Titan Talk

Titan Talk is a San Marino High School teacher-hosted, interview formatted, bi-monthly podcast highlighting two kinds of educators . . . those who have something of value to say in regards to teaching, learning, testing, and wellness and those who have a personal story worth sharing. The podcast is normally hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl though other SMUSD teachers will now and then stand in for either Peter or Andrew.

The (Student-Hosted) Christina Bui Interview 02/11/2021

The (Student-Hosted) Alan Tang Interview 10/31/2020

The Johnny Devine Interview 10/23/2020

The Johnny Devine Interview AP Physics Teacher Johnny Devine Describes his Nationally Acclaimed Mars-Rover Project -Based Learning Opportunity Johnny Devine is a Tacoma, Washington Nationally Board Certified high school science teacher with over 15 years of teaching experience. In 2018, Johnny placed before his AP Physics students a project-based learning opportunity that not only called upon his students to figure out how they could successfully land a Rover-like vehicle on Mars but that also was fabulously described by journalist and PBL advocate Suzi Boss for the Edutopia website. Johnny has a “personal passion” relating to an ever-present burning desire to create engaging, high school project-based high learning opportunities for his students. In this episode of Titan Talk, Johnny not only describes in detail his Mars Rover PBL, but he also answers a number of other PBL related questions: Describe your Mars Rover PBL and how/why you went down this path? How do you respond to AP Physics teachers who might say that this PBL, along with all other PBLs, takes too much time away from the curriculum and therefore results in a dumbing down of the curriculum? How do you respond to AP AP Physics teachers who might say that your PBL’s, along with all other PBLs, aren’t for the serious student? How do you respond to AP AP Physics teachers who wonder if this PBL would require them to teach students how do things that they, the teacher, hasn't been trained to teach (i.e.m how to improve a student's public speaking skills, research and writing skills, presentation skills, tech and digital media skills, etc. How do you respond to AP Physics teachers who might say that this PBL, along with all other PBLs would be too hard to grade? How do you respond to AP Physics teachers who say PBLs are fine for social studies classes and english classes but have no real place in a science or math class Would it be harder for an AP Physics teacher to implement your PBL in an online environment than in a face to face environment. Working on any new PBLs now. Is there anything you would like to say in closing? Titan Talk is normally hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl, though for this particular Titan Talk SMHS AP Physics teacher Scott Barton sat in for Mr. Gayl. Peter can be reached at and Scott can be reached at San Marino High School is a top-rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles southeast from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish AND it was edited by San Marino HIgh School junior Christian Liao /episode/index/show/titantalkinterviews/id/16524131

The Bob Lenz Interview 10/12/2020

The Bob Lenz Interview PBLWorks CEO and NatIonally Acclaimed Project-Based Learning Advocate Bob Lenz Shares What He Knows About Project-Based Learning Bob Lenz is a nationally recognized leader in high school redesign, Project Based Learning, 21st-century skills education, and performance assessment. He is also the author of the book, Transforming Schools: Using Project-Based Learning, Performance Assessment, and Common Core Standards. PBLWorks is a California-based educational organization whose mission is to bring quality Project Based Learning to all students in order to deepen their learning and achieve success in college, career, and life. Before coming to PBLWorks, Bob was the co-founder of Envision Education, which put into practice a highly successful school redesign model that has opened a path to college for underserved urban students in three Bay Area high schools. In this episode of Titan Talk, Bob answers the questions appearing below (all related to project-based learning) 1. How do you define the term PBL? 2. Can you give an example of a Physics PBL? 3. Can you give an example of an English Lit PBL4. Is a mock trial a form of PBL? 5. Is a mock congressional hearing a form of PBL? 6. Is a knock-off TED-Ed Lesson or knock-off Crash Course video a form of PBL? 7. How do you respond to those who say that not all 'projects' should be considered PBL? 8. How do you respond to AP teachers who say that PBL dumbs down the curriculum and therefore fails to properly prepare AP students for the annual AP Exam? 9. How do you respond to those who say that PBL is great for social studies and English classes but not so great for math and science classes? 10. Do you agree with our principal that one of the best things teachers can do in the online era is to put one or more PBLs before their students? 11. Can you tell us about your book, Transforming Schools: Using Project-Based Learning, Performance Assessment, and Common Core Standard? 12. What do you say to teachers who want to learn more about PBL? 13. Is there anything you want to say in closing? Titan Talk is normally hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl, though this particular Titan Talk was co-hsoted by SMHS Media Arts teacher Robbin Rae McCulloch. Peter can be reached at and Robbin can be reached at San Marino High School is a top-rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles southeast from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish. /episode/index/show/titantalkinterviews/id/16363022

