If you're teaching in the United States during the pandemic right now, you're likely having the most challenging year of your career--regardless of whether you're teaching in person, remotely, or a hybrid of the two. Without a coordinated federal response to the Covid19 pandemic in the United States, states are largely on their own to figure out how to send students, teachers, and staff back to school safely. But what's it like teaching in other countries?  Sandy Bansal, lead computer science teacher at Amerikanska Gymnasiet in Gothenburg, Sweden returns to the podcast.

Depth and Light

#30: What's It Like to Be Teaching in Sweden Right Now?

Back in March 2020, I sat down with Thomas Kearns to record this episode. While the pandemic was raging through Washington and New York state, it still hadn’t reached the Midwest. A few days after we recorded this episode, the pandemic reached the Midwest and everything changed. This episode got lost in the chaos and stress of that time, but I am thrilled to finally release it. Thomas Kearns (LinkedIn) is founder of Space to Play, Tortus, and Bitspace. He was a professor and Director fo Design Communication at Illinois Institute of Technology and is currently a Digital Innovation Strategist at Perkins&Will. 

#29 The Lost Episode: Thomas Kearns

As we approach Fall in the United States, teachers are facing a difficult choice: teach in person during the Covid-19 pandemic or leave their jobs. In this episode, we sit down with Kelley Huxtable to hear what it's like to make this gut-wrenching decision. 

#28: Kelley Huxtable

In September, Nora Flanagan will begin her 23rd year as an educator in Chicago amid the challenging pedagogical circumstances of the covid-19 pandemic and the immense struggle Chicago Public School teachers have faced getting the support and resources they need from the community. Nora (@noraflanagan) is co-author of Confronting White Nationalism in School—A Toolkit (westernstatescenter.org/schools). She teachers English at Northside College Prep, a selective enrollment public high school in Chicago’s North Park neighborhood. Nora also serves as a delegate to the Chicago Teacher’s Union. 

#27: Nora Flanagan

In this episode, we talk a bit about what's coming up in season two of the podcast and have a conversation with Liz Gallo, CEO of WhyMaker. More info about Liz and WhyMaker can be found here whymaker.co.  Follow Liz on Twitter @whymaker.

#26: Liz Gallo

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, shortages in Personal Protective Equipment or PPE for medical professionals have been an ongoing issue. Two key types of PPE in desperate need are face shields and surgical masks. To mitigate this shortage, educators, makers, and everyday people have been sewing, laser cutting, and 3D printing PPE and then donating them to medical professionals, neighbors, friends, and family members.In this new podcast series, we’ll be talking to the amazing people volunteering their time, materials, and expertise to mitigate the shortage of PPE.Our guest today is Courtney Lyons. Courtney is a pattern maker, fashion designer, and educator. Courtney describes her journey sewing masks and related issues of design, accessibility, fit, and distribution. Courtney also talks about parenting, teaching, and being enrolled in a nursing program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

#25: The Educators and Makers Creating PPE: Part Two

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, shortages in Personal Protective Equipment or PPE for medical professionals have been an ongoing issue. Two key types of PPE in desperate need are face shields and surgical masks. To mitigate this shortage, educators, makers, and everyday people have been sewing, laser cutting, and 3D printing PPE and then donating them to medical professionals, neighbors, friends, and family members.In this new podcast series, we’ll be talking to the amazing people volunteering their time, materials, and expertise to mitigate the shortage of PPE.In this episode, we talk to Jeff Solin (@JeffSolin), Computer Science teacher at Lane Tech College Prep High School here in Chicago about his efforts to design, make, and distribute PPE.• Solin Flatpack Face Shield bit.ly/solinflatpack• Illinois PPE Network illinoisppe.org

#24: The Educators and Makers Creating PPE: Part One

As humanity takes measures to slow the spread and effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, businesses, schools, and many public gathering places are shutting down or being restricted. This is very worrisome for all of us, and as of now, there are many unknowns. Educators of all types are facing the many challenges of online and distance learning. In this ongoing series, we will be talking to educators each week about the difficulties, surprises, and discoveries they are meeting as they continue to teach during this unprecedented world event. • Our guest today is Anna Delia, Director of the Innovation Lab at Hawken School. • Resources Anna referenced in our conversation are sites.google.com/view/fabplayhome/home and instagram.com/hawkenfabplay• If you are an educator and would like to take part in a future conversation, please email us at info@depthandlight.com

