Welcome to the Modern Classrooms Project Podcast. Each week we bring you discussions with educators on how they use blended, self-paced, and mastery-based learning to better serve their learners. In this episode, Zach Diamond is joined by Alyshahn Kara-Virani, co-founder of GooseChase, to discuss how the platform can be used to enhance the classroom experience.

GooseChase, initially a scavenger hunt platform, has evolved into a versatile tool that can be used to create interactive learning experiences. The conversation emphasizes GooseChase's self-paced nature allows students to work at their own pace, while teachers can monitor progress and provide targeted feedback. This personalized approach can help students develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Here are three key takeaways from this podcast episode:

• GooseChase as a Tool for Blended Learning: GooseChase can be used to blend digital and physical learning experiences. By creating interactive missions, teachers can extend classroom learning beyond the classroom walls, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

• Gamification and Experience: While gamification can be a powerful tool, it's essential to focus on creating meaningful experiences. GooseChase balances gamification elements like leaderboards and points with a focus on real-world application and collaboration.

• The Power of Social Learning: GooseChase's social features, such as the news feed and leaderboards, encourage peer-to-peer learning and collaboration. This fosters a sense of community and motivates students to strive for excellence. Alyshahn shares, “The social component of GooseChase is critical to the success of the activation. Because without diving too deep into human psychology, I think there's a fundamental desire for people to see themselves in others and to see others in themselves, right? So it's like you have a lot of people that if somebody else is doing something, we'll do it as well."

GooseChase also emphasizes the importance of real-world application and collaboration. Teachers can create missions that require students to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios, promoting deeper understanding.

Discussion questions for PLC and PD: 

• How can GooseChase be integrated into your existing curriculum to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes?

• What are the potential challenges and limitations of using GooseChase in the classroom?

• How can GooseChase be used to foster collaboration and communication among students?

Our Host

Zach Diamond studied Music History and Theory at Oberlin College and received a Masters of Music in Music Education from Boston University. He taught music for five years in Lima, Peru, and is currently a Middle School music teacher at DC International School, a language-immersion school where he teaches in Spanish. He began implementing the Modern Classrooms Model in the 19-20 School Year and enthusiastically continues his work with the organization as a mentor and podcast producer.

Our Guest: Alyshahn Kara-Virani

Alyshahn Kara-Virani (He/Him) is the Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer at interactive experience platform, GooseChase. He is a data-driven leader with a passion for connecting people, making things happen, and doing it all with a hearty sense of humor. He's all about optimizing experiences to improve memory creation and learning outcomes.

When he’s not honking about GooseChase, he’s looking for ways to spend time with his husky Zoey or teeing it up at golf courses around the world.

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