SOS Podcast

On this week... We were so excited to have a conversation with Dr. Novak and Dr. Rodriguez about their latest book In Support of Students: A Leader's Guide to Equitable MTSS Our conversation explores: How to make change happen What schools can do to better support ALL students How leaders can upskill in order to foster inclusion in schools Find your copy: On Sale Now via Bookshop Check out their special book group guide Learn about our special guests https://www.novakeducation.com/ https://kristanrodriguezcc.wixsite.com/ccapr We are so grateful to the team at Mackin for sponsoring this episode and the full SEL series. Learn more about them: Mackin  Want to discuss your thoughts on this episode? send us an email info (at) shiftingschools.com or catch us at camp: camp.shiftingschools.com

Jessica Lahey is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed and The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence. Jess was awarded the Research Society on Alcohol’s Media Award for “outstanding journalistic efforts of writers who cover empirical research on alcohol” […] “for her book The Addiction Inoculation and advocacy for the recovery community.” Over twenty years, Jess has taught every grade from sixth to twelfth in both public and private schools, and spent five years teaching in a drug and alcohol rehab for adolescents in Vermont, and serves as a prevention and recovery coach at Sana, a medical detox and recovery center in Stowe, Vermont. She has written about education, parenting, and child welfare for The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and her biweekly column “The Parent Teacher Conference” ran for three years at the New York Times. She designed and wrote the educational curriculu

Jeff begins by emphasizing how ChatGPT enable educators to offer tailored content and support to a diverse range of students, meeting them at their individual learning levels. He cites examples of how this AI-driven technology can adapt lessons, provide personalized feedback, and assist students with varying needs, making the learning experience more inclusive and engaging. Tricia further expands on this by discussing how ChatGPT can help educators save time and energy when it comes to fostering relationships with the parent and caretakers at their school. Together, they explore how ChatGPT serves as an invaluable tool for educators seeking to provide customized learning experiences that empower every student to thrive academically and personally. Jeff and Tricia's conversation highlights big questions to ask when it comes to engaging with  ChatGPT as a "differentiation machine" in the realm of student learning, paving the way for a more inclusive and accessible education landscape. Check out the repor

 In this episode of the Shifting Schools Podcast, Jeff Utecht sits down with Elliot Mack, the co-founder of Daigon Esports, our generous sponsor for the esports mini-series. What do we discuss? The educational benefits of esports How Daigon Esports is shaping the future of educational technology Ways to integrate esports into your classroom curriculum What do we investigate? Educational Technology Esports in Education Classroom Integration Why Listen? If you’re an educator, administrator, or simply interested in the intersection of esports and educational technology, this episode is a must-watch. Learn how to bring the competitive, collaborative, and strategic world of esports into your educational setting.    Links Daigon Esports Website Shifting Schools Resources Subscribe to Shifting Schools    

Join us as we unravel the stories that emerge when esports and gaming becomes a lifelong compass for learning. This week's guest is thought leader Janey Laney, a content creator and podcaster bridging the gap between education, gaming & tech. Our guest takes us on a journey where gaming serves as a conduit for boundless education. Janey uncovers the profound community dynamics that power the world of gaming, weaving networks and inspiration together into a seamless fabric of connectivity. Delve into the unexplored corners of education, technology, and empowerment, and glimpse a future where gaming becomes a portal to careers and community and more. Ready to connect with this week's amazing guest? https://linktr.ee/JaneyLaney Ready to learn more about our sponsor? https://www.daigonesports.com/ Learn more with Jeff and Tricia this year: https://www.shiftingschools.com/

In this Off The Cuff episode, Jeff Utecht and Tricia dive into the exciting launch of https://camp.shiftingschools.com and their groundbreaking course on Leadership in AI. Discover how AI is shaping the future of education and why school leaders should be at the forefront of this technological revolution. Key Points: Introduction to https://camp.shiftingschools.com A new platform for educators and leaders to collaborate and share resources. Features and benefits of being a part of this community. Leadership in AI Course Importance of understanding AI in today's educational landscape. What educators can expect to learn and implement. The role of AI in Education How AI can aid in personalized learning. Ethical considerations in using AI in the classroom. Why School Leaders Should Care The influence of AI on decision-making processes. Preparing the next generation for an AI-driven world. Resources: https://camp.shiftingschools.com Leadership in AI Course

