Category Archives: interview

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WEP 0095: Learn Like a Pirate, An Interview with Paul Solarz

An Interview with Paul Solarz, Educational Leader & Author


An Interview with Paul Solarz, author of Learn Like a Pirate: Empower Your Students to Collaborate, Lead, and Succeed.

Paul Solarz has been teaching since 1999. He is a National Board Certified Educator and has been awarded numerous honors including: Top 50 Finalist for the Varkey GEMS Global Teacher Prize (like the Nobel Prize for Education), was named 2014 Educator of the Year by then Illinois Computing Educators. He earned his Master’s Degree from Illinois State University in Curriculum and Instruction.

His book, Learn Like a Pirate is about:

Collaboration. Empowerment. Student Leadership. These buzz words get a lot of press, but what do they really mean for today’s students? Can students really handle the responsibility of leading the class? Can they actually learn what they need to if they are working together so often? Won’t all this freedom cause chaos in the classroom? Not if you’re teaching them to learn like PIRATES!

In Learn Like a PIRATE, teachers will discover practical strategies for creating a student-led classroom in which students are inspired and empowered to take charge of their learning experience. You’ll learn strategies for:
– Crafting active, relevant, and interesting lessons
– Creating opportunities for student leadership
– Providing effective and beneficial feedback
– Instilling confidence so students can take risks
– Increasing curiosity and passion for learning
Incorporate the techniques and strategies Paul Solarz uses in his student-led classroom and watch your students transform into confident, collaborative leaders.

Follow Paul on Twitter at @PaulSolarz

Mentioned in this podcast: 

Paul’s book Learn Like a Pirate

Paul’s Most Influential Book He’s Ever Read is Teach Like a Pirate! by Dave Burgess

The Next Book Paul Will Read is: Lead Like a Pirate by Beth Hour and Shelley Burgess

Paul’s Next Purchase: A Second Projector (It’s Under $300)

Paul’s Favorite App: Sown to Grow (Students Monitor Their Goals)

Kelly’s new Podcast: The Future Focused Podcast

Kelly’s book: Along Came a Leader

Kelly’s website: www.KellyCroy.com

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WEP 0094: Chromebook Best Practices, An Interview with Eric Curts

An Interview with Eric Curts

In this episode, Kelly interviews Eric Curts, one of the leading experts in Google Education and Chromebooks in classrooms.
Kelly and Eric talk about the best uses of Chromebooks in classrooms, the importance of creation over consumption, the 5 Cs of using Chromebooks, Erics top 3 suggestions for doing more with Chromebooks, how to “Tech-ify” a lesson, and so much more. This podcast is a must-listen for all educator and educational leaders.
Eric has been in education for 26 years, and currently serves as a Technology Integration Specialist for SPARCC in Canton, Ohio where he oversees Google Apps for Education implementation, training, and support, as well as other technology integration initiatives. Eric is an authorized Google Education Trainer and Innovator, and provides Google Apps training to schools, organizations, and conferences throughout Ohio and across the country. He is a co-leader of the Ohio Google Educator Group at bit.ly/gegohio and runs the award-winning blog www.ControlAltAchieve.com where all of his Google Apps and edtech resources can be found.
Mentioned on this Podcast: 
Kelly’s Favorite Christmas Book: The Red Ranger Came Calling by Berkely Breathed
The book that most-influenced Eric: Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
Follow Eric on Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/ericcurts
Eric’s Channel on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/user/ericcurts

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WEP 0093: What Makes Great Professional Development? An Interview with Rich Czyz

An Interview with Rich Czyz

In this episode of the Wired Educator Podcast, Kelly interviews Rich Czyz and educational leader and author making a positive impact for educators and learners. Rich is the author of The Four O’Clock Faculty: A Rogue Guide to Revolutionize Professional Development.

Author Rich Czyz is on a mission to revolutionize professional learning for all educators. In The Four O’Clock Faculty, Rich identifies ways to make Professional Development meaningful, efficient, and, above all, personally relevant.

Rich’s book is a practical guide that reveals why some Professional Development is so awful and what you can do to change the model for the betterment of you and your colleagues.

Mentioned in this podcast: 

Purchase your copy of Rich’s book The Four O’Clock Faculty here!

One of Rich’s favorite reads: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

One of the books that most impacted Rich’s thoughts on education: Lead Like a Pirate! by Beth Houf and Shelley Burgess

Sphero: The Affordable Robot for Every Classroom.

Tools & Resources Mentioned: Smore, Wordswag, Retype, Type O Rama, Voxer, EdCamp

Rich’s one word for 2017: Push!

