Episode 301: Jen Leban

Episode 301: Connect, Create, and Grow with The Art of Education with Jen Leban

 [00:00:30] Fonz: Hello, everybody. Welcome to another great episode of my ed tech life. Thank you so much for joining us on this beautiful day. Hopefully you've had a wonderful start to your week and wherever it is that you're joining us from around the world. Thank you as always for your support.

We appreciate all the likes, the shares, the follows. And as you know, we've hit a great milestone. We hit episode 300 and today this is 301. We are well on our way to the next 300 episodes. And I am really excited to have an amazing guest. This is her second time. Being here on the show and we were kind of looking prior to the show to see when the last time or what, what episode it was that she was here last.

And she was here on episode 19 of my ed tech life. And that was back on August 8th, 2020, and we are November 18th, 2024. But I am excited to have Jen Leban on the show. Jen, how are you doing today? I'm so excited for you to be here.

[00:01:36] Jen: I'm doing fantastic. Does this mean that I'm, um, I am, uh, my ed tech life hipster because I was there before it was cool?

Do I get to like?

[00:01:44] Fonz: yes, you were there. You wore the cool bench shirt before the bed was cool. Yes. I love it. Thank you so much for returning as always. It's always great to chat with you and just to hear about you, your journey, as we know, that You know, back then we were talking about stuff going on during COVID.

You were working on illustrating books and so on. And then now we know that things have changed and I'm excited to learn a little bit more about what you are up to. But before we get started and before we jump in for our audience members who may not be familiar with your work yet, can you give us a little brief introduction and what your context is within, you know, this new education space?

[00:02:28] Jen: Sure. Well, as you said, hi, I'm Jen Leban. I am a veteran teacher of 23 plus years, I think at this point, and four years ago when you talked to me, I was probably in the elementary library at that time, which was my one year I worked in the elementary library. But previous to that, I spent six years in the middle school technology classroom.

So, I was the tech teacher. teacher. And before that, I spent 13 years in the middle school art room. So, my origin story is that I am an art teacher at heart. Like that is my very beginning. So, since we've talked, I left the elementary library, I left the classroom completely and I became an instructional tech coach for three years.

And I worked with the, like the state of Illinois, and I was contracted out to school districts like Part time to districts that couldn't afford a full-time tech coach and those kind of got cobbled together to make a full-time job and I love that job. That job was amazing so Highly recommend it was something I had always wanted to do and had tried and tried and just had a really hard time getting out of the classroom so don't give up if you're there keep going keep trying.

And then my current job now I am So the title is online community manager for the art of education university. So that is our company name, but we're more than just a university. We are, first of all, we are a university. So, you can like straight up, get your master's degree from us. We do cater to art teachers specifically.

But I was working as a tech coach, saw this job posted and I was like, wow, a tech job in the art world. And then, oh yeah, I get to work full time from home. I was like, this is for me. I was like, this is like, like all of the forces of the world, like. Seem like they're conspiring to like I was like this feels like my job like I'm supposed to have it so Applied for it didn't actually think much of it.

I was like, even though it felt really good to me I was like, oh I’m never gonna get this and wouldn't you know? I was offered the job and uh, hey here I am now so It's not like I left a job because I was unhappy. There are jobs where I've done that, but where I was before was a great place, but this was like, I couldn't not do this.

This is just, yeah, I get to, I work with art teachers. I run the online community for art teachers where you like build your PLN, you find other art, art teacher is a lonely job. You're, you're often the only art teacher in the building. And it's hard to find people to talk with, which is honestly not, not only is my origin story, an art teacher, but this was my

I guess struggle the whole time. This is why I started on Twitter. This is why I started on social media like way way back in the day Because I felt so alone and this twitter thing came out and all of a sudden you could meet other teachers And I could find other teachers So if you were a teacher and you mentioned art in your profile I followed you like knowing nothing else And I built up this community and then when I moved to tech I followed tech people when I moved to the library I felt you know, so it grew and grew and grew as we all You Kind of, you know, and now it's, and now it's all dying.

Um, so. So, it's so funny because that was the problem I encountered when I was in the art room was I needed to find my people. I needed to find my community. And now I get to like, I don't know, as the elder that the elder got him like Gen X, you know, whatever, I, I get to come and help bring all those people in.

Like I was, I was in your position. Come and join us now. And now that all other social media kind of, sorry most other social media kind of sucks right now. This is our like, where's everybody going? Are we all going to blue sky? Are we all going to that? Like? For art teachers, we're going to the Art of Ed community.

