Simon Says: Educate!

In Episode #62 of Simon Says: Educate! , Ronald Lethcoe and Kristin Copeland discuss the upcoming AI + OER Institute 2026, a free virtual event hosted by Clover Park Technical College on August 7 and 8, 2026. Together, they reflect on how the institute has evolved from its original focus on open educational resources to include generative AI, accessibility, academic integrity, open pedagogy, and t...

In Episode #61 of Simon Says: Educate!, Geoff Cain interviews Stephen Downes , Researcher at the National Research Council Canada and pioneer of Connectivism and the modern MOOC. Stephen examines nine commonly cited AI ethical principles and makes the case that what gets labeled "ethical" in AI policy is often a reflection of political perspectives and underlying assumptions rather than...

In Episode #60 of Simon Says: Educate! , Geoff Cain interviews Meredith Tummeti , librarian at Centralia College and leader of a growing zine initiative on campus. Meredith shares how a simple mini-zine evolved into a thriving culture of student-created work, research-based assignments, and a full zine makerspace in the college library. The conversation covers creative integration of zines into En...

In Episode #59 of Simon Says: Educate! , Ronald Lethcoe is joined by Joni Gutierrez, co-chair of the Washington State ELC AI Task Force and accessible technology specialist at Tacoma Community College. Together, they reflect on the launch of the new AI Essentials course created for Washington’s community and technical college system. They discuss the urgent need for shared AI vocabulary, the cours...

In Episode #58 of Simon Says: Educate! , Geoff Cain interviews Dr. Natasha Maria Gomes, author of Keep Calm and STEAM Ahead: A Handbook for Educators . Natasha shares her journey from French instructor to open education advocate, and how her work combines arts-based learning with STEM and social-emotional learning (SEL). The conversation explores creative teaching strategies such as doodling, musi...

In Episode #57 of Simon Says: Educate!, Geoff Cain interviews Dr. Maha Bali, Professor of Practice at the American University in Cairo, about social justice, open education, and the ethical complexities of AI in the classroom. Maha shares her journey into critical pedagogy, explains the importance of culturally responsive teaching, and discusses how faculty developers can support inclusive learnin...

In episode #56 of Simon Says: Educate! , Ronald Lethcoe continues the Amplifying Black Faculty Voices series with faculty counselor Khairo Bray. Khairo shares his journey from Tennessee to Clover Park, reflecting on his experiences as a Black, queer professional in higher education. He discusses the college’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion while raising concerns about faculty and s...

In episode #55 of Simon Says: Educate!, Ronald Lethcoe continues the Amplifying Black Faculty Voices series with guest Chas Gardner Sr., an Adult Basic Education and College 102 instructor at Clover Park Technical College. Chas shares his journey from military service to becoming a student and faculty member, highlighting his passion for mentorship, student success, and the impact of the Male Enga...

In episode #54 of Simon Says: Educate! , Ronald Lethcoe and Darryl Owens explore the evolution of graphic design technology at Clover Park Technical College. They discuss how industry advancements have shaped the curriculum, emphasizing the integration of AI, remote learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The conversation highlights the importance of community partnerships, guest speakers,...

In honor of Black History Month, Simon Says: Educate! launches the Amplifying Black Faculty Voices series. In this episode, Ronald Lethcoe interviews Anthony Hickonbottom, HVAC faculty member at Clover Park Technical College. Anthony shares his journey as the first Black HVAC instructor in Washington, his family's history of breaking barriers, and his passion for teaching. He discusses Clover...

In Episode #52, Ronald Lethcoe interviews Jill Donnelly, a dual credit instructor at Renton Technical College, about strategies for managing classrooms with diverse and multi-generational student populations. Jill shares insights on creating engaging environments for students ranging from teenagers to senior citizens, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, empathy, and adaptability in addressi...

In Episode #51, the Teaching and Learning Center team at Clover Park Technical College discusses Khanmigo Teacher Tools, an AI-powered suite designed to support educators in saving time and enhancing instruction. The team highlights tools such as the real-world context generator, reading level adjuster, question generator, and rubric generator, sharing practical examples of their use in aligning w...

In the milestone 50th episode of Simon Says Educate, the Clover Park Technical College Teaching and Learning Center team reflects on their journey, achievements, and plans. Kristin Copeland, Ronald Lethcoe, Geoff Cain, and James Shumate discuss the center’s origins in 2017, rapid expansion during the pandemic, and initiatives like faculty peer support, work in generative AI, accessibility tools, a...

