Voices of Readiness Podcast

Artificial intelligence (AI) usage continues to grow, but many educators are still awaiting training on effective use of AI in the classroom. According to a survey from EdWeek, only 43% of educators surveyed had received any training on AI. If you're in the other 57%, or even just looking to learn more about AI and maybe take the fear out of this new technology, we're here to help.

In this episode, we learn from AI expert and CEO, Joshua Wohle. Joshua is CEO at Mindstone, a practical AI training platform for non-technical people, helping them do more and better work, in less time, by using AI in their daily jobs. Previously, Joshua was a co-founder & CPTO at SuperAwesome, which became one of the biggest kids' technology companies in the world before being acquired by Epic Games.

Together we dive into the reason Joshua decided to create Mindstone, and how his team is helping educators get more comfortable with AI technology. We discuss the rapid disruptions caused by generative AI, and how educators can and should use it as a tool in their classrooms. Plus, we learn about new resources to get your feet wet and how to make AI learning fun and low stress. If you're new to AI, or one of the many teachers looking for training about AI in the classroom, this is for you.

Looking for more opportunities to learn about AI? Joshua recommends starting with Ethan Mollik's book, Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI and Stephen M. Kosslyn's book, Active Learning with AI.

Check out Mindstone's tools and resources here: https://www.mindstone.com/.

Learn more about our new Critical Career Skills Generative AI Foundations exam here: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Certifications/CCS/Certification/Certify/Generative-AI-Foundations.

Connect with your fellow educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here: https://certified.certiport.com/.

Security threats and nefarious tactics from hackers are on the rise, demanding more awareness and vigilance online. According to an IBM study of over 150 billion daily security events in more than 130 countries, there was a 71% year-over-year increase in cyberattacks that used stolen or compromised data. Helping learners understand what jobs are available for cybersecurity professionals is of paramount importance to combat the rise in cyberattacks.

In this week's episode, we're sharing portions of our latest CERTIFIED Academy: IT webinar. We met with a team of cybersecurity experts from Microsoft: Brodie Cassell, Principal Cybersecurity Consultant; Rod Trent, Senior Program Manager Security/AI; Edward Walton, Microsoft Global Black Belt – Security; and Raae Wolfram, Senior Product Manager, Security.

Our Microsoft experts share their insights and tips for breaking into this rapidly expanding field. We dive into their professional experiences, key lessons they've learned, and effective strategies for educators to inspire learners to pursue these in-demand career opportunities. You'll get valuable insights and practical advice on navigating the dynamic world of cybersecurity professionals.

Learn more about teaching cybersecurity here: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2024/October/Secure-our-world-for-Cybersecurity-Awareness-Month.

Connect with your fellow educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here: https://certified.certiport.com/.

The AI revolution has left many educators wondering how this disruptive technology will impact their students' future careers. Today, human resources leaders believe that nearly 90% of their workforce will need to be reskilled in the next five years. Preparing students to embrace AI and add these skills to their creative toolbelt will put them ahead of those late adopters. If you're wondering how you can prepare your students to leverage AI technology, particularly in creative and design fields, then Chana Messer is here to help.

Chana Messer is an artist, consultant, and Adobe Education Leader who has been teaching Fine Art and Digital Imaging at the university level for over 30 years. She has taught and mentored students at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and most recently, at FIDM. She has led hundreds of design workshops and bootcamps through General Assembly. Chana is a subject matter expert who has helped to write and develop the Adobe Certified Professional certification exams.

In this episode, we talk with Chana about the growth of AI and how it's impacting current designers and creative professionals. Chana walks through simple ideas for using AI in the classroom, and even discusses tools from Adobe that can give students a safe place to experiment with AI in their designs and creative projects. With Chana, you'll discover how you can broaden your students' creative abilities.

Ready to test Adobe's AI technology? Learn more at firefly.adobe.com.

Connect with your fellow educators, like Chana, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here: https://certified.certiport.com/.

In the real world, professionals need to have multiple tools in their design toolbelts. Understanding how to leverage numerous applications for one project can be a challenge.

For this week's episode, we're revisiting a previous CERTIFIED Academy: Design webinar to learn from industry professional, Charles Hache. Charles is an indie game developer and adjunct instructor for game design at Adrian College. Charles holds an MFA in game development and prepares students with knowledge in coding and design.

In this episode, we learn all about how Charles creates and designs in the real world. He shares how to help learners see which tools are best for various needs, and how you can help students connect more than one application to create more effective results in their design creations.

