K-12 Greatest Hits: The Best Ideas in Education

We invited the authors of three books written to teach us how to talk with people we disagree with on just about everything. Each shared with us their framework for navigating difficult discussions with difficult people in school, at work, and in life. This episode is the first in a series aimed and learning how to talk about those sensitive social, cultural, and civic issues we simply can’t ignore. This informed and candid discussion left us with a roadmap for the episodes ahead on everything from mask mandates, to transgender issues, race relations, growing incivility, and threats to our democracy. Follow on Twitter: @BobLitan @Tania_Israel @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Dr. Judith L. Pace is a Professor in the Teacher Education Department at the University of San Francisco’s School of Education. She is a qualitative researcher who examines classroom teaching and curriculum — focusing on social studies — and its relationship to diversity, democracy, and sociopolitical contexts. She has studied classroom authority relationships and academic engagement, teaching for democratic citizenship in government classes, social studies under high stakes accountability, and teacher preparation for teaching controversial issues. Her last study was conducted in Northern Ireland, England, and the Midwestern U.S., and she is fascinated by curriculum and teaching in politically divided and post-conflict societies. Dr. Tania Israel is a Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Israel’s award-winning book, Beyond Your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide, Skills and Strategies for Conversations That Work (APA, 2020) grew out of the skill-building workshop that she developed and delivered to hundreds of participants following the 2016 election. It draws on her strengths as a psychologist and community collaborator to prepare people to engage in dialogue across political disagreement. Dr. Robert Litan, is one of the few practicing lawyers in any field, with a Ph.D. in economics and an extensive research and career in economics. Litan has directed economic research at three leading national organizations: the Brookings Institution, the Kauffman Foundation and Bloomberg Government. Litan has held several appointed positions in the federal government. In 1993, he was appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department. In 1995, Litan was appointed Associate Director of the Office of Management and Budget, where he oversaw the budgets of five cabinet-level agencies. Litan is the founder of debatecenteredinstruction.org, a  clearinghouse for teachers wanting information about how to incorporate debate into their classrooms, based on his book Resolved: Debate can Revolutionize Education and Help Save our Democracy (Brookings Press, 2020). During his research career, Litan has authored or co-authored 30 books and edited another 14 and authored or co-authored more than 250 articles in professional and popular publications on a wide range of legal and public matters.

Across the nation, at all levels, educators are reporting a rise in troublesome student behaviors. The list of causes is wide and deep, but the first professionals expected to manage student behavior are classroom teachers. This episode takes an unvarnished look at the new genre of student behavior challenges and how some educators are handling them. Follow on Twitter: @jaimedonally@JorgeDoesPBL @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd @msdarasavage Dara Laws Savage is a 26-year educator from the great state of Delaware. She has served on numerous local, regional, and state committees, and has been Teacher of the Year in two different districts. She is an Emeritus national faculty member of PBLWorks, and is presently the English 9 teacher and Instructional Coach at the Early College High School at Delaware State University while working on her doctorate. Dara is a proud Board of Education member for the Seaford School District (alumna) and the owner of Savage Educational Consulting. Jaime Donally is a passionate technology enthusiast. She began her career as a math teacher and later moved into Instructional Technology. Her desire to build relationships has brought about opportunities to collaborate with students and educators around the world. She provides staff development and training on immersive technology as an edtech consultant. Her latest adventures include the launch of Global Maker Day and the #ARVRinEDU community, events and presentations. She works as an author and speaker to provide practical use of augmented and virtual reality in the classroom. Jon Harper is currently an assistant principal at Choptank Elementary School in Cambridge, Maryland. This is his 12th year as an assistant principal and prior to that he was a math coach and taught first through fifth grades. He is the author of My Bad: 24 Educators Who Messed Up Fessed Up and Grew! He Hosts #MyBad Radio and Teachers’ Aid.

