Category: Technology

Episode 48 – Craig Kemp

~ Teachers On Fire ~ Leave a comment



48 - Craig Kemp.png

CRAIG KEMP is a head of Digital Learning and Innovation, teacher of teachers, blogger, workshop facilitator, and speaker. Although he hails from New Zealand and now calls Singapore home, Craig is truly a global force for innovation in education.

In our conversation, recalls the challenge of rebuilding a school community after the tragic loss of a student. He describes how his current role constantly requires him to look, investigate, and use technology in new ways that improve learning. He tells us why team sports represent the perfect mix of fitness, play, and collaboration … and why he always plays to win! Craig also shares great recommendations in books, Twitter, YouTube, and more.

Follow Craig online here:

Find the highlights from our conversation at the timestamps below:

  • 1:09 – Craig describes his current context in education. Originally from New Zealand, he’s taught in Singapore for six years at The Stamford American International School. As the head of Digital Learning and Innovation, Craig heads a team of Digital Lead Learners. Calling his role a dream job, he enjoys helping educators in his local context and around the globe.
  • 2:32 – Craig recalls the time his education community suffered the tragic loss of a student. During that time it became critically important for the community to rally around positive memories and keep moving forward, striving to be better as a way of honoring that student’s memory.
  • 4:12 – When it comes to why he’s passionate about education today, Craig points to the constant change. His role requires him to look, investigate, and use technology in ways that help kids learn. Lately he’s been looking at how AR (augmented reality) and AI (artificial intelligence) can impact the how and why of learning.
  • 6:29 – Outside of the classroom, Craig is passionate about team sports like cricket, volleyball, and sometimes basketball. He points out that team sports offer the perfect mix of fitness, play, and collaboration with other people.
  • 7:34 – Craig’s got a lot on the go, and one way he manages it all is by utilizing his calendar effectively. If it’s not in the calendar, it doesn’t happen! He also has very high standards: he expects everything to be done well and perhaps better than it’s ever been done before. He makes stuff happen partly by investing in himself and others on his team – with the ultimate goal of making a positive impact on student learning.
  • 8:55 – Craig’s top Twitter recommendation is @GCouros. George is a non-stop source of amazing inspiration who helps educators to rethink what is possible in education.
  • 9:44 – Edtech is Craig’s wheelhouse, so you know these two picks are solid. The first is FlipGrid (follow @FlipGrid on Twitter), and the second is Empatico (follow @EmpaticoOrg). FlipGrid is a secure platform that allows students to represent their learning using video, and it’s now completely free. Empatico is a new start-up that seeks to connect learners and classrooms around the globe. It promises to remain entirely free as well, so make sure to check out both of these tools.
  • 12:53 – Confessing to a bit of a man crush on George Couros, Craig’s book recommendation is The Innovator’s Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity.
  • 14:32 – For the commuter, Craig’s podcast pick is non-educational but definitely inspiring. Check out Masters of Scale by Reid Hoffman. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@MastersofScale) to learn more.
  • 15:19 – If you’re looking for a good YouTube channel to subscribe to, take a look at Movie Reviews for Kids by @ATorrens84.
  • 16:12 – Although he’s not a Netflixer, Craig will occasionally kick back with an old-school rerun. One of his all-time faves is Anchorman featuring the legendary Will Ferrell.
  • 16:59 – Craig says good night from Singapore, and shares the best ways for us to follow him online. See above for the details and links!

Subscribe to the Teachers on Fire podcast on your mobile device: iTunes | Google Podcasts | YouTube

Follow the podcast on Twitter @TeachersOnFire and on Instagram @TeachersOnFire.

Song Track Credits

  • Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
  • Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)

Listen to this episode on YouTube and subscribe for more episodes!

Episode 47 – Kimberly Snodgrass

~ Teachers On Fire ~ Leave a comment

47 - Kimberly Snodgrass.png

KIMBERLY SNODGRASS is a 7th grade ELA teacher. She advocates for creative thinking, BookSnaps, Sketchnotes, Edu GIFS, and other creative ways for students to represent their learning.

