The 21st Century Teacher

The intersection of arts, technology, inquiry in education: how to create meaningful learning experiences

Join us in this episode as we chat with Kevin Kaardal, an award-winning educator and Superintendent of SD23, who shares his perspectives on various educational topics. From discussing the impact of the Canadian Association of Schools Systems Administrators on provincial education to bridging the gap between traditional systems and the needs of 21st-century learners, Kevin provides valuable insights. He also emphasizes the importance of educational equity and shares practical strategies to level the playing field for all students. Additionally, Kevin sheds light on the National Nature Education Strategy, his district's involvement, and the future impact it may have on the national curriculum. Finally, we explore how district leaders can effectively support teachers in developing adaptive expertise and uncover one exciting development in the field of education that Kevin is particularly enthusiastic about. Tune in for inspiring ideas and educational perspectives from this esteemed guest.

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Claire Guy, an educational consultant and advocate for equity and inclusivity in schools. Claire's dedication to creating an environment where every student can thrive regardless of their background or identity is truly inspiring. We explore the crucial topic of SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) in education and discuss practical strategies that educators can implement to promote inclusivity and trans-inclusive policies in their classrooms and schools. Claire speaks about the challenges teachers face as educators in the 21st century to be adaptable, empathetic, and fully committed to the success of every student. We also discuss the importance of safety and being inclusive as a human right in an educational environment. Throughout the conversation, we examine the concerns around SOGI and safety, the challenges schools commonly face regarding sexual orientation and gender identity and how they can overcome them. Claire shares her insights into how teachers can become SOGI inclusive in and outside the classroom. She emphasizes the need for teachers and the community to use the correct pronouns and to examine the resources they are using to ensure that they are inclusive and representative. Join us for this inspiring conversation that offers a guiding light for educators' journey in promoting equity and inclusivity in their classrooms and beyond.

In this podcast episode, we dive into the world of education technology and innovation with special guest Jen Giffen. Known for her expertise in this field, Jen shares her extensive experience and discusses the profound impact of technology on education.Jen, a dynamic and passionate educator, has dedicated her career to transforming education through the integration of technology and innovative teaching methods. As a Teacher Librarian and Former Curriculum and Digital Literacy Consultant, she has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of technology in the classroom.Throughout the conversation, Jen highlights pivotal moments in her career where she saw technology revolutionize education. She shares key learnings from these experiences and explains how they have shaped her approach to edtech. Through examples like Edmodo, Google Workspace for Education, Flipgrid, and ChatGPT, she illustrates the incredible potential of technology to enhance and enrich the learning experience.Additionally, Jen emphasizes the importance of creativity and innovation in education and showcases some of the most inspiring and innovative uses of technology in the classroom. The conversation delves into topics such as AI and its impact on education, as well as the role of technology in supporting accessibility and breaking down stigmas surrounding it.As the landscape of edtech continues to evolve rapidly, Jen provides valuable insights on how educators can stay up to date with the latest trends and tools. She recommends connecting on social media, listening to podcasts, and following relevant hashtags during conferences. She also reveals her fondness for sketchnote, a technique that involves visual note-taking, as an effective strategy for absorbing and sharing knowledge.Join us for this engaging podcast episode as we explore the transformative power of edtech and gain valuable insights from Jen Giffen, a true advocate for innovation in education.

