Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

Our first episode in our brand new mental health series kicks off with Dr. Deborah Offner. This series is sponsored by Money Pickle, learn more about ways to connect with an advisor today: https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools Our special guest Dr. Offner is here to help us think more specifically about ways to support the mental health of our school community. We also explore her brand new book: Educators as First Responders: A Teacher's Guide to Adolescent Development and Mental Health, Grades 6-12 Ready to learn more about Dr. Offner? Dr. Deborah Offner is an adolescent psychologist with twenty-five years of experience working in schools, colleges, and clinical practice. She is Consulting Psychologist at an innovative school in Boston that prepares students from communities with limited resources to attend competitive private high schools. She works with adolescents, young adults and their families in her private practice and consults to middle and secondary schools about student mental health. https://www.deborahoffnerphd.com/ Want to tell us more about how your school will action ideas from this episode? Reach out to Jeff and Tricia at info@shiftingschools.com Learn more about our work and opportunities to learn with us at www.shiftingschools.com Thanks again to our series sponsor Money Pickle for supporting our entire series on mental health! https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools

How is Minecraft a powerful tool for building community, fostering inclusion, and engaging learners? This week's amazing guest Mashfiq Ahmed has an answer for that question and tons of wisdom to share. Meet this week's special guest: ➡️ Mashfiq Ahmed (he/him) is a high school chemistry teacher at John Dewey High School in Brooklyn, New York. He has been playing video games ever since he was 4-years-old and they have positively shaped him into the person that he is today. As a teacher, Mashfiq utilizes classroom gamification tools in order to support all of his students and make science more engaging. When the 2020-2021 virtual school year started, Mashfiq created an after school Minecraft Club in order for students to have a place to relax and de-stress through gaming during the pandemic. Since then, the club has grown to become something so much bigger than he could have possibly imagined. For example, Mashfiq's Minecraft Club participates in esports building competitions with designs that promote equity, accessibility, and sustainability in New York City. Mashfiq strives to create a safe space for all, especially neurodivergent, people of color, and LGBTQ+ students, to express themselves through Minecraft and gaming. His Minecraft Club members are also Minecraft Student Ambassadors who have provided Minecraft training for other teachers and have showcased their work globally, such as at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference. Mashfiq hopes that the future of gaming continues to be more inclusive and accessible for everyone. Additionally, he is also a certified Minecraft educator and a global Minecraft mentor. Due to Mashfiq's efforts he was recently inducted into The Game Awards Future Class of 2022, which honors inspiring individuals who represent the bright, bold, and inclusive future of video games. 🔦 Ready to connect with Mashfiq? Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrAhmedGaming YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MrAhmedGaming Minecraft Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdhsminecraftclub/ Minecraft Club Linktree: https://linktr.ee/MinecraftClub Leave a review of our podcast a win a free seat to the February AI cohort! Learn more: www.shiftingschools.com email info@shiftingschools.com

In this episode, Jeff and Tricia discuss their favorite holiday food, introduce a new free guide on experimenting with AI for families, announce an upcoming series on mental health, promote an AI literacy cohort for PLCs and committees, highlight Jeff's work on Washington State guidelines and policies, mention upcoming conferences, discuss the link between AI literacy and DEIJ/media literacy, and tease the upcoming 2024 Protocols Free Guide. Takeaways Experimenting with AI can be a fun and educational activity for families, and a new free guide provides three ways to get started. The next series on the podcast will focus on mental health, covering topics such as the mental health of educators and students. An AI literacy cohort is available for PLCs and committees looking to develop AI literacy in their schools. Links: Get the Three AI Literacy Experiments for the Family: https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/three-ways-for-families-to-experiment-with-ai/ Learn more about our upcoming cohort: www.shiftingschools.com Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Holiday Food 04:38 New Free Guide: Three Ways for Families to Experiment with AI 13:49 Upcoming Series on Mental Health 17:11 AI Literacy Cohort for PLCs and Committees 20:27 Jeff's Work with Washington State Guidelines and Policies 22:35 Upcoming Conferences: NCCE, IDEO, CESA 24:32 Linking AI Literacy to DEIJ and Media Literacy 30:34 Upcoming 2024 Protocols Free Guide 33:14 Closing Remarks and Appreciation