Learn more about teaching Unity and game design in the classroom: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/Unity.

Connect with your fellow educators, like Charles, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here: https://certified.certiport.com/.

According to The Culinary Pro, the foodservice industry is the largest retail employment sector in the world. Bringing in over USD 700 billion annually in the U.S., this career path provides individuals with ample opportunities for jobs and career growth. To help your students prepare to succeed in the accommodations and food service industry, Certiport has launched the Hospitality and Culinary Arts Careers program.

In this episode, we sat down with Gaven Ferguson to talk all things hospitality. Gaven is an international business advisor, mentor, and serial entrepreneur, always focusing on helping others to look outside the box and make their dreams a reality. He's the author of "The Business Procrastinator", and currently works as a Professor of Industry for Hospitality and Tourism Management at UCSI University in Malaysia. Gaven is an expert in the culinary arts industry, and most recently, lent his expertise in the creation of our newest certification program.

Gaven shares his insights on our newest certification, plus dives into his experience working for the World Association of Master Chefs. We discuss trends in the accommodations and culinary industries, and what skills learners need to thrive. Preparing students for careers in hospitality? This episode is a great peek into our new program.

Learn more about the Hospitality and Culinary Arts Careers program: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Certifications/HCAC/Certification/Overview.

Connect with your fellow educators, like Gaven, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here: https://certified.certiport.com/.

Career and technical education (CTE) can transform the workforce landscape. Teaching workforce specific skills helps learners find a career specific pathway that leverages their passion and talents. But how can you get others in your school, community, and beyond to see the value of CTE?

We sat down with Jennifer Stubblefield to discuss how you can advocate for your CTE program. A 27-year veteran of a Business Education classroom in Kentucky, Jennifer Stubblefield specializes in teaching courses that lead to industry certifications. Her classroom efforts have led to the development of an award-winning, public high school program that is recognized on the state and national levels for outstanding achievements and high rates of success on state-mandated business education tests and industry certification exams.

Jennifer is a frequent speaker at conferences both in the educational and corporate arenas, where she is known for her high-energy, interactive, and motivational workshops. She loves to "train the trainer" and can also be found in her local community training small businesses in the areas of soft skills, technology, and digital literacy foundations. After retiring from her classroom position, she accepted a position as the Customer Success Manager for Certiport where she works with teachers across the U.S. as they strive to develop certification programs in various areas.

In this episode, Jennifer shares how you can get students, parents, community members, and your administration excited about CTE. We also discuss the importance of connecting with local businesses, and how you can secure the funding you need for your classroom. In her trademark frank and fun way, Jennifer will help you see just how amazing your program can be if you just infuse it with a little energy and effort.

Learn more about the value of CTE on the Certiport blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2023/May/Promoting-the-Value-of-CTE.

Ready to learn more or looking for additional advice? Connect with Jennifer via email: [email protected].

Connect with your fellow educators, like Jennifer, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here: https://certified.certiport.com/.

Each year, we are so excited to recognize one of our customers as our CERTIFIED Educator of the Year as part of our annual CERTIFIED Educator Conference. We work with so many incredible educators, all of whom deserve recognition for their dedication and efforts. We're pleased to announce that Jenny Mohess is our 2024 CERTIFIED Educator of the Year!

Originally from Trinidad & Tobago, Jenny Mohess has lived in Osceola County, FL for over 22 years. She first stepped onto Valencia's Campus in 2000 as an international student. There she earned an A.S. in Graphic Design. While working for Apple, she earned a bachelor's in business from the University of South Florida, and master's in art education from Boston University. These experiences led to jobs at Apple, Microsoft, and eventually, her own design studio. Jenny currently teaches at Valencia College and has found genuine purpose in mentoring future graphic/web designers through the Valencia Graphics Program. She is now building the program at Tohopekaliga High School and sharing real-world experiences with her students.

In this episode, we talked with Jenny about CERTIFIED, being named CERTIFIED Educator of the Year, and her experience both in and out of the classroom. She discusses her passion for teaching, and how she overcomes the challenges she faces in education. Plus, she shares her advice for building personal and lasting relationships with her students.

Learn more about Jenny on the blog (https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2024/June/2024-CERTIFIED-Eduator-of-the-Year) and on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qoERZFVcGQ). You can also connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenartdesignstudio/.

Connect with your fellow educators, like Jenny, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here: https://certified.certiport.com/.

Welcome to our Summer Replay series. We wanted to revisit some of our previous episodes. These episodes were previously recorded and aired at an earlier date. This episode originally aired on July 19, 2023.