That is our place. That is our home place now where we're all going together and we get to talk. And I do monthly art club meetings and we do webinars where we all just hang out for an hour and make art together and like chit chat. So, it's just a big art community. Nerdy teacher community.

[00:06:29] Fonz: That is amazing. And I couldn't think, honestly, I can't think of anybody better to be able to do this and handle this. And like you said, because of all the experience that you've had, Jen, it really plays to, like you mentioned, any new teachers that are out there, like you mentioned right now, you said something very specific and said, Hey, I was there in your shoes at one time.

Because sometimes now they may feel like, am I the only one going through this? And now they've got that support and you're absolutely right. You know, my experience, at least in my district too, as well as when you do run into our teachers, it's usually, they are on a hall all by themselves and They're kind of isolated and they're always like looking for new ideas and support, even like, Hey, where can we do this or not?

Or we're getting pulled out to do other things other than art and what we're supposed to be doing. But I'm glad that there's a community for that. And just like you said, with the experience that you've had. Through the elementary times, you know, of course the coaching and might I'd say, you know, when I first started it getting, you know, a little bit more traction on social media, you were, you know, one of the first ones that I followed to as well.

Obviously because of what you were posting, you know, the interest. The tech that was involved, especially, you know, like we video, obviously innovator community too, as well. And all of that. So definitely I'm excited to be able to reconnect with you after four years. And just to hear about the great stuff that you're doing and helping build.

that art community, which is awesome. And of course you get to do it from home and I can't even imagine how great those chats are that you guys you know, get together and do before we get into that a little bit more, cause I do want to hear a little bit more as far as those activities and so on, but can you tell us a little bit more I know you did mention that, uh, The art of education university.

It is a place where you can get your master's, but are, you know, specifically like, you know, what are their offerings or, you know, how can more people get involved and get to know a little bit more about what the university does.

[00:08:26] Jen: I get so excited when I talk about things that I like go on tangents and I forget whole parts.

So yes, I should probably tell you about the rest of the art of education. So yeah, we're kind of split. Cause there is like the university side where you can get your master's degree or continuing like graduate courses and things like that, which is great. I've not done any of them yet, let's say yet, because I got plans.

I always got plans. The other side is they actually sell a full-on art education curriculum like a K 12. It's called Flex Curriculum, and what's so great about it is that I should probably say, like, I'm a canned curriculum hater. So, good, bad, whatever, I don't love canned curriculums. So, especially when you're like, oh, art curriculum?

I didn't have an art curriculum when I was an art teacher. Which is true. I wish this existed when I was an art teacher. Because the whole idea of flex curriculum is that it's like, it gives you supports when you need it. And when you want to do your own thing, you can, it's almost like you can like pick and shoot it.

It's flexible. It's right there in the name. So yeah, when you feel like you need supports or like, I want to worksheet on how to do one-point perspective or something, it's there for you. But if you're like, I like this project, but I want to do this with it. It's got the freedom. That you can customize and personalize it and you still feel like you have your autonomy.

So that's one thing. They sell curriculum. Another thing that they sell, it's called pro learning, which is basically PD for art teachers. So, I know that you weren't an art teacher, but you could probably relate to being in a, Institute days and teacher meetings that have absolutely no relevance to you.

Have you ever, have you ever encountered that?

Yeah, I think we

[00:10:02] Fonz: all have many times where it could have just been an email.

[00:10:05] Jen: So, school districts will buy pro learning in order to give their art teachers relevant professional development. So, if an art teacher is like, Hey, I always wanted to learn more about how to teach printmaking in my classroom.

It's a whole series of videos, almost like little online courses for teachers where they can dig deeper and you can actually learn about stuff that is relevant to you. A lot of districts buy these things together, but then there's a whole other like arm of our company. That's just free that we support teachers.

So, we have a very robust, we have a YouTube channel. We have a whole online magazine, like kind of like a blog, like articles always out always new things. There is a podcast that is out. I'm trying to think we do a conference twice a year called the now conference or the art ed now conference, and it's done by other teachers’ other art professionals that do sessions, but it's 100 percent virtual.

So, you log on you just kind of like hang out and they're these like 15-minute sessions, which actually is how I first connected with the art of education. I don't remember, I think, I feel like we counted, and probably about the time I talked to you was probably about the first time I ever presented at a NOW Conference, so I want to say like four years ago.

