Why Distance Learning?

Join us as we speak with Dr. Lance Ford, a veteran educator and pioneer in the field of distance learning. Dr. Ford has been integrating video conferencing technologies in classrooms for over 20 years. He focuses  on how video conferencing can enable authentic engagement between teachers and learners, regardless of location.

Dr. Ford shares insights from training over 20,000 teachers worldwide on effectively using tools like Zoom. He discusses common misconceptions teachers have before embracing video conferencing, as well as the biggest benefits and value-adds they experience after adopting these technologies. Dr. Ford also explores hardware considerations, the nuances of teaching music virtually, overcoming engagement challenges, differentiating instruction, and fostering community in a distance learning environment. He shares creative ideas and "golden moments" that emerge when teachers and students start leveraging the interactive capabilities of video platforms.

This inspiring discussion is a must-listen for any educator who wants to learn more about how to use video conferencing to create effective and engaging virtual learning experiences.

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Guest bio:
Dr Ford is a Zoom Rooms Educator/Teacher. Lance has been a classroom teacher for over 30 years. As a Zoom Educator, Lance has had the opportunity to train over 20K teachers from Afghanistan to Australia and Canada to Brazil in the effective implementation of video technologies in the classroom. He teaches as an adjunct instructor for Carl Albert State College in Poteau (POTO), OK where he leverages a variety of tools to engage learners both live and on-demand. He completed his PhD in Educational Administration, Curriculum and Supervision in 2009 from the University of Oklahoma. Although he has been teaching via synchronous remote video for over 20 years, Lance’s focus is not the technology. Instead he is focused on how tools become the transparent conduit for authentic engagement regardless of geo-location.

Links:
Dr. Lance Ford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-ford-00856849/ 

Browse amazing virtual learning opportunities at CILC.org

Seth's  Banyan Global Learning provides live virtual learning series in Character Education to schools at banyangloballearning.com

In this episode of Why Distance Learning, hosts Seth, Tami, and Allyson interview Darin Trobaugh, an Education Specialist at the Alaska SeaLife Center. They discuss Darin's diverse background in environmental engineering and teaching, which allows him to bring unique content to each of the over 2,000 educational programs he's taught. Darin shares how he combines his passion for animals with opportunities to share science  with learners of all ages. A highlight is Darin's perspective on the importance of using distance learning to share a little piece of Alaska with students who can't visit in person. He touches on how Alaska itself becomes a character in many programs, and the value of teaching Alaskan culture broadly. Darin also discusses benefits and challenges of broadcasting live from the SeaLife Center rather than a studio, including keeping the animals cooperative. Other topics include terminology, designing programs for young learners, and grant funding for distance learning initiatives. Throughout the conversation, Darin emphasizes that distance learning allows the SeaLife Center to fulfill its mission of inspiring conservation of the marine environment in creative new ways.

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Guest bio:
As an Education Specialist at the Alaska SeaLife Center, Darin Trobaugh enjoys combining his passion for animals with the opportunity to share fun science with audiences of all ages.  After studying environmental engineering at the University of Illinois and Oregon State University, Darin spent 2 years teaching high school in Papua New Guinea with the U.S. Peace Corps.  His diverse background allows the conversation to meander a bit during his education programs, so even after teaching over 2,000 programs he still brings in unique content each time.  Darin’s favorite aspect of distance learning is being able to share a little bit of Alaska with people who can’t easily reach the state in person – hopefully that inspires them to make the effort and get there someday!

Links:
Check out the Alaska Sea Life Center at https://www.alaskasealife.org/

Browse amazing virtual learning opportunities at CILC.org

Seth's  Banyan Global Learning provides live virtual learning series in Character Education to schools in North America at banyangloballearning.com

In this podcast episode, hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Courtney Dayhuff from Banyan Global Learning. The episode delves into Courtney’s decade of experience teaching over live video and her insights about the power of the medium. Of particular interest is her ability to get students to share their own stories over live video, especially within the context of teaching character education (in this case, SEL, Digital Citizenship, and Global Citizenship). Courtney discusses Banyan’s method of running live virtual field trips in the “real world” with teachers live and on location in real places -- Queenstown, Los Angeles, and Taipei to name a few. The discussion also explores the concept of global citizenship in an internet-connected world, along with the benefits of long-term virtual engagements versus one-off sessions. Personal practices for educator character development conclude the enlightening conversation.

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Courtney Dayhuff is the Director of  International Programming for Learning Live, Banyan Global Learning's daily distance learning program for Taiwan and China.

Originally from Montana, she is now based in Ridgefield, Washington. After graduating with a degree in Multilingual/Multicultural Education, Courtney taught in various ESL/EFL classrooms in the United States, Costa Rica, Taiwan, and China. 

When Courtney is not in the classroom, she enjoys playing music, traveling, creating, all types of adventurous outdoor activities, and spending time with her family, friends, and four-legged friend Wallace.

