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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.
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Now displaying: Page 1
Mar 15, 2024

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!

 

Mar 1, 2024

AI Magic: From Disney to the Classroom

  In the latest installment of Season 9, airing on March 1st hosts Howie and Ryan embark on an intriguing exploration of the role of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Disney company and its potential applications in the field of education. They begin by delving into how Disney has effectively integrated AI technologies across various facets of its operations, leveraging them to enhance guest experiences and streamline processes. From interactive chatbots providing personalized assistance to predictive algorithms optimizing theme park logistics, Disney's innovative use of AI serves as a compelling case study in the realm of customer service and engagement.

Transitioning seamlessly into the educational sphere, Ryan and Howie pivot to discuss how educators can harness the power of AI to tailor classroom instruction and cater to the individual learning needs of students. Drawing on a range of AI tools and resources, they explore options such as chat generators and adaptive learning platforms that enable teachers to create dynamic and personalized lesson experiences. Through practical examples and insightful discussions, the hosts illuminate the transformative potential of AI in education, empowering educators to enhance student engagement, facilitate differentiated instruction, and foster deeper learning outcomes. 

Whether it's leveraging AI-powered chatbots to facilitate student-teacher interactions or utilizing adaptive learning algorithms to tailor lesson content in real time, this episode offers a wealth of valuable insights and resources for educators looking to harness the power of AI in their classrooms. Tune in to discover how AI is revolutionizing both the magic of Disney and the landscape of education.

 

Feb 15, 2024

Cody Havard, Being a Fan of Disney

In this special interview episode, hosts Howie DiBlasi and Ryan Boeckman are joined by Dr. Cody Havard, a professor at The University of Memphis. Dr. Havard's diverse creative projects, ranging from comic books to podcasting, are explored, along with the launch of his latest endeavor, "Being a Fan of Disney: The Book," and "The Perspectives Files" on Kindle Vella. Listeners are encouraged to connect with Dr. Havard's work through various channels, including subscribing to his podcast, following him on social media, and visiting his website. As the interview concludes, the hosts express gratitude to Dr. Havard for sharing his expertise and insights, inviting listeners to continue exploring the fascinating world of sports rivalry and fandom through his work. Don't miss this engaging conversation that offers valuable insights and opportunities for further exploration. Make sure to subscribe to My Disney Class to stay updated on future episodes and guests.

Feb 3, 2024

Can You Feel The Love Tonight 

In this special February episode of My Disney Class, co-hosted by Howie DiBlasi and Ryan Boeckman, the focus is on the captivating ways Walt Disney World cast members demonstrate care towards their guests and how we can apply this to our schools. The discussion unfolds with an exploration of various customer service techniques employed by Disney cast members, from warm greetings at the park gates to creating a welcoming atmosphere that makes guests feel at home. Tying these magical gestures to the theme of Valentine's Day, the hosts draw connections between Disney's care techniques and how educators can make students feel loved in schools. The episode delves into real-life examples from Walt Disney World, showcasing instances of extraordinary guest experiences and the impact of personalized care on overall satisfaction. The hosts then translate these Disney magic moments into practical strategies for educators to implement in the classroom, emphasizing the importance of building meaningful connections with students. 

We hope you enjoyed our episode today where we bring the love to you and hopefully to our students! 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!

Jan 15, 2024

Inspiring Magic, One Child at a Time with Emily Gathman. 0

Nov 15, 2021

In today’s Replay episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie welcome Emily Gathman again.  Emily is a 6th grade Science teacher at Bussey Middle School in Garland Texas. She loves to inspire her students to be creative problem-solvers as they tackle real-world Science and engineering problems in her classroom.

 Emily was recognized in 2021 as the Bussey Middle School's, Teacher of the year which as you will see in this episode is truly well deserved! 

On the show, Emily will share with us how she has incorporated the lessons that she has learned from Disney as well as what brings her inspiration from Disney into her classroom for her students. This ranges from how she has designed physical things in her classroom to how she uses inspirational quotes. For example, Emily helps her students handle failures they encounter in her class by using the quote,” Failure is not an endpoint but a jumping-off point.” She combines this quote with stories about how Walt Disney himself overcame many failures. We think you will agree as you listen to Emily describe her classroom that she is definitely inspiring her students to be innovators, just like Uncle Walt!

