Hack Learning

In Episode 81 of the Hack Learning Podcast, Mark Barnes shares a heartfelt story from author James Sturtevant about being the best teacher you can be, taken from the conclusion of the new book, Hack Learning Anthology: Innovative Solutions for Teachers and Leaders. Read Sturtevant's story and learn more about being your best on the show notes page at http://hacklearning.org/bestteacher. For all the Hack Learning episodes, visit us at http://hacklearningpodcast.com. Look for the new Hack Learning Anthology on Amazon.

Meryl Streep, the three-time Oscar-winning actress, condemned the actions of a man she chose not to name and who shall remain nameless here on the Hack Learning Podcast.During her acceptance of the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement award at the Golden Globes, Streep stood as tall as ever, as she set her sights on the most powerful man in the world and fired back like no on has since the 2016 presidential election.Hack Learning Podcast host Mark Barnes discusses Streep's viral speech and supports her plea for people to speak up and fight back against leaders who abuse their power by bullying people who are powerless to fight back. Mark shares a 3-pronged approach to standing up and speaking out, while teaching kids that bullying is wrong, no matter how powerful the bully may be -- even a bully who resides at the White House.See Streep's entire speech at http://hacklearning.org/streepCheck out all 80 Hack Learning Podcast episodes at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Connie Hamilton wrote a book. What's the big deal? Like most would-be writers, Connie wondered if she could do it. In Episode 79 of the Hack Learning Podcast, educator/presenter and popular Twitter influencer Connie Hamilton explains how she went from self-doubting, wannabe writer to a published author whose book hit Number 1 on Amazon in its first week. Best of all, she gives you a success plan with some hacks you probably didn't know.Learn more about Connie's journey at http://hacklearning.org/write.Listen to all episodes and subscribe to the Hack Learning Podcast at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Starr Sackstein believes in change, and sometimes change in education means cutting out archaic practices like traditional homework and grades.Author of Hacking Assessment and Hacking Homework, Starr explains how to change out-of-class work so that the onus of learning and how that learning is assessed falls squarely on our most important stakeholder — the student.Read an excerpt of Starr's latest book, Hacking Homework, at http://hacklearning.org/hwgradesCheck out all Hack Learning podcast episodes and show notes links at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

PBL paralysis. That's a scary phrase that makes many teachers run as far as possible away from project-based learning.Hacking Project Based Learning authors and PBL and inquiry learning experts Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy explain how to overcome the paralysis and dive into project-based learning today.In this episode, the authors identify several problems with project-based learning and share several simple ways teachers can begin creating an efficient PBL environment immediately.Learn more and read an excerpt from Hacking Project Based Learning on the show notes page at http://hacklearning.org/pblparalysisLook inside the book at http://hackingpbl.com

It's your turn. Let's hack your professional growth. You tell us what you need, and we'll give it to you. Visit http://hacklearning.org/survey. Answer three questions (it takes about 30 seconds). Ask and you shall receive.More episodes at http://hacklearning.orgRead us at http://hacklearningbooks.com

Justin Birckbichler is 25 years old. He teaches fourth graders in Virginia, and he recently learned that he has cancer.What is he doing about this horrendous news? He's not screaming, "Why me?" and "Life's not fair!" He's not crying. He's not feeling sorry for himself or blaming anyone. And he is definitely not hiding his illness from anyone.Justin Birckbichler is taking action. He's talking about his cancer. He's telling his family, friends, and thousands of people who follow him on Twitter. And, get this, he's even telling his students.In Episode 75, Justin explains how he told his students and other education stakeholders about his cancer and how he's chronicling his journey to being cancer free for the world.Learn more at http://hacklearning.org/cancerstoryFollow the journey at http://aballsysenseoftumor.com

It's time to bring a little passion into school and into professional growth, according to school leaders and Hack Learning authors Joe Sanfelippo and Tony Sinanis. Based on the strategies in Hacking Leadership, Mark Barnes explains how school leaders can implement Passion Projects with teachers, so they'll be more enthusiastic about their own professional development. Passion Projects were inspired by Genius Hour for students. Learn more about Genius Hour in the free webinar at http://GHmastercourse.com.Subscribe to the show at http://hacklearningpodcast.com.Download the app at http://hacklearningapp.com.

