Hacking Student Engagement: Cybersecurity, AI, and Self-Paced Learning in the Modern Classroom
Welcome to the Modern Classrooms Project Podcast. Each week we bring you discussions with educators on how they use blended, self-paced, and mastery-based learning to better serve their learners. In this episode, Toni Rose Deanon is joined by Sam Meisenburg, a cyber security and AI training expert, discussing his experience implementing Modern Classrooms Project methodologies with high school students.
Sam, a former lecturer, shifted his teaching approach by focusing on active learning and student engagement. Sam emphasizes the importance of "at-bats," or opportunities for students to actively participate, rather than passively listening. He found that self-paced, skills-based learning, though requiring more upfront planning, led to greater student engagement and understanding.
Here are three key takeaways from this podcast episode:
Enhancing Engagement and Understanding: Sam prioritizes active learning in his class by creating a cell phone policy. This can significantly increase engagement and understanding. "People don't learn from when you talk at them, they learn when they do things," Sam stated.
Making Technical Subjects Accessible: Real-world applications, like troubleshooting a fake cyber attack or a caption contest using AI, make complex technical subjects more relatable and accessible.
Effective Self-Paced Learning: Providing meaningful feedback on self-paced work, avoiding assumptions about student learning speeds, and focusing on skill development rather than busy work are crucial for effective self-paced learning.
Sam advises teachers to provide meaningful feedback on self-paced work and avoid assumptions about student learning speeds. He hopes to see a future where education focuses more on skill development and less on standardized testing.
Discussion questions for PLC and PD:
Student Autonomy and Classroom Management: Sam found that allowing students to create their own cell phone policy significantly improved their engagement and sense of ownership. How can educators effectively incorporate student autonomy into classroom management, particularly in areas where rules and expectations are traditionally teacher-driven, while still maintaining a productive learning environment? What are the potential challenges and strategies for overcoming them?
Bridging the Gap Between Technical Concepts and Real-World Application: Sam successfully used real-world scenarios, like staging a fake cyber attack, to make complex technical concepts more accessible to students. How can educators in various disciplines bridge the gap between abstract concepts and practical applications, especially in subjects that students may perceive as irrelevant to their daily lives? What are some creative and engaging methods to achieve this?
Feedback and Assessment in a Self-Paced Learning Environment: Sam emphasizes the importance of providing meaningful feedback on self-paced work and moving away from assumptions about student learning speeds. How can educators effectively manage feedback in a self-paced environment to ensure students feel supported and their work is valued? Additionally, how can assessment strategies be shifted to focus on skill development and individual progress rather than solely on standardized testing or arbitrary thresholds?
Our Host
Toni Rose taught MS English for 10 years and will forever identify as a teacher. Toni Rose strives to be the teacher that they never had growing up, so they focus on anti-bias, anti-racist work and wants to create a brave space for everyone around them. As a queer Filipinx, they understand just how important it is to be represented, be valued, and belong. They especially love being a thought partner for and celebrating teachers.
Our Guests
Sam Meisenberg
Sam Meisenberg is the co-founder of study snacks, a learning company. He spends his days cooking up learning experiences that don't taste bad. He loves petting dogs and is a New York Yankees fan.
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