We hope you enjoyed today’s REPLAY episode and as always, we would love for you to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts. If you have any feedback or would like to come on the show, please email us at MyDisneyClass@gmail.com, and don’t forget to join our Facebook community at Educators Who Love Disney.

 

Dec 31, 2023

Welcome back, educators and Disney enthusiasts, to another exciting episode of My Disney Class! In this episode, hosts Ryan and Howie dive into the latest happenings at Walt Disney World for the new year. Join them as they explore the plusses and minuses of the various changes and share their perspectives. Additionally, the hosts discuss New Year's resolutions for education in 2024, providing insights and goals for the upcoming academic year.

Howie and Ryan start by discussing the latest developments and changes at Walt Disney World for the new year. This includes new attractions, refurbishments, and other noteworthy updates within the parks. They look at each of these changes and give the positive and negative aspects of each. They also share their personal experiences and insights on how these changes might impact the overall guest experience.

 

To wrap this show and 2023 up, Ryan and Howie reflect on the past year in education and discuss the evolving landscape of our wonderful profession. They share their resolutions for the new academic year, focusing on innovative teaching methods, technology integration, and student engagement. They also discuss the importance of continuous learning and professional development for educators, like the magical P.D. Magic conference coming up this June. 

 

We hope you enjoyed our episode today where we looked back at 2023 to help us look forward to 2024! 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!

 

Dec 14, 2023

Welcome to another magical episode of My Disney Class! In this episode, co-host Howie DiBlasi's son, Mark DiBlasi, takes the stage to delve into the exciting gaming world in the classroom. Join us as Mark shares his insights on incorporating board games into educational settings and valuable tips on building a cost-effective game library for your students.

Mark starts off the show with a brief introduction and gives us a quick background on himself which includes his connection to education and his passion for gaming. We then jump into exploring the benefits of integrating board games into the educational environment. Mark shares examples of how board games can enhance critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills among students and lists out some top choices he thinks would be good options for most classrooms.

Mark also gives us some options for finding deals on board games that can help teachers keep the cost down of bringing games into the classroom. From cost-effective alternatives and creative solutions to groups that share resources for free, Mark has some great options for all budgets. He also shares digital resources and websites to help educators discover suitable games for their classrooms and ways to navigate online platforms to find educational games that align with specific learning objectives. 

We hope you enjoyed our episode today with Mark DiBlasi and his great insights on board games in the classroom. 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! 

Dec 1, 2023

Wishes for Education

 Today, Howie and Ryan are looking at Disney’s newest film “Wish.” The movie unfolds in the kingdom of Rosas, where King Magnifico possesses the ability to grant wishes, collecting and protecting them until the time is right. As 17-year-old Asha aims to become Magnifico's apprentice, she discovers the king's deceptive practices and sets out to reclaim her family's wishes with the help of an anthropomorphic ball of light named Star. Howie and Ryan draw parallels between the film's narrative and their own wishes for the education system, emphasizing themes of inspiration, empowerment, and critical thinking. As Asha confronts betrayal, corruption, and the power-hungry Magnifico, the hosts analyze the lessons for educators in teamwork, empowerment, and reshaping the educational landscape.

We hope you enjoyed our episode today looking at Disney’s newest movie “Wish” and also our discussion about wishes for the educational system as a whole. Also, if you haven’t already, remember 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!

 

Dec 1, 2023

Wishes for Education!

 

Today, Howie and Ryan are looking at Disney’s newest film “Wish.” The movie unfolds in the kingdom of Rosas, where King Magnifico possesses the ability to grant wishes, collecting and protecting them until the time is right. As 17-year-old Asha aims to become Magnifico's apprentice, she discovers the king's deceptive practices and sets out to reclaim her family's wishes with the help of an anthropomorphic ball of light named Star. Howie and Ryan draw parallels between the film's narrative and their own wishes for the education system, emphasizing themes of inspiration, empowerment, and critical thinking. As Asha confronts betrayal, corruption, and the power-hungry Magnifico, the hosts analyze the lessons for educators in teamwork, empowerment, and reshaping the educational landscape.

