The Wired Educator Podcast

In this podcast Kelly offers his best tips, strategies, suppositions, advice resources to help educators make the absolute most of their summer break. Mentioned in this podcast:  P90X workout program.  Body Beast DVD workout program.  Coach.me app for the iPhone. Find it on the iTunes store.  Moleskine Journal: Here's the journal I use to reflect, plan, and record everything that matters. Love it! Kayak.com and HipMunk are great tools for planning a trip. Find both on the iTunes store.  Books to read: Along Came a Leader by Kelly Croy. What makes a better school? A better class? Leaders! This book is for you, your colleagues, and your students.  Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess: This book makes you get excited about teaching.  Freeletics app for your iPhone. Great new app for getting fit. Find it on the iTunes store.  Teacher Step: Online grad classes for teachers. Inexpensive. 9 Months to finish. Use your search engine to locate these courses.  Muse headband to practice Mindfulness. Headspace app

Brad is the Dean of Students and Supervisor of Instruction for the Chester School District in Chester, NJ. He is also the Founding Partner and Chief Information Officer for Evolving Educators LLC. Brad began his career in 2001 as a Middle School Social Studies and Computer Education Teacher for the Hanover Township School District in Whippany, New Jersey. He is a 2014 ASCD Emerging Leader, Google Certified Educator, Google Education Trainer, author of All Hands on Deck: Tools for Connecting Parents, Educators, and Communitie. He has also the author of Personalized PD: Flipping Your Professional Development and the newly released 140 Twitter Tips for Educators. Follow Brad on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bradmcurrie Connect with Brad at his website at: www.bradcurrie.net Mentioned in this Podcast: Jennie Mageria's new book: Courageous Adventures. Grab it. The two most influential books Brad has read: • Digital Leadership by Eric Sheninger and • What Great Educators Do Differently by Todd Whitaker • Brad says

Jarius Makambi is an incredible educator in the Kibera Slum of Narobi, Kenya. For the past two years our classrooms have used Skype to interact and learn. Jarius's school is one of the poorest in the world. It is situated in one of the largest slums in the world, The Kibera Slum where about 1.5 million people live.  This episode is not an interview, but rather a profile of the amazing work Jarius is doing at the Kibera Slum with the school he founded, how our classes communicate and learn, and how we can help these vulnerable students.  I really want to bring attention to Jarius's work and The Cheery Education Centre. I hope this podcast inspires you to use Skype in your classroom and perhaps even send The Cheery Education Centre a donation as i did.  Jarius feeds, clothes, and educates his students. I can vouch for their amazing character and drive to succeed. This is an amazing school. How the families and children live here is simply astonishing.  I can also vouch the amazing work of this educator. He does

Kelly interviews the founder of Breakout EDU, James Sanders. This is a fantastic interview about technology in the classroom on all levels. James Sanders is the founder of Breakout EDU and the Chief Innovation Officer at EdTechTeam. Previously, James was White House Presidential fellow where we led the development of Future Ready Schools and the White House Film Festival. James got his start in education as a middle school history teacher in South Los Angeles where he pioneered the use of Chromebooks in the classroom. His current passion is creating daily video blogs on his YouTube Channel YouTube.com/jamestsanders Mentioned in Kelly's Pre-Roll: • Planbook.com: Planbook is sponsoring the hosting costs for today's podcast and giving you a free year with the promo code: FREEYEARWEP. Playbook.com is the best software for any device to create and share your lesson plans with standards and so much more. Playbook is awesome. • The Create Conference hosted by Chris Hamady: June 6 • Rumble Roller: Textured Muscle Foa

Toby Price is an autism dad and the new Principal at Richland Upper Elementary school in Richland Mississippi. He loves connecting with other parents, educators, and fans of pop culture. He spends time online tweeting about Autism, Parenting, Education, Star Wars, Comics, Puppets & other Super Serious Things. Learn more about him at about.me/jedipadmaster Follow Toby on Twitter at @JediPadMaster Mentioned in this Podcast: Planbook: Amazing web-based software for creating and sharing your lesson plans. Great features. Get a free year using the promo code: FREEyearWEP Man vs. Autism: Toby's Blog.  The Last Lecture by Dr. Randy Pausch: Toby's choice as a most influential book. PuppetPals app Remind: a great and free messaging system. Educators can send group texts to students, athletes, and other educators without knowing phone numbers, etc.  Dave Burgess Publishing. Great books for the summer at: www.daveburgessconsulting.com ISTE: Super-awesome technology conference for EVERYONE> Star Wars in the Classro