In Episode #49 of Simon Says: Educate, host Ronald Lethcoe and the full Teaching and Learning Center team discuss strategies for navigating difficult conversations in the classroom, especially in a tense pre-election environment. Dean Kristin Copeland emphasizes the importance of fostering neutrality, support, and respect in any discourse, while Curriculum Specialists Geoff Cain and James Shumate...

In Episode #48, Ronald Lethcoe interviews Sean Briggs, a faculty counselor, to discuss the upcoming Fall Book Group at Clover Park Technical College. The group will focus on The Educator’s Guide to LGBTQ+ Inclusion by Chris Shane, aimed at fostering inclusivity in education. Sean highlights the book’s practical scenarios, terminology, and strategies for creating LGBTQIA+ inclusive environments. Th...

In Episode #47 of "Simon Says: Educate," host Ronald Lethcoe revisits the topic of course learning outcomes in preparation for the upcoming Outcomes and Assessment Day at Clover Park Technical College. Ronald introduces the concept of action mapping by Cathy Moore as an effective approach to curriculum design. He shares a personal anecdote about an unplanned hike to Mount Rainier with his mother,...

In Episode #46 of "Simon Says: Educate," members of the Clover Park Technical College TLC discuss sessions from the upcoming AI Institute on August 9th and 10th, 2024. Highlights include presentations on ethical AI use, creating custom AI models, and integrating AI in education while maintaining ethical considerations. The episode emphasizes the importance of balancing AI innovation with human ele...

In Episode #45 of "Simon Says: Educate," host Ronald Lethcoe presents a recording from the 2024 Teach & Learn with AI conference in Orlando, where the Teaching and Learning Center team from Clover Park Technical College shared their innovative approaches. Kristin Copeland, Ronald, and Geoff Cain discussed their journey of creating quizzes using ChatGPT and other AI tools to develop inclusive and a...

In Episode #44 of "Simon Says: Educate," host Ronald Lethcoe interviews Sean Thompson, the Student Technology Coordinator at Clover Park Technical College. Sean shares his journey from being a student to landing his current role, emphasizing the importance of networking, tailoring resumes, and gaining work experience. They discuss how Sean's scripting skills and internship experience at Clover Par...

In Episode #43 of "Simon Says: Educate," host Ronald Lethcoe interviews Dr. Thomas Broxson, the Vice President for Instruction at Clover Park Technical College, about the college's strategies for preparing students for the workforce. They discuss hands-on training, industry partnerships, and work-based learning opportunities. Dr. Broxson emphasizes professional development aligned with state skill...

In Episode #42 of "Simon Says: Educate," host Ronald Lethcoe interviews Claire Korschinowski, the Dean of Instruction for Aerospace Technology, Manufacturing, and Workforce at Clover Park Technical College. They discuss how her programs prepare students for careers in aerospace and manufacturing by focusing on advanced skills, hands-on application, and industry integration. Claire highlights the d...

In Episode #41 of "Simon Says: Educate!", Ronald Lethcoe continues his conversation with Roberta Wirth, a dental faculty member at Clover Park Technical College. They delve deeper into the strategies and practices that Roberta uses to retain students in her dental program. Key points include the use of active learning, fostering a growth mindset, and peer assessment to keep students engaged. Rober...

In Episode #40 of "Simon Says: Educate!", Ronald Lethcoe interviews Roberta Wirth, a dental faculty member at Clover Park Technical College, about student retention. In part 1 of this 2-part interview, they discuss challenges like financial aid, childcare, and preparedness, and how they are addressed. Roberta shares effective teaching methods including active learning, growth mindset, recording le...

In Episode #39 of "Simon Says: Educate!", guest host James Shumate interviews Elizabeth Stewart, a professor at Clover Park Technical College, about student retention. Elizabeth shares insights from her experience as an ESL Pathways Navigator and emphasizes the importance of measuring retention rates, human connections, and academic support services. They discuss strategies for retention, the role...

In Episode #38 of "Simon Says: Educate!", Ronald Lethcoe from the Teaching and Learning Center at CPTC continues the CARES series by discussing student retention and completion. Joined by Dr. Irene Hausinger, the Director of Advising and Counseling, they explore retention challenges, strategies, and the importance of building strong relationships with students. Irene shares successful retention in...