Getting Smart Podcast

Today, Tom Vander Ark is joined by Ed Hess to talk hyper-learning — one of the new demands of the 21st-Century workforce. After 20 years in business, Ed Hess has spent nearly two decades in academia teaching leadership. He is a professor of business administration and Batten Faculty Fellow at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. He is the author of eleven books, over sixty articles, and over 60 Darden cases. His new book, Hyper-Learning: How to Adapt to the Speed of Change, suggests that for humans to stay relevant in the workplace, we have to be able to excel cognitively, behaviorally, and emotionally in ways that technology can't. Join in on today's conversation with Tom and Ed to learn how you can implement hyper learning in your own life, your organization, or your school! Key Takeaways: [:10] About today's episode. [:43] Tom welcomes Ed Hess to the podcast. [:50] After twenty years in business, Ed switched to academia. Ed shares why he decided to make the shift. [2:16] Does Ed teach executive or full-time students at Darden? [3:58] Tom and Ed speak about their experiences teaching students. [6:34] Ed speaks about his 2017 book, Humility Is the New Smart: Rethinking Human Excellence in the Smart Machine Age, and how he landed on that title. [11:17] Why humility is so key for both educators and learners, and Ed's predictions on technology advancements in the next 10 years. [14:58] Ed defines the term "hyper-learning." [17:49] Personal behaviors and practices of hyper-learning as outlined in Ed's book. [22:20] Why daily advisory systems are so effective and mission-critical for learners. [25:03] How to cultivate a culture in your workplace that values hyper-learning. [32:05] Tom thanks Ed for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Ed Hess Hyper-Learning: How to Adapt to the Speed of Change, by Ed Hess Humility Is the New Smart: Rethinking Human Excellence in the Smart Machine Age, by Ed Hess Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 264: "Ryan Craig on Putting America Back to Work" Future of Work | Getting Smart Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe. Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include "Podcast" in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

In this episode, Tom is talking education venture funding with Shauntel Garvey! Shauntel is a partner and co-founder of Reach Capital, an impact-focused edtech venture fund that was spun out of non-profit NewSchools Venture Fund, in 2015. Since then, they have deployed about $95 million in 61 investments, including some well-known startups such as ClassDojo, Ellevation, NearPod, and Newsela — all while maintaining a focus on education and workplace innovations. Join the conversation to learn more about Reach Capital, how they have evolved since branching out from NewSchools, the amazing companies in their portfolio, what a typical investment process looks like, and all about return, growth, and impact when it comes to venture funding. Key Takeaways: [:10] About today's episode. [:45] Tom welcomes Shauntel Garvey to the podcast. [:53] How did Shauntel get to MIT? [2:50] Why did Shauntel decide to go to Stanford and pursue a dual education MBA? [4:01] Was Shauntel aware of how many extraordinary people have gone through this same program when she was going through it herself? [4:49] Shauntel shares about when she first learned about NewSchools Venture Fund and what led her to become involved. [6:35] How and when Shauntel and her co-founder (of Reach Capital) decided to branch out from NewSchools and start their own venture fund. [8:22] About the second fund they're currently investing in with Reach Capital. [9:04] How Reach Capital has evolved from NewSchools, going beyond K-12 funding. [9:55] Can you run a viable venture fund, looking for both impact and return? How does Reach Capital try to maximize both of those? [11:38] The meaning behind the name "Reach Capital." [12:08] How Reach Capital is looking to bring more diverse founders into edtech and why Shauntal believes it is so incredibly important. [14:40] Shauntel walks listeners through the venture process in a typical investment. [18:26] What does it mean to lead deals? And do they like to lead deals at Reach Capital? [19:00] After making the investment with a company, what does their relationship look like going forward? How do they continue to support them? [20:54] How many companies in Reach Capital's portfolio is Shauntel actively involved in? [21:26] The hardest part of Shauntel's job currently. [21:50] Lightning round of the cool companies in Reach Capital's portfolio! Shauntel speaks about the incredible work of Abl, BetterLesson, ClassDojo, AdmitHub, Desmos, Ellevation, Hone, Newsela, PeopleGrove, Schoolzilla, Tynker, Nearpod, Outschool, Epic!, and Riipen. [32:12] The gaps Shauntel is currently seeing in education where there's an opportunity to make a big difference. [35:34] With Reach Capital, do they try to create spaces that can bring together public and philanthropic investments as well as private investments? [37:29] Infrastructure challenges and the inequities that have been amplified during the pandemic. [38:30] Tom thanks Shauntel for joining the Getting Smart Podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Shauntel Garvey Reach Capital NewSchools Venture Fund ClassDojo Ellevation Nearpod Newsela Abl BetterLesson AdmitHub Desmos Hone PeopleGrove SchoolMint Schoolzilla WriteLab Julia Freeland Fisher Tynker Outschool Epic! Riipen Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 264: "Ryan Craig on Putting America Back to Work" Raise Your Hand Texas NSBA Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 274: "Rachelle Dene Poth on Charting a New Course" Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe. Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include 'Podcast' in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today Tom is speaking with gaming and esports expert, Mike Sepso. Mike is widely considered the godfather of esports and has been at the heart of esports for nearly 20 years. In 2002, Mike launched Major League Gaming, a professional esports organization. He later sold MLG to game-maker, Activision, in 2015. Last year, Mike launched Vindex to provide infrastructure to the esports industry. And just recently, Vindex acquired Belong Gaming Arenas and plans to open more than 500 Belong locations in hometowns across America. Right now, about half of America is gaming during the pandemic. It might surprise you to know that gaming is bigger than both music and movies combined. This year, video game revenue will likely top $170 billion. Though the percentage of gamers that play professionally is small, it is growing. Esports is approximately a $1 billion business itself. Join in today's conversation with Tom to hear about Mike's mission to open local arenas across America to grow esports, as well as what he thinks about esports as a career path (and how high schools, colleges, and educators should play the game). Key Takeaways: [:10] About today's episode. [1:06] Tom welcomes Mike to the podcast. [1:11] Having been at the heart of esports for nearly 20 years, would Mike say that he's always been a gamer? [1:35] The history of when and how esports emerged out of the video game market. [3:35] The origin story behind Mike's founding of Major League Gaming. [7:11] How Mike thinks about the global gaming market today and why he believes gaming has become so big, so fast. [11:48] The mission behind Mike's new company, Vindex, and some of the history behind esports. [18:50] The three-pronged strategic approach they're taking with Vindex. [22:52] Mike shares about their exciting acquisition of Belong Gaming Arenas as well as why they wanted to acquire them. [31:50] Where these gaming arenas will be placed and how big they will be. [33:40] Is esports a viable career path? And what role can or should high schools and colleges play with regards to esports? [37:52] How will esports impact communities? Should economic directors be thinking about esports or working it into their plans? [39:38] How big is the market of esports? Where does Mike see it a couple of years from now? [41:07] How has esports been positively and negatively impacted by COVID-19? Does it only have growth to look forward to in the coming years? [46:26] Tom thanks Mike for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Mike Sepso's LinkedIn Mike Sepso's Twitter @MSpeso Major League Gaming Activision Vindex Belong Gaming Arenas Overwatch League Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 238: "Chad Dorsey on Modeling and Data Science in STEM Education" Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe. Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include 'Podcast' in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

In today's episode, Tom is joined by Julia Freeland Fisher and Dr. Mahnaz Charania. Julia is the Director of Education Research at the Clayton Christensen Institute and the author of the important 2018 book, Who You Know: Unlocking Innovations That Expand Students' Networks. Dr. Mahnaz Charania is a Senior Research Fellow, also at the Clayton Christensen Institute. Recently, Julia Freeland Fisher and Dr. Mahnaz Charania co-authored an incredibly important new paper together called, "The Missing Metrics: Emerging Practices for Measuring Students' Relationships and Networks." The paper outlines how measuring for diversity and social capital can open new doors and perspectives for students at various junctures in their education journey. Through this, education systems can start to build an evidence base for closing the social side of opportunity gaps and ensure that all students are supported equitably in their path to economic prosperity. Join in for the conversation as Tom, Julia, and Dr. Mahnaz discuss the four-dimensional framework for measuring students' social capital they've proposed in their paper, "The Missing Metrics," and why social capital needs to be taken into account when addressing equity, access, and more. Key Takeaways: [:10] About today's episode. [:55] Tom welcomes Julia Freeland Fisher and Dr. Mahnaz Charania to the podcast. [1:28] Dr. Mahnaz Charania shares why she decided to study experimental social