Join us for this bonus episode where Tricia is a guest on the BFIS 'The Future is Now Podcast.' Ready to follow that show? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-benjamin-franklin-international-school-podcast/id1714268067 Find all of the resources mentioned here. Listener Challenge: - Be the first to review from your state and win access to our AI course bundle. Leave a review on any podcast platform and email us at info@shiftingschools.com. How to Connect: - Follow us on everywhere: @shiftingschools and @shiftingschoolspod - Visit our website: https://www.shiftingschools.com - Email: info@shiftingschools.com

Episode Description: Join us for this bonus episode were host Jeff Utecht becomes the interviewee on the Have A Life Teaching Podcast. You can subscribe to the Have A Life Teaching Podcast here: https://pod.link/1702975996 Episode Highlights: 1. Shout-out to Listeners: A special thanks to our listeners in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and France for your wonderful ratings and reviews! Remember, the first reviewer from each state gets access to our exclusive AI course bundle. 2. Jeff Utecht - A Brief Introduction: Get to know our guest, Jeff Utecht, a leader in educational technology and innovation. 3. Key Discussion Points: - The Role of Technology in Education: Insights into how technology is reshaping teaching and learning practices. - Digital Tools in the Classroom: Strategies for integrating technology to enhance learning experiences. - Preparing for a Tech-Forward Future: Discussion on future trends and preparing students for a changing world. Listener Challenge: - Be the first to review from your state and win access to our AI course bundle. Leave a review on any podcast platform and email us at info@shiftingschools.com. How to Connect: - Follow us on everywhere: @shiftingschools and @shiftingschoolspod - Visit our website: https://www.shiftingschools.com - Email: info@shiftingschools.com

On today we speak with Dr. Peter Stiepleman, 2021 Missouri Superintendent of the Year. We explore keys to a human-centered leadership approach. Ready to meet our guest? Peter Stiepleman, EdD. Author, Leadership Coach, and Inspirational Speaker Dr. Peter Stiepleman is a locally, regionally, and nationally recognized leader who uses the power of storytelling to help leaders design better systems and help make complex concepts easier to understand. Peter is a self-starting, creative leader with experience engaging with diverse communities, from the United States Embassy in Madrid, Spain, to corporate insurance offices in San Francisco, to the multilingual, multicultural schools in Oakland, California, to the rapidly growing City of Columbia, Missouri. In 2021, Peter was awarded the Missouri Superintendent of the Year from the Missouri Association of School Administrators. Now living in Washington State, Peter consults and coaches aspiring and established leaders on how to make more predictably successful decisions. Additionally, Peter is the author of An Imperfect Leader: Human-Centered Leadership in (After) Action which introduces a human-centered leadership model and system-thinking tools to readers. He is also the host of a weekly podcast with the same name, An Imperfect Leader. In each episode, leaders from all across the nation reflect on decisions they made and the lessons they learned. Peter hopes his transition from superintendent to coach will improve leader longevity for superintendents and school leaders nationwide. Ready to connect with Peter? Twitter - @pstieple and @imperfectleadr1 Instagram - @animperfectleader LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a Learn more with Shifting Schools in 2024: https://www.shiftingschools.com/