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Browse amazing virtual learning opportunities at CILC.org

Seth and Courtney's Banyan Global Learning provides live virtual learning series in Character Education to schools in North America.

In this episode, Seth, Allyson, and Tami welcome Paul Hieronymus, chairman of the Ohio Distance Learning Association (OhioDLA). We discuss golden moments, the current state of distance learning in Ohio, and persistent challenges in distance learning that may account for why the medium is not more popular than it is. He explores strategies for engaging non-tech-savvy learners (and teachers), and shares insights on converting more individuals to this educational approach, emphasizing the pivotal role  Ohio DLA plays. The conversation touches on ongoing issues in distance learning, post-pandemic enrollment trends, and the virtual vs. in-person schooling debate. Throughout, Paul masterfully underscores the enduring relevance and importance of distance learning in today's educational landscape.

Paul Hieronymus is in his third year as the chairman of the Ohio Distance Learning Association (OhioDLA). He is one of the founding members of the organization, initially serving on their board when they formalized as a state chapter of USDLA. Paul is the Director of Information,Technology & Integration for the North Ridgeville City Schools. Prior to OhioDLA and North Ridgeville, Paul served as president of ISTE’s Special Interest Group for Interactive Video Distance Learning and as a core volunteer for ISTE’s National Conference, running video operations from 2008-2013. He has been very active with Google Apps for Education and was one of Ohio’s first Google Certified Educators. Since 2004, he has worked with teachers from the US, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia to establish classroom to classroom collaborations.

Relevant links:
1. Laura Tarshis's I Survived Series
2. John Chen's Engaging Virtual Meetings

Get to know more about Ohio DLA here: https://ohiodla.org/

Browse amazing virtual learning opportunities at CILC.org

Seth's Banyan Global Learning provides live virtual learning series in Character Education

In this episode, Seth, Allyson, and Tami sit down with Eric Jones, a driving force behind Oiada International. With a dynamic career in distance learning that spans decades, Eric’s unwavering commitment to cultivating 21st century global citizens and leaders using distance will leave you awestruck! The group delves into the rich history of Oiada to unpack best practices for using distance learning to create a successful cultural exchange program that shares perspectives, boosts participants' self-esteem, and instills a sense of unity among global peers. Eric also takes time to talk about his time in a leadership role in the United States Distance Learning Association, discussing the challenges USDLA is determined to overcome, and the different ways the Association revolutionizes the way students learn!

Get to know more about Oiada International here: https://www.oiadaintl.org/

Keep up with the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) here: https://usdla.org/

Browse amazing virtual learning opportunities at CILC.org

Seth's Banyan Global Learning provides live virtual learning series in Character Education.

This week's episode we talk with Anne-Marie Côté from Canada's TakingITGlobal whose Connected North is an absolute powerhouse in live video conferencing. The best practices developed by Connected North that Anne-Marie describes are a veritable how-to guide for content providers, teachers, school leaders, and anyone who wants to bring teaching over live videoconferencing to its highest level.

Anne-Marie works directly with teachers to coordinate Connected North programming in three Nunavut schools. She largely leads the Content Partnership side of the Connected North program, supporting outreach and onboarding efforts as well as engagement and support for the program. She works collaboratively with Content Providers to design and/or adapt their virtual workshops and supports their preparation for connecting with communities. This includes understanding the realities of remote, Indigenous communities, and implementing effective pedagogical strategies, appropriate media,and learning approaches. She also leads the Connexions Nord program, Connected North's francophone counterpart, and coordinates the personal and professional development of staff at TakingITGlobal. She is committed to building engaging and empowering spaces for learning.

Check out more about Connected North here: https://www.connectednorth.org/en

Discover more about the history and programs of TakingITGlobal here: https://welcome.tigweb.org/en

Learn more about the history and how you can support Maya’s Kokom Scrunchies business here: https://kokomscrunchies.ca/

Make sure to follow Kokom Scrunchies on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/kokomscrunchie) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kokom_scrunchies/

You can always keep up with Allyson and Tami at the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) here: https://bit.ly/445KkjM

As always you can stay connected with Seth at Banyan Global Learning here: https://bit.ly/3NOScAn

Jan Zanetis is a distance learning pioneer who spent 20 years in K-12 and higher ed before working for DL powerhouses TANDBERG and Cisco Systems. In 2013, she became the Managing Director at the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration. Jan retired from CILC in 2022 where she mentored cohost Tami Moehring and was a clear and present inspiration to cohost Allyson Mitchell. Due to these close relationships, be forewarned that this episode gets a little sappy! Now freshly retired, Jan - who literally wrote the book (or, rather, several books) on distance learning - shares some extremely practical knowledge about the medium, talks about the power of publishing, and shares her secrets on how to be a successful female leader in a tech world dominated by men.   

