Teaching techniques to get your students excited about learning with Aaron Daenell
Certified: Certiport Educator Podcast
Release Date: 03/12/2025
Spring clean your teaching with Kylie Kroukamp, Laura Green, Robert Lee, and Steve O’Neill
Certified: Certiport Educator Podcast
Keeping your classroom fresh and engaging can be a challenge. Luckily, you don’t need to do it on your own. We’re building a community of educators ready to share tools, tips, and inspiration for classroom success. In this episode, we talk with four incredible educators: Kylie Kroukamp, Laura Green, Robert Lee, and Steve O’Neill. Hear their thoughts on classroom engagement: What it looks like, how to use technology to make classrooms more engaging and fun, and some of the mistakes these teachers have made in their teaching careers. Plus, they give us a peek into what they’re planning...
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Tips and tricks for teaching web development with Brittany Wood
Certified: Certiport Educator Podcast
Are your students looking for a career that pays well, is challenging, and has great growth potential? Why not consider a career in web development? According to the , the field is expected to grow 7% (much faster than average) before 2034. The potential is there. Now we’re here to help you effectively teach web development in the classroom. Educator extraordinaire, Brittany Wood, is your guide. Brittany is a Digital Information Technology and AP Computer Science Principles educator. She loves teaching and isn’t afraid to use unconventional techniques to get her students...
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AI in the world of design with Miriam Reza, Sean Price, Kenny Call, and Claudio Zavala
Certified: Certiport Educator Podcast
How is AI transforming design? We sat down with four experts to find out—and to bring you clear, current guidance you can use in the classroom. In this episode, freelance graphic designer Miriam Reza, design educator Sean Price, creative technologist Kenny Call, and Adobe Education Evangelist Claudio Zavala share practical perspectives on AI’s impact on today’s creatives. Together, we explore responsible AI classroom use, how to balance creation and curation, the human skills that make AI effective (like communication, creativity, and iteration), and concrete ways to prepare students for...
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Why certification with Brittany Nicholson, Kurt Campbell, Raae Wolfram, and Kim Kayser
Certified: Certiport Educator Podcast
Today’s students are preparing for a competitive future, in both higher education and the workforce. How can you help them stand out and succeed? Certifications. In this episode, we’re bringing you perspective from education and the workforce. We sat down with two educators, Brittany Nicholson and Kim Kayser, and two professionals, Kurt Campbell and Raae Wolfram. Together we discussed why certifications matter. Whether you teach young students or adults, this episode will help you understand how industry-recognized credentials can benefit your community. Discover the value of...
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Using data to improve your approach in the classroom with Nicole Rodenfels
Certified: Certiport Educator Podcast
Happy 2026! A new year means new goals. What goals are you making for your classroom? If you need ideas, this episode is for you. The answer’s in the data! Join us as we talk all about data analysis with Nicole Rodenfels. Nicole is a dedicated educator in the School District of Lee County in Ft. Myers, FL. She holds a master’s degree in educational technology from Florida Gulf Coast University and taught Microsoft Office applications at the high school and college levels for seven years. Currently, she works at the district level, providing essential support to teachers utilizing...
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Let’s get social: Teaching marketing and business skills with Jodi Pelini
Certified: Certiport Educator Podcast
As a business educator, you prepare students for demanding and dynamic careers. And marketing is just one area where they can excel. However, with so many trends and apps constantly changing, equipping your students with useful marketing skills and experiences can be difficult. No one knows that more than Jodi Pelini. Jodi is a former TV reporter and anchor who now brings her love of storytelling and media to the classroom. For the past 22 years, she has taught media production at Alan B. Shepard High School in Palos Heights, Illinois, and is committed to incorporating Adobe and Meta...
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Coding, app development, and AI: Preparing students for careers in technology with Brian Foutty
Certified: Certiport Educator Podcast
There’s an app for everything these days. Technology is an integral part of our everyday lives. Getting students ready for careers in technology has never been more demanding or exciting! In this episode, we learn from app development educator, Brian Foutty. Brian brings decades of classroom teaching experience to his current job as a secondary math, app development and coding, and special education teacher at Trumbull Career and Technical Center in Warren, Ohio. He has also worked as a Mac and iPad systems administrator and a classroom technology integrator for the students and staff...
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Microsoft Excel skills for tomorrow’s finance and accounting pros with Caroline Dill and Jennifer Johnson
Certified: Certiport Educator Podcast
Microsoft Excel is more than just a tool in the accounting and finance industry—it empowers individuals to advance their careers by transforming numbers into actionable insights. Despite the rise of specialized software, still rely on Excel skills, making it the go-to platform for budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and analysis worldwide. With Excel still on top, it’s crucial to help students master the application before they enter the workforce. Which is why we’ve launched new specialized Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications for accounting and finance careers: MOS...
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Students today, leaders tomorrow: Skills you should be teaching in your classroom with Noam Bonkowski and Vladimir Noda
Certified: Certiport Educator Podcast
You know that preparing students for the contemporary workforce looks dramatically different than it did even a few years ago. Today’s students need to be prepared to succeed in an even more demanding environment. We sat down with two educators (Noam Bonkowski and Vladimir Noda) to talk about today’s workforce demands and how you can make sure your students are prepared. Noam is a CTE teacher, work-based learning (WBL) coordinator, and Project Management Professional in Queens, NY. In his role, he creates a classroom that models a professional PMO work environment, all while...
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Securing your students’ futures with cybersecurity skills with Jessie Kalloo, Jereme Monette, and Robbie Perdue
Certified: Certiport Educator Podcast
Security threats and nefarious tactics from hackers are on the rise, demanding more awareness and vigilance online. According to an of over 150 billion daily security events in more than 130 countries, there was a 71% year-over-year increase in cyberattacks that used stolen or compromised data. This rise in attacks has increased the demand for cybersecurity professionals in various industries. In this episode, we learn all about cybersecurity and IT education from three incredible educators: Jessie Kalloo, Jereme Monette, and Robbie Perdue. We sat down with these pros to discuss how...
info_outlineOne of the biggest challenges teachers face is keeping students motivated. According to a 2023 survey by the EdWeek Research Center, more than 4 in 10 educators said students are not inspired to do their best in school. To help set your learners up for long-term success, it’s crucial to create excitement and engagement in your classroom.
In this week’s episode, we sat down with Aaron Daenell to talk about how to get your students excited about learning. Aaron is a Marketing & Management, Business, and Information Technology educator at Cumberland County High School in Crossville, Tennessee. After leaving the business world in 2005, Aaron earned his alternative teaching certification in Manatee County, Florida and was hired to start a new middle school business program at a Title I school in his area. Within two years, they had the most successful industry certification program of all the middle schools in central Florida. He now works in Tennessee, working in a high school as well as managing the school’s FBLA chapter. He strives each day to help his students break industry certification records in their county and region.
Aaron shares his thoughts on student engagement, or lack thereof, as well as how he gets students excited to learn. We dive deeper into his classroom approach, and how he uses relationships to help students see the value in his course, their futures, and industry certification.
If you feel like your students are lagging, or just want to infuse a little excitement into your everyday, Aaron’s here to help.
Get additional ideas for student engagement here: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2024/November/How-to-spark-motivation-in-your-students.
Looking for more inspiration? Aaron recommends both Mel Robbins (https://www.melrobbins.com/) and Tony Robbins (https://www.tonyrobbins.com/)
Connect with educators like Aaron in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.
Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here: https://certified.certiport.com/.