Best High Tech High Unboxed Podcasts (2025)

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S7E7 - How Exhibitions of Learning Came to Lincoln High School 34:12

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39m ago34:12

34:12

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Lincoln High School Principal Melissa Agudelo about the challenges of bringing exhibitions of student learning to a large urban high school, and how they made it successful by literally doing everything all at once. Want do bring exhibitions to your school, or take your exhibition game to the next level? Check out…

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DHCP Demystified 29:03

5h ago29:03

29:03

[email protected] Ever wonder how your phone grabs an IP address the instant you join Wi‑Fi? We break down the invisible handshake that makes it happen: DORA. From discovery to acknowledgement, we map each step of the DHCP exchange, explain lease timers, and show how networks hand out addresses at scale without stepping on their own toes. Alo…

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History of Modern Technology: Cards, Codes, And Courage 25:35

2d ago25:35

25:35

[email protected] A census solved with cardboard, a company remade by a $5 billion gamble, and a tiny firmware layer that cracked open the PC market—this is the human story behind how computing became a platform, not a product. We go from Hermann Hollerith’s 1890 insight to IBM’s sales-first system that taught the world to think in fields and…

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Cybersecurity Fundamentals. Inside The Locks And Gates Of The Network Chapter 9 24:58

5d ago24:58

24:58

[email protected] Security that actually holds under pressure starts long before passwords and antivirus. We pull back the rack door and walk through the parts that make a network resilient: switches that enforce port security, routers that block spoofed traffic, servers that stay patched and locked down, and load balancers that keep services…

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The One Hundred Episode 24:28

7d ago24:28

24:28

[email protected] The mic feels heavier at 100—not from gear, but from history. We started with a doctoral dare, a $40 class, and a shaky first recording. We built a library that helped learners pass A+, Network+, and Security+ while connecting the dots between hardware, operating systems, storage, networking, and the human choices behind eve…

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A History of Modern Technology: Bletchley To Binary 24:20

9d ago24:20

24:20

[email protected] A quiet country house. A noisy war. And a handful of people who turned logic into a lifeline. We take you inside Bletchley Park to follow the thread from Poland’s algebraic assault on Enigma, through Alan Turing’s audacious vision for the Bombe, to Tommy Flowers’ all‑electronic Colossus that read Germany’s secrets at machine…

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Cybersecurity Fundamentals: Hunting Weak Spots Chapter 8 25:29

12d ago25:29

25:29

[email protected] What’s the weakest link in your world—an old router, a forgotten Windows box, or that “anyone with the link” setting you meant to change? We unpack the real vulnerabilities hiding in small businesses, nonprofits, and home networks, then share a clear playbook to find them early and fix them fast without enterprise budgets. W…

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S7E6 - Building Trust with Data: A District-Wide Approach to Improving Math Proficiency 39:44

13d ago39:44

39:44

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Michael McDonald, Stephen Rinaldo, and Tarima Levine about how Yonkers Public Schools and Bank Street Education Center improved eighth grade math proficiency particularly for students who are Black, Latinx, or experiencing poverty. Learn more about the curriculum Yonkers used, i-Ready Mathematics Read this Case St…

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A Plus+ Fundamentals: Network Language, Decoded Chapter 6 25:11

14d ago25:11

25:11

[email protected] Ever wish the network would just explain itself? We walk through the real language of connectivity—how links come alive, how packets choose their paths, and how a few core ideas unlock routers, firewalls, addressing, and the exam questions that test them. It starts with the wire (and the air): DSL over copper, cable scaling …

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History of Modern Computing : Cloud, Unboxed 25:03

16d ago25:03

25:03

[email protected] What if the world’s hard drives merged into one invisible place—and you used it a hundred times today without thinking? We pull back the curtain on cloud storage, tracing its unlikely path from room-sized machines and punch cards to AWS’s game-changing S3, Dropbox’s frictionless sync, and the moment Netflix stopped shipping …

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Cybersecurity Fundamentals : High Availability, Real Resilience Chapter 7 24:45

