James Sturtevant Hacking Engagement

Brennan Daugstrup (The Blog) and Shawn Sherburn (Shrapnel) make me feel great in this episode. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then classify me as flattered to the hilt. These wonderful young guys are highly complimentary of my flipped lectures. But what really frosted my educational gourd, was being informed by my two young friends that when prompted to make videos, they use mine as a template. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I treasure their endorsement of my teaching style. Additionally, they teach me about some cool platforms, one of which I'm determined to utilize. Their ingenuity and creativity are why I labeled them technocrats.

It's tough to get students to participate in class discussions. It's tough to keep track of all the tech tools I toss out in this podcast. Well in this episode, I'm determined to alleviate both of these frustrations. I'll provide an engaging and fun class discussion tactic, which will only require great sources, provocative prompts, a stopwatch, 1 sheet of paper, and a pen or pencil.The Agora was the square in an ancient Greek city-state. The Greeks took democracy seriously. Participation was mandatory, juries were massive, being informed was a must. The Greeks accomplished what we try to do in all of our Social Studies classes daily...foster citizenship.I became exposed to the appointment book method of discussing at a PD session many moons ago. I was impressed, but perhaps not that impressed because I totally forgot about it. I did not invent this tactic, but like most teachers, I beg, borrow, and steal, morphing as I go. This past month, I needed a new tactic to employ in an upcoming class discussion. For some odd and welcomed reason, I remembered the PD appointment activity. Eureka...I had my idea and I called it Meet me in the Agora! It went so well that I shared it with my friend, colleague, and neighbor Mel Eckelbarger. Mel utilized my Meet me in the Agora tactic the next day and was most pleased with the results. We'll discuss the particulars of this tactic...how to set it up, execute it, and we'll even troubleshoot Meet me in the Agora.

I started this podcast in the summer of 2016. I just had completed my book Hacking Engagement. The podcast was meant to supplement the book. There are 50 hacks in Hacking Engagement. My objective in 2016 was to produce 50 episodes. It seemed like climbing a mountain. It was hard to fathom producing 50 episodes...and yet I did. I had so much fun that I went ahead and produced 100! This episode is a celebration of this achievement. I interview Kevin Ellinwood. Kevin Ellinwood. Kevin, like me, is completing his 33rd year in the classroom. Please enjoy this show as we reflect upon 33 glorious years amongst thousands of young people. No episode template...just listen, enjoy, and thanks so much for listening! 

America is changing. According to Pew, by 2050 the US will be 29% Hispanic. If you don't have kids in your class who struggle with English, you will in the future. If you have students that struggle, expect a lot more. I've spoken to colleagues who've experienced such students. Many of these educators expressed frustration. They lack training and resources. In prepping for this episode, I concluded that teachers need to strive to be like the Statue of Liberty...SAY WHAT!?!“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore,” she wrote. “Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”The golden door is an education! Embrace these youngsters. Think how stressful it is for them to not feel free to express themselves.In this episode, I interview a bilingual champion by the name of Diann Espinoza.

When I was a young teacher, I used to bring my newspaper to study hall. Students would perch on their desks and observe me like vultures. As soon as I was done with the Sports Section, or the Life Section, they would swoop down and devour it! Today, I'm not sure kids could identify a newspaper in a police lineup. What I loved the most about consuming the newspaper each day was the Comic's Page and the Editorial Cartoons. Unfortunately, I don't get a paper anymore. My exposure to comics has diminished significantly. I miss them!So...in this episode, I'll demonstrate how to revive this wonderful medium with the help of a tremendous tech tool called StoryboardThat. I'll also give non-humanities teachers an idea on how they could use it in their curriculum. 

Student videos started to get on my nerves. It was the same thing over and over. The kids put most of their efforts into making them funny and violent. The videos seemed more slapstick than expressive. I retooled the way kids create videos and the results have been spectacular. This episode is about HOW I have my students do this and HOW they present their work to one another. Episode 44 is about student presentations via the gallery walk. In this program, I'm going to promote the idea of creating a virtual gallery walk. I was impressed a couple of years ago when I had my kids take a virtual tour of the Caves of Lascaux.  I remember thinking...Wouldn't it be cool if my kids could create a virtual exhibit? My students mastered this challenge with the help of Google Slides and wonderful screen recorder called Screencastify. 

Many moons ago, I read a fascinating book about the future. Bill Gates’ book "The Road Ahead" inspired me greatly. I couldn’t wait to see if Gates’ fascinating predictions came to fruition. Guess what…most did!This episode will feature a Gates-like futuristic prophet in regard to lesson delivery. Jason Connelly is an instructional designer at Columbus State Community College. I became acquainted with Jason last year. Columbus State commissioned your humble narrator to create the online version of World Civilization 1181. Jason was my mentor and muse in this massive creative challenge.I’ve taken all that I learned from Jason and applied it to my virtual lesson creation. I’ve guided student to create superior projects based on what I learned from Jason. Don’t be intimidated by what you hear today. In my next episode, I’ll explain how to transform a basic storyboard, which I'll encourage you to create, into a powerful video.

In the midst of your last class discussion, you may have felt some pangs of disappointment. Perhaps, there was not enough engagement. Or maybe, the participation level was not satisfactory. Some students may have monopolized the airwaves. Well...I'm here to help.In this episode, you'll be treated to a step-by-step approach to epic class discussions. This template can be used repeatedly. Welcome, dear friends, to Philosophical Chairs Sturtevant-Style!