But I've presented with them several times over the years and actually I'll be presenting this next time I’m dragging my husband with me because he is an art teacher So there's something not not everybody knows that I’m married to an art teacher. So, I’m actually dragging him in with me and we are going to do a presentation together at the now conference.

Um all about ai so It should be pretty fun because I’ve always loved tech and I’ve always loved art Even when I was just in the art room, I always wanted to do tech things. I think I just get bored easily You So I always want to, like, learn new stuff, and that's why I say yet with the courses. I've got my eyes on, like, a graphic design course that I think I want to take, so we'll see.

[00:11:59] Fonz: Yes, excellent. Well, I love that, and so I do want to unpack a little bit about what you said, which is absolutely wonderful, and right now, thanks to you and sharing this with me, I'm definitely going to be sharing this With our art teachers as well, because I know that at the beginning of the year, usually, like you said, there's always a beginning of the year PD and they really sometimes don't get their own PD because there isn't anything that is specific for them.

And like, you're right. Sometimes they sit in those meetings where, you know, this doesn't have to do anything with art, or sometimes they bunch them up with CTE, and maybe there's a little crossover, but it's more in that graphic design, but the art teachers really needed, you know, just. Yeah, something specific.

Yeah. And so, it was great. I was able to go and share some things with them. Uh, but I did have like music and art teachers and everything. So, it was mixed in and because that's the way they group them. But what I love is that now I can take this and they can learn a little bit about obviously what is there that's free, but at the end, maybe some of that curriculum that I absolutely love that offering of the flex curriculum where you just have a resource there.

Should you need it, or the resource that you can use to sprinkle on to what you're already doing great, make it your own and then come up with something completely new with it. So that would be something that would be amazing to kind of change things up from year to year. So, this is wonderful information that I'm getting here that I'm really excited to share.

Hi. Yeah, so the next thing that I do want to ask, obviously, because it is a hot topic, and you did bring it up, and I kind of wanted to go into a, you know, into a segue into that, what you did mention in doing a presentation on art and AI, so as, as somebody that's passionate about art like you are, And there are so many other teachers that are out there.

What was your first reaction when you first started seeing some of these generative AI, platforms you know, just all of a sudden, like, I put in a prompt and here is my still in oil. What were your initial thoughts when you first saw that?

[00:14:05] Jen: My initial thoughts were probably not the thoughts of the majority. Because the majority was like, is to be scared of something new. It's going to steal our artist's work and it's going to do that. And, and those are not Unrealistic fear. Do you know what it like? They're still good, but I think to go all one way or all the other way, it's always just this weird, like alarmist thing.

I am kind of like a sit back and observe, but I am always kind of fascinated and excited about what could be. So, I mean, when I first saw. What could what could happen like I know you and I we do a lot of adobe stuff so to see firefly, you know Produce image from text. It was a little bit like whoa This is amazing And and that's how most tech tools kind of sucked me in I do a lot of work with with we video and video stuff because I saw what it could do with green screen and my Brain went I want to run away from an explosion like an action hero like that was I’m like so I think one of the first things I did with ai was like I was like a portrait I had taken of myself and I had this like alien crawling in the background behind me which was actually kind of horrifying the way that it came out but I was like like the ability to make that like impossible possible and that magicness is really kind of the heart of like creativity and art.

And it was just like another tool, like handing me a paintbrush or a camera or, you know, a stylist or even just a set of colored pencils, like what you can do with it is what's really important. But it's not that I don't get the other side of it either. And I understand the like sourcing, you know, and like feeding the AI from other people's work and the ethical like issues that creates, like I get that a hundred percent, but I think there has to be a way in between, like every tool, we're going to find people that abuse it and use it the wrong way.

And we're going to find, you know, so nothing is, I don't know, nothing is all bad or all good. And there's a lot of like nuance and all the arguments. So, I, I'm excited about what it can do. But I am cautious and not completely unaware of where it could go wrong. Does that?

[00:16:09] Fonz: Yeah, no, that's okay.

[00:16:11] Jen: It's an answer without an answer.

No,

[00:16:13] Fonz: no, and it's actually, you know, and that's valid. It is a valid answer because me, I'm very much like you where I'm kind of like in the middle, I really try and be in the middle. And like you said there, I do see Some of the possibilities and some of the good. And then also of course, whenever you have those bad characters, and then of course you hear the other side too, as well, when I was having a conversation with a, an art teacher at the beginning of the year, and I shared with them.

