So the description of this blog includes everything revolving around technology and education. And my life and times as a teacher, student, and everything else (just read the subheader).

Well, I'm proud to announce my foray into podcasting. It's something I've thought about for a while, but now I have the means. I have dedicated students that wanted to start a radio show, so I purchased gear. And after school hours, when all of my other work is done, I get to fulfill my podcasting .... wait wait wait. I've done radio before. I've done TV before. This was a dream at one point (to be in news media) but my goals have changed. Or, have they?

With today's technology available to everybody (you just need a little money), a person can do about anything:

Write, produce, film a movie. On an iPhone.
Release a rap CD. All without the physical disc.
Make a radio show. Without the radio.

Internet radio and podcasting is not new. And breaking into that niche market will be difficult. But I'm not doing this to make money (yet). I'm doing it because I have a passion for broadcasting, and I think that I'm not that great of a teacher if I can't do it (see my post about writing for ProjectShanks.com here, that led to this).

So with that horrifically long introduction, my RunIowa podcast was officially released today with Ep. 1. You can find it (and subscribe to it) on the iTunes Store and at RunIowa.Podbean.com. Feel free to leave feedback here, or there, or anywhere.

First, either I'm sorry or you're welcome for not posting in a while.

Yesterday was an odd experience for me. As a teacher, I like to let my students try things. Sometimes I know the outcome, sometimes I don't. I'm okay with kids failing as long as they don't do it more than once (for the same reason). I like when kids test limits and question things; it means they're thinking. But yesterday I put my foot down and said, "no."

Not so much as no as hey, I'm not going to let you do this.

My kids were ornery this week (the week before our holiday break). And I was gone on Wednesday. And my broadcasting kids did exactly what I told them not to do (something I've said all year): they interrupted classrooms. Generally, it's pretty harmless. But this week is our "funny holiday" show, which has become a sort-of prank show. Again, I'm okay with the idea ... if they do it appropriately. Unfortunately, I reflect and see I didn't do a good enough job explaining this and we had some issues.

So, I said this episode was cancelled.

Oh, I'm trying pull-quotes too.

At first, I expected a lot of fight from my kids. But in reality, they realized that what they did was not right. I heard from some teachers that they were disappointed in not having a show, but understood why (I sent an email to staff and CC'ed my kids).

And I feel this actually will be very beneficial to my kids in refocusing after our break and getting a broadcast show out better than we have in a while.

More good news....

I finally have some students interested in radio broadcasting. Well, as much as I am. And I've had kids before be interested, so we tried some broadcasting. But this time I have some kids that I felt confident enough to buy some new equipment:

Yesssssss!!!! I even drilled a hole in the table. I'm a nerd.

So far, the only bad news about it is my mixer was defective, so I sent it back. Oh, and I might not be able to have a single phone line (for callers), but I might be able to make Google Voice work.

Maybe.

Anyway, it was like Christmas came early:
I gave the naughty kids coal but earned some respect, and I gave the nice kids new radio equipment for podcasting, and earned some street cred.

Have a happy holiday, and hopefully I'll get a new post to you soon.

Student-created logo for podcast.

I am by no means an expert on Educational Technology. I don't consider myself ready to do a lot more than just observe as of yet. But, I am getting there. Someone told me, "you're not an expert on something until someone else says you are," and I agree.

Just like I don't claim to be an expert at teaching, at being funny (even though my wife laughs no matter what), or at being a father, son, or brother.  But, when I am passionate about something; heck, when I like something more than "a lot" then I tend to really embrace everything about it. Thus this blog.

My wife thinks this makes me pretty predictable. She even went as far as comparing our current process of buying a house, to how she and I started our relationship. And how I just go full-throttle towards something I want, whereas she likes to question her decisions multiple times... wait a minute...

*Oh, and I easily get off-topic.

But back to being an expert: something I'm not. I do have opinions and insights on many topics. I have a mind full of "Jeopardy knowledge" that makes no sense as a whole, but the pieces could be individually useful at any moment.

I did sports radio in college, and briefly got paid for it for a small town in Nebraska. And I have a passion for talking (too much).

And then my unoriginal idea was concocted.

Have you heard, "if you're the smartest one in the room, find another room"? Well, I have. And so I brought the idea of starting a weekly podcast about EdTech to friend (and district Technology coach) Devin Schoening (@dschoening)... to which his reply was, "that has been on my bucket list." See, unoriginal idea. But sometimes, it takes a couple of people to get the ball rolling.

So within the span of five days, we created a rundown and recorded our first show. We also created an iTunes account, twitter account (@CBTechPodcast), and school email account (cbtechpodcast@cbcsd.org) for the idea.

So it has begun. You can check out our first episode in the iTunes store by searching "CBTechPodcast" or THIS LINK.

You can send us requests or suggestions for upcoming episodes as well! We'd love your feedback!