psychology. [2:02] What sparked Dr. Mahnaz Charania's interest in education? [2:43] Did Dr. Mahnaz Charania work with Helene Gayle at the CDC? [3:13] Julia Freeland Fisher recaps her career journey from her early work around blended learning to social capital. [5:48] Dr. Mahnas Charania shares what interests her about the work she is currently doing around social capital. [6:32] Julia shares what she would add to the 2020 epilogue of her 2018 book, Who You Know, with regards to the pandemic. [11: 33] The backstory behind the comprehensive measurement framework that is outlined in Julia Freeland Fishers and Dr. Mahnaz Charania's paper, "The Missing Metrics: Emerging Practices for Measuring Students' Relationships and Networks." [12:50] How Dr. Mahnaz Charania is addressing social capital through a continuous improvement approach. [14:33] The four-dimensional framework for measuring students' social capital: quantity of relationships, quality of relationships, the structure of networks, and the ability to mobilize relationships. [14:39] How to measure the quantity of relationships and why it matters. [18:44] How to measure the quality of relationships, why it is a key aspect in the four-dimensional framework, and some examples. [22:30] About the structure of networks, why it is important, and how to measure it. [24:39] About Getting Smart's sponsor this week, Micro-Collegiate Academy by TEL Education. [25:51] About the last of the four categories, the ability to mobilize relationships, and how to measure it. [27:00] The benefits of using extended transcripts or portfolios in helping young people tell the story of who they're becoming, what they've accomplished, what they've overcome, and who they've connected with. [30:33] Examples of fantastic online digital extended transcripts or portfolios and what great extended transcripts and portfolios should include. [33:04] Why continuous improvement/self-growth is a key component in measuring these metrics. [35:00] How educators and institutions can help students build their networks (especially during the pandemic). [36:59] Dr. Mahnas Charania's advice for principals and counselors on where to start. [38:25] Julia's advice for principals and counselors on where to start. [40:07] Are these emerging metrics just as important as your reading or math score? [41:01] Tom thanks both guests for joining this week's episode. Mentioned in This Episode: Clayton Christensen Institute Who You Know: Unlocking Innovations That Expand Students' Networks, by Julia Freeland Fisher "The Missing Metrics: Emerging Practices for Measuring Students' Relationships and Networks," by Dr. Mahnaz Charania and Julia Freeland Fisher Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) CARE International Critical Mentoring: A Practical Guide, by Torie Weiston-Serdan The Power of Place: Authentic Learning Through Place-Based Education, by Tom Vander Ark, Emily Liebtag, and Nate McClennen LinkedIn Trovvit Big Picture Learning ASU Local xSEL Labs Micro-Collegiate Academy | TEL Education Greenlight Credentials Climb Hire CareerVillage Nepris Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 165: "Why Youth Need Social Capital and How Schools Can Help" (A 2018 interview with Julia Freeland Fisher) Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review, and subscribe. Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include 'Podcast' in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today's episode is featuring an interview with Dr. Helene Gayle. Dr. Gayle is the CEO of the Chicago Community Trust; one of the nation's leading community foundations. The trust works with donors, non-profits, community leaders, and residents to lead and inspire philanthropic efforts that improve the quality of life for the residents of the Chicago region. For 30 years, Dr. Gayle was one of the world's leading experts on infectious diseases, leading global efforts at the CDC, the Gates Foundation, and CARE International. Dr. Gayle's global-to-local story gives her a unique perspective on issues of race and class and sets the stage for the trust attack on the racial and ethnic wealth gap. In this episode, she speaks about her role as CEO of CCT and the work they are doing around closing the racial and ethnic gap in Chicago and America; her ideas on what would help improve the quality of (and access to) education in Chicago; and her thoughts and predictions around the impact COVID-19 will have long-term. Key Takeaways: [:10] About today's episode with Dr. Helene Gayle [:59] Tom welcomes Dr. Helene Gayle to the podcast! [1:57] Dr. Gayle speaks about her career journey and why she decided to transition from pediatrics to public health. [4:18] About Dr. Gayle's incredible 30-year career in public health. [8:37] Dr. Gayle's thoughts and predictions on COVID-19. [10:20] Dr. Gayle elaborates on how we've done as a country dealing with COVID-19. [11:56] About three years ago, Dr. Gayle became the CEO of the Chicago Community Trust. She explains what it is and why the role interested her. [16:28] How Dr. Gayle is taking on the equity and wealth gap in Chicago through the Chicago Community Trust. [21:47] How COVID-19 has actually amplified Chicago Community Trust's message and mission. [23:08] The link to education in Chicago Community Trust's plan and Dr. Gayle's thoughts on what would help improve the quality of and access to education in Chicago. [25:23] How Dr. Gayle's experience and training in public health have shaped her approach in tackling the root cause. [26:40] Dr. Gayle's thoughts on the guidelines schools should follow in reopening. [28:01] Dr. Gayle's advice for investors and policymakers at the state and local level. [30:23] Tom thanks Dr. Gayle for her 30-year contribution to public health, for transforming opportunity in Chicago, and for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Dr. Helene Gayle Chicago Community Trust Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CARE International Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 253: "Lia McIntosh on Community Development" Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe. Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include 'Podcast' in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

In today's episode, Tom Vander Ark is joined by Gary Funk and Haley Richardson for a discussion on rural schools and rural teachers! Gary Funk has spent 30 years serving and advocating for America's rural schools. For the last four years, he has served as the Director of the Rural Schools Collaborative. Currently, he's running a campaign called "I Am a Rural Teacher," which is a national advocacy campaign that gives voice to rural teachers. Recently, Gary and the "I Am a Rural Teacher" campaign recently highlighted the rural school teacher, Haley Richardson, who teaches second grade at University Charter School (UCS) in Livingston, Alabama. In their conversation, Gary and Haley talk with Tom about the work they are doing to encourage teachers to embrace the power of place to help young people appreciate where they're from and the opportunities that exist there. Key Takeaways: [:10] About today's episode with Gary Funk and Haley Richardson. [:50] Tom welcomes Gary Funk and Haley Richardson to the podcast! [1:01] Haley speaks about her upbringing, family, and early education. [2:20] Why Haley and her brother both decided to pursue a career in education. [3:36] Gary shares about his upbringing, family, and early education. [5:15] What attracts Haley to teaching in rural communities. [6:55] Why rural schools are so important and, in particular, why it has become a focal point in Gary's career. [9:00] Why schools are integral to the life and community of a rural area. [9:45] Why a community loses a lot when they lose a school and the negative impact of the consolidation of schools. [11:05] The surge of micro-schools during the pandemic and how they're helping re-conceptualize what schools are. [12:48] At the University Charter School (UCS), Haley had the chance to be a part of the founding faculty. She shares about her experiences there as well as the origin of the school. [14:04] How they're expanding UCS going forward. [14:22] Is UCS on the campus of the University of West Alabama (UWS)? [14:38] Do they offer student teaching opportunities at UWS? [15:15] About the Black Belt Teacher Corps program at UWS. [16:30] About the Rural Schools Collaborative that Gary runs. [18:45] Why a sense of place is so important to cultivate — especially in a rural school. [21:34] Gary shares his take on why place is so critical for rural schools as well as how they can better embrace where they're from to deepen their roots and their connection to the towns that support them. [26:20] Further discussing place-based education and Haley's relationship with the Place Network Schools. [28:51] Some of the challenges with teaching in a rural area. [31:50] Haley shares some words of encouragement for those considering becoming a rural teacher. [33:00] What Rural Schools Collaborative is trying to accomplish with the "I Am a Rural Teacher" campaign. [34:53] Tom thanks Gary and Haley for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: Rural Schools Collaborative I Am a Rural Teacher Campaign Haley Richardson's Rural Teacher Feature on I Am a Rural Teacher University Charter School (UCS) "The Hobbit Effect: Why Small Works in Public Schools," by Lorna Jimerson Teton Science Schools Place Network Schools The Power of Place: Authentic Learning Through Place-Based Education, by Tom Vander Ark, Emily Liebtag, and Nate McClennen I Am a Rural Teacher: Haley Richardson of Alabama (Video) National Rural Education Association Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe. Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include 'Podcast' in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Michael Fullan, world’s most persistent and persuasive advocate for powerful learning experiences, discusses the second edition of his book 'Leading in a Culture of Change' in this episode. He explores the relevance of education leadership in a culture of change, the importance of moral purpose and impact, the need for co-constructing team-based learning systems, the evolving role of knowledge in education, and creating coherence in existing systems.

