SOS Podcast

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

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

This week's conversation challenges the myth that play is only for young children and emphasizes its value for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and adults. Sandra Chow is here and she highlights the role of play in professional development and collaboration, sharing examples from her own experiences. She emphasizes the need for accessible play spaces and suggests incorporating play into different environments, such as classrooms and libraries.  Sandra Chow is the Director of Digital and Innovative Learning at Keystone Academy in Beijing. She is dedicated to preparing the next generation for their future. With over 20 years of experience as an educator in Canada and internationally, she strives to prepare students and train educators to be instructional creators in a global community.  She is an ISTE Certified Educator, Apple Distinguished Educator and Professional Learning Specialist, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, and Google Certified Coach, Innovator, and Trainer, as well as a Global Competence and

Liz Joy Moore discusses the power of play and how it can benefit both children and adults. She emphasizes that play is for everyone and that it is not impractical, even for adults. Liz believes that play is essential for connection, communication, and learning, and that it can be used to teach strategies for mental health and trauma. She suggests that professional development should incorporate play and that educators and parents should be role models for children by embracing playfulness. Liz also encourages individuals to find their own playful activities based on their curiosity.  Ready to connect with Liz? https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizjoymoore/ Liz is a trauma-informed, experiential education and 'play' advocate. Her mindful leadership and facilitation exude an air of joy that brings a fresh perspective to how leaders and teams can best work with each other and serve our developing youth. With a background in Anthropology and cultural Geography, training in coaching, MBCT, yoga and mindfulness, and love

Our summer-long 'Power of Play' series starts now with special guest Allie Ticktin. Allie's mission is to empower children and their families through sensory play so that they can thrive through childhood and beyond. Allie is the author of the book, Play to Progress, where she provides parents with an overview of all 8 (yes, 8) senses and gives parents ways to enhance those senses at home. Allie uses the science of child development and the joy of play to boost childrens' confidence and enhance development within all areas of their life, from social and emotional to physical and academic. Allie believes that the best way to support children is by arming their parents, from inception, with the knowledge and skills necessary to encourage their child's development for success through childhood and beyond. Allie began her work in pediatric development at the University of Michigan, where she earned her B.S. in Movement Science, and continued her studies at USC, where she received her M.A. and Clinical Doctorate

Tricia and Jeff are so excited about the soon to start 'Power of Play' summer pod series, so they thought they would bring listeners a special free resource to pair with it. Would you like to be more intentional with play this summer? Grab our free template and get started today: https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/power-of-play/ Tune in Monday for the first episode in our Power of Play series. Reach out to Tricia and Jeff to share your thoughts on any of our resources:  info (at) shiftingschools (dot) (com)    

In this conversation, Dr. Kenny Rodrequez, a superintendent from Grandview, Missouri, discusses the use of AI, specifically our show sponsor Lebra, from a leadership perspective. He shares insights on leveraging AI to build relationships, improve communication, and streamline administrative tasks within the school district. Kenny emphasizes the importance of personal connections and the positive impact of using AI to enhance community engagement and support staff members. The conversation highlights the practical applications of AI in education and the potential for creating a more efficient and connected school environment. Ready to learn more about our guest? Dr. Kenny Rodrequez became Superintendent of the Grandview C-4 School District in July 2016. Before serving as Superintendent, Dr. Rodrequez served for two years as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in the Grandview C-4 School District. Dr. Rodrequez has served in several capacities throughout his career. He was a music educato

Tricia and Jeff discuss the final week of their May Micro Menu Prompt Challenge, focusing on AI and executive function. They highlight the importance of executive function skills in enacting learning and provide three mega prompts to support the development of these skills. Tricia shares her experience using generative AI for gardening and landscaping, while Jeff explores the use of AI for project management. They also announce their upcoming summer mini-series on the power of play.     Takeaways Executive function skills are crucial for organizing and enacting learning. Generative AI can be used for gardening and landscaping, providing information on plant identification and growth predictions. AI can support project management by generating frameworks and motivational phrases. The May Micro Menu Prompt Challenge offers a variety of prompts to explore different AI applications. The upcoming summer mini-series will focus on the power of play and its impact on learning and well-being. Ready to ge

Jeff Utecht and Tricia discuss the importance of AI literacy and introduce their AI literacy course. They also talk about the recent updates from OpenAI and Google in the field of AI. They highlight the significance of AI in social-emotional learning. They also explore the power of play and share prompts for creating interactive stories using AI. They emphasize the importance of involving parents in AI conversations and providing them with prompts to engage their children in learning over the summer. Ready to get the free guide they discuss today? https://shiftingschools.lpages.co/micro-menu-part-3-and-4/ Explore our new course Foundational AI Literacy https://www.shiftingschools.com/store-2/p/ai-foundation Huge thanks to our amazing sponsor Lebra! https://www.lebrahq.com/ Take $25 off with special promo code 'SSPOD25' Tell us more about your thoughts on our guide: info@shiftingschools.com What are some of the big ideas inside this conversation? AI literacy is important for educators and students to navigate

Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman discuss the second menu for the May Micro Menu Challenge. They provide prompts and resources to help educators experiment with AI literacy. They also address common questions, such as how to keep up with AI developments and whether to upgrade to the paid version of ChatGPT. They emphasize the importance of community-based learning and the need to prioritize privacy when using AI tools. In this conversation, Jeff and Tricia discuss the limitations of generative AI and the importance of understanding its capabilities. They emphasize the need for educators to have an organizing principle, such as the Drive framework, to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of AI. They also explore the power of prompt crafting and provide a feedback prompt template for effective feedback in the classroom. They encourage educators to experiment with different prompts and share their experiences with their colleagues. The conversation concludes with a reminder to save $25 on Shifting Schools' asyn

Jeff and Tricia introduce their new micro menu for the month of May, which focuses on experimenting with generative AI in different contexts. They emphasize the importance of actually interacting with AI tools and the power of collaborative conversations about the output. They also mention their sponsor, Lebra, and answer questions about handling change and choosing the right generative AI tool. In this conversation, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman discuss the importance of getting familiar with and using generative AI tools, specifically ChatGPT. This episode also will introduce the Drive Framework, which stands for dialogue, re-imagine, interdependence, verify, and executive functioning. The framework provides a roadmap for educators to navigate AI literacy and leverage technology for deeper learning. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the Building Community prompt in the Mega Menu, highlighting the power of word choice and the importance of customization and critical thinking when using genera

This week Tricia interviews two of her alltime fav librarians about the role of librarians in cultivating AI literacy. Karina and Allie discuss the responsibility of librarians in fostering AI literacy, curating resources, and teaching AI ethics. They also explore the impact of social media algorithms on readers' preferences and the importance of providing guidance in book recommendations. The librarians share their favorite AI tools, such as Magic School, Diffit, and Curipod, and emphasize the need for librarians to experiment and find tools that work best for them. They also discuss the influence of TikTok and Bookstagram in promoting reading and recommend books they are excited to read. Ready to learn more about our amazing guests this week? https://www.tiktok.com/@alliethelibrarian https://www.instagram.com/alliethelibrarian/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/cuethelibrarian/ https://cuethelibrarian.weebly.com/about.html Chapters 06:22 Curating Resources and Teaching AI Ethics 11:13 The Impact of Social