Big Ideas in Education

Latest Episodes:

Ep 12: Inquiry Based Learning, and the Misuse of Technology in Schools Jan 21, 2019

Show notes

This week on Big Ideas of Education, we change the format and discuss two big ideas. Tweet us your feedback on this format at @AcademicaMedia or use #BigIdeasinEducation.
On this week of Big Ideas in Education, Ryan and Mike present their big ideas while Sarah provides her educational opinion. Ryan talks about using inquiry-based learning approach in the classroom. Mike speaks about the increase of misuse of technology when it comes to student assessment. Want to read more about the big ideas discussed in today's show, click on the links below:
Ryan - https://bit.ly/2SZZpig
Michael - https://bit.ly/2qgHWYM
Ryan:
Mike:
Hosts: Sarah Fye (@readwithfye), Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair), Mike Hernandez (@edtechmichael)
Producer: Frankie Mestre (@frankiemestre14)

Ep 11: Teaching compassion in schools; employers value creativity; Utah's tech education leadership Jan 14, 2019

Show notes

Hello Education Lovers! This week, the Big Ideas team has a new slate of stories for you. Ryan talks about a seventh grade teacher's interesting approach to teaching his students compassionate behaviors. Sarah discusses the most in-demand skill from employers in 2019 (creativity!) and how schools can encourage it in their students. Mike talks about Utah's recent innovations in tech education and how they can serve as a model for schools around the country.
Hosts: Sarah Boulos Fye (@readwithfye); Mike Hernandez (@edtechmichael); Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)
Sources:
https://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2018/12/18/want-your-students-to-be-kinder-try.html
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/01/07/the-most-in-demand-skill-of-2019-according-to-linkedin.html
https://venturebeat.com/2019/01/09/heartland-tech-weekly-utahs-approach-to-tech-education-could-be-a-model-for-the-nation/

Ep 10: Reducing Stereotype Threats in the classroom, digital tools for SEL, and the downfall of GlassLab Jan 08, 2019

Show notes

Don't just listen, join the conversation! Tweet us at @AcademicaMedia or with the hashtag #BigIdeasinEducation with questions or new topics you want to see discussed.
The team is back for the new year! This week, Ryan shares the story of GlassLab and its efforts to prove that games can assess learning. Sarah brings in her perspective on reducing stereotype threats in the classroom, and Michael brings in research on SEL initiatives with digital tools for the classroom
https://bit.ly/2Aa3jgV - Michael
https://bit.ly/2NC26HV - Sarah
https://bit.ly/2Lh5aoE - Ryan
Hosts: Sarah Boulos Fye (@readwithfye), Mike Hernandez (@edtechmichael), Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

Ep 9: Teachers as Decision Makers, Self-Regulation for Students, and Learning in a Changing World Dec 17, 2018

Show notes

Don't just listen, join the conversation! Tweet us at @AcademicaMedia or with the hashtag #BigIdeasinEducation with questions or new topics you want to see discussed.
This week, the team talks about giving teachers the same platform as administrators, to make school decisions. Michael brings in his big idea about using guided meditation in the classroom, and Sarah challenges teachers to learn again!
Hosts: Sarah Fye (@readwithfye), Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair), Michael Hernandez (@edtechmichael)
Articles:
Sarah - Learning in a Changing World by Katie Martin, featured in November/December 2018 (Volume 36, Issue 3) of Literacy Today; literacyworldwide.org
Michael - https://bit.ly/2PKlLSw
Ryan - https://bit.ly/2zZOVb0

Ep 8: Personalized Learning, Progressive Grading, and the Digital Touch Dec 10, 2018

Show notes

The team is back this week with a fresh set of new ideas about teaching and education. This week, Sarah brings to the table the topic of personalized learning and how it's taking over education; Ryan discusses how a flexible grading system can actually foster a better learning environment; and Mike closes the show with his big idea: teaching through video conferencing. A lot of new ideas that you could use in your classroom.
Hosts: Sarah Fye (@readwithfye), Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair), Michael Hernandez (@edtechmichael)

Ep 7: The Best Ways to Study, Mixed Grade Classrooms, and the First High School SiriusXM Station Dec 03, 2018

