Jennifer Stayton

Best of “Higher Ed:” Curiosity, Creativity, and Confidence in Kids

How can educators, parents, and other adults encourage young people to be curious and get creative? In this “Best of” episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger respond to a listener’s question about promoting intellectual curiosity and confidence in kids. There’s a lot of interest these days in encouraging younger learners to pursue studying science, the arts, and math. A listener wants to know how young people can be encouraged along those paths by exciting them to ask questions and be confident in their pursuits. Listen on to hear Ed discuss with Jennifer how he has inspired curiosity and creativity among students, and the impact that work has had on him as a teacher.

This episode was recorded on August 10, 2016 and originally posted on October 16, 2016.

Best of “Higher Ed:” What Does “Smart” Really Mean?

What do you think of when someone is described as “smart?” They know a lot of things. Maybe they got good grades in school. Or maybe they always use correct grammar. But what does it actually mean to be smart? In this “Best of” episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss the deeper meaning of the word “smart.” Being “smart” and being “intelligent” – are those the same thing? Are there different ways of being smart (think “street smarts” vs. “book smarts”)? Listen on to hear Ed and Jen unpack the definition of “smart” and examine what it does and does not mean.

This episode was recorded on August 10, 2016 and originally posted on October 9, 2016.

Higher Ed: Teaching Giving and Philanthropy

In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger tackle a question posed by a listener about teaching giving and philanthropy in school. Can it be done? Should it be done? And if so, when? A listener wrote in (to jstayton@kut.org) asking about teaching the concepts around giving and philanthropy. Ed and Jennifer talk about how that might be done, as well as the academic subjects that serve as underpinnings for understanding philanthropy. Listen on for their discussion and for the solution to last episode’s puzzler about the frequency of digits (that’s numbers, not finger and toes!).

This episode was recorded on April 19, 2017.

Higher Ed: Learning from the People You Meet

So much of what we encounter in formal education is planned; we attend scheduled classes in designated classrooms and go through specific lessons plans. But there can also be real educational value in chance encounters or unexpected opportunities. In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss lessons learned on the fly. Dick Van Dyke. Robert McNamara. Those two men don’t have much in common. But they are both people whom Ed has met. In this episode, Ed tells the stories of those meetings and talks about always learning something from even the most random encounters. Listen on for that discussion as well as a new puzzler about the frequency of digits (as in numbers, not fingers and toes).

This episode was recorded on April 19, 2017.

Higher Ed: College Readiness

What factors show that a student is ready for college: good grades? High test scores? A killer application and essay? Or, are more intangible qualities better indicators of college success? In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss what makes a high school student ready for higher ed. A listener wrote in and wondered if there are certain skills, behaviors, or mindsets that better prepare someone for college, or is everyone potentially college ready? Listen on for Ed’s take on what qualities make for a strong college student and what he thinks is just about essential to college success. You will also hear the punch lines from last episode’s math jokes courtesy of some funny fourth graders.

This episode was recorded on April 19, 2017.

Higher Ed: “Goodbyes” in Education

“Goodbye.” It’s a word that actually gets said a lot in education. Students are constantly changing teachers, classmates, subjects, and locations during their years in school. In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger talk about saying goodbye and moving on in education. The end of a class, semester, school year, or entire degree program can be a very emotional time as students and teachers move on, knowing that exact same class with those exact same participants will never exist again. In this episode, Ed and Jennifer discuss the many “goodbyes” that happen along the path of formal education, and what Ed says is the greatest gift an educator can receive when a class ends. And listen on for a twist on the usual puzzler. To balance the sometimes sad topic of goodbyes, Ed and Jennifer share Math jokes courtesy of some funny 4th graders.

This episode was recorded on April 19, 2017.

