Episode 11 - Sean Wybrant

​In this episode, we get to know the 2017 Colorado Teacher of the Year, Sean Wybrant. Sean is crafting super heroes one student at a time at William Palmer High School in Colorado Springs. His teaching focus is Digital Media Studies, Computer Science, and Video Game Design – but he is doing so much more than just teaching high school curriculum courses. Sean is developing our future minds to think beyond their blocked walls and constrained parameters, and “Hulk Smashing” their way to success. Sean’s approach to learning is through problem solving and service based learning. With this approach, he is getting the absolute best out of his students.

Show Notes

• Rapid Fire Icebreakers (1:56)
• Sean’s Teacher of the Year Schedule (3:03)
• Sean’s background in English Literature (7:33)
  • Personalized Learning
  • Next Generation Learning
    • Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
  • Computer Science/Video Game Development
• Mentorships (8:53)
• Compounded moments that Sean realized he wanted to become a teacher (10:10)
  • Bad teacher experience in High School
  • Great teacher experience
    • Rebuilding students
    • Interviewing techniques, balancing a checkbook, relationships

• Coffee drinking habits
• Sean’s story of a students (14:43)
  • Augmented reality periodic table of the elements (Parabola)
  • Fully functional holographic periodic table
  • Presentation to NASA from a 17-year-old
  • Microsoft HoloLens (20:36)
    • Contacted by the inventor of this hardware
  • Software development business by a student
• Favorite Super Hero (21:45)
• If Sean had to give a Professional Development tomorrow (22:45)

• Teacher of the Year in Colorado (26:28)
  • “We are working on real authentic problems in my classroom.” Sean Wybrant
• Transferring the problem-solving classroom into core subjects (28:56)
  • “Students should never be the implied object of their own education.” Chris Lehmann
  • Service Learning Projects
• Partnering with Local Businesses (35:08)
• Sean talks about overwhelming effects of teaching (36:35)
  • “We need teachers to be advocates.” Sean Wybrant
  • Telling the stories of students
• Public Speaking
• Sean’s website (43:02)
  • His goals, and the stories he wants to tell.
  • craftingheroes.com
• A profession Sean would do if forced out of teaching in the classroom (47:01) & (47:30)
• Sean’s hidden talents 
• Morning Rituals/Routines (48:28)
  • The Croods
    • The family routine of the "pile on."
• Books that Sean would gift to someone
  • Sir Ken Robinson books
  • Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
• A book(s) Sean wished he had written
• Pandora
• What person comes to mind when referring to the word successful

• Sean’s message to teachers and leaders in education

Items mentioned in this episode include:

• April Mass Photography ⇐ Get candid & fun photography at 10% off if you mention this podcast
• www.craftingheroes.com
• Contact Sean through: 
  • Twitter
  • Colorado TOY Twitter
  • Email Sean

Review the podcast on iTunes
​
Music
Song: I dunno (ft. J Lang, Morusque) 
Artist: Grapes 
Album: ccMixter ​
 
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