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Jeff Utecht

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In this Off The Cuff episode, Jeff Utecht and Tricia dive into the exciting launch of https://camp.shiftingschools.com and their groundbreaking course on Leadership in AI. Discover how AI is shaping the future of education and why school leaders should be at the forefront of this technological revolution.

Key Points:

  1. Introduction to https://camp.shiftingschools.com

    • A new platform for educators and leaders to collaborate and share resources.
    • Features and benefits of being a part of this community.
  2. Leadership in AI Course

    • Importance of understanding AI in today’s educational landscape.
    • What educators can expect to learn and implement.
  3. The role of AI in Education

    • How AI can aid in personalized learning.
    • Ethical considerations in using AI in the classroom.
  4. Why School Leaders Should Care

    • The influence of AI on decision-making processes.
    • Preparing the next generation for an AI-driven world.

Resources:

Check out this episode of Shifting Our Schools


How do we help students learn and play simultaneously? This week’s guest explains how esports links to so many components of academic life. Curious about ways to leverage your existing curriculum, STEM and STEAM programs with esports? You need to learn more from our guest.

In recent years, esports has transitioned from mere entertainment to a thriving ecosystem that offers much more than thrilling competitions. We sit down with an expert to unravel how esports acts as a dynamic pathway for nurturing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) talents.

Ready to learn more about our guest?

 

Gerald Solomon is the Executive Director of NASEF.

 

Curious to learn more about NASEF?

Mission
NASEF is on a mission to provide opportunities for all students to use esports as a platform to develop STEAM-based skills and social emotional attributes such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities needed to thrive in work and in life.
 
Vision
To ensure that all students possess the knowledge and skills needed to be society’s game changers: educated, productive, and empathetic individuals.

 

We are SO grateful to our amazing sponsors who have made our mini series on esports possible:

Daigon

Unlock the potential of Esports for your school with DAIGON’s platform, solutions, and expertise guiding your International School to success in the world of esports.

Looking to learn more with Jeff this year?

Explore our AI in Education Pathways today!

Check out this episode of Shifting Our Schools


Hello, Shifting Schools community! Jeff Utecht here, as we wrap up our exciting journey into eSports Tricia and I wanted to share what we have coming up next for you in September.

As we start the new school year, we’re diving in with a brand new mini-series focused on Social Emotional Learning, or SEL, a topic that we know is front and center in the minds of educators as we start another school year.

And we’re not doing it alone. I’m thrilled to announce our guest list for this enlightening mini-series, a line-up of voices that will guide us through this landscape:

You’ll hear from Jessica Lahey, New York Times Bestselling Author

Charles Barrett, Author of ‘Social Justice in Schools

Dr. Katie Novak, an Internationally renowned expert and author

Swapna Krishna, Known from Wired and PBS

And that’s just the start……

These thought leaders will share their insights, strategies, and stories, helping us understand how to connect with our students on a deeper, more compassionate level.

Join us as we uncover the keys to empathy, resilience, collaboration, and more. Subscribe to the Shifting Schools Podcast on your favorite platform, and let’s embark on this journey together.

School’s in session folks, and the next lesson is one you won’t want to miss. Here’s to shifting education together one conversation at a time. Until then….will see you on the network.

Check out even more at https://www.shiftingschools.com

Check out this episode of Shifting Our Schools


Unravel the complexities of video game ethics as we embark on a dialogue with Dr. Leon Xiao, a distinguished expert at the crossroads of gaming and law. In this episode, we probe into the innovative ways gaming and law intersect, and how they shape the experience of game play. This episode helps us explore more pathways available in the gaming industry and asks us to think more creatively about how differing passions might intersect.

Ready to learn more about our guest?

Leon is a PhD Fellow at the IT University of Copenhagen. He also holds visiting appointments at Stanford Law School and the University of York’s Computer Science Department. Leon researches video game law, particularly the regulation of loot boxes, a quasi-gambling monetisation mechanic in video games. He uses empirical legal research methods and is passionate about open science.

Connect with our amazing guest online:

https://twitter.com/LeonXiaoY

https://sites.google.com/view/leon-xiao/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-xiao/

Thanks to our amazing sponsor for making this conversation possible. Learn more about Daigon Esports.

Would you like to learn more with Jeff and Tricia this year?

