In this episode of The TechEd Clubhouse Podcast, I sit down with the one and only Farmer Faubs — educator, content creator, and all-around EdTech firecracker — to talk about how creativity and community are redefining teaching. From her viral “Farmer Faubs” persona to her work with Book Creator, Kami, and the EduGuardians, Faubs brings practical strategies, a big heart, and a whole lot of “Yeehaw moments” to classrooms everywhere.
We dig into:
How Farmer Faubs started on a whim with a cowboy hat and a vision
The power of social media for teacher growth and connection
Why AI and creativity must coexist in classrooms
How to make PD sessions actually useful (hint: hands-on and follow-up!)
Simple, ready-to-use templates and blended learning ideas teachers can apply tomorrow
The story behind the EduGuardians movement and the power of authentic educator communities
If you’ve ever wanted PD with purpose, tech with heart, and learning that sticks — this one’s for you.
🧩 Key Takeaways
“Meet teachers where they are.” Great tech starts with usability and simplicity.
Blend hands-on with high-tech. LEGO, shoebox projects, and AI can live together.
Keep the human in the loop. AI is a thought partner, not a replacement.
Community matters. Connections through Twitter, LinkedIn, and conferences can transform your teaching career.
Make PD that sticks. Give teachers something they can use tomorrow, not next semester.
🛠️ Tools & Resources Mentioned
👩🌾 Guest Info — Farmer Faubs
Farmer Faubs is an instructional coach, content creator, and creativity advocate. Known for her energetic farm-themed EdTech videos and practical classroom ideas, she’s passionate about helping teachers make learning engaging, meaningful, and fun.
📱 Follow her on social media: @farmerFaubs (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn)
⛳ Host — Dan Thomas
Dan Thomas is a veteran STEM educator, LEGO Serious Play facilitator, and host of The TechEd Clubhouse Podcast, where common sense meets creativity in education.
🔗 Connect with Dan: @coachthomastech
🏷️ Tags
#EdTech #PBL #AIinEducation #Creativity #BookCreator #TeacherPD #EduGuardians #TechEdClubhouse #FarmerFaubs #WhereIsTheFunInThat
🔔 Call to Action
If you enjoyed this episode, follow, rate, and share The TechEd Clubhouse Podcast!
💬 Join the conversation on social media using #TechEdClubhouse and #YeehawMoments.
In this episode of The Tech Ed Clubhouse, Dan Thomas sits down with Laura Williams, founder of the Authentic Learning Alliance, to explore what authentic learning really looks like in schools. From chicken tractors to drone-powered science, Laura shares how schools can connect students to meaningful, future-ready work.
We dig into why traditional approaches fail too many students, how agile practices like Scrum and retrospectives build durable skills, and how teachers can bring authentic learning into their classrooms tomorrow.
What’s not working in education—and how to fix it
Defining authentic learning (beyond buzzwords)
Real-world examples: selfie stations, chicken tractors, drones, and more
Why process > product in student learning
How to use Scrum, Kanban boards, and retrospectives in class
Rethinking PD: agile professional learning that sticks
Quick wins teachers can try right away
Authentic Learning Alliance: authenticlearningalliance.org
Book: The Improvement Game – Amazon link
Follow Laura: @MrsWilliams21C | LinkedIn
Host: @coachthomastech | coachthomastech.com
Try a Plus/Delta chart with your students tomorrow:
Plus (+): What went well?
Delta (Δ): What could we change?
Simple, fast, and powerful feedback that gets students reflecting on their learning.
👉 If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to follow, rate, and share The Tech Ed Clubhouse!
In this episode of The Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast, I sit down with Kyle Niemis, Head of Community at Wayground (formerly Quizziz). We dig into the bold decision to rebrand, the story behind the new name, and how Wayground is helping teachers balance student joy with academic rigor.
Kyle shares:
Why Quizziz rebranded as Wayground
How Wayground hits the sweet spot between fun gamification and serious assessment
The power of student accommodations and differentiation at scale
Their new PhET Simulations partnership for science classrooms
Where AI fits into real-time feedback and student growth
What’s next for Wayground as schools return this fall
We also dive into big-picture questions around time-saving tools vs. authentic learning, student choice, and how to help every kid succeed—not just the ones at the top of the leaderboard.
🎥 Watch the full video version on YouTube here: [Insert YouTube link]
Twitter/X: @KyleNiemis
Wayground: https://wayground.com
Wayground YouTube: Wayground Channel
Twitter/X: @coachthomastech
YouTube: Coach Thomas Tech
👉 If you enjoyed this episode, follow, rate, and share The Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen. Let’s keep building fun, purpose, and creativity into learning.
In this episode of The Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast, I sit down with Leena Salah from Canva to explore how this powerful platform is transforming classrooms. From Magic Activities that generate higher-order thinking tasks to Canva Code that lets teachers and students build custom widgets without writing a line of code, Canva is redefining creativity, engagement, and authentic learning.
Here’s what we dig into:
🚀 The newest Canva tools for educators, including Magic Write, Magic Media, and Magic Activities
💡 How Canva Code empowers teachers and students to design interactive tools with simple prompts
🎨 Practical classroom applications that save teachers time and boost student engagement
🌎 Why Canva is more than an edtech tool—it’s an industry-ready skill for students’ futures
📚 The hidden gems inside Canva Design School that every teacher should know about
Leena also shares insights on Canva’s AI integrations, their growing teacher community, and how Canva is helping educators bridge the gap between creativity, equity, and access.
Whether you’re new to Canva or already using it daily, this conversation is packed with strategies, use cases, and inspiration to take your teaching to the next level.
Try Canva for Education: canva.com/education
Explore Canva Design School: canva.com/designschool
If this episode sparked some ideas for your classroom, don’t keep it to yourself!
👉 Follow The Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast on Spotify (or wherever you listen).
👉 Hit that ⭐ rating to support the show.
👉 Share this episode with a fellow educator who needs a fresh dose of creativity in their teaching toolbox.
Follow me on X/Twitter: @coachthomastech
Join the conversation with the hashtag #TechEdClubhouse
🔗 Links & Resources📣 Call to Action🔥 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Episode Overview
In this episode of the TechEd Clubhouse, Dan Thomas sits down with Todd Bloomer, veteran school leader, author of The Blueprint: Survive and Thrive as a School Administrator, and now Director of School Leadership for the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
Todd shares his no-nonsense approach to school leadership: why being visible matters more than being stuck in the office, how culture is built in small daily interactions, and why equity—not just equality—matters in schools. From his 29 years in education to his transition into principal coaching, Todd brings passion, practical wisdom, and stories that resonate with anyone in education.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
People Before Paper – Why principals and leaders must be present with students and staff, not buried in emails.
Culture Is Not a Program – How consistent small interactions shape school culture more than any purchased initiative.
Equity Over Equality – The importance of treating students fairly by giving them what they need, not necessarily the same thing.
Leadership in the Gray – Why effective principals live in nuance, not black and white rules.
Coaching the Next Generation – Todd’s work helping current and future principals find their blueprint for success.
Key Quotes
“Positivity + Visibility + Reliability = Trust.” – Todd Bloomer
“You can’t lead from your office. Culture is built in the hallways, classrooms, and cafeterias.”
“Fair isn’t always equal—every student needs something different to thrive.”
Resources and Links
🌐 Todd’s Website: toddmbloomer.com
📱 Follow Todd on Instagram & TikTok: @todd_bloomer_author
🔗 Connect with Todd on LinkedIn
🌍 Blog & Resources: coachthomastech.com/blog
🐦 Twitter: @coachthomastech
🎧 Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.
💬 Join the conversation with hashtag #TechEdClubhouse
If you’re a school leader, teacher, or aspiring administrator—this conversation will leave you fired up and ready to lead with heart. After listening, share your biggest takeaway with us on social media using #TechEdClubhouse, and don’t forget to leave a review to help more educators find the show.
In this episode, I sit down with Jon Laven, co-founder of Snorkl.app, an AI-powered tool designed to capture and analyze student thinking. A former high school math teacher, Jon shares how Snorkl helps students explain their thought processes, gives teachers richer insights, and shifts classrooms toward authentic learning and student agency.
We dig into the balance between AI and the human element, why documenting thought processes matters, and the durable skills that go beyond tests—communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.
What you’ll hear about in this episode:
Jon’s journey from teacher to edtech founder
How Snorkl went from a “social Khan Academy” to an AI feedback tool
Why documenting thinking is as valuable as the answer itself
Timely AI feedback and its impact on learning
Student voice, choice, and agency in action
Failure as growth and iteration
Unexpected uses: reading fluency, world language practice
Equity, differentiation, and support for multilingual learners
The future of formative assessment
Advice for teachers with big edtech ideas
Memorable quotes:
💬 “If Snorkl did nothing else but just got students to explain their thinking, there would be value there.” – Jon Laven
💬 “Math is just another form of storytelling. The numbers tell a story.” – Dan Thomas
Resources:
🌐 Snorkl.app (create a free teacher account)
📧 jon@snorkl.app
🔗 coachthomastech.com | Twitter/X: @coachthomastech
Takeaways:
Immediate feedback changes the game—students learn in real time.
Every student voice matters, not just the loudest.
Formative assessment is evolving with tools like Snorkl.
The best innovations start in the classroom.
👉 Try Snorkl with your class, share this episode with a colleague, and subscribe to the TechEd Clubhouse for more conversations that bring play, STEM, and common sense back into learning.
Back-to-school season is overwhelming—lesson plans, grading, differentiation, and those endless Sunday night prep sessions. Teachers are stretched to the breaking point. But what if an AI tool actually cut through the chaos and gave you back your time?
In this episode, I sit down with Thomas Thompson and Thomas Hummel, co-founders of EduaideAI—a platform designed to help teachers plan faster, differentiate smarter, and free up time for what really matters: connecting with students.
Here’s what we cover:
✨ The story of how two middle school teachers bootstrapped EduaideAI into reality
✨ Why EduaideAI is different from “just another AI tool”—it’s grounded in real pedagogy, not myths
✨ How it helps teachers with lesson plans, projects, graphic organizers, and even gamified warm-ups
✨ Their take on AI in the classroom—what works, what doesn’t, and where it’s going next
✨ What’s new and upcoming for EduaideAI, and why staying teacher-focused (not venture-funded) is their core mission
If you’ve ever wished you could spend less time buried in lesson planning and more time actually teaching, this episode is for you.
🔗 Learn more: eduaide.ai
💬 Connect with EduaideAI:
It’s back-to-school season, and AI is everywhere. But how can teachers actually use it to save time and reduce stress right now?
In this episode of The Tech Ed Clubhouse, I chat with Amber Trout, Senior Community Manager at Magic School AI, about practical ways educators can bring AI into their classrooms without the overwhelm.
Whether you’re an AI skeptic or already experimenting, this episode will give you ideas you can use tomorrow.
Why Magic School is different from ChatGPT & Gemini
Quick-start tools teachers love: lesson plans, slides, rubrics, emails
How to differentiate with “Make It Relevant” + spicy/medium/mild scaffolds
Student Rooms: safe AI spaces for kids with teacher-built guardrails
How AI can fight teacher burnout by giving you back your time
👉 Magic School AI – free teacher & student tools
Magic School Summer Academy & Back-to-School Guide
Teachers don’t need hype—they need solutions. This conversation is packed with real, classroom-ready ideas to help you start the year smarter, with less stress, and more time to actually connect with students.
Follow & Subscribe:
🎧 The Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast
📱 Twitter: @coachthomastech
📌 Hashtag: #TechEdClubhouse
In this episode of The TechEd Clubhouse Podcast, I sit down with James Myklebust-Hampshire, a global educator, learning designer, and founder of X Focus — a platform built to help students take ownership of their learning, lead projects, and develop real-world skills.
James has taught in wildly different educational settings — from UK pupil referral units to International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programs in Norway — and brings a refreshingly practical perspective on replacing compliance culture with purpose, creativity, and agency. Together, we dive into what real student agency looks like, why it’s not about “do whatever you want,” and how thoughtful structure, skill-building, and authentic ownership create classroom magic.
