Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

Our guest this week is an expert with AR, VR, and XR. Meet Jeannine Charles who is committed to crafting immersive experiences that transcend the boundaries of reality. Jeannine's journey began with a solid foundation in Industrial Design, which provided her with a holistic understanding of form, function, and user experience. Fuelled by curiosity and a desire to explore new horizons, she has always been drawn to the intersection of technology and creativity. Her passion for visual storytelling led her to pursue a career in photography, which then led to the fields of film, narrative, mixed-media and virtual reality. Jeannine pivoted and began her career in the tech space, exploring the possibilities of extended reality (XR) and how to catalyze the growth of media production in the immersive media landscape. This led her to the co-creation of her first VR prototype and the foundation of her XR production company, where she provides XR/AR/VR marketing solutions for mid-sized businesses. Whether designing captivating virtual environments, interactive simulations, or innovative user interfaces, Jeannine strives to create experiences that captivate the imagination and push the boundaries of possibility. __________ Connect with our guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcharlesaamxr/?originalSubdomain=ca Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer? 🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free : https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/ 👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series: MackinVision: https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/ Lebra: https://www.lebrahq.com/ 📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode: info@shiftingschools.com

play:ground NYC is an organization that focuses on the rights of children and creating affirming spaces for play. They believe that young people should be given authority, autonomy, and respect, and that society often mistreats and oppresses children. The organization promotes sustainability by using recycled materials and repurposing junk for play. They emphasize the importance of people and allocate most of their budget to paying staff. Playground NYC offers play residencies and pop-up spaces for play, providing opportunities for children to lead their own learning and enjoyment. The organization trains play workers and aims to shift parenting approaches to allow for more play and risk-taking. Parents have noticed increased confidence and empowerment in their children as a result of their experiences at this special space. Ready to learn more? https://www.play-ground.nyc/ Our guest this week: Yoni Kallai, the interim executive director, Head playworker and Co founder of play:groundNYC is dedicated to repairing the world in various ways. Working for young people's rights through promoting and supporting play, is his favorite. Connect with Yoni: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anahita-shadkam-636ba944/ Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer? 🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free : https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/ 👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series: MackinVision: https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/ Lebra: https://www.lebrahq.com/ 📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode: info@shiftingschools.com

Dr. Julie Jones discusses the power of play and challenges the myth that play is separate from learning. She emphasizes that play is not the opposite of work, but rather the opposite of depression. A playful classroom integrates cognition, movement, and emotion, and focuses on student choice and engagement. Dr. Jones suggests that teachers explore their own play personalities and incorporate play into their classrooms. She also encourages adults to make play more accessible in their own lives through small, playful activities throughout the day. In this conversation, Dr. Julie Jones discusses the importance of play in our lives and how it can be incorporated into our day-to-day routines. She introduces the concept of play personalities, which are different ways in which individuals engage in play. The eight play personalities are Explorer, Director, Joker, Competitor, Kinesthete, Creator, Storyteller, and Collector. Dr. Jones emphasizes the need for educators to provide playful opportunities for students and highlights the impact of play on creativity, empathy, and overall well-being. Dr. Julie Jones is an associate professor in Converse University's Department of Behavior and Social Sciences. She maintains an active research agenda with interests ranging from urban planning to curriculum and pedagogy, always with a mix of creativity and play. She published her first book,The Playful Classroom in June 2020. Her second book, The Playful Life, was published in October 2022. Follow her on social media @JuliePJones_author, and view her full curriculum vitae at www.juliepjones.com. Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer? 🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free : https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/ 👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series: MackinVision: https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/ Lebra: https://www.lebrahq.com/ 📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode: info@shiftingschools.com

Welcome to Season 8 of the Shifting Schools Podcast! This season, we're diving deeper into the topics that matter most to educators, with a special focus on practical strategies and innovative approaches. Get ready for new mini-series that tackle some of the most pressing issues in education today, including Generative AI—how it's reshaping the classroom and empowering both teachers and students—and Chronic Absenteeism, where we'll explore actionable solutions to keep students engaged and in school. We're thrilled to be back with more insights, expert interviews, and thought-provoking discussions designed to equip you with the tools you need to navigate the evolving educational landscape. Don't miss out on this exciting new season—subscribe now and join us on the journey to transform education for the better. Make sure to tune in and stay ahead of the curve with Shifting Schools, where we help you prepare students for their future, not our past. Website: pod.shiftingschools.com Community: camp.shiftingschools.com Free Resources: shiftingschools.com Instagram: @shiftingschoolspod X: @shiftingschools

