Hosted by John Mikton and Dan Taylor. Every two weeks we discuss all aspects of technology and life in International Schools.
Episodes
Saturday Mar 15, 2025
Saturday Mar 15, 2025
A conversation with three global leaders shaping a collaborative global diploma option designed around agency, meaning, and wellbeing.
About Dr. Tami Canale
Dr. Tami Canale is the Director of Teaching and Learning for the upper school at the American International School of Budapest and is the past President of the European League for Middle Level Education (ELMLE). Bringing people together to work, play, and learn has been her passion for the last 30 years. Dr. Canale's work emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and the future of education, fostering environments where teachers and school leaders excel and students are empowered to shape their own futures.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/canaleteach/
About Patricia Podorsek
Patricia is the Deputy Head for Teaching and Learning at International School Nido de Aguilas. She has been a career international educator, having lived and taught in five countries since she began in the 90s. She is passionate about bringing high quality learning to all students and believes there can never be too much garlic in a recipe.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-podorsek-16354219/
About Melanie Kempe
Melanie is the Secondary Principal at the American International School of Bucharest in Romania. She has previously worked as an IB English teacher, an MYP coordinator, and a Director of Curriculum and Innovation, all of which led to her passion for working collaboratively to create the pathways needed for all students to find joy and success in learning that matters to them.
Resources
GID Guide
GID Overview Slides
For more info, contact globalimpactdiploma@gmail.com
Pathways Summit website
5 Ideas for Developing Real-World Thinking Skills, Silver, Boutz, McTIghe
Self-Determination Theory, Science Direct
Adolescents who have a sense of purpose are happier and healthier. How can we help?, UCLA
The Power of Meaning, Emily Esfahani Smith
John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org
Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt
Web: www.appsevents.com
Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube
Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial
Saturday Mar 01, 2025
Saturday Mar 01, 2025
Join us as we talk with Max Stauffer, Co-CEO of the Simon Institute (SI), about how international educators and schools can help students become future-ready and approach global challenges with a long-term view. SI’s mission to strengthen global cooperation and reduce major risks aligns closely with the goals of many international schools. Max explains how SI works with partners worldwide to address complex issues and shares important trends affecting educators today. We’ll explore practical strategies that educators and students can use to engage with themes like cooperation, responsible technology, and making a positive impact on society.
About Max Stauffer
Max Stauffer is the Co-CEO of SI. Together with Konrad, he develops our strategy, designs our programs, and leads our policy work.
Previously, Max served as Senior Science-Policy Officer at the Geneva Science-Policy Interface, Senior Visiting Fellow at UN University, and co-President and head of policy research at Effective Altruism Switzerland. He’s also a World Economic Forum Expert on Complex Risks and co-founder of the Geneva Social Complexity Lab.
Max studied international relations at the University of Geneva and computational math at Johns Hopkins University, and holds a particular interest in evidence-informed policymaking, risk governance, and decision-making under uncertainty.
About SI (Strategic Initiatives)
SI (Strategic Initiatives) is a non-profit organization based in Switzerland that supports global cooperation to address large-scale challenges. It provides policy advice and facilitates decision-making on technology governance, global risks, and long-term planning. Since 2021, SI has contributed to international processes, organized workshops, and delivered a UN report on existential risks. Its work focuses on multilateral action, improving technology governance, and encouraging policies that consider future generations.
Website: https://www.simoninstitute.ch/
John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org
Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt
Web: www.appsevents.com
Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube
Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial
Saturday Feb 15, 2025
Saturday Feb 15, 2025
Former undercover police officer Jonathan Taylor shares his journey to becoming an online safety consultant
About Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan is an expert Online Safety & Social media Awareness Consultant who works with Schools nationally and internationally. He delivers leading Online Safety Workshops for Staff, Students and Parents.
Specialising in Child Safeguarding and spending 10 years as an undercover Police Officer, identifying Online Predators, his unique experience, accompanied with his advanced knowledge and qualifications, allows Jonathan to offer and deliver the most exclusive, progressive, and current Online Safety Workshops.
Jonathan advises and assists schools in the importance and creation of robust Online Safety and acceptable use policies. Jonathan also lectures to Child Safeguarding Professionals on how to recognise and understand Online Child Sexual Exploitation and what tools are available to help keep children safe.
Jonathan frequently appears on GB News, Talk TV, Sky News, The One Show, BBC Breakfast TV, LBC, and Radio 5 Live as an Online Safety & Social Media Consultant and has recently filmed Documentaries for Channel 4 & CBS.
Email : onlinesafety4schools@gmail.com
John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org
Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt
Web: www.appsevents.com
Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube
Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial
Monday Feb 03, 2025
Monday Feb 03, 2025
Join the conversation with Alka Townend as she delves into how educators can address grief and loss in the classroom. Learn about the ways in which grief might manifest in children and understand why it is crucial for every teacher to have some knowledge around loss in childhood. Discover practical strategies, including bibliotherapy, and book recommendations, to support students through difficult times like bereavement, divorce, or migration. Alka will share her insights linked to research and her training as a bereavement counsellor. She will highlight the significant role that school communities hold in nurturing a compassionate and inclusive classroom environment and how international educators and school leaders can facilitate this.
