The What & Who of Edu

Recent Episodes

This Is a Test? 10 Untraditional Ways to Assess Learning

What if the best way to know whether a student understands something isn't a test at all? In the latest episode 10 educators share untraditional assessment strategies that ask students to apply what they know instead of just recalling it. We're talking bathroom stall posters on GMOs, an upper-level genetics escape room, chemistry demonstration videos, a campus-as-case-study economics assignment, and more. This Is a Test? looks at what happens when instructors get specific about what they actually want to see and build the assessment backward from there.

S2 Episode 13 · September 2, 2026

Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTube

10 Ways to Build Student Trust Early On. No Trust Falls Required.

What makes a student trust an instructor in week one, before there's any grade, feedback, or office-hours crisis to go on? Usually, it's not one big moment; rather, a handful of small, visible signals like showing up prepared, being reachable online, admitting a mistake, learning a name. This episode offers 10 practical ideas instructors can use without needing to rebuild their an entire course.

S2 Episode 12 · August 19, 2026

Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTube

AI in the Classroom: What's Working, What's Not, and What Instructors Are Still Figuring Out

AI in education is no longer a future-tense conversation. It is already in the classroom, in the syllabus, in student workflows, and increasingly in the questions instructors are asking about assessment, academic integrity, and what teaching strategies they’re supposed to use now. From moving past fantasy bans to redesigning assignments that still hold up, this episode offers practical teaching strategies, real classroom stories, and a calmer way to think about AI without the hype or panic.

S2 Episode 11 · June 17, 2026

Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTube

Why Students Go Quiet and 10 Instructor-Approved Class Discussion Strategies That Actually Work

If class discussion has ever felt like blank stares, dead air, and one brave student doing all the heavy lifting, this episode is for you. We unpack 10 teaching strategies educators can use to spark better class discussions, increase student participation, and build stronger classroom engagement. From small groups and low-stakes writing to current events, icebreakers, and prompts that feel more like life than homework, these instructor-approved classroom strategies are practical, thoughtful, and easy to picture in real teaching.

S2 Episode 10 · June 5, 2026

Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTube

About Us

The What & Who of EDU is a podcast built for educators who are navigating the real challenges of teaching today. Each episode features practical strategies, research-backed insights, and candid conversations with instructors, authors, and education experts. From classroom confidence and AI in education to critical thinking, assessment, and belonging, we focus on what’s actually working across subjects, levels, and learning environments.

Produced by Macmillan Learning, the podcast highlights our continued focus on sharing useful, research-informed strategies that help educators support student learning, wherever and however it happens.

Your Hosts

Marisa Bluestone (she/her)

With more than 20 years of experience shaping conversations and telling brand stories, Marisa Bluestone is an award-winning communications leader passionate about the power of education, learning, and publishing. As Senior Director of Communications at Macmillan Learning, she helps elevate voices that inspire learning and spark change. When she’s not crafting compelling narratives, you’ll find her attempting Pilates, traveling, or getting lost in the Cosmere and other literary worlds. In The What and Who of EDU, Marisa brings her storytelling expertise to the mic—leading insightful conversations with thought leaders, educators, and innovators shaping the future of learning.

LaShawn Springer (she/her)

LaShawn Springer is the Director of Inclusive Pedagogy at Macmillan Learning, sitting on the newly formed Pedagogical Design Group Team (PDG). PDG aims to shape a future where education is transformative, equitable, and accessible for all, a thru thread in LaShawn's career. With over 15 years of experience in higher education and secondary schools (and a brief stint in the tech space), she has served in a variety of administrative roles, organizing, leading and facilitating workshops, training and symposia for students, faculty and staff. A central question for LaShawn has always been what kind of young person are we graduating into the world, making it imperative that we think about not just the content we endeavor to teach but also what type of learning environments we're cultivating for our students. She's excited to bring these conversations to listeners as she digs into a range of pedagogical practices educators are employing to support their students' development. LaShawn is a graduate of Wesleyan University and Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Host Firstname Lastname

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec vel ligula id libero pharetra tincidunt. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec vel ligula id libero pharetra tincidunt. Sed ut dui ut lorem euismod commodo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec vel ligula id libero pharetra tincidunt. Sed ut dui ut lorem euismod commodo.

The What & Who of EDU

Latest

Phones, FOMO and Focus: 10 Ways to Reclaim Student Attention

Recent Episodes

This Is a Test? 10 Untraditional Ways to Assess Learning

10 Ways to Build Student Trust Early On. No Trust Falls Required.

AI in the Classroom: What's Working, What's Not, and What Instructors Are Still Figuring Out

Why Students Go Quiet and 10 Instructor-Approved Class Discussion Strategies That Actually Work

Listen to More Episodes

About Us

Your Hosts

Marisa Bluestone (she/her)

LaShawn Springer (she/her)

Host Firstname Lastname

Host Firstname Lastname

Producer Firstname Lastname

Producer Firstname Lastname

Producer Firstname Lastname

Contact