Classroom Mosaic co-founder Ben Gustafson on the necessity of easy and effective observations
03/13/24 • 33 min
Ben Gustafson, founder of Classroom Mosaic is our guest on the show today. Classroom Mosaic is a teacher observation platform that powers transformational leadership with effective observations.
Hear about:
- How Classroom Mosaic got started
- Their vision for transforming teaching and learning
- The importance of feedback in K-12 education
- The story behind the name "Classroom Mosaic"
- The future of the company
Hear more about Classroom Mosaic:
We help K-12 leaders support, develop, and retain their teachers. For over a decade, we've worked with educators worldwide from districts large (100k students) and small (150 students) to transform instructional practice, guide professional development, and impact student learning.
We believe every student deserves a great education. And a great education starts with great teachers supported by great leaders. Learn more:
- classroommosaic.com
- twitter.com/ClassroomMosaic
- linkedin.com/company/classroommosaic/
- twitter.com/Ben__Gustafson
- linkedin.com/in/bengus28/
About today's guests:
In 2011, Ben and Tyler founded Classroom Mosaic as seniors at Dutch Fork High. They developed a prototype during a project-based learning class as part of a STEM program. Based on the overwhelmingly positive response they received from the prototype, they took what they learned and started building Classroom Mosaic.
They launched the first version of the platform in the fall of 2011 from their dorm rooms as freshmen. Within two weeks, Classroom Mosaic became profitable, with multiple school districts using it to support and develop their teachers.
Since then, we've fallen in love with the problem of supporting teachers well, and our passion for building practical tools for K-12 educators has only grown. We've logged thousands of hours with instructional leaders and expanded our platform to support teacher observations, learning walks, instructional rounds, team observations, teacher evaluations, and much more.
And we're just getting started. Classroom Mosaic continues to grow and evolve as the needs of instructional leaders, just like you, continue to change. Observations shouldn't feel like a chore. Experience easy & effective observations.
About today's host:
Scott Schuette is a Learning and Development Executive with years of experience driving the creation of innovative, multi-million dollar learning platforms and education programs for major corporate enterprise companies.
He is cohost of The Fabulous Learning Nerds, a podcast sharing new ideas, learning tools, approaches and technology that increase learner engagement and impact — All while having FUN! Listen to the show and subscribe here: https://fabulouslearningnerds.transistor.fm
Ben Gustafson, founder of Classroom Mosaic is our guest on the show today. Classroom Mosaic is a teacher observation platform that powers transformational leadership with effective observations.
Hear about:
- How Classroom Mosaic got started
- Their vision for transforming teaching and learning
- The importance of feedback in K-12 education
- The story behind the name "Classroom Mosaic"
- The future of the company
Hear more about Classroom Mosaic:
We help K-12 leaders support, develop, and retain their teachers. For over a decade, we've worked with educators worldwide from districts large (100k students) and small (150 students) to transform instructional practice, guide professional development, and impact student learning.
We believe every student deserves a great education. And a great education starts with great teachers supported by great leaders. Learn more:
- classroommosaic.com
- twitter.com/ClassroomMosaic
- linkedin.com/company/classroommosaic/
- twitter.com/Ben__Gustafson
- linkedin.com/in/bengus28/
About today's guests:
In 2011, Ben and Tyler founded Classroom Mosaic as seniors at Dutch Fork High. They developed a prototype during a project-based learning class as part of a STEM program. Based on the overwhelmingly positive response they received from the prototype, they took what they learned and started building Classroom Mosaic.
They launched the first version of the platform in the fall of 2011 from their dorm rooms as freshmen. Within two weeks, Classroom Mosaic became profitable, with multiple school districts using it to support and develop their teachers.
Since then, we've fallen in love with the problem of supporting teachers well, and our passion for building practical tools for K-12 educators has only grown. We've logged thousands of hours with instructional leaders and expanded our platform to support teacher observations, learning walks, instructional rounds, team observations, teacher evaluations, and much more.
And we're just getting started. Classroom Mosaic continues to grow and evolve as the needs of instructional leaders, just like you, continue to change. Observations shouldn't feel like a chore. Experience easy & effective observations.
About today's host:
Scott Schuette is a Learning and Development Executive with years of experience driving the creation of innovative, multi-million dollar learning platforms and education programs for major corporate enterprise companies.
He is cohost of The Fabulous Learning Nerds, a podcast sharing new ideas, learning tools, approaches and technology that increase learner engagement and impact — All while having FUN! Listen to the show and subscribe here: https://fabulouslearningnerds.transistor.fm
Previous Episode
CareerViewXR creators Katie and Matt Chaussee on learning experiences powered by augmented and virtual reality
Katie and Matt Chaussee, founders of Be More Colorful and creators of CareerViewXR, are our guests for this episode. They share the story of their company's founding and how it is changing workplace and education experiences.