In our conversation, Kim recalls the challenge of beginning a high school teaching assignment with a lot of preparation required and next to no experience in education. She credits this period with allowing her to learn the art of teaching without preconceived ideas or the pressure of “textbook mentality.” Kim talks about the importance of staying hungry as an educator, cultivating creativity and critical thinking in the classroom, and engaging regularly with other education thinkers. She also passes on some solid recommendations for books to read, educators to follow on Twitter, edtech tools to try in the classroom, and much more.

Follow Kim online here:

Find the highlights from our conversation at the timestamps below:

  • 0:50 – Kim describes her current and past experiences as an educator. She currently teaches 7th grade ELA in a middle school in Nebraska, but she’s taught high school in the past as well.
  • 1:33 – She describes one of the most challenging points in her education career: starting a high school teaching assignment in a smaller school (which meant that she was prepping for a number of courses on a daily basis) with zero experience in the classroom.
  • 4:35 – Kim talks about the things that really excite her about education today: more focus on the soft skills in education: creativity, collaboration, and teamwork. 21st century education is finally acknowledging that simply focusing on the three Rs does not serve students well.
  • 7:29 – Outside of her classroom, Kim is busy pursuing another Master’s degree. She’s particularly fascinated by constructivist pedagogy and personalized learning models. But she’s also energized and inspired by the more practical education books from Dave Burgess Consulting, like Teach Like a Pirate.
  • 11:07 – A personal habit that Kim points to as a key to her personal success is the fact that she always remains hungry to learn more and engage with other lifelong learners. The thrill of learning never gets old.
  • 13:08 – On Twitter, Kim recommends following @BurgessDave and @HeckAwesome. She credits Dave Burgess with inspiring her to get more connected and contribute on Twitter in the first place.
  • 15:44 – Kim is all about helping students access creative technology tools that allow them to represent their learning in fun and unique ways. One such tool that she’s had a hand in perfecting and promoting is Edu GIFs. Find out how to make your own Edu GIFs at https://daveburgess.com/get-your-gif-on/.
  • 19:40 – We hear about three slamming book recommendations:  1) The Pepper Effect by Sean Gaillard (@SMGaillard), 2) The EduNinja Mindset: 11 Habits for Building a Stronger Mind and Body by Jennifer Burdis (@Jennifer_Burdis), and 3) Be REAL: Educate from the Heart by Tara Martin (@TaraMartinEDU).
  • 21:00 – Looking for another great education podcast to add to your commute this year? Kim recommends Well Played by Michael Matera (@MrMatera).
  • 25:06 – For a great YouTube channel to subscribe to, Kim’s going back to the same dude: Michael Matera, master of gamification and author of Explore Like a Pirate. Check out his channel. Another up-and-coming channel that provided her with some lesson inspiration lately is Stefanie Crawford’s channel. To find out more about Stefanie Crawford, follow her on Twitter as well at @MrsCFord_Tweets.
  • 26:32 – Kim is far too busy (and frankly too hungry to learn) to watch much Netflix, but the last show she binged on there was Fuller House, a modern sequel to the original Full House.
  • 27:40 – We sign off on the conversation, and Kim gives us the best ways to follow her online. On Twitter, you can find her @KimSnodgrass, and you can check out her class blog at https://kimsnodgrass.weebly.com/.

Subscribe to the Teachers on Fire podcast on your mobile device: iTunes | Google Podcasts | YouTube

Follow the podcast on Twitter @TeachersOnFire and on Instagram @TeachersOnFire.

Song Track Credits

  • Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
  • Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)

Listen to this episode on YouTube and subscribe for more episodes!

Episode 41 – Jarod Bormann

~ Teachers On Fire ~ 1 Comment



41 - Jarod Bormann.png

JAROD BORMANN is an advocate for educator empowerment, a tech integration specialist, adjunct professor, learning designer, speaker, blogger, and the author of a new book, Professionally Driven: Empower Every Educator To Redefine PD.

In our conversation, Jarod talks about the need to redefine and reimagine PD with three main elements in mind: 1 growth mindset, 2 intrinsic motivation, and 3 sustainable autonomy. In the age of Google and instantly available facts, he explains how technology can unleash greater creativity, higher level thinking, and problem-solving.