We hope you enjoyed our episode today looking at Disney’s newest movie “Wish” and also our discussion about wishes for the educational system as a whole. Also, if you haven’t already, remember 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!

Nov 15, 2023

Today, Howie and Ryan are diving into the enchanting world of Disney as they celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company.  Ryan and Howie spend the beginning of this episode reflecting on the journey of the Walt Disney Company over the past century. They discuss how Disney has evolved, innovated, and continued to captivate audiences worldwide. They also look at Disney’s notable moments, characters, and milestones that have defined the Disney legacy!

In the second half of this episode, Ryan and Howie shift gears, as they transport themselves back a century to explore what education and schools were like in the early 1920s. They even dive a little deeper and go back 100 more years to the 1820s, just for good measure. Looking back, Howie and Ryan, make several comparisons between the education landscape then and now, discussing changes, challenges, and progress.

We hope you enjoyed our look back over the past couple of 100 years of both Disney and the educational system!  Also, if you haven’t already, remember 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!

Oct 15, 2023

In today’s episode of My Disney Class Podcasts, Howie and Ryan welcome back a friend, a Disney expert, an author, and an all-around great guy, Mr. Jeff Dixon. Jeff is the author of the Key to the Kingdom series, which is a fictional series of four books that follows the adventures of Grayson Hawkes as he attempts to solve a complicated series of puzzles laid out by none other than the man himself, Walt Disney. If you want to know more about Jeff and hear the discussion about one of his other books not in this series called The Disney Driven Life, go back and have a listen to Episode 18 from season 2.

 

For most of this episode, Ryan and Howie are discussing Jeff’s latest book in the Kingdom series titled, Kingdom Chaos.  Jeff describes the characters and the plot of the story where a controversial President Tyler Pride and his family board a monorail at the Transportation and Ticket Center for a trip to the Epcot Resort. When the monorail arrives at Epcot, the president and his family are gone. A national crisis instantly explodes across the Disney resort. The president has been kidnapped. And if the president is missing at Walt Disney World, who better to find him than the man who knows Walt Disney World better than anyone who has ever lived, Grayson Hawkes?

 

Kingdom Chaos is definitely a political and ideological thriller, an action-adventure, mystery, and, also, a story of how faith and politics sometimes clash. Like Dixon's past novels, Kingdom Chaos can best be described as "faction," a weaving of fact and fiction set in the Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida. The places and locations are real, and the novel builds on events from the life of Walt Disney and the history of the Walt Disney World Resort. The sights, the sounds, and the secrets of the themed resort all become a part of solving the mystery and trying to save the president of the United States.

 

Howie and Ryan end the episode discussing one of Jeff’s many other projects which happens to be something all three of us are passionate about and that’s improving and advancing education. Jeff gives us the details on a brand new Charter school that he helped to visualize and develop and he now sits on the board of as board president. The school is called “Creative Inspiration Journey”,  School and you are going to want to hear what Jeff says about their mission and vision for the future of education!

 

As always, we hope you enjoy this episode and we encourage you to drop us an email if you have any comments or questions. Also, please head over to iTunes/ Apple Music and gives us a rating and review. Your reviews help us improve the show and help get the message out that our show exists. Thank you.

Sep 29, 2023

Destination D Announcements

Today, Howie and Ryan discuss the recent announcements made by the Walt Disney Company at their Destination D event in Orlando. Ryan and Howie look to the future as some of these events that have been announced are currently happening, and some won’t happen for a few months to years. 

While looking at these announcements, Howie and Ryan ask themselves how these changes may enhance the opportunities for enriching our classrooms that Disney already provides. They talk about things that you can bring into your classroom directly from these changes and also find inspiration in them to branch off into other contents and activities that would make for great lessons and activities in school.