Hear about:
- The origin story of Be More Colorful
- Content accessibility
- Immersive media in education: video content, simulations, metaverse, and more
- The future of career and technical education (CTE) - industries are changing, CTE needs to keep up, grab the attention of learners and inform them
- Bridging the Gaps: skills gap, opportunity gap, and awareness gap
- CTE for all - professional development for parents, teachers, counselors, adult career-seekers, and the incarcerated
About Be More Colorful
Be More Colorful, based in Fargo, North Dakota specializes in immersive technology solutions for solving workforce development problems. Co-founded by husband-and-wife team Matt and Katie Chaussee, the company has been at the forefront of creating immersive media solutions that help people make better decisions about where they choose to live, learn, work and play. Learn more:
- https://www.bemorecolorful.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/careerviewxr/
- https://www.facebook.com/bemorecolorful/
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/careerviewxr/
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-more-colorful/
- https://www.instagram.com/bemorecolorful/
- https://twitter.com/bemorecolorful
- https://www.tiktok.com/@bemorecolorful
About today's guests:
Katie Chaussee, co-founder and Owner of Be More Colorful alongside her husband Matt, embarked on an entrepreneurial journey that began modestly with a part-time gig providing virtual real estate tours. Over time, their initiative has grown into a prominent EdTech company, employing cutting-edge virtual reality technology to innovate career exploration for students.
This transition from a "mom and pop VR shop" to an acclaimed industry player wasn't a walk in the park. With a steadfast commitment to their vision, Katie and Matt navigated through both successes and failures, ultimately reshaping their family life.
From a traditional young family with two children and two-incomes to fully embracing the uncertainties of entrepreneurship, Katie and Matt demonstrated the courage to tread an uncharted path. Katie's journey, less about glory and more about grit, embodies the essence of their venture — a determination to improve career guidance for students through innovative technology. Her role in this endeavor underscores the power of belief in a shared vision and the determination to see it through.
Matt Chaussee, co-founder and CEO of award-winning immersive media and virtual reality production studio, Be More Colorful, is revolutionizing career exploration for students with the groundbreaking product, CareerViewXR. Together with his wife, Katie, Matthew transitioned from a part-time endeavor creating virtual real estate tours to assembling a skilled team of media professionals who are revolutionizing career exploration with immersive media technology.
Motivated by his own career journey, which involved seven years of college, five major changes, and finally a degree in Mathematics, Matthew's professional path was marked by a continuous quest for fulfillment. Despite a successful 15-year-long career, his internal dissatisfaction led him to pivot, co-founding a virtual reality production studio with his wife and co-founder (and majority owner) Katie.
Through CareerViewXR, Matt and his team use virtual tours and virtual reality video to bring real-world job environments directly into the classroom, offering a dynamic and practical tool for students considering their future careers. Their ambition is to ease the decision-making process for younger generations, providing them with a firsthand insight into their future career path.
About today’s host
Scott Schuette is a Learning and Development Executive with years of experience driving the creation of innovative, multi-million dollar learning platforms and education programs for major corporate enterprise companies.
He is cohost of The Fabulous Learning Nerds, a podcast sharing new ideas, learning tools, approaches and technology that increase learner engagement and impact — All while having FUN! Listen to the show and subscribe here:
Next Episode
Instructional specialist Amanda Anthony on empowering parents and differentiating to meet learners' needs
In this episode, Amanda Anthony, an instructional specialist with Connected Class, discusses her journey in education and shares insights on improving parent engagement, empowering parents to support learning, differentiation, and more. This begins a series of five episodes hosted by Tanya Sheckley, host of Rebel Educator on the BE Podcast Network.
Hear about:
- Amanda’s journey from music to K-8 education
- How Connected Class developed organically to meet teachers’ desire for better training
- Creating a real community between parents and schools
- Effective strategies for differentiated instruction
- Meeting students’ diverse needs
- How to help parents become empowered learning partners
- Play as a tool for learning
About today’s guest
Amanda Anthony is a Learning Link Instructional Specialist at Connected Class with over 20 years experience as an educator. She is known for providing invaluable feedback and differentiating instruction. Learn more about Connected Class:
- www.connectedclass.com
- https://twitter.com/connectedclass _
- https://www.instagram.com/connected_class
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/connected-class
About today’s host
Tanya Sheckley is the Founder and President of UP Academy, a progressive elementary lab school in San Mateo, California. UP Academy is reinventing education by customizing learning for each student, integrating project-based learning throughout its curriculum, and supporting students with disabilities to attend alongside able-bodied students in mixed-age classrooms.
Tanya hosts the Rebel Educator podcast, speaks across the country on the future of education, and leads professional development programs for school administrators and educators. Listen to Rebel Educator here: https://re.bepodcast.network/
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