In this carpool with forward looking administrator Alan Beam, we discuss the experiences he has had and the things he has seen while presiding over on of the most innovative, technology empowered high schools in this part of the country.

Holton’s Site
Alan’s Page
Tad Hernandez’ Page
Alan’s Blog
Gcast
Contact Alan

In this episode I talk to Jerry Butler, a tech mentor who helped me get started. Jerry is the nicest guy I know and he knows how to frame tech issues in non-threatening ways that educators understand. There is so much that is happening in Kansas because of his positive attitude as well as his early and continuing work with schools.

Jerry on Podstock
Jerry on Plurk
Jerry at ESSDACK
Jerry in Second Life

In this carpool with Dr. Jim Beeghly, we explore the adjacent value that comes from the teaching of the Civil War. Technology adds so much possibility to empower a fresh understanding of this moment in American history and Jim gets it in full measure. His notion of Civil War CSI is worth the listen alone!

http://teachthecivilwar.wikispaces.com/
http://blog.teachthecivilwar.com/
American Memory Project
Fife and Drum Music

In this carpool with Dr. Jim Beeghly, we explore the adjacent value that comes from the teaching of the Civil War. Technology adds so much possibility to empower a fresh understanding of this moment in American history and Jim gets it in full measure. His notion of Civil War CSI is worth the listen alone!

http://teachthecivilwar.wikispaces.com/
http://blog.teachthecivilwar.com/
American Memory Project
Fife and Drum Music

In this conversation with Dr. Ruby Payne, we delve into her life’s work and the passions that guide her. She talks about the things many people sense or know or ignore because it hurts to look directly into societal pain. Join us for an exploration of empowered human possibility.

NLP
Neuro-linguistic programming
Ruby’s Site

I hope this conversation has consequences because that is what I intend. Talking to Tim Holt of the Intended Consequences podcast is always a pleasure. This technology leader has a low key way of saying things that others tend to over-design. Join us as we run the gamut from keeping technology integration moving to leveraging social networks to encourage self-directed staff development.

Ever meet someone who is totally passionate about their work? My friend Linda Schmitt is such a person and as director of the Kansas Underground Salt Museum, she’s creating passion in young learners every day! In this tour of the museum, we explore the museum and the many teaching and learning opportunities that wait beneath our feet.

Students at Learning By Design charter school in Haysville Kansas are finding academic success. There are many ways to find success and learning at their own pace, in their own way has cracked the code for these kids. As educators there seek ways to motivate and engage learners, they know theydon’t have all the answers but they NEVER stop asking questions!

To learn more about this innovative school, contact: Terry Eis

In this interview with Steve Hargadon of Classroom2.0, we delve into the realities of the filters that must be gotten through to really utilize the power of these tools. He shares his ideas about the benefits of open source for schools as well as the reasons why he thinks that communities of open source developers will continue to ply their trade. Steve shares great ideas openly and is always an amazing resource for schools and educators.

Some tools and sites Steve discussed:
Gimp
K-12 Open Source Community
Linux
K-12 Open Source WIKI
Shoutem
Utterli
elgg

My sister Lorie Honeycutt joins me for a conversation about online safety and online parenting tips. We discuss some of the down sides of file sharing sites and distill a few rules of the road for digital parenting.

Walton 21st Century Rural Life Center is a public charter school on a mission to promote rural family farm values, while developing 21st century skills in it’s learners. School projects are tied to family farms, growing things and supporting and enhancing the local community. Administrator Natise Vogt is dedicated to continuing to grow this educational enviroment and welcome collaboration with other schools around the world. In this podcast we explore the school and it’s goals.

You can contact the school through Mrs. Vogt at: nvogt@newton.k12.ks.us

In this carpool with Ben Wilkoff we explore PLN’s and some ways educators might optimize their personal work flows. Ben has ideas about ways we could use tagging to “glue” our learning together as well as thoughts about using aggregators to bring many resources together in one useful space. He talks about tools and plugins that are great potential time savers for the busy, always-learning teacher.

Tools and sites mentioned:
WP - ©Feed (Plugin)
tokbox
skrbl
WordPress
ustream
Classroom 2.0
99 and 1 rule
Posterous

This carpool with Kimberly Wright, Dean Mantz and Janet Reynolds, we explore the power of web 2.0 as a tool for empowering learning for students and teachers. We delve into some of the things that cause tech PD to stall out and our prescriptions for making ot work.

Can you cook well in a microwave? What is the wattage of your microwave? Can you cook with foil in the microwave? You might be surprised at the answers to these and other questions. Join me as I am joined by regional Arizona cooking celebrity Dee Dee Czarnowski.

Check out Dee Dee’s site!
The Arizona morning show where Dee Dee is featured

Join me in the carpool for some bad music but big ideas! In this episode I play the ocarina, an app for the iPhone from Smule. While sharing my new passion for this digital woodwind instrument I am struck by the way the world just changed...again! What will this kind of anytime, anywhere musical instrument mean for kids in the near future and will we use them in schools?

In this carpool, Bentley Richert, Tammy Worchester, and Becky Herl share a recent geocaching lesson they recently did with kids in Burrton schools in Burrton Kansas.

In this carpool with Preston Winn from Promethean and we talk about the issues of sound and hearing in the classroom. We delve into the issue both from the teacher point of view and that if the student as a listener.

In this rich series of interviews at Teacher’s Night Out at the Kansas Cosmosphere, I talk to a bevy of motivated people who routinely share learning with kids. From the Hutchinson Salt Mine to an interview with Astronaut Winston E. Scott this evening provided some nice moments for inspiring learning.

Kids at Great Bend Middle School are working hard to create a great school climate. Bullying and advocating for individual students is a focus as well as an overall support of academics and excellence. This group of over 15 eighth graders is positive about being role models for the kids where they learn. They provide dances for kids who have worked hard on academics and other activities to reinforce the message that school time should be time well spent. Their sponsor Renee Buntain received training in the Renaissance Program and returned to school and proceeded to partner with kids to make a real impact on school climate. Principal David Reiser is observably proud of the efforts of these kids and their sponsor and happy with the results. You can feel the environment and culture in schools and at Great Bend Middle School, it feels great to be in school. As I look at the opportunities to give learners a leadership role and real responsibility for helping create a positive learning environment, my faith is bolstered by the example I saw at GBMS! If you are looking for an implementation of a program that has the potential to change your school’s climate for the better, I recommend a visit to GBMS and a talk with these passionate kids! Contact Mrs. Buntain for more information!

In this episode I delve into the idea of measuring student success and the motivations behind how and why we measure. I welcome your input!