Design Cast

Jason Reagin

Welcome to Design Cast, a podcast where I use nearly 30 years of educator experience and ask, “How do you design education?” Why is this important? Students all learn differently and need varied teaching methods to be successful. I chat with guests from all around the world, from classroom teachers to authors, consultants, and beyond. Check out bonus content at https://www.youtube.com/@reagincreative Connect with me at https://www.speakpipe.com/designcast Support Design Cast by visiting https://www.buymeacoffee.com/designcast Communicate with me @ https://app.zaap.ai/dashboard

  1. 03/09/2025

    Design Cast - Episode #115 - Rita Bateson - Eblana Learning

    Introduction: Rita Bateson shares her educational journey, highlighting her American-Irish background and experiences teaching in various countries. Career Path: Transition from teaching in Ireland to the UK, then Switzerland, Bermuda, and finally back to Dublin.Involvement with the International Baccalaureate (IB) and curriculum development.Current Projects: Focus on AI in education, exploring both its potential and challenges.Discussions around ethical AI and sustainable practices in educational settings.AI Literacy: The importance of helping students, teachers, and parents understand the AI landscape.Addressing concerns about authenticating student work in the age of AI.Sustainable AI: The need for schools to develop policies that consider energy consumption and ethical implications of AI tools.Future of Education: The role of AI in shaping the future of assessment and learning practices. Book Recommendations: “AI: A Very Short Introduction” by Margaret A. Boden - Offers insights into AI's impact and implications in various fields.“The Future of Work: Robots, AI, and Automation” by Darrell M. West - Discusses how technology is changing work dynamics.Charles Fidel's book on AI - Recommended for its ideas on metacognition and meta-emotion, though advised to read critically. Social Media Links: Rita Bateson on Twitter: @RitaBateson Substack: @eblana: Follow for insights on AI in education and sustainable practices. LinkedIn: Connect with Rita for professional updates and discussions on curriculum development. Conclusion: Rita Bateson emphasizes the importance of adapting to the rapid changes AI brings to education, advocating for a balanced approach that incorporates ethical considerations and sustainability. Tune in to learn more about her insights and experiences!

    28 min
  2. Design Cast - Episode #114 - Dan Thomas – The TechEd Clubhouse

    02/23/2025

    Design Cast - Episode #114 - Dan Thomas – The TechEd Clubhouse

    In this episode of Design Cast, Jason chats with Dan Thomas, a dedicated STEM teacher from Jamestown, New York. They discuss the value of play-based learning (PBL), the importance of creativity in the classroom, and Dan's upcoming projects. Dan's Background: ·      33 years of teaching experience. ·      Currently teaches 7th grade STEM, covering robotics, coding, woodshop, metal shop, and CAD. Teaching Philosophy: ·      Focuses on creating "aha moments" for students. ·      Emphasizes fun and play in learning, arguing that engagement leads to better retention. Incorporating LEGO inEducation: ·      Dan uses LEGO for creative builds to spark student engagement and creativity. ·      Discusses the educational benefits of LEGO, including the development of cognitive skills. ·      LEGO's meaning in Latin: "I build" and the importance of open-ended building activities. Current Projects: ·      Dan is retiring soon and working on the "Tech Ed Clubhouse," which aims to promote tech education and project-based learning. ·      He is writing a book titled "Where's the Fun in That?" focused on the role of play in education. ·      Plans to start a newsletter and has projects available on his website. Daily Engagement: ·      Dan shares daily selfies with dad jokes on social media, emphasizing the importance of humor in education. Resources Mentioned Lego Foundation: learningthroughplay.com Wakelet: wakelet.com Books Recommended: "Play" by Dr. Stuart Brown "Flow" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi "The LEGO Serious Play Method"Connect with Dan ThomasWebsite: TechEd Clubhouse LinkedIn: Dan Thomas on LinkedIn Twitter: @CoachThomasTech Closing ThoughtsDan emphasizes the importance of doing what you love and following your educational strengths. His passion for teaching and learning is evident throughout the conversation, inspiring educators and students.

    31 min
  3. 02/16/2025

    Design Cast - Episode #113 - Critical Thinking with Stephanie Simoes

    In this episode of the Design Cast Podcast, host Jason welcomes Stephanie Simoes, a critical-thinking educator and founder of Critikid.com. Stephanie shares her journey into critical-thinking education and discusses the importance of teaching these skills to students, especially in the age of social media. She highlights the lack of critical thinking training in traditional education and the need for resources tailored for children and teens. Stephanie explains her innovative approach, using storytelling and engaging content to teach concepts like logical fallacies through a sci-fi theme. She addresses the challenges of running a startup, focusing on marketing and financial sustainability. The conversation touches on her plans for expanding her curriculum to include media literacy and how she envisions her courses being used in classrooms. Importance of critical thinking in today's digital ageStephanie's journey and the founding of Critikid.comCreative approaches to teaching critical thinking through storiesChallenges in Marketing and Financial Viability for Educational StartupsPlans for expanding content to include media literacyRecommendations for tech tools and educational resources⁠Critikid Website⁠Book: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanWebsite: ⁠Thinking is Power⁠ by Melanie Trecek-KingFollow Critikid on Instagram: ⁠@critikid⁠Connect on Twitter: ⁠@critikid⁠Find Critikid on Facebook: ⁠Critikid Facebook Page⁠If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing to the Design Cast Podcast and leaving a review. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and continue sharing valuable insights on education and design! #DesignCast#CriticalThinking#Education#EdTech#MediaLiteracy#TeachingStrategies#LearningThroughStories#InnovativeEducation#KidsAndTeens#LogicalFallacies#SocialMediaEducation#CriticalThinkingSkills#Parenting#Homeschooling#Educators#EducationResources

    23 min
  4. 02/09/2025

    Design Cast - Episode #112 - Welcome Back to DesignCast! Season 9 Opener

    Hey everyone! I’m Jason Reagin, your host, and I’m thrilled to be back with a brand-new season of DesignCast after a year-long break. In this episode, I’ll share what I’ve been up to, why I took some time off, and what’s next for the podcast. Whether you’re a long-time listener or new to the show, thank you for tuning in! --- In This Episode: -What I’ve Been Up To: I’ve been busy with various projects, including teaching at an international school in Beijing, where my family and I have been living for the past few years. I’ve also been diving back into the world of design education, and I’m excited to share more about that. -My New Book: I’m thrilled to announce the release ofmy book,The Future of Learning: Designing Innovative Spaces That Transform Schools and Inspire Tomorrow’s Leaders. It’s not a step-by-step guide but rather a deep dive into the philosophy and culture behind creating innovative learning spaces. You can find it on Kindle Unlimited or in paperback—check the notes below for links! -Creative Pursuits: I’ve been exploring new creative outlets, including sharing my art, travel videos, and even Lego builds on Xiaohongshu (RedNote). It’s been an inspiring platform for me, and I’d love for you to check it out! -New IB DP Design Technology Syllabus: The International Baccalaureate (IB) has just released a new DP Design Technology syllabus, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on it. Let me know what you think—I’m eager to discuss it in future episodes. -Future Plans for DesignCast: I’m looking to broaden the scope of the podcast and would love your input on new ideas, guests, and content formats. I’m also considering creating an eBook summarizing past episodes and hosting live webinars. Let me know what you’d like to see! --- Connect With Me: - Xiaohongshu (RedNote): Diskon4no - BlueSky: diskon4no.bsky.social - Landing Page:https://zaap.bio/diskon4no - Amazon Author Page:https://www.amazon.com/author/jasonreagin --- Support the Show: If you enjoy Design Cast, pleasesubscribe, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world to me, and I’m excited to bring you more content in the coming months. Let me know what topics or guests you’d like to see in future episodes—I’m all ears! --- Stay Tuned: This is just the beginning of Season 9, and I’ve got some amazing guests and topics lined up. Thank you for being part of this journey—let’s make this season the best one yet! #DesignCast #Education #InnovativeSpaces #DesignThinking#IBDesignTech #CreativeEducation #JasonReagin #Season9

    13 min
5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Welcome to Design Cast, a podcast where I use nearly 30 years of educator experience and ask, “How do you design education?” Why is this important? Students all learn differently and need varied teaching methods to be successful. I chat with guests from all around the world, from classroom teachers to authors, consultants, and beyond. Check out bonus content at https://www.youtube.com/@reagincreative Connect with me at https://www.speakpipe.com/designcast Support Design Cast by visiting https://www.buymeacoffee.com/designcast Communicate with me @ https://app.zaap.ai/dashboard