Ep. 3: In the Classroom with Jack Gupton

The podcast features an interview with Jack, a public school teacher who integrates Arduino into his technology class. Jack shares his journey, the structure of his class, and the challenges faced by both students and teachers. He emphasizes the importance of embracing failure as a learning tool and offers advice to educators looking to incorporate technology into their classrooms. The discussion also touches on the future plans for the class, including expanding into flight projects.

What is the main focus of the podcast hosted by Michael?

• Cooking and culinary arts

• Programming and electronics

• Music and entertainment

• Travel and adventure

How did Jack initially get approval to introduce Arduino in his class?

• He was mandated by the school board

• He followed a national program

• He had a pre-existing curriculum

• He convinced the principal with a proposal

What programming environment did Jack use to introduce basic programming concepts?

• C++

• MIT's Scratch

• Java

• Python

How do students demonstrate their understanding of Arduino experiments in Jack's class?

• By explaining the wiring and code

• By taking multiple-choice tests

• By presenting their projects

• By writing essays

What is one of the biggest challenges students face in Jack's class?

• Learning foreign languages

• Memorizing historical dates

• Grasping abstract programming concepts

• Understanding complex literature

What approach does Jack take towards teaching and learning in his class?

• He relies solely on textbooks

• He avoids using any technology

• He encourages self-paced learning with resources

• He uses direct instruction exclusively

What is Jack's advice to teachers wanting to integrate technology like Arduino into their classes?

• Wait until you have a perfect plan

• Avoid taking risks

• Focus only on theoretical knowledge

• Embrace failure as part of the learning process

What new component does Jack plan to introduce into his curriculum?

• Cooking classes

• Flight and airplane design

• Music production

• Advanced mathematics

What is the purpose of the Maker Challenge that Jack's students participate in?

• To solve a real-world problem with a new invention

• To write a research paper

• To perform a musical piece

• To create a new video game

What impact does Jack believe Arduino has on his students?

• It makes them dislike technology

• It gives them confidence and problem-solving skills

• It distracts them from other subjects

• It is too complex for them to understand