Ten years ago I made the commitment to blog every week (50 blogs a year). I was told that blogging was a great way to learn because it creates reflection and research which leads to insight; 500 blogs later, that turns out to be true.
Last summer I embarked upon the world of podcasting and created the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast. Producing the podcasts has generated an enhanced learning experiences for my listeners and for myself.
Having educators join me on the podcast has been especially rewarding. Here are a few of my favorites from the past year:
- A conversation with Jim Knight, an author and Senior Partner of Instructional Coaching Group, where we discussed coaching and education.
- A conversation with JoEllen Killion and Cindy Harrison, where views on coaching were shared are great examples of extending my thinking.
- The interview with Karen Crouse, author of Norwich which is about a Vermont town that produced 11 Olympians but not in the way that you’d think!
- Joe Griffith and his students, who did a simulation and live event about homelessness were very insightful.
When I ask followers of my blog or podcast why they engage with Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud, they share that gaining a specific “strategy or skill to implement” is a top reason they return week after week. Choosing Your Words While Coaching and Tapping Student Effort are good examples of podcasts where you can take something concrete away and use it the very next day.
As I reflect upon the year, here are a few interesting facts and figures:
- 45 Episodes Recorded
- 15 Interviews
- 10,380 Downloads and growing!
- 4,356 downloads just in the last 3 months
Top 5 Most Downloaded Episodes (July 2017 – July 2018)
- A Conversation with Jim Knight
- Choosing Your Words While Coaching
- Taking The Lead: New Roles for Teachers & School Based Coaches
- Multi-Year Teacher Collaboration
- Guiding Learning From the Complex to the Pattern
The Future of the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud Podcast.
I am both humbled and gracious to all of my listeners. I truly hope that I instill new ways of thinking to help you on your personal journey toward educational excellence. I’m always open to your questions or ideas for future podcasts or interviews. Please leave comments or email BarkleyPD@PLS3rdLearning.com with your ideas. Onward and upward my friends!
