We can all picture it. A classroom discussion dominated by a small group of students who are fast to raise their hands or even blurt out answers and responses. We have seen students who are a little faster at processing…or maybe just not quite as deep and reflective in their thinking, run roughshod over a collaborative experience.

What about the introverts?

What about the students who are FULLY capable but just maybe need a little more time?

What about students who have some anxiety around sharing their thoughts in front of the whole class?

What about the anxiety many feel about being “wrong” in front of their peers?

We CAN NOT assume that because a student doesn’t share in class that they have nothing to share. We have to empower ALL voices in our sphere. Some of our deepest and most reflective thinkers may also be our quietest students.

In a deeply authentic and vulnerable book, Stacey Roshan has shared her story of struggling with many of these issues as a student and how they have impacted and transformed her teaching, taking it to a place where every student feels they can contribute and every voice is valued.

Tech With Heart: Leveraging Technology to Empower Student Voice, Ease Anxiety, & Create Compassionate Classrooms by Stacey Roshan is the right book at the right time. As she says, “Some argue that using technology in education feels automated and less personal. I’ve found the exact opposite to be true.” She guides us and shows us exactly how she has leveraged #edtech tools to build a collaborative class culture that truly empowers all students. Stacey has used these strategies in a variety of settings from classroom teacher experimenting with the Flipped Classroom model to an instructor of online classes. Although she was a teacher of mathematics and computer science, the principles are effective across the curriculum.

So why are the butterflies coming out of the robot’s heart?

Because technology does not have to be cold.

Technology can help us personalize…it can help us empower…it can help us connect…it can help us ease anxiety…it can help us teach with compassion…it can help us create spaces safe enough for all to show their heart.

We are passionate about Stacey’s message because it hits home…literally. We have seen how anxiety and mental health issues can be devastating in a school system that does not know how to respond in compassionate and effective ways. Where have we seen it? In our family. My wife, Shelley, wrote this deeply personal post about our daughter, Ashlyn, right here: We Must Do Better: Responding to the Mental Health Crisis Facing Our Schools. This one’s personal.

We are grateful to Stacey for being willing to open up, for the first time publicly, about her past struggles in an effort to make this the most powerful and impactful book it could be. Her courage will help transform classes across the world to be safer places for all of our students to learn. Thank you to Alan November for contributing a wonderful foreword. And back to that robot…special thanks to artist, Michael Summers, for so graciously allowing us to use his custom artwork to help us create a beautiful and unique cover that we feel matches the spirit and message of the book perfectly.

Learn more about Stacey’s book, watch her introductory video, and get a free preview by clicking RIGHT HERE.

Thanks!

Dave

PS: Remember, you can preview before you buy! Scroll down to the bottom of THIS PAGE to find it.

PSS: Looking to bring Stacey and this powerful message to your district or event? We can help! Learn more on our speaker page RIGHT HERE!