What was available through Firefly and even Adobe Express. They were like, great, like, this is, like, this is wrong. This, this is gonna, you know, and that, that was that, and I guess it just came from that initial fear. But then I kinda just said, well, let, let's hold up a bit. And I said, look, for, for myself, that maybe I, I'm not, very artistic person in the sense of, you know, being able to take, uh, you know, a brush to a canvas or lines.

And I have really bad spatial reasoning, but I said, let's think about it this way, like, what have you had a student like me in your class that I just needed to get my idea on that canvas, but maybe I can't draw it and it doesn't mean that I'm not going to, but what if I'm able to explain it? In wording and see a representation of it.

And now I'm like, yes, that is it. That is exactly what I was thinking in my mind to do and create. And now I can use that as a reference as I learn how to put it down on a canvas. So, it's kind of like, I don't know, I don't want to say, is it like reverse engineering or something? Just kind of like seeing that finished product, but then still finishing it off on canvas and it's that ideation process.

Once I said that, they're like, Okay, like, well, but, oh, and then they just kind of stayed quiet and they're like, okay. Like I can see it kind of makes sense in that aspect. So it's just like you said, it's just kind of that mindset and that initial fear of like, oh great, like now these kids are just going to turn in, you know, just, you know, This digital copy and that's it, you know, but yeah, there is some thought that goes along with it too as well and work that goes behind the two also so, um, that's the way that I feel about it in that sense as far as that when I had the conversation with the art teacher as well.

[00:18:29] Jen: Yeah, and I, I love my art teachers don't get me wrong but there is. Always a faction of art teachers that are very anti tech of any kind that like art. I don't know if they, they think they're being like an art purist or a back to the basics and like, we don't do screens in my classroom and we only use the actual, we use analog tools, you know?

It's like, okay, just because we used to do graphic design with like India ink pens and protractors and things, we don't do that. I mean, I did cause I'm old. So, when I was in college, we learned that. But then we did transfer to, you know, digital, you know, we might have learned photography in a dark room, which I also did, but then now there's digital photography, like there are the tools advance and things grow.

And it doesn't mean there isn't purpose or use in like those foundational tools or knowing where it comes from. But it doesn't mean that you just like reject those other things altogether. And I think when I taught in middle school, I was in this really unique, like, cause you're kind of in all the worlds and like developmentally, like think about your, your brain.

If you can remember yourself in middle school, I, I wasn't an art kid and I, I could draw, but so many times there were pictures in my head that didn't look like the thing I wanted it to look like on paper. So, to be able to kind of envision that and then use it as a guide to create my art, even for somebody like me who like, was artistic and I use that in quotes because everyone is artistic.

We just haven't found our maybe you haven't found your your medium You know, there are people that are great with with clay Um, not not me. I enjoy using clay, but I don't feel like I’m all that good at it Um and other people that are great at computer animation versus drawing or painting or I'm a fiber artist or, you know, there's so many things that you can use as your medium.

I mean, and if you really want to stretch the boundaries of art, some people are great at storytelling and some people are great at, you know, baking fancy cakes, like it's all art when you think about it, but, um, the other, you know, so that's kind of the whole like art teachers that hate tech. They need to kind of like open their brains a little bit.

I love you guys. No, no hate to any of my art friends, but come on, let me in a little bit. Let me show you some cool stuff. Now, the other part of that is there are a lot of things that we currently do in art class or traditional art class assignments that AI can actually enhance or make better. So, for example, I'm going to say, I don't know if you're familiar with grid drawing, but we teach, we teach kids how to draw.

And one of the, the main thing, a lot of times you, this is why our teachers collect old magazines and newspapers. They find a picture, or nowadays a lot of times they find one, they print it off the internet, and you draw a grid on top of it, like a one inch by one inch grid, and then you get a big sheet of paper, and you do a two inch by two inch, or a three inch by three inch, and you're, you're literally just showing students how to take a picture, take those little pieces and break them down and transfer, it's just your observational drawing, is what you're doing.

Well what if instead of finding someone else's photograph from off the internet, Or a picture out of a magazine or an advertisement. You used AI to generate your source image and then did a grid drawing of your source image. Do you know, then you've just become the artist at both levels? You're learning that skill of observational drawing, but you also kind of like created that original image that you're gridding and blowing up to, do you know what I mean?