In this episode, we pause to examine the seemingly endless minor and high-stakes decisions that we need to make in our classrooms every day. Listen in as we identify ways to manage the decision fatigue that some feel. Follow on Twitter: @katyfarber @Non_Toxic_Kids @dubioseducator @drchriscip @Jonharper70bd @bamradionetwork Dr. Katy Farber is a classroom educator and writer from Vermont. She has written and co-authored several books about education, including Why Great Teachers Quit and How We Might Solve the Exodus (Corwin Press). Faige Meller taught for 38 years at the same school “The Center For Early Education” and that’s where she is a substitute teacher. She began teaching in 1977 in the preschool. In 1991 she became one of the kindergarten teachers. She taught kindergarten until retired in June 2015. She started subbing in 2016 and subbed in Toddlers, 3 and 4-year-old program, kindergarten, 1st and 2nd. She did a three-and-a-half-month sub position for a kindergarten teacher from January till April 17th — which included in the classroom and then remote learning. Christina Cipriano, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the Yale Child Study Center and Director of Research at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (YCEI). Dr. Cipriano’s research focuses on the systematic examination of social and emotional learning (SEL) to promote pathways to optimal developmental outcomes for the traditionally marginalized student and teacher populations.

There’s so much we urgently need to talk about, mask mandates, transgender issues, race relations, growing incivility, threats to our democracy, but so little we can safely discuss in mixed company. Increasingly, what starts out as a cordial and benign conversation can get weird quickly. In this second episode, we talk about why the way we often manage difficult conversations is no longer sustainable and how to identify the right people with whom we can talk through the difficult cultural, social, and political discussions that are becoming more unavoidable. Tony Pingitore is a father, husband, teacher, counselor, and highly respected community organizer in Ohio. His state is home to a large population of “red people” who are struggling with the changes sweeping the country. Tony spends his days navigating the hard lines that divide us and has personally witnessed the damage the relentless conflict is having on friends family, and organizations. Errol St.Clair Smith is a 30-year veteran of traditional media, an Emmy-winning correspondent, and the executive producer at BAM Radio Network. Errol spends his days listening to educators navigate increasingly sensitive topics in an attempt to maintain their authenticity and integrity, without doing damage to their professional relationships or careers. Errol lives in California with his wife, daughter, and a large population of “blue people.”

As we all push through another exceptionally challenging school year, we pause to talk about proven ways to sustain our emotional energy and resilience. Join us as we separate what works from what doesn’t. Follow on Twitter: @brightmorningtm @a_rebora @ascd @ILascd @MASCD @iowaASCD @TXASCD @ASCDConf @scASCD @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Elena Aguilar, a widely known expert on instructional coaching, is the president of Bright Morning Consulting, a speaker and presenter, and the author of several influential education books, including Coaching for Equity and Onward: Cultivating Resilience in Educators.

Many, maybe even most, students see school as a grade game. "What do I have to do to get an A?" Many of us have been driven to see teaching as a compliance game. "What do I have to do to get my students to meet the course requirements?"  In this episode, we talk about practical strategies we can use to change the game of school (at the classroom level) to cultivate more students who are passionate about learning in your class. Follow on Twitter: @DonWettrick  @Rdene915 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd @Definedlearning Defined Learning 60 day Free Access Don Wettrick is the founder of The STARTedUP Foundation, which hosts Innovate WithIN- Indiana's innovation and entrepreneurship programming and competition. He is also the author of “Pure Genius: Building a Culture of Innovation,” which aims to create innovation mindsets in our schools. Don is known for his award-winning work as a middle school and high school teacher; educational and innovation consultant; and educational speaker.

Remember when we were consumed with teaching the skills that would be needed in the future?  Well, what 21st-Century skill is more valuable than the ability to talk constructively about the brave new world we're all trying to figure out and navigate daily? Join us as we travel the globe looking for people who can teach us how to discuss the things that matter most, in ways that don’t end with a black eye, a 911 call, or being unfollowed. Tony Pingitore is a father, husband, teacher, counselor, and a highly respected community organizer in Ohio. His state is home to a large population of "red people" who are struggling with the changes sweeping the country. Tony spends his days navigating the hard lines that divide us and has personally witnessed the damage the relentless conflict is having on friends family, and organizations. Errol St.Clair Smith is a 30-year veteran of traditional media, an Emmy-winning correspondent, and the executive producer at BAM Radio Network. Errol spends his days listening to educators navigate increasingly sensitive topics in an attempt to maintain their authenticity and integrity, without doing damage to their professional relationships or careers.  Errol Lives in California with his wife, daughter, and a large population of "blue people."