In this episode we delve into the exciting world of educational technology and artificial intelligence with a leading expert, Dr. Alec Couros. He is a prominent figure in the field of open education and digital citizenship, shares his insights and experiences from his remarkable 30-year career in education.Our guest, Dr. Alec Couros, holds a diverse background as a teacher, youth worker, administrator, IT coordinator, consultant, and professor. He currently serves as a professor of education and as the Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning at the University of Regina. With a reputation as an influential keynote speaker, Alec has spoken extensively on topics like digital citizenship, networked learning, social media in education, media literacy, and open education.As we sit down with Dr. Couros, we explore several pressing questions about the integration of AI and technology in education:What is Chat GPT and OpenAI, and how can teachers and students benefit from these technologies, particularly in areas like grading and assessment rubrics?Can AI-driven tools enhance lesson planning for educators without compromising the authentic teacher-student experience?How is AI influencing traditional education, and what role do teachers play in adapting to these changes?We also discuss the "Eliza effect" and the potential risks to children as AI becomes more prevalent in education. What safeguards exist, and how can educators balance academic integrity while using these technologies?Dr. Couros shares his thoughts on the development of critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and essential skills in students, as well as advice for teachers on fostering these attributes.Finally, we touch on the policies surrounding AI in education, taking a look at examples like the New York school district's ban on Chat GPT.Join us as we explore the ever-evolving landscape of AI in education, its potential benefits, and the essential considerations for educators, students, and policymakers. Are we on the path to a brighter, more innovative future for education? Tune in to find out!

🌍 Dive into the world of climate education and youth empowerment on today's podcast episode! Join us as we chat with Ellen, an Assistant Professor at Lakehead University - Orillia, specializing in Climate Change Education and Environmental Education.📚 Ellen's research delves deep into the policy and practice of climate change education, offering valuable insights into how we can teach climate literacy while empowering students to take action. Discover the challenges of tackling this vital yet intimidating subject.🔍 Delve into Ellen's research on youth climate anxiety, gaining valuable insights into the emotional challenges young people face in today's climate crisis. Discover how educators, policymakers, and resources like Live It Earth can help support and guide the next generation toward a sustainable future.Tune in for an enlightening conversation that will leave you inspired to take action and make a positive impact on our planet. Don't miss out on this podcast episode that's all about nurturing a new generation of climate-conscious citizens! 🌱🎙️ #ClimateEducation #YouthEmpowerment #EnvironmentalAwareness

This is a great episode for any teachers curious about how to integrate Live It Earth into the classroom. Blue highlights Live It Earth's dedication to providing valuable resources for teachers. The episode features Angela Stott, the district principal of pedagogy in Gold Trail School District 74, British Columbia. Angela discusses her extensive experience in education, emphasizing the importance of engaging students in deeper learning. The conversation delves into various topics, including the role of technology in education, the shift in pedagogy during the pandemic, and the benefits of Live It Earth's platform in promoting inclusivity, personalized learning, and interdisciplinary engagement. Angela shares personal stories of success from teachers and students using Live It Earth, demonstrating the platform's positive impact on both teaching and learning.Overall, the episode highlights the power of educational technology and its potential to enrich the classroom experience while fostering a global perspective among students. Angela's insights and experiences serve as valuable inspiration for educators looking to incorporate innovative tools like Live It Earth into their teaching practices. Subscribe to the podcast and explore the Live It Earth platform for more educational resources.

David Russell-Loewen, the Director of Education at Live It Earth shares his reflections from the Kaleidoscope of Inquiry Conference in Vancouver. David reflects on the conference and share some insights, while also reflecting on this season’s podcast. Dave is a certified teacher, curriculum designer and learning technology expert. With over a decade of experience in blended learning, David brings his passion for experiential and inquiry based learning, creative problem-solving and educational innovation to the Live It Team.Check out these recommended speakers from the Kaleidoscope Conference:Follow Trevor McKenzie on Twitter https://twitter.com/trev_mackenzieInquiry Mindset https://www.trevormackenzie.com/inquiry-mindsetFollow Misty Paterson on Twitter  https://twitter.com/PatersonMistyPop-up Studio https://pop-up-studio.ck.page/profileFollow Alice Jungclaus on Twitter https://twitter.com/AliceJungclaus