Like you've given it that extra step, or even something is, is I'm going to, I'm going to call it dumb, but I don't mean like it's like it's dumb or, or I don't know. It's simple. That's what I'm like, like a simple thing would be. Use AI to have your kids generate their own drawing or coloring sheets instead of using like adult coloring pages of like mandalas or things that you want to do for like your SEL, you know, have them generate their own.

Like coloring is, is not, it doesn't have, I'm stumbling over my words because I'm trying to say like, Coloring isn't a depth of knowledge, like art activity, but it's not that it doesn't have value because it absolutely still does. So, it's just, I'm like, yeah, I'm tripping over my words here. But what if you had kids design their own coloring pages?

So, there is like the thinking skill behind it and the whole, like I'm just practicing my coloring and it's a cool, relaxing thing I love to do. Like there are just simple ways that you can incorporate this in that it doesn't have to be, um, Like, you don't have to have a computer lab to do all of these super fancy works with your kids.

Yeah,

[00:22:44] Fonz: you know, and one of the things too that I know I've seen Claudio share many times is, uh, being able to, like you said, prompt an image, but then also use, you know, A specific reference point, like, you know, it's like, Hey, let me put an image of myself in there and then see what kind of interpretation they go, you know, comes up with, and you said something that could be very unique, or maybe there's a, there's an image of an actual character that you're studying, you know, coloring pages.

And now you're, you're maybe even as a class right now, when you said that, I was like, Whoa, that would be kind of neat activity where the students are actually, you know, they read a novel. And you're learning about themes. You're learning about the protagonist and antagonist, and now you're creating these, you know, images that might represent that in what you're learning and getting that feel for it.

And I'm like, Hey, you're absolutely right. I mean, there's definitely a lot of stuff there that

[00:23:36] Jen: Head movies, right? When you read a book, you get pictures in your, your head movies. Yes. Yes. You can now make your head movies real through AI. The other thing I was thinking about when you were talking about being able to describe what's in your head and have a picture of it because you feel like you're not good at drawing, what you're also doing is strengthening your like language skills too, because if you don't describe it well enough, it's not going to give you the picture and you're going to see it.

You're going to be like, Oh, I forgot to tell it that the dog is brown. So, you go back in and you rework your prompt and you send it again. And then you say, Oh, cool, but it's nighttime. I, it was daytime in my, in my head movie. So, if you go back and pick, Oh, so you learn to use more descriptive writing and being more detailed and specific rather than just saying, I like this because it's nice or I like this because it's good.

So, talking and writing about art is another thing that you do in art class in addition to making art. And this is a way that you can kind of strengthen that and then like, boom, cross curricular, you're learning, you know, better writing and speaking skills and descriptive, you know, use of language and vocabulary.

It's like, Oh,

[00:24:45] Fonz: definitely. Yes. Fireworks going off. Hey, still talking about this too, as well. Now I'm kind of curious now, as far as like, I know you and I are having a really great conversation here, especially about this specific topic, but I want to know more about The chats that you hold, you said, like, you know, you meet, you have the group maybe once a week, excuse me, you said once a month and that you guys, you know, get in there, you chat, you create art.

Tell me a little bit more about that and what goes along in those conversations. And also, maybe tell me about, I guess, the makeup of the group. I know it's, it's very heavily art driven, but do you get a lot of teachers from maybe that come in from around the world? Is it mainly us, you know, just. You know, I'm just curious about that.

[00:25:28] Jen: These are, these are all like great questions and yes, all of, all of these things, um, I was surprised by how many international teachers have actually come in. So first of all, the community is public, it's public and it's free. So, I will get you the, the address so we can put that in here so that teachers can come in and join when you go to join the community.

We have screener questions that just say, hey, are you a current or former or aspiring art teacher or want to work in arts ed in some type of way because we don't want to exclude like you're a museum educator. Cool. Come and join us You're a retired teacher. Come and join us You're a third-grade teacher who is thinking maybe I want to teach art one day.

Come on in we take all we take. Um, like, uh Wow, what's that undergrad couldn't come up with the word undergrad students come in all the time Aspiring like student teachers come in so we take everyone if you like art you want to teach art come in and join us So we have a question about that. We have a question that just says hey, you're not going to come in and Just spam us with your teachers’ pay teachers.

So, we don't like that It's not about that and then the third thing is telling us a little bit more while you're why you're excited to come and join us and that's just so I know that they're human and not spam bots because I’ve had to be careful about You Spam bots and crypto bros, that's, it's become like a whole thing.