We are still searching for an "acceptable" phrase to define what teachers around the world are doing this school term. Many are avoiding the term "learning recovery" like a carton of milk past the expiration date.  In this episode, we found out why ignoring, dismissing, or simply overlooking learning recovery is a privilege that many students and teachers simply don't have. Follow on Twitter: @RobertG_Jenkins@ISTE  @mrhooker @curriculumblog @sgthomas1973 @kylehamstra @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Robert Jenkins is the global director of education for UNICEF. Robert joined the organization in 1995. He brings over 20 years of experience in international development and humanitarian programming in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Jenkins served as the UNICEF Deputy Director, Division of Policy and Strategy in UNICEF Headquarters from 2009-2014. Mr. Jenkins earned a Doctor of Education Degree from the University of Bath and a Master’s Degree from the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom. Shawn Thomas is in her 20th year of teaching in the largest county in Georgia. She has taught Kindergarten, Second and Third Grade, and ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) K-5. Carl Hooker has been a part of a strong educational shift with technology integration since becoming an educator.  From his start as a teacher to his current district technology leadership, he’s always had one common belief – the kids need to drive their own learning. He is a national faculty member at Future Ready Schools and an ISTE podcast host. Dr. Steven Weber serves as the Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning in Fayetteville Public Schools (Arkansas). During his career in public education, he has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of secondary instruction, and executive director of curriculum and instruction.  He has also served as a social studies curriculum coordinator with the Arkansas Department of Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Kyle Hamstra is an Instructional facilitator at Westlake Middle school Apex, North Carolina.

In this premier episode, we consider the riveting story of a teacher who is committed to doing the right thing, teaching the right things, and serving his students’ best interests. So why is he out of work, and why should his story matter to you? Follow our PLN on Twitter: @RitaWirtz @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork @JorgeDoesPBL @ideasforteacher @mrhooker Read the blog post Rita Wirtz holds a BA in English and Speech, a master’s degree in reading from Arizona State University (ASU), and an administrative services credential (K–12) through California State University–Sacramento (CSUS). She was a California language arts and reading specialist who has instructed at all levels including K-12 classrooms, labs, and clinics for 50 years! Rita was also a HS English teacher, principal (pre-6th), college professor, Title 1 program evaluator, curriculum developer, and keynote speaker. She has written a number of reading books for parents and teachers including “Reading Champs: Teaching Reading Made Easy” (2014) and her memoir, “Stories From a Teacher’s Heart: Memories of Love, Life and Family” (2019). Rita’s newest book is Reading Champions! Second Edition, Teaching Reading Made Easy! (March 2021). She currently lives in Oregon.

Eavesdrop on a delightfully down-to-earth, insightful, and inspiring discussion with the head of ISTE about the exciting opportunities we have sitting in our laps and what we can do to make the most of the moment. Follow on Twitter: @ISTE @mrhooker @RCulatta @cmurcray @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Get the Book: Digital for Good Richard E. Culatta is the CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Prior to holding this position, he was the chief innovation officer for the state of Rhode Island and the director of the Office of Educational Technology for the U.S. Department of Education. Richard is the author of the new book, Digital for Good: Raising Kids to Thrive in an Online World.

We don’t like the term “learning loss,” and we see learning recovery as a pig with lipstick. But we know learning recovery mandates are coming our way. In this premiere episode of We Just Want to Teach, we begin our search for practical strategies for teaching a classroom full of students with widely different subject knowledge and unique emotional needs. Follow on Twitter: @heymrsbond @RitaWirtz @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Chanea Bond is a North Texas English and literacy teacher, scholar, and activist. Her areas of interest and advocacy include diversifying literacy curriculum to better represent the lived experience of her students and their communities. Rita Wirtz holds a BA in English and Speech, a master’s degree in reading from Arizona State University (ASU), and an administrative services credential (K–12) through California State University–Sacramento (CSUS). She was a California language arts and reading specialist who has instructed at all levels including K-12 classrooms, labs, and clinics. She has written a number of reading instruction books for parents and teachers including Reading Champs: Teaching Reading Made Easy and her memoir, Stories From a Teacher’s Heart: Memories of Love, Life and Family and Reading Champions! Second Edition, Teaching Reading Made Easy.