"What do I want my process to look like?" this is a question researcher, educator and author Maya Bialik would love to see more teachers think about right now. Our conversation thinks about the art and craft of teaching as it applies to AI and the range of AI tools available to us. Our guest this week is: Maya Bialik is a 7th grade science teacher from Boston, and the founder of QuestionWell AI. In the decade since earning her master's degree in Mind, Brain, & Education from Harvard, Maya has worked directly with educators and jurisdictions around the world on many parts of the education system, from writing curriculum, to evaluating programs, running professional development, facilitating seminars and workshops, designing new standards, conducting research, and publishing books and papers on both primary research and theoretical frameworks. Learn more about questionwell.ai and connect with Maya. Also explored in our conversation are ideas on: Ways to use AI for concept based learning. Ways to engage AI for social emotional learning. Ways AI will help us reconceptualize communication and creativity. Connect with hosts of this show and let them know what mini series you'd love to see them get started on for 2024: info (at) shifting schools (dot com) Find opportunities to learn with Shifting Schools all year: https://www.shiftingschools.com/

Join us as we discuss the implications of AI in educational settings, particularly focusing on how these tools can be integrated to foster inclusion and improve learning experiences with Max, a High School Student. Key Discussion Points: AI and Social Interaction: Max highlights how AI tools can prevent social issues like being 'left on read' or 'ghosted', providing valuable insights in social situations. AI as a Communication Filter: The discussion explores AI's role as a reflective tool, helping individuals consider their communication style and content. AI in the Classroom: Addressing teachers' anxieties about AI, Max emphasizes the importance of firsthand experience with technology rather than relying solely on second-hand opinions or fears. Big Idea Shared: Max provides a thoughtful, student-centered perspective on the use of AI in education, encouraging educators to listen to students and incorporate their feedback in AI integration. Want to reach out to Max? Email us at info@shiftingschools.com

This special bonus episode points you to a recent conversation with Donna Hayword, US Principal of the Year (2023) via a brand new podcast: Sustainable Innovation from NEASC. Sustainable Innovation: By and for K-12 educational leaders NEASC is proud to present this five-part podcast series created by and for educational leaders on themes of key importance including artificial intelligence (AI), technology in education, student agency, and building sustainable systems and cultures of innovation in our schools. The NEASC Sustainable Innovation series serves: Participants in the 2023 NEASC Leadership Conference who wish to prepare for and augment their in-person experience in Boston. Educational leaders who wish to engage in learning opportunities and sharing of innovative practices aligned with the conference themes of sustainability, innovation, and inclusion. Special thanks: to our series sponsor - Small Wins Dashboard Reach out to Tricia to let her know you'll be in Boston for the event OR to share an idea you have for a mini-series! tricia (at) shiftingschools (dot com)

Delve into the transformative world of generative AI text-to-image technology and its burgeoning role in creative writing. Our journey begins with an exploration of how AI-generated images can act as creative catalysts for writers, offering a vivid, visual interpretation of their penned thoughts. We discuss the free guide available to help educators try out the 'tone words' and vocabular work Jeff and Tricia discuss. Wanna grab the free guide? https://www.shiftingschools.com/free-pdfs We examine how integrating this technology into the curriculum can serve as a powerful tool for fostering creativity and enhancing storytelling skills among students. By bringing stories to life through AI-generated visuals, we uncover the potential for deeper engagement and inspiration among young writers. Moreover, we tackle the critical aspect of AI literacy in K12 education. We discuss how exposure to AI technology through creative applications can demystify AI concepts, making them more approachable and understandable for students. Join us for an enriching discussion that merges the boundaries of technology, education, and creativity, and discover how generative AI is not just a tool for creation, but also a gateway to learning and understanding the future of technology. Ready to learn more with Jeff and Tricia? Take $25 off the PLC AI Playground with special code 'SSPOD25' at checkout: https://www.shiftingschools.com/ The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:18 - Introduction 00:01:48 - The All Inclusive AI Bundle 00:05:01 - Text to Image AI for Creative Writing 00:08:43 - AI Images and Copyright Issues 00:11:06 - Leveraging Style and Collaborative Prompt Authoring 00:15:17 - Introduction to Free Tools 00:16:22 - The Innovation Stage 00:17:18 - Free Guide and Feedback 00:17:32 - Appreciation for Free Guides 00:17:44 - Review and Access to AI Guide