Teachers on Fire

June 16, 2018

Episode 25: Dan Ryder

Assessment, Creativity, Design Thinking, EdTech, High School, Innovation, Podcasts, Secondary, Technology, USA

Amy Burvall, Creativity, Dan Ryder, Design Thinking, Innovation, Intention
LISTEN to this episode on iTunes and SUBSCRIBE to the podcast!

Dan Ryder is the co-author of Intention: Critical Creativity in the Classroom. Describing himself as an improviser and design thinker, Dan became an Apple Distinguished Educator in 2017. After teaching high school English for about twenty years, he is currently the Education Director of the Success & Innovation Center at Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, ME.

In our conversation, Dan shares about what ignites his passion for education today: seeing the philosophical focus shift from the acquisition of information to problem-solving, creativity, and design thinking. He challenges teachers to go beyond learning activities that build things just for the sake of building things (ie. “dumpster projects”), and reflects on a personal habit that creates learning and growth in every area of his life. Dan also describes the main message of his book and gives us some awesome recommendations for accounts to follow on Twitter, channels to subscribe to on YouTube, and more.

Follow Dan Ryder and catch more of his inspiration on these platforms:
- TW: @WickedDecent
- IG: @WickedDecent
- Websites: DanRyder207.com and IntentiontheBook.online
In this episode, Dan discusses …
- 1:00 – his current education situation: Education Director at the Success & Innovation Center
- 2:22 – how he overcame the challenges of having creative ideas and initiatives quashed by bureaucracy above him
- 5:40 – what ignites his passion for education today: seeing the shift from acquiring information to problem-solving, creativity, and design thinking
- 14:16 – a personal habit that contributes to learning and growth: maintaining a constant curiosity about everything
- 17:20 – an inspirational educator to follow on Twitter: Ellen Deutscher
- 18:47 – an edtech tool recommendation: FlipGrid
- 22:19 – a fictional book recommendation: Little Fires Everywhere (by Celeste Ng)
- 23:46 – a podcast recommendation that music fans will love: Song Exploder
- 26:57 – a Youtube channel to subscribe to: Soul Pancake (with a shoutout to their video series on empathy)
- 28:06 – what he’s watching when he’s not creating: Legends of Tomorrow, Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu), The Strain
- 30:42 – the best ways to contact Dan and follow his content (see above)
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!
June 14, 2018

Episode 24 – Christopher Nesi

Creativity, EdTech, High School, History, Interviews, NJ, Secondary, Technology, USA

Chris Nesi, Creativity, House of EdTech, Interview, New Jersey, NJ, Podcast, Podcast PD, USA
CHRISTOPHER J. NESI teaches 9th grade history at New Brunswick High School and is a Professor of Communications at Rutgers University. He also hosts the House of EdTech and Podcast PD podcasts and operates the Education Podcast Network.

In our conversation, Chris shares his passion to see educators and learners of all ages take up the endeavor of creative work. “You don’t have to share it with the world … but just create – you never know what’s going to happen when you create something that didn’t exist before you tried it,” he says. Chris also shares a personal habit that contributes to his success and gives us some awesome recommendations for accounts to follow on Twitter, the best maker channels to subscribe to on YouTube, books to read, and more.

Find more of Chris’s content on these great platforms:
- TW: @MrNesi, @HouseofEdTech, @PodcastPD, @EduPodNet
- Websites: ChrisNesi.com, HouseofEdTech.com, PodcastPD.com, edupodcastnetwork.com
In this episode, Chris discusses …
- 1:14 – his current teaching situation
- 2:14 – the challenge of fully investing in the present while waiting for the future
- 5:18 – encouraging educators and learners of all ages to “just create!”
- 8:01 – a personal habit that contributes to his success: taking ten minutes of quiet reflection each day
- 9:31 – two educators to follow on Twitter: Stacey Lindes (@IRunTech) and AJ Bianco (@AJBianco)
- 11:31 – his edtech tool recommendation: any tool or app that allows you to create
- 13:23 – a book recommendation: How to Win Friends and Influence People (by Dale Carnegie)
- 14:25 – his podcast recommendations: The 5 AM Miracle (with @JeffSandersTV), House of Ed Tech, and Podcast PD (Chris hosts and co-hosts the last two)
- 19:17 – his favorite maker channels on YouTube: I like to Make Stuff (by @ILiketoMakeStuf), Make Something (by @DrunkenWood), April Wilkerson, John Peters Art & Home
- 21:26 – his current pick on Netflix: The Toys That Made Us
- 22:47 – the best places to go to follow more of Chris’s content (see above)
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!
June 14, 2018

Episode 24: Christopher Nesi

Creativity, EdTech, High School, History, Interviews, NJ, Secondary, Technology, USA

Chris Nesi, Creativity, House of EdTech, Interview, New Jersey, NJ, Podcast, Podcast PD, USA
LISTEN to this episode on iTunes and SUBSCRIBE to the podcast!

Christopher J. Nesi teaches 9th grade history at New Brunswick High School and is a Professor of Communications at Rutgers University. He also hosts the House of EdTech and Podcast PD podcasts and operates the Education Podcast Network.

In our conversation, Chris shares his passion to see educators and learners of all ages take up the endeavor of creative work. “You don’t have to share it with the world … but just create – you never know what’s going to happen when you create something that didn’t exist before you tried it,” he says. Chris also shares a personal habit that contributes to his success and gives us some awesome recommendations for accounts to follow on Twitter, the best maker channels to subscribe to on YouTube, books to read, and more.

