The Digital Backpack: Your Resource for Online Learning

Feb 16 2021 40 ep. 51 mins 3
The Digital Backpack: Your Resource for Online Learning Podcast artwork

The Digital Backpack, powered by Michigan Virtual, is dedicated to sharing tips and tricks for teachers as they navigate their journey through online and blended learning. Join the host Jeff as he discovers new tools and resources for classroom use, talks to practitioners who are doing great things with their students, and has some fun! (Formerly known as "Campfire: Igniting Education with Blended Learning".)

  Education
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Learning like an Innovator with The Henry Ford

Feb 16 2021 86 mins  
In this episode, we talk to Phil and Luice from the Learning and Engagement Team at The Henry Ford. We discuss research that indicates that humans are innately innovative, especially in difficult situations. Yet innovation tends to happen in clusters in specific locations in the U.S. So why is that? Is there a key that might unlock greater opportunities? How might educators harness

Design Thinking in Schools with Ariel Raz

Sep 28 2020 74 mins  
Ariel Raz is the Head of Learning Collaborations with the Stanford d.school k12 Lab. In this episode, we chat with Ariel about design thinking and how it can be used in K-12 schools to unlock innovation. Ken Dirkin, Executive Director of the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute joins us to unpack our conversation with Ariel. Here are some notes about the episode: Learn ab

Why the Same Learning Model Won't Work for Every School with Adam Rubin

Sep 25 2020 36 mins  
Adam Rubin is a Founder and Partner with 2Revolutions, an education design lab. In this episode, we chat with Adam about his organization’s approach to supporting schools, districts, and education agencies to clarify goals for student learning, identify the barriers that are in the way, and use the design lab model to design and test methods that help make the shift happen. Rathe

Diversity: Understanding self and embracing the conflict with Dr. Jay Marks

Sep 08 2020 75 mins  
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Jay Marks, Diversity and Equity Consultant with Oakland Schools (Michigan). We discuss the topics of race, culture, social justice, and inequities that exist in the K-12 system. We discuss how Dr. Mark’s experiences have shaped him over his 30-year career in education, the approach and impact of the work he’s currently doing, and he provides re

SEL During a Pandemic w/ Lauren Kazee

May 20 2020 41 mins  
In this episode, we chat with Lauren Kazee about the impact COVID-19 is having on our social and emotional wellness. We discuss what social-emotional learning (SEL) is, how it’s been used to help students in schools, and how we can all benefit by understanding and living by the basic tenets of SEL especially during times of high stress and trauma. We also welcome Justin Bruno in

Engaging with STEM and the Community

Jan 02 2020 56 mins  
In this episode, we’re joined by Spencer Kiper, a STEM educator and the 2019 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year. We focus our conversation on STEM education, the opportunities that have come along with state teacher of the year platform, and how he’s leveraging his opportunities to support his students. Justin Bruno joins to help unpack the conversation with Spencer. Here are

Digital Well-being

Sep 23 2019 69 mins  
In this episode, we chat with Keith Tramper about digital wellbeing. We discuss what digital wellbeing is, how it relates to our lives, and how teachers and students might benefit from being mindful of their own digital wellbeing. We also review apps from  Apple and Google that help support digital wellbeing goals and Stacey Schuh joins us to help us unpack the conversation wi

Strong Student Relationships in Online Courses

Aug 23 2019 59 mins  
In this episode, Jeff chatted with Kevin Santer, Lead instructor with the Career & Technology department at Michigan Virtual. Kevin shared his story about coming to education after a successful career in the computer science industry and how he’s been able to build meaningful relationships with students as a fully online instructor. Here are some notes about the episode: Ca

Student Agency and Google Classroom

Feb 21 2019 52 mins  
 Welcome to Digital Backpack! In our first Digital Backpack cast, we chat with Traci Smith, a high school English teacher at De La Salle. She shares some gems about connecting with students, creating an atmosphere of trust and how she uses technology to help with all of it!   In our first cast, we chatted about… Updates to Google Classroom — more specifically the co

Engagement Hoopla

Jan 23 2019 54 mins  
This episode was originally published on November 16, 2018, when the podcast was called "Campfire: Igniting Education with Blended Learning."   In this episode, we chat with our colleague Emily Sicilia about engagement in the classroom. We explore how to define engagement in the classroom and chat about Hoopla, an app Emily shares that has changed our reading lives! [Full