ISTE REWIND: In this special edition of Learning Unleashed, we air a panel discussion about the need for safe spaces and places in schools, why the pandemic has made these spaces even more important, and how to create them. Follow on Twitter: @Mx_Collins @ISTE  @mrhooker    @Packwoman208  @juliaerin80  @JorgeDoesPBL  @sarahdateechur @cmurcray @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork  Grace Collins is the founder of Snowbright Studio, an LGBTQ+ certified game and media development studio. They previously led game-based education policy at the U.S. Department of Education and managed educational technology projects at the Smithsonian Institution. Grace is a former computer science teacher at an all-girls’ school, a published author and game developer. They have been recognized with several awards, including being named a Finalist for the 2020 Digital Education Breakthrough of the Year Award, receiving a 2020 Educator Award by the National Center for Women & Information Technology and being named a 2021 Innovator for the Headstream Accelerator. Grace is author of the ISTE jump start guide Esports in Schools Jessica Pack is the 2014 California Teacher of the Year, and was named the CUE Outstanding Educator in 2014. She has used digital storytelling as an instructional strategy for 14 years, and has presented on the topic at regional and national conferences, including the ISTE Digital Storytelling Network (DSN) 2020 Virtual Summit and ISTE20 Live. Pack has spent a decade as a teacher-consultant for DIGICOM Learning, a nonprofit that promotes and supports digital storytelling in Southern California classrooms. In this role, she provides professional development courses for teachers on digital storytelling. Pack also co-hosts the podcast “Storytelling Saves the World,” available on iTunes and SoundCloud. She previously self-published a book on iTunes called Digital Storytelling: Connecting Standards to Movie-Making (2013), and she is author of the ISTE book Moviemaking in the Classroom. Julia E. Torres is a language arts teacher at a public high school in Denver, Colorado. As an advocate for all students and public education, Torres regularly undertakes speaking engagements and facilitates workshops and professional conversations about equity, anti-bias/anti-racist education, culturally sustaining pedagogies and literacy in the digital age. She also serves on several local and national boards and committees that promote educational equity and progressivism. With Valerie Tagoe, she is co-author of the forthcoming ISTE book Liven Up Your Library: Design Engaging and Inclusive Programs for Tweens and Teens. Sarah Thomas, Ph.D., is an educator and the founder of the EduMatch movement, a project that empowers educators to make global connections across common areas of interest. She has presented internationally, participated in the Technical Working Group to refresh the 2017 ISTE Standards for Educators, and is a recipient of the 2017 ISTE Making It Happen Award. She is also a national advisor for the Future Ready Instructional Coaches Strand. With Nicol R. Howard and Regina Schaffer, she is co-author of ISTE’s 2-book Closing the Gap series. Jorge Valenzuela (@JorgeDoesPBL) is an education coach, author and advocate. He has years of experience as a classroom and online teacher, a curriculum specialist and a consultant. His work focuses on improving teacher preparation in project-based learning, computational thinking and computer science integration, STEM education, and equity and SEL integration. Valenzuela is an adjunct professor at Old Dominion University and the lead coach at Lifelong Learning Defined. His book Rev Up Robotics and the jump start guides Ready, Set, Robotics! and SEL in Action are available from ISTE, and he is co-author, with James Fester, of the ISTE book Environmental Science for Grades 6-12. His next book, which dives deeper into the Equity and SEL Integration Framework, is forthcoming from Solution Tree.

Can we teach critical thinking while omitting obvious facts, and self-evident truths? How will you relate to students whose perspectives are no longer allowed in your classroom?  How do you plan to teach, now that legislation around the nation is converting your classroom into a flashpoint in the culture wars? Follow on Twitter: @MsSackstein @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @HarveyAlvy1 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com Harvey Alvy has served as a teacher, principal, and university professor, and was honored to be a National Distinguished Principal. He is the author of Fighting for Change in Your School: How to Avoid Fads and Focus on Substance, and co-author of Learning From Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success.