Kelly Croy interview Adam Bellow. Adam is a dedicated educational technologist and father. Starting as a classroom teacher, Bellow went on to create popular edtech tools eduTecher, eduClipper, WeLearnedIt, and Circuits. Adam currently is serving as a Presidential Innovation Fellow. He also serves as a board member for the EdCamp Foundation and speaks internationally about education and the power of technology to enhance learning. Mentioned in this podcast: Get one year free of www.Planbook.com with the promotional code mentioned in the Pre-roll. www.AdamBellow.com One of Adam's most inspirational reads: Free: The Future of a Radical Price by Chris Anderson Adam loves using Post-It-Notes.  Adam created the following educational tech tools: EduTecher EduClipper WeLearnedIt Adam created this phone fun game: Circuits Adam is a board member of EdCamp Adam is a Presidential Innovation Fellow Adam's productivity tip is using Trello to stay organized. 

In this episode Kelly discusses the importance of using video chat in your classroom. Video Chat is great for all levels of education. It is a great way to bring in experts, go on virtual tours and field trips, and learn from other students around the world.  Kelly looks at the strengths and specil uses for Skype, FaceTime and Google Hang Outs and why you will want to treat each like a golf club and use each for certain purposes. You absolutely want to check out the Skype in the Classroom website. It is incredible. Fit this into your lesson plans.   Mentioned in this Podcast: Planbook: The best lesson planning software available. Grab it! $12 a year.  My Reading List from Dave Burgess Consulting: What a great resource of books to level-up as an educator! Please take my survey on: Do Teachers Work Outside the School Day? 140 Twitter Tips for Educators: Great book for using Twitter as an Educator. Read it.  The Classroom Chef: Sharpen Your lessons, Season Your Classes, Make Math Meaningful.  Ecamm Recording Sof

Kelly interviews Quinn Rollins, author of Play Like a PIRATE: Engage Students with Toys, Games, and Comics. Quinn has been a social studies teacher in Granite School District in Salt Lake City since 2004, where he currently serves as the social studies curriculum specialist. Whether teaching children or adults, he believes in engaging students with humor, pop culture, and new perspectives. As a result, he’s been honored to work with the educational programs for the University of Utah, Utah State University, Brigham Young University-Idaho, and Westminster College of Salt Lake City. Quinn has also served as master teacher and mentor for a Teaching American History Grant and for a National Endowment for the Humanities Landmarks of American History Workshop in Chicago, Illinois. In 2011, he received the Utah Council for the Social Studies Secondary Teacher of the Year award. In 2015, he was presented with “Utah’s Best of the West” award at the National Council for the Social Studies conference and the Best Histor

Kelly provides the motivation, tools, resources, tips, and tricks you need to write a book and get published. Kelly has interviewed numerous educators that have been published and now he is going to show you how you can do it. Kelly provides the motivation and understanding of WHY you will want to get published and what it could mean to your lifestyle and career. Not interested in writing a book? Kelly may just change your mind in this episode. Started a book, but haven't finished? Kelly will help you across the finish line. Already published your book? Kelly will show you how to get even more out of it and help you along with your next work. This is an insightful episode that delivers the motivation and resources educators need to write a book and get published. The following resources are about to save you years of guessing. Outlined below is the culmination of my intense reading, studying, and testing to become a better writer. • On Writing by Stephen King: If you are going to read only one book on writing

Kelly interviews educator and novelist, Ty Roth. Ty is a high school English teacher and a Random House Author. Random House is without a doubt the largest book publsiher in the world and the dream of every novelist. Ty Roth teaches literature and composition at both the high school and university level. He holds a Sociology degree from Xavier University, a Masters of Education from Ashland University, and a Masters of English from the University of Toledo. Ty was named one of the top “New Voices in YA Literature for 2011” by the American Booksellers Association, and SO SHELLY was chosen as a “Top Ten Romance for Youth” by Booklist, a Publication of the American Library Association. Ty’s second novel, GOODNESS FALLS, addresses the timely issue of concussions in high school football. As a former high school football coach, Ty and the novel were featured in a Cleveland Plain Dealer’s online edition’s investigative series on concussions in football. Ty continues to teach in Port Clinton, Ohio, as he works on wha