Ideas & Themes Mentioned: No Office Day, Use Your Commute, The Hour of Possibility, Pop-Up PD, Survey Teachers, Own Your Own PD, Go Above & Beyond Your Learning

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WEP 0092: What Great Teachers Do Differently, An Interview with Todd Whitaker

In this episode, Kelly interviews Todd Whitaker the author of What Great Teachers Do Differently, What Great Principals Do Differently, and forty other titles that have made a profound impact in education, instruction, leadership and ultimately in the lives of countless educators and student around the world.

Todd Whitaker is one of the nation’s leading authorities on staff motivation, teadher leadership, and principal effectiveness. He has written over 40 books including the National Best Seller, What Great Teachers Do Differently.

Mentioned in this podcast: (Click the title to learn more.)

What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker

What Great Principals Do Differently by Todd Whitaker

Motivating and Inspiring Teachers by Todd Whitaker

Dealing with Difficult Parents by Todd Whitaker

Follow Kelly on Twitter @WiredEducator and @KellyCroy 

Please visit the Wired Educator blog & website at: www.WiredEducator.com

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WEP 0091: Ditch That Homework, An Interview with Matt Miller

In this episode, Kelly interviews Matt Miller about his new book Ditch That Homework, co-authored with Alice Keeler.

Kelly interviewed Matt way back on episode 6 when Matt publsihed

Matt is the author of Ditch That Textbook, Ditch That Homework, a veteran teacher, a Google Certified Educator, speaker and blogger. He is also one of the most influential voices in education. You can follow Matt on Twitter at: @jmattmiller and visit his website www.DitchThatTextbook.com

Matt is a super-cool educator that loves to help others.

You are going to love this interview.

Mentioned in this podcast:   

Ditch That Homework by Matt Miller and Alice Keeler

Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller

Tribes by Seth Godin

All Marketers are Liars by Seth Godin

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WEP 0090: The Google Infused Classroom: An Interview with Holly Clark and Tanya Avrith

In this episode of the Wired Educator Podcast, Kelly interviews the authors of The Google Infused Classroom: A Guidebook to Making Thinking Visible and Amplifying Student Voice, Holly Clark and Tanya Avrith. This is fantastic interview with two amazing educators.
Holly Clark is an award-winning educator and speaker based in San Diego. She is both a National Board Certified Teacher and Google Certified Innovator. A long time teacher and administrator, Holly consults globally with schools to help them successfully and purposefully innovate instruction through the use of learning theory, technology integration and design thinking strategies. Holly holds an MA in Education from Columbia University, New York.
Tanya Avrith M.A. EdTech is a passionate educator; from Montreal Canada, now living in South Florida. She is a Google Certified Innovator and Apple Distinguished Educator. With deep roots as a teacher and pedagogue, Tanya consults with schools to help plan and execute large scale deployments and professional development plans for digital citizenship, technology integration initiative and organizational development in schools. Tanya is currently the Director of Educational Technology at Grandview Preparatory School in Boca Raton, Florida.
Mentioned in this podcast: 
Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salingrer
Google Home
Flipgrid
Adobe Spark
SeeSaw app
Apple Distinguished Educator
Google Certified Innovator
National Board Certified Teacher
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WEP 0089: Building Culture, An Interview with Tim Kight

In this episode, Kelly interviews Tim Kight, an expert in building culture within school districts.

Tim Kight is the founder and president of Focus 3, a firm whose mission is to help companies around the world align the power of leadership, culture, and behavior to achieve next level results.

A dynamic communicator, Tim focuses on the critical factors that distinguish great organizations from average organizations. He delivers a powerful message on the mindset & skills at the heart of individual & organizational performance.

Most recently, Tim has worked closely with Urban Meyer and the Ohio State football team as the Buckeyes’ leadership coach. His work with Ohio State has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN.

Mr. Kight is the author of several high impact training programs: The R Factor, Lead Now, The Power of Culture, Winning, and Attitude Matters.

Mentioned in this podcast: 

Some of Tim’s favorite books:

Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership & Life from a Championship Program by Urban Meyer

Good to Great by Jim Collins

The Last Lecture by Dr. Randy Pausch

Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl

Tim’s website: www.focus3.com

Tim’s podcast: www.focus3.com/podcast

As mentioned in the interview: Tim loves his Apple Pencil.

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WEP 0088: The PE Geek, An Interview with Jarrod Robinson

In this episdoe, Kelly interviews Jarrod Robinson, aka The PE Geek. While much of Jarrod’s work began on the focus of the instruction of physical education, Jarrod has great insight and advice for every educator regardless of subject or grade level. This is a fantastic interview for all, and something special for those with that added entreprenuerial spirit.

