Author Archive: Andrew Easton

Humanizing the Person Next to Us, Around the World, and Across the Screen

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This week on The Good Life EDU Podcast, the global connector behind the DigCit Institute, Dr. Marialice B.F.X. Curran, joins us to talk about Digital Citizenship and how we can support learners in these ever-changing, tech-forward times.

To learn more about the DigCit Institute, visit DCI – Digital Citizenship Institute (digcitinstitute.com)

List of resources mentioned in this episode…

Jaime Donally #ARVRinEDU (@JaimeDonally) / Twitter

Heather Brantley (@HeatherTechEdu) / Twitter

Mrs Jalland & The Ellie Herd (@ElliePrimary1) / Twitter

Noa Daniel (@iamnoadaniel) / Twitter

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Nebraska’s New Commissioner of Education, Dr. Brian Maher

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This week we have the pleasure of welcoming NDE’s new commissioner, Dr. Brian Maher, to The Good Life EDU! In this episode, Commissioner Maher shares his backstory in education and provides his vision and aspirations for his overall impact in this role. He also delves into some of what he hopes to accomplish in his first 100 days. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from Dr. Maher on the pod and look forward to our continued collaboration with NDE in support of education in our state.

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Curipod: An AI-Powered, Interactive Instructional Tool for Education

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This week’s guest, Eirik Hernes Berre, joins us to share all about Curipod, an interactive instructional tool that uses artificial intelligence to save educators design and research time while also promoting a more collaborative and engaging learning experience for all. Eirik is Curipod’s co-founder and our conversation delves into his experiences working with schools around the world, some potential implications of AI on the future of education, and his personal love for all things Harry Potter! We certainly enjoyed this fun and insightful episode and hope you do as well!

For more, visit Curipod.com, create an account, and begin designing your own AI-enhanced lessons.

Also, be sure to stop by Curipod’s vendor booth at this year’s ISTE Conference!

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UDL, Inclusion, and Fanny Packs with Paula Kluth, a Future Ready Nebraska Conference Preview

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This episode is the third of three pods devoted to previewing the keynote/featured speakers for this summer’s Future Ready Nebraska Conference! Dr. Paula Kluth joins us to share some of her work with Universal Design for Learning and the UDL Hacks found in her book Universal Design for Learning Daily: 365 Ways to Teach, Support, and Challenge All Learners. Paula will be keynoting day two of the FR Nebraska Conference on June 13th, 2023.

To register for the Future Ready Nebraska Conference (it’s FREE), visit:  https://nefutureready.com/

To learn more from Dr. Paula Kluth, visit inclusionrules.com

To learn how to turn on live captioning in PowerPoint, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=847QVGk3jVo

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NCSA & NRCSA on Education Legislation – LB705

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This week on The Good Life EDU Podcast, Dr. Michael Dulaney and Kyle McGowan of NCSA join Jack Moles of NRCSA to share their insights regarding LB705, which has moved to final reading in the Nebraska legislature. This episode explains several of the 20+ measures included in LB705 and explores the potential impact of each across the education landscape in the state.

To learn more about Legislative Bill 705, access: Nebraska Legislature – LB705

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Empowered to Choose with Andrew Easton, a Future Ready Nebraska Conference Preview

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This week the ESUCC’s Executive Director Dr. Kraig Lofquist takes over as the host of The Good Life EDU Podcast to interview our usual host, Andrew Easton! Andrew will be keynoting this summer’s Future Ready Nebraska Conference, sharing his message from his recently released book, Empowered to Choose: A Practical Guide to Personalized Learning. This episode previews Andrew’s various sessions that will be featured at this FREE hybrid professional learning event!

To register for the Future Ready Nebraska Conference (free to in-person and virtual attendees), visit nefutureready.com

To connect with Andrew Easton, visit andrewdeaston.com

Listeners can contact Dr. Lofquist at klofquist@esucc.org

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All Things SCIENCE in Nebraska

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In Nebraska, there are so many efforts being made to support teaching and learning in the area of science that we decided to record an episode that showcases the plethora of professional learning and resources available to educators this summer and into the 2023-24 school year! Dianah Steinbrink of ESU 10 and Kristen Slechta of ESU 9 join the pod as representatives of our statewide ESU science cadre to connect listeners with fun educational opportunities to learn and grow together!

Here’s the link to all the resources and registration sites shared in this episode.

All Things SCIENCE in NE – Google Docs

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Tom Bober on School Librarians, Primary Sources, and News Literacy, A Future Ready Nebraska Conference Preview

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This week features the first of three episodes dedicated to previewing featured speakers at this year’s Future Ready Nebraska Conference. Tom Bober will present on June 12th, speaking from his role as a school librarian and as a former teacher in residence at the Library of Congress. Tom joins The Good Life EDU Podcast and shares some of his experiences along with insights regarding primary sources and news literacy.

For more information and to register, visit Nebraska Future Ready Conference – In-Person and Virtual (nefutureready.com)

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ESU 3’s Innovative Approach to Supporting Student Mental Health in Schools

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ESU 3’s team of mental health leaders (Jen Pollock, Sarah Eades Hamilton, Ashlee Houy, and Avery Fleck) join The Good Life EDU podcast this week to share their work under the SAMHSA mental health grant that was awarded to Nebraska Region 6/ESU 3. The grant funds their unique and innovative approach to supporting student mental health in the rural schools in their region, and their collective hope is that this effort can be a model others adopt and build upon across the country. US Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona, recently visited ESU 3 to learn more about this effort, and now our listeners can learn all about it as well!

To learn more about the School Mental Health Services at ESU 3, access: smhs.esu3.org/home

To learn more about Grants for the Expansion and Sustainability of Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances, access: Grants | SAMHSA

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The Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium

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This week, Martha Bruckner, the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Omaha Education Consortium, joins The Good Life EDU to share the history and present work of this unique organization. MOEC’s membership is comprised of Omaha-area educators from public schools, higher ed institutions, and service agencies who are collectively committed to enhancing public education through collaborative efforts that support school, teaching, learning, and kids.

To learn more about MOEC, access their website at: Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium | University of Nebraska Omaha (unomaha.edu)

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