SPS Digital Learning Hour

With this week's episode we jump into a hot new book, The Distance Learning Playbook, Grades K-12: Teaching for Engagement and Impact in Any Setting by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, John Hattie. With the SPS Digital Learning Hour podcast, we are talking our learning out loud. If you don't own this book, get it now and join us on the journey of discovery. You'll also hear my thoughts and takeaways fr...

It's been so long and we are excited to be back for another season/school year. We know teaching is tough right now, but there is hope. Check out this interview with Brittany Blake-Franklin and learn how you can grow and teach well during this time! Tools Discussed: Episode 27 Class Dojo Unified Classroom Zoom The Distance Learning Playbook, Grades K-12: Teaching for Engagement and Impact in Any S...

After a short hiatus, we are back with a brand-new episode of the SPS Digital Learning Hour and we look at CSforAll Springfield. This is the third episode in the CSforAll Springfield series. I might virtually with Caitlyn Sayers and Aimee Baron, and we discussed CSforAll. We are also trying out a new format, getting you to the interviews earlier and our news and announcements afterwards! Let us kn...

In what could very well be our last episode of the year, I met with Kaitlin Neilsen, an awesome first grade teacher. Learn all about what she is doing in her classroom! Links: https://www.springfieldpublicschools.com/ Follow Me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Wakelet @beardedteched or my website http://beardedtechedguy.com/ Music: mantlee Corporate Technology Innovation Background https://audi...

This week we stopped by Mary M. Walsh for a chat with Principal Vinnie Regan to hear about what’s been going on at their school. During the interview you will hear all about how Principal Regan is helping his school take the next steps, moving towards Student-Centered Learning. This year, Walsh was selected as one of three Springfield School to be a part of the Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning...

This week we talk with Emily McKinley from Mary O. Pottenger all about her 5th grade class. Learn how she uses Project-Based Learning throughout the school year to enhance and enrich her students learning. I know you will walk away with great strategies for your classroom; I know I did! Links: https://wakelet.com/home https://my.springfieldpublicschools.com/welearn/Lists/Blog/DispForm.aspx? ID=112...

In this week’s episode of the SPS Digital Learning Hour we look at CSforAll Springfield. This is the second in the series of episodes all about CSforAll Springfield. This episode is focusing on our the researchers from UMASS Rick Adrion & Florence Sullivan and a few of our coordinators Rachel Chouinard, Melissa Zeitz & Scott Wohlers. CSforAll Springfield is a four-year project which started during...

In this week’s episode of the SPS Digital Learning Hour we look at CSforAll Springfield. This is the first of two episodes for CSforAll. This episode is focusing on our CIO Paul Foster and teachers, Emma Bartlett, Jamiee Thomas and Danalyn Haynes. CSforAll Springfield is a four-year project which started during the 2018-2019 school year. UMass Amherst, in partnership with Springfield Public School...

This week we are hitting the Wayback Machine to learn more about where we have come from on Gamification Learning. As you'll learn in this episode, we are looking back at Game-Based Learning and Gamification in both our blog and podcast as we gear up for a book study. Here are the descriptions from the three weeks that we had this conversation. Week1: This week Mike, Suzanne and Brendan begin a de...

This week we are hitting the Wayback Machine to learn more about where we have come from on Game-Based Learning. As you'll learn in this episode, we are looking back at Game-Based Learning and Gamification in both our blog and podcast as we gear up for a book study. You'll also see how far we've come as a podcast since this was from Episode 10. Links: https://www.beardedtechedguy.com/ FETC: https:...

Happy New Year! We're back and ready for a great 2020! This week we spoke with 5th Grade Teacher Heather Grimaldi from Frank H Freedman Elementary School. Learn how she is integrating technology throughout her Math and Science class. Links: https://www.beardedtechedguy.com/ https://www.curriculumassociates.com/products/ready-classroom-mathematics https://www.mheducation.com/prek-12/program/inspire...

Check out this week's podcast episode featuring Sarah Varnauskas from Alice Beal school here in Springfield, MA! This veteran teacher is doing some awesome things in her classroom so listen in! Articles & Sites Mentioned: https://www.beardedtechedguy.com/how-to-h5p-for-interactive-content/ https://www.powerschool.com/solutions/unified-classroom/ https://my.springfieldpublicschools.com/welearn/Site...

