Beyond the Buzz: Making Professional Learning Stick with Lauren Merkley

Our host, Kiera, sat down with Lauren Merkley, Teacher Fellow and UCET Featured Speaker,  to discuss the professional learning standard of Implementation. Find the rest of the standards here: https://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/educatordevelopment/professionallearning 

Over the course of the episode, we dive into some of the following questions:

1. As a teacher, how did you design learning for your students to (hopefully) have a long-term impact? How does that apply to professionally learning?
2. What recommendations do you have as a classroom teacher for people who provide professional learning for teachers? What can they do to make PD memorable and great?
3. How do you measure the effectiveness in facilitating long-term change? Both as a teacher, and as a Fellow, and as keynote speaker? Is it even possible?

Thanks to Kiera for hosting and for Matt Winters' help in sound editing!

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• Kiera Beddes
• Lauren Merkley
• UCET

Our host, Kiera, sat down with social studies teacher, coach, and Teacher Fellow Scott Judy, from Davis School District to discuss the professional learning standard of Learning Design. Find the rest of the standards here: https://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/educatordevelopment/professionallearning 

Over the course of the episode, we dive into some of the following questions:

1. What crossover (if any) do you see between teaching adults and teaching students?
2.  What are some of the best strategies for designing learning for adults? How has your approach changed over time?
3.  What is the best way to measure the effectiveness or impact of the learning you’ve designed? For students and adults?
4.  How do you foster a culture of continuous learning among educators?

Thanks to Kiera for hosting and for Matt Winters' help in sound editing!

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• Kiera Beddes
• Scott Judy
• UCET

Our hosts, Kiera and Derek, sat down with two specialists at the Utah State Board of Education, Davina Sauthoff and Katie Dewey Hill to discuss the professional learning standard of Skillful Leader. Find the rest of the standards here: https://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/educatordevelopment/professionallearning 

Over the course of the episode, we dive into some of the following questions:

1. Why is it important for leaders to be vulnerable?
2. How do leaders “fill their own bucket” to prevent burnout and continue to support their teachers?
3. How does an effective leader help an ineffective teacher?

At the end of the episode, we have a "Media Moment" to reflect on the library media standards - reading engagement, information & research, and media literacy - and how they affect our classrooms and communities.

Thanks to Derek & Kiera for hosting and for Matt Winters' help in sound editing!

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• Kiera Beddes
• Katie Dewey Hill
• Derek Larson
• UCET

This season we added a  new host, Derek Larson, to chat with our first guest of the season, Chris Haught. She is the technology/media  specialist for the Southwest Educational Development Center (SEDC).  She also serves on the UCET and UELMA governing boards.

Over the course of the episode, we dive into some of the following questions:

• Why does professional learning matter?
• What is the best way to build individual capacity and leadership within your community?
• How can a librarian best integrate in the school’s learning community?

At the end of the episode, we have a "Media Moment" to reflect on the library media standards - reading engagement, information & research, and media literacy - and how they affect our classrooms and communities.

Thanks to Derek & Kiera for hosting and for Matt Winters' help in sound editing!

Follow us on Twitter:

• Kiera Beddes
• Chris Haught
• Derek Larson
• UCET

Welcome back to the UCET podcast, where we talk about all things Utah, education, and technology. In this episode, we get the chance to chat with Jared Covili and Matt Winters from the UCET board to bookend the season.

Over of the course of this episode, we discuss the following questions:

• What does a big national conference like ISTE afford classroom teachers? What are some tips for teachers to get the most out of a big conference like ISTE?
• How does working with ISTE help local conferences like UCET? 
• What were some standout moments for you from the UCET conference this year?

At the end of the episode, we spotlight the Meaningful Inclusion conference happening this June in 5 different locations around the state. This conference is designed for everyone: school administrators, general and special education teachers, instructional coaches, related services providers, educator preparation program staff, and student teachers are encouraged to attend. This free, one-and-a-half-day conference will feature engaging keynote speakers, thought-provoking panel discussions, and expert-led sessions on best practices for inclusion, along with tools and resources for implementation.

• June 7-8: Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, Utah
• June 15-16: Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo, Utah
• June 20-21: Richfield High School in Richfield, Utah
• June 26-27: Davis Conference Center in Layton, Utah
• June 29-30: Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah

Register today on the conference website: https://web.cvent.com/event/d21366bc-63bd-4600-a4bf-5992433f84e9/summary

Follow us:

• Matt Winters on Twitter, LinkedIn, and on his webpage.
• Jared Covili on Twitter, LinkedIn, and on his webpage.
• Kiera Beddes on Twitter and LinkedIn.
• UCET on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Special thanks to Matt Winters for the sound editing and Kiera Beddes for hosting.

Welcome back to the UCET podcast, where we talk about all things Utah, education, and technology. In this episode, we get the chance to chat with the director of ULEAD, Dr. Meghan Everette to dive a little deeper into the goals of ULEAD and the work they are doing in UTed right now.

Over of the course of this episode, we discuss the following questions:

• What is something you wish more people understood about ULEAD - its missions/goals/projects etc?
• What is a current ULEAD project that you are excited about?
•  You have 3 adjectives (Effective, Actionable, or Dynamic) in the acronym for ULEAD - which do you think is the most important for districts/schools/classrooms? Why?
• What is something exciting in the landscape of #uted? 

