The Good Life EDU Podcast

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we are joined by national keynote speaker and restorative practices expert Ali Hearn, alongside Scott Eckman of Nebraska MTSS, to explore how restorative practices can transform school culture -- and to promote the upcoming NeMTSS Summit! Ali shares her experience working with schools nationwide to help students and staff foster connections, build trust, and create safe spaces for students, educators, and learning. The conversation delves into the proactive strategies of restorative practices, the importance of embedding them into multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and how schools can shift from a reactive to a proactive approach. Scott provides valuable insights into Nebraska's implementation of these practices and the ongoing efforts to build sustainable systems across the state. We hope you enjoy this thoughtful discussion on reshaping education through restorative practices and creating environments where every student and staff member feels they belong. Learn more about the Nebraska MTSS efforts and Summit at https://nemtss.unl.edu/ To connect with Ali Hearn and learn more about her work, visit https://heyalihearn.com/

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we spotlight the upcoming Nebraska Digital Citizenship Symposium taking place on October 16th, 2024. Peg Coover of ESU 10 joins us along with the event's keynote speaker Jen Casa-Todd as we dive into the history and evolution of the annual NE DigCit Symposium event. In the episode, Jen previews her message, highlighting her LEAD framework, which emphasizes learning, empathy, awareness, and digital role modeling as crucial elements of student leadership online. Listen to learn how students will grow as digital citizens while engaging in hands-on activities that empower them to create positive change in their own schools. REGISTER YOUR STUDENTS FOR THE EVENT and access the NEDigCit online resources and competition at https://bit.ly/NEDigCit Learn more from Jen Casa-Todd at https://jcasatodd.com/

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we sit down with Mike Kentz, founder and CEO of Zainetek Educational Advisors, to discuss the evolving role of AI in education. Mike shares his journey from being a financial journalist to a middle school writing teacher and eventually becoming an AI education consultant. He unpacks his unique perspective on how AI can amplify the teaching process, emphasizing the importance of depth over efficiency. From guiding teachers through the emotional side of AI adoption to grading chats instead of essays, Mike provides a thoughtful, reflective look at how AI can reshape writing instruction and assessment. To learn more from Mike Kentz, visit https://zainetek-edu.com/ To watch Mike's TEDx Talk on the importance of AI Literacy, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRyWDNjRWaw

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we dive deep into Nebraska’s statewide efforts to improve literacy through the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework. Join us as Mary Jo McElhose (NeMTSS Systems Consultant with NDE) and NeMTSS regional support leads, Heidi Farmer and Kala Peyton, share their insights on the challenges and opportunities in advancing literacy education across the state. This conversation explores the alarming data on student reading proficiency, the science behind how the brain learns to read, and the critical role of high-quality instructional materials and practices. Learn about the collaborative initiatives, support systems, and practical strategies aimed at empowering teachers and improving literacy outcomes from early childhood through secondary education. To learn more and connect with these great education leaders, visit https://nemtss.unl.edu/

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we dive into the ESUCC's statewide Social Studies Inquiry Project with Mark Brady of ESU 7 and three incredible teachers from this summer's iteration of the project (Cassie Kenedy of Omaha Public Schools, Jeff Maddox of Creek Valley Public Schools, and Sydney Daly of Millard Public Schools). Together, we highlight the three-year journey of developing nearly 90 inquiry-based social studies units for grades 4-8, created by Nebraska teachers for Nebraska classrooms. Cassie, Jeff, and Sydney detail the challenges, successes, and insights gained from this unique professional learning experience and share how these innovative resources are elevating social studies education across the state. Join us to hear firsthand stories of statewide collaboration, creativity, and commitment to engaging students in deeper learning. Access all resources related to the Social Studies Inquiry Project at https://www.esucc.org/instructional-materials/social-studies/ Access the Nebraska OER Hub at https://oercommons.org/groups/nebraska-social-studies-inquiry-project/11856/?&__hub_id=55 The Nebraska Page of the C3 Teachers site https://c3teachers.org/nebraska-c3-hub/ IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, listen to this earlier episode where we connect the SSIP to the C3 Framework and the national effort to transform instructional practices in social studies: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-c3-teachers-and-nebraska-esus-are-transforming/id1512974122?i=1000641983055

