The Good Life EDU Podcast

In this episode, Tara Martin joins us once again for a conversation on how the very things that help us recharge during the summer can be the key ingredients to professional growth in the year to come. In a summer where many educators are burnt out and in need of a break, this episode considers how personal growth can be some of the best and most applicable PD an educator experiences in the summer.

This is the third pod in our three-part series previewing the Future Ready Nebraska Conference that will take place from 9am-1pmCT on June 14 and 15th. In this episode, we are joined by Melissa Pilakowski, ELA teacher from Valentine High School and Mike Mohammad, physics teacher from Brookfield Central High School in Wisconsin. In this chat, Melissa and Mike reflect on their experiences over the past year, highlight their takeaways, and look optimistically to the future of education in the post-pandemic classroom. Register for the Future Ready NE Conference at nefutureready.com

Dr. Cory Epler of the Nebraska Department of Education joins us this week for a conversation on the work being done around High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIMs) in Nebraska. This episode is a Future Ready Conference preview of Dr. Epler's breakout session, #MaterialsMatter, which will be delivered at 11:35amCT on June 14th. Resources Referenced in the Pod The Future Ready Nebraska Registration Link: https://nefutureready.com/ The Nebraska Instructional Materials Collaborative: https://nematerialsmatter.org/ The Nebraska OER: https://www.oercommons.org/hubs/nebraska

This week, Matt Miller, author of Ditch That Textbook and Tech Like a Pirate, joins the pod as a Future Ready Nebraska Conference preview. Matt will be keynoting and leading a breakout session at that FREE virtual event on June 14. In this episode, our conversation focuses on how the pandemic era of learning has accelerated tech integration in education, and we discuss the promise this shift holds for the future of education as a result. Additionally, Matt delves into his work supporting teachers, TikTok for professional development, ideas from his latest book, and more. Register (It's FREE) for the Future Ready Nebraska Conference: https://nefutureready.com/ Access Matt Miller's Ditch That Textbook Site: https://ditchthattextbook.com/ Link to Resources Matt Mentioned in the Pod: https://ditchthattextbook.com/101

In this episode, Brooke Kavan (ESU 7) and I visit Millard West High School in Omaha, Nebraska to chat with Brooke's 17-year-old cousin, Camille O'Neill. Camille, a junior at MWHS, navigates her school day with significantly limited vision due to a condition called retinopathy of prematurity. In the pod, Camille shares about the challenges she faces on a daily basis and her ability to persevere, learn, and succeed with the support of her physics teacher, Mr. Tyler Berzina.

In this episode, international best-selling author and licensed clinical social worker, Amy Morin, joins us to share out about her new book, 13 Things Strong Kids Do. This conversation delves into Amy's own personal backstory as the impetus driving the Why behind her work, and we explore some of the thirteen talking points in this text, making connections to an educational context. To learn more from Amy, check out her website at https://amymorinlcsw.com/ where you can find courses, her podcast, books, and more. Link to purchase 13 Things Strong Kids Do: https://www.amazon.com/13-Things-Strong-Kids-Do/dp/0063008483

If you are curious about the future of education and the role technology will play in supporting student learning, this conversation with Dr. Helen Crompton reveals that what many of us might perceive as the future is actually happening now. Dr. Crompton joins us as one of the leaders and coaches for the ISTE+GM Artificial Intelligence Exploration program, and she shares out about how AI is changing the way teachers can support their learners. You can access the following link for more information on the ISTE+GM AI Explorations program: https://sites.google.com/docs.iste.org/isteaiandstemnetwork/home

In this episode, Alan Wang, the executive director of the Omaha-based non-profit Prairie STEM, shares out about the myriad of initiatives that Prairie STEM is currently invested in to provide engaging and authentic learning opportunities for all students in Nebraska (and beyond) in the areas of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. This conversation is as informative and it is inspirational, and if you are interested in learning more about Prairie STEM, you can reach them at https://prairiestem.org/.