In this episode we are excited to have Katie Novak join the show. Katie Novak, EdD, is an internationally renowned education consultant, author, graduate instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, and a former assistant superintendent of schools in Massachusetts.In this episode we talk about UDL - that is Universal Design for Learning. How can we address the needs of everyone in the class? How can we empower students by teaching them in a way that optimizes the learning. We discuss how to engage everyone in a classroom and some strategies that work? How can we allow freedom and movement in a classroom to support how all the students learn? There are some great problem solving strategies offered and we also touch on addressing text base questions with UDL. Lots of good stuff here if you are interested in finding out more about UDL - and need that extra nudge to jump in an explore some new techniques in your classroom. For more information go to Katie's website: https://www.novakeducation.com/Recommended resource: https://www.novakeducation.com/hubfs/Resources/Would_You_Rather.pdf

Today I am talking with Leona Prince, an award winning teacher, who has recently been appointed to Director of Instruction-Indigenous Education in SD91 - Nechako Lakes. Leona Prince is a Dakelh woman from the Lake Babine Nation and Nak'azdli and belongs to the Likh Tsa Mis Yu Clan. She is a descendant of Stiche and Chief Kwah. She is the mother of three amazing children and is a passionate award-winning educator. Leona has been an educator for sixteen years in northern B.C. having served as District Principal of Aboriginal Education for the past four years. Leona is a member of the Lake Babine Nation, and belongs to the Likh Tsa Mis Yu (Beaver) Clan. Her role will help improve the education and lives of learners through Truth and Reconciliation and the Calls to Action. She is also author of two children’s books A Dance Through the Seasons about perseverance, recognizing your own gifts, learning with patience, and living your purpose Her latest book is Be a Good Ancestor.

Andrea has a Masters in Teacher Librarianship from the University of Alberta and has been working as a teacher librarian at the Surrey District for over 17 years. Currently she is the Teacher Librarian Helping Teacher role bringing leadership and support to the 140 Teacher Librarians in the Surrey School District. She is experienced with working to help students of all ages explore their learning goals and building community through the School Library Learning Commons.She is skilled in Staff Development, Strategic Planning, and Library Instruction. Andrea discusses some of the challenges of working as a teacher librarian and also shares her passion for inquiry based learning with some thoughts about how to collaborate with other teachers in the classroom.

Megan has over 25 years of professional experience teaching in urban public elementary schools and teaches K-7 outdoors in the Richmond School District (BC) and advocates for unstructured nature play in schools. She is a qualified master gardener with hundreds of stories to share to highlight that elementary curricular content that can be taught in a school garden. She is working towards a PhD at UBC in the faculty of education in curriculum and pedagogy. Megan discusses why play so important to learning for young children. She discusses the kind of impact school gardening has on students - the movement relating to their health and wellness. There are some simple steps to improving student experience in gardening and Megan offers some ideas that teachers can incorporate. This is a great episode for any teachers considering embracing the outdoor learning for their class, as Megan discusses some of the common road blocks that teachers face. For more information please visit Megan's website: https://meganzeni.com/

In this episode Dean Shareski is invited to discuss aspects of his book “Embracing a Culture of Joy: How Educators Can Bring Joy to Their Classrooms Each Day.” He has worked as a K-8 classroom teacher for 14 years and as a district leader for 9. He has been an educational consultant for Advanced Learning Partnerships and was the Community Manager for Discovery Education Canada for several years and also a Digital Learning Consultant with the Prairie South School Division in SK. Dean believes that teachers and students ought to use technology to connect ideas and learners in safe, relevant, authentic ways to answer questions, share ideas and develop community. Learning he believes, can be, and should be, fun and personal. I ask Dean: what does joy looks like in a classroom and how can teachers bring joy in a meaningful way, into the classroom and any ideas he has to make classrooms a joyful learning environment? And are there any examples about real classrooms that have successfully implemented joy? As a digital consultant what are some of the challenges he hears about in the classroom?