I get frustrated when I'm asked to do something irrelevant. Don't you? And yet, many teachers dread when students ask, "When am I ever going to need to know this stuff?" It's a rather obnoxious way of asking, "Is this lesson relevant?" Now, picture this. You craft a lesson that is so relevant that you hope some kid inquires! This episode is designed to help you create such a lesson. To help in this mission is an awesome primary source.Mitchell Charles is an articulate young man destined for academic brilliance. In World Civilization, we were meandering through a unit on the Industrial Revolution. This topic typically leaves some students cold. My challenge was to make it relevant. I did this with the help of Elon Musk and Peergrade.

I get inspiration for my episodes from odd sources. One of my New Year's resolutions is to read more. The past few years, I've been busy writing my book, so I had zero time to consume words because I was too busy creating narratives. That's changed and it's delightful. Currently, I'm reading Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance. This book is about Musk's incredible vision, his entrepreneurial spirit, and his dogged determination. The book is also about how crucial it is to embracing change. I've been inspired by reading it! Consequently, I needed to bring a change agent on my podcast. Penny Sturtevant is the College and Career Readiness Coordinator for the Big Walnut Local Schools. Penny is an expert on prevailing trends in education in regard to career ed and college readiness. We discuss the brave new frontier of K12 and Higher Ed's evolving relationship. In the title, I utilized the word seamless. Listen to this powerful episode to learn why.This program does not feature a tactic, a tool, or a lesson to specifically engage kids. Instead, this episode could inspire you to seek out an enrichment path for your students. If you're successful, I predict you'll be greatly inspired as well.

I'll bet you've heard your students complain about where they live...the community where you teach them by the way. I did my share of whining when I was a teen. I felt like little New Concord, Ohio was nowhere. And yet, there's virtually no nowhere anymore! We all live and function in a global economy. If your students don't believe it, have them conduct a simple inventory of what they're wearing and carrying. Ask them to record where all of their possessions are manufactured. I'll bet they're not lugging around to much Made in the USA.Unfortunately, some in our nation would like be isolated. This is a fool's errand. Students, on the other hand, who embrace the international nature of modern existence will prosper. Teachers, therefore, have an obligation to help students pursue and master this paradigm. To help in this quest, today's episode will feature the urbane Brad Gosche. Brad is the Vice-President of Education and Communication at the Columbus Council on World Affairs. Here's the council's two-fold mission:To be the leading nonpartisan, globally-focused organization in the Columbus Region. The Council fosters a community that is well-informed about critical international issues as they affect the world, nation and the local region, and whose citizens utilize this insight to make effective decisions in our global society.This episode will not only inspire you to include a global perspective in your curriculum, it will also provide two outstanding activities you can employ tomorrow. The first is Geert Hofstede's country comparison model. The second is taking your kids on a wonderful Trip to Mintana. Please listen to this powerful episode for descriptions of and solid ideas about how to use each.

If you've taught a humanities class, you've probably recognized how frequently Adolf Hitler comes up. Unfortunately, many kid's understanding of Hitler and Fascism doesn't expand much past the Holocaust.Scott Elliott teaches 9th Grade World History with me. Right before Christmas Break, we were yakking about how we could teach Fascism, our first unit in January, in a more engaging and impactful way. Scott found a wonderful resource which formed the backbone of the assignment. The article is by Laurence W. Britt and is entitled Fascism Anyone. The assignment we created challenged kids to rate WWII leaders on the 14 Characteristics Britt articulates and also to apply them to current leaders with authoritarian traits. Please give a listen and if you like what you hear, migrate to my show notes for outstanding links.

Louis Soper is a middle school social studies teacher in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Louis has done a remarkable job of empowering his kids to demonstrate their learning. He refers to this process as CYOA, or Choose Your Own Assessment. To help in this endeavor, Louis deputized two of his outstanding students Will Koppmann and Mae Reasner. Student-led learning is a powerful tide in American education. Wax up your board and hop along for the ride!

I was exposed to Kahoot a few years back. I loved it immediately. It's been a huge hit at our school. Unfortunately, there can be too much of a good thing. Many of our kids are tired of Kahoot. Kahoot also has foundational flaws. Invariably, there are students who emerge as virtually unbeatable in Kahoot. Guessing quickly in Kahoot also can pay huge dividends, so many kids mindlessly respond without investing much thought. I still like Kahoot...but I was thrilled to find an alternative.And here, dear reader, is where Quizlet Live makes a dramatic entrance. I became exposed to this wonderful platform a few months ago. I knew instantly that it was a massive upgrade from Kahoot. Quizlet Live creates a beautiful competition between randomly selected teams of students. On your SmartBoard, students monitor a fascinating horse race unfold. Your students will be enthralled!I have a wonderful guest to help tell the story of Quizlet Live. Jennifer Ladd is an elementary teacher at Scotch Elementary in suburban Detroit. Jennifer and I got to know one another through interacting during a Twitter chat. From the moment we started interacting, I knew she had the potential to be a marvelous guest. I was not disappointed!

I remember trudging to Math class in high school...AND I MEAN TRUDGING. I had zero confidence, zero interest, and I could not fathom any relevance in what I was being asked to do. If you're a Math teacher, these adolescent frustrations may sound familiar. Guess what...I get the "Why do we have to learn this stuff?" question in history class too. Think about it. It's a fair question. Maybe, educators need to get better at answering it. Today's episode will help you. Denis Sheeran is the Director of Student Achievement at Weehawken Township School District, which is in New Jersey. He's going to help all of us answer that important student question!