We hope you enjoyed our conversation about the latest Destination D event and the exciting changes that hopefully will come true in the near future!  Also, if you haven’t already, remember 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!

 

Sep 15, 2023

Today, we have a very special guest who's making a difference in the world of education, Heidi von Marbod. She's a dedicated special education teacher in the CCPT program in the Cheney School District in Cheney, WA. Heidi works with students who have met all high school graduation requirements and are 18-21 years of age. Her students have or are working toward independence in transportation skills and may require independent living skills. Her students participate in vocational opportunities to further develop skills and independence in community work sites.

 

Hedi talks a little bit about her background and her path in the educational profession. She also shares her heartwarming personal story that led her to be a voice for students with special needs. Hedi shares her unique challenges and opportunities that are part of her very rewarding work and of course, she shares how she brings the magic of Disney, specifically Walt Disney, into her classroom.

 

 Hedi rounds out the episode by talking about her mission to work with Disney and companies on a national level to help them understand what they should be providing in terms of accommodations for people with special needs. She shares how she developed this mission during her four-day experience with P.D. Magic and how her interactions with cast members and her fellow educators on the trip helped her develop and grow her mission into something even bigger!

 

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Heidi as much as we enjoyed talking with her. 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!

 

Aug 30, 2023

In today’s episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie continue where they left off looking back at all eight seasons of My Disney Class Podcast and picking some of their favorite episodes that they think would be a good listen at the start of the new school year. 

 Listen as they share which episodes they picked and why listening to them may help you in the wonderful new school year you are approaching or maybe even already started!  This episode we definitely also work in our excitement for the upcoming P.D. Magic professional development experience coming June 17-20 at Walt Disney World. If you don’t know what that is, listen to this episode and then head over to our new webpage, Edmagineering.com to find out more details and to sign up. You definitely don’t want to miss this opportunity. 

 We hope you enjoyed our look back at some of the past episodes we so thoroughly enjoyed recording. We hope you found a few that you may have missed and when you go back and listen we hope that you find some value in the episode and we really hope that you find the same joy we did making it. 

 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!

 

Aug 15, 2023

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!

 

Aug 1, 2023

In today’s episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Howie and Ryan start to prepare for the new school year. They went back and looked at all the My Disney Class Podcast episodes over the past eight seasons and thought, “Which of these episodes would best prepare teachers as they head back to school?”  Listen as they share which episodes they picked and why listening to them may help you in the wonderful new school year you are approaching or maybe even already started! Ryan and Howie also look forward to the new season of My Disney Class Podcast, Season 9. So many good memories and more to come for sure!  

 

As we start year 9 of the My Disney Class Podcast, we want to thank all of you who are part of our listener community. Whether you started today with this episode or have been here since Season 1, Episode 1, we appreciate you joining in and helping strengthen this wonderful and supportive group. 

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!

Jul 19, 2023

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!

 

 

Jun 28, 2023

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!

Jun 15, 2023

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!

 

 

May 31, 2023

In today's My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie are again excited to explore Disney's magic through an educational lens. Howie and Ryan, delve into the educational opportunities provided by Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom Park which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.

            Ryan and Howie begin by acknowledging the special milestone of Animal Kingdom Park and discuss the park's evolution since its opening in 1998. They also highlight the park's unique focus on conservation, environmental education, and showcasing the natural world. Of course, Howie and Ryan share some of their personal experiences and memories of the park over the years since it opened and emphasize its immersive theming and educational value. 

The hosts then dive deeper and explore the educational potential of Animal Kingdom Park as a rich resource for teachers and educators. They emphasize the park's various themed lands, such as Discovery Island, Africa, Asia, and Pandora - The World of Avatar, each offering distinct educational experiences. They then discuss how teachers can leverage these immersive environments to create engaging lessons in subjects like Science, Biology, Geography, Cultural Studies, and Environmental awareness.  

We hope you enjoyed our episode today about the educational possibilities offered by Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom Park. We hope we encouraged you to explore the park's resources, tap into its immersive environments, and use it as a catalyst for sparking students' curiosity, imagination, and love for learning.

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!

