The MCIULearns Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, join Cassie Brusch, Julie Ortlieb, and Brandon Langer as they delve deeper into the heart of accessibility in education, spotlighting innovative strategies and technologies that pave the way for inclusive learning environments. While the primary focus remains on ensuring every student has access to the resources and support they need, they also touch upon the role...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this episode as we explore the role of technology in making learning more accessible. Cassie Brusch and Julie Ortlieb share insights on how digital tools are transforming education, offering flexibility and a variety of learning methods. They discuss the significance accessibility features like speech-to-text in enhancing learning experiences for all students. This epis...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this insightful episode of the OPL Podcast as we continue our conversation with Pia Houseal to discuss the three pivotal goals of MCIU's Project AWARE. Learn how we're enhancing student well-being through Suicide Prevention Training, Mental Health Screening, and Electronic Referral System Development. Tune in to understand how these goals are being actualized...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a deep dive into Project Aware with Pia Houseal and Brandon Langer. In this episode, we uncover how Project Aware is: Empowering Through Awareness: Increasing suicide prevention training for students (K-12) to raise awareness and reduce suicidal tendencies and feelings of depression. Fostering Mental Health Support: Ensuring school districts have screening tools and tr...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Donna Gaffney, Dr. Rebecca Millspaugh, and Brandon Langer from the MCIU are joined by Ryan Winter from LinkIt! to discuss navigating MTSS and data platforms in schools. Listen as they explore the practical side of MTSS implementation and the impact of data-driven decisions on student success. 

Send us Fan Mail Stephanie Schwab, Erin McCool, and Brandon Langer dive into Environmental Literacy and Sustainability.  What does it mean, where is headed in schools, and what will the impact be on students?!? Erin and Steph also share the details about a brand new offering from the Office of Organizational and Professional Learning, the Environmental Mobile Unit.  The EMU will be hitting the roa...

Send us Fan Mail Kicking off season 5, we delve into the challenges faced by high school math teachers, from the constraints of standardized tests to the limited scope of current curricular structures. Discover why the status quo is no longer acceptable and why it's crucial to revamp course organization, teaching methods, and assessments to meet the demands of today's workplace and lifel...

Send us Fan Mail Season 4 of the MCIU podcast wraps with a conversation between MVP (MCIU23) and our friends from IU8 with the World of Learning Institute.  In this episode, we explore the intersection of storytelling and executive functioning in online learning. Storytelling has the power to engage learners and enhance their executive functioning skills, leading to improved learning outcomes. Mor...

Send us Fan Mail Julie Ortlieb and Brandon Langer continue their conversation about students with complex needs and literacy instruction. Read Julie's full post on the MCIU Learning Network.

Send us Fan Mail Erin, Jesse and Brandon meet with the Inglewood Elementary team to hear their journey with Universal Design for Learning and the UDL team at Montgomery County Intermediate Unit. For more information and resources, visit the MCIU Learning Network at https://Learn. MCIU.org .

Send us Fan Mail Pennsylvania Department of Education's Science Content Advisor, Dave Bauman, joins Andrew Kuhn and Brandon Langer to discuss the upcoming MCIU Science Expo and the statewide launch of the STEELS standards. Register to attend the MCIU Science Expo on May 16, 2023: https://mciu.gosignmeup.com/public/Course/browse?courseid=3804 For more information about this event, be sure to v...

Send us Fan Mail Ben DeSantis and Brandon Langer discuss MCIU's new role as the eastern Pennsylvania regional partner for Code.org.  Learn more on the MCIU Learning Network at: https://Learn. MCIU.org/code 

Send us Fan Mail Julie Ortlieb and Brandon Langer jump into round 2 of the mini-series dedicated to learning about " Teaching Literacy for Students with Complex Needs ."

Send us Fan Mail Deborah Peart joins Steph Schwab and Brandon Langer to talk "mathing," "mathers," and how she believes in building a math community where it is safe to take risks and share ideas. All of which provides an incredible preview for her upcoming MCIU session "Making Math Invitational."

Send us Fan Mail In the first episode of a new mini-series, Julie Ortlieb and Brandon Langer discuss how it may be tempting to focus solely on “functional skills” in a complex needs classroom and why literacy is the most important functional skill that our students can acquire.  

Send us Fan Mail Andrew Kuhn sits down to discuss the booming esports landscape and how you can learn more with MCIU.  Register for the upcoming Introduction to esports with MCIU!

Send us Fan Mail Lauren Benfield and Erin Barry share a unique UDL offering with MCIU and Loui Lord Nelson.  Learn more on the MCIU Learning Network !

Send us Fan Mail MCIU kicks off the new season of the OPL Podcast with special guest, Robert Kaplinsky.  Robert shares his background, interests, and steps educators are taking with the open-middle and #observeme movements.  Robert comes to MCIU later in the fall of 2022, more information can be found on the MCIU Learning Network here: https://learn.mciu.org/robert-kaplinsky-oct22/ . 

Send us Fan Mail Lead Project Consultant Kari Kessler meets with Dr. Mark Dixon to discuss the background and structure of the PEAK Relational Training System.  Stay tuned to the MCIU Learning network at LEARN.mciu.org for details about our upcoming PEAK event in October! PEAK ABA YouTube Channel

Send us Fan Mail Teachers and school leaders join a conversation with Graham Fletcher as he returns to the OPL Podcast to discuss The Five [Mathematics] Practices in Practice.

Send us Fan Mail The MCIU Special Educators Network kicked off in February of 2022.  Hear more about this unique opportunity for special educators to convene and connect in support of each other and learning for all. Register for the next event on April 5th, 2022

Send us Fan Mail OPL Project Consultant Cassie Brusch finishes her series about SDIs in Virtual Environments.  Brandon Langer and Cassie Brusch discuss the importance of developing executive functioning skills in virtual learning environments. The sixth and final post of this series can be accessed on the MCIU Learning Network .

Send us Fan Mail OPL Project Consultant Cassie Brusch continues her series about SDIs in Virtual Environments.  Brandon Langer and Cassie Brusch discuss accommodations and modifications and we can approach Student Work SDIs in virtual learning environments. The fifth post of this series can be accessed on the MCIU Learning Network .

Send us Fan Mail OPL Project Consultant Cassie Brusch continues her series about SDIs in Virtual Environments.  Brandon Langer and Cassie Brusch discuss accommodations and modifications and we can approach Instructional SDIs in virtual learning environments. The fourth post of this series can be accessed on the MCIU Learning Network .

Send us Fan Mail Join project consultants Cassie Brusch and Julie Ortlieb in a conversation about our Special Educator’s Network. The MCIU Special Educator’s Network provides a space and forum to build connections, share ideas, explore resources, and problem solve as a community of educators. We discuss the origin of this network and our vision for its progression.  Special educators, you are not...