Description

About the Host

Toby Brooks is an enthusiastic and innovative educator with a flair for integrating creative tools into his teaching methodologies. Inspired by his vibrant school days under the guidance of Ms. Mathis, a renowned PE teacher in Illinois, Toby has channeled that same passion and creativity into his own career. He currently teaches Anatomical Kinesiology at Baylor University and is recognized for his engagement with tech-savvy educational methods, including the use of podcasts as teaching supplements.
Episode Summary

In this captivating episode of the Professor's Playbook, Toby Brooks delves into the transformative power of education, drawing from his own childhood experiences under the inspiring tutelage of Ms. Mathis. Though the years have passed since his youthful days of scooter soccer and parachute play, Toby strives to create equally engaging experiences for his own students. This episode shines a light on his innovative use of podcasting as a pedagogical tool, hoping to leave a lasting impact just like those memorable PE days did for him.

As Toby approaches the finale of his 30-day solo podcast challenge with David Hooper, he introduces listeners to his latest educational experiment – embedding podcast episodes into his spring 2025 Anatomical Kinesiology course at Baylor University. Designed to offer students a fresh and accessible way to interact with course material, the podcast episodes provide pre-class insights and weekly recaps. This novel approach emphasizes digital engagement, giving students flexibility in how they consume educational content. Toby is eager to evaluate the effectiveness of this method through potential research on educational outcomes influenced by podcasting.

Key Takeaways

• Toby Brooks shares nostalgic memories of impactful school days and how they influence his teaching style.
• Innovative teaching methods, such as podcasting, play a crucial role in enhancing student engagement and learning.
• Toby's 30-day podcasting challenge reflects his commitment to experimenting with educational content delivery.
• The use of podcasts offers students a flexible, portable way to access course materials and important insights.
• Toby invites listeners to consider new educational tools and to reflect on methods that best resonate with today's students.

Notable Quotes

• "They were PE days where we got to use the cool stuff. At my elementary school, we had a PE teacher by the name of Ms. Mathis."
• "My best learning experiences in life came from skilled, competent and caring educators."
• "This experiment with podcasting is more than just content creation. It's about trying to be innovative, to connect, to meet students where they are."
• "Podcasts are flexible, portable, and most importantly, accessible."
• "May every day be like scooter soccer or parachute day, but above all else, listen to your freaking professor."

Resources

• Connect with Toby Brooks: linktr.ee/tobyjbrooks
• Review episodes 25 and 28 of the Professor's Playbook for Toby's in-depth class discussions.

Tune in to the full episode of the Professor's Playbook to explore how Toby Brooks is reshaping modern education through technology and cherished learning experiences. Stay connected for more inspiring content that challenges and enlightens from the Professor's Playbook series.