ISTE REWIND: In this special edition of Learning Unleashed, we air a panel discussion about the silver linings our guests found in the pandemic, the new possibilities they discovered, the myths and misconceptions that were shattered during pandemic teaching, and reasons to be excited and inspired about the school year ahead. Follow on Twitter: @rdene915 @NicolRHoward @ISTE @mrhooker @timneedles @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Nicole R. Howard, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the School of Education at the University of Redlands. She has served as co-chair of ISTE’s Digital Equity Network. Her research foci are equitable uses of technology in K-16 classrooms, STEM education opportunities and achievement, and teacher education concerns. She’s a co-author of the ISTE books Closing the Gap: Digital Equity Strategies for the K-12 Classroom and Closing the Gap: Digital Equity Strategies for Teacher Prep Programs. Tim Needles is an artist, writer, performer, and educator from Port Jefferson, New York. He has been teaching art and media at Smithtown School District in New York for more than twenty years as well as serving as an adjunct college professor. His work has been featured on NPR, in the New York Times, the Columbus Museum of Art, the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Alexandria Museum of Art, the Katonah Museum of Art, the Cape Cod Museum of Art, and The George Washington University Museum. He is the recipient of the ISTE Technology in Action Award, the ISTE Arts and Technology Network Creativity Award, the National Art Educators Association AET Outstanding Teaching Award, and the Robert Rauschenberg Power of Art Award at the National Gallery of Art. He has served as a National Geographic Certified Teacher, a PBS Digital Innovator, and an Adobe Education Leader, as well as a TEDx speaker. Michele Eaton is the director of virtual and blended learning for the MSD of Wayne Township in Indianapolis, Indiana. She focuses on staff and course development for Achieve Virtual Education Academy and the district’s various blended initiatives and programs, from elementary to adult education. Eaton is a Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL) and 2016 Next Generation Leader, 2018 EdWeek Leader to Learn From, president-elect of the ISTE Online Learning Network, conference chair for Indiana Connected Educators (an ISTE affiliate), member of the EdTech Heroes and moderator for the #INeLearn chat. Rachelle Dene Poth is a Spanish and STEAM: What’s nExT in Emerging Technology Teacher at Riverview High School in Oakmont, PA. Rachelle is also an attorney with a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law and a Master’s in Instructional Technology. Rachelle is an ISTE Certified Educator and serves as the past president of the ISTE Teacher Education Network. She was recently named one of 30 K-12 IT Influencers to follow in 2021.

This school year is largely in the rearview mirror and many of us are exhausted. But after you've had some rest, you'll want to listen to this special episode on reevaluating everything we thought about teaching and technology before the pandemic.  (Get the book) Follow on Twitter: @ISTE @mrhooker @possbeth @KarenJan @mmatp @attipscast @cmurcray @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd  #ISTE20 #ISTEturns40 #edchat #edtech #edtechchat Christopher Bugaj is a founding member of the Assistive Technology Team for Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia. He hosts “The A.T.TIPSCAST,” a multiple award-winning podcast featuring strategies to design educational experiences. He also co-hosts the “Talking With Tech” podcast that features conversations about augmentative and alternative communication. Bugaj is the creator of ATEval2Go, an iPad app that helps education professionals perform technology assessments for students. He co-produces and co-authors the “Night Light Stories” podcast that features original stories for children. A frequent presenter, he has delivered over 300 live or digital sessions at local, regional national and international events. He has designed and taught online ISTE courses on assistive technology and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). He has also co-written or written multiple ISTE books, including The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools and The New Assistive Tech. Karen Janowski is an assistive and educational technology consultant, and an adjunct professor at Simmons College in Boston. She presents both locally and nationally about the importance of using ubiquitous technologies that remove the obstacles to learning for all students, and is a passionate advocate for UDL. She’s an EdCampBoston and EdCampAccess organizer, co-moderates #ATchat on Twitter and has blogged at teachingeverystudent.blogspot.com since 2005. Janowski is the president and owner of EdTech Solutions Inc. in Massachusetts, which provides assistive technology (AT) and augmented or alternative communication (AAC) professional development, coaching, consultations and assessments throughout the Greater Boston area. Mike Marotta is a Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology (RESNA) Certified Assistive Technology Professional and the director of the Richard West Assistive Technology Advocacy Center at Disability Rights New Jersey. He’s also adjunct professor at Ramapo College of New Jersey where he teaches master’s courses in assistive technology and UDL. Marotta serves on the Center for Accessible Educational Materials (CAST) and Center on Inclusive Technology and Education Systems (CITES) advisory boards. He’s the founder of EdcampAccess NJ, an unconference focused on teacher-led professional development opportunities on inclusion, special education and assistive technology. Marotta co-moderates the weekly #ATchat Twitter chat that brings together an international group of practitioners to discuss issues related to the delivery of effective assistive technology services. He’s a nationally and internationally recognized presenter, and in 2017 he was named the ISTE Inclusive Learning Network Outstanding Educator. Beth Poss is a school-based administrator in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland. She’s worked as an assistant principal, coordinator of preschool special education programs, member of the MCPS assistive technology team and an instructional specialist for UDL. She presents nationally and internationally on best practices in teaching and learning with technology. She also serves as adjunct faculty for Johns Hopkins University’s Graduate School of Education. Poss is passionate about sharing the importance of designing inclusive learning environments, effective technology use in early childhood settings and culturally responsive teaching.

