Welcome to Activated Learning, a Podcast produced by Blue Ridge PBS in partnership with the Virginia Department of Education and in collaboration with the Virginia Society for Technology in Education. In each episode, host Tom Landon, Director of Educational Innovation for Blue Ridge PBS, talks to leading educators about what gets them energized and excited as we tell stories of using technology to inspire student engagement.
Season Three will feature conversations with national leaders in blended learning, award winning teachers, librarians, and guests from the Virginia Department of Education and VSTE. Recorded on location around the Commonwealth and in the Blue Ridge PBS podcast studio, ActiVAtED Learning's goal is to demystify instructional technology for teachers, parents and administrators.
New episodes will be released every two weeks beginning January 21, 2026. Check them out here or on ECHO. Also available on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music.
Seasons One and Two are available in our online archives, on the ECHO Channel and wherever you get your podcasts.
Coming Up On Season Three!
February 18: Episode 304 Listen Watch
How eSports Can Level the Playing Field for Rural Schools, and VSTE Kid Talks
One highlight of the annual VSTE Conference held each December is a chance to meet students as they model best practices for technology integration. This year we caught up with several girls using coding to learn about habitats, kids studying wind power, and podcast producers to talk to them about what they've learned through technology. Next we traveled to Galax in Southwest Virginia to meet an eSports team that's exceeding expectations as they compete against other teams from around the state.
March 4: Episode 305 Listen Watch
A Simple Way to Help Students with Dyslexia
It's not always obvious when a student has a learning disability like dyslexia, especially when it's a smart and well-behaved child, like Micah Vanover. His dad Daniel is an ITRT in Wise County, and mom Katie is a reading specialist in nearby Lee County, but neither really noticed that Micah struggled with reading until they witnessed it themselves during the remote learning era at the start of COVID. They came up with an innovative solution by turning to audio books to help Micah follow the printed words as he read and listened. You won't want to miss this inspiring episode.
March 18: Episode 306 Listen Watch
Leading with Compassion with Dr. Kim Richardson
Dr. Kim Richardson has had a long career in Hampton, VA as a teacher, coach and administrator, and host Tom Landon caught up with her at the Virginia Society of Technology in Education's annual conference in Virginia Beach where they spoke before a live audience about coaching, continuous learning, and what she's learned about leadership.
MORE TO COME...
Check out earlier episodes
SEASON THREE PREMIERE! Listen Watch
40 Years of VSTE, 20 Years of ITRTs
As the Virginia Society for Technology in Education turns 40, we thought it would be great to talk to two folks who have seen the organization grow from their positions as some of the original Instructional Technology Resource Teachers, or ITRTs. Meg Swecker from Roanoke County and Jude Raffeinner from Carroll County join host Tom Landon for the season 3 premiere of ActiVAtED Learning.
Episode 302 Listen Watch
Meet the 2026 Virginia Teacher of the Year, Matthew Neale
Meet Matt Neale from Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke County. In May of 2025, Mr. Neale was named the 2026 Virginia Teacher of the Year. To learn more about the Teacher of the Year program, visit WWW.DOE.VIRGINIA.GOV
Episode 303 Listen Watch
How to Use AI to Improve Instruction (and how NOT to!)
Patrick Hausammann from Clarke County prides himself on keeping up with leading edge instructional technology, which is what led him to become an expert on best practices when it comes to Artificial Intelligence in the classroom and how to use it to streamline lesson planning and reduce the time and effort it takes to differentiate instruction for all learners. Host Tom Landon sat down with him at the 2025 Tech Splash event in Abingdon to learn more.