The International Schools Podcast
 

The International Schools Podcast

https://www.theinternationalschoolspodcast.com/feed.xml

Hosted by John Mikton and Dan Taylor. Every two weeks we discuss all aspects of technology and life in International Schools.

Episodes

137 - Media Mentor Month with Keri-Lee, Sandra, and Alex

Saturday Aug 31, 2024

Saturday Aug 31, 2024

A conversation  with Keri-Lee creator of the Media Mentor Month and Sandra and Alex co-collaborators share about  #mediamentormonth which  is a global education initiative designed to help parents/teachers develop a supportive relationship with their children/students around digital technologies and media. Together they share their approach, collaboration, designs, why this initiative and the challenges and opportunities educators and families are juggling with students /children's media consumption.  

About Keri-Lee Beasley

25 years in education across New Zealand, the UK, Indonesia, Singapore, Switzerland and now Beijing has fueled Keri-Lee’s passion for integrating tech for learning. Currently, she is the HS Learning and Tech Coach at the Western Academy of Beijing. Off-duty, she’s into culinary adventures, fiction, travel, and gardening. As a Mum of teens, she started #MediaMentorMonth to help families navigate tech positively.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/klbeasley 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/klbeasley/ 

About Sandra Chow

Sandra Chow has taught in public and international schools in Toronto, Taiwan, and Beijing. She is currently the Director of Digital & Innovative Learning at Keystone Academy, Beijing. She brings over 20 years of global education experience. With a diverse professional background as a professional accountant, educational consultant, and cross-cultural educator, she offers a unique perspective to her leadership role. She enjoys meaningful connections and community, and is passionate about empowering students and educators to thrive in a globally diverse society.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/watnunu 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-chow/ 

About Alex McMillan

Alex McMillan is a High School Tech Coach at Shanghai American School, Puxi, with over a decade of experience in education and a background in commercial photography/advertising. Co-author of “Designing for Understanding” and “Saigon Artbook”, Alex loves to integrate design and technology to enhance teaching and learning. His interests include digital music, Generative AI, photography, drones, and volcano hunting. Having lived in Asia for 17 years, Alex is now expanding his role as an educational consultant, helping schools develop guidance around Generative AI. He frequently speaks at conferences like 21st Century Learning HK, ISTE, and Vietnam Tech Conference.

Twitter: https://x.com/MrAlexEdTech  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-mcmillan-58b576154/ 

Resources

https://klbeasley.wordpress.com/ 

Media Mentor Month
https://klbeasley.wordpress.com/2024/02/29/media-mentor-month-24/ 

Common Sense Media: Age-Based Media Reviews for Families | Common Sense Media

What Kind of Digital Parent Are You? | SafeSpace

Parents & carers | Childnet

Welcome to MediaSmarts | MediaSmarts

https://alexmcmillan.co/ 

https://genaiforschools.com/ 

https://sites.google.com/view/future-ready-collaborative/ 

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

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136 - Central Eastern European Tech Directors Roundtable

Saturday Aug 17, 2024

Saturday Aug 17, 2024

A conversation in the heart of Europe, where we explore with 4  Directors of IT and international educators, the unique opportunities and challenges of living and working in international schools in Warsaw, Poland; Vienna, Austria; Prague, Czech Republic, Budapest, and Hungary. Our guests share their experiences of adapting to different cities and regions, being IT Directors in these regions, and how they have navigated the culture of both school and country as international educators.

About Geoffrey Derry

Not a computer geek who teaches, a teacher who computer geeks.

A passionate educator who loves disrupting education through the use of Information Technology. Especially when it makes life simpler and student learning better. Always asking the big question! WHY? 

I have been an Elementary teacher, a MYP Design, Mathematics, and Science teacher, a deputy Principal, and a Principal over a career spanning 25 years. The last twelve have been in international schools in China, Malaysia, and Poland. During this career, I have had an IT coaching / coordinating role for the last 18 years. I am currently the Director of Technology at the American School of Warsaw.

An Apple distinguished educator (2011), Google Certified Innovator, and a Google Certified Trainer. Most importantly a doting father to two small children.

