In this episode of The TechEd Clubhouse Podcast, I sit down with the one and only Farmer Faubs — educator, content creator, and all-around EdTech firecracker — to talk about how creativity and community are redefining teaching. From her viral “Farmer Faubs” persona to her work with Book Creator, Kami, and the EduGuardians, Faubs brings practical strategies, a big heart, and a whole lot of “Yeehaw moments” to classrooms everywhere.

We dig into:

• How Farmer Faubs started on a whim with a cowboy hat and a vision

• The power of social media for teacher growth and connection

• Why AI and creativity must coexist in classrooms

• How to make PD sessions actually useful (hint: hands-on and follow-up!)

• Simple, ready-to-use templates and blended learning ideas teachers can apply tomorrow

• The story behind the EduGuardians movement and the power of authentic educator communities

If you’ve ever wanted PD with purpose, tech with heart, and learning that sticks — this one’s for you.

🧩 Key Takeaways

• “Meet teachers where they are.” Great tech starts with usability and simplicity.

• Blend hands-on with high-tech. LEGO, shoebox projects, and AI can live together.

• Keep the human in the loop. AI is a thought partner, not a replacement.

• Community matters. Connections through Twitter, LinkedIn, and conferences can transform your teaching career.

• Make PD that sticks. Give teachers something they can use tomorrow, not next semester.

🛠️ Tools & Resources Mentioned

Book Creator

Kami

EduGuardians (home page)

EduGuardians on X (Twitter)

👩‍🌾 Guest Info — Farmer Faubs

Farmer Faubs is an instructional coach, content creator, and creativity advocate. Known for her energetic farm-themed EdTech videos and practical classroom ideas, she’s passionate about helping teachers make learning engaging, meaningful, and fun.

📱 Follow her on social media: @farmerFaubs (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn)

⛳ Host — Dan Thomas

Dan Thomas is a veteran STEM educator, LEGO Serious Play facilitator, and host of The TechEd Clubhouse Podcast, where common sense meets creativity in education.

🔗 Connect with Dan: @coachthomastech

🏷️ Tags

#EdTech #PBL #AIinEducation #Creativity #BookCreator #TeacherPD #EduGuardians #TechEdClubhouse #FarmerFaubs #WhereIsTheFunInThat

🔔 Call to Action

If you enjoyed this episode, follow, rate, and share The TechEd Clubhouse Podcast!

💬 Join the conversation on social media using #TechEdClubhouse and #YeehawMoments.

In this episode of The Tech Ed Clubhouse, Dan Thomas sits down with Laura Williams, founder of the Authentic Learning Alliance, to explore what authentic learning really looks like in schools. From chicken tractors to drone-powered science, Laura shares how schools can connect students to meaningful, future-ready work.

We dig into why traditional approaches fail too many students, how agile practices like Scrum and retrospectives build durable skills, and how teachers can bring authentic learning into their classrooms tomorrow.

• What’s not working in education—and how to fix it

• Defining authentic learning (beyond buzzwords)

• Real-world examples: selfie stations, chicken tractors, drones, and more

• Why process > product in student learning

• How to use Scrum, Kanban boards, and retrospectives in class

• Rethinking PD: agile professional learning that sticks

• Quick wins teachers can try right away

• Authentic Learning Alliance: authenticlearningalliance.org

• Book: The Improvement Game – Amazon link

• Follow Laura: @MrsWilliams21C | LinkedIn

• Host: @coachthomastech | coachthomastech.com

Try a Plus/Delta chart with your students tomorrow:

• Plus (+): What went well?

• Delta (Δ): What could we change?

Simple, fast, and powerful feedback that gets students reflecting on their learning.

👉 If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to follow, rate, and share The Tech Ed Clubhouse!

In this episode of The Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast, I sit down with Kyle Niemis, Head of Community at Wayground (formerly Quizziz). We dig into the bold decision to rebrand, the story behind the new name, and how Wayground is helping teachers balance student joy with academic rigor.

Kyle shares:

• Why Quizziz rebranded as Wayground

• How Wayground hits the sweet spot between fun gamification and serious assessment

• The power of student accommodations and differentiation at scale

• Their new PhET Simulations partnership for science classrooms

• Where AI fits into real-time feedback and student growth

• What’s next for Wayground as schools return this fall

We also dive into big-picture questions around time-saving tools vs. authentic learning, student choice, and how to help every kid succeed—not just the ones at the top of the leaderboard.

🎥 Watch the full video version on YouTube here: [Insert YouTube link]

• Twitter/X: @KyleNiemis

• Wayground: https://wayground.com

• Wayground YouTube: Wayground Channel

• Twitter/X: @coachthomastech

• YouTube: Coach Thomas Tech

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, follow, rate, and share The Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen. Let’s keep building fun, purpose, and creativity into learning.