19d ago24:45

24:45

[email protected] What keeps a business alive when the lights flicker, a server drops, or an ISP blinks? We pull back the curtain on practical resilience—how continuity planning, capacity, and clear runbooks turn chaos into a minor hiccup—then pressure-test the plan with drills, documentation, and ruthless honesty. We start by grounding COOP …

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A + Fundamentals : Networking Unlocked: From LANs to Wi-Fi 7 Chapter 5 26:23

23d ago26:23

26:23

[email protected] What if your “all-in-one” router is doing too much—and your Wi‑Fi “speed” isn’t the real bottleneck? We pull back the rack door and trace the digital bloodstream from SOHO setups to enterprise backbones, translating jargon into choices you can actually make. Starting with LANs, WANs, WLANs, and SANs, we map how scope changes…

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History of Modern Technology: Pocket Power: The USB Story 25:29

23d ago25:29

25:29

[email protected] A tiny stick changed how we move information—and how attackers move too. We pull back the curtain on the USB flash drive’s quiet takeover: why floppies and CD-Rs failed us, how flash memory and USB converged, and which teams across Singapore, Israel, and China raced to ship the first pocket drive that actually worked. From e…

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Cybersecurity Fundamentals : Cloud, Zero Trust, and You Chapter 6 23:57

26d ago23:57

23:57

[email protected] Cloud perimeters are fading, identities are multiplying, and threats move faster than patches. We dive into the real mechanics of securing a hybrid world—mapping cloud deployment choices, clarifying shared responsibility across SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS, and showing how Zero Trust reshapes defenses around identity, posture, and c…

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S7E5 - Why PBLWorks' Bryon Demerson Went from Test Prep to PBL in Math 35:31

27d ago35:31

35:31

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to PBLWorks Lead National Faculty in Math Bryon Demerson about why led him to shift from being a highly successful "traditional" math teacher to embracing project-based learning. Read Bryon's blog post: Overcoming PBL Hesitancy in the Math Classroom: A Teacher's Journey Learn more about the High Tech High Gradua…

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A+ Fundamentals: Boot to Brains Chapter 4 24:47

28d ago24:47

24:47

[email protected] A dead PC at the worst moment is a gut punch—unless you have a roadmap. We walk through the exact thinking that turns “no lights, no fans, no display” into a calm, step‑by‑step recovery, starting where every system truly begins: firmware. BIOS and UEFI aren’t trivia; they decide how your machine discovers drives, validates b…

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History of Modern Technology : Zip vs. CD 23:47

1M ago23:47

23:47

[email protected] Storage didn’t just get bigger; it got personal. We rewind to the late ’90s and early 2000s to unpack the clash between Iomega’s Zip drive and the laser-lit world of the CD—two formats that taught a generation how to back up, carry, and truly own their data. From the pain of 30‑floppy installs to the thrill of dropping a 700…

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Cybersecurity Fundamentals : Enterprise Security Architecture Chapter 5 24:27

1M ago24:27

24:27

[email protected] Dive deep into the essential building blocks of secure enterprise networks with Professor J. Rod in this comprehensive exploration of network architecture, security appliances, and remote access solutions. What makes a truly secure organizational network? It's more than just firewalls and fancy equipment—it's thoughtful desi…

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A+ Fundamentals : Power First, Stability Always Chapter 3 25:18

1M ago25:18

25:18

[email protected] What if the real cause of your random reboots isn’t the GPU at all—but the power plan behind it? We take you end to end through a stability-first build, starting with the underrated hero of every system: clean, properly sized power. You’ll learn how to calculate wattage with 25–30% headroom, navigate 80 Plus efficiency tiers…

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The Rise and Fall of Floppy Disks: From 5.25" to 3.5" Storage Revolution 24:40

1M ago24:40

24:40

[email protected] Remember that satisfying click of inserting a floppy disk? The nerve-wracking moments waiting for your term paper to save? The frustration of "Please insert disk 5 of 12" during game installations? Join Professor J-Rod on a nostalgic yet informative deep dive into the technology that defined personal computing for two decade…

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Cybersecurity Fundamentals: Cracking the Authentication Code Chapter 4 26:48