May 18, 2023

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!

 

May 1, 2023

            In today’s My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie celebrate that special holiday, May 4th. That’s right, May the fourth be with you! Star Wars fans across the globe celebrate May 4th as Star Wars Day and on today’s episode, Howie and Ryan wanted to celebrate too by sharing ways that you can bring Star Wars into your classroom.

            In a galaxy not too far away, Ryan and Howie have some ideas on how to bring some of that galactic magic that Lucus films, and now Disney does so well with ideas on how you can incorporate Star Wars characters, worlds, and even foods into school lesson that help teach physics, language arts, geography, and many more subjects. Examples range from high-level physics problems used to figure out the speed of a TIE Fighter to more elementary-level ideas like designing your own Star Wars character to color and create a backstory for. We believe that even if you are not a Star Wars fan, you can find inspiration in the elaborate and imaginative universe that George Lucas created back in 1976. 

We hope you enjoyed our celebration of May The Fourth Be With You Day and we can’t wait to hear about all the out this-universe lessons you do or did with your 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!

LINKS:

www.educationworld.com › may-fourth-be-youMay the Fourth Be With You: Celebrating Star Wars Day in the ...

www.teacherspayteachers.com › Browse › Search:may themay the fourth be with you lessons - TeachersPayTeachers

 www.techlearning.com › tl-advisor-blog › may-the-4thMay the 4th Be With You: Best Free Star Wars Teaching Ideas

https://www.starwars.com/video/artificial-intelligence-science-and-star-wars

www.teacherspayteachers.com › Browse › Search:may theMay The Fourth Teaching Resources | TPT - TeachersPayTeachers

 www.sciencebuddies.org › blog › may4-star-wars-stemStar Wars STEM Activities for May the 4th Be With You Science

 www.playpartyplan.com › may-the-fourth-be-with-you51 Best Ways to Celebrate Star Wars Day - Play Party Plan

 

Apr 15, 2023

Design Academy-With Ryan

Apr 1, 2023

Remembering Rolly Crump

            In today’s My Disney Class Podcast episode, Ryan and Howie reflect and remember the contributions of the legendary Rolly Crump. At the age of 93, Roland “Rolly” Crump passed away peacefully in his home in Carlsbad CA on March 12, 2023. Most of us Disney fans know Rolly through his contributions to famous classic Disney attractions like Small World, The Haunted Mansion, and The Enchanted Tiki Room but Rolly’s unique and whimsical style and art can be seen in a variety of ways all around the world. He truly had an interesting perspective on the world and through his direct style of communication, he had no qualms about sharing his views and vision. This characteristic made Rolly one of Walt’s favorite people and a trusted ally. 

            On today’s show, Ryan and Howie share a little bit about what they know about Rolly’s journey and the stories that he told about Walt, and the different attractions he worked on. Howie and Ryan share their love for his uniqueness and his love of having fun and pulling pranks. It certainly is fitting that My Disney Class Podcast is honoring Rolly on its April 1st show! 

We hope you enjoyed our brief look at celebrating the life of the Disney legend Rolly Crump. We also hope you are inspired to search out those unique and different students in your classrooms and buildings and help support them in sharing their unique perspectives with the world. 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!

 

Mar 16, 2023

In today’s episode of My Disney Class Podcast, Ryan and Howie discuss how Walt motivated his Imagineers and other staff. Of course we all have some experience with either needing motivation, having to motivate, or wishing for believers in our work in education. In our discussion today, let’s look at some of the traits that has been reported about Walt Disney and see if we can make some connections and grabs some inspiration for our own schools and staff!

In this episode, Howie and Ryan will share what they have found in their research and readings about Walt. They share first hand accounts from legends like Bob Gurr and Rolly Crump about what they observed Walt doing that embodied great leadership and motivated the best out of his employees. Ryan and Howie will also share their personal stories and thoughts on motivation and embracing change as well.

We hope you enjoy today’s show about learning to inspire through a reflective lens of how Walt Disney lead.  Remember, if you like the show and want to help us spread the word about it and build our already amazing community, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

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