Instructional Insider: Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum at NCSSM-Morganton

In today’s interview, I switched up the process and I interviewed two STEM college students from Davidson-Davie Community College, Valeria Munoz-Cabral and Juan Morales Aguirre. Both of these students are part of FUTURES which is a STEM outreach program that empowers community college faculty, staff, students, and alumni to connect with their local community through sharing their personal stories....

This interview was a privilege as I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Jim Brown, a high school math teacher in North Carolina. Our conversation discussed the narrative that shaped his journey toward becoming an educator in mathematics. Mr. Brown shared insights about the moments that influenced his career choice. We also highlighted how pursuing a path in Math Education can be a great opportun...

In this podcast interview, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Warren Jasper, a Textile Engineer Instructor at NC State University. Dr. Jasper's impressive journey took him from his roots as a rocket scientist, trained at MIT, to his previous role as an Aerospace Engineer. Our conversation with Dr. Jasper revolved around his current role in textile engineering at NC State, where he provid...

In this episode, I had a conversation with Dr. Murray Fisher, Chief Engineer of Gulf Wind Technology, headquartered in New Orleans. They're expanding with a new office in Hickory, NC. Our discussion covered physics, the design process, engineering skills, problem-solving, and their focus on wind energy. Gulf Wind Technology NCSSM K-12 PD Opportunities

In this interview, I had the opportunity to speak with the Lake James Environmental Association, based in Nebo, North Carolina. Our discussion delved into understanding the organization's identity, its mission, and its efforts in preserving Lake James, which covers both McDowell and Burke Counties. The interview highlighted the association's vital role in safeguarding the environmental int...

We have officially started our 2nd season for the Instructional Insider and 2nd year at our new campus at NCSSM Morganton. This season we will hear about new courses, new faculty, and all the new students throughout this year. To kick off this season, we're launching a STEM interview featuring a distinguished NCSSM alumnus, Michael Martine. He currently holds the position of Director of Asset...

This week, I had the opportunity to interview at Ingenious Roasters, one of my favorite coffee shops located in Marion, North Carolina. I had an insightful conversation with Joel Johnson, the roaster, about the various STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) aspects that contribute to crafting an excellent cup of coffee. We discussed how utilizing STEM can elevate the art of coffe...

In this week's podcast, I had the opportunity to interview Mario Sclarandis, the City Engineer for Morganton. Our discussion was enlightening as we talked about the components of the engineering department's duties and how they collaborate with other sectors to ensure the smooth functioning of the city's systems. Additionally, I was delighted to have two student cohosts who offered val...

This week, I had the privilege of interviewing Angela Copeland, an educational journalist for "The Paper," a new fully-local newspaper serving Burke County. During our conversation, we discussed how journalism has evolved over the years due to advancements in technology, as well as the mathematics and technology that underpin the creation of the daily press.

I had the opportunity to interview Michael Gaffney, the Conservation and GIS Specialist for Foothills Conservancy in Morganton this week. We covered a broad range of topics related to STEM, including the application of environmental perspectives to scientific fields, as well as the use of Python for generating maps. During our conversation, Gaffney also shared his educational journey, which began...

s part of our American Studies class focusing on the Great Depression Era, we have a special episode today featuring an interview with my 94-year-old grandmother. During the interview, she shares about her life growing up during the Great Depression, and her experiences during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, which included going through the Depression and World War II.

This week I had a conversation with Grant Buckner, who serves as the Northern Basin Watershed Manager at Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation. Our discussion primarily focused on the various measures that Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation undertakes to conserve, safeguard, and refurbish the river, and how they leverage science, technology, engineering, and math to achieve their objectives. 

In this week's podcast episode, Travis Tyndall, the Director of Engineering & Operations Support at Vulcan Materials Company, sheds light on the connection between what is being done at NCSSM-Morganton classrooms and the work carried out at Vulcan. From discussing the Fab Lab, Robotics, Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Data Science, and Math in general, the conversation highlights th...

In a recent podcast with a financial advisor, Cameron Boles, we discuss the importance of having the ability to integrate all skills such as calculus, statistics, and communication in the financial industry. We also talk about having a mindset of continuous learning in all careers so that we are able to stay up to date on new patterns, trends, and resources. 

My interview this week was with Onee Presley, owner and graphic designer at Sterling Group, based in Nebo, North Carolina. In this episode, we discuss how graphic designers implement all the components of STEM, including art, which is sometimes referred to as STEAM. During our conversation, we also discuss how chemistry works into some of the areas of her business that the general public may not k...

In this episode of Instructional Insider, I talk with Justin Fleming. He is a former NCSSM student and is now our Deputy Chief Information Officer at NCSSM. We discuss how his educational and career paths led him to some of the most well-know universities and companies such as UNC, Duke, MIT, and Apple. We reminisce about past technology fads and how technology and IT have changed over the past 20...

This podcast features an interview with Scotty Powell, a meteorologist at WBTW in Myrtle Beach, SC. Scotty started his career in his hometown of Morganton, NC and shares how he combines science, math, and technology to map weather patterns. He also discusses how data is coded with Python programs, which our students here at NCSSM-Morganton can understand and relate to. Tune in for the full discuss...

Today I talked with Chet Effler, Division Chief NC Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations. He gave me some really good insight into areas of insurance investigations. He also discussed careers such as actuaries and metallurgists. Using the investigation process in classrooms could be a great way to get students authentically engaged in the classroom. We also highlight the end of J-Term on...

Today on the podcast, we have a special guest: my husband Russell. He's going to talk about how his job as an asset protection coach for Walmart requires him to use STEM skills on a regular basis. Data science is a big part of his job, and he's going to share some insights with us about how he uses it to make profitable decisions for his store.

After a long, restful winter break our NCSSM-Morganton campus is back in full swing. Our students and faculty began the first J-Term on our new campus. As I visit and get a taste of J-Term over the next month, I will highlight all the unique learning opportunities that our students and faculty are experiencing. While it sounds like all fun, I can say that thanks to our amazing faculty, our student...

Episode 5: Moon Pies, Cheerwine, and Relationships 

We will discuss briefly the highlights from this super busy week, what is RAFT, and a good reminder about Bloom's Taxonomy.  

This week we will highlight all the wonderful learning taking place on the NCSSM-Morganton, the TAG Protocol, and Student Engagement. 

This week on the Instructional Insider, we will take a look at the highlights on the NCSSM Morganton campus, we will discuss a tip to try called the Turn and Talk, and we are going to unpack what co-teaching looks like in a real classroom.

We will take a look at what is happening at NCSSM-Morganton in Academics, Instruction and Learning.