The 8-Bit Instructor: Teaching Beyond the Desk with Katie Powell (EP024)

Download the episode here.

Episode 24

In this week’s episode, Katie Powell joins me and discusses her book Boredom Busters and the idea behind Teach Beyond the Desk. Plus, news and updates from Parlay and Google; this week’s treasure chest; and, of course, your question of the week.

News & Updates

• Parlay Updates
• Google
  • Autofit text to placeholders in Slides
  • Admins can block mobile apps from accessing their organizations Google Workspace data
  • Google Doodle is back for year 13!

Treasure Chest: The Paint Format Button (Google apps)

• Use the Paint Format button to copy formatting from one shape/textbox to another
• Check out this Iorad tutorial on how to do it

Boss Battle: Teaching Beyond the Desk with Katie Powell

• The story behind Teach Beyond the Desk
  • a lot of students didn’t feel like school was for them
  • hide learning behind something that didn’t look or feel like school
  • learning for kids that weren’t finding success in “traditional school”
  • Key Question: What are things teachers lean on that are low engagement for students? (worksheets, lectures, homework)
• Filling the tool box
  • teachers are diverse, so there is no prescriptive way of doing it
  • Boredom Busters – activities that can be immediately deployed in a classroom that can be adapted and tweaked to fit any class setting
  • Easy to use and require little to no prep
• Connect with Katie online
  • Katie on Twitter
  • Teach Beyond the Desk website
  • Virtual Busters – adapting Busters to a virtual classroom
  • Socially Distanced Busters
  • Transitioning to in-person teaching
  • Check out Boredom Busters!

Crew Members’ Board (#8BitCrew)

QOTW: What is one low-engagement activity in your class that you’d like to ramp up?

Use #8BitCrew on Twitter, tag me @comicsocks, or post longer stories in the comments section here.

Get connected

• Twitter: @comicsocks & #8BitCrew
• Web site
• Youtube 
• Email: 8bit.instructor@gmail.com
• Support the show on Patreon.

Check out my Google Classroom Udemy course.

Credits

Music by David Fesliyan (https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/)

• Intro/Outro: “Retro Platforming”
• Boss Battle: “Boss Battle Rock”
• Crew Member’s Board: “Pirate Dance”
• Wrap up: “Game Over” by Patrick de Arteaga

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