<![CDATA[The Detour Degree]]>
nnekamcgee.substack.com]]>https://nnekamcgee.substack.com/podcastSubstackTue, 11 Aug 2026 09:07:28 GMThttps://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/2750201.rssNneka McGeeMusings on education, edtech, and emerging technologies.episodicNneka McGeennekamcgee@substack.comNo<![CDATA[Jobs are Jeopardized: An AI in Education Conversation with Ayo Jones]]>Ayo Jones, M.Ed., is an AI strategist, author, and keynote speaker who helps education leaders stop surviving disruption and start chasing it. She spent more than twenty years as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and education leader before founding Belonging Labs, where she developed the Seven Seas of Cognition framework and the SHiFT System, a methodology for AI adoption used by educators and organizational leaders across institutional and corporate sectors.

A twice-published author and a 2026 TEDx speaker, Ayo has appeared as a keynote and featured speaker at GaETC, TCEA, TCCA, and the Pan African AI and Innovation Summit. She has been featured on HBO Max, NPR, BBC, Al Jazeera, and GBC News.

She relocated her family to Accra, Ghana in 2020 and speaks to US and global audiences from that vantage point. Find your path to higher ground at ayojones.com.

Social Handles

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-ayo-jones/

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/theayojones/

YouTube: @ExpatLifeGhana (https://www.youtube.com/expatlifeghana)

Website: AyoJones.com and BelongingLabs.com 



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nnekamcgee.substack.com]]>https://nnekamcgee.substack.com/p/jobs-are-jeopardized-an-ai-in-educationsubstack:post:202305434Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:18:27 GMTNneka McGeeNo3238<![CDATA[Purpose is Paramount: An AI in Education Conversation with Dr. Tara Nattrass]]>Purpose is a simple word with a complicated job. It gives meaning to our actions, shapes our decisions, and helps us determine what matters most when the path ahead is uncertain. And in this episode of The Detour Degree, purpose becomes a lens for understanding AI in education—moving beyond questions of privacy alone to ask what schools are ultimately trying to achieve. Today, Dr. Tara Nattrass joins us to explore why the risks we accept, the tools we adopt, and the policies we create all begin with a deeper question: What is this for?



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nnekamcgee.substack.com]]>https://nnekamcgee.substack.com/p/purpose-is-paramount-an-ai-in-educationsubstack:post:201324316Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:25:39 GMTNneka McGeeNo3314<![CDATA[Nuance is Necessary | An AI Conversation with Rachel Lugo (Episode 01.02)]]>A detour is not a dead end. It is a bend in the road, a shift in direction, a moment that asks us to pay attention. And in this episode of The Detour Degree, the detour becomes a metaphor for the nuance of implementing AI in education—where promise meets pressure, innovation meets caution, and educators are asked to lead before all the answers are clear. Today, Rachel Lugo joins us to explore what it means to move through the complexity with care, keeping students, teachers, and human judgment at the center of the road ahead.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nnekamcgee.substack.com]]>https://nnekamcgee.substack.com/p/nuance-is-necessary-an-conversationsubstack:post:200328979Tue, 02 Jun 2026 20:00:00 GMTNneka McGeeNo256521full<![CDATA[The Pitch of Podcasting]]>In music, pitch is all about finding the right note. In podcasting, it’s about striking the right chord with audiences. In this episode of The Detour Degree, we explore how podcasting can become a tool for amplifying voices in education. From student storytelling to professional development, discover how leveraging the power of podcasting can turn listeners into learners.

Dr. Alfonso Mendoza is a recent doctoral graduate and seasoned educator dedicated to shaping the future of learning through thoughtful integration of technology. As host of the well-known “My EdTech Life” podcast, he amplifies educator voices and explores the real-world impact of emerging tools in education. Dr. Mendoza brings a balanced, cautious perspective that empowers educators to navigate innovation with purpose and integrity.

Link to My EdTech Life: https://www.myedtech.life



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nnekamcgee.substack.com]]>https://nnekamcgee.substack.com/p/the-pitch-of-podcastingsubstack:post:170811946Tue, 12 Aug 2025 18:42:57 GMTNneka McGeeNo4440<![CDATA[The Meter of Mathematics]]>Like rhythm in a song, early math lays the foundation for everything that follows. In this episode of The Detour Degree, we explore how one innovative initiative is helping young learners find their flow with numbers. From counting beats to building confidence, discover how math in early childhood can be both structured and stimulating.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nnekamcgee.substack.com]]>https://nnekamcgee.substack.com/p/the-meter-of-mathematicssubstack:post:170206646Tue, 05 Aug 2025 20:24:15 GMTNneka McGeeNo4736<![CDATA[The Quaver of Quantum]]>In music, a quaver is a fleeting note—brief, delicate, full of motion. In language, it means to tremble or waver. And in this episode of The Detour Degree, quaver becomes a metaphor for the strange, powerful world of quantum computing—where particles dance between states, reality blurs, and possibility vibrates at the tiniest scales. Today, we explore how students can find harmony in uncertainty and why the next generation of learners might be quantum by design.