The Patrick Stopford Interview 09/30/2020

The Patrick Stopford Interview Middle School Social Studies Teacher Patrick Stopford Describes his Experience with Online Teaching Patrick Stopford is a Huntington Middle School social studies teacher with 13 years of HMS teaching experience, with the social studies course that he’s most enjoyed teaching being the 7th Grade Medieval World History course. He’s also enjoyed teaching the 8th Grade American History course. But Patrick isn’t just known for the teaching of various social studies courses, he’s also known for the teaching of various filmmaking and film editing courses AND for all the good work that he has done lately using the internet to teach his students. In other words, Patrick is one of our district's more experienced and more accomplished online teachers with MUCH of value to offer any teacher assigned to teach online in the fall. For this episode of Titan Talk, Patrick answered the questions appearing below (all related to his online teaching experience.) Briefly describe your online teaching experience from March 13, when school shutdown, to the present. Assuming that in the fall there will be no face-to-face instruction . . . that the school and the district have decided to play it safe and keep us away from school for at least another two or three more months . . . what do you plan to use, Google Meet or Zoom? If in the fall, I were to access your classroom during the first week of school, what would I see and hear when it comes to “get-to-know-you activities?” Are you planning to integrate any of these into your long-distance learning sessions? What about when it comes to the teaching of content? How do you plan to deliver what the students need to know to pass your tests? How do you plan to test? Do you believe teachers should be permitted to require their students to present their face on camera? Should teachers be permitted to require their students to present their voices on camera? How do you plan to hold your students accountable? In other words, what are you going to do to prevent your students from checking out on class discussion? Has anyone ever tried to bomb your online class sessions and if so, what did you do? Have you yet in any way polled/surveyed your students to learn what they thought of your online instruction? Do you plan at the end of the first semester to in any way poll/survey your students to learn what they thought of your online instruction? Have you had any epic fails when it comes to your online teaching experience? Do you believe that Zoom fatigue is a real thing and if so, what if anything do you plan to do in the fall to prevent your students from acquiring Zoom fatigue? Is there anything else that you would like to say, that you haven’t yet said, about either your long-distance learning experience or your plans for the fall? Titan Talk is a San Marino High School teacher-hosted, interview formatted, bi-monthly podcast that seeks to highlight two kinds of educators: (1) those who have something of value to say in regards to teaching, learning, testing, and wellness and (2) those who have a personal story worth sharing. Titan Talk is normally hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. Peter can be reached at and Andrew can be reached at This particular Titan Talk was hosted by SMHS Titan Shied advisor and SMUSD all-time great utility player Jose Caire and by SMHS Media Arts teacher Robbin Rae McCulloch. San Marino High School is a top-rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles and a few miles from the Pasadena Rose Bowl. This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12. The San Marino High School website can be viewed at This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record and then edited by SMHS Junior Julia Beredo /episode/index/show/titantalkinterviews/id/16224542

