In this episode of "Why Distance Learning?" we explore the innovative intersections of arts education, accessibility, and distance learning with Laura Loy. Laura, a seasoned educator and performer, shares how her work at PHAME Academy harnesses the power of the arts to engage and empower adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through both virtual and in-person learning environments. Laura delves into the unique challenges and successes of teaching arts online, particularly how v...
May 27, 2024•38 min•Ep. 32
In this episode we dive deep into the intersections of technology, education, and cognitive psychology with Thor Prichard of Clarity Innovations. This week, Thor Prichard joins us to discuss his role at Clarity Innovations, where he and his team design tech solutions that enhance educational practices. Thor draws on his personal experiences with offshore sailing to discuss the challenges and discoveries similar to those in educational technology integration. Thor's insights begin with how cognit...
May 13, 2024•43 min•Ep. 32
In this episode of "Why Distance Learning," we delve into the transformative role of Shared Studios' immersive technology in global education. Our guests, Dr. Brandon Ferderer, Head of Programming at Shared Studios, and Ross Phillips, a dedicated social studies teacher from Winnacanet High School, discuss the impact of full-body virtual interactions that connect students worldwide, fostering genuine human connections and empathy. This technology transcends traditional video conferencing, allowin...
Apr 30, 2024•45 min•Ep. 31
As a companion to episode #29A - Teaching Culture Across Cultures with Wendy Lee - this episode features six seventh-grade students from Tsai Hsing School in Taipei, Taiwan. Each student responds to the question, "Why Distance Learning?" The students are part of a daily distance learning program called Learning Live, a collaboration between Tsai Hsing School, where Wendy teaches and serves as the Director of Research and Development, and Banyan Global Learning, founded by this podcast's co-host,...
Apr 16, 2024•17 min•Ep. 30
We welcome Wendy Lee from Tsai Hsing School in Taipei, Taiwan who discusses the multifaceted roles of local teachers in a global distance learning language program called Learning Live. She highlights the challenges and responsibilities these educators face daily, emphasizing their need to be detail-oriented, capable of multitasking, and flexible to handle the unexpected. Key responsibilities include managing student behavior, ensuring comprehension in a non-native language (English), facilitati...
Apr 15, 2024•44 min•Ep. 29
In this episode, the WDL crew welcomes Jen Sayre, Director of Applied Technology at Fairfield County ESC, Ohio. They delve into the essence of high-quality online learning experiences and the genesis of InnevAto EDU, a comprehensive online course catalog for grades 6-12. Jen shares inspiring stories of students who leveraged online learning to chase their dreams, underscoring the urgency of reconceptualizing educational time and space. They also discuss InnevAto's collaboration with CareerTech, ...
Apr 01, 2024•42 min•Ep. 28
Valary Oleinik describes herself as part artist, part geek, and wholly dedicated to enhancing live virtual learning experiences. Her unique approach, blending curiosity, gameful experiences, and technology, positions her as a key influencer and innovator in the field. Valary's dedication to breaking traditional education molds is evident as she explains her methodologies for making distance learning more engaging and effective. By leveraging her "MacGyver mindset," she encourages educators to ut...
Mar 20, 2024•38 min•Ep. 27
In this episode, Seth and Allyson interview Michelle Carlisle, an expert, experienced distance learning educator. They discuss Michele's world language program in Ohio, which offers several languages that would not be available were it not for live virtual instruction. Michelle shares the history and development of the program, as well as the challenges and successes of teaching languages remotely. They also explore the importance of building relationships in distance learning and how teachers c...
Mar 04, 2024•34 min•Ep. 26
In this episode, the team interviews Adam Bair, a parent whose daughter participates in CILC's Community of Learning events. Adam shares his journey and the impact of distance learning on the education of his daughter Emma who is deaf. They discuss the importance of exposure to new content for children with hearing loss and the impact of using American Sign Language (ASL) on learning methods and outcomes. Adam also highlights the evolution of accessibility features in video conferencing and the ...
Feb 20, 2024•43 min•Ep. 25
This episode's guest is Emily Kotecki, the principal and founder of High Beam Strategies. With a wealth of experience in online learning, including crafting audio tours and developing apps for museums, Emily shares her expertise in creating compelling digital learning experiences. Drawing from her work with clients and her publication The Distance Learning Workbook , she emphasizes the importance of building a robust foundation for distance learning initiatives. Through a detailed discussion, Em...
