The Friday Dive

Episode 3 - Bits, Bytes, and Cybersecurity

Tune in for a conversation between the Friday Institute's Amir Lawrence and Reedy Creek Magnet Middle School's Stephanie Raeman as they talk about the importance of teaching students the fundamentals of cybersecurity, AI, and computer science, especially at the middle school level.

Episode 2 - "Stick with it"

In this episode of The Friday Dive, we spoke to two educators about how they motivate and encourage students to persist in the computer science field. Holly Laird, a computer science teacher in Wake County, and Russell Dirgo, a former computer science teacher and current employee at the Friday Institute, share their thoughts about the computer science and AI landscape, interactions they've had with current and former students, and encouraging their students to "stick with it" and not be afraid to fail.  If you have any stories you'd want to share with us, or want to tell us about your favorite teacher, feel free to send us an email at kwinn@ncsu.edu [kwinn@ncsu.edu] (Kevin) or aarenas@ncsu.edu [aarenas@ncsu.edu] (Aaron).

Episode 1 - Computer Science: It's Definitely Elementary

In this episode of The Friday Dive, Dr. Ellie Ebrahimi, an Associate Professor from University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Kristin Calhoun-Minnis, a STEM teacher at Clinton City Schools, share insights on how early exposure to computer science builds problem-solving skills, creativity, and confidence in young learners—and why it’s never too early to start.

The Friday Dive - Pilot Episode

In our pilot episode of The Friday Dive, we invited Dr. Krista Glazewski, the Executive Director of the Friday Institute, to talk to us about the legacy of Bill & Ida Friday on North Carolina public education. She also shares her thoughts on the current educational landscape in North Carolina and how the Friday Institute has been collaborating with educators across the state.    This podcast is sponsored by the NC State University Foundation Grant.