This week's episode we talk with Sarah Tobias from The High School of Science and Technology (SciTech) all about the ways she's integrating technology into her English classrooms. Lots of Shakespeare and Animal Farm talking! Articles & Sites Mentioned: https://www.beardedtechedguy.com/ https://kahoot.com/ https://www.powerschool.com/solutions/unified-classroom/ https://piktochart.com/ https://quiz...

For this week's episode we talk with Joshua Copen from The High School of Science and Technology (SciTech) all about the ways he's integrating technology in the classroom. If you don't teach HS or Engineering, then this show is a must! Articles & Sites Mentioned: https://www.beardedtechedguy.com/ https://www.masscue.org/event/conference-fall-2019/ https://www.powerschool.com/solutions/unified-clas...

For this week's interview I sat down with William Aye, 4th grade teacher over at Lincoln Elementary School and discussed what he is doing in the classroom with his students. Next week: We will not have an episode, as I will be at Masscue presenting on how we are using this podcast to give teacher's voice in our district. I am planning on recording the sessions and if all goes well, I will post it...

This week I sat down Katherine Kruser, the Art teacher at Mary Pottenger on how she is integrating technology into her classroom through authentic practices. Articles & Sites Mentioned: https://www.beardedtechedguy.com/ https://www.gonoodle.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B_4jpUGZqw Watch at your own peril (it will get stuck in your head): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1lgIRQlrFk https://...

This week I sat down with an amazing teacher over at White St. Elementary School who is doing some awesome things in her classroom. Learn about the process she is going through to develop a try, discuss, connect classroom environment. Tools and sites mentioned: https://www.powerschool.com/solutions/unified-classroom/ https://portal.office.com https://www.beardedtechedguy.com/ https://www.curriculu...

This week is a whopper! We discuss teaching 4th Graders and CS Education with Natalie Velez Cotto of Frederick Harris Elementary School in Springfield. Listen to all of the great wisdom and ways she is elevating teaching in Springfield. Plus we have a huge PowerPoint Update along with a few reminders for Unified Classroom. You don't want to miss this week's edition of the SPS Digital Learning Hour...

Blog Updates! Awesome Tools! A shout out to Mike Tholfsen from Microsoft EDU! Check out this week's podcast featuring Melany Laroe from Glickman Elementary and hear her journey as a teacher in the Springfield Public School District! Learn about what technology looked like in the classroom back in 2006 compared to today, listen to Ms. Laroe's journey through teaching and technology and some awesome...

This week I sat down with Brendan Reed, Project Manager for Unified Classroom and Digital Learning Analyst and we discussed all things Unified Classroom! All the updates and integrations that happened over the summer and the ways we are working with educators throughout Springfield. Follow Me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @beardedteched or my website http://beardedtechedguy.com/ Music: BirdSo...

This week I sat down with Springfield CIO Paul Foster and we discussed all the exciting things happening in Springfield. If you want to know what the future of Springfield Public Schools holds, this is a can't miss interview! If you are thinking about wanting to be a teacher, consider Springfield as a destination after listening to this! Follow Me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @beardedteched...

Welcome back podcast listeners! I hope you had a great summer. This week we just touch upon many upcoming podcast and blog topics. We'll catch you up on the latest news in the district and the directions we'll be taking this year! Follow Me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @beardedteched or my new website http://beardedtechedguy.com/ Music: BirdSound Technology Background https://audiojungle.net...

That's it for the 2018-2019 School Year and we go out with a bang! Come and listen to our interview with a group of girls at Boland Elementary School who were a part of the first Girls Who Code group at Boland Elementary. You will not be disappointed hearing from these girls, who were the trailblazers at their school. Follow Me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @beardedteched or my new website ht...

This is the penultimate episode of the 2018 - 2019 Season of the SPS Digital Learning Hour! We are looking forward to the Summer and so should you! For today's episode we look at some fun ways for you to learn this summer. Follow Me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @beardedteched or my new website http://beardedtechedguy.com/ Links: https://www.beardedtechedguy.com https://my.springfieldpublicsc...

This week I sat down with teachers Elena Trotta and Brianna Santaniello at Arthur T. Talmadge Elementary School to talk about the amazing initiative their teachers are taking on. We also chatted with a few students from the school to hear all about their love for Talmadge Bedtime Stories. We also have a bunch of announcements this week! You don't want to miss this! Follow Me on Twitter, Instagram...