Today on the podcast, Tom Vander Ark is joined by Ron Berger. Ron has been teaching for 40 years and is currently the Chief Academic Officer at EL Education. He's also the author of some popular books you may have heard of! One of which, Leaders of Their Own Learning: Transforming Schools Through Student-Engaged Assessment, is one of Getting Smart's favorites. Last year, Ron joined the Getting Smart podcast to discuss a companion piece to Leaders of Their Own Learning. (If you missed it, be sure to check out episode 222, linked below!) In this episode, Ron is joining the podcast once again to discuss his newest book, We Are Crew: A Teamwork Approach to School Culture, that he wrote in collaboration with Anne Vilen and Libby Woodfin. At EL Education, 'crew' is the culture and the advisory structure. We Are Crew details secrets to create secondary schools that promote academics and character development. Listen in to hear about how crew as a culture and structure is transforming schools! Key Takeaways: [:10] About today's episode with Ron Berger. [1:00] Tom welcomes Ron back to the podcast. [1:07] Ron speaks about the impact his previously published book, Leaders of Their Own Learning, has had on schools, educators, and students. [2:17] How the timing of Ron's new book, We Are Crew, came out at an opportune time with the current global pandemic. [3:42] What is 'crew' as culture? How is it different from traditional public schools? [8:41] What is the structure of crew? [9:43] How the crew model varies between elementary and secondary schools. [11:20] The role that crew fulfills in a high school. [13:29] About crew's post-secondary planning and goal-setting. [14:42] Why is it hard for homeroom advisories in high school to be done well? And how can they be improved? [17:38] What makes crew particularly successful? [19:45] Chapters 4-7 in We Are Crew cover the specific jobs that crew does for EL Schools. In Chapter 4, the book details how to help young people become effective learners. Ron further elaborates on this and details how crew helps them understand themselves as a learner. [22:15] Chapter 5 in We Are Crew is about becoming ethical people. Ron shares how crew aids in that. [24:55] Chapter 6 is on contributions. Ron elaborates on how crew helps young people understand contributions and begin to make their own, unique contributions. [26:51] Chapter 7 talks about post-secondary. Ron adds his thoughts on how educators can help young people imagine possible futures. [30:04] Tom and Ron reflect on the timeliness of We Are Crew. [31:13] Where to find Ron and access free EL Education resources online. Mentioned in This Episode: Ron Berger EL Education Leaders of Their Own Learning: Transforming Schools Through Student-Engaged Assessment, by Ron Berger, Leah Rugen, Libby Woodfin, and EL Education Getting Smart Podcast Ep. 222: "Ron Berger on Helping Students Become Leaders of Their Own Learning" We Are Crew: A Teamwork Approach to School Culture, by Ron Berger, Anne Vilen, and Libby Woodfin Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe. Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include 'Podcast' in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

Today we're talking with John Winsor on the open talent economy. John Winsor built a big publishing business around sports and fitness. He saw the business changing and started crowdsourcing articles from athletes. That got him interested in open talent — otherwise known as 'work outside of full-time employment,' which includes the freelance and the gig economy. Three years ago, John joined the faculty at Harvard Business School as a visiting executive and founded Open Assembly, an organization that hosts conversations about the future of work. In this conversation with Tom, John describes the shift to open talent. Corporations are interested in this shift because of the potential to get work done faster, better, and cheaper. Individuals like the flexibility and variety. Tom and John also talk about the new social contract that would be needed to support open talent markets. Key Takeaways: [:10] About today's episode with John Winsor. [1:05] Tom welcomes John to the podcast. [1:11] John shares how and why he went to Colorado College. [2:28] Is Colorado College still a 'big block' school? How did the way that the college was organized aid John in his learning? [3:44] John reflects on receiving his MBA in Marketing at the University of Denver. Tom and John also discuss how both CC and UoD have evolved over time. [7:07] How John got into the publishing business. [9:48] About John's interest in racing and cycling. [12:33] How and where John became interested in the idea of open talent and the future of work. [15:38] John defines what open talent is. [16:52] Should everyone be in the 'open talent' space? Or is it something that complements full-time employment? What does John see, five to 10 years from now, for the open talent space? [19:15] How it could be possible to create an open talent economy that is equitable for everyone. [25:00] Ways to help the open talent economy scale in an equitable way. [27:17] Advertising opportunities available through Getting Smart. [27:47] Three years ago, John founded Open Assembly, an organization that produces content around open talent and more. John shares what they have accomplished so far with Open Assembly and what they're trying to accomplish, going forward. [31:12] What high school education for a market of open talent should look like. [33:46] Does John agree with Ryan Craig's advice around giving a "hard sprint to a good first