Twitter: @gderry 
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/geoffderry

About Bryan Wiedeman

I’m an international educator originally from Ontario, Canada. My family and I have been overseas for almost 20 years now and have lived and worked in South Korea, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Austria. I come from an education background with an Ed Degree and a Masters in Educational Technology

Never been a big social media user or consumer. However, you can connect with me on LinkedIn at - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-wiedeman-77990428/ 

About Brian Farrell

Brian has a diverse international education background, having worked previously in schools in Canada, Japan, Korea, and the United Arab Emirates as a technology leader, librarian, and classroom teacher. Currently, he serves as Director of Technology and Innovation at the American International School of Budapest, where he leads all operational and educational technology programs. Brian completed masters degrees at the University of British Columbia and Imperial College London, and has several leading edtech, data privacy, and project management certifications. While generally very much engaged with technology, Brian does still enjoy the analog pursuits of photography, exploring the outdoors with his family, and reading books made out of dead trees.

LinkedIn
Twitter

About Sheldon Bradshaw

Sheldon has spent the last 25 years as an international educator, having left Canada in the late-90’s! He’s worked in schools in China, Japan, Kuwait, Indonesia, and Czech Republic as a Technology Coach, Homeroom, Math, and Science Teacher. Sheldon is currently the Director of Educational Technology at the International School of Prague, leading both technical and educational teams. 

LinkedIn
Twitter

Resources

Part way through - liking them so far!

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

Read more

135 - A Conversation with Fred Mednick, Founder of Teachers Without Borders

Sunday Aug 04, 2024

Sunday Aug 04, 2024

Join us for a conversation with Fred Mednick, founder of the Teachers without Border (TWB) organisation. We'll explore TWB's contributions to education and professional development. Fred will share stories and reflections from his new book, In The Small Places about teachers as central protagonists in global change. We'll also explore themes of education for girls, education in emergencies, peace education, and human rights education.

About Fred Mednick

A former principal in Los Angeles and Seattle, Dr. Fred Mednick founded Teachers Without Borders (TWB) in 2000 to connect teachers to information and each other to close the education divide. All initiatives are conceived and led by teachers in developing countries. Members represent 171 countries. 

Teachers Without Borders has been awarded the Champion of African Education Award, the Luxembourg Peace Prize, and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for Peace. 

Mednick has taught at Johns Hopkins University and is Professor Emeritus at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. While a principal, he wrote:  Rebel Without a Car:  Surviving and Appreciating Your Child’s Teen Years. His new book we’re highlighting tonight, In the Small Places: Stories of Teacher Changemakers and the Power of Human Agency, is a testament to teachers as central protagonists in the global change-making space. Mednick describes local heroes tackling some of the world’s most intractable challenges— education in emergencies, peace and human rights education, and girls’ education.

Fred Mednick on Social Media

Twitter/X:  https://x.com/teachersnetwork 
LinkedIn: ​​https://www.linkedin.com/company/twbglobal/   
Instagram: https://instagram.com/twbglobal/  

Resources

There is a long list of resources we consult and offer. Our website focuses on resources developed around our themes.

Check out: https://teacherswithoutborders.org/learnmore.  This will lead you to our various themes. 

We are encouraging participation and want to develop a new section: Action Paths where you can get involved.

The book, “In the Small Places:  Stories of Teacher Changemakers and the Power of Human Agency” has resources and a discussion guide.

JOIN Teachers Without Borders for free on our Facebook page: https://facebook.com/teacherswithoutborders. 

Contact Fred Mednick: 
+1-206-356-4731
fred@twb.org
info@twb.org 

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

Read more

134 - Jeff Wiener: CERN Science education, gender and connections

Saturday Jul 20, 2024

Saturday Jul 20, 2024

Join us for a conversation with Jeff from the CERN Teacher Training Program. We explore the evolving landscape of science education. We'll discuss the interplay between innovative teaching methodologies and the integration of Artificial Intelligence, examining both the challenges and opportunities AI presents in enhancing student engagement and addressing the critical issue of the gender gap in STEM fields. Learn how CERN's teacher and student programs are supporting schools worldwide, shaping a future where education seamlessly integrates with innovation. CERN, the world's largest particle physics laboratory, welcomes over 10,000 scientists from more than 100 countries each year to utilize its facilities, which boast some of the most sophisticated and complex scientific instruments ever developed.

