2017 VSTE Annual Conference

If you have listened to a podcast and value educators as colleagues and mentors, then you might consider how podcasts can become a worthwhile tool for anytime, anywhere learning and professional development. Podcasts provide relatable stories that can inspire school professionals to hone their craft, and continue the hard and rewarding work of education. In this session you will learn about the tools and platforms of podcasts, and how to prepare and organize your first few interviews. If you aren’t trained as a journalist or theatrical performer, all the better. What you do need is the ability to understand and appreciate the art and craft of instruction.

Here is the story of our podcast, The Answer Key. In Fairfax County Public Schools there is a belief that learning and leadership may evolve but what remains constant are school professionals who believe in student success. As writer, Stephen Covey, and educator, Bud Spillane, often said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” The Answer Key is an opportunity to meet educators who love what they do, who affect positive change, and keep the “main thing” kids. The National Center for Education Statistics states that in the fall of 2016 “about 50.4 million students will attend public and secondary schools.” The Answer Key is a sneak peek beyond a classroom setting and an opportunity to understand how teachers teach and how students learn in a large public school setting. This session is an opportunity to learn how you can create a platform for professional development with simple digital tools, to harness the talent of school professionals, and to build a community of learners that empowers instructional practice.