So, I don't, yeah, so it's my job to screen those, but once you get in cool, you're in and we, it looks, it looks like I'll, I'll show it to you. It looks kind of like a Facebook group or we're kind of like a subreddit. Yeah. You come in, this is our teacher's lounge space. So, it's really just a feed. Let's see if I can find, Oh, I'm right here.

So, it's a feed. That you go through, there's like, the featured content is all stuff that I set, so we have regular weekly, like I do a weekly wrap up on Fridays, which actually, is it in this? It's not in this article. Uh, there's an AI robot that just, sold art at auction for like one and a half million dollars.

So, I'll have to, I'll have to find that article. But see, teachers post things. Um, we ask questions. Here it is. Artwork made by human, a humanoid robot. Um, it's AI Da and it's supposed to be like Ada Lovelace, like inspired the, the name of the robot. Uh, sells for one million at Sotheby's. So, there you go. I know, it's kind of insane.

So, you could see our conversation, is we're like, who gets the money? So many thoughts here, but isn't art weird? And they're like, art and money are the weirdest. So, it's like, these are the kinds of conversations we just have. We have, um, daily questions. So, here we have like a daily poll. And last week, we had struggle bus week.

So, every day was a different thing that you struggle with. So, this was assessment. We had one on, uh, teaching gen, here, teaching gen alpha. What's your biggest struggle that you have? So, we have things like that on there. Um, but then we have spaces. Specifically, for different grade levels. So, we have an elementary teacher space that you can come in and join.

We have a middle school teacher space and a high school teacher space, and we have only been public for about 2 months right now. So, we are still in the baby stages of the community and we have big plans for how to grow. So, for example, since we've launched, we opened up the art gallery and the art gallery are a place just for teachers to share their own personal artwork because our teachers are also artists.

So, they come in and share things, you know, even just like, Hey, I crocheted this thing for my, my classroom, you know, um, and it's fun. It's a place where we can all share. Now there is also the side benefit of the community is that we can talk about offerings exclusive to the art of education. So, when you go to what's new at AOEU, we talk about, um, we'll link out to like articles and things that are available.

So, for example, let's see, this is the latest one here. The topic was bookmaking. So, we linked to a couple of things about doing bookmaking with your kid’s free articles that we have and then. More fresh finds from AOEU. So, things that we've, we've posted recently, um, podcasts, little reels and shorts we've had, um, this is a tour of an art room and the art teachers’ homes.

There's like a whole series we have of like art teachers sharing up their homes and things. Um, so there's just a lot of stuff in here. And then we do have plans for a whole space in conjunction with our conference that's coming up in January. So that's a little preview there. Nobody, this is my, uh, this is me.

Tester member account. So, hey friends, if you're watching preview of what's to come.

[00:29:56] Fonz: I love it. This is great, Jen. Like that's amazing. And like you said, it's just, it seems like a great community and I love more than anything. It's just that you're connecting your professional learning network or your personal learning network or your personal learning family.

That's the way I call it the PLF, but you're going in there like minded individuals. And what I love is just the activity that's there. And you said it's, you know, fairly fresh, fairly new. People are joining in and sharing. So, I know that we will definitely link that up in the episode notes. So, everybody can go ahead and make their way over there and learn more about the art of education university.

And of course, the page and connecting and all of that, because I think that is definitely something that is very, very important. Um, and I also love the space that they have to create, like share your own art and just. You know, this is wonderful, you know, get some feedback and share, get encouragement and all of those things because like you do, like you said, it's like, you know, our being in our teacher can be very lonely many times.

And it's like, you just want to share with somebody and find a group of people that are there to inspire you or feel inspired by what you're doing. And I think you're doing a fabulous job, Jen. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Yeah,

[00:31:09] Jen: no, I mean, and as the leader and as kind of like the, I feel like the mom.

the mom of this group. I'm very much like we need to support each other and I make sure that when somebody posts that I'm, I'm clicking like the like button or the heart button or they'll, you know, I, I never want anyone to post and like not have a response because then I don't want people to be like turned off being in here.

So, I want to make sure like, like everyone gets an answer to their questions and everyone, you know, so sometimes like I'll see one question I'm like, Oh, we talked about it over here and I'll like send them back over to here. And I like, Doing all those connections and oh, I didn't get to tell you about our our monthly meetings So yeah, we do art club once a month that so not only do we have this space It's also where we schedule like our events So we have a monthly art club meeting and it's tied in with whatever our theme Of the month at at the art of education is so last Well, not last month.