How do we help students learn and play simultaneously? This week's guest explains how esports links to so many components of academic life. Curious about ways to leverage your existing curriculum, STEM and STEAM programs with esports? You need to learn more from our guest. In recent years, esports has transitioned from mere entertainment to a thriving ecosystem that offers much more than thrilling competitions. We sit down with an expert to unravel how esports acts as a dynamic pathway for nurturing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) talents. Ready to learn more about our guest?   Gerald Solomon is the Executive Director of NASEF.   Curious to learn more about NASEF? Mission NASEF is on a mission to provide opportunities for all students to use esports as a platform to develop STEAM-based skills and social emotional attributes such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities needed to thrive in work and in life.   Vision To ensure that all students possess the knowledg

Hello, Shifting Schools community! Jeff Utecht here, as we wrap up our exciting journey into eSports Tricia and I wanted to share what we have coming up next for you in September. As we start the new school year, we're diving in with a brand new mini-series focused on Social Emotional Learning, or SEL, a topic that we know is front and center in the minds of educators as we start another school year. And we're not doing it alone. I'm thrilled to announce our guest list for this enlightening mini-series, a line-up of voices that will guide us through this landscape: You’ll hear from Jessica Lahey, New York Times Bestselling Author Charles Barrett, Author of 'Social Justice in Schools Dr. Katie Novak, an Internationally renowned expert and author Swapna Krishna, Known from Wired and PBS And that’s just the start…… These thought leaders will share their insights, strategies, and stories, helping us understand how to connect with our students on a deeper, more compassionate level. Join us as we uncover the keys t

Unravel the complexities of video game ethics as we embark on a dialogue with Dr. Leon Xiao, a distinguished expert at the crossroads of gaming and law. In this episode, we probe into the innovative ways gaming and law intersect, and how they shape the experience of game play. This episode helps us explore more pathways available in the gaming industry and asks us to think more creatively about how differing passions might intersect. Ready to learn more about our guest? Leon is a PhD Fellow at the IT University of Copenhagen. He also holds visiting appointments at Stanford Law School and the University of York’s Computer Science Department. Leon researches video game law, particularly the regulation of loot boxes, a quasi-gambling monetisation mechanic in video games. He uses empirical legal research methods and is passionate about open science. Connect with our amazing guest online: https://twitter.com/LeonXiaoY https://sites.google.com/view/leon-xiao/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-xiao/ Thanks to our ama

In this episode, we have the honor of sitting down with Joanie Kraut, the CEO of Women in Games International (WIGI), a leading organization that empowers women and underrepresented individuals in the gaming and eSports industry. Joanie Kraut has a unique perspective on the role eSports can play in communities and is dedicated to creating more future pathways for young enthusiasts interested in pursuing a career in the eSports realm. Joanie Kraut shares her inspiring journey into the world of eSports and how her passion for gaming led her to a leadership role at Women in Games International. She discusses the organization's mission to foster diversity and inclusivity in the gaming world and explains how they are actively creating opportunities for aspiring individuals to enter the eSports industry. Joanie Kraut sheds light on the various programs, initiatives, and resources offered by Women in Games International that are shaping the future careers of young talents in eSports. As the keynote speaker at The N

In this episode, we dive into the intersection of education technology and literacy with Dr. Miles Harvey. We explore the innovative teaching strategy of using video games as a powerful tool to enhance literacy skills and engage students in reading. Discover how this approach can transform K-12 education and foster a love for learning.   Meet this week's special guest:   ➡️ Dr. Miles Harvey is a scholar gamer, middle years esports coach, streamer, and teacher educator from the University of New Mexico researching media literacy and digital game-based learning. He is a 7-12 Language Arts and Media Literacy educator in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Miles’ research interests focus on how students make sense of their learning through multimodal experiences afforded by mixed reality, video games, and research-based instructional strategies. He coaches New Mexico’s first-ever middle school esports team and competed in the North America’s first international middle school esports competition against Winnipeg, Manitoba. M