Morgane is a primary educator, an author, a speaker, a mother of two young children and the creator of the small act big impact 21 day challenge, and in her free time enjoys making big impact through small daily acts. Morgane believes that we are all responsible for the cultures in which we learn, work, and live.She is the author of From Burnt Out to Fired Up: Reigniting your passion for teaching. Morgane is also the producer and host of KindSight 101, a leading educational podcast with game-changing guests

Trevor MacKenzie is an experienced teacher, author, keynote speaker and inquiry consultant who has worked in schools throughout Australia, Asia, North America, South Africa and Europe. Trevor’s passion is  supporting schools in implementing inquiry-based learning practices. Trevor’s graduate research focused on identifying and removing the barriers to implementing inquiry-based learning in the K-12  setting. He is an inquiry practitioner currently as a teacher with the Greater Victoria School District in Victoria, Canada. He has two publications: Dive into Inquiry and Inquiry Mindset He has vast experience supporting schools across several years in implementation strategies in public schools, international schools, and International Baccalaureate programmes (PYP/MYP/DP).

Chris Kennedy is the Superintendent of West Vancouver Schools and one of the most progressive voices in BC education. He was recently named as one of the Top 10 Canadian Newsmakers in Educational Technology and has been featured by Maclean’s Magazine as one of the “100 Young Canadians to Watch” and his work has been featured in various local and national publications. As a writer and presenter on personalized learning and infusing technology in the classroom Chris balances his professional passions with life as the father of four children. Chris has also taught secondary English and Social Studies, and been both an elementary and secondary school principal.

Luke is on the SD22 Learning Directions Team as the Director of Instruction and well positioned to talk about core competencies within the BC curriculum. Luke is able to explain what they are, as well as how teachers, parents and students are engaging with this new approach to education within the framework of the BC curriculum.

Dr. Gillian Judson is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. She teaches in Educational Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction programs. Her scholarship looks at imagination’s role in leadership and learning (K-post-secondary). Gillian is an educator, writer, researcher, and parent. She is also the primary catalyst behind the creation, direction, and expansion of imaginED. In her role as an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University (SFU), she teaches mostly about an imagination-focused approach to teaching called Imaginative Education (IE) and the specific ways to engage imagination in leadership and in learning all aspects of the curriculum. Imaginative Ecological Education, or IEE, has been the focus of her research for 15 years. IEE is about engaging the body and emotion in place-based and imagination-focused teaching. All ages, all topics, all contexts. The Walking Curriculum is the most recent publication on this topic.

We are excited to have Dr. Judy Halbert and Dr. Linda Kaser, co-authors of The Spiral Playbook (2017), System Transformation for Equity and Quality (2016), Spirals of Inquiry (2013), Leadership Mindsets: Innovation and Learning in the Transformation of Schools (2009) and with Helen Timperley, A Framework for Transforming Learning in Schools: Innovation and the Spiral of Inquiry (2014). They lead the Transformative Educational Leadership Program at the University of British Columbia. Prior to this, Linda and Judy developed and taught graduate leadership programs at the University of Victoria and Vancouver Island University. Linda and Judy have served as teachers, principals, district leaders and policy advisors with British Columbia’s Ministry of Education. They are the founders of the Networks of Inquiry and Indigenous Education. In 2019, along with NOIIE leader Debbie Leighton Stephens, they were awarded the prestigious Cmolik Prize for the enhancement of public education in British Columbia. Deeply committed to achieving equity and quality for all learners and networking for innovation and improvement across systems, they served as Canadian representatives to the OECD international research program on Innovative Learning Environments. Their work has gone global, supporting inquiry networks in British Columbia, the Yukon, England, Catalonia, Spain, Sweden, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, New Zealand and Queensland.

Here are Emily's social media links:www.facebook.com/thescreentimeconsultantwww.facebook.com/groups/techintentionalfamiliesunitedwww.instagram.com/thescreentimeconsultantwww.linkedin.com/in/emily-cherkinYouTubeWebsite is: www.thescreentimeconsultant.comI also mentioned my colleagues at EverySchool.org and their EdTech triangle as a great resource for schools and teachers.