Find out more about ways to learn with Shifting School:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/learn

 

Check out this episode of Shifting Our Schools


In this episode, we have the honor of sitting down with Joanie Kraut, the CEO of Women in Games International (WIGI), a leading organization that empowers women and underrepresented individuals in the gaming and eSports industry. Joanie Kraut has a unique perspective on the role eSports can play in communities and is dedicated to creating more future pathways for young enthusiasts interested in pursuing a career in the eSports realm.

Joanie Kraut shares her inspiring journey into the world of eSports and how her passion for gaming led her to a leadership role at Women in Games International. She discusses the organization’s mission to foster diversity and inclusivity in the gaming world and explains how they are actively creating opportunities for aspiring individuals to enter the eSports industry. Joanie Kraut sheds light on the various programs, initiatives, and resources offered by Women in Games International that are shaping the future careers of young talents in eSports.

As the keynote speaker at The National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) event, Joanie Kraut talks about the significance of such a platform and how she intends to use it to address the key current themes and topics prevailing in the eSports landscape. 

One of the crucial aspects of Women in Games International’s work is providing mentorship to individuals seeking to advance their careers in the eSports industry. Joanie Kraut provides valuable advice for teachers who want to raise awareness about the vastness of the gaming and eSports industry among students. She sheds light on the industry’s rapid growth and how it offers a plethora of diverse opportunities beyond playing games competitively. Joanie Kraut discusses the vital skills that aspiring professionals should cultivate, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and adaptability, to thrive in the dynamic world of eSports.

 

Meet this week’s special guest:

 

?? For over fifteen years, Joanie has operated in tech and gaming within different verticals throughout her career. She has served as an advisor and consultant for studios, startups, and nonprofits in the gaming space. Her expertise resides in business development, financial strategy, and DEI initiatives. She is dedicated to eliminating barriers and increasing access and opportunities for all.

Joanie is a seasoned speaker on a range of matters, including optimizing data for analysis, how automation and machine learning technology can improve financial processing and the inclusion and advancement of women in leadership.

She is an advocate for equality and was recognized as a 2019 CalCPA Women to Watch in Finance & Accounting, Experienced Leader Award for her significant contributions to the profession and her community. She was also named a 2020 Top 100 Global Leaders in Finance by GCIF and Prism Events, an honor established to recognize fintech innovators and global financial leaders who drive significant industry impacts. In 2022, Joanie was named Most Influential CEO of 2022 by CEO Monthly for her work at WIGI and for committing her career to empowering those who feel powerless. Most recently, Joanie was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Los Angeles of 2023 by Women We Admire.

 

???? Ready to connect with our guest?

https://twitter.com/JoanieKraut

https://www.getwigi.com/

???? Connect with our sponsor ???? 

 

 Daigon eSports

 

Unlock the potential of Esports for your school with DAIGON’s platform, solutions, and expertise guiding your International School to success in the world of esports.

 

Ready to continue your learning with Shifting Schools?

 

Connect with our pathways and continue your journey of learning.

 

Reach out to us with your questions and comments, we LOVE hearing from listeners:

 

info(at) shiftingschools (dot com)

 

Check out this episode of Shifting Our Schools


In the evolving landscape of Educational Technology, we’re continually seeking innovative ways to engage and inspire our students. One rising trend that’s generating buzz is eSports in Education, a dynamic field that holds enormous potential for learning.

Recently, I had an insightful conversation with Dr. Miles Harvey on the Shifting Schools podcast. Dr. Harvey has been a trailblazer in integrating video games into the curriculum, leveraging the power of gaming as a robust educational tool.

Our discussion delved into the new approaches to literacy through video games, ways to engage students, and the future of Educational Technology. Dr. Harvey shared, “It’s 2023. Kids are looking for new ways to learn language arts. And you know, if Shakespeare was around today, he’d probably be using video games and VR and augmented reality to display some of these great ideas.”

This perspective emphasizes the need to evolve our teaching strategies to align with the interests and needs of today’s digital native students. It underscores the relevance of video games in education and its potential to redefine learning experiences.

Dr. Harvey also shed light on his experiences using video games in the classroom. “What better experience than having the agency of playing the story? And so that’s where gaming came in. I thought, well, there’s plenty of games that have the narrative pieces in it that we actually get to control. And for every game I’ve ever brought into the classroom, kids want to adjust their avatar. They want to customize that character.”

This sense of agency and personalization that video games offers engages students on a deeper level. It exemplifies how interactive experiences in gaming can enhance the learning process, providing unique opportunities that traditional methods may not fully capture.

The integration of video games in education opens new horizons for teaching and learning. It’s an exciting development in Educational Technology, promising increased student engagement and personalized learning experiences.

As educators in a digital age, our mission is to facilitate learning in the most effective ways possible, connecting with students on their terms, and preparing them for a future that is continually evolving. As we navigate this new terrain, let’s embrace change, keep an open mind, and continue to explore innovative strategies to enrich our students’ learning experiences.

For those interested in the potential of eSports in Education, I encourage you to listen to the full episode with Dr. Miles Harvey on the Shifting Schools podcast.

Stay curious, continue learning, and let’s keep shifting schools together in this exciting era of Educational Technology!

Podcast Sponsor:

Unlock the potential of Esports for your school with DAIGON’s platform, solutions, and expertise guiding your International School to success in the world of esports.


On this episode Dr. Rachel Kowert busts myths about gaming.

If you are skeptical about what games can offer us, give this conversation some time.

Meet this week’s special guest:

?? Rachel Kowert, Ph.D is a research psychologist and the Research Director of Take This. She is a world-renowned researcher on the uses and effects of digital games, including their impact on physical, social, and psychological well-being. In her current work, she serves as one of the primary investigators on the first grant-funded project from the Department of Homeland Security about games and extremism. She has spoken about her work to thousands of people across the globe, including the United States Congress, United Nations, and Department of Homeland Security. An award-winning author, she has published a variety of books and scientific articles relating to the psychology of games and, more recently, the relationship between games and mental health specifically. She also serves as the editor of the Routledge Debates in Media Studies series and the upcoming ETC press series Psychology of Pop Culture. Recently, she founded her YouTube channel Psychgeist, which serves to bridge the gap between moral panic and scientific knowledge on a variety of psychology and game-related topics.  In 2021, Dr. Kowert was chosen as a member of The Game Awards Future Class, representing the best and brightest of the future of video games. Dr. Kowert has been featured in various media outlets, including NPR, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, New York Times, and Wired Magazine. To learn more about Rachel and her work, visit www.rkowert.com. 

???? Ready to connect with Dr. Kowert?

 www.rkowert.com

 www.twitter.com/drkowert

 www.takethis.org

 

????Learn more about Dr. Kowert’s research:

https://rkowert.com/books/

 

???? Connect with our sponsors ???? 

 Daigon and X-Sense

Unlock the potential of Esports for your school with DAIGON‘s platform, solutions, and expertise guiding your International School to success in the world of esports.

X-Sense is an innovative company providing home safety products, including cutting-edge smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and other smart home security systems designed to keep you and your loved ones safe 24/7. With easy-to-install devices and smart technology,  you’ll have peace of mind knowing that X-Sense is always on guard. Protect what matters most with X-Sense.

Check out the great X-Sense deals for Amazon Prime Day.

Ready to continue your learning with Shifting Schools?

Connect with our pathways and continue your journey of learning.

Reach out to us with your questions and comments, we LOVE hearing from listeners:

info(at) shiftingschools (dot com)

Check out this episode of Shifting Our Schools


How is Minecraft a powerful tool for building community, fostering inclusion, and engaging learners?

This week’s amazing guest Mashfiq Ahmed has an answer for that question and tons of wisdom to share.

Meet this week’s special guest:

?? Mashfiq Ahmed (he/him) is a high school chemistry teacher at John Dewey High School in Brooklyn, New York. He has been playing video games ever since he was 4-years-old and they have positively shaped him into the person that he is today. As a teacher, Mashfiq utilizes classroom gamification tools in order to support all of his students and make science more engaging. When the 2020-2021 virtual school year started, Mashfiq created an after school Minecraft Club in order for students to have a place to relax and de-stress through gaming during the pandemic. Since then, the club has grown to become something so much bigger than he could have possibly imagined. For example, Mashfiq’s Minecraft Club participates in esports building competitions with designs that promote equity, accessibility, and sustainability in New York City. Mashfiq strives to create a safe space for all, especially neurodivergent, people of color, and LGBTQ+ students, to express themselves through Minecraft and gaming. His Minecraft Club members are also Minecraft Student Ambassadors who have provided Minecraft training for other teachers and have showcased their work globally, such as at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference. Mashfiq hopes that the future of gaming continues to be more inclusive and accessible for everyone. Additionally, he is also a certified Minecraft educator and a global Minecraft mentor. Due to Mashfiq’s efforts he was recently inducted into The Game Awards Future Class of 2022, which honors inspiring individuals who represent the bright, bold, and inclusive future of video games. 