In this thought-provoking episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Evie Wusk, a professor of educational technology at Peru State College, to delve into the evolving relationship between AI and education. Together, we explore how technology is not only reshaping teaching and writing but also influencing the broader human experience. Drawing from her recent EdSurge article, Dr. Wusk offers a nuanced perspective on balancing AI’s efficiencies with the need to preserve the deep, meaningful aspects of education. Join us for a compelling conversation that invites educators to critically reflect on the future of teaching and learning in the age of AI. Read Dr. Evi Wusk's EdSurge article https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-06-17-ai-might-save-teachers-time-but-what-is-the-cost

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we are joined by UDL expert Katie Novak to explore the latest advancements in Universal Design for Learning and how the evolution of UDL is shaping the future of inclusive education. We also delve into the role of AI in enhancing UDL practices and the critical importance of robust professional learning systems in driving meaningful change. Don't miss this inspiring conversation on how to elevate student learning experiences and outcomes through UDL. REGISTER TODAY to be a part of the NeMTSS Summit an d learn from Katie Novak, live and in-person, on September 26-27 in Kearney, Nebraska! https://nemtss.unl.edu/2024/02/23/2024-nebraska-mtss-summit-super-systems-for-success/ LEARN MORE FROM KATIE... Novak Education: https://www.novakeducation.com/ The Education Table Podcast: https://www.novakeducation.com/theeducationtablepodcast SEE ALSO... CAST's UDL Guidelines 3.0 (released on July 30, 2024): https://udlguidelines.cast.org/ Tom Gusky on Professional Learning: https://tguskey.com/

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we explore the pivotal role of Network Nebraska in enhancing education across the state. Our conversation dives into how this collaborative statewide network provides reliable and affordable internet and telecommunications services to K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and other educational entities. Learn about the initiatives, resources, and partnerships that make Network Nebraska a critical infrastructure for educational success and innovation. Discover how Network Nebraska can support your educational institution by exploring their resources and considering membership. Visit https://networknebraska.ne.gov/ to learn more.

Dr. Kristen Mattson joins The Good Life EDU Podcast this week for the third and final installment of our Summer Learning Series featuring speakers who shared at Nebraska education conferences this summer. In this episode, Dr. Mattson provides practical examples of Digital Citizenship in action, delves into AI in education, and makes both topics approachable for all educators in our shared responsibility to create spaces for students to learn and grow as citizens in a digital world. Links Referenced in the Episode Include: TeachDigCit.com TeachDigCit.com/framework TeachDigCit.com/picturebooks https://www.pinterest.com/DrKMattson/dig-cit-discussions/ (images for discussion)

Education author, speaker, and Canva Learning Consultant, Tisha Richmond, joins The Good Life EDU Podcast this week for the second of three episodes in our Summer Learning Series. In each of these episodes, we feature a keynote speaker from one of this summer's Nebraska conferences to give access to those not at these events while also extending the learning for those who were there, live. Tisha shares with us her summer learning, speaks to the power of being a connected educator, praises Runza, and delves into some of the new features in Canva! To continue to follow and learn more from Tisha, visit https://www.tisharichmond.com/

Fresh off her keynote appearance at the Future Ready Nebraska Conference and following up a busy week at the 2024 ISTE Conference, Jaime Donally revisits The Good Life EDU Podcast to share some of her summer learning and where she sees technology for education trending next. Our conversation spans AI, augmented reality, virtual reality, and more -- so don't miss out on this opportunity to see into the future of ed tech. To follow Jaime and learn more, visit www.arvrinedu.com To learn more about Kai's Clan (mentioned in the episode), visit https://kaisclan.ai/

In this special episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we bring you a live recording from this summer's Future Ready Nebraska Conference. We recorded a session titled, "All Things Digital Learning," which features Dorann Avey and Shaun Young with NDE and Bill Pulte of ESU 3 sharing their insights on current initiatives, resources, and collaborations taking place within Nebraska's education community. The conversation moves frequently across a myriad of topics, and you can listen in to gain the same insights and learning opportunities as those who were present to participate in this engaging session.

In this inspiring episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we sit down with Dawn Ferreyra and Derek Gangwish, the educators behind the EMIL Maker Lab at ESU 3 in LaVista, Nebraska. Discover how this dynamic makerspace fosters creativity and innovation, providing students with hands-on experiences in 3D printing, laser cutting, embroidery, and more. Learn about the impact of maker education on student engagement and curriculum reinforcement, and how this is just one of the many ways our ESUs serve Nebraska education. To learn more, visit https://tech.esu3.org/emil

In this enlightening episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we chat with happiness coach and motivational speaker Kim Strobel. Together, we explore Kim's key message about the power of happiness and its profound impact on our personal and professional lives. Kim shares research-backed strategies and actionable insights that educators can implement to foster a positive, joyful environment in their schools and classrooms. Special thanks to Kim Strobel for inspiring us to prioritize happiness and well-being in education. To learn more about Kim's work and message, visit https://strobeleducation.com/ To access Kim's Gratitude Tracker, visit https://strobeleducation.com/gratitude-habit-tracker/

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we delve into the NDE Arts NOW Grant, a transformative initiative made possible by the Nebraska Arts Council providing $180,000 that funded the purchase of materials in 23 Nebraska school districts. Together with educators from three of those districts, we discuss how this funding helped foster creativity, create community, inspire innovation, and more in arts education. Special thanks to Cody Talarico of NDE and Anne Alston of the Nebraska Arts Council for all your support of this grant and for lifting up these stories from the classroom. For more information on the Arts Now Grant, visit https://www.education.ne.gov/finearts/arts-now-grant-program/ For more grant opportunities made possible by the Nebraska Arts Council, visit https://www.artscouncil.nebraska.gov/apply/

Brian Buffington returns to The Good Life EDU Podcast this week to share his recent work with AI in education and his continued commitment to supporting teacher and student creativity. Brian will be presenting at the Future Ready Nebraska Conference, and we encourage listeners to connect with him and others during that FREE learning opportunity on June 10-11, 2024. Register for the Future Ready Nebraska Conference at nefutureready.com Subscribe to Brian's weekly Buff Nuggets newsletter at https://briankbuffington.com/

This week on The Good Life EDU Podcast, we explore how recent legislative support has paved the way for an elevated commitment to computer science education. Special guests Shaun Young, Computer Science and Technology Specialist from the Nebraska Department of Education, and Jeremy Keeshin, CEO of CodeHS, share insights on the new standards, available resources, and the future of computer science in Nebraska. Listen in to learn how these efforts are set to empower educators and heighten student interest and access to computer science. To learn more about Computer Science in Nebraska, visit https://www.education.ne.gov/nce/cis/ To learn more about CodeHS, visit https://codehs.com/ To access the CodeHS's Nebraska resources, go to https://codehs.com/states/NE If you are interested in receiving educator training from CodeHS, contact [email protected]

This week, we are joined by Dr. Larianne Polk who was recently named the ESUCC's new Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Polk shares the context for and details about a piece of 2023 Nebraska legislation that has led to an opportunity for the ESUCC to develop and deliver statewide training on topics related to mental health and teacher support. Terri Haynes of ESU 13 and Jackie Ternus of ESU 7 also speak from their role as content developers on this important teacher training. For more information, access our Behavior Intervention Training and Teacher Support Act flyer and related FAQs communication at https://www.canva.com/design/DAF_4wWYgYY/MufaAH__cmsw4fYF3MohVQ/edit?utm_content=DAF_4wWYgYY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

This week, we welcome Danna Thomas, CEO and founder of the Happy Teacher Revolution, back to the show to chat about her new book "Happy Teacher Revolution" and all the collaboration, research, and learning that went into its development. Throughout the episode, Danna's passionate advocacy for educator wellness is as contagious as her message for empowering teachers with strategies for claiming and sustaining joy. We are grateful for this opportunity to revisit the Happy Teacher Revolution and wish Danna the best as she begins her book tour across the US. To learn more about the Happy Teacher Revolution, visit https://www.happyteacherrevolution.com/ To learn more about the book by the same title (which currently sits as the #1 New Release in Adult & Continuing Education), visit https://a.co/d/3zUTT2m To listen to our previous podcast episode with Danna, visit https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happy-teacher-revolution-supporting-educator/id1512974122?i=1000589397622

This week we revisit a conversation from the fall of 2022 that highlighted Get SET Nebraska's efforts toward developing effective onboard support for new-to-the-profession Special Education teachers. Since then, Get SET Nebraska has grown in its reach and impact, and this episode brings together a team of educators from Elkhorn Public Schools to speak about the Get SET program and materials. Together with Get SET's Project Manager Pam Brezenski, the Elkhorn team of Adrienne Kennedy, Cara Schrock, and Emma Jackson share their experiences as a part of this collaboration. To learn more about Get SET Nebraska, visit https://getsetnebraska.org/ To listen to the previous episode about Get SET Nebraska, visit https://getsetnebraska.org/podcast-explores-get-set-nebraskas-support-of-special-education-teachers/

