Innovation in Education

This episode's guest is Laura Paparo, the Associate Director of the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Literacy Network (PLN). We discuss the work of the PLN, teacher coaching as a means to innovate, and the partnership and program being undertaken by PLN and CSD this year. 

Members of the Department of Innovation - Brian Reilly, Matt Pimental, Tami Flood, and Kevin Murphy - sit down to discuss the rise of Artificial Intelligence, how it can be an effective tool for teachers and students, and what pitfalls to be aware of. They also discuss professional learning opportunities teachers will have during the 2023-2024 school year to learn more about AI, Nearpod, Canva, fabrication, and other innovative topics. 

Matthew Pimental and Dr. Brian Reilly sat down and had a talk with A.J. Juliani about Chapter 8 from his book Empower which focuses on empowering students through assessments.  We hope you enjoy hearing from A.J!  0:00-2:50: Introductions and how assessment can empowering students  2:50-6:30: How to craft empowering performance tasks  6:30-10:00: The teacher as expert and defining what student mastery looks like  10:00-14:00: Design Thinking, peer assessment and the importance of exemplars 14:00-18:30: The role of the teacher as students become empowered 18:30-19:50: Teacher empowerment, self reflection and "Try if for one day"

Taking the Leap into Engagement  We talk with Andrea Anderson, a highly recommended teacher for her use of engagement strategies.  Andrea speaks about what her classroom looks like, what has worked well for her, what challenges she has faced along the way and how the experience has changed her professionally.   0:00-2:20: What does a typical day look like in your class? 2:20-3:49  : How Andea engages students in math, Managing group learning, and dialogue in groups who are learning new concepts  7:00-11:34: Peer critique and managing a diverse group of students and making every student successful  11:35-17:39 : The power of EMPOWERing students. Taking the leap into engagement as a teacher.  How has being a teacher changed since you started on this journey? Trusting students and allowing them to experience controlled failure.  17:40-18:44 : Planning for engagement. 18:45-23:12: Gamification of math class.  Changing student motivation from extrinsic to intrinsic.  Wading into engagement as an overarching approach.     

Show Notes: 0:00-3:15 - A Librarian without a library  3:15 - 6:07 -  "Empowering students means giving kids the knowledge and skills to pursue their passions and interests and future."- We talk about how a 21st Century 'library' is a place and space to empower learners. 6:07 - 14:34 - The connection between student passion and learning.  Student ownership and the role of the librarian.  Tom talks about the imperative of knowing your students.  Linking what students love to what we as educators want them to learn.    14:35 - 20:33  - "The 'Side Hustle' is my job".  A student's favorite class (or two) is their primary focus and everything else is a side gig.  Tom talks about how to support students through a modern student center/library.  20:33 - 24:00  - "What does student ownership of learning mean to you?" - Tom talks about the learning process itself as something to be owned by students.      

Our First Episode!  We introduce the book Empower by John Spencer and AJ Juliani, with guests Brandon Lutz and Dr. Tamara Thomas Smith.