Each year, we are so excited to recognize one of our customers as our CERTIFIED Educator of the Year as part of our annual CERTIFIED Educator Conference. We work with so many incredible educators, all of whom deserve recognition for their dedication and efforts. We're pleased to announce that Karen Coulombe is our 2023 CERTIFIED Educator of the Year!

Karen Coulombe is a career and technical education (CTE) teacher at Lake Stevens High School in Washington state. Karen teaches both computer applications and computer science to first-year high school students in Lake Stevens. She is also a robotics advisor for the largest VRC Robotics team in Washington. Before becoming a teacher, Karen worked for more than a decade as a licensed avionics technician and airframe and powerplant mechanic for the U.S. Air Force, DynCorp Aerospace, and the Boeing Company. She was also selected for special assignments involving Air Force One and the B2 stealth bomber.

Throughout her career, Karen has been a passionate believer in continuing education and giving back to her community. She has participated in the U.S. Naval Academy's SET SAIL, Certiport's National CERTIFIED Conference, STEM Guitars, Space Camp for Educators, the Washington Alliance for Better Schools STEM Externship, and multiple nanotechnology conferences. Karen also serves on the teacher advisory board for the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, and as a member of two technical advisory committees.

In this episode, we talked with Karen about CERTIFIED, being named CERTIFIED Educator of the Year, and her experience both in and out of the classroom. She discusses her passion for teaching, and how she overcomes the challenges she faces in education. Plus, Karen shares her advice for creating a network of professionals to enrich your classroom and curriculum.

Learn more about Karen on the blog (https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2023/June/Karen-Coulombe-2023-CERTIFIED-Educator-of-the-Year) and on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC1m9kLUgug). You can also connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-coulombe/.

Connect with your fellow educators, like Karen, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here: https://certified.certiport.com/.

Welcome to our Summer Replay series. We wanted to revisit some of our previous episodes. These episodes were previously recorded and aired at an earlier date. This episode originally aired on July 7, 2022.

Each year, we have the honor and privilege of selecting an Educator of the Year. The 2022 CERTIFIED Educator of the Year is Carol York.

Carol is a Business Education teacher at Cary High school in Cary North Carolina. After many years of experience in private industry, Carol has been teaching for 12 years. She has been teaching project management for 8 years and was on the curriculum development team for both project management one and two for the state of North Carolina. She's recently earned her PMI Project Management Ready certification, which adds to her MOS Expert certification and National Board Teacher certification.

In this episode, we talk about Carol's experience as an educator and her special key to helping students succeed. Find out how she forms connections with her students that last well beyond the classroom.

You can read more about Carol here: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2022/June/Carol-York-2022-CERTIFIED-Educator-of-the-Year.

You can also learn about Carol and her fellow CERTIFIED Ambassadors here: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2022/May/Meet-the-CERTIFIED-Ambassadors.

Welcome to our Summer Replay series. We wanted to revisit some of our previous episodes. These episodes were previously recorded and aired at an earlier date. This episode originally aired on July 7, 2021.

In this episode, we had the privilege of interviewing our 2021 Certiport CERTIFIED Educator of the Year Abner Soto-Henry. His love for education and his students is truly inspiring. He talks about his story and journey to becoming an educator. We also chat about some of the challenges with his unique teaching and his advice to help other educators in similar situations as him.

Abner Soto-Henry has taught information technology education for nearly 20 years at the Latin American Youth Center Career Academy, specializing in Microsoft certifications, IC3 Digital Literacy certifications, and CompTIA certifications. In total, Mr. Soto-Henry has more than 24 years of experience in education.

Originally from Costa Rica, Abner speaks fluent Spanish, English, and Portuguese, enabling him to connect with the students he serves. He has received several awards, including the 2013 Community Star Award from D.C. United, the 2015 Hispanic Heritage Innovative Educator Award, the 2016 D.C. OSSE Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year award, the 2019 D.C. PCSB TIERific Teacher of the Year, and 2021 Certiport CERTIFIED Educator of the Year. A former professional soccer player, his passion for teaching is only rivaled by his love of the game.

Contact Abner:

https://www.facebook.com/ctlc.laycca

https://www.facebook.com/layccagreatness

https://www.linkedin.com/in/a-sotohenry20/

More information about Certiport:

Get all the details about Certiport here: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/

Find out more about our CERTIFIED Educator Conference here: https://certified.certiport.com/.

Ready to connect? Join CERTIFIED: Certiport's Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.