1M ago26:48

26:48

[email protected] Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes when you tap "Login" on your favorite app? Authentication is the invisible guardian standing between your personal data and potential attackers, and it's more sophisticated than you might think. Authentication systems rely on three critical principles: Confidentiality keeps your cre…

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S7E4 - Transparency, Trust, and Tough Decisions: Leading Change in Battle Creek 45:40

1M ago45:40

45:40

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Dr. Kim Carter, superintendent of Battle Creek Public Schools in Michigan, about how her district broke a pattern of outmigration through building relationships with families and local businesses and nonprofits based on transparency and LOTS of conversations. Learn more about the High Tech High Graduate School of …

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A+ Fundamentals Chapter 1 and 2: Becoming an IT Specialist: Troubleshooting and Hardware Essentials 23:47

1M ago23:47

23:47

[email protected] The digital world seems like magic to many, but behind every functioning computer is a complex system of hardware components and methodical troubleshooting approaches. In this comprehensive episode, we pull back the curtain on what makes IT specialists effective problem-solvers and explore the physical heart of computing sys…

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Cybersecurity Fundamentals Crypto Keys: Protecting Our Digital World Chapter 3 Part 2 10:02

2M ago10:02

10:02

[email protected] Cryptology isn't just theory—it's the invisible shield protecting your every digital move. This second installment of our cryptology deep dive moves beyond the fundamentals to reveal how these powerful tools operate in real-world systems that safeguard our digital lives. Digital signatures stand as one of cryptology's most p…

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Cybersecurity Fundamentals: Crypto Shields: How Your Data Stays Secret Chapter 3 Part 1 10:26

2M ago10:26

10:26

[email protected] Have you ever wondered what invisible force protects your private messages, banking details, and personal information as they travel across the internet? The answer lies in cryptology—the fascinating science of securing information through mathematical techniques. Cryptology forms the backbone of modern cybersecurity, addres…

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History of Modern Technology : The 8 inch Floppy 9:01

2M ago9:01

9:01

[email protected] Step back in time with Professor JRod as we uncover the remarkable story of the 8-inch floppy disk – the groundbreaking invention that forever changed how we store and transport digital information. Before cloud storage, before USB drives, even before the familiar 3.5-inch diskettes of the 1990s, there was the original 8-inc…

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Cybersecurity Fundamentals : Hacking Humans: The Art of Social Engineering Chapter 2 Part 2 23:49

2M ago23:49

23:49

[email protected] Cybersecurity isn't just about firewalls and antivirus software—it's about understanding the complex interplay between technical systems and human psychology. In this continuation of our Security+ series, we explore the multifaceted world of attack surfaces, threat vectors, and social engineering techniques that cybercrimina…

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S7E3 - Piñata-based Learning with Paola Capó-García 45:09

2M ago45:09

45:09

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Paola Capó-García about "Politics of the Personal," the twelfth-grade English project she created in which students chose a topic of personal interest to write an essay about—and create a piñata Read more of Paola's poetry See photos from the project Learn how you can do professional development with Paola an…

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Cybersecurity Fundamentals: Understanding Threat Actors Chapter 2 Part 1 22:35

2M ago22:35

22:35

[email protected] Dive deep into the world of cybersecurity threat actors with Professor J-Rod as we unpack the essential definitions from Chapter 2 of the Security+ 701 certification exam. This knowledge-packed episode breaks down the critical foundation of information security risk management through clear, actionable explanations. We start…

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The Mentor Effect 16:54

2M ago16:54

16:54

[email protected] What separates career-changing advice from everyday guidance? The difference often lies in both the wisdom itself and the intentions of those sharing it. Professor JRod takes a detour from his usual CompTIA certification topics to explore something equally valuable for tech professionals: the transformative power of mentorsh…

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S7E2 - Building Belonging and Grading What Matters to Boost Achievement 22:07

2M ago22:07

22:07

Episode Notes Bell Middle School reduced its D/F rate from 51% in 2022 to 28% in 2024. That's a 23 percentage point reduction. Even more impressive, for low income students, the D/F rate was 67% in 2022, and Bell cut it by more than half, down to 29% in 2024. In this episode, Alec Patton talks to science teacher Teddy Meckstroth about how they did …