You can always keep up with Allyson and Tami at the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) here: https://bit.ly/445KkjM

As always you can stay connected with Seth at Banyan Global Learning here: https://bit.ly/3NOScAn

Welcome to Part Two of this  two-part episode in which Seth, Tami, and Allyson delve into the insights and experiences of a diverse group of North American distance learning professionals. 

As we do with each episode, we asked each participant the titular question of our podcast: Why Distance Learning? It's a question that distance learning providers all have to answer, the implication often being: why don't you just do this in person? Each of the people in CILC's Pinnacle Education Collective have reflected deeply upon this question as you will learn in this episode. The answers go way beyond trying to replicate an in-person experience virtually and instead venture into the medium's ability to push the very limits of what's possible in the classroom.

Check out Part One (Episode #8) when we ask this same crew for golden moments from their careers: times when their values aligned perfectly with the controlled chaos of an educational experience over distance learning.

Discover the outdoors with Karin Davidson-Taylor at the Royal Botanical Gardens here: https://bit.ly/3NROQws 

Explore with Annie Mumgaard at the Morrill Hall: University of Nebraska State Museum here: https://bit.ly/3pobwer 

Investigate with Katie Wolfson at the UCAR: Center for Science Education here: https://bit.ly/42XSxoI 

Jump in with Brandon Hall to Learn Around the World here: https://bit.ly/3pu6fC3

Learn along with Dr. Jasmin Poor at the Roper Mountain Science Center here: https://bit.ly/3JDaodH 

Dig in with Kellie Saraceno at Longwoods Gardens here: https://bit.ly/3Jyu42c 

Discover with Jessica Meadows at Fort Monroe Authority here: https://bit.ly/3XsXFQC 

Embark with Marc Kotz on a Born 2 Move Adventures here: https://bit.ly/46oxPRR 

Dive in to learn from Jason Robertshaw at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium here: https://mote.org/pages/education/education-online 

You can always keep up with Allyson and Tami at the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) here: https://bit.ly/445KkjM 

As always you can stay connected with Seth at Banyan Global Learning here: https://bit.ly/3NOScAn 

In Part One of this two-part episode,  Seth, Tami, and Allyson delve into the insights and experiences of a diverse group of North American distance learning professionals. Reflecting on the golden moments of their careers, our guests share captivating stories that highlight the profound impact they've had on students and, in turn, how the learners have affected them. Despite the physical distance that separates teacher from learner, these stories highlight the bonds formed through distance learning and remind us of the remarkable connections that can be forged in virtual classrooms. 

The crew is thrilled to welcome returning guests and introduce you to new experts with unique perspectives and innovative approaches. Explore the links below to learn more about the exceptional institutions our guests represent and to uncover groundbreaking work in distance learning. Stay tuned for Part Two to learn more from this conversation among colleagues and friends! 

Discover the outdoors with Karin Davidson-Taylor at the Royal Botanical Gardens here: https://bit.ly/3NROQws 

Explore with Annie Mumgaard at the Morrill Hall: University of Nebraska State Museum here: https://bit.ly/3pobwer 

Investigate with Katie Wolfson at the UCAR: Center for Science Education here: https://bit.ly/42XSxoI 

Jump in with Brandon Hall to Learn Around the World here: https://bit.ly/3pu6fC3

Learn along with Dr. Jasmin Poor at the Roper Mountain Science Center here: https://bit.ly/3JDaodH 

Dig in with Kellie Saraceno at Longwoods Gardens here: https://bit.ly/3Jyu42c 

Discover with Jessica Meadows at Fort Monroe Authority here: https://bit.ly/3XsXFQC 

Embark with Marc Kotz on a Born 2 Move Adventures here: https://bit.ly/46oxPRR 

Dive in to learn from Jason Robertshaw at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium here: https://mote.org/pages/education/education-online 

You can always keep up with Allyson and Tami at the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) here: https://bit.ly/445KkjM 

As always you can stay connected with Seth at Banyan Global Learning here: https://bit.ly/3NOScAn 

Dr. Jasmin Poor is a decorated veteran of distance learning and brings to the podcast her deep experience with both teaching and research.  She discusses her perspective on homeschooling and digital school, balancing virtual experiences with on-site visits, the most surprising things she's learned from her research on distance learning, what led her to a career in the field, and why she believes distance learning has great value in today's educational landscape.

Dr. Poor is the virtual field trip teacher and coordinator for Roper Mountain Science Center. Her research on the impact of virtual field trips on students’ interest in STEM was published in a textbook. She is also an adjunct professor for several universities supporting undergraduates and graduate students in education. Jasmin’s impact on the virtual world includes focusing on creating high quality and engaging programs for students around the world to increase their interest in science.

Host Links:
Browse amazing virtual learning opportunities at CILC.org

Seth's  Banyan Global Learning prepares students for real life with live virtual learning experiences in Character Education: banyangloballearning.com