Find more of Chris’s content on these great platforms:
- TW: @MrNesi, @HouseofEdTech, @PodcastPD, @EduPodNet
- Websites: ChrisNesi.com, HouseofEdTech.com, PodcastPD.com, edupodcastnetwork.com
In this episode, Chris discusses …
- 1:14 – his current teaching situation
- 2:14 – the challenge of fully investing in the present while waiting for the future
- 5:18 – encouraging educators and learners of all ages to “just create!”
- 8:01 – a personal habit that contributes to his success: taking ten minutes of quiet reflection each day
- 9:31 – two educators to follow on Twitter: Stacey Lindes (@IRunTech) and AJ Bianco (@AJBianco)
- 11:31 – his edtech tool recommendation: any tool or app that allows you to create
- 13:23 – a book recommendation: How to Win Friends and Influence People (by Dale Carnegie)
- 14:25 – his podcast recommendations: The 5 AM Miracle (with @JeffSandersTV), House of Ed Tech, and Podcast PD (Chris hosts and co-hosts the last two)
- 19:17 – his favorite maker channels on YouTube: I like to Make Stuff (by @ILiketoMakeStuf), Make Something (by @DrunkenWood), April Wilkerson, John Peters Art & Home
- 21:26 – his current pick on Netflix: The Toys That Made Us
- 22:47 – the best places to go to follow more of Chris’s content (see above)
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!
June 10, 2018

Episode 23 – Danielle Peters

BC, Canada, Elementary, English, iPad, K-12, Primary, Surrey, Technology

BC, Canada, DeeBibliophilia, EdTech, Flocabulary, Interview, Launch, Podcast, Serial, Twitter, YouTube
DANIELLE PETERS is an elementary teacher at Westerman Elementary School in Surrey, BC, Canada. Recently completing her Master’s in Ed. Tech., Danielle is passionate about helping kids learn, create, and innovate using technology.

In our conversation, Danielle talks about how team teaching allows her to better meet the social-emotional needs of her learners and grow from her colleague’s perspectives each day. She describes how her third graders are using green screens and stop motion to make stories come alive, and explains how she combines her loves of book reading and photography to produce beautiful book reviews. Finally, Danielle gives us some great recommendations for books to read, Twitter accounts to follow, a YouTube channel to subscribe to, and more.

You’ll find more of Danielle’s content on these great platforms:
- TW: @DeeKellyP & @2TeachByDesign
- IG: @2TeachByDesign & @DeeBibliophilia
- Blogs: http://2teachbydesign.weebly.com/ and https://www.deebibliophilia.com/
In this episode, Danielle discusses …
- 0:56 – how she team teaches 42 3rd graders
- 2:58 – how team teaching helps her meet the social-emotional needs of her learners
- 5:07 – what lights her passion for education: the amazing possibilities for learning enabled by new technologies in the classroom
- 7:12 – a personal passion outside of the classroom: book reviews and photography
- 9:25 – the importance of building a strong network of educators, and the role of critical friends
- 11:52 – educators to follow on Twitter: Karen Fadum (@MrsFadum) and Curtis Wiebe (@DivisionW)
- 12:36 – what her students are currently creating: stop motion videos
- 13:47 – a book recommendation: Launch: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student (by John Spencer and A J Juliani)
- 14:19 – podcasts to check out: Serial (a crime series) and TED Talks
- 14:51 – a great YouTube resource for the English classroom: Flocabulary
- 15:44 – what she’s watching on Netflix: Evil Genius and Black Mirror
- 16:23 – the best ways to follow her (see links above this section)
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!
June 10, 2018

Episode 23: Danielle Peters

BC, Canada, Elementary, English, iPad, K-12, Podcasts, Primary, Surrey, Technology

BC, Canada, DeeBibliophilia, EdTech, Flocabulary, Interview, Launch, Podcast, Serial, Twitter, YouTube
LISTEN to this episode on iTunes and SUBSCRIBE to the podcast!

Danielle Peters is an elementary teacher at Westerman Elementary School in Surrey, BC, Canada. Recently completing her Master’s in Ed. Tech., Danielle is passionate about helping kids learn, create, and innovate using technology.

In our conversation, Danielle talks about how team teaching allows her to better meet the social-emotional needs of her learners and grow from her colleague’s perspectives each day. She describes how her third graders are using green screens and stop motion to make stories come alive, and explains how she combines her loves of book reading and photography to produce beautiful book reviews. Finally, Danielle gives us some great recommendations for books to read, Twitter accounts to follow, a YouTube channel to subscribe to, and more.

You’ll find more of Danielle’s content on these great platforms:
- TW: @DeeKellyP & @2TeachByDesign
- IG: @2TeachByDesign & @DeeBibliophilia
- Blogs: http://2teachbydesign.weebly.com/ and https://www.deebibliophilia.com/
In this episode, Danielle discusses …
- 0:56 – how she team teaches 42 3rd graders
- 2:58 – how team teaching helps her meet the social-emotional needs of her learners
- 5:07 – what lights her passion for education: the amazing possibilities for learning enabled by new technologies in the classroom
- 7:12 – a personal passion outside of the classroom: book reviews and photography
- 9:25 – the importance of building a strong network of educators, and the role of critical friends
- 11:52 – educators to follow on Twitter: Karen Fadum (@MrsFadum) and Curtis Wiebe (@DivisionW)
- 12:36 – what her students are currently creating: stop motion videos
- 13:47 – a book recommendation: Launch: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student (by John Spencer and A J Juliani)
- 14:19 – podcasts to check out: Serial (a crime series) and TED Talks
- 14:51 – a great YouTube resource for the English classroom: Flocabulary
- 15:44 – what she’s watching on Netflix: Evil Genius and Black Mirror
- 16:23 – the best ways to follow her (see links above this section)
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 25: Dan Ryder

Episode 24 – Christopher Nesi

Episode 24: Christopher Nesi

Episode 23 – Danielle Peters

Episode 23: Danielle Peters