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Cybersecurity Fundamentals: Unlocking Security+ Chapter 1 Part 2: Controls and Roles 26:47

3M ago26:47

26:47

[email protected] Diving into the foundations of cybersecurity certification, Professor JRod delivers an insightful exploration of CompTIA Security+ Chapter 1, revealing why this certification might actually be more approachable than many believe. Unlike many entry-level IT courses, Security+ builds upon concepts from A+ and Network+, creatin…

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Cybersecurity Fundamentals: Unlocking Security Plus Chapter 1 Part 1 26:05

3M ago26:05

26:05

[email protected] Professor JRod makes a triumphant return to Technology Tap after a year-long hiatus, bringing listeners up to speed on his personal journey and diving straight into Security Plus 701 fundamentals. Having completed his doctorate and subsequently focusing on his health—resulting in an impressive 50-pound weight loss—he reconne…

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S7E1 - Postcards, Home Visits, and Public Sliming: How Hamiltion Elementary Cut its Chronic Absenteeism Rate in Half in One Year 52:37

3M ago52:37

52:37

Episode Notes In this episode, Alec Patton talks to Hamilton Elementary Principal Dr. Brittany Daley and San Diego County Office of Education Executive Leadership Coach Julia Bridi about how Hamilton cut its chronic absenteeism rate from 24% to 10% in a single year, using creative parent communication, home visits, data checks, and public sliming S…

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S6E28 - Partners in School Innovation CEO Derek Mitchell's Daily Reading Rituals 13:18

5M ago13:18

13:18

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Derek Mitchell, CEO of Partners in School Innovation, about his daily reading rituals.Mentioned in the episode: Arnold R. Hirsch, Making the Second Ghetto Martin Gilbert, Churchill and the Jews Jeanie Daniel Duck, The Change Monster Sheldon Eakins, Leading Equity Brian McClellan, The Powder Mage Trilogy (strictly …

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S6E27 - Tiny Ornithologists: How a Bird Family Sparked a Year-Long Study 19:28

5M ago19:28

19:28

Episode Notes In this episode, Alec Patton talks to Maria Curtis, director of the Early Childhood Center at La Jolla Country Day School, in California, and Junior Kindergarten teacher Kristin Owen, about how they turned the discovery of a mud nest being built outside a classroom into a year-long project. You can see photos from the project, includi…

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S6E26 - How to Package a Process, with Bedtime in a Box 36:35

5M ago36:35

36:35

Episode Notes Sofía Tannenhaus talks to Jarrod Bolte, CEO of both Improving Education and Bedtime in a Box, a nonprofit that provides families with boxes containing everything you need for a positive bedtime routine. Each Box contains four age-appropriate books; bath wash, a towel, and bath toys; a toothbrush and toothpaste; pajamas; a stuffed anim…

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S6E25 - Solar for All Schools [guest episode from the Climify podcast] 51:06

5M ago51:06

51:06

Episode Notes This episode comes from the Climify podcast, which is hosted by Eric Benson, and produced by the Climate Designers Network. Benson interviews Tish Tablan, senior program director at Generation 180, about how going solar can benefit schools' budgets and provide opportunities for PBL, as well as helping us all thrive as we face an unpre…

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S6E24 - Improving College Transfer Enrollment with NASH's Juliette Price 46:59

6M ago46:59

46:59

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Juliette Price, the senior Improvement Science coach at the National Association of Higher Education Systems, about how their Network Improvement Community has achieved its remarkable results on transfer enrollments from two-year to four-year colleges. You know you want to try it: David Williams’s Mr. Potato Head …

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S6E23 - Okorie Johnson (OkCello): music and education are all about conversation 47:02

6M ago47:02

47:02

Episode Notes Ben Krueger talks to cellist, composer, and teacher Okorie Johnson, who performs as OkCello, about music, teaching, and community. And, appropriately, they talk about how all three of those are, themselves, a form of conversation. OkCello Website Learn more about the PBL Leadership Academy Learn more about the High Tech High Graduate …

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S6E20 - Anthropology for Kids, with Nika Dubrovsky 25:14

6M ago25:14

25:14

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Nika Dubrovsky about Anthropology for Kids, a project she started with her husband, anthropologist David Graeber. Referenced in this Episode: Anthopology for Kids Cities Made Differently by David Graeber and Nika Dubrovsky The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow David Graeber on the Charlie Rose …

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S6E22 - The Big Power of Small Changes, with RISE 25:12

6M ago25:12

25:12

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Linzi Golding, Erin Asselin, and Melanie Gonzalez about keeping things simple, celebrating small changes, smart ways to share data with schools, and how to recognize and celebrate effort, even when it doesn’t lead to the outcomes we were hoping for. To see an example of a driver diagram (and get a transcript for t…

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S6E21 - The Student Voice Revolution: How Teach Plus is Transforming Math Instruction 27:00

6M ago27:00

27:00

Episode Notes Alec talks to Cary Sabados (national director of teacher leadership development at Teach Plus) and Morgan Hython (fourth grade math and science teacher at Piccolo School of Excellence, a public preK-to-8 school in Chicago) about their work in the Teach Plus Network for School Improvement. Learn more about Teach Plus Learn more about t…

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S6E19 - Liberating Learning One District at a Time 1:20:36

7M ago1:20:36

1:20:36

Episode Notes Stacey Caillier talks to Michelle Pledger and David Montes de Oca about the ways that school districts are using Michelle's book, "Liberate: Pocket-Sized Paradigms for Liberatory Learning" You can find Michelle's book, and Montes's study guide, here You can find Michelle's podcast, Unapologetic and Uninterrupted, here Learn more about…

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S6E17 - Dr. Heather Michel on How to Take Care of Yourself as a Teacher, Even When It Seems Impossible 42:36

7M ago42:36

42:36

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Deeper Learning 2025 keynote speaker Dr. Heather Michel about about her difficult experience with school as a kid, her own career as a teacher, and the strategies that she’s developed to help teachers take care of themselves. If you want to try a body scan, try this 11-minute guided body scan by meditation teacher…

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S6E16 - Molodi's Jason Nious on Stepping, Body Percussion, and Connecting with Students 28:44

7M ago28:44

28:44

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Jason Nious, founder of the stepping and body percussion crew Molodi, about the journey that brought him here, and about what he’s learned from dance and body percussion about connecting to young people in school. Learn more about Molodi Learn more about the Deeper Learning Conference Learn more about the High Tec…

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S6E15 - Schools Can Get Better At Unleashing Student Potential (with Ron Berger and friends) 1:06:40

7M ago1:06:40

1:06:40

Episode Notes In this special live episode from the 2025 Deeper Learning Conference, educator Ron Berger talks to two Japanese educators and their two brilliant children, who have experienced education across cultures in Japan, the United States, and Europe. Learn more about the Deeper Learning Conference Learn more about the High Tech High Graduat…

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S6E14 - Improvement in Action: Leveraging Data Routines for 9th Grade On-Track Results 48:32

7M ago48:32

48:32

Episode Notes In this episode, Alec talks to Nichelle Woodson, the Chief of Network Success at RISE Eileen Mezzo, an Assistant Principal at Naugatuck High School in Connecticut. They talk about how the RISE Network has achieved remarkable gains in ninth-grade on track rates (for example, on-track for Black students has risen by 27 percentage points…

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S6E13 - Building dog houses (and cat condos!) for adopted pets with fifth graders

8M ago

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Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to fifth grade teacher Jeff Govoni about a project he and his fifth grade colleagues did last year, in which students designed and built dog houses and cat condos for animals seeking adoption. Read Jeff Govoni's article for Unboxed, about this (and other) projects, "Deconstructing Construction Projects" For…

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S6E12 - How One District Improved On-track by Shifting Their System Towards More Student-centered Practices 30:00

8M ago30:00

30:00

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Sara DeMartino, an English Language Arts Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Learning (IFL), about how schools in the IFL's network for school improvement increased 8th grade on track for Black and Latine students by more than 25 percentage points, and improved on-track rates for Emerging Biling…