Check out Jarod’s book on Amazon!

Follow Jarod:

Find the highlights from our conversation at the timestamps below:

  • 0:53 – Jarod describes his experience and current context in education. He taught MS/HS English in northeast Iowa for a few years, and is now a tech integration specialist at an area education center that supports schools in eight counties. Putting it simply, he’s a teacher of teachers.
  • 2:07 – His lowest moment came when he saw MS English students lose their joy of reading thanks to the rigid limitations of an accelerated reading program and the quizzes and tracking systems associated with it. After redesigning the reading program, student scores in his school at first appeared to drop – and in a faculty meeting, these results were displayed on a screen for all his colleagues to see. The following year, however, the same students improved significantly, and Jarod was able to determine that in fact students were doing more recreational reading.
  • 6:07 – His book, Professionally Driven: Empower Every Educator To Redefine PD, is about redefining professional development with three main elements at the core: 1 growth mindset, 2 intrinsic motivation (along the lines of Daniel Pink’s Drive), and 3 sustainable autonomy. Provide these for educators, he argues, and you’ll see dramatically better results from your PD.
  • 12:03 – Speaking to K-12 education in general, Jarod is excited by the ways in which technology can unleash greater creativity and higher level thinking in students.
  • 15:52 – Personal passions that light his fire outside of education include disconnecting from technology and engaging with nature through hiking, camping, and kayaking.
  • 18:00 – One personal habit that contributes to Jarod’s success is the practice of constantly seeking things to be better at. The Crossfit community embodies this well by aggressively addressing weaknesses instead of shying away from them.
  • 20:43 – His suggestion for a follow on Twitter is @FroehlichM.
  • 21:36 – Jarod’s edtech recommendation is a tool called Wakelet, an aggregator or collector of links, videos, text, or images on any topic. He is currently using Wakelet to collect journal articles and resources for his doctoral work.
  • 23:48 – Given one book to recommend, Jarod points to Mindset by Carol Dweck. “No other book has changed my life in so many different ways,” he explains.
  • 24:54 – A podcast that Jarod continues to enjoy and gain great takeaways from is the TED Radio Hour. Follow them on Twitter @TEDRadioHour.
  • 25:55 – A YouTube channel that he’s found incredibly helpful in terms of video editing and Final Cut Pro techniques is Ryan Nangle’s channel.
  • 26:59 – When it’s Netflix time, Jarod wisely tunes in to whatever his wife is watching. Right now, that’s Orange is the New Black.
  • 27:37 – We sign off on the conversation, and Jarod gives us the best ways to contact him. See above for details!

Subscribe to the podcast on your mobile device: iTunes | Google Podcasts | YouTube

Follow the podcast on Twitter @TeachersOnFire and on Instagram @TeachersOnFire.

Song Track Credits

  • Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
  • Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)

Listen to this episode on YouTube and subscribe for more episodes!

Episode 38 – John Sowash

~ Teachers On Fire ~ Leave a comment



38 - John Sowash.png

JOHN SOWASH is an educator, freelancer, presenter, husband, and dad. He is also the author of The Chromebook Classroom, which you can check out at http://chrmbook.com.

In this conversation, John describes how a dead end in his high school context launched him into the business of teaching teachers – a true passion. You’ll hear him explain why the Chromebook is so much more than just a web browser – it’s a creation tool as well. You’ll also hear about the personal habit that keeps him on track, some great edtech tools to consider using, and much more.

Check out The Chromebook Classroom on Amazon!

Follow John:

Find the highlights from our conversation at the timestamps below:

