ClassCast Podcast Ep.084 features Jeff Harris, President and Co-Founder of Xello, discussing college and career planning, supporting students' long-term goals, and the concept (and reality) of "future ready" students.  Jeff and host Ryan Tibbens discuss their own experiences with past versions of "career planning," why talking about and structuring long-term planning is more important than ever, and how services like Xello can serve students without over-burdening teachers and counselors. This discussion goes beyond shallow platitudes about being "future ready" and digs into how local communities and students' experiences shape their goals and options, how classical/liberal/traditional schools may need college and career planning services even more than public and STEM schools, and even how school divisions go about testing and adopting cutting edge edtech like Xello. If you are a counselor, special education transition teacher, career/technical education teacher, parent, or community member concerned about how we're preparing students for their lives beyond high school, this episode is a must-listen. You can learn more about Jeff Harris and Xello at Xello.world and through their social media accounts, including on Twitter and YouTube. 

Table of Contents (*highlights)

1. 0:00-8:33 -- Intro to Xello, Jeff Harris, & Helping Students Find Their Futures
2. 8:33-16:11 -- Purpose & Relevance: Student Engagement in Edtech & Career Planning *
3. 16:11-24:35 -- Who Is Involved in Most Edtech Adoptions? 
4. 24:35-26:50 -- How to Implement Xello
5. 26:50-34:57 -- The Role of College/Career Readiness in Private & Public Schools *
6. 34:57-39:30 -- The Purpose of School According to Jeff Harris
7. 39:30-45:07 -- The Dangers of College/Career Advising & Advice **
8. 45:07-55:04 -- Jeff Harris, the Student Who Needed & Created College/Career Planning **
9. 55:04-1:07:16 -- Jeff's Ideal School & the Meaning of "Future Ready" *
10. 1:07:16-1:19:24 -- Final Wrap-Up & Jeff's Book/Movie Recs

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​​The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!

Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)! 
​Donations -- large and small -- help keep this podcast independent!

ClassCast Podcast Ep.081 features Mr. Tyler Rablin, an instructional technology coach, high school English teacher, and anti-grading crusader in Washington, sharing his perspectives and research on grading and assessment with host Ryan Tibbens.  This is among the all-time best episodes of the ClassCast Podcast because Tyler offers insights and ideas that challenge conventional wisdom, that put students first, and that show listeners a path to better formal education.  By reforming grading, we can increase learning, boost confidence, improve culture, and help teachers to handle the burden of feedback.

This is an instant-classic. Listen on the podcast service of your choice, and be sure to like, follow, subscribe, write a review, and share with friends! You can hear more from Tyler Rablin on  Twitter @Mr_Rablin, LinkedIn, and his website.

Table of Contents (*highlights)

1. 0:00-11:31 -- Intro to Tyler Rablin & Crusading Against Grading *
2. 11:31-15:27 -- How Teachers & Parents React to Grading Innovation
3. 15:27-22:48 -- Ungrading: How It Works ** 
4. 22:48-29:38 -- Gender in Grading & Student Self-Assessment
5. 29:38-42:31 -- Grading's Impact on Confidence & Growth **
6. 42:31-55:59 -- Is Grading a Culture Problem? **
7. 55:59-1:10:12 -- The Purpose of School According to Tyler Rablin *
8. 1:10:12-1:17:32 -- Tyler's Ideal School
9. 1:17:32-1:28:14 -- Why Is 2021 So Hard? *
10. 1:28:14-1:38:29 -- Tyler's Book/Movie Recs & Final Wrap-Up

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​​The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!

Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)! 
​Donations -- large and small -- help keep this podcast independent!

ClassCast Podcast Ep.077 features Grant Schafer, the Supervisor of Community Connections for Loudoun County Public Schools. Working closely with Career & Technical Education, Computer Science Experiential Learning, and a few other specialized programs in the school system, Grant strives to connect community resources with individual teachers, students, and classrooms to make school-based learning as authentic as possible. His hard work, power skills (soft skills), and ever-growing rolodex make him an asset to the whole community because he fosters relationships between local businesses, non-profits, and schools. Host Ryan Tibbens met Grant, a fellow JMU Duke, at the 2021 Loudoun 40 Under 40 celebration where he was being recognized for his amazing work connecting public schools with community resources. (Ashley Tibbens -- Ep.021 -- was also among the honorees this year!)  If you are interested in project-based learning, making school more "authentic," getting involved in public education without becoming a teacher, or understanding how community members can work together to improve education, this discussion is for you.  You can learn more about Grant's work by following @LCPSpartner and @CommunityLCPS on Twitter. 

Table of Contents (*highlights)

1. 0:00-5:38 -- Intro to Grant Schafer & Community Connections
2. 5:38-13:31 -- Project-Based Learning, "Authenticity," & Grant's Rolodex **
3. 13:31-20:53 -- Loudoun 40 Under 40, Networking, & Community Buy-In *
4. 20:53-28:26 -- Grant's Education: James Madison University & Outreach Services
5. 28:26-37:48 -- The Future of Community Connections in Schools **
6. 37:48-47:25 -- The Purpose of School According to Grant
7. 47:25-50:44 -- Equity & Social-Emotional Learning as Job Skills *
8. 50:44-57:04 -- Grant's Ideal School
9. 57:04-1:07:06 -- The Inflexibility of Education Bureaucracy **
10. 1:07:06-1:14:58 -- Grant's Book Recommendations & Wrap-Up​ 

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​​The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!

Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)! Donations -- large and small -- help keep this podcast independent!