Education Upgrade with Jake Schulke

Jake Schulke
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Education Upgrade is a podcast exploring teaching, learning, educational research, human development, and the systems that shape our lives. Through thoughtful conversations, interviews, and essays, host Jake Schulke examines educational practices, leadership, psychology, history, culture, and the ideas that influence how we think, learn, and live. Education Upgrade challenges assumptions, asks meaningful questions, and explores new perspectives on education and society. The views expressed on this podcast are my own and do not represent those of any employer or affiliated organization.

  1. Oct 27 ·  Bonus

    What happens when students have more control over their learning?

    What happens when students have more choice in how they learn and demonstrate what they know? Dr. John McFarland shares examples of students extending their learning through art, music, dance, and other creative projects. We discuss student agency, meaningful extra credit, incorporating students' interests, and the value of giving students a voice in the learning experience. This featured segment comes from Episode 2 of Education Upgrade.

    What happens when students have more control over their learning?

  2. Oct 20 ·  Bonus

    Are schools teaching the right things? | Brett Barker

    In this featured segment from Education Upgrade, Jake Schulke and guest Brett Barker examine how traditional teaching methods, large class sizes, and an emphasis on career preparation can limit meaningful learning. The conversation explores why students struggle to engage with English and social studies, whether conventional teaching practices encourage memorization over critical thinking, and how the structure of public education may contribute to these challenges. Watch or listen to the full conversation in Episode 19. Follow Education Upgrade for more conversations about teaching, learning, and rethinking education.

    Are schools teaching the right things? | Brett Barker

  3. Oct 13 ·  Bonus

    Can gamification turn extrinsic rewards into intrinsic motivation?

    Can extrinsic rewards eventually help students become intrinsically motivated to learn? Dr. John McFarland (Dr. Mack) shares how he built “Fantasy French,” a gamified classroom system using experience points, levels, character classes, special abilities, and collaborative rewards. We discuss how students responded to the system, how it encouraged cooperation, and what happened as students began taking greater ownership of their learning. This featured segment comes from Episode 2 of Education Upgrade.

    Can gamification turn extrinsic rewards into intrinsic motivation?

  4. Oct 6 ·  Bonus

    What are police searches actually teaching students?

    What do police searches communicate to students? Dr. Sebastián Sclofsky and I discuss school searches, student trust, discipline, and the difference between responding to a behavior and addressing what may be causing it. From Episode 11 of Education Upgrade.

    What are police searches actually teaching students?

  5. Oct 3 ·  Bonus

    What if teachers directed their own professional development?

    What if teachers had more control over their own professional learning? In this featured segment from Education Upgrade, Dr. Derek Riddle discusses self-directed professional development and how teachers can identify their own learning needs, set meaningful goals, and seek out resources that help them improve their practice. We explore adult learning, reflection, teacher choice and motivation, and the many ways educators learn beyond traditional professional development. We also consider why even well-designed PD can fall short when it doesn't connect to what an individual teacher actually needs. Featured segment from Episode 12 of Education Upgrade: Why Teacher Professional Development Fails, and What Works Instead with Dr. Derek Riddle.

    What if teachers directed their own professional development?

  6. Sep 22 ·  Bonus

    What does the research say about successful teacher PD?

    What does the research actually tell us about effective teacher professional development? In this featured segment from Education Upgrade, Dr. Derek Riddle explores the research on teacher professional learning, including six design features that shaped the field for decades: format, duration, collective participation, content, active learning, and coherence. We also discuss research that challenged that traditional consensus and an important factor that can get lost when professional development is designed: the teacher. What motivates teachers? What intellectually engages them? What makes professional learning meaningful? And how much voice should teachers have in determining what they need to learn? Featured segment from Episode 12 of Education Upgrade: Why Teacher Professional Development Fails, and What Works Instead with Dr. Derek Riddle.

    What does the research say about successful teacher PD?

  7. Sep 15 ·  Bonus

    Why isn't professional development part of the job?

    What if professional development wasn't something teachers had to squeeze in after work, but was actually built into the job? Dr. Derek Riddle and I discuss the time teachers need to learn, collaborate, create curriculum, and continually improve their practice. We compare professional learning in education with other fields, examine the limitations of traditional collaboration and in-service models, and consider what schools might look like if meaningful teacher development were treated as part of the work itself. We also explore teacher-directed professional learning, four-day instructional weeks, the expectation that new teachers enter the profession already “complete,” and the role school leaders can play in creating a culture of continual professional growth. Featured segment from Episode 12 of Education Upgrade: Why Teacher Professional Development Fails, and What Works Instead with Dr. Derek Riddle.

    Why isn't professional development part of the job?

  8. Sep 8 ·  Bonus

    Reel Talk #4: What are movies teaching our kids?

    What are movies and television teaching young people? In this episode of Reel Talk, Jake Schulke and Brett Barker discuss how films and television influence the development of values, ethics, and role models during adolescence. Beginning with the enduring appeal of the rebel archetype and ending with a discussion of modern shows like Euphoria and Breaking Bad, they explore whether entertainment simply mirrors society or actively shapes the beliefs and behaviors of its audience. Along the way, they consider the influence of storytelling on identity, morality, and the choices young people make as they grow up. This conversation invites educators, parents, and film enthusiasts alike to think more deeply about the cultural messages embedded in the stories we consume—and the values they pass on to the next generation.

    Reel Talk #4: What are movies teaching our kids?
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About

Education Upgrade is a podcast exploring teaching, learning, educational research, human development, and the systems that shape our lives. Through thoughtful conversations, interviews, and essays, host Jake Schulke examines educational practices, leadership, psychology, history, culture, and the ideas that influence how we think, learn, and live. Education Upgrade challenges assumptions, asks meaningful questions, and explores new perspectives on education and society. The views expressed on this podcast are my own and do not represent those of any employer or affiliated organization.

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