Show notes

Don't just listen, join the conversation! Tweet us at @AcademicaMedia or with the hashtag #BigIdeasinEducation with questions or new topics you want to see discussed.
This week on the show, Ryan, Frankie, and Sarah are rounding up new developments in education research and school news. Sarah presents interesting new research about what the strongest studying practices are. Frankie introduces new experimental grade-mixing in schools and how they're producing better results than the traditional single-grade class. And Ryan talks about an amazing development this week from within our charter school network: the first high school SiriusXM radio station in America. Find the articles down below!
Sarah:
https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/49750/a-better-way-to-study-through-self-testing-and-distributed-practice
Frankie:
https://www.districtadministration.com/article/breaking-age-barrier-in-k12-schools
https://www.educationnews.org/k-12-schools/bullying-less-common-in-schools-with-larger-grade-spans/
Ryan:
https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/slam-launches-studentrun-national-radio-channel
Hosts: Sarah Fye (@readwithfye), Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair), Frankie Mestre (@frankiemestre14)
Producer: Michael Hernandez (@edtechmichael)

Ep 6: Assignment-Choice, E-Sports, and Community Engagement Nov 26, 2018

Show notes

Have a big idea in education that you want discussed on the show? Tweet #bigideasineducation and let us know about it! This week, the Big Ideas Team tackles how giving students on their assignment can actually foster better, more targeted schoolwork. Going outside the box, the team dives into how competitive video game scenes are actually benefiting the students' education. Rounding everything up, they share with us recent efforts in South Florida to shape students to be engaged community members.
Hosts: Sarah Boulos Fye (@readwithfye), Mike Hernandez (@_infosecmike), Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

Ep 5: Classroom greetings; homework in elementary schools; neuroscience for teachers Nov 19, 2018

Show notes

Have a big idea in education that you want discussed on the show? Tweet #bigideasineducation and let us know about it! This week, the Big Ideas Team discusses a very special classroom greeting program organized by Kindergarten students in Birchwood, Wisconsin. They also discuss a recent article in Education Week about homework in the Kindergarten level: How early is too early, and how much is too much? The show closes with a conversation about the recent announcement by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative about its new program to help teachers learn neuroscience.
Articles:
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Family/agree-kind-kindergartners-day/story?id=59129700
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/11/12/kindergarten-homework-too-much-too-early.html
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2018/11/chan_zuckerberg_initiative_educational_neuroscience.html
Hosts: Sarah Boulos Fye (@readwithfye), Mike Hernandez (@_infosecmike), Frankie Mestre (@frankiemestre14), Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

Ep 4: Technology-infused homework; assigning groupwork effectively; improving mental health in schools Nov 12, 2018

Show notes

Have a big idea in education that you want discussed on the show? Tweet #bigideasineducation and let us know about it! This week, the Big Ideas Team have three discussion-worthy topics for you from this week in education. First, Sarah, Mike, and Ryan discuss the increasing role of technology in homework assignments. Technology has the potential to make homework more enriching for students, but it might also be adversely affecting students who don't have the resources at home to complete tech-heavy assignments. Our hosts also discuss effective strategies for designing group projects that maximize student learning and minimize free riders on assignments. The show closes with a discussion of mental health in schools, and the innovative initiatives that some school districts are implementing to improve student wellbeing.
Hosts: Sarah Boulos Fye (@readwithfye), Mike Hernandez (@edtechmichael), Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

Ep 3: Expanding narrative writing in the classroom; phonics vs. whole language debate; maker faires in schools Nov 05, 2018

Show notes

The Big Ideas team is back in the Academica Media studio this week, and they have some great education topics to share with you! First, Sarah, Mike and Ryan discuss National Novel Writing Month and the importance of getting students to do more personal, narrative-style writing assignments where they have the opportunity to find their unique voice as a writer. Sarah mentions the Veteran's Story Project and the American Creed writing project as great resources in this area. Next, our hosts discuss a recent Washington Post article by Professor Daniel Willingham discussing the controversial debate regarding the use of phonics versus a whole language approach to teach reading. Finally, the team talks about the emerging phenomenon of maker faires in schools and how students can benefit from having maker education in the school environment. The hosts give shout-outs to Joe Mazza (@makerdads) and Michael Lomuscio (@michaellomuscio), who are doing great things in this area.
Articles:
National Novel Writing Month: https://bit.ly/2gIvBp7
National Writing Project American Creed: https://bit.ly/2PBnugU
Phonics vs. Whole Language Article: https://wapo.st/2JAwlKj
How "Makers" Make the Classroom More Inclusive: https://nyti.ms/2Pw9Ziz
Hosts: Sarah Boulos Fye (@readwithfye), Mike Hernandez (@edtechmichael), Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

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