Overthrowing Education

This is the first totally new episode in about 10 months. What could get me to put aside my other work to make sure this episode gets out? Only something as important as the death of critical thinking in our education system and how it has especially played out this school year of 2023-24 would make me drop everything to make sure to get this out.   Please open your mind and heart while listening...

In this encore of the 4th episode in the series on AI in education, my guest, Matt Miller and I discuss the issues we need to consider as well as some very practical ideas for using ChatGPT and other really cool AI in our classes. Matt has been digging deep into this subject and brings so much wisdom and insight into our conversation. Matt shares some great resources to explore in the links below....

This encore episode is a favorite of mine, but maybe I'm just partial. Here is the description from the original version: Is it possible that Robots/AI will replace teachers someday? II first examined this question in an episode in early 2020. My guests said no, but my son, 14 at the time, predicted much of what we are seeing now with the explosion of growth in Artificial Intelligence. So, I broug...

This encore episode is the second part of my early exploration of AI in education. Here is the description of this episode from January, 2023: If you haven't yet listened to the first in this AI in Education series, episode 89, you might want to do that first. It's not essential but it does give some background that feeds this episode's discussion. In that episode, I mention some excellent essays...

This episode was orginally recorded in November of 2022, just as we were hearing about ChatGPT and AI in education. Many of us were wondering what will happen to the way we teach and the way students learn. This is the first part of my exploration about AI in Education. My views on it, my concerns, my hopes have all changed many times over the last year and 1/2. It's interesting to go back and see...

I've been taking a break from publishing new episodes since mid-August, and now I have a special announcement! 

My awesome guest on this encore episode is educator, author, and lovely, charming human being  Lindsay Portnoy who joins me today to talk about why playing games, and playing in general are the best way to learn and how to incorporate games and play into any subject or grade. Lindsay has so many inspiring and wise approaches to education and we really geek out together on this favorite topic for b...

What is a fauxmerical? It's a commercial parody with fake educational products we wish were real. They come towards the beginning of every episode. What is an encore? It means I've played it before, in this case 12/22. What is 12/22? A year I was relieved was almost over, until experiencing 12/23, that is. This last year was so awful that I'm nostalgic about 2022. Go figure. Anyway, now, I really...

Jump into the Overthrowing Education archives with me in this encore episode! On this episode, Zaynab Baalbaki joins me. She is a passionate educator who is truly working on and supporting others in overthrowing education  and creating amazing and equitable learning spaces joins. She talks about an incredible public school, Escuela Verde, where she worked in and I also talk about Qualia: The Schoo...

Jump into the Overthrowing Education archives with me in this encore episode! In this episode, veteran educator and podcast host  Charles Williams and I have a great conversation about the work we need to do to create true equity in education and the importance of challenging our current narratives. We also talk about problematic intrinsic biases that we all have and how to change them. Even thoug...

Jump into the Overthrowing Education archives with me in this encore episode! Long-time educator  Jared Magee, from the very cool The Winchendon School , shares what Impact Learning is, why it's important, and how to make it happen for all educators. Jared and I discuss ways to take what he has learned from his experiences there and mine working for another non-traditional school, Arete Preparator...

Even before the extreme challenges of pandemic teaching, my guest, Amber Harper of The Burned-In Teacher Podcast was a valuable resource for helping with the very real problem of teacher burn-out that affects most teachers even multiple times in a career. But now, with everything educators have been through trying to teach in 2020, Amber's Burned-In Teacher approach is a true remedy where she give...

Jump into the Overthrowing Education archives with me in this encore episode! This episode explores why kids hate math and what we can do about it featuring a conversation with  John Bianchette of Mathnasium from January 2020 with a recent additional talk to reflect the radical changes that have taken place since then.   In the Trenches, I trace my journey from hating math as a student and definin...