#23: Teaching During COVID-19: Part Six

As humanity takes measures to slow the spread and effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, businesses, schools, and many public gathering places are shutting down or being restricted. This is very worrisome for all of us, and as of now, there are many unknowns. Educators of all types are facing the many challenges of online and distance learning. In this ongoing series, we will be talking to educators each week about the difficulties, surprises, and discoveries they are meeting as they continue to teach during this unprecedented world event. • Our guest today is Merrilynn Martin, Case Manager and Special Education Teacher at Sayre Language Academy (Chicago Public Schools).• If you are an educator and would like to take part in a future conversation, please email us at info@depthandlight.com

#22: Teaching During COVID-19: Part Five

As humanity takes measures to slow the spread and effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, businesses, schools, and many public gathering places are shutting down or being restricted. This is very worrisome for all of us, and as of now, there are many unknowns. Educators of all types are facing the many challenges of online and distance learning. In this ongoing series, we will be talking to educators each week about the difficulties, surprises, and discoveries they are meeting as they continue to teach during this unprecedented world event. • In part four, we speak to Kelley Huxtable, Library, Co-curriculars Technology Integrationist at Inly School in Scituate, MA--and Joan Horvath, an educator, consultant, and co-founder of Nonscriptum LLC (nonscriptum.com).• If you are an educator and would like to take part in a future conversation, please email us at info@depthandlight.com

#21: Teaching During COVID-19: Part Four

As humanity takes measures to slow the spread and effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, businesses, schools, and many public gathering places are shutting down or being restricted. This is very worrisome for all of us, and as of now, there are many unknowns. Educators of all types are facing the many challenges of online and distance learning. In this ongoing series, we will be talking to educators each week about the difficulties, surprises, and discoveries they are meeting as they continue to teach during this unprecedented world event. • In part three, we speak to Mimi Liu-Leyco, Head of Technology and Technology Integration Coordinator at The British International School of New York, NY--and Colin Reynolds, a Learning Curator, School Designer, and Education Consultant based in Boulder, CO.• If you are an educator and would like to take part in a future conversation, please email us at info@depthandlight.com

#20: Teaching During COVID-19: Part Three

As humanity takes measures to slow the spread and effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, businesses, schools, and many public gathering places are shutting down or being restricted. This is very worrisome for all of us, and as of now, there are many unknowns. Educators of all types are facing the many challenges of online and distance learning. In this ongoing series, we will be talking to educators each week about the difficulties, surprises, and discoveries they are meeting as they continue to teach during this unprecedented world event. • In part two, we speak to Sandy Bansal at the International School of Bergamo, Italy and John Baglio of Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York, NY USA.• If you are an educator and would like to take part in a future conversation, please email us at info@depthandlight.com

#19: Teaching During COVID-19: Part Two

As humanity takes measures to slow the spread and effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19, businesses, schools, and many public gathering places are shutting down or being restricted. This is very worrisome for all of us, and as of now, there are many unknowns. Educators of all types are facing the many challenges of online and distance learning. In this ongoing series, we will be talking to educators each week about the difficulties, surprises, and discoveries they are meeting as they continue to teach during this unprecedented world event. • In part one, we speak to Diane Brancazio of the MIT Edgerton Center and Dr. Ronah Harris of Play Pattern. • Here is a link to the resources mentioned in this episode. This list will be updated weekly.• If you are an educator and would like to take part in a future conversation, please email us at info@depthandlight.com

#18: Teaching During COVID-19: Part 1

What exactly is Design Thinking? What are its origins and how can it be best applied in a classroom or in any school setting? How can educators use it in all aspects of teaching, from classroom layout to curriculum design? Our guest today is Annette Diefenthaler. Annette is a portfolio director at IDEO, where she works to bring human-centered design to systemic challenges in learning and education. She is co-author of IDEO’s "Design Thinking Toolkit for Educators." • More info about Annette and her work at IDEO can be here. ideo.com/people/annette-diefenthaler• Get a copy of the Design Thinking Toolkit for Educators: designthinkingforeducators.com/toolkit/• Follow Annette on Twitter: twitter.com/annette_di      

#17: Annette Diefenthaler

How can educators recognize learning which happens between report cards? How can they acknowledge student achievement which may be difficult to assess with traditional means? Digital badging and micro-credentials offer an alternative to traditional assessment and an emerging method teachers can use to appreciate what their students are doing in any content area. Our guest today is Noah Geisel. Noah is an educator, coach, consultant, and author. He was honored as the 2013 American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages National language teacher of the year. Noah also founded BadgeSummit, a yearly conference focused on using badging and micro-credentials in education. • Follow Noah on Twitter and Medium (@SenorG).• Register and attend BadgeSummit thebadgesummit.com

#16: Noah Geisel

Hosted by JD Pirtle, the Depth and Light podcast features conversations and stories at the intersection (and sometimes collision) of art/design, education, and technology.