Westside Personalized: A Personalized Learning Podcast

This episode is part one of an audio recording of the experts' panel Q&A conversation that took place as part of the Westside Personalized Summit in late May 2019. Everyone in this panel has extensive practice implementing personalized practices into their own classroom, and they all are recognized presenters and... Read More

This was a terrific conversation where Allison and I spent some time talking about the changes that come along with moving to a more student-centered approach to learning. This episode approaches that topic for the complexities of functionally making those aspirations a reality while also being sensitive to the methodical... Read More

In this episode, Michael and I cover the topic of games in education from defining terms like gamification and game-based learning to sharing practical classroom examples to insights as to the reasons why teachers should consider adding game elements and practices to a lesson, unit, or an entire course/year. This... Read More

In this episode, Jaime shares the story behind the 2nd-grade spelling website that she created with as apart of a team of 2nd-grade teachers in District 66 in order to personalize that learning experience for her students. The pod delves into everything from how our 3rd-grade spelling site inspired this... Read More

Westside's Superintendent Blane McCann joins us this week on the podcast to reflect on the seven-year story of the implementation of personalized learning in District 66. In this episode, Dr. McCann shares the backstory behind creating a strategic plan for the district and how personalized learning came to be a... Read More

In this episode, Kristen Hogan shares how Westside teachers in 3rd and 4th grade have been personalizing their morning routines to foster learner agency and their abilities to complete a series of tasks independently. The resources that accompany this podcast offer teachers an example and also a blank template that... Read More

In this episode, Andi and I have a fun conversation that covers a variety of topics. Andi shares about her book "Genius Hour: Passion Projects that Ignite Innovation and Student Inquiry" and her upcoming follow-up text, "A Meaningful Mess." The pod serves as an insightful preview to the sessions Andi... Read More

In this episode, Kathleen McClaskey and I have a chance to chat about the purpose behind personalized learning: learner agency and empowerment. We delve into Kathleen's recent ponderings related to learners setting, owning, and pursuing their dreams, which is a topic she plans to explore as a portion of one... Read More

In this episode, Stephanie Pueppka and Stephanie Heitmann share their vision for and implementation of a nonfiction unit in their English 1 Honors class that afforded learners their choice in which book they read. In order to support learners with this freedom, they compiled a list of 200+ books, complete... Read More

This week's pod is the audio from a video you can watch at https://youtu.be/MovUqoRFWr4. In the episode, Michael shares his passion for creating authentic learning experiences through game-based learning practices. As Michael shares the nuances of the game he created, we discuss the personalized aspects of that experience; and while... Read More

In this episode, Jim and I hold an informal conversation that jumps from topics such as the Why behind personalization to Jim's perspective on the current state of the personalization movement to Jim providing advice to educators starting out with this work. We also devote a portion of the pod... Read More

In this episode, Liz and I discuss her efforts with personalizing the learning experience in her 7th grade ELA class. Liz shares her insights and reflections on the various pieces she implemented, noting what went well and what she would revise for next time. Her comments drive this pod and... Read More

In this episode, Greg and I discuss Greg's efforts to personalize the learning experience for the students in his music theory class. As the semester begins, learners in this course range from those learning about musical composition for the very first time to others who are so well versed with the... Read More

In this episode, John shares how he chose to create his own instructional video content for his courses in order to extend the opportunity for students to move through his course at their own pace with his new on-demand video resources. The podcast delves into his implementation of these videos and... Read More

In this episode, Mark and I reflect upon the five-year backstory behind personalization in the Westside Community School District. Mark's insights on implementing and then scaling up personalized practices at the district-level make this pod a valuable conversation for anyone interested in bringing personalization to their school system or building.Show... Read More

In this episode, Michael shares his process for implementing the personalized practice of differentiating instruction to drive engagement and help each student to develop a better understanding of their learner preferences. Michael's passion as an educator truly comes through in this pod and that paired with his insights about his learners... Read More

Andi Espinosa joins the pod this week and shares her professional journey incorporating personalized practices into her role as a special education teacher. Our conversation looks at ways in which personalization extends the individualized work and practices that special education educators traditionally excel at. Andi also discusses the nuances of... Read More

The podcast welcomes Kate Sommerville this week as she shares her role in scaling up personalized, learner-center experience on a regional scale through her work at the Institute as a professional development specialist. Kate's energy and perspective make this episode both fun and also informative regarding topics such as the purpose... Read More

This episode takes a deep dive into Angela's development and implementation of a personalized Natural Phenomena unit in her Earth and Space course. Angela's skill at reflecting upon her practices shines in this podcast and listeners will glean a great deal about PL practices from her insights. This is a terrific... Read More

Join Lynn and I as we discuss her efforts to develop a sense of agency in the high ability learners she serves in the math classes she leads. This podcast delves into the need for personalizing learning for HAL students, and in this episode, Lynn provides insights regarding how she... Read More