This week, we are joined by Rachelle Dene Poth, who is a Spanish teacher, national speaker, author, and education technology consultant. In the pod, Rachelle shares her personal love for learning and the many avenues through which she has collaborated with educators from around the world through social platforms. Our conversation looks specifically at the Clubhouse app along with StreamYard as two relatively new ways in which the education community has been able to share ideas and communicate with one another throughout the pandemic.

This week on the pod, we welcomed Sydney Kobza, the Assistant State Director for CTE with the Nebraska Department of Education, for a chat about the latest in career & technical education in our state. In this episode, we explore the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the extraordinary efforts being made to continue to provide quality learning experiences and statewide competitions despite the challenges of the present time. Our conversation also delves into the details about the DTE reVision Action grant, which can be applied for at https://www.education.ne.gov/nce/action-grant/

This week, The Good Life EDU hosts author, speaker, and ed-tech consultant Jaime Donally for a conversation about immersive learning through augmented reality and virtual reality experiences. Jaime is an educator who never puts the tech before the standards and the learning goals, and she advocates for that approach to tech integration while also sharing her insights on how AR and VR can enrich the learning experience for all students. In addition to this pod, you can learn from Jaime at the NETA conference where she will be a featured speaker later this month. Also be sure to check out Jaime's blog/social media campaign for March, #31DaysofARVRinEDU. LINKS NETA Conference Registration Link Purchase Jaime's Latest Book, The Immersive Classroom, on Amazon.

In this episode of The Good Life EDU podcast, the NDE SEED Team is back to share an update on their work with revising the teacher and principal effectiveness standards for Nebraska. This pod delves into personal insights and stories from each of the SEED Team members that helps communicate the thinking behind their efforts and the heart these leaders have for the admin, teachers, and learners across the state.

In this episode, we are joined by Dani Beerbohm, Principal of Bellwood Elementary (David City Public Schools), and Tammy Carlson, Principal of Fullerton Elementary (Fullerton Public Schools), for a conversation on leadership during the pandemic. In the pod, Dani and Tammy delve into their own self-care strategies, their lead by example approach to principalship, and they close the show with several practical ideas for how to improve the culture and morale in their building in the face of these trying times.

This week we are joined by Sally Nellson Barrett, Andy Marinkovich, and Brittany Mascio of Nebraska Public Schools who give their behind-the-scenes insights on the latest I ❤️ Public Schools film, The Mind Inside, Episode 3. This docuseries explores the landscape of mental health issues in Nebraska's public schools, with this particular episode focusing on the North Platte Public Schools' Brandy Buscher (Director of Student Services NPPS) and Officer Jay Johnson (School Resource Officer NPPS) in their efforts to support the students they serve. Click here to view The Mind Inside, Episode 3: https://iloveps.org/films/the-mind-inside-episode-three

On this week's pod, Ebony McKiver, a social studies education specialist with the Nebraska Department of Education, joins us for a discussion on Black History Month, on the NE social studies standards, and how teachers might approach their work in a way that integrates marginalized voices into the curriculum. Resource Referenced in the Show: https://www.education.ne.gov/socialstudies/ Past Episode with Lori Broady on the NE Social Studies Standards: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-social-studies-shifts-and-remote-learning/id1512974122?i=1000489046450

In this episode, Jennifer Casa-Todd, author, speaker, and teacher-librarian at Cardinal Carter CHS in Aurora, Ontario, joins us to share her expertise and insights on the topic of digital citizenship. Jennifer's message promotes that educators think about this work not simply as a list of things students should avoid doing, and instead look to foster digital leadership skills in the students they serve. You can learn more from Jennifer at https://jcasatodd.com/. Additionally, the Nebraska ESUCC is currently promoting a Digital Citizenship competition where students are being asked to share a PSA or poster that helps to educate others on the topic of Digital Citizenship. For more info and the entry form, access this link bit.ly/NEDigCit2021.

In this episode, Tricia Pettis and Kaela Loo of Edina Public Schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota join us for a conversation on their work with personalized learning and their approach to helping learners develop the capacity to learn independently. Edina Public Schools was the recipient of the 2019 Trailblazer Award at the National Convening for Personalized Learning, and in this pod, Tricia and Kaela share about the work being done in their district before the pandemic and also how that has influenced their approach to delivering remote teaching and learning during this time.