This episode shares the story of how the Accreditation Committee in Nebraska identified a need and creatively addressed the issue through extended collaborative efforts that resulted in a new interpretation of Rule 10 to better serve Nebraska schools. Together, Dr. Decua Jean-Baptiste (Director of Accreditation with NDE), Dr. Dan Schnoes (CEO of ESU 3), and the Accreditation Committee Chair and Superintendent of Ainsworth Community Schools, Dale Hafer provide what Nebraska school leaders need to know about this interpretation while also demonstrating the culture of cooperation and shared support between the NDE, ESUs, and Nebraska Districts. To learn more, visit the NDE Accreditation page at https://www.education.ne.gov/apac/

This week, we are grateful to our guest Zac Chase, Digital Equity Impact Fellow with the US Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology, for his time as he joins the pod to speak to the 2024 National Ed Tech Plan (NETP). In the episode, listeners can expect to learn about the context for and development of the NETP and its central tenets. While the conversation references some of the great work in US schools, the NETP includes 50+ exemplars from across the country that illustrate these efforts in action. To access those examples and the NETP, visit https://tech.ed.gov/netp/.

This week's episode featuring Trevor Goertzen from SchoolAI kicks off a series of upcoming episodes previewing sessions at this year's Future Ready Nebraska Conference. Trevor is joined by Eileen Heller of ESU 3 and Dr. Nicholas Ziegler of ESU 5 for a conversation highlighting the "spaces" feature within SchoolAI where educators can create a safe and student-friendly AI chatbot interaction for learners. In this episode, Trevor explains the power and potential impact of SchoolAI spaces, and Eileen and Nick share their experiences and examples in leveraging this tool in support of UDL, distance learning, and more. To learn more about SchoolAI, visit schoolai.com/ For more info and to register for the Future Ready Nebraska Conference, visit nefutureready.com It's FREE and we hope to see you there in-person or virtually on June 10th-11th, 2024.

This week, K.K. Neimann, National Director of District & Strategic Initiatives at World Savvy, joins us for an episode on education innovation and how World Savvy utilizes multi-year partnerships with schools and educators to help them create inclusive, adaptive, and future-ready learning environments. On the pod, we discuss global competencies, ideas for fostering teacher empowerment, and how to enhance our support of students as they develop the skills and dispositions they need to thrive in their community and careers. To learn more about World Savvy, visit their website at https://worldsavvy.org/

In this episode, Dani Potter (B-FIT Coordinator) and Cassie Houser (Behavior Specialist) of ESU 4 join us to share their commitment and work in support of students with behavior needs. Our conversation illustrates how Cassie and Dani's roles differ but work in tandem to ensure that not only the student but also those supporting the student(s) have the strategies, communication, and input needed to have a positive impact. To learn more about ESU 4, visit https://www.esu4.org/ To learn more from ESU 4's Behavior Bites and Newsletter, visit https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057413861341

This episode picks up the conversation from a previous episode that told the backstory behind the purchase and distribution of robotics solutions across K-12 schools in Nebraska. On the pod, Dr. Josh Snyder and Mr. Erik Emerson of Wahoo Public Schools share the story of the devices their district received and how they are introducing products such as Bee-Bots, Tello EDU drones, and the Tetrix Prime robot to students in Wahoo schools. We are also joined once again by Pitsco's regional representative, Preston Fraizer, whose outstanding support both in-person and online has ensured easy onboarding for educators and implementation success statewide. For more on the ESUCC+Pitsco Robotics purchase and related resources, visit https://resources.pitsco.com/ne-geer-up-program

Dr. Paul Darvasi is back for his annual episode on all things serious play and learning! In this episode, Paul explains his new role as the Executive Director of the Serious Play Conference and how innovation so often comes from utilizing ideas and techniques from one domain in a new or different context. We also delve into educators as learning experience designers, and how viewing an educator's work from that lens has been transformative to his work with teachers and with his company, Gold Bug Interactive. To learn more about the Serious Play Conference, visit https://seriousplayconf.com/ To learn more about Gold Bug Interactive, visit https://www.goldbuginteractive.com/ Paul recommends James Paul Gee's What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy

In this episode, Superintendent Brian Rottinghaus, 4th Grade teacher Aeden Ghyra, and 5th Grade teacher Hadley Sejkora share Pawnee City School's transformative approach to math education. Together with Tara Gossman of ESU 4, this great collection of educators detail the implementation and impact of Eureka Math, highlighting how it has not only accelerated learning but also enhanced students' understanding and retention of math concepts. This group, with the support of NDE and Instruction Partners, illustrates how coherence led to a new standard for educational excellence in math in Pawnee City. Visit the Pawnee City Public Schools Site: https://www.pawneecityschool.com/ Visit the Nebraska Dept of Education's Math Page: https://www.education.ne.gov/math/ Visit the Eureka Math site: https://greatminds.org/math/eurekamath

This week, we are joined by Bridget Peterkin and Grace Clausen, the co-founders of Dyslexico. Dyslexico is a Nebraska-based AI tech company that provides spelling and grammar correction tools designed specifically for those with dyslexia. Listeners will learn the origin story of this effort and how it has been built out through the support of the Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska. The pod also discusses current efforts to pilot these supports in schools, and both Bridget and Grace encourage anyone interested in utilizing this technology to reach out to learn more. Link to the Dyslexico site: https://dyslexi.co/

In this episode, Dr. Mike Dulaney and Kyle McGowan of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators and Dr. John Skretta, Administrator of ESU 6, discuss several education-related bills that will be heard during this year's legislative session in Nebraska. Together, these leaders and education advocates provide context and details that are sure to support anyone interested in learning more about the prominent topics and themes in education in our state. To learn more about NCSA, visit https://www.ncsa.org/ To stay up to date on the 2024 Legislative Session, visit https://nebraskalegislature.gov/ To watch Nebraska's Legislative Session live, visit https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/watch/live/

This episode highlights the shift to inquiry for social studies instruction. On the pod, John Lee of C3 Teachers conveys the details of their national efforts with the C3 Inquiry Design Model that Nebraska ESUs utilized in their collaborative efforts to develop inquiry units of study for grades 4-8. Mark Brady of ESU 7 also joins us to share the history of this effort in Nebraska that has produced 60+ inquiry units developed by Nebraska teachers for Nebraska teachers (that are aligned to the Nebraska State Standards). To access the C3 Teachers' site and resources, visit https://c3teachers.org/ To access the Nebraska Hub on the C3 Teachers' site, visit https://c3teachers.org/nebraska-c3-hub/ If you are a Nebraska teacher who would like more information about joining the 2024 Summer Inquiry Project, reach out to your local ESU for more details.

In this first episode of 2024, we are joined by Seth Fleischauer of Banyan Global Learning for a conversation that spans an array of topics all related to teaching learners Digital Citizenship, whether that be in your own home or in the school environment. On the pod, Seth shares his passion for connecting with students and schools through a live virtual connection to make space for conversations that can help them to better navigate the digital world we live in. To learn more about Banyan Global Learning, visit https://banyangloballearning.com/ To listen to his podcast, Make It Mindful, visit https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-mindful-an-education-podcast/id1676546196 To listen to his podcast, Make It Mindful, visit https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/why-distance-learning/id1677170895

This episode features two return guests to our show, Dr. Dan Schnoes of ESU 3 and Dr. Larianne Polk of ESU 7. Dan and Larianne each serve their respective ESUs as the Chief Administrator, and this past October, they had the opportunity to travel to Washington DC to meet with Congressmen and women and advocate for Nebraska education. In this episode, they highlight the six main topics from those collective conversations. To learn more about the national efforts and opportunities for service agency advocacy at the federal level, visit AESA's page https://www.aesa.us/federal-advocacy/

Media Literacy speaker, author, and evangelist, Julie N. Smith, joins The Good Life EDU Podcast this week to talk about the impact generative artificial intelligence is having on media literacy efforts in education. On the pod, Julie highlights examples of how AI is being used to create content and what consumers (like educators, learners, and the general public) can do to keep from being misled by fake news and misinformation. To connect with Julie, visit heyjuliesmith.com For access to resources mentioned in the episode, visit... Google Sheet of 200+ AI Tools: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M6w3zlv5suAV16XEXgR86AbWCshU6QbKEE8UH9n7BXc/edit#gid=0 Hot PDF of digital forensics tools: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12o0db1MRK5OcJveMkvEkzOc7qMFF5iM0/view?usp=sharing