Follow Temitope Adeniyi on LinkedIn.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nnekamcgee.substack.com]]>https://nnekamcgee.substack.com/p/the-quaver-of-quantumsubstack:post:166912300Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:24:36 GMTNneka McGeeNo2410<![CDATA[The Groove of Gardening]]>What if the best classroom had no walls—just soil, sunlight, and endless possibility? In this episode of The Detour Degree, we explore how gardening can grow more than vegetables. It grows curiosity, resilience, and real-world learning. From planting seeds to sparking minds, this is education rooted in nature.

Denise “Niesy” Dunn is a passionate garden enthusiast, content creator, and advocate for nature-based wellness. Through her vibrant social media presence and community-centered endeavors, she inspires people to reconnect with the land, find peace through plants, and see gardening as both a healing practice and a dynamic educational tool. Her platform blends storytelling, science, and soul, reminding us that growth—whether in gardens or in life—often starts with getting our hands a little dirty.

Learn more from Niesy Dunn:

* YouTube

* TikTok



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nnekamcgee.substack.com]]>https://nnekamcgee.substack.com/p/the-groove-of-gardeningsubstack:post:166745107Tue, 24 Jun 2025 17:42:45 GMTNneka McGeeNo252716full<![CDATA[The Melody of Microschools]]>What happens when you shrink the classroom but expand the possibilities? In this episode of The Detour Degree, we’re diving into the world of microschools—small, flexible, learner-centered spaces that are flipping the script on traditional education. Let’s explore how big change often starts small.

Kunal Dalal is the Administrator of AI and Innovation at the Orange County Department of Education, supporting 28 school districts in integrating AI into K-12 education. A former wilderness guide, principal, and tech entrepreneur, he holds master’s degrees from Harvard and UC Berkeley. He founded the award-winning company Accidentally Extraordinary and later co-founded generativEDUCATION. Author of *The AI Parent*, Dalal champions human-centered AI in education. He sits on the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland board and has recently launched his new movement, AI Parentology, committed to using AI to elevate human potential in parenting and learning.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nnekamcgee.substack.com]]>https://nnekamcgee.substack.com/p/the-melody-of-microschoolssubstack:post:166194569Tue, 17 Jun 2025 23:16:25 GMTNneka McGeeNo4169<![CDATA[The Vibe of Virtual Reality]]>For more information about OptimaEd and the Optima Academy Online at https://www.optimaacademy.online



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nnekamcgee.substack.com]]>https://nnekamcgee.substack.com/p/the-vibe-of-virtual-realitysubstack:post:165848593Fri, 13 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMTNneka McGeeNo259614<![CDATA[The Harmony of Hackathons]]>Chinat Yu is a researcher, educator, and founder passionate about reimagining education through generative AI and hands-on, project-based learning. He holds a master’s degree in Learning, Design and Technology from Stanford University and has led initiatives like Quest2Learn and MentorMates to help students learn by building. Chinat has spoken at AIxEducation and the Johns Hopkins DELTA Symposium, and was named a Top 50 MLH Hacker for his impact on student innovation.

Learn more about Chinat's work:

Quest2Learn: https://www.q2l.app/

Mentor Mates: https://www.mentor-mates.com/

MLH Top 50: https://top.mlh.io/2023/profiles/chinat-yu

Johns Hopkins Life Hacker: https://engineering.jhu.edu/magazine/2023/05/hopkins-life-hacker/

Johns Hopkins ITGL Hackathon: https://ventures.jhu.edu/news/pava-center-continues-to-deepen-relationship-with-the-school-of-education/

Stanford AI + Learning differences Hackathon: https://acceleratelearning.stanford.edu/conference/ai-learning-differences-hackathon/



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nnekamcgee.substack.com]]>https://nnekamcgee.substack.com/p/the-harmony-of-hackathonssubstack:post:165490928Sun, 08 Jun 2025 20:24:28 GMTNneka McGeeNo236922full<![CDATA[The Sound of STEM]]>Episode 1: The Sound of STEM

A Conversation with Stephanie Matthews about Jazz Lab™

Release Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 12 pm ET

Stephanie Matthews is the Executive Director of A Tribe for Jazz and creator of Jazz Lab™, a program fusing music, STEM, and emotional growth. A producer and award-winning photographer, she advances jazz through education, film, and innovation—driving equity and impact.

Jazz Lab™ Mobile PilotPowered by the Battelle Central Ohio STEM Grant

Jazz Lab™ Mobile is a traveling, hands-on STEM experience for students ages 9–14, blending music and science to inspire curiosity and creativity. Designed for elementary and middle school students, this innovative out-of-school program brings high-impact learning directly to communities with limited access to STEM resources.

Jazz Lab™ Webpage

WOSU Profile: Jazz Lab™



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nnekamcgee.substack.com]]>https://nnekamcgee.substack.com/p/the-sound-of-stemsubstack:post:165119658Tue, 03 Jun 2025 18:45:00 GMTNneka McGeeNo333811full