Jarrod is a Physical Education teacher from Victoria, Australia, with a passion and enthusiasm for the role emerging technologies play within teaching and learning. He is known throughout the online community as “The PE Geek”, and authors a blog of the same name at www.thepegeek.com which has proved to be a pioneer for teachers seeking effective use of 21st century tools in PE. He has presented Nationally and Internationally for over 8 years, running workshops in over 40 countries. Jarrod is also the founder of ConnectedPE an online membership community for Physical Educators that empowers them to participate in professional development from the comforts of their homes.

Follow Jarrod on Twitter @MrRobbo

Jarrod’s websites: www.ThePEGeek.com and www.ConnectedPE.com

Mentioned in this podcast:

• Contact Kelly about starting a podcast for your school.

• Contact Kelly about hiring him for website design.

• Jarrod’s favorite book is Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the Wordy by Peter Diamandis

Favortie apps: Slack, Anchor.fm, Plickthe Iners

• Another favorite book of Jarrod’s is: The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces that Will Shape Our Future

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WEP 0087: Learning in Hand, an Interview with Tony Vincent

Tony Vincent used to teach fifth grade in Omaha, Nebraska. Today he is self-employed and does what he can to help teachers be even more awesome. He’s proud to have lead workshops and made presentations in almost all 50 states and internationally. His website is at learninginhand.com.

  • Using Google Classroom for professional learning
  • Instagram for teachers
  • Graphic design for teachers

Tony’s website… www.LearningInHand.com, is an educator’s resource for mobile and digital learning. It was started in 2002 as part of Tony Vincent’s classroom website. At first focusing on Palm handhelds, Learning in Hand now encompasses all kinds of digital and mobile learning.

The only thing Tony Vincent likes better than teaching is learning. He currently resides in Council Bluffs, Iowa, but he used to teach fifth grade in Nebraska. Since 1998 he’s been a pioneer in digital learning, having a classroom website before many classrooms even had internet access. In 2001 he had a 1:1 classroom full of Palm Pilots, and in 2005 he started one of the first podcasts from an elementary school. Tony experienced how empowering it was for students to be equipped with tools to help them be productive and creative. Later he became his school’s technology coach and helped his colleagues integrate technology.

Today Tony Vincent works as a self-employed consultant. He has traveled almost every state, Canada, Australia, England, and the Caribbean to facilitate workshops and to make presentations to K-12 educators and students. He has authored books, produced videos, developed an iPad app, and blogged about learning and technology. Tony believes that students learn best when they are engaged in authentic tasks—tasks that matter to them. He has many examples to show, advice to give, and technology to demonstrate.

Mentioned on this podcast:
Website:
Classy Graphics Fall 2017:
(Register by August 23rd and save $15)
Nuzzel newsletter:
Instagram for Teachers Guide
Instagram:
Twitter:
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WEP 086 Curriculum as Story, An Interview with Casey Cohen

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, Kelly interviews Apple Distinguished Educator Casey Cohen. This is an absolutely dynamite conversation about many topics in education that any educator or administrator can benefit. Kelly and Casey talk about: transitioning from educator to administrator, starting a new job, starting the new year, viewing curriculum as a story, backward design, The Apple Distinguished Educator Program and the ADE 2017 Academy, Casey’s amazing ADE Showcase spot-lighting an amazing Holocaust unit centered around becoming globally connected educators, using Apple’s Clips app for observations, and so much more. This is a great interview.

After having taught secondary school English in the city and suburbs of Philadelphia and Boston for ten years, Casey Cohen is entering a new position as Middle School Director of Hannah Senesh Community Day School. Casey received her B.A. at the University of Michigan where she studied English, history, and theater in Michigan’s Residential College. She received her Ed.M. at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, where she studied English and secondary education in HGSE’s Teacher Education Program. She received her Principal Certification at the University of Pennsylvania where she participated in the School Leadership Program. And, Casey is currently earning her Ed.D. in the Global Educational Leadership Program at Lamar University. She is a proud member of the Apple Distinguished Educator Class of 2015, and she is passionate about sharing her work. She presents at local, state, national, and international conferences on topics that include building school community, global collaboration, up-leveling literature circles, project-based learning in a 1:1 iPad learning environment, and course writing in iTunes U. Connect with Casey on Twitter: @cicohen.

Mentioned on this podcast: 

Apple Distinguished Educator Program

Clips

Adobe Sparks Suite

Casey’s most influential book: Night by Eli Wiesel