Kelly interviews Jennier Magiera about her upcoming book Courageous Edventures, her work on the United States Educational Technology Plan, being recognized as an educator by President Obama and more.  Jennie is the Chief Technology Officer for Des Plaines School District 62, previously the Digital Learning Coordinator for the Academy for Urban School Leadership and a Chicago Public Schools math teacher. A White House Champion for Change, Apple Distinguished Educator, Google for Education Certified Innovator and TEDx Speaker, Jennie has been working to redefine teaching and learning through innovative new practices. Jennie is also passionate about transforming professional learning, serving on the Technical Working Group for the US Department of Education’s National Educational Technology Plan and co-founding PLAYDATE and other new conference concepts. She is also the author of the upcoming book, Courageous Edventures. Aside from her students, Jennie's great loves in life are sci-fi, mashed potatoes, Tabasco s

Kelly interviews author, Jim Harmon. Jim has taught high school English, computers, and video production in the Cleveland, Ohio area for 18 years and is co-founder of Through Students' Eyes. He received his B.F.A. in Photojournalism from the Rochester Institute of Technology and his M.Ed. in Computer Uses in Education from Cleveland State University, where he was named a Distinguished Alumnus, 2008. Harmon was an adjunct teacher educator in educational technology at Baldwin Wallace University and Cleveland State University. He currently delivers professional development nationally. You can follow him on Twitter: @jimharmon Jim has co-authored Through Students' Eyes with Kristien Zenkov. I hope to interview Kristien in a later episode about his amazing impact in education. In the pre-roll, Kelly offers some great tips on how to determine the best time to buy a new Apple product, he discusses new educational books that he is reading, offers a few shout-outs to supporters of the show, his acceptance to the World

Happy Birthday Wired Educator Podcast! One Year Old! We have a fantastic line-up of interviews scheduled, but Kelly uses this episode to change-up the format for one week to celebrate a year of the podcast and to share with listeners: rules for expanding your classroom, a behind-the-scenes peek and an under-the-hood look at all of the resources Kelly uses to blog, podcast, write, and produce great content. Kelly shares four rules to help you expand your impact as an educator without losing touch with your family, going broke, or crazy. They are good rules you may consider adopting and applying. Kelly shares a boatload of resources to help you start or level-up your: blog, podcast, book, speaking, or online courses, and provides a little motivation on why you may want to start one of these. Kelly shares his productivity tips for Twitter and few favorite hashtags. Mentioned in this Podcast: • The Best Microphone on a Teacher's Budget: The mic I use for my podcast. $58.12• Auphonic: This is a paid service that n

Kelly interviews Andy Losik about his new book, Stay in the Game, sharing his knowledge of technology annually on a local television news program, working with amazing corporations focused on helping education, and providing quality professional development for educators. Andy and Kelly also discuss being the all-around "helpful tech guy," a role many wired educators know very well. Andy is a great teacher, a great guy, and has really expanded his impact as an educator. This is a great interview for all educators. You will be inspired to expand your classroom and discover many ways to make an even bigger impact and improve your lifestyle.  Andy Losik has been teaching for 21 years in a variety of elementary school settings. For fifteen of those years, he has taught the elementary Infotech program by combining technology and literacy skills in Hamilton, Michigan. Andy is a STAR Discovery Educator, a Google Education Certified Innovator, and Apple Distinguished Educator as well as the 2009 Michigan Tech-Educato

Kelly interviews Ryan McLane about his new book, "Your School Rocks... So Tell People!" Ryan co-authored this book with Eric Lowe. Ryan is the principal of Big Walnut Intermediate School, located in Sunbury, Ohio. He is passionate about making sure students are learning and having fun at the same time. Ryan began his career as a high school social studies and business teacher, where he taught for twelve years. He is a graduate of Muskingum College and Xavier University. Ryan lives just outside of Columbus, Ohio, with his wife and two daughters. This is a great interview for everyone to listen, whether you consider yourself the social media king or queen, a newbie, or someone who adamantly refuses to ever use social media. Ryan's book and intervew is a real eye opener, and makes you rethink your role in education. There are takeaways for everyone. Ryan and I talk about how schools can promote what they are doing in the best possible manner and what not to be concerned about when doing it. I really enjoyed my c