At the end of the episode, we spotlight the ULEAD website. There are two features worth noting, the promising practice submission form and the ULEAD topic request form. Both forms allow teachers to share awesome instructional strategies worth highlighting and finding evidence-based research to support further learning and growth for their classrooms. 

Check it out here: 

• ULEAD website: https://www.schools.utah.gov/ulead
• Promising Practice Submission Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfm3N0I5eUGo2fCsFYSFpm1TNYPIkjFukkueccQnRfqD7w8_w/viewform
• ULEAD Topic Request Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaXLeps7cQQhTX6eURxefrnPMpQqSKmDfYI_zSObhJBeW42Q/viewform

Special thanks to Matt Winters for the sound editing and Kiera Beddes for hosting

Welcome back to the UCET podcast, where we talk about all things Utah, education, and technology. In this episode, we get the chance to chat with our new UCET board members as well as several attendees live at the conference.

Over of the course of this episode, we discuss the following questions:

• Why are you here at UCET this year?
• What are you presenting? Or what session are you most excited for?
• What does the theme "Together at UCET" mean to you?
• How can you bring the best of UCET to your team, school, or community?

At the end of the episode, we spotlight the Show Up for Teachers conference, coming up July 19th. The 2023 Show Up for Teachers Conference will be held at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy. This is an educator wellness conference hosted by Utah First Lady Abby Cox. Each school district has an allotted number of seats based on full time district educators, so if your district is full, you can add your name to the waitlist. It’s a wonderful experience and I encourage you to attend (plus it’s free for educators!) Find out more here: https://www.showupforteachers.org/

Special thanks to Matt Winters for the sound editing and Kiera Beddes for hosting.

Welcome back to the UCET podcast, where we talk about all things Utah, education, and technology. In this episode, we get the chance to chat with Brandon Harrison, current UCET board member and Technology Integration Specialist for CUES as well as Joe B. Wright, the executive director of SEDC. 

Over of the course of this episode, we discuss the following questions:

• What do the regional service centers do?
• What are the most common misconceptions around rural education and rural communities?
• How do your school districts use technology to address some of these barriers you’ve mentioned?

At the end of the episode, we spotlight the URSA conference, coming up July 12th - 14th. The 2023 URSA Conference will be held on the campus of Utah State University Eastern in Price. We are seeking presentations on educational topics from all subject areas pre-K through 12 grade. Sessions will include a 20-minute Over the Shoulder, a 1 or 2-hour traditional or BYOD, and 2-hour Playground Hand-On sessions. Proposals will be accepted through March 31, 2023. If you are interested in presenting, submit your session proposal here. Presenters will be notified via email of their selection status by Friday, April 14, 2023.

Special thanks to Matt Winters for the sound editing and Kiera Beddes for hosting.

Welcome back to the UCET podcast, where we talk about all things Utah, education, and technology. In this episode, we get the chance to chat with Michele Edgley, the current UELMA president.

Over of the course of this episode, we discuss the following questions:

1. What is something that you wish more people understood about libraries or librarians? 
2. What struck you as the most positive and exciting aspect of the Information Age?
3. What are some of the disadvantages of the spread of technology in society? How can these be dealt with in libraries?

At the end of the episode, we spotlight the UELMA conference, coming up March 10th. This year’s UELMA conference theme is Libraries are Freadom. You can find more information on how to register on the UELMA conference website here: https://sites.google.com/uelma.org/annualconference2023/  

You can follow the UELMA in all the following ways:

• Twitter: @UELMA_Utah
• Instagram: @UELMA_Librarians
• Facebook: UELMA - Utah Educational Library Media Association
• Website: https://uelma.org/

Special thanks to Matt Winters for the sound editing and Kiera Beddes for hosting.

Welcome back to the UCET podcast, where we talk about all things Utah, education, and technology. In this episode, we get the chance to chat with Tabitha Pacheco - Director of the Utah Teacher Fellows and Teacher and Community Engagement Specialist Stephan Seabury. 

Over of the course of this episode, we discuss the following questions:

1. What are the three most important qualities in a leader?
2. How can teachers best develop their leadership skills? 
3. Where do you see the overlap between teaching, leadership, and technology?

At the end of the episode, we spotlight the Utah Teacher Fellows Podcast. The current cohort of the Utah Teacher Fellows started a podcast where they focus on sharing teacher stories to advocate for the education profession. 

Ryan Rarick (@Coach_Rarick) from Washington County School District and Audryn Damron (@audryn_d)  from Granite School District are the hosts and Kayla Towner (@mrstowner9)  from UEN is the producer. You can listen to the top 3 episodes on the bulleted list below or you can catch up on all the available episodes here: https://utah-teacher-fellows-podcast.simplecast.com/

• S1E5: Lauren Merkley 2020 Utah State Teacher of the Year
• S1E1: Meet The Social Media Team
• S1E4: Machelle Maxwell - The Ultimate Library/Media Specialist

Check out their podcast to see what awesome things are happening in Fellows classrooms across the state. If you are interested in the work the Utah Teacher Fellows are doing, applications for the next cohort are going to open in the Spring. Contact the program director Tabitha Pacheco at tabithap@hopestreetgroup.org  for more info.

You can follow the Utah Teacher Fellows in all the following ways:

• LinkedIn: Utah Teacher Fellows
• Twitter: @HSG_ut
• Instagram: @hsg_ut
• Facebook: Utah Teacher Fellows Program
• Website: https://hopestreetgroup.org/teacher-fellows/utteacherfellows/

Special thanks to Matt Winters for the sound editing and Kiera Beddes for hosting.