Bringing you today's podcast guest, Dr. Kim Parker, brings me great joy! Dr. Kim Parker is a co-founder of #disrupttexts as well as a co-founder of the #31daysIBPOC project which we will discuss in great detail. Dr. Kim reminds us that teaching is political. To shy away from the idea of teaching being political means to divorce ourselves from our identities, and that is unjust. In this conversation we work to elevate the contributions our colleagues of color make to the field, their communities, and to the lives of the children they serve. Together we explore how the project came to be. Shout out to Dr. Kim's co-founder Tricia Ebarvia, who we featured in episode 72. According to Dr. Kim, Tricia gets things done. They managed to bring this project together in just a couple of weeks. They are hopeful that school leaders will reference this body of work for staff development and ongoing conversations about anti-racsim. Dr. Kim also encourages people to reach out the writers for … [Read more...]
COVID-19: Three Phases of Response
The work educators are doing in response to COVID-19 is heavy and so important. I'm on the front lines in my regional service agency. Supporting over 2500 teachers transition to teaching online in a matter of days is hard work! My tears started at 4:30 on Thursday, and didn’t stop until I woke up Friday morning. My Governor (Evers in Wisconsin) has closed schools indefinitely. Panic looms everywhere. I took a step back to create a plan and to think. If I am going to be of service to my region and to Modern Learners during this time, I am going to need a conceptual framework to understand the magnitude of the moment. My preliminary thinking starts with three phases of response to COVID-19. I'll flush each phase out more as I live in this space awhile. I'm sharing now because this might help you formulate your response to COVID-19. Phase 1 is Contingency School leaders, teachers, and parents everywhere are operating in this phase right now. School leaders are creating … [Read more...]
Learning Space Design with Lennie Scott-Webber
Learning space design is the topic of the podcast today. I speak with Dr. Lennie Scott-Webber. She is a leading thinker on the evolution of what we know about learning, the learner, and the learning space. Dr. Lennie has pioneered research strategies addressing how the built environment impacts student engagement factors and learner success. Dr. Lennie Scott-Webber has served as the Founding Director of Education Environments at Steelcase and as a Principle researcher for the DLR group and VS America. This podcast will help you think about designing learning spaces from the inside out. As always we'll be continuing this conversation in Modern Learners Community. You're invited to sign in or sign up! Last week I spoke to Tom VanderArk about Place Based Education. If you haven't listened yet, take in both shows now. … [Read more...]
Place Based Education with Tom Vander Ark
I'm excited to kick off our next Modern Learners Community theme "Places and Spaces" with today's interview with Tom Vander Ark. Tom is the CEO of Getting Smart and his brand new book Place Based Learning: Authentic Learning through Place-Based Education has just been released. He co-authored the book with Emily Liebag and Nate McClennen. In the book, Vander Ark defines place-based learning as anytime, anywhere learning that leverages the power of place to personalize learning. Later the authors add the idea of connecting projects to community, delving into authentic problems, and encouraging public products which ultimately develop an ethic of contribution. My Community is My Place Based Education I live in a small, rural community along the Mississippi River. We have birds and wildlife galore, and a beautiful park maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. The Burlington Northern Railway runs along the river and the barges carry corn down the channel. Our community is also home … [Read more...]
Thinking Classrooms with Peter Liljedahl
Last week, Dr. Nicki mentioned Peter Liljedahl's research on vertical, non-permanent spaces. That took me on a journey into Peter's work, and after reading all of Peter's work around Thinking Classrooms, I had to invite him to the Modern Learners podcast. Luckily, he made time in his busy schedule before we concluded our math theme. Meet Peter Liljedahl Peter Liljedahl is currently a professor at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. He is also the President of the Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group and the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. He has an extensive body of work that he generously shares at Peterliljedahl.com. Thinking Classrooms Peter most prevalent work is his research on "Thinking Classrooms." In his forthcoming book, he writes, "a thinking classroom is a classroom that is not only conducive to thinking but also occasions thinking, a space that is inhabited by thinking individuals as well as individuals thinking … [Read more...]