Whole child education is often missing from our classrooms. Schools and teachers work in isolation, sometimes overlooking the impact other stakeholders can have on improving learning environments and pedagogy.Educator/innovator Valerie Lewis explains how to nurture your whole child movement with a School Advocacy & Advisory Council (SAAC) -- partnerships with multiple stakeholders outside the school, so we can better meet the needs of all learners.Learn how to begin your own SAAC today.Check out more episodes at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Well-known connected educator Connie Hamilton says the most critical component of kids becoming independent learners is to be clear about what they should be learning and how it’s connected to a broader purpose. In another edgy, unabridged, unedited edition of Hack Learning Uncut, Hamilton, co-author of Hacking Homework: 10 Strategies That Inspire Learning Outside the Classroom, discusses a much-needed shift in education away from kids learning at home “because my teacher said I need to.” to students choosing to work outside of school because the activities “help me solidify my learning.” In this brief Uncut interview, Hamilton makes clear connections between in-class lessons and real-world learning at home that students will always choose to do—not because they’re told to but because they want to learn more. Look inside Connie Hamilton’s new book at http://hackinghomework.com Search for Hacking Homework on Facebook and join he conversation there.Share the love: tell friends to check us out at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Many districts/schools are implementing technology programs that offer opportunities for 24/7 learning, but teachers need more support and ideas when it comes to implementing the technology in a way that redefines and transforms teaching and learning.Mark discusses using the SAMR model and the 4 Cs with Stephanie Smith Budhai and Laura McLaughlin Taddei, authors of Teaching the 4Cs with Technology: How do I use 21st century tools to teach 21st century skills?Learn more on the show notes page at http://hacklearningpodcast.com/4cDon't miss Hacking Homework: 10 Strategies That Inspire Learning Outside the Classroom at http://hackinghomework.com

Hack Learning Podcast host Mark Barnes is uncut, as he vilifies traditional homework and the idea that it has any real value to learners. Hack Learning Uncut is a special weekly episode, dedicated to subscribers. There are no formal show notes, although you can locate all episodes at http://hacklearningpodcast.com.To learn more about throwing out traditional homework and inspiring independent learning outside the classroom, look inside the book Hacking Homework at http://hackinghomework.comJoin the discussion on our Facebook Page and on Twitter at #HackingHomework.

A Teacher Disposition Assessment (TDA) measures bias. Student experts, who consume your presentations daily, generate critical information. The TDA is a set of teacher-created prompts based on potentially controversial subjects that may surface in the course content.Hacking Engagement author James Sturtevant created the TDA, so he could learn more about his own biases and how they impact teaching and learning in his class.In Episode 69, Mark Barnes explains Sturtevant's TDA and shares some What You Can Do Tomorrow steps to uncover your own biases.Learn more at http://hacklearning.org/biasVisit our sponsor Kiddom and grab the free Kiddom app at http://kiddom.co/hacklearning.Check out more at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

In this episode of Hack Learning "Uncut"--the unedited, unbridled, under-eight-minute edition of the Hack Learning Podcast--Mark Barnes explains how to do projects right. Using a model of an uninspiring old-school project, Mark shares some right-now solutions for bad projects and emphasizes how to do projects and project-based learning (PBL) right.Want to build a fascinating, engaging project-based learning event? This brief, Uncut podcast episode is the perfect starting point. Then, read the book at http://hackingPBL.com.Learn more at http://hacklearningpodcast.com and share your thoughts on the Hack Learning Facebook page and on Twitter at #HackLearning.Subscribe to the Hack Learning Podcast now and never miss an episode of Uncut.

When Kansas middle school teacher Casey Ewy realized that kids will become independent, enthusiastic learners if they are part of a non-threatening community, she threw out everything that most teachers consider to be classroom management and replaced those strategies with an emphasis on Classroom Core Values. Ewy and Mark discuss how to engage all students in a conversation about values and how to inspire students to create their own core values. Check out Ewy's 5 simple ways to integrate core values in Hack Learning Episode 67 and at http://hacklearningpodcast.com/corevalues. Check out our sponsor Kiddom and learn to give your students a voice with the free app at http://kiddom.co/hacklearning.