The Dr. Daniel Ching Interview 09/27/2020

The Dr. Daniel Ching Interview High School Principal and PBL Expert Dr. Daniel Ching Shares What He Knows About Project-Based Learning PBL expert Dr. Daniel Ching is the principal at Minarets High School Dr. Ching began his teaching career at Lemoore High School in 2009, after working as a firefighter for the Crane Valley Hotshots while he was in college at Cal State Fresno. In 2010, he became a U.S. History and a World History teacher at Minarets. There he also taught Native American studies and coordinated the Veterans Day History Project. In 2013, he became an Apple Distinguished Educator, and the following year he became the principal at Minarets. He was awarded the CVCUE Site leader of the year award in 2019. Dr. Ching earned his Doctorate of Education from Brandman University in 2016. Over the years, Dr. Ching has not only traveled nationwide presenting seminars on innovation in education he has also authored several books, including A PBL Revolution: Join the Movement to Transform Education One School at a Time Through Project-Based Learning (published in August of 2020).In this episode of Titan Talk, Dr. Ching answers the questions appearing below (all related to project-based learning) 1. How do you define the term PBL? 2. Can you give an example of a Physics PBL? 3. Can you give an example of an English Lit PBL? 4. Is a mock trial a form of PBL? 5. Is a mock congressional hearing a form of PBL? 6. Is a knock-off TED-Ed Lesson or knock-off Crash Course video a form of PBL? 7. How do you respond to those who say that not all 'projects' should be considered PBL? 8. How do you respond to AP teachers who say that PBL dumbs down the curriculum and therefore fails to properly prepare AP students for the annual AP Exam? 9. How do you respond to those who say that PBL is great for social studies and English classes but not so great for math and science classes? 10. Do you agree with our principal that one of the best things teachers can do in the online era is to put one or more PBLs before their students? 11. What do you think is the ideal ratio of directed teaching to project-based learning? 60-40? 70-30? 80-20? 12.. Can you tell us about your book, A PBL Revolution: Join the Movement to Transform Education One School at a Time Through Project-Based Learning? 13. What do you say to teachers who want to learn more about PBL? 14. Is there anything you want to say in closing? Titan Talk is hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. Peter can be reached at and Andrew can be reached at San Marino High School is a top-rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles southeast from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish. /episode/index/show/titantalkinterviews/id/16175912

The Dr. Michael McDowell Interview 09/26/2020

The Dr. Michael McDowell Interview School Superintendent and PBL Expert Dr. Michael McDowell Shares What He Knows About Project-Based Learning Since 2015, PBL expert Dr. Michael McDowell has served as the superintendent of the Ross School District. Previously he served as the Associate Superintendent of Instructional and Personnel Services at the Tamalpais Union High School District, a school district that, during Dr. McDowell’s tenure, was recognized by the Marzano Research Laboratories as one of the most reliable educational organizations in the United States. Over the years, Dr. McDowell has authored several books including Rigorous PBL By Design (2017), The Lead Learner, Developing Student Expertise, Teaching for Transfer, and forthcoming, The Busy Teacher He is also the author of the 2020 Edutopia post, PBL to Encourage Interdisciplinary Work. He’s also known for his keynotes and workshop offerings and as someone who has provided many practical tools and resources to thousands of teachers and leaders on almost every continent around the world. In this episode of Titan Talk, Dr. McDowell answers the questions appearing below (all related to project-based learning) 1. How do you define the term PBL? 2. Can you give an example of a Physics PBL? 3. Can you give an example of an English Lit PBL? 4. Is a mock trial a form of PBL? 5. Is a mock congressional hearing a form of PBL? 6. Is a knock-off TED-Ed Lesson or knock-off Crash Course video a form of PBL? 7. How do you respond to those who say that not all 'projects' should be considered PBL? 8. How do you respond to AP teachers who say that PBL dumbs down the curriculum and therefore fails to properly prepare AP students for the annual AP Exam? 9. How do you respond to those who say that PBL is great for social studies and English classes but not so great for math and science classes? 10. Do you agree with our principal that one of the best things teachers can do in the online era is to put one or more PBLs before their students? 11. Can you tell us about your book, Rigorous PBL by Design?12. Can you tell us about your August 2020 Edutopia article “PBL to Encourage Interdisciplinary Work?" 13. What do you say to teachers who want to learn more about PBL? 14. Is there anything you want to say in closing? Titan Talk is hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. Peter can be reached at and Andrew can be reached at San Marino High School is a top-rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles southeast from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish. /episode/index/show/titantalkinterviews/id/16163087

The Andrew Gayl Interview 08/04/2020

The Andrew Gayl Interview High School Social Studies Teacher Andrew Gayl Describes His Experience with Online Teaching and His Plans for the Fall Andrew Gayl is a San Marino High School social studies teacher. He has been teaching at San Marino since 2006 and while there has become mostly known as a 9th and 10th grade World History teacher, though he’s also taught US Government, Health, and PE. Aside from the above, Andrew is also known for the way in which he makes all students feel welcome in his class and for the fact he has has quickly become one of the district’s more experienced and accomplished online teachers with much of value to offer any/all teachers assigned to teach online in the fall. In this episode of Titan Talk, Andrew answers the questions appearing below (all related to his past online teaching experience and his plans for teaching online this fall) Briefly describe your online teaching experience from March 13, when school shutdown, to the present. Given that the school year will start off with no face-to-face instruction, what do yo plan to use to connect with your students, Google Meet or Zoom? If in the fall, I were to access your classroom during the first week of school, what would I see and hear when it comes to “get-to-know-you activities?” Are you planning to integrate any of these into your long distance learning sessions? What about when it comes to the teaching of content? How do you plan to deliver what the students need to know to pass your tests? How do you plan to test? Do you believe teachers should be permitted to require their students to present their face on camera? Should teachers be permitted to require their students to present their voice on camera? How do you plan to hold your students accountable? In other words, what are you going to do to prevent your students from checking out on class discussion? Have you yet in any way polled/surveyed your students to learn what they thought of your online instruction? Have you had any epic fails when it comes to your online teaching experience? Any epic successes? Do you believe that Zoom fatigue is a real thing and if so, what if anything do you plan to do in the fall to prevent your students from acquiring Zoom fatigue? Is there anything else that you would like to say, that you haven’t yet said, about either your long distance learning experience or your plans for the fall? Titan Talk is a San Marino High School teacher-hosted, interview formatted, bi-monthly podcast that seeks to highlight two kinds of educators: (1) those who have something of value to say in regards to teaching, learning, testing, and wellness and (2) those who have a personal story worth sharing. Titan Talk is normally hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. But for this Titan Talk, SMHS Media Arts teacher Robbin Rae McCulloch hosted while I served in the role of co-host. Robbin can be reached at . Andrew can be reached at And I can be reached at San Marino High School is a a top rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, and Library.This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish. /episode/index/show/titantalkinterviews/id/15483269

The Gail Denham Interview 07/16/2020

The Gail Denham Interview Elementary School Kindergarten Teacher and High School Social Studies Teacher Gail Denham Describes Her Experience with Online Teaching and Her Plans for the Fall Gail Denham is a Carver Elementary School kindergarten teacher. She has been teaching at Carver since 2009 and while there has also become known for teaching various high school social studies courses. In fact, for the past ten years, Gail has taught a six week summer school World History course to 9th and 10th graders. But Gail isn’t just known as someone who does a great job of teaching the students found at both ends of the San Marino Unified School District, she’s also known for being one of the district’s more experienced and accomplished online teachers with much of value to offer any/all teachers assigned to teach online in the fall In this episode of Titan Talk, Gail answers the questions appearing below (all related to her past online teaching experience and her plans for teaching online this fall) Briefly describe your online teaching experience from March 13, when school shutdown, to the present. Assuming that in the fall there will be no face-to-face instruction . . . that the school and the district have decided to play it safe and keep us away from school for at least another two or three more months . . . what do yo plan to use, Google Meet or Zoom? If in the fall, I were to access your classroom during the first week of school, what would I see and hear when it comes to “get-to-know-you activities?” Are you planning to integrate any of these into your long distance learning sessions? What about when it comes to the teaching of content? How do you plan to deliver what the students need to know to pass your tests? How do you plan to test? Do you believe teachers should be permitted to require their students to present their face on camera? Should teachers be permitted to require their students to present their voice on camera? How do you plan to hold your students accountable? In other words, what are you going to do to prevent your students from checking out on class discussion? Has anyone ever tried to bomb your online class sessions and if so, what did you do? Have you yet in any way polled/surveyed your students to learn what they thought of your online instruction? Have you had any epic fails when it comes to your online teaching experience? Do you believe that Zoom fatigue is a real thing and if so, what if anything do you plan to do in the fall to prevent your students from acquiring Zoom fatigue? Is there anything else that you would like to say, that you haven’t yet said, about either your long distance learning experience or your plans for the fall? Titan Talk is a San Marino High School teacher-hosted, interview formatted, bi-monthly podcast that seeks to highlight two kinds of educators: (1) those who have something of value to say in regards to teaching, learning, testing, and wellness and (2) those who have a personal story worth sharing. Titan Talk is normally hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. But for this Titan Talk, Huntington Middle School teacher and San Marino Teacher Association President Leticia Aranda sat in for Andrew. Peter can be reached at and Andrew can be reached at San Marino High School is a a top rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles, a few miles from the Pasadena Rose Bowl, and just up the road from the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, and Library. This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12, with the SMHS website to be viewed at This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish. /episode/index/show/titantalkinterviews/id/15238082

