Genius Hour

Brea Baxter (@breabaxter) interviews Wes Palm for Keystone's sixth Authentic Learning Quick Win on the topic of The Power of Reflection.  Wes Palm serves Western Dubuque Schools as a Technology Teacher Leader.  Wes shares his experience using a 360° camera to reflect on his teaching.  Check out the resources below that are mentioned in the podcast. Keystone's Authentic Learning Website Ricoh Theta SC 360° Camera (available for check out from Keystone’s media library)

Brea Baxter (@breabaxter) interviews Steve Peterson (@steve1peterson) for Keystone's first Authentic Learning Quick Win on the topic of Students as Co-Designers.  Steve Peterson is a fifth-grade teacher at Decorah Middle School who teaches ELA and Science.  Steve shares his experience using the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) to generate student questions and guide learning in his classroom.  Check out the resources below that are mentioned in the podcast.   Keystone's Authentic Learning Website  Steve Peterson's Classroom Blog The Right Question Institute Annenberg Learner Essential Lens

Keystone combined KPEC and their Trauma Sensitive Conference for a 2 for 1 combo.  The Be ALL In conference was held on June 25th and 26th in Dubuque, Iowa with Keynoters Hamish Brewer, Pete Hall, Kristin Souers, and Tricia McKale Skyles.  Listen to the episode to hear from attendees including their big takeaways from the amazing two days of learning! 

Jarod Bormann (@jbormann3) and Brea Baxter (@breabaxter) discuss their visit and interviews with Mazzuchelli Catholic Middle School in Dubuque, IA. The school is initiating the SUMMIT Learning program for Personalized Learning. In our 1st part of the 3-part series, we talk with Katherine Frank, 6th grade EDGE teacher giving us the personalized learning perspective from the classroom.  Part 2 and 3 of this special series will be coming in the following weeks.  Are you or an educator you know in the Keystone AEA area working to move students into higher-order thinking? Nominate at our new website: bit.ly/nllpodcast.

Jarod Bormann (@jbormann3) and Brea Baxter (@breabaxter) broadcast from the ITEC Iowa conference and discuss Brea's learning experience from various sessions. Listen to how the variety of sessions provide great ideas for moving into the upper-levels of thinking.  Are you or an educator you know in the Keystone AEA area working to move students into higher-order thinking? Nominate at our new website: bit.ly/nllpodcast.

Jarod Bormann (@jbormann3) and new co-host Brea Baxter (@breabaxter) discuss Jarod's interview with Michelle Ptacek (@michellelynn_music), an elementary teacher at North Winneshiek, about her Genius Hour initiative. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for some bonus audio with Michelle where she also talks about another concept that she is trying called bibliotherapy.  Are you or an educator you know in the Keystone AEA area working to move students into higher-order thinking? Nominate at our new website: bit.ly/nllpodcast.

Jarod Bormann (@jbormann3) and Norma Thiese (@nthiese) attempt to make some connections between the first five episodes by identifying educational themes that have presented themselves in their interviews with educators. Four have emerged so far: - Taking Risks- Kids Expressing Their Thinking- Questioning- Making Connections Stay tuned at the end of the episode when we bring in Tesha Ruley (@TeshaAnneRuley) for a sneak peek of our KPEC conference in June! Are you or an educator you know in the Keystone AEA area working to move students into higher-order thinking? Nominate at our new website: bit.ly/nllpodcast.

Jarod Bormann (@jbormann3) and Norma Thiese (@nthiese) discuss Jarod's interview with Ann Gitzner, a high school Science teacher in her 24th year at Central in Elkader, IA. Ann uses and embraces the Project-Based Learning (PBL) approach and has seen students reaching deeper levels of learning. Not only that, some incredible projects have come out of her classroom leading to community involvment and recognition for her students. Be sure to stayed tuned for the bonus audio at the end! Are you or an educator you know in the Keystone AEA area working to move students into higher-order thinking? Nominate at our new website: bit.ly/nllpodcast.

Jarod Bormann (@jbormann3), Norma Thiese (@nthiese), and special guest Sarah Sieck (@SarahSieck) discuss Norma's interview with Anne Johnson, an award-winning elementary Math teacher at Sageville in Dubuque Community Schools District. In her 18 years of experience, Anne uses a multitude of strategies to continually get her kids in the upper-levels of thinking. This is our longest podcast to date, but Anne provides so much insight that any teacher can take away some great ideas and strategies to use. Be sure to stay tuned for the bonus audio at the end where Anne talks about her experience receiving her award at the Whitehouse! Are you or an educator you know in the Keystone AEA area working to move students into higher-order thinking? Nominate at our new website: bit.ly/nllpodcast.

Jarod Bormann (@jbormann3) and Jason Martin-Hiner (@jmartinhiner) discuss Jarod's interview with Kellie Olson, an Instructional Coach at Allamakee in Waukon, IA. Kellie has experience teaching middle school Science and Social Studies, and now works directly with teachers as the Tech Coach for her district. Through her experience, Kelli has learned the only way to get better is to keep taking risks with your instruction. Are you or an educator you know in the Keystone AEA area working to move students into higher-order thinking? Nominate at our new website: bit.ly/nllpodcast. Episode photo by Keith Alexander @Flickr.