Higher Ed: Advice from Graduating Seniors to Their Younger Selves

It is college commencement season, and graduating seniors will be hearing all kinds of sage advice from commencement speakers. But what advice would those graduating seniors give? What would they tell their younger selves as students if they could? In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger share what some seniors say they wish they had known when they started school. Ed had the chance to ask some Southwestern University seniors, not long before their graduation, what had impacted them the most during their time in school. He and Jennifer discuss their surprising, frank, and funny answers and how that advice can apply outside of school, too. Listen on for their discussion and to hear the solution to last episode’s puzzler about the mean Math teacher and the bowls of marbles.

This episode was recorded on April 19, 2017.

Higher Ed: Teachers and Teaching

Teachers. We’ve all had some great ones, and we’ve all had some teachers who didn’t rank among the best. What makes a good teacher? How has the profession changed over time? How has technology impacted the way teachers do their jobs? In this week’s episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger talk about the evolving role of teachers. Ed has taught Math for about 30 years so he has lots to say about what he thinks teachers can do to reach and inspire their students. He and Jennifer reminisce about some memorable teachers they have had and discuss the ways in which the profession has changed. Listen on to hear some classroom tales and to get the new puzzler which, by the way, happens to involve a mean Math teacher.

This episode was recorded on March 24, 2017.

Higher Ed: Studying Abroad

In this episode, a question from a “Higher Ed” listener: her daughter is a sophomore in high school who has started attending college fairs and reading online about schools. The family is interested to know more about the impact of studying abroad on a student’s education. In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger dig into the topic of studying abroad. Ed and Jennifer talk about the pros and cons of spending part of college (or high school) studying outside the U.S. Ed says students can gain a lot experiencing a new culture and learning a new language. But do they lose anything spending time away from their academic home base? Listen on for their discussion and for the solution to the most recent puzzler about about gas cans, gallons, and some tricky pouring.

This episode was recorded on March 24, 2017.

Higher Ed: Healthy Learning

College students who work hard might tend to play hard, too. Caffeine… junk food…. late nights… partying. College can be filled with temptations that keep students from leading healthy lives. We know those habits aren’t good for us, but why does school present so many temptations? In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss balancing work and learning with health during school (and beyond). You’ve probably been there: staying up all night, fueled by coffee and junk food, to finish a paper or cram for an exam. That’s what college is about, right? Ed says it actually doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode, he and Jennifer discuss some of the reasons behind the less-than-healthy habits we pick up in college and some strategies from avoiding them in the first place. Listen on for their discussion and to indulge in a healthy habit: trying to solve the latest puzzler.

This episode was recorded on March 24, 2017.

Higher Ed: Moving From Student to Teacher

Usually during KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss issues related to learning and education. So how does it turn out when they add another voice to the mix? In this episode, they are joined by second-year Southwestern University student Tristin Evans. She adds a student perspective to the discussion and talks about what it was like to move from being a student to being a teacher’s assistant in one of Dr. Burger’s classes. Ed teaches a class at Southwestern called “Effective Thinking and Creative Puzzle-Solving.” Tristin has taken the class and then transitioned into a role assisting him with the course. Ed and Jennifer talked with Tristin about what she learned in switching positions and what advice she has for younger learners (or really learners of any age). Hear their discussion and also the solution to the numbers-filled puzzler from the last episode. Good news – there’s more than one way to get the solution!

This episode was recorded on March 24, 2017.

Higher Ed: Working Efficiently vs. Working Well

“Job well done.” What does that mean, exactly? That someone got a lot accomplished, or that someone did a few things very well? Multi-tasking is often praised as a valuable skill, but what are we sacrificing for speed? In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger work their way through a discussion on quantity and quality when it comes to getting stuff done. Not many people are encouraged to “strive for less,” but in this episode Ed and Jennifer explore if less can actually be better when it comes to getting tasks done. It’s also time for a new puzzler. It’s a bit tricky; no multitasking while you try to solve it!

This episode was recorded on Feb. 16, 2017.

