ClassCast Podcast Ep.053 features Dr. Matthew Rhoads, a leader in edtech, blended learning, data utilization, and pandemic responses; he's also the author of Navigating the Toggled Term: Preparing Secondary Education for Navigating Fall 2020 and Beyond.  Matt shares insights into how teachers can leverage technology to adapt to ever-changing pandemic scenarios while also preparing themselves and their students for the future of education. From "moneyballing" school to "navigating the toggled term," from pandemic adjustments to the future of distance learning, this episode connects current contexts to on-going innovations in ways that will help listeners understand the effects on every student and teacher. If you have any interest in school now or in the next decade, Dr. Rhoads shares ideas and predictions that will cement the value of edtech and adaptability into your priority list. Don't miss Matt's second book,  Navigating the Toggled Term: A Guide for K-12 Classroom and School Leaders, which will be released later in 2021. 

Contact Dr. Matthew Rhoads via Twitter @MattRhoads1990 and www.MatthewRhoads.com. 

Table of Contents (Highlights **)

1. 0:00-6:15 -- Intro to Pandemic Schooling*
2. 6:15-9:28 -- Dr. Rhoads' Education & Experiences
3. 9:28-17:49 -- Engines of Innovation & Pandemic Effects
4. 17:49-24:21 -- Matt's Preferred Edtech & Data Tools
5. 24:21-35:30 -- Moneyballing School: The Role of Data in Modern Schooling**
6. 35:30-55:44 -- Navigating the Toggled Term: In & Out of School during the Pandemic**
7. 55:44-58:26 -- Matt's Ideal School
8. 58:26-1:02:14 -- The Future of Online School
9. 1:02:53-1:08:51 -- Concerns about Concurrent Hybrid/HyFlex in K12** 
10. 1:08:51-1:12:05 -- Book #2
11. 1:12:05-1:15:14 -- Matt's Book & Movie Recs
12. 1:15:14- End -- Wrap Up

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ClassCast Podcast Ep.046 features Taylor Freeman (founder & CEO of Axon Park, co-founder of Upload, Forbes 30 Under 30, and VR industry leader) sharing knowledge and insights about the exciting field of XR (virtual reality, augmented reality, etc. -- we explore the names and functions in this episode), how it can impact and improve schools, and how the world may change as virtual reality technologies become better, cheaper, and more popular. Whether you know nothing about virtual reality or you have your own headset, this episode has something for you -- educational applications, business dynamics, technical details, recommended platforms, and more. 

Host Ryan Tibbens first gave serious consideration to virtual reality schooling in late September 2020 after teaching synchronous online classes all day: "It would be great if students could work from home but feel like they were around each other, if they could look around and see each other to improve class climate and discussion." From there, the idea took off: "If we had virtual reality capabilities to recreate the classroom, why stop there? Why not make every day a lab day, field trip, or hands-on activity?"  Tibbens contacted Freeman, and the result is an engaging, truly outside-the-box discussion about how we can apply new XR technologies to improve nearly every aspect of both traditional and online schooling. 

Whether you're looking for educational innovation, information about a quickly advancing technology, what the future may hold, or even a great holiday gift idea, Ep.046's conversation with Taylor Freeman is rich in ideas and inspirations. 

​Contacts
Find Taylor Freeman on Twitter @TaylorPFreeman, on Instagram @TaylorPFreeman, and on LinkedIn.  Also follow @AxonPark and @UploadVR on Twitter and other social media outlets. Check out www.AxonPark.com and www. UploadVR.com for more information.

Table of Contents 

1. 0:00-9:47 -- Intro to Taylor Freeman &  VR in Schools
2. 9:47-13:31 -- The Inspiration for This Discussion
3.  13:31-23:52 -- Taylor's Education
4.  23:52-34:57 -- The Rise of Virtual Reality in School & Beyond
5. 34:57-42:19 -- VR, XR, AR, MR: What Are We Talking About?
6. 42:11-44:50 -- The State of XR/VR Today
7. 44:50-54:53 -- Axon Park: The School of the Future 
8.  54:53-1:01:02 -- How to Create a Virtual Setting
9. 1:01:03-1:13:56 -- Virtual Reality in Movies AND Taylor's Book/Movie Recs.
10.  1:14:22-1:30:06 -- Final Thoughts: Video, Cyber Sickness, Oculus Quest 2, & AR in Class
11. 1:30:06-1:37:53 -- Taylor's Ideal School

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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

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