The International Schools Podcast

Dan Taylor on social media:

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Sunday Jun 09, 2024

131 - Kathleen, Eric and Michael - Online learning where now?

Sunday Jun 09, 2024

Join Kathleen, Eric, and Michael for a conversation, as they share their extensive experience in supporting international schools, leaders, and educators, with a special focus on online learning. Together they share their insights into the diverse lessons learned from online and blended learning experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Why some schools have embraced change in the post-pandemic era, while others have maintained their pre-pandemic practices. A look into the innovative approaches and developments that have emerged in the realm of online education since. Exploring the essential systems, mindsets, and structures that are crucial for transformative online learning. How might educators, leaders, and international schools leverage these opportunities to enhance their learning communities.

About Eric Hudson

Eric is a facilitator and strategic advisor who supports schools in making sense of what’s changing in education. He specializes in learner-centered assessment, human-centered leadership, and strategic program design. Most recently, Eric spent a decade at Global Online Academy (GOA), first as an instructional coach and ultimately as Chief Program Officer, working with schools around the world to rethink where, when, and how learning happens. Prior to GOA, he was a teacher at the middle school, high school, and college levels. The classroom is where he developed his passion for designing learning experiences. Eric serves on the board of the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS). His Substack newsletter “Learning on Purpose” has been featured in The Marshall Memo and The Educator’s Notebook. He has a M.A. from University of California, Berkeley, and a B.A. from Cornell University.

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

About Kathleen Ralf

Kathleen Ralf is the Blended and Online Learning Coordinator at Frankfurt International School as well as teaches Genocide & Human Rights for Global Online Academy. She is also a member of the ELMLE Steering committee which organizes a conference each year that supports teaching and learning for European Middle School educators.

As the pandemic loomed, her skills and experience in designing interactive blended and online courses were vital in coaching teachers to help their students feel more empowered and in control of their learning in online spaces.

She has been working in International Education for 15 years, and worked as a public school teacher for 14 in Washington state. She has a Masters in Educational Technology from Walden University.

LinkedIn: Kathleen Ralf

About Michael Nachbar

Michael Nachbar, Executive Director of GOA, leads a global network of schools and educators aiming to reshape learning. His work focuses on bridging foundational principles of teaching and learning with emerging technologies and innovative pedagogy.

Michael is a regular speaker at national and international conferences, and presents on topics such as non-profit leadership and trends in educational innovation.

In addition to his responsibilities at GOA, Michael serves on several educational boards, including those of Lakeside School and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). He was a founding board member of the Mastery Transcript Consortium and has served as a trustee for Summer Search, the Independent School Association Network (ISAnet) and JUMP! Foundation.

He holds a B.A. in both English and Psychology from Indiana University, and earned a M.A. in Education Leadership through the Klingenstein Center at Columbia University’s Teachers College. Michael began his teaching career as a Teach For America corps member.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-nachbar/

Resources

Learning on Purpose blog: erichudson.substack.com
Any of GOA’s Teacher professional development offerings.
Classroom Management in the Digital Age
World Economic Forum 6 Work & Workplace Trends to Watch
https://globalonlineacademy.org/insights

John Mikton on Social Media

Dan Taylor on social media:

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

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Saturday May 25, 2024

130 - A conversation with John Nash, Director, Laboratory on Design Thinking

Saturday May 25, 2024

Join us for a conversation with John Nash, Associate Professor, Director, Laboratory on Design Thinking and speaker on educational innovation and leadership. In this discussion, John shares his research from the University of Kentucky, focusing on the challenges and opportunities schools face in balancing structured curriculums with the need for adaptability in education. We explore how schools are addressing skill gaps among educators amidst rapid advancements in AI and how these changes intersect with traditional teaching methods. We also discuss the potential impact of emerging technologies, like deep fakes, on media literacy instruction and how schools can develop strategies to foster independent thinking and effectively leverage generative AI.

About John Nash

John Nash was born and raised in Silicon Valley and has 30 years of experience in leadership development, strategy design, and social science research. In his work he champions the creation of learner-centric schools via design thinking as the faculty director of the Laboratory on Design Thinking at the University of Kentucky.

He also serves as a reliable source for educators and policy makers on generative AI, from the federal government to universities and P-12 schools. He is on the generative AI advisory boards at the University of Kentucky and the MidPacific Institute in Honolulu. He’s presented on AI for the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents, the U.S. State Department, and offices in Kentucky State government, as well as appeared on National Public Radio affiliates.

John's passion lies in helping educators in schools, colleges, and universities use human centered design to create programs and services that delight their students, teachers, and community. He is the author of the book "Design Thinking in Schools: A Leader’s Guide to Collaborating for Improvement" (Harvard Education Press).

John has held faculty positions at Iowa State University and the University of Texas at El Paso and was a social research scientist at Stanford University where he directed interdisciplinary and international teams of research scientists examining the application of innovative technologies on learning.