Kelly interviews George Couros, author of the book The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity. George Couros is a leading educator in the area of innovative leadership, teaching, and learning. He has worked with all levels of school–from K-12 as a teacher and technology facilitator, school and district administrator, and is the author of the book The Innovator’s Mindset; Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity. He is one of education’s most sought after speakers, and speaks on the topic of innovative student learning and engagement and has worked with schools and organizations around the globe. George is also the creator of connectedprincipals.com, an initiative that brings educators and leaders together from around the world to create powerful learning opportunities for students. In the pre-roll Kelly talks about his students building books using MacBooks and iBooks Author, iPads and Book Creator, and Comic Life software by Plasq. Al

Kelly Croy interviews Ross Cooper about how teachers and administrators can work better together to achieve common goals, promote their schools, provide better professional development, why educators and administrators should blog and so much more. One of the best takeaways from this interview is listening to two friends passionate about education talking honestly about their observations in education and how they can better communicate and work together. Ross is brilliant. Also, as a foodie, Ross will share the secret location of the best pizza on the planet!  Ross is the Supervisor of Instructional Practice K-12 in the Salisbury Township School District (1:1 MacBook/iPad) in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He is an Apple Distinguished Educator and a Google Certified Teacher. His passions are: curriculum and unit design, inquiry-based learning, assessment and grading, and quality professional development. He blogs about these topics at rosscoops31.com. Also, he regularly engages in speaking, consulting, and present

Kelly interviews Starr Sackstein, the author of Hacking Assessment: 10 Ways to Go Gradeless in a Traditional Grade School. Starr is a veteran teacher, has earned her National Board Certification, is the author of numerous books on education, and has been recognized for her work in education by The Dow Jones New Fund, Education Updated, among others. She is an amazing educator, writer, blogger, and speaker. You will be thinking differently about assessment after this interview, and you will find ways to modify and level-up your assessment. Starr shares some fantastic take-aways for you to apply. (25:59) Mentioned in this podcast: Starr's new book: Hacking Assessment: 10 Ways to Go Gradeless in a Traditional Grade School Starr's other books: Click here to view the list. Sigma 5 Edu Con Conference: http://www.5sigmaeducon.com Starr Sackstein's blog: http://starrsackstein.com Most Influential Book: Ken O'Connor's Fifteen Fixes for Broken Grades Project Based Learning Periscope app: https://www.periscope.tv Voxer

Kelly interviews educator Dan Tricarico, author of the new book The Zen Teacher. The Zen Teacher is a great book that has the potential to positively change your lifestyle inside and outside the classroom by providing specific techniques for becoming more focused, relaxed, and mindful. This is a fun interview about an important topic that can help teachers at any point in their career, whether they are just getting started, rocking it, struggling, or about to retire. Many great take-aways for everyone in this episode.  Mentioned in the podcast: Dan Tricarico's book, The Zen Teacher. www.TheZenTeacher.com This is Dan's website. Check it out.  iBookHack: Learn to make engaging, media-rich ibooks. Muse: a meditation headband for practicing mindfulness. Very cool. Breathe: An app that teaches meditation. Headspace: an app and a service that teaches mindfulness. Illusions by Richard Bach: A book Dan I both read and love. Dragon Dictation: Powerful software for quickly getting your voice to text. Essentialism by Gr

In Episode 21 of The Wired Educator Podcast Kelly interviews Michael Matera, the author of the new book, Explore Like a Pirate. Michael Matera has taught for more than a decade using interactive play, passion and purpose-driven learning to transform the classroom in international, public and private schools. He is a pioneer in the field of education, using gamification and technology to increase authentic student engagement and content acquisition.  Along with being a full time teacher at University School of Milwaukee, Michael is also a nationally-known presenter and international consultant of game-based learning. Additionally, he is the author of Explore Like a Pirate: Gamification and Game-Inspired Course Design to Engage, Enrich and Elevate Your Learners. He was named one of ASCD Emerging Leaders in 2015 for infusing best practices in the field with accessible gamified teaching methods.   Michael is driven to transform education through theoretical and technological applications that identify and inspire