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Jackie Mader Jackie Mader is a senior early childhood reporter at The Hechinger Report, where she has reported on a range of topics including teacher preparation, special education and policies that impact young children and families. Her work has appeared in newspapers and outlets nationwide, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, USA TODAY, TIME and NBC News and has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, The New York Press Club, the Education Writers Association and The Newswomen's Club of New York, among others. In 2021, she was one of two American journalists chosen for the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma's Early Childhood Development Fellowship and during the 2023-24 academic year, she researched and reported on child care policy as a Spencer Fellow at the Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. Prior to journalism, she worked as a special education teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina. 🎙️Connect with our guest: https://x.com/jackiemader Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer? 🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free : https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/ 👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series: MackinVision: https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/ Lebra: https://www.lebrahq.com/ 📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode: info@shiftingschools.com

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with a remarkable leader with Skateistan, Hala Khalaf. Skateistan is an international NGO that uses skateboarding as a tool for education and empowerment. It started with a few children in Kabul who were curious about skateboarding and has now grown into a global movement. The organization focuses on providing fun and inclusive spaces for children and at-risk youth to learn, play, and shape their futures. Skateistan has also created the Good Push Alliance, a social skate network that connects over a thousand skate projects worldwide. The organization emphasizes the importance of play and the valuable life skills that can be learned through skateboarding. 🎙️Connect with them to learn more: https://skateistan.org/ Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer? 🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free : https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/ 👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series: MackinVision: https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/ Lebra: https://www.lebrahq.com/ 📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode: info@shiftingschools.com

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Nawal Qarooni. 🎙️Connect with our guest and check out her book: https://nqcliteracy.org/ https://x.com/nqcliteracy?lang=en Chapters 00:00 Empowering Children Through Choices and Leadership 02:28 The Role of Play in Decision-Making and Learning 04:17 Libraries as Community Centers for Play 07:41 Communicating the Value of Play to the Broader Community 12:55 The Power of Process-Oriented Play Link from Nawal https://www.loc.gov/programs/library-of-congress-literacy-awards/about-this-program/advisory-board/ Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer? 🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free : https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/ 👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series: MackinVision: https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/ Lebra: https://www.lebrahq.com/ 📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode: info@shiftingschools.com

Courtney McLeod, an award-winning speaker and professional life and leadership coach, shares her passion for the transformative power of play. She discusses how incorporating play into adult life can enhance relationships and foster personal and professional growth. Unexpectedly, she highlights board games as tools for community building and emphasizes play's role in boosting mental health. Listeners are encouraged to embrace fun and revisit joyful experiences to improve well-being, particularly through creative engagements and team-building initiatives.

Dr. Paul Davarsi, an expert in play and learning, discusses the importance of play for all ages, the impact of efficiency on play, and the benefits of incorporating games into education. He emphasizes breaking routines, embracing playfulness, and advocating for innovative teaching methods.

💡 On our power of play series this week we talk with Dr. Peg Oliveira. Dr. Oliveira is a child development expert and an activist. Since receiving her doctorate in developmental psychology from Brandeis University, Dr. Oliveira has advocated for fair pay for early childhood educators, child care assistance for working parents and equitable access to high quality education. Peg is currently the founding director of the Gesell Program in Early Childhood at the Yale Child Study Center. Peg navigated the transition of the historic Gesell Institute, a respected nonprofit child advocacy organization since 1950, into the Yale Child Study Center to honor Dr. Arnold Gesell, the founder of the Yale Child Study Center. Prior to her work with Gesell, Peg was a Senior Policy Fellow with CT Voices for Children as well as a consultant to the CT Office of Early Childhood and other child advocacy organizations. Peg is a member the Board of Directors of the Becket Chimney Corners YMCA, and was the founding director of 108 Monkeys, a nonprofit yoga service organization. 🎙️Connect with our guest: https://www.gesell-yale.org/ Want to take this episode further and map out your personal plans for having a playful summer? 🏖️ Explore our six-part planner, download it free : https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/ 👏🏻Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting this series: MackinVision: https://home.mackin.com/mackinvision/ Lebra: https://www.lebrahq.com/ 📨Tell us about your thoughts on this episode: info@shiftingschools.com