ClassCast Podcast Ep.040 features Garrett Pierce, a recent online college graduate AND face-to-face college graduate, sharing insights into distance learning, the rigidity of high school, students' mental health struggles, improving schools, school choice, and learning by doing. Garrett, a former student of host Ryan Tibbens, also shares his passions for music, movies, brewing beer, baking bread and pizzas, and the finer things in life. If you're interested in a student and young professional's perspective on education and worthy reforms, look no further. 

Check out Garrett's cooking-related social media accounts he mentions late in the episode:  newbridge_eats and ursamajorbaking.

Check out the Table of Contents below to identify clips and sections that fit your interests, or enjoy the whole conversation.  Don't forget to like, follow, share, retweet, subscribe, and leave a positive review wherever you get your podcasts.

Table of Contents

1. Intro/ Garrett as a Student/ Student Mental Health -- 0:00-11:41
2. Hands-On Learning & VoTech -- 11:42-17:21
3. Breweing Beer -- 17:25-22:15
4. 2nd Degree Software Programmer -- 22:16-29:51
5. Religion & Education -- 29:53-35:03
6. School as Vocational Training -- 35:04-41:25
7. The Ideal School, Learning Styles, & Choice -- 45:26-57:20
8. Class Choice, Mental Health, & Student Loans -- 57:12-105:30
9. Distance Learning -- 1:05:30-1:18:18
10. Movie/Book Recs. -- 1:18:14-1:32:09
11. The War on Normal People -- 1:25:39-1:30:17
12. Cooking, Baking, & Brewing -- 1:32:10-1:37:53

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ClassCast Podcast Ep.034 features Catina Franklin Sweedy, an unschooling advocate and leader at the Embark Center for Self-Directed Education in Leesburg, Virginia, discussing unschooling, student choice, mentorship, intellectual freedom, and innovation in public education with host Ryan Tibbens.  As COVID-19 pressures mount on public schools, students, parents, teachers, and other institutions, many families are unsure of what schooling decisions to make this fall and beyond; this discussion will not only present them with innovative options in the short term but with visions of change and progress to carry our students and schools into a new educational paradigm. 

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In this highlight clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.034, self-directed education expert Catina Franklin Sweedy explains the concept of unschooling and how it (and other alternatives) provide families with educational options, both during the pandemic and beyond. In addition to unschooling her own children, Catina has worked at the Embark Center for Self-Directed Education, an unschooling center in Leesburg, Virginia, for over a decade. Her insights into the benefits of freedom, choice, and student efficacy are essential listening for anyone involved in education -- schooling, unschooling, or otherwise.

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In this highlight clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.034, self-directed education leader Catina Franklin Sweedy and host Ryan Tibbens discuss the value of choice in education -- from homeschooling, unschooling, and traditional schooling to class and content choice, from libertarianism to curiosity.  Increasing students "voice and choice" has been trendy in formal education for the last few years, but education leaders always frame it as a surface-level choice, not as a choice between school formats, content areas, and specializations.  In this clip, we explore what real choice looks like. 

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In this highlight clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.034, Catina Franklin Sweedy describes her own schooling; she and host Ryan Tibbens then discuss the value of mentorship and making personal connections with teachers and advisors. Catina's career has been two-fold -- a highly sought-after clarinetist and teacher AND a self-directed education leader -- and this clip illuminates the path that led her to both musical success and educational innovation. Host Ryan Tibbens also shares his experiences working with students and offering mentorship to young people in public schools. 

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In this clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.034, unschooling expert Catina Franklin Sweedy shares her ideas about improving schools (and "unschools") in great detail -- ending compulsory attendance, moving to an interdisciplinary model, enhancing student choice, creating more labs and open facilities, improving the architecture, and more. Host Ryan Tibbens shares many of her visions and adds in one of his own goals -- using vacant commercial real estate for future school facilities. If you are interested in changing and improving the public school model, you can't miss this clip.

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In this highlight clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.034, unschooling advocate Catina Franklin Sweedy and host Ryan Tibbens discuss the importance of literacy and numeracy but disagree somewhat over how to support young people in developing those skills. Still friendly and productive, this is one of the only disagreements in the entire discussion -- Catina advocates full self-direction, and Ryan prefers compulsory direct instruction for literacy and numeracy skills.  This leads to discussions of how to implement more choice in schools, how to scale a hybrid plan, and how culture shapes our ideas about what skills are essential.  Though it comes from the end of the episode, almost an afterthought, this is one of the most entertaining sections of the discussion.

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​ClassCast Podcast Ep.029 features Kaplan's Entrepreneur in Residence Megan O'Connor speaking with host Ryan Tibbens about the new Boost Year program, entrepreneurship in education, and how formal education might change after COVID-19 pressures. Ms. O'Connor shares her own educational and professional background, including her work at education tech firms, and her beliefs about how college will change to better prepare students for careers. Her current project, Kaplan's Boost Year, is an alternative to the traditional gap year experience, designed to improve students' career readiness prior to entering college. 

Anyone interested in gap years, career preparation, or entrepreneurship in the field of education will find immense value in this episode.  Be sure to like, follow, share, and comment to let us know what you think!

ClassCast Podcast Clip 029.1 features Megan O'Connor, a successful entrepreneur in the education field, talking with host Ryan Tibbens about her role and responsibilities as Kaplan's Entrepreneur in Residence. If you are interested in entrepreneurship, innovating in the education space, or a career in business, Ms. O'Connor shares useful insights in this quick clip.  Be sure to like, follow, share, and comment to let us know what you think! 

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ClassCast Podcast Clip 029.2 features Kaplan Entrepreneur in Residence Megan O'Connor describing the new Boost Year program, how it works, and what if offers students who are looking for a different educational experience before college.  Students who are considering a gap year or alternate path between high school and college might consider what a Boost Year offers in terms of career insights and readiness. Be sure to life, follow, share, and comment to let us know what you think! 

Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)!