About Jeff Wiener 

Jeff Wiener is a staff scientist at CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, managing all national and international teacher programmes that are flagship education programmes of CERN’s International Relations Sector.

Jeff received his PhD in physics from the University of Vienna and holds an Executive Master in International Relations degree from the Geneva School of Diplomacy. He is currently pursuing an Executive Certificate in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. 

In the past, Jeff worked as a high-school physics, philosophy, and psychology teacher in Vienna, Austria and he frequently volunteered at an orphanage in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Jeff Wiener on Social Media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjeffwiener
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrJeffWiener  

Resources

CERN Teacher Programmes: https://teachers.cern
CERN Physics Education Research: https://cern.ch/PER
CERN Educational Resources: https://cern.ch/educational-resources 
International Masterclasses: https://physicsmasterclasses.org

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

Read more

133 - CIS Taskforce on Child Protection 10th year anniversary

Saturday Jul 06, 2024

Saturday Jul 06, 2024

Join us for a conversation with members of The International Taskforce on Child Protection (ITFCP). 

As the taskforce celebrates its 10th anniversary, we take this opportunity to hear the story behind its founding and its mission to protect children across the international schools community and beyond. 

 

We'll explore how international schools have and continue to adopt and adapt safeguarding standards, overcoming cultural and operational challenges to ensure a safe learning environment for all students. Our guests and members of the taskforce share their own learnings, opportunities, and challenges of collaborating across multiple international schools and organizations. We will also learn about the  resources, services and professional development the taskforce provides to international school leaders and educators.

 

About Jane Larson

 

Jane Larsson has led the Council of International Schools (CIS) as Executive Director since her appointment in 2010. Over the past 25 years, Jane has led the international education community with a focus on the development of collaborative partnerships to enable and support educational exchange and the development of international and intercultural perspective. 

 

Prior to her appointment at CIS, Jane was Direc­tor of International Partnerships with the Visiting International Faculty Program (VIF) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where she led outreach to promote international educational exchange, establishing relationships with minis­tries of education, universities, internation­al schools and educational associations. She began her career in international education as the Director of Educational Staffing and Publications for International Schools Services (ISS) providing recruitment services and resources to international schools. 

 

Jane lends her voice to key topics shaping the future of international education, those which enable school and university communities to provide socially responsible leadership as they continually develop their programs. She currently serves as Chair of the International Taskforce on Child Protection and on the Board of Directors of the International Commission Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA).

 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/janelarssoncis/

 

About Jane Foster-Sarre

 

Director, Safeguarding Works Ltd


Area of expertise provided as part of the CIS Affiliated Consultant Network:

  • Student Wellbeing: Protection, Safety, & Security including but not limited to
  • School safeguarding audits
  • Response to allegations of abuse and low level concerns
  • Safe recruitment and safe working practice
  • Policy development and review
  • Investigations and risk assessments

 

Jane is an independent safeguarding consultant providing expert advice on safeguarding and child protection. She specialises in promoting safe organisational culture, safeguarding in the workplace, and managing allegations and low level concerns against adults working with children.


Jane is a qualified teacher, who has also worked in schools as the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Safeguarding Governor across ages 4–18 years. She has also worked for statutory education and children’s services departments in the UK.

 

Following the exposure of the criminal actions of William Vahey who abused more than 50 children when employed at an international school based in the UK, Jane was part of the statutory case panel convened to review the case and lessons learned and worked closely with the school to restore confidence in the community and reinforce the safeguarding structure.

 

Jane is an accredited safer recruitment specialist and has contributed to IICSA - the UK Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual abuse. She is also a co-author of the International Protocol for Managing Allegations of Child Abuse by Educators and other Adults and the Guidance on Managing Low Level Concerns.

 

Jane is currently Co–Chair of the International Taskforce for Child Protection (ITFCP) Recruitment Reporting & Regulations Group.

 

Jane is an experienced auditor of safeguarding practice and has worked with international schools across the UK and Europe, Asia and Africa, both promoting best practice and responding to serious incidents where schools and boards need support.

 

Jane has extensive experience of designing and delivering safeguarding training including delivering the CIS Foundation Workshop on Safer Recruitment and supporting the Deep Dives.

As an independent advisor Jane has provided high-level safeguarding advice and training across the sectors including schools, universities, religious and sports organisations, charities, and private clients. 

