LA PUENTE, CA – Interest in a tech podcast launched a year ago by two Bassett Unified School District teacher specialists skyrocketed in November, after the duo led a series of presentations at tech conferences across California.

The podcast, “TOSAs Talking Tech,” focuses on technology integration in the classroom. It was created by Bassett Unified’s Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSA) Tom Covington and Michael Jephcott, who started the podcast as a way to directly reach district educators with busy schedules.

“The tech innovations we are implementing at Bassett Unified are catching the attention of school districts throughout the state,” Covington said. “Mike and I are networking with hundreds of educators who are coming away excited about all the good things happening at Bassett.”

“TOSAs Talking Tech” – which is also available as a screencast – helps teachers navigate tech problems and offers step-by-step instruction on digital tools that can enhance teaching methods and student learning. The podcast complements the Bassett Innovation Center, which provides a space for ongoing workshops and training for teachers, staff and parents.

Singled out for their expertise, Covington and Jephcott were invited to present at three separate October conferences sponsored by Computers-Using Educators (CUE), a technology advocacy group based in Walnut Creek. At the gatherings, the duo has been touting the rapid progress of Bassett Unified tech initiatives, including the code writing pilot program recently introduced at Sunkist Elementary School.

As a result, the monthly downloads for “TOSAs Talking Tech” quadrupled to over 400 in November.

“We try to stress the benefits of not only utilizing tech innovations in the classrooms, but also how to market these programs throughout school districts,” Covington said. “What we have been finding is a lot of enthusiasm from teachers and fellow TOSAs, who are eager to learn about coding and drones and just about every aspect of tech that can be assimilated in school curriculums.”

Covington and Jephcott have been invited to present at the National CUE conference to be held in March 2017 in Palm Springs, where they will perform a two-hour podcasting demo in the main hallway Poster Session.

“We are committed to providing each student the opportunity to pursue an education equipped with the digital tools necessary to compete in college and career,” Bassett Unified Superintendent Dr. Alex J. Rojas said. “Across the state, educators will see the technological innovation with Bassett Unified School District, thanks to the hard work of Mr. Covington and Mr. Jephcott.”

PHOTOS:

122116_BASSETT_TOSASPODCAST: Bassett Unified School District’s Technology Integration Specialists Michael Jephcott (right) and Tom Covington (center) were invited to present at three separate October conferences sponsored by Computers-Using Educators (CUE), a technology advocacy group based in Walnut Creek.