Dr. Nicki Newton on Math Dispositions
I'm excited to bring you my conversation with Dr. Nicki Newton. Dr. Nicki is a renowned writer and education consultant who works with schools around the country on elementary math curriculum. She has authored over 20 books on a variety of math topics. She's most known for her work on guided math and math running records. In her math identity story, she shares that her books have been a glimpse at her own math learning journey. She leaned heavily on everything she learned in her literacy roles early in her career. Today we talk about equity in math classrooms, teacher training, and making math relevant with real problems in real communities. You can hear Dr. Nicki's passion and energy as she shares her love of learning and math. Dr. Nicki's Math Mentions A few things Dr. Nicki Newton mentions in our conversation: Mathematical Dispositions Padlet Mathematizing Your School Strategic Teacher Cyberpunk Peter Liljedahl on Vertical, Erasable Spaces Dr. Nicki on YouTube Dr. … [Read more...]
Desmos and the Modern Math Classroom
Today, we welcome Eli Luberoff, founder and CEO of Desmos to the podcast. His math identity began to take shape when he was just four years old, but it didn't help him stay engaged in the k-12 curriculum. To this day, he does not have a high school diploma. He does, however, have a degree from Yale. So how does a high school drop out graduate from Yale and create an ed tech tool that impacts hundreds of thousands of learners around the globe? Accessible and Visible He set out to make math accessible and visible. He wanted to provide a tool to do math that didn't require a separate, expensive technology when the tech in our pockets had all the necessary computing power. Desmos is most well known for being and online, graphing calculator, and it's free to use. I asked Eli about the business model behind Desmos. We also discussed the modern context of math, and it's impact on math instruction. It doesn't have to be a constant battle of relevance. Desmos Teacher Fellow Each year … [Read more...]
They’ve been Promoted!
Will and Bruce have been "Promoted"! I’m in my office working on building out next month’s MLC theme (blogs, podcasts, and more) AND finalizing the details of getting three new courses shipped for our community. Yes, I’m working really hard while Bruce is likely swimming with the sharks, and Will is likely headed to Tuck’s basketball game at Colgate! No, really...I’m not bitter! I guess that’s what happens when you get “promoted” at Modern Learners! Yes, you heard it here first: Bruce Dixon and Will Richardson have both been... “promoted”! They are escaping the day to day operations at Modern Learners to do...well, to do life. And, life is treating both of them well! They have turned over the day to day operations of Modern Learners to me. I’m sure they’ll check in every once in awhile via the blog or the podcast, but for the most part, they are going to be advising the work of Modern Learners from behind the scenes. Bruce is truly enjoying this promotion, and unless … [Read more...]
Student Feedback Surveys Ask the Wrong Questions
Getting student feedback is not a new concept. Blog post after blog post encourages teachers to ask for student feedback. Jen Gonzales, author of Cult of Pedagogy blog, lays out the 5 Reasons You Should Seek Your OWN Student Feedback and the We Are Teachers blog offers these tips on what to do with student feedback once you have it. A recent tweet that showed up in my feed stopped my scroll. The tweet basically encouraged teachers to get feedback from students and do something with the feedback. The tweet in and of itself is spot on. The responses, however, made me nervous. "...regularly asking for feedback on learning activities, me, and my teaching." "I love giving my students quick google form evals on a particular lesson, lab, resources..." I found some relief in this response. "I've found that a lot depends on how and what you ask students..." We're asking the Wrong Questions for the Wrong Reasons I’m becoming more concerned that we are asking the wrong questions for … [Read more...]
It’s Possible -Focus on Learning for 2029
It's possible! The Modern Learners theme for the next year and likely the next decade is "It's Possible!" December is normally a time. I spend some time looking back on the year and looking forward to the next. This year, I’m spending December reflecting on an entire decade. I’m thinking about it at a deeper level than the side by side pictures of 2009 and 2019 people are posting on social media. I’m thinking about my “defining moments” of the decade. The ones that have changed my views and more importantly MY PRACTICE in the field of education. Before I get too far into the reflection, I have to say I usually spend most of December searching for the perfect paper planner too. Paper planners have NEVER been something that has worked for me, but knowing that doesn’t prevent me from wanting one. I’d love for you to drop a note in the comments or send me an email if you have the perfect planner suggestion for me! Digital or print...I just want a cool planner! 🤦♀️ Can't Believe I … [Read more...]