This week Dani and Jared interview Payden Littlefield, a Science/Robotics teacher at Syracuse Jr. High in Davis School District.   As part of their conversation they look at the role robotics can play in helping students develop critical thinking skills.  In addition, they cover topics such as:  

• the biggest impacts for teachers who implement robotics into their classrooms
• good first steps into using robots in instruction
• how technology helps students of all different backgrounds and ability levels learn

Resources

• https://www.roboticseducation.org/ - This is the foundation that helps organize the competitions that we have attended.
• https://www.roboticseducation.org/resources/ - This is the resources page from that same website. it includes a place to apply for grants to help with the cost of robotics kits.
• https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexiq/education/iq-curriculum - This link has a free robotics curriculum that you can download to use with the VEX robotics kits.  
• https://code.org/ -   It is a great resource for students and teachers getting started with coding or computer programming.
• https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexcode-vr - This final link is a virtual reality robot that you can program.  It includes more lessons with problems for students to solve.  

Dani and Jared are pleased to welcome Bri DeLeon and Richard Thomas, from Latinos in Action,  into the Homeroom this week. During this powerful episode we discuss topics such as: How do we talk to students about racism?  What does systemic racism look like in the education system? How do we encourage schools to celebrate diversity?  How do we include parents and families into conversations about racism?  and What are some strategies that can help create a more inclusive environment for faculty and students?  

Latinos in Action - https://latinosinaction.org/

In this episode of UEN Homeroom we're talking with Dr. Allison Martin and Kody Colvin, both educators/administrators in the Salt Lake School District and members of FAM (Friends, Allies, and Mentors of the LGTBQ+ Community.  During our conversation we focus on topics like: the key issues schools need to address when it comes to addressing the needs of LGBTQ+ students, improving our school culture to be more inclusive, ways teachers can help LGTBQ+  students feel safe at school, and more.

Links shared in the episode include:

• GLSEN: https://www.glsen.org/resources/educator-resources
• Welcoming Schools: https://www.welcomingschools.org/resources/
• Friends, Allies, and Mentors (F.A.M.)’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FAM.SLC

For additional information please contact Kody Colvin at [email protected]

Jared and Dani are talking coaching the week with Robert Proffit, Professional Learning Coordinator from Washington County School District.  As we look into coaching we discuss the following topics: What are the biggest impacts for teachers who participate in a coaching program? How do you encourage teachers who are reluctant to coaching to try a new approach? What is the research surrounding coaching and its effects?

In this episode of UEN Homeroom, Jared and Dani are pleased to welcome Tim Eernisse, Vice President of the National Education Telecommunications Association (NETA).  As part of our conversation we tackle such topics as:  the role that public media can play in helping people of all ages learn, how local public media stations make a difference in their educational communities, the future of public media, how public media and education partner with one another to benefit classrooms, and what was the original color of Oscar the Grouch.

In another of our Lost Episodes, Jared and Dani meet with Chris Larsen, Director of Educational Technology for Granite School District and UCET President Elect, to discuss the impact that UCET has on classrooms throughout Utah.  We talk about the different activities that UCET provides educators, the need for professional learning in education, and the future of UCET moving forward.

In one of our Lost Episodes, Jared and Dani connect with Amanda Souza, Manager of Community Partnerships for the Southwest with Girls Who Code.  During our conversation we cover topics including:  the role that Girls Who Code plays in Utah, the need for gender equity in computer programming, the skills that students develop in Girls Who Code, and the need for teachers and schools to get involved in teaching computer programming to students.

UEN Homeroom is excited to welcome the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Syndee Dickson, to be the final guest in our Learn @ Home series.  As part of her role in guiding K-12 schools we talk with Dr. Dickson about the decisions leading up to the soft close of schools and the eventual decision to close in-person instruction for the rest of the school year.  We also cover topics like preparing the state for distance learning for the past several years through the DTL program, how to help families and communities through services provided at the schools, and how to help schools return, recover, and reimagine education for the future.

UEN Homeroom is excited to welcome Kip Motta, Principal of Rich Middle School and North Rich Elementary, to discuss the response to COVID 19 in our latest episode in the Learn @ Home series.  We discuss topics such as:  how Rich schools prepared for distance learning in a 1 to 1 computer program for students, helping students by balancing the workload during distance learning, and facilitating teacher adoption of tools like Canvas to help students in the online environment.

In the next installment of the Learn @ Home series, UEN Homeroom talks with Scott Wihongi, principal of Murray High School.  As the school year nears completion, we talk about topics like:  how to provide the class of 2020 a sense of closure, connecting with students and parents who are struggling during this time, and helping the community stay strong in the face of challenge.