12th & Chicon: Live Broadcast Wrap-up

In October, KUT embarked on a project to tell the story of a neighborhood in transition: the area around 12th and Chicon streets in East Austin. Decades ago, it was a center of black life in the city, but over the past few years, the forces of gentrification have taken hold. We opened a bureau there to maintain a presence in the neighborhood and allow residents to see KUT reporters on a daily basis and help us determine the stories that needed to be told.

12th & Chicon: Surviving the Development

KUT’s Jennifer Stayton spoke with Nefertiti Jackmon, executive director of Six Square, and Natasha Madison of the 12th Street Merchants’ Association at a live broadcast during Morning Edition from the Urban Co-Lab on 12th and Chicon streets. This is an excerpt from the entire broadcast which can be heard on another episode of this podcast.

12th & Chicon: AISD’s Achievement Gap

As the Austin Independent School District deals with declining enrollment and decisions about facilities and campuses, many wonder if students across the district are getting the same quality of education. AISD school board member Ted Gordon, who represents District 1 in East and Northeast Austin, joined KUT’s Jennifer Stayton to discuss achievement gaps and possible solutions in the district.

12th & Chicon: Austin’s Affordability Crisis

Dr. Eric Tang is an associate professor at the Institute for Urban Policy Research and Analysis at UT-Austin. After analyzing that data a few years back, Tang wanted to look more closely at why African-Americans were leaving Austin – specifically, East Austin. KUT’s Jennifer Stayton spoke to Tang about this new research for our On My Block series.

12th & Chicon: Preserving the Community’s History

On the East Side, development and rising property costs continue to force the African-American community out. With such rapid migration, how have the neighborhood’s history and culture and the city’s African-American population been preserved? LaToya Devezin, the community archivist at the Austin History Center, spoke to KUT’s Jennifer Stayton about the work of local archivists to preserve the community’s history.

Best of “Higher Ed:” How Outside Circumstances Can Impact Learning

Note: This “Higher Ed” episode was originally posted on February 28, 2016.

In an ideal world, every student comes to class, or to any educational situation, well-prepared and ready to learn. But in reality, all kinds of life circumstances outside the classroom – such as poverty – can influence what happens inside the classroom. In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger talk about how those factors impact students’ experiences. Ed and Jennifer respond to a listener’s personal story and inquiry about the effects of poverty on learning. Listen on to hear the question and to find out more about the impact life circumstances can have on learning. And see if you can figure out the solution to this “best of puzzler” about a family tree and a breakfast favorite.

This episode was recorded on January 22, 2016.

Higher Ed: “Fake News” and Formal Education

A bill has been introduced in the California state legislature in 2017 that would add elements to school curricula to teach students to “judge the credibility and quality of information found on Internet Web sites, including social media.” We think we know fake news when we see it, right? Well, maybe not always. In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger answer a listener’s question about the role of formal education in teaching about “fake news.” A listener is curious whether or not it is the job of schools to teach students how to better discern what they read online; and if it is, how schools and teachers could go about doing that. Ed and Jennifer discuss what “fake news” is; why it’s out there; and how students of any age can develop some sense and savvy about what they read online. Listen on for their discussion and to get the solution to last episode’s puzzler about apples and algebra.

This episode was recorded on Feb. 16, 2017.

Higher Ed: “Intellectual Hurt”

In a recent episode of KUT’s podcast “Higher Ed,” Dr. Ed Burger used the phrase “hurt yourself intellectually.” Doesn’t sound like a great idea, does it?! In this episode, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss what that phrase means in relation to our learning and education, and why a little intellectual “hurt” might not actually be the worst thing – as long as it’s done with awareness. Ed contends we can all learn and grow by operating outside our comfort zones, as long as we learn from the experience. Listen on for Ed and Jennifer’s discussion about intellectual hurt and healing, and to hear the latest puzzler – it’s all about give and take.

This episode was recorded on Feb. 19, 2017.