November was service learning and giving back. And we talked about how you could do like service learning in your classes. And October was sci fi and AI. And actually, we brought in Claudio from Adobe and he talked about the AI tools in Adobe express, but in the months coming. Um, we have plans to bring in, like, someone from Canva and someone from WeVideo, and we, like, I'm, I want to bring, I want to take all that stuff that I had from when I taught Ed Tech, I know, and I want to bring those people in, like, like, come on, be my art teacher friends now, because I, because sometimes they're forgotten about, you know, and, and, or they're just a, sometimes I think as a teacher, They, you shun the technology for so long that you feel like, Oh, I can't possibly start now.

Or it's, it's too far beyond me. I'll never, I'll never get, you know, I don't know the tech talks and the things and you, you know, so my tech coaching comes in handy because I'm like, no, no, no, no, no, you got this. It's not as scary as you think. Come and ask me, I will not make fun of you. I will, you know, not.

Treat you like the tech guys do sometimes. Um, I will bring you in and I will, you know, I'll show you no question too stupid. I don't know. I'm full of stupid questions, so I'm not gonna ridicule other people.

[00:33:13] Fonz: But I love that. That is so wonderful and so valuable, like, to have somebody Like I said, you can just go to and you say, Hey, I'm curious about this or ask a question and have somebody to help there.

But I love also what you're doing in the sense that because of the experience that you've had in the K 12 space, but being able to see the potential of those tools in this higher ed space and even like professional development, and even though, of course, many of those are teachers. Are in the K 12 space, but like I said, often, yeah, oftentimes they're left out and there isn't anything out there for them that is available.

So now they can definitely reach out to you, Jen. So, before we start wrapping up and everything, let us know, how can people get to the website? I know we're going to link it. We're going to link it in here, but share with us the website and then also how they can go ahead and connect with you as well and connect with the community.

[00:34:09] Jen: Yeah, so our main, if you're interested in joining the community, you will go to community.theartofeducation.edu. So, it's pretty straightforward, but I'll, I'll write it down. We'll get to you and everything there. Um, And when you go to that site, because you're not already a member, if you're already a member, it just lets you in, but if you're not already a member, it will send you through the account creation, give you those screener questions, they come to me, I'm the person that reads them, so I click on it and I look and I hit accept or decline and it's, honestly, if you don't answer the questions, I'll decline you, but if you, You just tell me like, yes, I'm an art teacher.

Yes. Cool. I heard about it on the podcast. I want to come in and yeah, you're in that. And like, I'm not about excluding people. Seriously. I'm about welcoming and bringing in. So that's, that's really all there is. I mean, the art of ed is everywhere. It's everywhere. It's everywhere. We're on Instagram, the art of ed, the art of ed YouTube channel.

Um, our podcast is called art ed radio. It's been around for a very long time. Yeah. Um, what am I forgetting about podcast, YouTube, Instagram? I think we have a tick tock, but I don't know. I don't, I don't know about these tick tocks. Um, uh, but our, our conference is kind of our next big thing that that's coming up that we advertise a lot too, but you'll find all about that.

I mean, there's our main website too, theartofeducation.edu is our whole website and you'll get linked out to all the, all the things there. So, yeah, I mean as far as me personally, I'm not a lot of places anymore, like, I, I deleted the Twitters. Couldn't do it. Um, it was hard because I'd been there over ten years, and I had a lot of friends, a lot of connections I'd made.

Um, but ultimately for my mental health, it needed to be done and it's been fantastic. Like I have a Facebook, but I don't use it. So, my friends all know like, Jen, I posted this on Facebook, but I know you don't check so you didn't see it. So, they have to tell me direct. Like you don't have to tell me anything.

Just understand if you put it there, I'm probably not going to see it. Like that's just. Okay. As long as you got it and we're in agreement, we're good. Um, I am on Instagram still. So, if people really want, really want to find me, it's TheMrsLeban. Like T H E M R S L E B A N. It looks like Leban or Leban. It's leaving.

Um, that's pretty much the only place to find me now other than the community. If you come into the community, I will talk to you. I will annoy you.

[00:36:44] Fonz: Well, that's wonderful, Jen. I mean, like, I love the fact that you shared that in and again, if you're listening to this episode, just put there, like, on those questions that get asked, you just say, hey, I heard it on episode 301.