This week The Good Life EDU Podcast features the work of five Nebraska ESUs that received an Educator Pipeline Grant from the Nebraska Department of Education. John Skretta, Molly Aschoff, and Drew Harris join the pod to speak to the unique models that each ESU designed as a way to meet the specific local needs of the districts that they respectively serve. The conversation spans opportunities for education administrators, new-to-the-profession classroom practitioner support, Educator Rising pipeline efforts, fostering substitute teacher pools, and more. For more information on the ESU in your area of Nebraska, visit https://www.esucc.org/esu-coordinating-council/

Dr. Nicholas Ziegler, World Languages Coordinator at ESU 5, is back on the show this week to give an update on Distance Learning in Nebraska. On the pod, Dr. Ziegler also speaks specifically about the Distance Learning World Languages Program at ESU 5 and the tremendous successes that students are experiencing through those DL courses. Listeners can expect to learn about the content area of World Languages, Distance Education, and how 76 districts across the state are turning to distance learning as an effective avenue for staffing courses when an in-person instructor is not available. To learn more about the ESU5 World Language Program, visit https://www.esu5.org/services/distance-learning To learn more about the Nebraska OER Commons, visit https://oercommons.org/hubs/nebraska

Amanda Bickerstaff, CEO and co-founder of AI for Education, joins The Good Life EDU this week to share how teachers can take a more nuanced approach to prompting generative AI chatbots to save time during the lesson design process and enhance learning opportunities for students. Our conversation builds from there to include insights on generative AI for student use, AI literacy, and the next wave of AI tech tools that are closer to the classroom than one might think. To connect and continue learning from Amanda, visit aiforeducation.io

This week, we welcome Dr. John Schwartz, Superintendent of Millard Public Schools, to The Good Life EDU to share how schools across Nebraska are telling their stories through the Rooted in Nebraska campaign. Dr. Schwartz is one of a number of education leaders in our state who are committed to this effort to highlight how we are "Rooted in Academics and Grown for Success" in Nebraska. To learn more about the Rooted in Nebraska campaign and access available resources, visit https://www.rootedinnebraska.org/ Also, be sure to check out the hashtag #RootedNE

This week on the podcast, we're joined by Rob Dickson and Dyane Smokorowski from Wichita Public Schools. They take us through their district's venture into generative AI, which kicked off with the introduction of ChatGPT in November 2022. In our conversation, Rob and "Smoke" delve into the motivations behind their initiative, the implementation process, and the significant shifts they've witnessed since then, impacting their dedication to advancing teaching and learning. To learn more about technology at Wichita Public Schools, visit https://www.usd259.org/domain/904 To read the Edweek article about this effort, visit https://www.edweek.org/technology/chatgpt-is-everywhere-in-this-district-heres-what-it-looks-like/2023/08

This week on The Good Life EDU Podcast, John Meehan of EMC2 Learning joins us for a conversation on student engagement, playful learning, and how educators can get connected to the resources and support that he and Michael Matera provide through their company. John will be in Nebraska for two days of fun and professional learning in November as he works with our ESU PDO TLT affiliate, and this episode previews the ideas, energy, and thoughtful approach to lesson design that educators can expect from that experience. To learn more about EMC2 Learning, visit https://emc2learning.com/ To register an entire staff for a subscription to EMC2 Learning's resources, contact the ESUCC Coop Purchasing at https://www.esucc.org/cooperative-purchasing/

In this episode, we welcome Peg Coover of ESU 10, co-leader of the Digital Citizenship Symposium effort statewide, to preview the upcoming live and in-person DigCit event on October 16th. We are also joined by this year's keynote speaker Dr. Marialice BFX Curran, who shares her heart for this important topic and what attendees can expect from the event. To learn more and/or register for this event, visit bit.ly/NEDigCit To learn more from the DigCit Institute and Dr. Marialice BFX Curran, visit https://digcitinstitute.com/

Education speaker and author Lainie Rowell joins The Good Life EDU Podcast this week with an uplifting message and a number of great ideas for fostering and maintaining an attitude of gratitude. Lainie recently released Bold Gratitude, an interactive journal that serves as a practical companion to her book, Evolving with Gratitude: Small Practices in Learning Communities That Make a Big Difference with Kids, Peers, and the World, and she shares insights and examples from that project on the pod. We ourselves are grateful to Lainie for sharing on the show as there's no time like the start of a school year to effectively integrate new strategies into the rhythms of the day! To learn more from Lainie, visit https://www.lainierowell.com/