  Jump into the Overthrowing Education archives with me in this encore episode! Engaging educator, author and speaker Antero Garcia discusses how cell phones and games can be used effectively in a class, as well as other important issues surrounding cell use, games and technology. And then Antero nails The 5-Minute Game Show! The fauxmerical parody, " TAC vs. Worksheet " starts us off and we finis...

  Jump into the Overthrowing Education archives with me in this encore episode! Blended Learning expert, Catlin Tucker converses with me about the why's and how's of Blended Learning. Then we play The 5-Minute Game Show Flippin' Fictional Schools . Our In The Trenches segment features some food for thought from Rabbi Doctor Reb Mimi Feigelson . Then we honor a few teachers in Teacher Shout Outs ....

  Jump into the Overthrowing Education archives with me in this encore episode!   We start with a conversation filled with practical tools about games and gamification with educator, author and expert Jon Cassie of Game Level Learn and Qulia: The School for Deeper Learning . Then play along as Jon is subjected to The Five Minute Game Show where he has to determine whether the unusual games describ...

This is kind of a bittersweet episode for me. I was blessed to get the job of my dreams, and I couldn't be happier, but it means I'll be wrapping things up for this podcast. After 4 amazing years, this will be my last new episode.  I'm going to give everyone a chance to catch up by rereleasing older episodes. I've been thinking about what I would want to say in this last episode. What are some mag...

In this episode, my guest,  Crystal Frommert , and I have a great conversation about something that challenges new and veteran teachers alike: How to have better conversations with our students' parents and/or guardians in order to make connections and ensure collaboration that will really enhance our work with their kids. I love learning new things from my guests, and I certainly got some tips an...

After a long, tough school year, I figured we could all use a good laugh. In this encore interview in Episode 45 from April of 2021, I interview the one and only Mr. D, Joe Dombrowsk i the educator and comedian who performs around the country and whose videos have gone viral. We talk about the importance of using humor when teaching, and how to do it, even if you don't think you're funny. I also s...

My guest today, passionate educator and prolific author Connie Hamilton , is returning for her 3 rd time. Her first visit was in Episode 53: Asking and Getting Students to Ask Great Questions, one of the most episodes so far. Another popular visit was in Episode 53 when I had Connie and Starr Sackstein talking about hacking homework. Today, however, I chatted with Connie about her new book Hacking...

What happens when a veteran teacher working as a professional learning consultant during the last 4 years returns to the classroom? What's happening in the classroom now that was different than a few years ago? Spoiler Alert: A lot. I share my journey back into classroom teaching, at a time when so many teachers can't wait to get out (and who can blame them?). So, while I confess a bunch of stuff,...

Welcome to the 100 th episode of Overthrowing Education!  On today's episode, I have the awesome privilege of chatting with 5 inspiring high school students – Pauline, Drizzle, Ella, Fahmi, and Katie and their equally inspiring teacher, Stacie Oliver . We mostly talk undgrading. Obviously, this is a topic I am passionate about, and I noticed in the Edu Twittersphere a teacher, Stacie, who was post...

As I get ready for my 100th episode celebration, I thought it would be great to look back at my very first episode from August of 2019. I featured educator of excellence Jesse Stommel and we discussed Ungrading (of course!).  My show was so different in the beginning, and I've streamlined it quite a bit since my earlier episodes. I originally had a feature called In the Trenches , and my guest on...

It is the 99th episode of Overthrowing Education and today's topic is one I've haven't addressed on the show yet, so I've brought on Sharon Duncan, who works extensively with gifted students and their families. And I also bring back innovative educator Jim Hahn, the founder of Qualia: The School for Deeper Learning and Arete Preparatory Academy before that. Last time Jim joined me with the co-foun...

My guest today is Lindsay Lyons . We talk about what a culturally responsive sustaining classroom is, as well as why and how to make it happen, especially through PBL. She shares a lot of practical ideas and resources. Then Lindsay knocks it out of the park playing a literature focused The 5-Minute Game Show . I want to thank my guest today, Lindsay Lyons , and for help with the fauxmercial - Shan...