In this episode of UEN Homeroom,we turn in house to talk with Kelleigh Cole, Sr. Manager of Strategic Initiatives at UETN. We discuss the need to extend internet to all students throughout Utah, the educational and social impact of lack of internet, and how to partner schools with local telecom providers to help strengthen connectivity.

Dani and Jared Fawson (Homeroom Super Sub) are joined by, Kelly Dumont from the Canyons School District to chat about personal growth as an educator. They share insights into how to stay relevant as a teacher, the importance of constantly learning, and how to pay it forward.

Kiera Beddes, Language Arts teacher extraordinaire from Jordan School District, joins us in the Homeroom this week to talk about networking. Specifically, we explore how building your Professional Learning Network (PLN) can help you grow as a teacher. We talk about maintaining an online presence, reaching out and learning from others, and how a PLN can help with transitions in your teacher life.

UEN Homeroom welcomes Kip Motta, Principal of Rich Middle School and North Rich Elementary, to discuss the response to COVID-19 in our latest episode in the Learn @ Home series. We discuss topics such as: how Rich schools prepared for distance learning in a 1 to 1 computer program for students, helping students by balancing the workload during distance learning, and facilitating teacher adoption of tools like Canvas to help students in the online environment.

Jared and Dani welcome Dr. Ann Engar and Dr. Nora Wood, distinguished faculty for the LEAP program at the University of Utah, to UEN Homeroom this week. Our discussion focuses on helping students find a learning community that works for them. Topics include: how the LEAP program benefits diverse student populations, the biggest challenges for students as they enter college, why smaller learning communities are important to students, and the role that peer mentoring plays in helping LEAP students succeed.

In our next Learn @ Home episode of UEN Homeroom we are focusing in on Jr. High with Levi Andersen, a History teacher from Mound Fort Jr. High in Ogden School District. During our conversation we explored topics such as: how Levi is connecting with students who struggle, the role of using Canvas to help with distance teaching, and what kind of babysitter Jared Covili was.

Dani and Jared are excited to have Max Gonzalez, Program Manager at UETN, join them to share information about the new Reimagine Teaching project. As pare of our discussion we learn how teachers can qualify for a $200 stipend related to distance teaching professional development through the CARES Act.

Melanie Durfee, Digital Learning Specialist from the Utah Board of Education, drops by the Homeroom to discuss making group work, well - work. We talk about the misconceptions of groups, how to work through challenges, providing structure for student to student conversations about learning, and making personalized learning matter.

In the new episode, we share the story of Michelle Reed, the Library Media Specialist at Jefferson Jr. High. In this episode we discuss the following topics - What is a makerspace? How can makerspaces empower students? What are some suggestions for teachers looking to get started with a makerspace?

UEN Homeroom continues along with our Back to School series as Utah prepares for the return of teachers and students to our buildings. This week we connect with Moe Hickey, CEO of Voices for Utah Children. Our conversation focuses on the fiver key areas of healthy development for kids: health, school readiness, safety, economic stability, and diversity. We also learn what Voices is doing to advocate for Utah students with the state legislature and local school districts.

In the last of our Back to School episodes, Jared and Dani talk with Nicole Johnson, UEN Admin Assistant extraordinaire, about her experiences as a student during COVID. As part of the conversation we cover topics such as: what COVID required of students, how schools and educators fared providing instruction during distance learning, and what schools can do to help support students if classes go online in the upcoming school year.

As UEN Homeroom celebrates our one year anniversary Dani and Jared take a look back at some great moments from the podcast. Producer, Fernando Lara joins in and answers some tough questions from Utah students. We also reflect upon some moments that made us laugh, think, and celebrate the wonderful world of education in Utah.

This week Dani and Jared interview Payden Littlefield, a Science/Robotics teacher at Syracuse Jr. High in Davis School District. As part of their conversation they look at the role robotics can play in helping students develop critical thinking skills.

Jared and Dani welcome Quinn Rollins to UEN Homeroom this week. Quinn is a Social Studies teacher at Cyprus High School in the Granite School District and he is also the author of Play Like a Pirate in which he shares the importance of bringing play into your curriculum. During our discussion we cover topics such as: the importance of sharing your passions with students, the need to give students choice in assignments, how to bring pop culture into your lessons, and the Ten Commandments of 2020.

This week Jared and Dani welcome Rachael Larkin, an AVID teacher from Matheson Jr. High, to UEN Homeroom. With a new year upon us, Rachael dropped by to discuss helping our students to set goals for their academic and personal lives. Our topics included: a brief overview of the AVID program, the importance of having students set goals, extrinsic vs intrinsic motivation in goal setting, how parents can play a role in helping students achieve goals, and setting goals for all areas of personal growth.

Jared and Dani are continuing the Back to School series this week by talking with Rachel Fletcher, a school counselor at the Salt Lake Center for Science Education. As we discussed the need for schools to address the social and emotional needs of student and staff, we also covered the following topics: how we can help students, teachers, and parents who are dealing with anxiety related to schools opening, what types of supports can schools provide for students who need to share their feelings about COVID related issues, and what role schools can play to help provide a safe space for all.

Jared Covili describes the benefits of installing Google Assignments LTI, a free tool developed by Google that helps instructors grade more efficiently and give students richer feedback on their assignments. He notes Google Assignments includes all the features of the Canvas Google Apps LTI tool, except for Canvas Collaborations, and offers additional functionality.

UEN Homeroom is joined by Rick Gaisford, Educational Technology Specialist for the Utah State Board of Education. Rick discusses the changes he's seen in classroom technology over his 30+ years in education and the crew shares their thoughts about the Digital Teaching and Learning Grant, the impact technology has made for schools, and more.

Jared and Dani are talking coaching the week with Robert Proffit, Professional Learning Coordinator from Washington County School District. As we look into coaching we discuss the following topics: What are the biggest impacts for teachers who participate in a coaching program? How do you encourage teachers who are reluctant to coaching to try a new approach? What is the research surrounding coaching and its effects?

This week UEN Homeroom is pleased to rebroadcast our interview with Rushton Hurley, the founder and executive director of Next Vista for Learning, to the podcast. In our conversation we focus on how teachers can effectively develop opportunities for students to create videos in class. Topics included in the discussion are: How teachers can use student video projects to engage kids in learning. How film festivals promote student work. How much technical know-how teachers need to help with student video projects and the basic essentials teachers need to get started. How video projects are particularly effective during blended or online learning and more...