On this episode Dr. Rachel Kowert busts myths about gaming. If you are skeptical about what games can offer us, give this conversation some time. Meet this week's special guest: ➡️ Rachel Kowert, Ph.D is a research psychologist and the Research Director of Take This. She is a world-renowned researcher on the uses and effects of digital games, including their impact on physical, social, and psychological well-being. In her current work, she serves as one of the primary investigators on the first grant-funded project from the Department of Homeland Security about games and extremism. She has spoken about her work to thousands of people across the globe, including the United States Congress, United Nations, and Department of Homeland Security. An award-winning author, she has published a variety of books and scientific articles relating to the psychology of games and, more recently, the relationship between games and mental health specifically. She also serves as the editor of the Routledge Debates in Media Stud

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, ac

Our summer-long series on esports continues with a great conversation about aligning your curriculum with esports and leveraging esports as a way to build and nurture your school community. Meet this week's special guest: ➡️ Mike Dahle is a Business Teacher at Elkhorn Area HS and President of the Wisconsin HS Esports Association.  He was a second-year teacher when he learned how far PC gaming had come since his younger gaming days when a student gave a presentation on the League of Legends World Championship. Ever since that presentation, his interest in esports has grown exponentially. He started one of the first state associations that has since grown to 125+ schools around the state, serves as a Board Member for the Milwaukee Esports Alliance, serves as a Board Member for the Interstate Scholastic Esports Alliance, and is constantly trying to push esports to the next level in the state of Wisconsin.  

On this episode of the podcast Jeff and Tricia speak with Allie Cornejo who is a High School Librarian/Lead Librarian in Harlingen, TX. She is chair of the TLA Public Relations and Marketing Committee, as well as chair for TASL's Legislative and Advocacy Committee, and co-hosts the Libraries Transform Texas Podcast. She is an enthusiast of YA lIt and graphic novels, and can often be found reading them late into the night with her booklight. Ready to connect with this week's guest? Twitter - @allie_cornejo, Instagram & Facebook - @alliethelibrarian More about Libraries Transform Texas: https://txla.org/tools-resources/libraries-transform-texas/ Books recommended on this episode Miss Quinces: A Graphic Novel The Weight of Blood Indivisible BookTubers Recommended Hailey in Bookland Jesse The Reader Learn more about Shifting Schools www.shiftingschools.com

Why do book groups need scaffolding? How can we make the facilitation of book clubs just a tiny teeny bit easier? That's what we discuss in this special episode. To get the free guide explored in our conversation: https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/book-group-protocol/ Learn more about our AI offerings: https://www.shiftingschools.com/learn Follow us online and let us know what you are reading this summer On Twitter On IG On TikTok

On this episode, we talk with Zackary Grady about their award-nominated production Gay Pride and Less Prejudice. Learn all about that show: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26518740/ Learn more about Zackary: https://www.thackarybinx.com/about Check out the books he recommended: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/40779647 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60141378-nikhil-out-loud Take 25 dollars off the Media Literacy and Inclusion Shifting Schools Course: Use promo code 'BABA25' at checkout: https://www.shiftingschools.com/store-2/p/media-literacy-and-inclusion

On the podcast today is Angeline Aow, one author of the book Becoming A Totally Inclusive School.  This conversation helps us think about what we mean when we use the term 'inclusive.' Would you like a discount on that book? Check out this special flyer. Learn more about the special guest by exploring her website and services. As mentioned in our conversation: The Seven Is of Advocacy: What It Means To Be Intrepid Our 3-Month Generative AI Cohort

In this episode, we discuss our latest free on-pager to help you reimagine your relationship with social media this summer. Inside that one-pager, we have our B.A.L.A.N.C.E. framework: B - Boundaries: What is ONE new boundary you might set for your use of social media? A - Assign an Intention: Know what you are going online for L - Limit Notifications: Can you try to decrease the number of apps and notifications you receive?  A - Arrange and rearrange: Move apps around on your phone and notice how it influences use. N - Notice your emotions:  How do you feel before, during, and after using an app? C - Consider experiments: Might you make one meal a day a tech-free time? E - Emphasize curiosity: how might you encourage more conversations? Ready to get the free one-pager? https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/summer-social-shifts/ Ready to check out the guide with more guidance on sparking conversations about our relationship with social media? https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/exploring-social-media/  Learn more a