John Nash on Social Media

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

X: https://twitter.com/jnash

Resources

Book: Design Thinking in Schools: A Leaders’ Guide to Collaborating for Improvement, published by Harvard Education Press, is a practical guide for educators, particularly school leaders, on implementing design thinking principles to foster student-centered learning and improve school systems.

Podcast: John Nash and Jason Johnston are the co-hosts of “Online Learning in the Second Half,” a podcast that explores various topics related to online education, such as pedagogy, psychology, technology, design, and research. They interview experts and practitioners and researchers to shares insights and best practices that inspire and inform listeners who are interested in improving online teaching and learning. You can listen to the podcast at this link.

dLab: http://dLab.uky.edu

I quoted Marissa Mayer in the podcast (Leaders should have “a healthy disregard for the impossible.”). Here is the reference to the article from which that quote was drawn:

Mayer, M. A. (2006). Creativity Loves Constraints. BusinessWeek, 3971, 102.

This article may be of interest:

Why Constraints Are Good for Innovation, Harvard Business Review (may have paywall)

Listeners may try out the Generative AI Guidelines Canvas here.

Folks may learn about the School Leadership AI Bootcamp here.

Generative AI chatbots a new user may like to try:

https://pi.ai

http://perplexity.ai

Dr. Brandeis Marshal: What’s Un AI-able.

Dr. Michelle Miller: Teaching from the Same Side

John Mikton on Social Media

Dan Taylor on social media:

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

Sunday May 12, 2024

129 - Dale Plotzki on Bitcoin and living in Korea and Peru

Sunday May 12, 2024

Join us for a conversation with Dale Plotzki exploring the case for why international educators should understand Bitcoin and its place in financial security. Dale and Dan share a breakdown of what this is, how it works, what are its benefits for internationally mobile professionals as well as their own reflections from their personal experience. We also learn from Dale experiences working in Peru and South Korea as an international school educator focused on supporting his community with technology

About Dale Plotzki

Dale Plotzki is on a mission to revolutionize the way we teach and learn. He is currently serving as the Learning and Innovation Coordinator at the International School of Busan in South Korea. Dale's passion for technology goes beyond mere gadgetry; he's driven by the desire to make education more efficient, meaningful, and captivating. Whether it's using emergent technology to explore new pathways in schools,, data visualization to make complex systems digestible, gamification to make learning fun, or coaching to help teachers hone their skills, Dale is all about enhancing the learning experience. When he's not busy transforming education, you'll find him spending time with his family, riding the waves on his surfboard, whipping up culinary masterpieces, or promoting financial sovereignty and security through Bitcoin.

Dale Plotzki on Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dale_rickardo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-plotzki/

Resources

John Mikton on Social Media

Dan Taylor on social media:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/acrossoceans

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

Sunday Apr 28, 2024

128 - Julia Walker and Brogen Lund on being Third Culture Kids

Sunday Apr 28, 2024

Join us for a conversation with Julia Walker, host of the Across Oceans podcast, and guest Brogan Lund. Julia, a child of international school educators, and Brogan, a Third Culture Kid (TCK) and international school graduate, share what it means to be TCKs, as young adults and professionals. Together they share how growing up in various countries and attending different international schools has shaped their identities and perspectives. They share their stories and insights about growing up overseas, returning to their passport countries, and the unique experiences and challenges that come with being a TCK.

About Julia Walker

Julia grew up attending the international schools her parents worked at. As a family, they lived in Canada, Egypt and Singapore before she returned to Canada to study. Now, she is finishing her masters degree in Switzerland. In 2022, she started her own podcast, Across Oceans, discussing all things related to being a Third Culture Kid (TCK) and a child of international school educators.

Across Oceans Podcast Instagram:@acrossoceanspodcast

acrossoceanspodcast@gmail.com

About Brogen Lund

Brogan was born in Dallas, Texas to Canadian parents. His family moved to Singapore, then Atlanta, before finally settling in Geneva where he attended the International School and eventually became a Swiss citizen.

After studying in Montreal, he has returned to his adopted home in Switzerland where he now works in IT.

Resources

Across Oceans Podcast

Across Oceans is a podcast where we discuss all things related to Third Culture Kids (TCKs), growing up overseas, returning to passport countries, unique travel stories and more. You will hear a unique TCK perspective of someone who is now an adult, but who grew up moving around the globe because of their international school teacher parents. We’ll discuss the benefits, the challenges and everything in between with growing up as a global nomad.

Books:

Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds by Ruth Van Reken and David Pollock

https://www.amazon.com/Third-Culture-Kids-Growing-Revised/dp/1857885252

Incredible Lives and the Courage to Live Them: Thoughts of a Third Culture Kid Therapist by Rachel Cason

https://www.explorelifestory.com/book/

Arrivals, Departures, and the Adventures In Between by Chris O’Shaughnessy

https://www.chris-o.com/chriso/index.html

Ted Talk: Don’t ask me where I’m from, ask where I’m a local

https://www.ted.com/talks/taiye_selasi_don_t_ask_where_i_m_from_ask_where_i_m_a_local?language=en

John Mikton on Social Media

Dan Taylor on social media: