Coffee With A Geek Podcast

Andrew Wheelock

5.0 (1)
EDUCATION
UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Coffee With A Geek Podcast

Talking edtech with amazing leaders

MAR 17

Coffee with a Geek Interview with Rae Hughart

I've come across Rae's ideas and work primarily through Instagram. She offers teachers great ideas to improve their teaching, .learning and mindset. A little about Rae in her own words: Rae Hughart is an educator, author, TEDx speaker, and the founder of Teachers Deserve It (TDI), a platform dedicated to empowering teachers with efficient, effective, and sustainable teaching practices. With a background in education and leadership, Rae is passionate about supporting educators in reclaiming their time, fostering creativity, and stepping into leadership roles. She is also a speaker, podcast host, and advocate for teacher wellness and retention, working to create a future where educators thrive personally and professionally.How to connect with Rae:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rae-hughart/Social Media: @RaeHughart How to follow Rae's Work:https://teachersdeserveit.com/

27 min
FEB 24

Coffee with a Geek Interview with Patrick Boylan

I recently had a wonderful conversation with musician and innovator Patrick Boylan. Patrick is developing a new music learning app called, MuseFlow. Our conversation steered into a variety of themes from the importance of music education and learning engagement. A little about Patrick in his own words: Patrick Boylan is a skilled multi-instrumentalist with a deep passion for self-education. Despite eight years of traditional piano lessons, Patrick found the repetitive nature of practicing the same pieces uninspiring. Like many music students, he struggled with the conventional approach. However, when his teacher retired, Patrick began exploring his parents' sheet music on his own, selecting phrases he enjoyed and improvising around them. This self-directed experimentation not only reignited his interest in music but also led him to uncover the foundational elements of musical theater.Today, Patrick can sight-read virtually any musical theater composition. His experience with traditional music education, combined with his innovative spirit, inspired him to co-found MuseFlow, a cutting-edge music edtech startup often referred to as "The Duolingo of Music Education." MuseFlow revolutionizes music learning by emphasizing the development of bite-sized skills through sight-reading—enabling students to read and play music at first sight—rather than relying on repetitive practice. This approach makes learning more engaging, effective, and rewarding compared to traditional methods. The platform adapts to each student's progress by adjusting the tempo and complexity of the music, ensuring that they remain challenged but not overwhelmed. MuseFlow’s unique method involves students playing levels designed to teach specific skills, such as new notes, rhythms, or time signatures. The system generates novel music pieces tailored to the student's ability, focusing initially on the new concept in isolation, and gradually integrating it with their existing knowledge. Students continue practicing until they achieve a 95% accuracy rate over four consecutive phrases, at which point they have mastered the new skill. Patrick has been featured on podcasts such as Mystery Team Inc.'s "The Biggest Thing In The Universe," where he shares his insights on the future of learning, edtech, and underappreciated Sondheim musicals. He is passionate about educating audiences on self-teaching sight-reading and guiding parents and teachers on how to leverage MuseFlow to help students achieve a flow state, enabling them to master a new instrument with greater accuracy and enjoyment."

35 min
FEB 24

Coffee with a Geek Interview with Mary Beth Hertz

Great edtech interviews and commentary over a good cup of coffee... Coffee optional.For the first interview of 2025 I invited Mary Beth Hertz to discuss her teaching, her book, and her latest projects.A little about Mary Beth in her own words: Mary Beth Hertz has taught young people in Philadelphia since 2003 and has been at the forefront of educational technology. She is the author of Digital and Media Literacy in the Classroom: Practical Classroom Applications, and the Executive Director of Walkabout Education, an organization dedicated to building experiential learning schools.To connect with Mary Beth:http://marybethhertz.meBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mbteach.bsky.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marybethhertz/

36 min
08/09/2024

Coffee with a Geek Interview with Dr. Aaron Weiner

In this important interview I wanted to touch base with Dr. Weiner to get his research based observations regarding Marijuana in specifically when it comes to teenagers. A little bit about Aaron in his own words. "Dr. Aaron Weiner is a board-certified Psychologist and addiction specialist, and speaks nationally on the topics of addiction, behavioral health, and the impact of drug policy on public health. His perspective is informed by his years of experience growing and directing addiction service lines for hospitals and healthcare systems, the current state of medical and psychological research, and his own observations in private practice. Dr. Weiner is a past president of the Society of Addiction Psychology, and his opinions have been featured in numerous outlets including Newsweek, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, The Guardian, Psychology Today, and The New York Times. He is currently on the Public Policy Committee for the American Society of Addiction Medicine and a member of the Science Advisory Board for the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions." To Connect with Dr. Weiner go to: LinkedIn: / aaronweinerphd Psychology Today Blog: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-change-in-mentality

33 min
07/19/2024

Coffee with a Geek Interview with Priten Shah

I had a great opportunity to interview the dynamic Priten Shah. Priten's new book, AI and the Future of Education is timely and fascinating. I really enjoyed learning about Priten's background, insights, and thoughts on education. A little about Priten in his own words: "Priten Shah is an education entrepreneur and the author of *AI & The Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence* (Jossey-Bass, 2023). He is the founder of Pedagogy.Cloud, an educational consulting firm that supports educators in K-12 schools, higher education, and the nonprofit sector adapt to the increasing capabilities of AI. Priten is also the founder of the civic-focused nonprofit United 4 Social Change. He has a B.A. in philosophy and an M.Ed. in education policy from Harvard University.

26 min
05/24/2024

Coffee with a Geek Interview with Anna

Wakelet is my favorite curating site for education links and materials. It's easy to use and dynamic. Also it allows for connecting with educators from across the world to share resources and ideas. Anna Dyagpleva has been a great teacher to follow on Wakelet because she is well organized and provides up to date and relevant resources. I've also started following her on X. She is always providing great ideas and posts.About Anna in her own words: "Anna Dyagileva-Tkachuk is a Language Teacher in Kirov (Russia) and has been teaching for over 13 years. She's been teaching students online for over 12 years and also provides online PD courses for schools. She's a founder of #teachersloveEDU and a YouTuber.Anna is a Microsoft Expert in Education (MIE), an MIE Master Trainer, and an MIE Fellow, and Certified Trainer on Flipgrid and Wakelet.Anna loves integrating new educational technologies in her virtual classroom. Her main goal in teaching is to create a safe space where every learner is included and empowered. She is super passionate about inclusivity and accessibility in the classroom.In 2021 she was a presenter at Microsoft CEE Accessibility Workshop: Engaging with Content Using Microsoft Tools.On 15th Feb. 2022 - she was a host of Microsoft TweetMeet on Hybrid Learning.On 15th March 2022 - she was a presenter on “Creating an equitable and accessible learning environment with help from Windows, Microsoft Teams, and Office 365.” for Microsoft Education Exchange global annual event #E2.Anna loves Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Global collaborations.Her favorite quote is: "Every child has the right to quality education and learning.".

34 min
03/20/2024

Coffee with a Geek with Alana Winnick

After some time to focus on a new job, the Coffee with a Geek show makes a comeback with special guest Alana Winnick. I've gotten to know Alana over the years through NYSCATE. Alana has a wide breadth of experience and knowledge that make her an ideal candidate to talk Edtech in 2024. Alana's new book explores Generative A.I. which is a fabulous guide to learn about A.I. specially for educators. A little about Alana in her own words: Alana lives in New York City and currently holds key leadership positions as the Educational Technology Director and Data Protection Officer for Pocantico Hills Central School District and the Hudson Valley Director for NYSCATE"Alana is the author of The Generative Age: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Education and host of The Generative Age Podcast, powered by NYSCATE, which explores the rapidly evolving world of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on education. She has been at the forefront of innovation in the industry and has supported both her region and NYS during several disruptive transformations, including the migration to cloud computing, navigating the challenges brought on by the pandemic, and the emergence of generative AI. Recognized for her contributions, Alana has received the Innovative Tech Director award from both Tech & Learning and LHRIC, as well as being named (a finalist for) Magic School AI Educator of the Year and EDSAFE Women in AI Fellow." Follow Alana: @AlanaWinnick

32 min
11/06/2023

Coffee with a Geek Interview with Tony Spence

Episode Website: HERE My first interview with an Educator from the great state of Wisconsin. Tony has had a variety to roles in education and discusses his ideas for Edtech from a variety of perspectives. A little about Tony in his own words: Tony Spence joined the Waterford Graded School District as the Superintendent in July 2022. Waterford Graded is a K-8 district in Wisconsin with more than 1,500 students, the 3rd largest K-8 in the state. He was previously the Chief Information Officer at the Muskego-Norway School District in Muskego, Wisconsin. In his role, he supervised and coordinated the district's technology operations and staff, as well as oversaw library media, instructional technology, personalized learning, information technology, data analytics and development, and marketing and communications. How to connect with Tony Twitter @twspence spence@waterford.k12.wi.us

26 min

Talking edtech with amazing leaders

Creator

Andrew Wheelock
Years Active

2020 - 2025
Episodes

30
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Andrew Wheelock
Show Website

Coffee With A Geek Podcast