This week on The Good Life EDU Podcast, we welcome Dr. Kathryn Nieves Licwinko to discuss how generative AI technology can help educators reach all learners and design experiences that account for learner variability. We explore how teachers can use generative AI to enhance and expedite their efforts to apply a universal design to learning (UDL). UDL is a framework that helps educators make learning accessible to all students, regardless of their abilities or learning styles. Dr. Licwinko has extensive experience in developing and implementing generative AI ideas and strategies for educators. To continue to learn from her, listeners can visit her website at http://katienieves.com/

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Sheyanne Smith, who is the High Ability Learning Specialist for Nebraska's Department of Education, joins us to speak about the present efforts to build upon and enhance services for Nebraska's H.A.L. students. We also discuss resources and support for the H.A.L. educators who teach and lead in those spaces. For more information, the resources mentioned in the episode, or to contact Sheyanne Smith directly, please https://www.education.ne.gov/hal/

Speaker, author, and all-around edu-rockstar, Allyson Apsey, joins The Good Life EDU Podcast this week to share ideas for school leaders who are looking to take their staff meetings to a whole new level this school year. Allyson explains the structure of her most recent book, Lead with Collaboration: A Complete Guide to Transforming Staff Meetings, and details easily implemented, practical strategies for each main section of the text. This episode is a must-listen for all educators who facilitate staff meetings and professional learning throughout the year. For more info and resources on Lead with Collaboration, visit https://leadwithcollaboration.net/

In this episode, we welcome Justin Knight, an attorney with Perry Law Firm, to discuss several AI-related topics and potential concerns that school districts and their educators should look to address as they establish policies and practices for the use of AI. Justin brings a great perspective and a wealth of experience with education law to this conversation. We focus on generative AI and how things like intellectual property rights, copyright law, and the crafting of a school plagiarism policy are all being challenged as this technology continues to evolve. For more on how to cite a generative AI site as a source, visit https://style.mla.org/citing-generative-ai/ If you are looking to extend your learning on AI, here's an article that points to five free courses you can take to learn more about artificial intelligence: https://fortune.com/education/articles/here-are-5-free-ai-classes-you-can-take-online-from-top-tech-firms-universities/

The National Rural Education Association is a strong and respected organization of rural school administrators, teachers, board members, regional service agency personnel, researchers, business and industry representatives, and others who are interested in maintaining the vitality of rural school systems across the country. In this episode, NREA's executive director, Dr. Allen Pratt, joins the podcast to talk about the NREA's current work, the present challenges facing rural education in America, and the innovative and collaborative efforts being made to address them. We also chat about the myriad of ways in which NREA helps keep rural educators connected and informed. To learn more about NREA (and to register for their annual conference), visit https://www.nrea.net/

In this episode, Dr. Chris Haeffner with Lincoln Public Schools shares how LPS Library Services are connecting with students and their families to tell their stories through the video series, "The Seat Beside You." This conversation illustrates Chris' heart for helping students feel seen and understood. We also discuss how these brief windows into the lives of LPS learners can enhance the level of empathy and understanding that educators and students alike feel toward others in their school community. To learn more, access LPS Library Services' "The Seat Beside You" site at https://home.lps.org/seatbesideyou/

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Cody Talarico of NDE and Anne Alston of the Nebraska Arts Council for discussion about the Fine Arts in Nebraska and a unique grant opportunity for public schools statewide to receive funding for materials. This conversation highlights the collaborative efforts of NDE and the Nebraska Arts Council toward ensuring that learners have the resources they need to learn and grow in the Fine Arts. For more information about the grant, visit https://www.education.ne.gov/finearts/ or reach out via email to [email protected] Cody Talarico can be reached via email at [email protected] Anne Alston can be reached via email at [email protected] Visit the Nebraska Arts Council's site at https://www.artscouncil.nebraska.gov/ to learn more about their work and for information on additional grant opportunities.

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Heather Brantley of Pine Tree ISD in Longview, Texas joins us to share her experiences and insights about utilizing artificial intelligence as an educator and teaching her students about AI and generative AI. Heather's energy and passion for this work are contagious. On the pod, she advocates for all educators to connect and collaborate with one another in our shared effort to support learners in the new landscape for learning that AI provides. To learn more from Heather, visit https://www.heathertechedu.com/ or follow her on Twitter @HeatherTechEDU