  • 0:52 – John describes his education context and background: starting as a high school science teacher, leading a big edtech transition in his school, began sharing his learning in a blog, and today enjoys helping other educators.
  • 3:32 – A very low moment: when John’s superintendent was suddenly fired, the project he was investing in was suddenly dropped. This dead end led him to venture out on his own, focusing on professional development resources for educators.
  • 6:36 – What excites him about education today: the ongoing commitment of teachers.
  • 9:24 – Speaking about his book, The Chromebook Classroom, John reminds teachers that Chromebooks are so much more than “just web browsers” – they’re creation devices, too.
  • 13:26 – John shares about another passion outside of education: serial entrepreneurship. Some ventures crash and burn, while others work well. And there’s always more to learn.
  • 15:12 – A personal habit that contributes to his personal and professional success is leveraging his email inbox as a reminder and task list.
  • 18:17 – Twitter recommendation: @JakeMillerTech.
  • 19:15 – John recommends two edtech tools worth using: Canva and Screencastify.
  • 22:25 – Book recommendations: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.
  • 24:01 – John has a few favorite podcasts to share: the first is The Chromebook Classroom – a podcast series he produced as a way to share additional stories that couldn’t fit in his book, Reply All by Gimlet Media, Smart Passive Income by Pat Flynn, The Gary Vee Audio Experience by Gary Vee, and This Week in Google by TWiT.
  • 26:17 – A YouTube channel to check out that isn’t strictly education-related but does demonstrate some incredible strategies worth trying on Google Sheets: Ben Collins.
  • 29:16 – Although he doesn’t have much time for TV or movies, John’s latest pick on Netflix was Nailed It.
  • 30:20 – We sign off on our conversation and John shares the best ways to follow him and receive more of his content online (see above).

Subscribe to the podcast on your mobile device: iTunes | Google Podcasts | YouTube

Follow the podcast on Twitter @TeachersOnFire and on Instagram @TeachersOnFire.

Song Track Credits

  • Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
  • Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)

Listen to this episode on YouTube and subscribe for more episodes!

Episode 32 – Jeff Bradbury

~ Teachers On Fire ~ 1 Comment

32 - Jeff Bradbury.png

JEFF BRADBURY has been recognized as an ASCD Emerging Leader, Google Certified Teacher and Trainer, and digital innovator. The founder of TeacherCast.net, Jeff has spoken at TEDx and other conferences, provides training and consulting for educators across the United States, and currently produces ten regular educational podcasts. Simply put, there aren’t many figures in the world producing more resources for educators than Jeff.

In this episode, Jeff talks podcasting, ISTE, funding models for content creators, the Twitter algorithm, how to build a PLN, learning management systems, personal branding, and more. When it comes to creating education content, Jeff advises, make it from a place of personal passion and you’ll never get bored.

Follow Jeff on Twitter @TeacherCast, visit TeacherCast.net to access all of Jeff’s podcasts and instructional resources, and subscribe to Jeff’s Youtube channel.

Find the highlights from our conversation at the timestamps below.

  • 0:55 – Jeff tells the story of how he got started with the TeacherCast network seven years ago.
    2:06 – The three areas of focus for TeacherCast: instructional technology, STEM education, and leadership.
    3:40 – I ask Jeff to give us a quick tour of his ten education podcasts.
    5:59 – When it comes to high-powered edtech conferences like ISTE, how do we separate glitter from substance?
    7:32 – Jeff shares about his passion for instructional coaching.
    9:17 – Instead of charging up front for his educational content, Jeff enjoys sharing as much as possible for free and then walking through doors that open for him as a result.
    12:27 – Where should teachers go to start building a PLN? How does Twitter serve educators differently than it did five years ago? Jeff also points new educators to conferences, EdCamps, and TeachMeets as other places to network.
    14:28 – We dive deeper into Twitter’s algorithm and talk about the user experience it creates.
    19:49 – Areas of passion and learning for Jeff this summer: questions around Learning Management Systems, Student Information Systems, and observing his children as they learn to read.
    23:40 – Talking LMSs: Schoology, Google Classroom, FreshGrade, Seesaw, Canvas, etc.
    26:10 – Jeff on building a personal brand and producing online content: make it for yourself and you’ll never get bored. Follow your own passions and questions.
    33:14 – The best ways to follow Jeff and find more of his great content for educators: visit TeacherCast.net and follow him on Twitter @TeacherCast.

SUBSCRIBE to the Teachers on Fire podcast on your mobile device: iTunes | Google Podcasts | YouTube

FOLLOW Teachers on Fire on Twitter: @TeachersOnFire

Song Track Credits

  • Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
  • Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)

LISTEN to this episode on YouTube and SUBSCRIBE for more episodes!