job"? [37:55] Will an open talent economy lead to the widening income and wealth gap? [40:30] How we can all play a part in creating the foundation for an open talent economy. [43:02] Tom thanks John for joining the podcast! Mentioned in This Episode: John Winsor Harvard Business School Open Assembly Diffusion of Innovations, by Everett M. Rogers Spark: Be More Innovative Through Co-Creation, by John Winsor Flipped: How Bottom-Up Co-Creation is Replacing Top-Down Innovation, by John Winsor Crowdsourcing: Why the Power of the Crowd Is Driving the Future of Business, by Jeff Howe Info@GettingSmart.com — Email Jessica to learn more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities with Getting Smart! Toptal Getting Smart Ep. 264: "Ryan Craig on Putting America Back to Work" "1,000 True Fans," by Kevin Kelly "One Thousand True Fans: All You Need to Know about Marketing in a Single Article," by Jeroen Riemens Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe. Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include 'Podcast' in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

The Getting Smart team is excited to be bringing you a conversation with one of their favorite teacher bloggers, Rachelle Dene Poth! Rachelle is a French, Spanish, and technology teacher and an ed-tech consultant. She's also an attorney with a Master's Degree in Instructional Technology and leads the ISTE Teacher Education Network. In 2019, Rachelle received the 'Making IT Happen Award' at the annual ISTE Conference. Rachelle has published four books on education, with her most recent being Chart a New Course: A Guide to Teaching Essential Skills for Tomorrow's World. In Rachelle's and Tom's conversation today, they discuss Rachelle's newest book and talk about the future for teaching and learning. Key Takeaways: [:10] About today's episode with Rachelle Dene Poth. [:52] Tom welcomes Rachelle to the podcast. [1:26] Going in the way-back machine, Rachelle shares why she studied French at Penn State. [3:33] When and why Rachelle began to study Spanish. [4:38] Having just wrapped up her 24th year at Riverview School District, Rachelle shares some of her thoughts around how quickly time flew by. [5:19] The origin story of how Rachelle became interested in ed-tech and why she became an ed-tech consultant. [7:09] How Rachelle thinks of her role as a teacher and how it has evolved over the course of her 24-year career. [9:15] Rachelle shares her go-to writing strategies and hacks. [11:24] What motivated Rachelle to publish a book of quotes (In Other Words: Quotes that Push our Thinking). [12:58] About Rachelle's book, The Future is Now: Looking Back to Move Ahead, and her experience with writing three books at the same time. [14:07] What is 'gladiating together'? [14:42] About Rachelle's book, Unconventional: Ways to Thrive in EDU, and how it provides practical advice for getting started with unconventional learning experiences for all students. [15:53] Advertising and sponsorship opportunities available through Getting Smart. [16:24] About Rachelle and ISTE's collaboration on Chart a New Course: A Guide to Teaching Essential Skills for Tomorrow's World. [17:04] About ISTE's tried and true process for peer-reviewing books. [18:22] A summarization of Rachelle's advice from chapter 1 of Chart a New Course, "Connections and Presence: Navigating the Digital World". [20:17] A look at Chapter 2: "Team Up: Relationship Building and Social-Emotional Learning." [21:41] How Chapter 3, "Create and Connect: Fostering Communication Skills," gave teachers and readers a broader view of new communication skills. [23:23] What Chapter 4, "Show What You Know: Bringing Stories to Life," covers. [24:30] About the last chapter in the book, "Create Global Connections: Learning Together and Exploring the World." [26:42] Ed-tech lightning round! Tom asks Rachelle: Will AR and VR ever live up to the hype as a learning medium in schools? Does Rachelle use Google Expeditions and other similar tools? What are her thoughts on AI and machine learning? Does she believe that machine learning will impact administrative applications? [29:30] The challenges that come with schools opening back up this fall. [29:54] Is coding more of a language or a job skill? [30:58] Are a lot of Rachelle's students on TikTok? Is the world beginning to shift from print to video? [31:53] Some of Rachelle's favorite apps that help create or leverage sustained learning relationships. [33:10] Rachelle shares words of encouragement for teachers who are undecided whether or not they want to return to the classroom this fall. [35:30] Tom thanks Rachelle for joining the podcast. Mentioned in This Episode: Rachelle Dene Poth Rachelle Dene Poth's LinkedIn Rachelle Dene Poth's Twitter Posts by Rachelle Dene Poth on GettingSmart.com ISTE Teacher Education Network Chart a New Course: A Guide to Teaching Essential Skills for Tomorrow's World, by Rachelle Dene Poth In Other Words: Quotes that Push our Thinking, by Rachelle Dene Poth The Future is Now: Looking Back to Move Ahead, by Rachelle Dene Porth EduGladiators Unconventional: Ways to Thrive in EDU, by Rachelle Dene Poth Info@GettingSmart.com — Email Jessica to learn more about sponsorships and advertising opportunities with Getting Smart! Google Expeditions Nearpod DreamBox i-Ready Achieve3000 Flipgrid Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe. Is There Somebody You've Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You'd Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include 'Podcast' in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!