Coffee With A Geek Podcast

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/ [https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2392472421745854363/8843046434447762191#]Social Media:  @RaeHughart How to follow Rae's Work:https://teachersdeserveit.com/ [https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2392472421745854363/8843046434447762191#]

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."

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/

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   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1R4c3hVbzN6MUdGeWpEMHJ5WnQyTGRsTHZzd3xBQ3Jtc0ttb1RPemVVVVRhMG9aRXdvdl9KN2JMYUdjSDY0akZKU2JubFlNeGtWVXJGZ2ExU3M3S2JXYnZiNVRlT3Q3UUFnNENyWHlQRVpZT1VMNGI3MldQSzN3UkstcHdQd0xIVGh5dHVMNVAtSk8xcmJLQ25UVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Faaronweinerphd%2F&v=Fwgxtqq7Gew] Psychology Today Blog: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-change-in-mentality [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-change-in-mentality]

I had a great opportunity to interview the dynamic Priten Shah.  Priten's new book, AI and the Future of Education [https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2392472421745854363/4087082392082774295#] 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.