We're finding that the pandemic is impacting students in ways that require us to rethink how we grade them.  Join us as we share the various ways we are adapting our thinking and grading as we close out this unusual school year. Follow on Twitter: @ideasforteacher @peter_santoro @MrHabegger @DrBioTom @jonHarper70bd  @jonbergmann @bamradionetwork Jake Habegger is an 8th grade US History Teacher in Franklin, Tennessee. His goal in education is to invigorate student learning by meeting them where they are through the use of technology. Peter Santoro has been teaching high school mathematics for 12 years. In addition to two sections of Introductory Calculus, Peter also teaches one section of Geometry and two sections of Mathematics Research Honors. In addition, he is the coach of the Garden City High School Math Team (Mathletes). Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, and then moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Bay Path University, a private liberal arts institution in western Massachusetts. Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning.

Join us for a candid discussion about the traps, tropes, and pitfalls we often encounter as we work to support equity and inclusion in our schools. In this episode, we discuss why the successful journey to equity starts with awareness and includes inescapable discomfort. Follow on Twitter: @jamiladugan @ASCD @a_rebora @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd #classroomstrategies Jamila Dugan is a leadership coach, learning facilitator, and researcher. She began her career as a teacher in Washington D.C., successfully supporting her school to implement an International Baccalaureate program. After being nominated for Teacher of the Year, she later served as a coach for new teachers in Oakland, California. As a school administrator, Jamila championed equity-centered student services, parent empowerment, and co-led the development of the first public Mandarin immersion middle school in the Bay Area. Jamila and Shane began their work together 7 years ago during the development of The Listening Leader for which Jamila acted as the primary researcher. Jamila serves as an equity-centered leadership development coach across all sectors including non-profits, public school districts, charter networks, parochial, and private schools. She is an avid supporter of dual language learning, serving on the boards of Independence Charter Spanish Immersion School in Philadelphia and Parents of African American Students Studying Chinese (PAASSC) in the Bay Area.

The Derek Chauvin verdict was announced right before #edchat was set to begin, so we switched topics. That’s how this group of educators found ourselves in the middle of a raw, real, and relevant discussion, as the world was reacting in real-time. Follow on Twitter: @Oldbay84 @MsSackstein @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @HarveyAlvy1 @ShiftParadigm @bamradionetwork Robin Hix is an English Language Arts /Special Education teacher of students in detained spaces.

Our guests believe that we need to make math, coding, and problems solving skills relevant to their everyday lives of our students. How can we convince students, parents, and ourselves that the pandemic is a good opportunity to teach these skills? Follow on Twitter: @ISTE @mrhooker @NicolRHoward @keithehoward @jonHarper70bd @Mx_Collins @bamradionetwork #ISTE20 #ISTEturns40 #edchat #edtech #edtechchat Nicol R. Howard, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the School of Education at the University of Redlands. She has served as co-chair of ISTE’s Digital Equity Network. Her research foci are equitable uses of technology in K-16 classrooms, STEM education opportunities and achievement, and teacher education concerns. She’s a co-author of the ISTE books Closing the Gap: Digital Equity Strategies for the K-12 Classroom and Closing the Gap: Digital Equity Strategies for Teacher Prep Programs. Keith E. Howard, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Attallah College of Education Studies at Chapman University. His research interests include technology use in education, ethical issues in K-12 education and equity issues in mathematics. Howard previously worked as a mathematics teacher, computer science teacher and technology coordinator in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

How can we prepare to help students with the increasing volume and types of SEL issues they are bringing to class? Join us for a discussion about when, where, and how to get started. Follow on Twitter: @JorgeDoesPBL @ISTE @mrhooker @jonHarper70bd @Mx_Collins @bamradionetwork #ISTE20 #ISTEturns40 #edchat #edtech #edtechchat Jorge Valenzuela (@JorgeDoesPBL) is an education coach, author, and advocate. He has years of experience as a classroom and online teacher, a curriculum specialist, and a consultant. His work focuses on improving teacher preparation in project-based learning, computational thinking and computer science integration, STEM education, and equity and SEL integration. Jorge is an adjunct professor at Old Dominion University and the lead coach at Lifelong Learning Defined. His book Rev Up Robotics and its companion jump start guide Ready, Set, Robotics! are available from ISTE, and his next book, which dives deeper into the Equity and SEL Integration Framework, is forthcoming from Solution Tree.