Inquiry, Innovation, and International Classrooms with Jason Reagin - TEC48

03/24/25 • 44 min

1 Listener

In this international edition of the Tech Ed Clubhouse, I amjoined by Jason Reagin, an experienced educator currently teaching in Beijing, China. From his roots in Georgia to international classrooms across Korea, Bermuda, and China, Jason shares his journey through design, technology, andthe evolving world of education.

With over two decades of experience in international IBschools, Jason dives deep into the power of inquiry-based learning, the flexibility and challenges of teaching in diverse global classrooms, and the importance of building soft skills and student agency through design tech education.

🔍 Topics Covered:

Jason’s global teaching journey: From Atlanta to China viaKorea and Bermuda

Transition from Industrial Arts to Design Tech

Inside look at the IB framework and what makes it unique

Why student voice and choice matter more than ever

How international schools handle assessment, project-based learning, and soft skills

The rising trend of gap years and what it means for student wellness

Candid thoughts on student mental health post-COVIDlockdowns

Embracing discomfort, cultural collisions, and growth indiverse classrooms

The importance of teacher-student relationships inthe AI era

Using LinkedIn and podcasting to connect with educatorsglobally

🎯 Jason’s Takeaways for Educators:

Provide Student Choice: Let students show what theyknow in a way that suits them—video, presentation, debate, or design project.
Shift the Role: Move from deliverer of content tofacilitator of inquiry. Ask more, tell less.
Know Your Students: Especially in the age of AI,relationships are your best detection tool.
Look Beyond Grades: Focus on growth,performance-based tasks, and holistic assessment.

📚 Resources & Links:

🎧 Jason’s Podcast: Design Cast

🔗 Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: Jason Reagin

📖 Jason’s Book: The Future of Learning – Designing Innovation Spaces that Transform Schools & Inspire Tomorrow’s Leaders

💬 Quote of the Episode:

“Inquiry-based teaching is in my DNA—but helping othersget comfortable with controlled chaos is where the real work begins.” – Jason Reagin

🚀 Connect with Us:

🎙️ Host: Dan Thomas – @CoachThomasTech

💻 Website: coachthomastech.com

📣 Hashtag: #TechEdClubhouse

👀 Like this episode?Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with your fellow educators. Let’s reimagine education—one conversation at a time.

🔍 Topics Covered:

Jason’s global teaching journey: From Atlanta to China viaKorea and Bermuda

Transition from Industrial Arts to Design Tech

Inside look at the IB framework and what makes it unique

Why student voice and choice matter more than ever

How international schools handle assessment, project-based learning, and soft skills

The rising trend of gap years and what it means for student wellness

Candid thoughts on student mental health post-COVIDlockdowns

Embracing discomfort, cultural collisions, and growth indiverse classrooms

The importance of teacher-student relationships inthe AI era

Using LinkedIn and podcasting to connect with educatorsglobally

🎯 Jason’s Takeaways for Educators:

Provide Student Choice: Let students show what theyknow in a way that suits them—video, presentation, debate, or design project.
Shift the Role: Move from deliverer of content tofacilitator of inquiry. Ask more, tell less.
Know Your Students: Especially in the age of AI,relationships are your best detection tool.
Look Beyond Grades: Focus on growth,performance-based tasks, and holistic assessment.

📚 Resources & Links:

🎧 Jason’s Podcast: Design Cast

🔗 Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: Jason Reagin

📖 Jason’s Book: The Future of Learning – Designing Innovation Spaces that Transform Schools & Inspire Tomorrow’s Leaders

💬 Quote of the Episode:

“Inquiry-based teaching is in my DNA—but helping othersget comfortable with controlled chaos is where the real work begins.” – Jason Reagin

🚀 Connect with Us:

🎙️ Host: Dan Thomas – @CoachThomasTech

💻 Website: coachthomastech.com

📣 Hashtag: #TechEdClubhouse

👀 Like this episode?Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with your fellow educators. Let’s reimagine education—one conversation at a time.

Previous Episode

Striking the Right Chord: Play, Engagement, and Creativity with The Happy Music Teacher - TEC 47

Guest: Jeanette Mihalchik
Host: Dan Thomas

In this episode:

Jeanette Mihalchik shares insights from her 26 years as anelementary music teacher.

The importance of play-based learning to keep studentsengaged.
How to balance structure with creative and playful classroomactivities.
Practical ways to introduce vocabulary through experientiallearning.
Tips for incorporating student choice and autonomy to boostengagement.
Thoughts on using AI as a creative educational tool.

Actionable Ideas:

Start lessons with engaging, experiential activities todeepen understanding.
Observe and use student interests to inform lesson planning.
Experiment with simple props and playful activities forimmediate engagement.

Connect with Jeanette Mihalchik:

Website: thehappymusicteacher.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thehappymusicteacher
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thehappymusicteacher
Resources: thehappymusicteacher.com/shop

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review!

Next Episode

The Power of Orange: Igniting Classrooms with Curipod and Heather Brantley - TEC 49

Guest: Heather Brantley (@HeatherTechEdu)
Host: Dan Thomas (@CoachThomasTech)

🔥 Episode Summary

In this episode, I sit down with the energetic andinspiring Heather Brantley, former math and CTE teacher turned teacher advocate at Curipod. From a surprise return to teaching after her son's second-grade independence moment to becoming a powerful voice for educatorsacross the globe, Heather shares her journey of rediscovering her passion for education—and how Curipod became a game-changer in her classroom and now in her career.

Together, we explore how Curipod uses AI toenhance student voice, classroom engagement, and teacher efficiency, while maintaining a strong focus on relationships, equity, and teacher empowerment.

🧠 What You’ll Learn

Heather’s journey from stay-at-home mom to classroom rockstar to edtech advocate
How Curipod empowers every student voice withinteractive and anonymous participation
Why AI in education isn’t about replacement—it’s about enhancement and support
How Curipod’s built-in feedback tools offer real-time,growth-oriented responses for students
The power of student reflection, anonymity, andcollaborative learning
How Curipod integrates with existing tools like Canva,Google Slides, and Chrome extensions
New features, including ELL support, state-alignedtest prep, and asynchronous PD courses
Why Curipod works for every subject—including math, STEM, and CTE
Tips for getting started with Curipod, even if you'retech-reluctant

🛠️ Tools & Features Mentioned

Curipod’s AI Lesson Generator – Create a 45-minuteinteractive lesson in under 3 minutes
Drawing + Whiteboard Tool – Let students show theirwork and get AI-generated feedback
Built-in Voting, Polls, Word Clouds, and Reflections
“Purify Slides” Feature – Upload your old lessons andtransform them into interactive experiences
Standards-Aligned Content for Texas, California, NewYork, and more
Instant Student Feedback and Growth Prompts
Fake Name Login + Privacy Protection for safe andequitable participation

💬 Quotes Worth Sharing

“An exhausted teacher can’t support students at their fullpotential. Let us help you get your time—and your joy—back.” – Heather Brantley

“Curipod isn’t replacing teachers. It’s supporting them todo what they do best—with more creativity and connection.” – Dan Thomas

🔗 Links & Resources

🔗 Curipod.com

📧 Email Heather: [email protected]

🐦 Follow Heather: @HeatherTechEdu

🐦 Follow Dan: @CoachThomasTech

💡 Try This!

👉 Want to see Curipod in action? Create a free account, generate a lesson with a single prompt, and experience what it’s like to get every student involved in seconds.

🔔 Subscribe & Review

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