Feb 05, 2024•36 min•Ep. 24
In this episode, our hosts delve into the world of distance learning with a focus on the experiences of students and teachers from Ghana. The episode features engaging interviews with three inspiring students: Shelter, a high school student aspiring to be an obstetrician; Annabel, a junior high student who dreams of becoming a journalist; and Rashida, who aims to be a fashion designer. Each student shares her unique 'golden moments' of using live video conferencing while highlighting the impact ...
Jan 23, 2024•34 min•Ep. 23
In this episode, Tracy Rowley, the Senior Director of Instructional Technology and Online Education for the Tucson Unified School District, delves into the transformative role of virtual field trips in education. Tracy highlights the distinctive experiences these trips offer, such as a golden moment she describes with a virtual trip to the Smithsonian, which particularly resonated with English Language Learners through live interactions with experts. She emphasizes the difference between virtual...
Jan 08, 2024•32 min•Ep. 22
Dive into the captivating world of live virtual learning with our latest episode featuring Karin Davidson-Taylor, a seasoned School Programs Officer at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, Ontario. With her rich background of over 17 years in teaching, Karin has transformed RBG into a hub for interactive virtual learning, reaching audiences across North America and beyond. In this episode, Karin shares her inspiring journey and the golden moments of using live video in education. She tackles...
Dec 25, 2023•38 min•Ep. 21
In this episode, we delve into the world of live virtual learning with our special guest, Mary Schlegelmilch, an expert in distance learning (DL) and former classroom teacher who now works on a broader scale in the field. Mary shares her journey from being deeply involved in the classroom to addressing the challenges of DL at a systemic level. She discusses the evolution of her role, as her focus shifted from hands-on classroom teaching to strategic planning for the widespread adoption of DL tec...
Dec 12, 2023•44 min•Ep. 20
The episode features an interview with Adam Mangana and Dan Sturdevant of Optima Online Academy, the world’s first all-VR school. Optima aims to merge classical education in the liberal arts and humanities with cutting-edge virtual reality technology. Optima offers a classical curriculum based on great books and stories to prepare students to be their most human in an age of AI. The founders argue that VR is not bleeding-edge tech but rather the inevitable evolution of technology, just as books ...
Nov 27, 2023•36 min•Ep. 19
This episode of the Why Distance Learning podcast features an interview with Brandon Hall from Learn Around the World, a content provider that uses live virtual learning to facilitate cross-cultural connections. Brandon discusses the opportunities virtual classrooms provide for cross-cultural communication, and what teachers should keep in mind when facilitating these interactions. He shares his go-to tools for encouraging student engagement and interactivity during lessons. As an educator entre...
Nov 13, 2023•33 min•Ep. 18
We are excited to welcome master communications expert Michael Allosso to the podcast. Michael coaches CEOs and executives on dynamic presentations and effective leadership. He's led award-winning workshops worldwide and is a top-rated speaker for Vistage International, winning Speaker of the Year four times. When he's not speaking, Michael is directing plays and films. Michael joins us to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of virtual teaching. Distance learning exploded out of nece...
Oct 30, 2023•40 min•Ep. 17
Join us as we speak with Dr. Lance Ford, a veteran educator and pioneer in the field of distance learning. Dr. Ford has been integrating video conferencing technologies in classrooms for over 20 years. He focuses on how video conferencing can enable authentic engagement between teachers and learners, regardless of location. Dr. Ford shares insights from training over 20,000 teachers worldwide on effectively using tools like Zoom. He discusses common misconceptions teachers have before embracing ...
Oct 16, 2023•41 min•Ep. 16
In this episode of Why Distance Learning, hosts Seth, Tami, and Allyson interview Darin Trobaugh, an Education Specialist at the Alaska SeaLife Center. They discuss Darin's diverse background in environmental engineering and teaching, which allows him to bring unique content to each of the over 2,000 educational programs he's taught. Darin shares how he combines his passion for animals with opportunities to share science with learners of all ages. A highlight is Darin's perspective on the import...
Oct 02, 2023•39 min•Ep. 15
In this podcast episode, hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Courtney Dayhuff from Banyan Global Learning. The episode delves into Courtney’s decade of experience teaching over live video and her insights about the power of the medium. Of particular interest is her ability to get students to share their own stories over live video, especially within the context of teaching character education (in this case, SEL, Digital Citizenship, and Global Citizenship). Courtn...
Sep 18, 2023•39 min•Ep. 14
In this episode, Seth, Allyson, and Tami welcome Paul Hieronymus, chairman of the Ohio Distance Learning Association (OhioDLA). We discuss golden moments, the current state of distance learning in Ohio, and persistent challenges in distance learning that may account for why the medium is not more popular than it is. He explores strategies for engaging non-tech-savvy learners (and teachers), and shares insights on converting more individuals to this educational approach, emphasizing the pivotal r...
Sep 05, 2023•37 min•Ep. 13
In this episode, Seth, Allyson, and Tami sit down with Eric Jones, a driving force behind Oiada International. With a dynamic career in distance learning that spans decades, Eric’s unwavering commitment to cultivating 21st century global citizens and leaders using distance will leave you awestruck! The group delves into the rich history of Oiada to unpack best practices for using distance learning to create a successful cultural exchange program that shares perspectives, boosts participants' sel...
Aug 21, 2023•38 min•Ep. 12
This week's episode we talk with Anne-Marie Côté from Canada's TakingITGlobal whose Connected North is an absolute powerhouse in live video conferencing. The best practices developed by Connected North that Anne-Marie describes are a veritable how-to guide for content providers, teachers, school leaders, and anyone who wants to bring teaching over live videoconferencing to its highest level. Anne-Marie works directly with teachers to coordinate Connected North programming in three Nunavut school...
Aug 07, 2023•28 min•Ep. 11
Jan Zanetis is a distance learning pioneer who spent 20 years in K-12 and higher ed before working for DL powerhouses TANDBERG and Cisco Systems. In 2013, she became the Managing Director at the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration. Jan retired from CILC in 2022 where she mentored cohost Tami Moehring and was a clear and present inspiration to cohost Allyson Mitchell. Due to these close relationships, be forewarned that this episode gets a little sappy! Now freshly retired, Jan - wh...
Jul 25, 2023•31 min•Ep. 10
Welcome to Part Two of this two-part episode in which Seth, Tami, and Allyson delve into the insights and experiences of a diverse group of North American distance learning professionals. As we do with each episode, we asked each participant the titular question of our podcast: Why Distance Learning? It's a question that distance learning providers all have to answer, the implication often being: why don't you just do this in person? Each of the people in CILC's Pinnacle Education Collective hav...
Jul 11, 2023•31 min•Ep. 9
In Part One of this two-part episode, Seth, Tami, and Allyson delve into the insights and experiences of a diverse group of North American distance learning professionals. Reflecting on the golden moments of their careers, our guests share captivating stories that highlight the profound impact they've had on students and, in turn, how the learners have affected them. Despite the physical distance that separates teacher from learner, these stories highlight the bonds formed through distance learn...
Jun 28, 2023•24 min•Ep. 8
Dr. Jasmin Poor is a decorated veteran of distance learning and brings to the podcast her deep experience with both teaching and research. She discusses her perspective on homeschooling and digital school, balancing virtual experiences with on-site visits, the most surprising things she's learned from her research on distance learning, what led her to a career in the field, and why she believes distance learning has great value in today's educational landscape. Dr. Poor is the virtual field trip...
Jun 12, 2023•41 min•Ep. 7
James Hodges joins the crew to discuss his role as the Interactive Video Conferencing Department Administrator for the Utah Education and Telehealth Network, known as UETN IVC which is housed at the Eccles Broadcast Center on the University of Utah’s campus. In addition to sharing local knowledge about how to jump into living in Utah, James explains the unique history and infrastructure that supports the cutting edge UETN Video Operations Center for Utah’s state of the art live, synchronous Dist...
May 30, 2023•45 min•Ep. 6
This VERY special episode has Tami, Allyson, and Seth welcoming three real-life littles to the show. Tristan and Eden are two of the most active young members of the CILC community, consistently showing up to Community of Learning events and for many live virtual field trips. Vida is the daughter of host Seth. She became an impromptu content provider during the pandemic as Banyan Global Learning launched its social and emotional learning program (at the time entitled "Shelter in Place Superheroe...
May 16, 2023•33 min•Ep. 5
Seth, Allyson, and Tami hang out and talk everything distance learning with health, science, and museum educator Lee Gambol, the Distance Learning Coordinator at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Lee and your hosts talk about the current state of virtual learning in their respective states and how school districts that lack bandwidth and tech can get the resources they need to access live virtual field trips. Lee brings her charisma to a conversation about using hardware and props, her wa...
May 01, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 4
