8_bit_dad

This pilot episode was recorded on Monday, July 24.

Andy Osborn
On X: @8_bit_teacher
On Instagram: @8_bit_dad