George Couros — a name I’ve held in high esteem for his invaluable contributions to the field of education. His books, writings, and his thought-provoking podcast have been consistent companions in my journey as an educator and my current role at VEX Robotics. You can imagine my delight, then, when I found myself in conversation with him on his podcast, an exchange I am very proud of.
The podcast opened with me delving into the tapestry of my educational journey. It began in the vibrant, bustling classrooms of elementary education, then to the riveting, problem-solving world of a robotics teacher. From there, my journey took an international flight as I started participating in VEX, ultimately leading me to traverse the globe advocating for STEM. Every step, every shift added new interpretations, providing me with varied perspectives that I now pass on to other educators.
During our talk, George delved into the practical ways of incorporating STEM in elementary classrooms. We journeyed through overlooked, yet critical aspects like working memory, executive functions, and spatial and motor skills. I was privileged to share practical advice pulled directly from my book.
An indelible imprint on my thinking comes from Claire Cameron’s groundbreaking work: Hands On, Minds On: How Executive Function, Motor, and Spatial Skills Foster School Readiness. For those eager to immerse themselves in the research underscoring the importance of hands-on activities in classrooms, Claire’s work is not to be missed.
As we concluded our conversation, George gave me a chance to discuss the ideas that inspired my book — the urge for educators to embrace the unknown, and the certainty that all students possess the potential to excel in STEM and creativity. It is our responsibility to cultivate these convictions in our students.
I invite you to listen to the full podcast here — George is a terrific interviewer, please subscribe to his podcast while you are there. And if you’d like to receive more updates, articles, and insights from my journey, do sign up for my newsletter. Be a part of this continuous exploration of education, pedagogy, and lifelong learning.