We also explore the practical guardrails teachers need to make student-led learning work, why durable skills matter as much as content, and how AI can serve as a thought partner — not a shortcut — to deeper learning. This is an unfiltered conversation packed with strategies, examples, and mindset shifts you can apply in your own teaching tomorrow.
If you’ve ever wanted to transform your classroom into a living, breathing ecosystem of collaboration and curiosity — or you’re curious about how technology and play can fuel student independence — this episode is your blueprint.
________________
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
* Student Agency Demystified: Why it’s not a free-for-all and how guardrails actually create freedom.
* Practical Frameworks for Agency: From job boards to morning meetings — systems that grow ownership and collaboration.
* Durable Skills First: Building critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability alongside content knowledge.
* Balancing Explicit Instruction and Inquiry: How “split-screen” teaching builds both knowledge and skills.
* Culture That Breathes: How classroom agency connects to school-wide culture and why it matters.
* AI as a Thought Partner: How to use AI to deepen thinking, spark ideas, and support project-based learning — without replacing the human work that matters.
* Real-World Examples: Stories from IB classrooms, pupil referral units, and schools worldwide using X Focus to streamline student-led projects.
________________
About Our Guest – James Myklebust-Hampshire
James Myklebust-Hampshire is a UK-born, Norway-based educator, learning designer, and founder of X Focus, a project management tool built specifically for students and teachers engaged in student-led learning. With experience spanning challenging pupil referral units to inquiry-driven IB classrooms, James is passionate about creating learning environments where purpose, creativity, and agency thrive. He works with schools globally to replace compliance culture with authentic, skill-driven learning that prepares students for life beyond the classroom.
Connect with James:
* Website: X Focus https://xfocuspyp.softr.app
* LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-myklebust-hampshire-13193847/
* Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/thejamesmh?r=64gyap&utm_medium=ios
________________
Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:
* X Focus – The student project management platform discussed in this episode.
* Guy Claxton’s Split Screen Teaching approach.
* International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP).
* James Clear’s book Atomic Habits – concept of “never miss twice.”
________________
Episode Quote Highlights:
“You need boundaries to have freedom — otherwise, choice can be paralyzing.” – James Myklebust-Hampshire
“Agency isn’t a badge. It’s not just ‘do whatever you want.’ It’s structure, skill, and purpose.” – Dan Thomas
“AI should make us more human, not less. Use it to think deeper, not skip the thinking altogether.” – James Myklebust-Hampshire
Welcome back to the TechEd Clubhouse Podcast, where we smash the status quo of traditional teaching and bring real talk to real classrooms. In this episode, I sit down with Marlena Hebern—former teacher, co-creator of EduProtocols, and all-around EdTech disruptor.
We break down:
What an EduProtocol is (spoiler: it’s not another worksheet in disguise)
Why most “tech integration” misses the point
How lesson frames like Iron Chef, Sketch & Tell, and Number Mania build actual learning and not just point-getting
Why open-ended routines are essential for building agency, equity, and deeper thinking
How Smart Start routines set the tone for a year of student engagement
How EduProtocols support collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and communication—without eating up your whole prep period
How to keep learning student-centered without surrendering the reins
We also touch on:
How to use EduProtocols with fidelity and flexibility
The biggest mistakes teachers make when trying to use tech
How to scaffold rigor, support ELLs, and make learning meaningful without losing your sanity
This one is full of hard truths, practical examples, and no-BS advice you can actually use tomorrow.
Sketch & Tell – Think-pair-share with purpose
Iron Chef – Fast, focused, and fun research and reteaching
Number Mania – Crowdsourced data turned into powerful visuals
✔️ Subscribe to the podcast
✔️ Rate and review to help spread the word
✔️ Share this episode with a teacher who’s still assigning digital worksheets
What’s one boring assignment you can swap with an EduProtocol this week? Tweet it out using #TechEdClubhouse or DM me @coachthomastech.
Let’s cut the fluff—death-by-slideshow is not the way to start your school year. In this solo episode, Dan breaks down why you should ditch the rules-and-procedures lecture and how to launch your year with a small, high-impact Project-Based Learning (PBL) activity that sets the tone for real engagement.
Forget the “All About Me” coloring sheets. Instead, empower your students to fix a real problem, co-create the classroom culture, and build something that matters.
Dan shares:
3 reasons why starting the year with PBL is a game-changer
3 easy starter project ideas you can run in any class
A cheat sheet for making it work with no budget and little prep
A challenge for you to compare two classes—one with PBL, one with slides—and see the difference
Culture > Rules: Start with habits, inquiry, and ownership instead of a contract.
Small Projects, Big Impact: You only need cardboard, curiosity, and a problem worth solving.
Make It Personal: Projects like “Fix Something at School,” “Redesign the Rules,” and “Solve a Personal Problem” help students feel heard and valued from day one.
Skip the Grade: The reflection is the assessment. Ask: What did you learn? What would you change?
“Don’t tell them this class is different—prove it. Let them build something. That’s how you earn buy-in.”
Curipod for anonymous, interactive student input
CoachThomasTech.com – for blog posts, PBL ideas, and contact info
LEGO, craft materials, markers, cardboard—whatever you’ve got on hand
Try a mini PBL project this week and tag Dan on social media @coachthomastech. Whether you fix the pencil problem or redesign the rules, share what your students create.
Want help brainstorming a PBL kickoff for your class or school? Reach out to Dan directly at coachthomastech.com or message him on Twitter/X.
In this episode of The TechEd Clubhouse, I sit down with Rae Hughart—teacher, speaker, author, and founder of the Teachers Deserve It movement—to get brutally honest about professional development, time-saving hacks, and what teachers really need to thrive in today’s classrooms.
Rae isn’t sugarcoating anything. She’s talking about howeducators are overworked, under-supported, and often stuck with outdated PD models that just don't cut it anymore. Together, we dig into how to flip that script—offering teachers choice, agency, and time back in their day.
We talk about:
Whether you're a new teacher, a seasoned vet, or an admintrying to make PD not suck—you’ll get something out of this.
💡 Key Takeaways:
🔗 Resources Mentioned:
🔑 The Learning Hub (with Free Trial)
📘 Teachers Deserve It Book by Rae Hughart & Adam Welcome – Get it here
📌 Free Digital Downloads
📱 Follow Rae on TikTok & Instagram: @RaeHughart
👋 Connect with Rae Hughart:
Website: https://www.teachersdeserveit.com
Twitter/X: @RaeHughart
Instagram: @RaeHughart
Facebook: Teachers Deserve It Group
🧰 Tech Ed Clubhouse Tools of the Week:
🎯 Rae’s top PD tip: Try standing while conferencing with students—boosts efficiency by 33%
🧠 Pro Move: Don’t hoard tools. Share them. Nothing’s behind a paywall that shouldn’t be.
🗣️ Call to Action:
🔥 Want to join a PD movement that doesn’t suck?
➡️Head to teachersdeserveit.com and try out the Learning Hub. Use the free trial, download everything, and cancel if it’s not for you.
🧱 And while you're at it, join the Facebook group—even if you just lurk. Trust me, you’ll find value.
🎧 About the Host:
I’m Dan Thomas—retired after 32 years in the classroom, butnot done disrupting education. I bring conversations that matter straight to teachers who give a damn.
Follow me:
Twitter/X: @coachthomastech
Podcast: TechEd Clubhouse
Blog: coachthomastech.com/blog
In this episode of The TechEd Clubhouse Podcast, I sit down with two powerhouses in human-centered education: Dr. Michelle Ament, Chief Academic Officer at ProSolve and Executive Director of the Human Intelligence Movement, and Arvin Ross, Co-Founder and Chief Culture Architect at ProSolve.Together, they break down what’s broken in traditional education and why now—more than ever—we must prioritize human skills like adaptability, resilience, creativity, and problem solving in an AI-driven world.🔍 Key Topics Covered:What immersive, play-based learning really looks likeWhy human intelligence matters more than knowledge memorizationThe skills you can’t teach from a textbook: grit, adaptability, and collaborationReframing failure as iteration and learning, not punishmentWhy our education system must shift from factory-model thinking to something more humanThe challenge: Stop asking what AI can do. Start asking what makes us human—and how to amplify that.🧠 Memorable Quotes:“If a kid can go through 12 years of school and graduate uninspired to learn, that’s the real failure.” – Arvin Ross“We’re moving past the Knowledge Age. Skills—not facts—are what make kids future-ready.” – Dr. Michelle Ament“If 30 people build a LEGO duck with the same six bricks and end up with 30 different ducks, you just taught 30 unique lessons.” – Dan Thomas🧰 Resources & Links:🔗 The Human Intelligence Movement📧 Michelle Ament: michelle@hi4ai.org📧 Arvin Ross: arvin@prosolve.com📱 Connect with Michelle and Arvin on LinkedIn🧪 Dan’s Takeaway:Forget Scantrons. This conversation is about helping kids become problem solvers, not parrots. If you're heading into summer thinking about next year—start with one simple shift: prioritize skills over standards. The world has changed. Our classrooms need to catch up.
In this pre-show kickoff to The Summer Rebuild: Brick by Brick series, I get honest about a rough round of golf—and an even rougher attitude. After toe-hooking his irons and turning into a cranky playing partner, he realized something that hit way closer to the classroom than expected…When things fall apart—whether on the course or in your classroom—it’s not always about trying something new. Sometimes, the fix is going back to what actually works.This episode is about:
Whether you're toe-hooking lessons or just need a reset, this is your invitation to start fresh—and build something better, one brick at a time.📌 Mentioned in this episode:The Summer Rebuild: Brick by Brick blog series → coachthomastech.com/blogFollow me on Twitter: @coachthomastechHashtag to join the conversation: #WheresTheFunInThat
In this episode of The Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast, I sit down with the always brilliant Rachelle Dene Poth—Spanish and STEAM teacher, attorney, author, and one of the leading voices in AI and future-ready education.
We talk about what’s real and what’s noise when it comes to AI in schools. Rachelle shares how she’s using AI with students to boost creativity, support language learning, and build confidence. I share how I use AI to break creative blocks and save time in my own projects. Together, we dive deep into how tech can support—not replace—real teaching.
If you're curious about where AI fits in your classroom—or how to even start—this one’s loaded with practical ideas, real examples, and zero fluff.
🔑 Key Topics:
🛠️ AI Tools We Mentioned:
🔥 Bonus:Stick around for a sneak peek of my summer learning series launching July 7th, called “The Summer Rebuild: Brick by Brick.” It’s designed to help educators reset, retool, and rebuild their teaching practice—one hands-on idea at a time. Sign up at coachthomastech.com.📲 Connect with Rachelle Dene Poth:Website Blog: www.rdene915.comX / Twitter: @Rdene915Email: rdene915@gmail.comBooks & Resources: Amazon Author Page📣 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:Follow me on X: @CoachThomasTechCheck out the blog: www.coachthomastech.com/blogIf this episode got you thinking, share it with a colleague and drop a review. Let’s bring common sense, creativity, and fun back to learning—one episode at a time.
This episode dives into the real-world impact of AI in classrooms. Becky Keene joins Dan to share how AI tools are reshaping teacher workflows, PD, and student learning—without replacing the human side of teaching. We talk about creativity, cheating myths, assessment shifts, and how “systemic disruption” might be exactly what education needs right now. Becky breaks down how to coach reluctant teachers, leverage tools like Canva AI, and embrace AI as a partner—not a threat.
🔥 Key Takeaways:
👣 Follow Becky Keene:
🌐beckykeene.com📱TikTok: #TikTokWalks📷Socials: @beckykeene
🔗 Related Topics:
In this powerful episode of The Tech Ed Clubhouse, I sit down with two visionary educators who are reshaping what learning can look like—Thom Markham, the godfather of PBL, and Phil Alcock, a dynamic force exploring the intersection of AI and education. Together, they're launching PBLFuture Labs, a movement to blend project-based learning with the power of artificial intelligence. We get into the hard truths about outdated classroom practices, what it really takes to personalize learning with AI, how to move from "playing the game of school" to real learning—and why the system might not survive unless it evolves.
🧠 Topics Covered:
🛠 Resources & Links:
🔗 Visit PBL Future Labs
📬Sign up for their newsletter for upcoming projects and events
🔍Find Thom and Phil on LinkedIn for ongoing discussions and insights
This episode picks up right where we left off last week with Mark Covelle, diving even deeper into what real technical education looks like.
I sat down with John Stephens, a veteran shop teacher and CTE curriculum developer from Prince Edward Island. John’s on a mission to reclaim the word “shop” and challenge outdated mindsets about what happens in our labs, woodshops, and maker spaces. We talk about the power of hands-on learning, the importance of failure, and how formative feedback—when it happens in real time—actually drives growth.
Whether you're in a tech lab, a gen ed classroom, or leading a school, this episode is a reminder that shop class isn’t for “those kids”—it’s for every kid.
What We Talk About:
Favorite Quotes from John:
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with John Stephens:
My Takeaway:
This episode reminded me why I started in a shop—and why that work still matters. We don’t just teach skills; we build confidence, agency, and curiosity. We need more shop teachers like John sharing their stories and raising their game.
Help Us Spread the Word:
If this hit home, do me a favor:
And if you haven’t yet, go back and catch last week’s episode with Mark Covelle for the full picture of what modern CTE should look like.
Find all episodes, blogs, and extras at coachthomastech.com/podcast
#CTE #ShopClass #TechEd #ProjectBasedLearning #GrowthOverGrades #HandsOnLearning #TechEdClubhouse
In this powerhouse episode, sit down with Dr. Mark Covell—CTE advocate, educational leader, and Director of MBIT—to dig into the past, present, and future of Career & Technical Education (CTE). Together, we unpack the post-COVID surge in CTE interest, the erosion of outdated stigmas, and whyhands-on, real-world learning is not only relevant—it's essential.
🧠 What You'll Learn
🛠️ Memorable Quotes
“When we said ‘college for all,’ we may have accidentallysaid ‘trades for none.’” – Mark Covell
“It’s not ‘just a plumber.’ It’s a skilled entrepreneurwho owns a home on the shore.” – Mark Covell
“Nobody looks at your transcript—they want to know if youcan do the job.” – Dan Thomas
“The number one visited website is Google. Number two?YouTube. We all love to learn by doing.” – Mark Covell
💬 Topics Covered
🔗 Connect with Dr. Mark Covelle
LinkedIn: Mark Covelle
Twitter/X: @mcovelle
Middle Bucks Institute of Technology: https://www.mbit.org
🎧 Listen & Subscribe
Don’t miss an episode—subscribe to The Tech EdClubhouse wherever you get your podcasts and follow Dan at @CoachThomasTech
Episode Summary:
In this jam-packed episode, Dan sits down with blended learning expert, author, and teacher advocate Dr. Catlin Tucker to unpack the shift from teacher-led to student-led classrooms. They explore what this really looks like in practice, how to reimagine classroom workflows to avoid burnout, and how AI—when used wisely—can be a teacher’s best co-designer. They also dig into feedback loops, classroom design, and how educators can reclaim their time without sacrificing engagement or standards. Plus, Dr. Tucker drops details on her first-ever Summer Learning Kickoff—a PD opportunity you won’t want to miss.
Topics Covered:
What “student-led” actually means (and doesn’t)
The teacher burnout trap—and how to escape it
Small workflow shifts with big impact
Why feedback needs to be fast, not flawless
How to use AI as a design partner, not a crutch
What a student-centered classroom physically looks like
Tools and strategies from station rotation to personalized AI tutors
Details on Dr. Tucker’s Summer Learning Kickoff (June 2–6)
Resources Mentioned:
Dr. Tucker’s site: CatlinTucker.com
Dr. Tucker’s new book: Elevating Educational Design with AI
SchoolAI: schoolai.com
Follow Dr. Tucker:
X/Twitter: @Catlin_Tucker
Instagram: @catlintucker