 

Jane is also a specialist advisor to the safeguarding boards of a UK Premier League football club, a private equity company providing residential care for children, and a faith organisation and is a member of the National Safeguarding Panels for both the Football Association and Sports Resolutions which offers advice to a range of sports

In addition to her independent role Jane is also a consultant for Barnardos, a UK based Children’s Charity. Jane is a regular speaker at events and is a well-known figure to many private, public and third sector organisations working with children, including state, independent and international schools.

 

About Dr. Christine Brown

 

Dr. Christine Brown is an international consultant specializing in advising educators on Program Design for Teaching and Learning, Child Protection, Social Emotional Learning initiatives, World Language and ELL programing, working with challenging student placements and managing parent expectations. From 2013 to 2023, Brown served as one of six Regional Education Officers (REOs) in the Office of Overseas Schools, United States Department of State. She covered the Western European Region and for several years also the South America region. Brown also served the DOS as one of 5 initial co-founders of the International Task Force on Child Protection. 

 

As REO, she served on the Boards of ECIS, AAIE and AMISA. Prior to joining the Department of State in July 2013, she served as Deputy Director at the Carol Morgan School in the Dominican Republic. Brown served as an administrator in the Glastonbury, Connecticut Public Schools for 28 years, first as the Director of K-12 Foreign Languages and ELL, and for 8 years as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.

 

Brown has served as a president of state, regional and national language teacher organizations including the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages over her career. She chaired the American Language Standards Writing Task Force sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education as well as served as the consultant to the national Arabic and Korean language standards projects and as a consultant to the Startalk Language Project for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. 

 

She served as a board member of the National Defense Education Language Program. Brown chairs the AERO World Languages Standards writing project for DOS. She has testified before the United States Congress on behalf of language education, and initiated and co-chaired the Year of Languages Campaign in the United States. In February 2019, she was awarded the Keith Miller Innovation Award from the Association for the Advancement of International Educators for her work in Child Protection around the world. 

 

In March 2019 Brown received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award at Gwynedd Mercy University for her Doctoral Dissertation, The Effects of Early Foreign Language Study on English Reading Comprehension. In 2023, she received the NEASC Educator of the Year Award. In 2024, she received an AAIE Outstanding Educator Award and the ECIS Outstanding Educator of 2024 award.

 

About Keith Cincotta

 

Director of School Services andSenior Leadership Executive, International Schools Services

 

Keith has worked in the International Education sector for 25 years first as a School Counselor, later as a High School Principal and most recently as a Senior Leadership Executive and the Director of School Services at International Schools Services. As a school counselor in Allentown PA, Islamabad Pakistan and Dubai he worked with many survivors of abuse and was part of teams that responded to reports of abuse. 

 

At ISS Keith is the representative to the International Task Force on Child Protection, is responsible for safeguarding initatives across ISS’ managed schools and presents professional development and training sessions for educators.  Keith is a trained facilitator for Darkness to Light and has facilitated the program for school, church and community groups. Keith holds Master of Education degrees in both Counseling and Educational Leadership from Lehigh University.

 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-cincotta-578b1a17/

 

About Debbie Downes

 

In August 2022, Debbie Downes joined The International Centre of Missing and Exploited Children as the Director of Global School Initiatives. In this role, she develops and provides child protection training, support, and resources to schools around the world. She has been supporting ICMEC’s work as a regional trainer since July 2020. 

 

Debbie has worked in international education for 18 years, first as an elementary teacher, then as school principal, and then as Accreditation and Child Protection Lead for Quality Schools International. She developed and revised handbooks, policies, and resources to support child protection efforts at a group of 36 international schools. She also supported schools with on-site and virtual professional development. 

 

Debbie’s background in child protection includes an MSW from the University of California at Berkeley and several years of experience working in the court unit of Children and Family Services in Contra Costa County, California. Debbie’s overseas career began with 3 years as a health education volunteer with the Peace Corps in Kolda, Senegal. She has since lived with her husband, 2 children, and 2 rescue dogs in Thailand, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Slovenia, and her current location of Minsk, Belarus. 

 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-downes-educator/ 

 

Resources

 

 

John Mikton on Social Media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton

Web: beyonddigital.org

 

Dan Taylor on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 

Web: www.appsevents.com

 

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube


Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

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