???? Ready to connect with Mashfiq?

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrAhmedGaming

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MrAhmedGaming

Minecraft Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdhsminecraftclub/

 Minecraft Club Linktree: https://linktr.ee/MinecraftClub

????Additional Links discussed and further ways to learn about Masfiq’s work:

New York City’s DIIT presents Minecraft Education – Battle of the Boroughs

The Battle of the Boroughs: A Win for Education and Esports

BATTLE OF THE BOROUGHS: EMPOWERING YOUTH FOR A SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE NYC

???? Connect with our sponsors ???? 

 Daigon and X-Sense

Unlock the potential of Esports for your school with DAIGON‘s platform, solutions, and expertise guiding your International School to success in the world of esports.

X-Sense is an innovative company providing home safety products, including cutting-edge smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and other smart home security systems designed to keep you and your loved ones safe 24/7. With easy-to-install devices and smart technology,  you’ll have peace of mind knowing that X-Sense is always on guard. Protect what matters most with X-Sense.

Check out the great X-Sense deals for Amazon Prime Day.

Ready to continue your learning with Shifting Schools?

Connect with our pathways and continue your journey of learning.

Reach out to us with your questions and comments, we LOVE hearing from listeners:

info(at) shiftingschools (dot com)

Check out this episode of Shifting Our Schools


Our summer-long series on esports continues with a great conversation about aligning your curriculum with esports and leveraging esports as a way to build and nurture your school community.

Meet this week’s special guest:

?? Mike Dahle is a Business Teacher at Elkhorn Area HS and President of the Wisconsin HS Esports Association.  He was a second-year teacher when he learned how far PC gaming had come since his younger gaming days when a student gave a presentation on the League of Legends World Championship. Ever since that presentation, his interest in esports has grown exponentially. He started one of the first state associations that has since grown to 125+ schools around the state, serves as a Board Member for the Milwaukee Esports Alliance, serves as a Board Member for the Interstate Scholastic Esports Alliance, and is constantly trying to push esports to the next level in the state of Wisconsin.  

???? Ready to connect with Mike?

Find him on Twitter

Connect with him on LinkedIn

Learn more about his organisation.

 

???? Connect with our sponsors ???? 

 Daigon and X-Sense

 

Unlock the potential of Esports for your school with DAIGON‘s platform, solutions, and expertise guiding your International School to success in the world of esports.

 

X-Sense is an innovative company providing home safety products, including cutting-edge smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, and other smart home security systems designed to keep you and your loved ones safe 24/7. With easy-to-install devices and smart technology,  you’ll have peace of mind knowing that X-Sense is always on guard. Protect what matters most with X-Sense.

Check out the great X-Sense deals for Amazon Prime Day.

Ready to continue your learning with Shifting Schools?

Connect with our pathways and continue your journey of learning.

Reach out to us with your questions and comments, we LOVE hearing from listeners:

info(at) shiftingschools (dot com)

 

Check out this episode of Shifting Our Schools


????This is the first in our summer-long series on esports!????

Meet this week’s special guest:

?? Dr. Krista-Lee M. Malone is the Director of both the UW-Madison Game Lab and the game design certificate. Her past research has included MMORPGs massively multiplayer online role-playing games, the making of educational games in Taiwan (where she concurrently worked as a designer and consultant) and using game design in the social sciences, especially anthropology, and for community outreach. Dr. Malone is currently working on designing game for prosocial communities as well as experimenting with pedagogical uses of Twitch.tv and Discord. Outside of academia she works in user research and consultation and is a board member of MKEsports, an alliance aimed at positively growing the culture and connectivity of regional esports groups, gamers, businesses, and community partners. If you want to geek out with her, she can be found on Twitter and Twitch under the tag “GamerAnthro.”

???? Ready to connect with Dr. Malone?

Explore her university profile.

Find Dr Malone on Twitter.

As discussed on this episode check out this earlier interview via The Academy of esports

???? Connect with our sponsor: Daigon

Unlock the potential of Esports for your school with DAIGON’s platform, solutions, and expertise guiding your International School to success in the world of esports.

Ready to continue your learning with Shifting Schools?

Connect with our pathways and continue your journey of learning.

Reach out to us with your questions and comments, we LOVE hearing from listeners:

info(at) shiftingschools (dot com)

 

Check out this episode of Shifting Our Schools