About Alka Townend
Alka is an Assistant Professor in Education and EDI Director based at the University of Sussex. Prior to this she gained many years of experience working within different London universities as a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for BA undergraduate and post-graduate education courses. Alka’s subject expertise resides in English and Drama and she enjoys opportunities to be a guest speaker at various national and international conferences including the UKLA, NATE, ICET and ELSA. Alka was also recently invited to a conference in India to share her insights and knowledge related to the use of oracy as an effective pedagogical strategy for learning and assessment in the classroom. Alka has a particular passion for children’s literature and how stories can be utilised as a learning tool and support strategy across a range of ages.
Alka’s research area is focused on childhood bereavement and how grieving pupils might be supported in their school communities. To inform this work, Alka trained as a bereavement counsellor for a national UK charity and specialises in supporting children and young people. Alka also provides educational consultancy services and recently provided support for a government funded project aimed at supporting young people in managing challenging life experiences related to different forms of loss. This year. Alka has been invited to present her research and bereavement CPD at various educational conferences including Paris, Cologne and Toulouse. Alka is passionate about teachers being provided with the appropriate skills to support loss in the classroom and has recently embedded this training across all aspects of teacher education at her university.
Alka is currently the Director for Equality Diversity and Inclusion within her faculty. She recently organised a research event focused on ethnic representation in children’s literature. She is also the national co-chair for ARTEN (the anti-racist teacher educator network).
Alka’s background experience was gained in primary teaching, and she spent many years working in both state and independent schools in England as a teacher and senior leader.
One of Alka’s proudest achievements was when she became the Winner of Sussex Extra Mile Award (given to staff who have shown extraordinary commitment and compassion towards their students).
Alka Townend on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alka-townend-mres-ed-ba-hons-qts-0bb005106/
Resources
Articles for review which have open access:
Childhood bereavement: The role of school leadership in developing inclusive learning environments : My College
Available as downloadable reports
Research into childhood bereavement and the British school system
Vol. 2 (2023): Bereavement: Journal of grief and responses to death | Bereavement
Recommended literature resources for the classroom:
Books and resources for bereaved children up to 11 years old | Child Bereavement UK
Best children's books - Bereavement, Grief & Loss
Grief and Loss (teen) | BookTrust
UK Charity Support: (useful open access resources)
Winston's Wish: Winston's Wish - giving hope to grieving children
CB UK: Child Bereavement UK
Cruse: Home - Cruse Bereavement Support
Grief Encounter: Home SUPPORTING BEREAVED CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE - Grief Encounter
Different Countries have all types of bereavement support - some sparse and some vast! A quick google will guide your listeners. But for starters, I have included the following outside of the UK.
USA
History | Rainbows for All Children
Sweden
About grief - Efterlevandeguiden
Denmark
About us - Det Nationale Sorgcenter
John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org
Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt
Web: www.appsevents.com
Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube
Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial
Saturday Jan 18, 2025
Saturday Jan 18, 2025
Join us for a conversation with Heather and Tim as we explore the intersection of digital skills and technology use at home and school, and how this dynamic impacts parents, educators, and students. With varying levels of comfort with technology, both parents and teachers face the challenge of adapting to constant updates and the growing influence of AI. How can schools support teachers at all stages of digital readiness to create purposeful learning experiences? And how can families and schools collaborate to turn these challenges into opportunities for growth? Heather and Tim share insights from their work in an international school setting.
About Heather Barnard
I'm a mom of two teens and a newly turned 20 year old, and an educator with over 21 years of experience, including 14 years internationally and 10 years in 1:1 device schools. As a certified digital wellness educator, I help schools, parents and teens navigate the challenges of screen time, social media, and gaming by fostering positive habits and media literacy. Through my work with schools and companies like Sersha.ai, I aim to create healthier digital environments for families and schools. When I’m not working, you’ll find me spending time with my family, baking, or enjoying a good rom-com.
Heather Barnard on Social Media
Instagram: @techhealthyfamilies
Website: www.techhealthyfamilies.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherbarnard/
About Tim Evans
Tim is the Learning Technologies & Data Coordinator at the American International School of Guangzhou, China. Holding a Masters in Educational Technology, Tim brings a wealth of expertise to his role, blending theoretical knowledge with practical application. He is passionate about using technology in the classroom to enhance the whole teaching and learning experience. Originally from Wales, UK, Tim has led digital change in his home country and internationally in Spain, in Hong Kong, and most recently the UAE.
Tim Evans on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-evans-26247792/
Twitter: https://x.com/edTechEvans
Resources
PEW Research https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/internet-technology/user-demographics/age-generations-tech/
Sonia Livingstone
https://www.lse.ac.uk/business/consulting/experts/sonia-livingstone
Anne Collier and Net Family News
https://www.netfamilynews.org/about/anne-colliers-bio
Common Sense Education
https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship
Common Sense + Seesaw
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10yf5W9SzvoRnJeldqunbCayOxErPY9DrohGo4f4NNB8/edit?usp=sharing
John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org
Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt
Web: www.appsevents.com
Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube
Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial