My Disney Class podcast

Howie and Ryan visit with teachers, educators and administrators on how to integrate Disney ideals of creativity, innovation, communication, critical thinking, STEM and MakerSpace into classrooms. Twice a month they share why they are passionate about Disney and how their passions has brought them together in this joint mission to help bring ideas for innovation, storytelling, creativity, and the principal foundations of what makes Disney and great choice for projects and resources in the K-12 Classroom. They also talk about the companion website (www.mydisneyclass.com) that will spotlight incredible educators from around the globe and be packed with resources that teachers can use in their classrooms.

Crafting Disney's Stories: Lessons in Communication 04/14/2024

Exploring Education and Disney’s Top Urban Legends 03/31/2024

"If the walls could talk", or can they? With Professor Robert Abbott 03/15/2024

"If the walls could talk", or can they? With Professor Robert Abbott In Episode 16 of Season 9, hosts Ryan Boeckman and Howie DiBlasi welcome special guest Professor Bob Abbott to My Disney Class podcast. Professor Abbott brings a wealth of experience as an instructor in Project Management, Visual Thinking, and Business Analysis at McGill University Centre for Continuing Education, with over 15 years of teaching under his belt. Additionally, he boasts over 30 years of Information and Technology expertise in the telecommunications industry, making him a seasoned enterprise Senior Project Manager and facilitator. Throughout the episode, Professor Abbott shares insights into the importance of visual thinking and brainstorming in project management and corporate training, drawing on his extensive experience and expertise. He discusses techniques for fostering creativity and innovation within teams, often employing humor, storytelling, and Disney to cultivate an atmosphere of trust and creative thinking during his classes. Practical examples of visual thinking and brainstorming techniques are explored, highlighting their effectiveness in problem-solving and idea generation. The episode concludes with Professor Abbott sharing how he uses Edmagineering Classrooms in his courses at McGill University. Bob offers us some helpful tips for using some of the same techniques he uses and also shares how he helps his students who struggle with this approach get over some of their initial hurdles. Overall, Episode 16 offers valuable insights and practical strategies for fostering creativity and innovation in both project management and educational settings. We hope you enjoyed listening to Professor Abbott and we hope that you try some of the innovative approaches he has to helping students maximize their learning potential through visual learning. If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with fellow educators. Stay tuned for more captivating episodes as we continue our journey through the world of education and innovation, Disney style! /episode/index/show/mydisneyclass/id/30388763

AI Magic: From Disney to the Classroom 03/01/2024

Cody Havard, Being a Fan of Disney 02/15/2024

Can You Feel The Love Tonight 02/03/2024

REWIND-With Educator Emily Gathman 01/15/2024

Disney Resolutions 2024 12/31/2023

Gaming in the Classroom with Mark DiBlasi 12/14/2023

Wishes for Education 12/01/2023

Wishes for Education! 12/01/2023

100 Years of Disney Magic and Education 11/15/2023

The Disney Driven Life With Jeff Dixon RETRO REPLAY! 10/15/2023

Destination D Announcements 09/29/2023

Empowering Independence With Heidi von Marbod 09/15/2023

Eight Years In Review-Continued 08/30/2023

Happy Place With Talyor Norton 08/15/2023

Happy Place With Talyor Norton In this heartwarming episode of My Disney Class, Ryan and Howie dive into the world of special education and autism programs. Our guest, Taylor Norton, is a dedicated special education teacher at South Mesa Elementary School in Pueblo, CO. With her expertise and passion, she leads the autism program for students from kindergarten to 5th grade. Join us as we explore how Taylor incorporates the magic of Disney into her teaching methods and creates an inclusive and nurturing environment for her students. The podcast starts off with a great story by Talyor introducing herself and talking about her journey to becoming a special education teacher at South Mesa Elementary School. Taylor truly has an inspirational story for becoming a special education teacher and staying in the education profession. She also provides us with an overview of her role in running the autism program for students in kindergarten through 5th grade as well as the other students with special needs that she takes care of. To end our show Talyor helps us understand the importance of creating an inclusive and supportive environment for students with special needs, especially those with Autism. We also discuss what can be learned from Disney when it comes to inclusion and creating environments that work for all guests/students. Taylor also has her own Youtube page that she started during the pandemic to help capture the magic she was missing while Disneyland was closed. She expresses how this helped her during that time and how she now helps others with her videos of the parks and the atmosphere and magic they capture. We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Taylor as much as we did and if you are looking to bring some magic into your classroom or home, check out Talyor’s Youtube videos. They are great for playing in the background to bring you to your happy place when you really need a visit but can’t get to Disneyland or Disney World. Also, if you haven’t already, remember to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney and don’t forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better! /episode/index/show/mydisneyclass/id/27740313

9 Is Fine 08/01/2023

Get Me Coding With Fred Aebli 07/19/2023

Get Me Coding With Fred Aebli Get Me Coding With Fred Aebli In today’s My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie are excited to welcome Mr. Fred Aebli! Fred is an instructor and program co-coordinator of internships at Penn State University and is also the creator and owner of GetMeCoding.com. Fred also served as a Major in the United States Marine Corps for 11 years. Fred has taught in the higher education world for almost two decades where he has applied a lifetime of experiences as a software and database developer, website designer, project manager, and entrepreneur. He is a huge Star Wars fan as well as Disney, Lord of the Rings, and anything that can awaken his imagination and help him become more creative. On the show today, Fred shares with us his journey from his early years as a software developer to an exceptional and inspiring educator. He also describes how his passion for innovation, creativity, and Disney has helped influence his decisions and path choices along his journey. Which has also led him to create GetMeCoding.com. GetMeCoding.com was Fred’s solution to witnessing a growing demand for information technology professionals, in particular software developers, and a decline in the number of young people considering this to be a career possibility. He created GetMeCoding.com to remove the mystery of exploring and learning how to code so that people become better thinkers and develop skills for jobs requiring solutions with software. We hope you enjoyed our episode today with Mr. Fred Aebli as much as we enjoyed talking with him. Fred is obviously a strong light of good in our educational field, and we know that his passion and energy are going a long way to help instill confidence and creativity into his students! Don’t forget, if you haven’t already, to join our fun and supportive community in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don’t forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better! /episode/index/show/mydisneyclass/id/27439125

Patriotic Disney 06/28/2023

Patriotic Disney Patriotic Disney In today’s My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie embark on an exciting discussion about the most patriotic attractions at Walt Disney World and how they can be utilized in the classroom. Join us as we dive into the magical world of Disney, where history, storytelling, and education come together to inspire students. Ryan and Howie begin by highlighting some of the most patriotic attractions at Walt Disney World, where the spirit of America shines through. Main Street, U.S.A.: Discover how the meticulously designed Main Street, U.S.A., pays homage to small-town America and sets the stage for the patriotic experiences to come. The Hall of Presidents: Explore this iconic attraction, where audio-animatronic figures of all U.S. presidents come to life, sharing their stories and contributions. American Adventure: Unveil the historical journey presented in this Epcot pavilion, showcasing pivotal moments in American history through a combination of storytelling, animatronics, and music. Liberty Square: Immerse yourself in the colonial era, where attractions like the Liberty Square Riverboat and The Haunted Mansion offer glimpses into America's past. Flag Retreat Ceremony: Learn about this daily tradition at Magic Kingdom's Town Square, where a veteran is honored, and the American flag is ceremoniously lowered. These are just a few of the attractions we discuss in detail that we think scream red, white, and blue. We hope you enjoyed our episode today about the patriotic attractions at the parks and how we can use them to inspire our students. Don’t forget to share your experiences and lesson ideas with the My Disney Class community by reaching out on social media or visiting our website. Also don’t forget, if you haven’t already, to join our fun and supportive community in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Please rate and review our podcast on Apple Music, your support and feedback will only make us better! /episode/index/show/mydisneyclass/id/27252108

Transitioning Magic To High School With Kevin Roughton. 06/15/2023

Transitioning Magic To High School With Kevin Roughton. Transitioning Magic To High School With Kevin Roughton. In today’s My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie are excited to welcome back, Kevin Roughton. Kevin is a history teacher at Patriot high school in Jurupa California. He also is an educational speaker, and author of the book Teach With Magic. Use Disney Imagineering Techniques To Make Your Classroom The Most Engaging Place On Earth! On the show today, Kevin talks to us about how he has been working to transition from the middle school classroom, which he had completely gamified and immersive for his middle school students, to the high school classroom. He shares what has worked for him so far with high school students and also shares things that haven’t worked as well. Kevin talks about how he now engages high school students with a unit-to-unit model of gamification and even shares some of his best lessons from this past year. This includes themed breakout rooms using the Stranger Things series and even teaching economics through the life of Walt Disney. Kevin also shares with us a little bit about his book that we dove deeper into on his first appearance, which was the Season 6 episode 20 show. So if you want to hear more about his book and his study of Imagineers and how their work can transfer to education, check out that episode! We wrap up with Kevin discussing an educational conference he attends every year at Disneyland called the Courageous Creativity Conference. We hope you enjoyed our episode today with the incredible Kevin Roughton and hope you check out all the great stuff he has in his book and on his webpage especially if you are looking to add a little bit or even a lot of gamification to your classroom. Don’t forget, if you haven’t already, to join our fun and supportive community in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don’t forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better! /episode/index/show/mydisneyclass/id/27104259

Animal Kingdom is 25 years old! 05/31/2023

The Cobblestone with Jerry Johnson 05/18/2023

The Cobblestone with Jerry Johnson In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie welcome back one of our favorite guests, the always-inspiring Jerry Johnson. Jerry is an Assistant Professor of Digital Media and Strategic Public Relations at Buena Vista University. Jerry has produced and directed various documentaries, short films, corporate videos, news specials, and promotions. Under his direction, the Digital Media students at Buena Vista have received many awards for their work in these areas. Many most importantly, Jerry is considered the on-campus Disney expert! On today's show, Ryan and Howie have Jerry on to talk about his latest and greatest project, The Cobblestone documentary. This documentary that Jerry is leading a team of his students to create is about the historic Cobblestone, a unique music venue located in Storm Lake, Iowa that featured performances by bands from the Big Band era. Jerry talks about how his team of students is working as historians as they document, film, and interview the preservationist and former patrons of the historic Cobblestone. Jerry shares lots of stories that he and his students have gathered and how they build upon this to patch together the fascinating history of this iconic music venue. There is one thing that becomes really clear for Jerry and his students, and that is that everyone has a story about the Cobblestone! We hope you enjoyed our talk today with Jerry Johnson about his latest student project and documentary. We also hope you are inspired to work with your students on a project that looks to preserve the past as well. As the Cobblestone served as the hub for the community to gather, there are many historic buildings like this one that need to be preserved, not just for their cultural and historical significance, but also as a way to connect us to our past and inspire us for the future. Don't forget, if you haven't already, to join our fun and supportive community in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple Music. Your support and feedback will only make us better! /episode/index/show/mydisneyclass/id/26773680

May The Fourth Be With You 05/01/2023

Design Academy-With Ryan 04/15/2023

Remembering Rolly Crump 04/01/2023

Leading In The Footsteps of Walt 03/16/2023

Celebrate Soulfully 03/01/2023

Celebrate Soulfully Celebrate Soulfully In today’s My Disney Class Podcast episode, Howie and Ryan discuss Black History Month. They look at how it’s celebrated at Walt Disney World and how and how it can be observed in schools. Black History Month is an annual observance originating in the United States, also known as African-American History Month. It has received official recognition from governments in the United States and Canada and more recently has been observed in Ireland and the United Kingdom. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated in February in the United States and Canada, while in Ireland and the United Kingdom, it is observed in October. On today’s show, Ryan and Howie share how Walt Disney World recognizes Black History Month through distinctive opportunities throughout the parks and Disney Springs. Disney calls this celebration, Celebrate Soulfully! The unique and diverse offerings range from Black artists and performers to beautiful music and delicious food. There are definitely many options and opportunities for guests to experience at least a small sampling and exposure to the rich and diverse Black and African-American cultures. The episode wraps up with Ryan sharing several ideas with educators on how they can bring lessons and projects into their classrooms that can also help teach students about Black History. As well as expose them to the wonderful culture and people that makeup such a large part of our American history foundation. We hope you enjoyed our brief look at celebrating Black History Month and we hope we inspired you to celebrate and promote Black history in your classroom. Not only in February but all year long! Don’t forget, if you haven’t already, to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don’t forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better! /episode/index/show/mydisneyclass/id/26087478

Edmagineering Education Conference 02/15/2023

Edmagineering Education Conference Edmagineering Education Conference In today’s My Disney Class Podcast episode, Howie and Ryan welcome an old friend and a brand new friend to the show. Brian Collins is a former Imagineer who has worked with Ryan and Howie for almost eight years now and the three are uniting forces with an incredible educator named Erin King. Erin was on My Disney Class Podcast last year and she talked all about her passion for education and how she built a highly successful conference for teachers called The Happy Teacher Conference. Over the last year, Erin, Brian, Howie, and Ryan have been working behind the scenes to take the best parts of Erin’s The Happy Teacher Conference and the best parts of P.D. Magic and create a super boutique conference that is personalized for a wide variety of educators from all over the globe. This conference is now known as The Edmagineering Education Conference! On today’s show, the group will discuss why we thought this partnership was a great idea and what our goals are in creating this new experience for educators. We will also discuss what the four-day event will entail and what we hope educators will get out of this highly immersive experience. We also may talk a little bit about the magic that is sure to happen when you combine educators, the world of education, and the most magical place in the world! We will also talk about ways to approach your administration about paying for and supporting your learning experience at the Edmagineering Education Conference and offer our support as needed. We hope you enjoyed our announcement about our newest offering and hope you are just as excited as we are about attending The Edmagineering Education Conference, in Orlando from June 19th through June 22nd, as we are! Don’t forget, if you haven’t already, to join the fun and supportive community we have in our Facebook group, Educators who love Disney. Don’t forget to rate and review our podcast on Apple music. Your support and feedback will only make us better! /episode/index/show/mydisneyclass/id/25934160

Best Educational Experiences At WDW 01/31/2023

My Disney Class podcast

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