We're A.L.L. about education!

Educators know learning is a lifelong pursuit. The Ayers Institute Lunch & Learn podcast provides bite-sized portions of professional learning. You will hear from experienced educators and experts in the field about innovative ideas, proven best practices, and valuable academic resources.

Each episode is 10-15 minutes long and concludes with a prompting question to spark discussion within your professional learning community.

Retired podcast

Look for new episodes of professional learning content in the current Ayers All Access podcast program.  Legacy episodes produced between 2017 and 2020 can be accessed here.

Program Episodes

25: Accountability within Collaborative Learning

A conversation about ensuring individual accountability within group work projects.

Perhaps the most misused word in education is collaboration. What do we mean when we tell students they will be collaborating? More
importantly, what do students do when we tell them they will be collaborating? Join Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning & Innovation colleagues Dr. Karen Marklein and Mrs. Julia Osteen for a conversation about ensuring individual accountability for group work.

Duration: 
17:14
Publication Date: 
3 years 11 months ago

24: What I Want My Mentor Teacher to Know

Consider how we can maximize the impact of student-teaching experiences by hearing directly from two current teaching candidates.

Mentor teachers are essential to successful field experiences for pre-service teacher candidates. Real classrooms are important training grounds for future educators. Let’s consider how we can maximize the impact of student-teaching experiences. In this episode, Payton Dishman and Alondra Ramirez, two teacher candidates attending the College of Education at Lipscomb University, discuss important concepts they want mentor teachers to know about teacher candidates.

Duration: 
15:22
Publication Date: 
4 years 1 month ago

23: Practical Approaches to Collaborative Learning

Consider the true meaning of collaboration in learning and also what students should be doing when we tell them to collaborate.

Perhaps the most misused word in education is collaboration. What do we mean when we tell students they will be collaborating? More importantly, what do students do when we tell them they will be collaborating? Join Ayers Institute for Teacher Learning & Innovation colleagues Dr. Karen Marklein and Mrs. Julia Osteen for a conversation about practical approaches for effective student collaboration.

Duration: 
16:32
Publication Date: 
4 years 4 months ago

22: School Budgeting with Students in Mind

Examine the process for determining a school's most important needs in order to establish a functional and effective school budget.

Budgeting is an important element of education leadership, and it can be a daunting task. Examine the process for determining a school's most important needs in order to establish a functional and effective school budget. Practical information and insights are provide by Dr. Kesha Walrond, an Assistant Professor in Lipscomb's College of Education (and former MNPS Principal) and Dr. Shawnna Pierce, a current Principal in Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Duration: 
15:58
Publication Date: 
4 years 8 months ago

21: What Teachers Need to Know About Teens & Social Media

Ways to help teachers understand teen use of social media and how to have a positive impact through education and awareness.

Social media usage among teens has increased dramatically and most teenagers have a smartphone. Listen to a conversation between Connie White from Woodward Academy in Atlanta, GA, and Julia Osteen of the College of Education at Lipscomb University as they explore ways to help teachers understand how teens are using social media and how they can have a positive impact through education and awareness.

Duration: 
19:32
Publication Date: 
4 years 10 months ago

20: Using Linguistically & Culturally Diverse Texts that Move Students

Students need to see representations of their stories, language, and culture in print in powerful ways.

It’s critical that all students vividly see themselves within literature. All students need to see authentic representation of culture, language, and diverse stories. Listen to Dr. Jeanne Gilliam Fain of the College of Education at Lipscomb University highlight recently published (2018) linguistically and culturally diverse texts.

Duration: 
12:14
Publication Date: 
5 years 1 month ago

19: Moving Linguistically & Culturally Diverse Texts into the K-8 Classroom

Students need to see representations of their stories, language, and culture in print in powerful ways.

It’s critical that all students vividly see themselves within literature. All students need to see authentic representation of culture, language, and diverse stories. Listen to Dr. Jeanne Gilliam Fain of the College of Education at Lipscomb University highlight recently published (2018) linguistically and culturally diverse texts.

Duration: 
14:32
Publication Date: 
5 years 5 months ago

18: What the Best Mentor Teachers Do

Creating a positive teaching and learning experience for both mentor teachers and teacher candidates.

Mentor teachers are essential to successful classroom field experiences for pre-service candidates. Listen to a conversation between Dr. Junior High and Dr. Emily Medlock of the College of Education at Lipscomb University as they discuss strategies for creating a positive teaching and learning experience for both mentor teachers and teacher candidates.

Duration: 
15:42
Publication Date: 
5 years 7 months ago

17: Powerful Interview Questions for Hiring Educators

Hiring is a critical component of creating successful teams of teachers and leaders.

What interview questions are helpful in predicting the future performance of an educator within your organization? How can you tell they will be a good fit for your team?

Listen to a conversation between Dr. Aimee Wyatt of the Southern Regional Education Board and Dr. Rachael Milligan of the Ayers Institute at Lipscomb University about powerful interview questions.

Duration: 
13:42
Publication Date: 
5 years 8 months ago

16: Hiring High-Quality Educators

Great education leaders know how to hire educators who are the best fit for their organization.

Successful schools are created by successful teams. Great leaders know how to attract the best people.

Listen to a conversation between Dr. Aimee Wyatt of the Southern Regional Education Board and Dr. Rachael Milligan of the Ayers Institute at Lipscomb University about how to hire educators who are the best fit for your organization.

Duration: 
19:04
Publication Date: 
5 years 9 months ago

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