Episode Details

Shawn is a principal in British Columbia and is doing some amazing things with technology at his school, including having kindergartners use iPads to create amazing projects. In this interview, we discuss the following:

• What Shawn is most excited about relating to technology in his school.
• Why do we use technology in schools?
• Learning as scaffolding and focusing on learning first, and technology second.
• Blended learning as having digital and physical tools in front of the student at the same time.
• Powerful for learning are situations that capture what a student is thinking.
• Shawn’s role as principal to teachers regarding technology in the school: Permission to try, permission to fail.
• How to gain trust from your faculty. We are in a relationship business.
• They need me to support them when they need support and challenge them when they need to be challenged.
• Reflecting in front of your teachers and being vulnerable in front of them.
• H/T to @ChrisWejr about 5 things to roar about blog posts.
• Positive blog posts went from no big deal to students finding those positive events in the school.
• Key elements to 5 things to roar about posts: celebrate success (student and staff successes) and give parents an idea of what learning looks like in our school.
• What can we do to be a transformative principal? Mindset, tell the story of your school and do it wherever you are comfortable.
• What reminds him about why he is doing this great work? For his own kids.

Sponsor: Sanebox

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Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL, and Renaissance Learning:

As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by s