Jen will know that you're not a bot and you'll get let in and everything. All right, guys. But Jen, it's been wonderful catching up with you. I can't believe, honestly, it doesn't feel like it's been four years. Honestly, it really does. And I can't believe it was episode 19 and we were talking about Google innovator because during that time I was going through my Google innovator journey as well, and you were illustrating books too, as well.

And I was just like, wow, like feels like we're so young back then. Then, and now we've matured and we've, we're, we're adulting now.

[00:37:31] Jen: Oh

[00:37:31] Fonz: yeah. Yeah. Hey, I'm with you. I'm with you, my friend. All right, Jim. But before we wrap up, you know, I always end the show with the last three, with the final three questions. And I know back then, I don't think I was doing those three questions. So, I think this is your first time answering the three questions and I know I put them on the calendar invite.

So hopefully, all right. So, you're ready to go. So here we go. Question number one. In the current state of education, Jen, what would you say is your current Edu kryptonite?

[00:37:59] Jen: Okay, and I read that like kryptonite isn't like the thing that destroys you that you absolutely hate. Canned curriculum. Canned curriculum.

I brought it up, you should know from just hearing me there. Yeah, scripted canned curriculum, um, I won't name any specifics, but one of the reasons I left the classroom was a push to get me to teach this canned curriculum and I was like, nah. Mm mm. I'll leave before I do that.

[00:38:23] Fonz: There we go. All right, good answer, Kent Curriculum.

All right, question number two. If you can trade places for one day with somebody, who would it be and why?

[00:38:35] Jen: Okay, this was a hard question and I had to think about it for a long time and now this is going to be a wild answer you're not going to expect. Okay, so I would like to be 1990s Cindy Crawford at the height of her supermodel phase, just so I could play dress up for a day.

[00:38:51] Fonz: Oh, how great

[00:38:53] Jen: would that be? Like supermodel, you just put on anything and I would just hang out in like a closet all day and try on different outfits.

[00:38:59] Fonz: I love it. That is a good, that's very unique, Jen. That is an awesome answer. All right. And my last question to you, my friend is if you could have a billboard with a Like, if you could donate anything on it, what would it be and why?

[00:39:14] Jen: Again, this was kind of a difficult question because I'm like, you can put a billboard with anything, but it's not gonna change anything, you know? I don't know, like just because you put something on a billboard. So, I decided that I would donate the space or the time on the billboard, to a local business that I love, so I'm going to shout out the burger place by my house.

They're called Burger Antics in Brookfield and they are amazing. So, I would give my, I would give my, my billboard to Burger Antics to advertise their burgers because I feel like we're supporting small business, local businesses, and the food is delicious and that it might get more customers in.

[00:39:50] Fonz: There you go.

Great answer. Hey, that is very unique. I love it. You know, it, it really, honestly, you know, with that answer, Jen, it really goes to show, and it really shows not only myself, but everybody that's listening. And I know you've mentioned it even, you know, during the chat that you're like, kind of like this mom figure within the community and bringing people in, but just your heart that you have and really helping people.

And I think that's something that's very special. And I just, thank you so much for sharing your heart. With us, because I know that that definitely did come out throughout our conversation and your willingness to help your willingness to just, you know, help, uh, many art teachers getting out of their comfort zone and not feeling siloed and not feeling alone.

And that really. Is big. So, I thank you for what you're doing. And I'm sure that the art community is definitely very appreciative and I'm excited to really put this episode out there now. So hopefully continue to draw some more people into that community, getting to know you a little bit more. And of course, just, you know, having a creative space where everybody can join and, you know, just.

Share and have a lot of fun. So, thank you so much, Jen, for your amazing work. Thank you again for being a guest and for all our audience members. Thank you as always for all of your support. We really appreciate all the likes, the shares, the follows. If you haven't followed us on, on all the socials, follow us on all the socials at my tech life.

And. And don't forget, jump over to our YouTube channel, give us a thumbs up, subscribe that way the YouTube algorithm share all this wonderful stuff with your friends also as well. And head over to our website at www.myedtech.life where you can check out this amazing episode and the other 300 wonderful episodes.

And please make sure you check out episode 19 as well when you can see a young and a young Jen and young Fonz having some conversations there around tech and Google innovator and all that good stuff. So please make sure you check out that episode, but as always, my friends, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

We do what we do for you to bring you some amazing conversations and amazing guests like we did today. And my friends until next time, don't forget, stay techie.