The Scott Barton Interview 07/01/2020

The Scott Barton Interview High School Science Teacher Scott Barton Describes his Experience with Online Teaching and Plans for the Fall Scott Barton is a San Marino High School science teacher with 13 years of SMHS teaching experience. During this period of time, he’s most enjoyed teaching the AP/Honors Physics course, though he’s also enjoyed teaching the Regular Physics and Geometry course. But Scott isn’t just known for his teaching of various academic courses, he’s also known for the teaching of various social studies courses. This past academic year, for example, he taught an Government and Economic course and this past summer he taught a World History course. One other thing Scott is know for is the fact that he’s one of the more experienced and accomplished SMHS online teachers with MUCH of value to offer any teacher assigned to teach online in the fall. On this episode of Titan Talk, Scott answers the questions appearing below (all related to his past online teaching experience and his plans for teaching online this fall) Briefly describe your online teaching experience from March 13, when school shutdown, to the present. Assuming that in the fall there will be no face-to-face instruction . . . that the school and the district have decided to play it safe and keep us away from school for at least another two or three more months . . . what do yo plan to use, Google Meet or Zoom? If in the fall, I were to access your classroom during the first week of school, what would I see and hear when it comes to “get-to-know-you activities?” Are you planning to integrate any of these into your long distance learning sessions? What about when it comes to the teaching of content? How do you plan to deliver what the students need to know to pass your tests? How do you plan to test? Do you believe teachers should be permitted to require their students to present their face on camera? Should teachers be permitted to require their students to present their voice on camera? How do you plan to hold your students accountable? In other words, what are you going to do to prevent your students from checking out on class discussion? Has anyone ever tried to bomb your online class sessions and if so, what did you do? Have you yet in any way polled/surveyed your students to learn what they thought of your online instruction? Do you plan at the end of the first semester to in any way poll/survey your students to learn what they thought of your online instruction? Have you had any epic fails when it comes to your online teaching experience? Do you believe that Zoom fatigue is a real thing and if so, what if anything do you plan to do in the fall to prevent your students from acquiring Zoom fatigue? Is there anything else that you would like to say, that you haven’t yet said, about either your long distance learning experience or your plans for the fall? Titan Talk is a San Marino High School teacher-hosted, interview formatted, bi-monthly podcast that seeks to highlight two kinds of educators: (1) those who have something of value to say in regards to teaching, learning, testing, and wellness and (2) those who have a personal story worth sharing. Titan Talk is hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. Peter can be reached at and Andrew can be reached at San Marino High School is a a top rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles and a few miles from the Pasadena Rose Bowl. This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12. The San Marino High School website can be viewed at This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish. /episode/index/show/titantalkinterviews/id/15052016

The Adam Norris Interview 06/09/2020

The Adam Norris Interview High School Social Studies Teacher Adam Norris Details How He Became a Youtube Celebrity Adam Norris is a Maryvale High School, AP US History teacher. Maryvale High School is located near Buffalo New York, and Adam has been teaching there since 2006. Over the years, he’s become known as both an outstanding US History teacher and as someone who since, 2013 has produced an ever-increasing number of high quality, 3-5 minute youtube videos designed to teach AP US history students everywhere what they need to know to pass the annual exam. For the production of these videos, Adam has become enormously popular. I would even go so far as to say that Adam has become every A.P. U.S. History student’s best friend. Adam appears on this episode of Titan Talk to primarily detail how and why he became such a popular youtube content delivery celebrity. He also describes how and why he became a high school US History teacher. And towards the end of the podcast, he share his thoughts regarding all the changes that the College Board brought to the world of AP US History this past summer. Titan Talk is a San Marino High School teacher-hosted, interview formatted, bi-monthly podcast that seeks to highlight two kinds of educators: (1) those who have something of value to say in regards to teaching, learning, testing, and wellness and (2) those who have a personal story worth sharing. Titan Talk is hosted by SMHS social studies teachers Peter Paccone and Andrew Gayl. If you have any questions, Peter can be reached at and Andrew can be reached at San Marino High School is a a top rated public high school located in San Marino, California, just twenty minutes northeast of downtown Los Angeles and a few miles from the Pasadena Rose Bowl. This "Home of the Titans" serves grades 9-12. The San Marino High School website can be viewed at . This Titan Talk was produced using Free Conference Call to record, Audacity to edit, Auphonics to level, and Libsyn to publish. /episode/index/show/titantalkinterviews/id/14748242

The Elizabeth Anguili Interview 04/18/2020

The Trevor Packer Interview 02/20/2020

Titan Talk

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