The episode begins with Justin Shaifer (:30), a popular science communicator and keynoter with a talent for understanding and inspiring Gen Z. Justin is the Founder and Executive Director of Fascinate, Inc., a nonprofit that partners with organizations such as Microsoft, Google and the MIT Media Lab to excite underrepresented students about STEM careers. He is also a science education PhD student at Teachers College of Columbia University and host of WGBH’s live science show, Escape Lab featured on Twitch.
In the interview, Shaifer discusses why he's so passionate about STEM and getting the next generation of students engaged. He shares the approach he uses to connect with students, particularly students of color and those from historically underrepresented groups, and how he found that his message is broadly applicable because all students are looking for new ways to be engaged.
In this episode's Learning Counsel Data Insight (8:56), you'll hear about the results from a new survey of nearly 19,000 administrators, who shared their edtech purchasing plans for the 2020-21 year. With much uncertainty facing districts in the next school year, leaders are planning new edtech purchases to meet important needs.
Then (9:45), the interview with Shaifer continues, as he explains how companies need to expedite "bleeding-edge" knowledge into the hands of students to facilitate modern learning in the fast-moving world of STEM.
Then, John Hamilton joins the show (17:07) to discuss innovative approaches to music education. John is co-founder of the Dept. Of Sound and serves as the director of the non-profit, which works to empower Sacramento youth through music education and after school programming. In his music career, John has toured internationally and throughout the US, DJing at over 1500 events including the Belvedere Music Lounge at Ultra Music Festival and the Hard Rock Hotel at Coachella Music Festival.
He talks about what it means to build a city's "creative economy" and what inspires him to do so; the landscape of starting up a music education nonprofit; how the Dept. of Sound has adapted and adjusted to deliver great programs even amid a pandemic; and more.
Hosted by Mind Rocket Media Group
Continue the conversation on Twitter: @FascinateSci @johnhamilton_v1 @deptofsound_org @soundtrap @EdCircuit @mindrocketmedia
