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  • The Challenges and Rewards of Educational Leadership

    The Challenges and Rewards of Educational Leadership
    2024/11/27

    In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, host Kevin Stoller speaks with Dr. David Dumon, the superintendent of Altar Valley School District in Tucson, Arizona. Dr. Dumon shares his background, from his early school experiences and decision to go into education to his current role as a superintendent.

    They discuss the challenges and rewards of educational leadership, the importance of striving for academic excellence while maintaining a supportive environment for students and staff, and the innovative approaches Dr. Dumon has taken to address teacher shortages and community engagement. They also covers Dr. Dumon's career progression, the significance of morning routines, and the impact of external pressures such as school labeling on education.

    Takeaways:

    • The importance of being visible
    • Providing teachers with the skills need to succeed
    • Not everyone ends up in education the same way
    • Community involvement strengthens the school culture
    • There’s more to a school than the labels

    Dr. David Dumon serves as the superintendent of Altar Valley School District. He began his career in 1995 as a social studies teacher at Alhambra School District in Phoenix. In 2000, Dr. Dumon started his administrative career at Surprise Elementary, a K – 8 school, in Dysart Unified School District. He spent the next 14 years in Dysart, most of which was as the principal at Surprise Elementary. His school’s achievements were recognized in 2012 when he was selected for the Arizona School Administrator, Distinguished Administrator Award – Elementary Division and honored as a finalist for the Rodel Exemplary Principal Award.

    As superintendent of Altar Valley, Dr. Dumon has focused on ensuring schools run efficiently and allocating resources appropriately, while always considering what is best for kids. Dr. Dumon is committed to maintaining small class sizes and offering free, full-day pre school and kindergarten. In 2022, Dr. Dumon was awarded the All Arizona Superintendent Award for Small Districts and completed his certification for American Association for School Administrators (AASA) National Superintendent Certification.

    Dr. Dumon is a three-time graduate of Arizona State University where he received his bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. He lives in Tucson with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.

    Follow David Dumon on Social Media:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-dumon-ed-d-3541209/

    X: https://x.com/ddumon1


    Soundbites:
    “What’s one small thing someone can do to change their school?”


    Episode 208 of the Better Learning Podcast


    Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

    For more information on our partners:


    Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

    Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

    Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/

    EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/

    Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/

    Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website
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    40 分
  • Furniture Should Guide Design, Not Follow It

    Furniture Should Guide Design, Not Follow It
    2024/11/20
    Is your furniture shaping the way students learn? In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, host Kevin Stoller welcomes Amanda Hastings, NCIDQ, ALEP, IIDA, Senior Interior Designer at SLAM Collaborative. Together, they dive into the critical role of furniture in shaping educational environments and its impact on students, teachers, and communities. Amanda’s passion for creating dynamic, student-centered learning spaces shines as she shares her approach to furniture design in schools. With nearly two decades of experience and a client-centered philosophy, she emphasizes that furniture should do more than complement design—it should guide it. Takeaways: Furniture should guide the design, not just follow it. Engaging teachers early in the design process is crucial. Quality furniture impacts student learning and engagement. Educating decision-makers on furniture value is essential. Community involvement can drive educational improvements.Building a positive school culture is as important as the physical space. Collaboration among designers, educators, and communities is key. Amanda’s approach to interior design is both thoughtful and deeply client-centered. With almost two decades of experience in designing inclusive environments, she brings a wealth of expertise to her work, particularly in the public-education sector. Amanda’s design philosophy is rooted in connection—she prioritizes building relationships with clients to understand their unique needs and visions and values understanding the "why" behind every design decision. Her designs are conceptually grounded, blending creativity with the personality of the client to create engaging, dynamic spaces where everyone will thrive. Her recent completion of the ALEP program in 2023 was driven by her passion for designing educational environments, and equipped her with expert knowledge and an enhanced desire to not only create student-centered spaces that enrich their learning experience but also to bring this knowledge to the clients and communities she works with. Sound Bites: "Furniture should guide the design, not just follow it." "We need a cultural shift in education." "Seeing furniture in person makes a huge difference." "The furniture world can be confusing." "The transformation of schools is the best part." Follow Amanda Hastings on Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-hastings-shea-ncidq-alep-iida-ba603755/ Learn More About The SLAM Collaborative Website: https://slamcoll.com/ Instagram: theslamcollaborative LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-s-l-a-m-collaborative/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSLAMCollaborativeArchitecture X: https://x.com/SLAMcollab Episode 207 of the Better Learning Podcast Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com. For more information on our partners: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/ Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/ Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/ EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/ Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website Transcript Kevin Stoller (00:06.754) Welcome to the Better Learning Podcast. My name is Kevin Stoller, host of the show, and we're always looking at how we can improve education from a variety of different aspects. We've been really digging into the furniture aspect and how much it impacts the space over some recent episodes, and I've been having a lot of conversations. So that's why my guest today, Amanda Hastings. Amanda, how are you doing? Amanda Hastings Very good. Thank you for having me. Kevin Stoller Yeah. And so why don't you give a little bit of just like your intro and the firm you're with and what your role is. And then we're just going to go back because we were having conversation and that's really I want to get back to really just the conversational part of it. Amanda Hastings I am a senior interior designer at the SLAMM Collaborative based in Connecticut. We have firms all over the country, but mostly the public ed work that we do K-12 schools is in Connecticut and out of our Rhode Island office, Connecticut office. Mostly just Connecticut and Rhode Island are where we focus. I've been working on public ed for most of my career. So probably like the 18 years or so. And again, mostly Connecticut. And yeah, it's become one of those things where I just kind of fell into doing schools because the firm I worked for before did it. And then it just has become a passion of mine where now I solely do K-12 public school work. And it is something that I'm definitely passionate about, like the learning environments and the furniture aspects of that. Last year I ...
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    38 分
  • FF&E Procurement Revisionism Series: Furniture Procurement Doesn’t Have to Be Hard or Scary

    FF&E Procurement Revisionism Series: Furniture Procurement Doesn’t Have to Be Hard or Scary
    2024/11/14

    Are you ready to revolutionize the way your school thinks about furniture?

    In our FF&E Procurement Revisionism Series, we’ll explore how integrating flexible, student-centered furniture into your classroom designs can enhance engagement and foster better learning outcomes. Plus, learn how to overcome the hurdles of traditional procurement processes to streamline the journey from concept to installation.

    Episode 3 of 3: The EXECUTION

    In Episode 3 of the FF&E Procurement Revisionism Series, guest speaker Brad Kiehl demystifies the furniture procurement process, highlighting strategies to make it more efficient and stress-free for schools.

    This episode covers the value of involving furniture dealers early, allowing them to work alongside design teams to ensure alignment between educational goals and furniture needs. Brad explains how early collaboration can help districts avoid common challenges, such as misaligned bids and inconsistent quality, while also simplifying logistics through a single point of contact for delivery and installation.

    Takeaways:

    • Early involvement of furniture dealers
    • Best practices for the procurement process
    • Benefits of cooperative contracts
    • Simplifying delivery and installation through a single point of contact

    Brad Kiehl has been working in the educational community for public and private entities for over 25 years and is currently the Director of Educational Planning for HTK Architects. Over the course of his educational career, brad has gained experience in all phases planning, design, construction and being an owner's representative.

    Follow Brad Kiehl on Social Media:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradkiehl/

    The FF&E Procurement Revisionism Series on the Better Learning Podcast

    Episode 206 of the Better Learning Podcast

    Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

    For more information on our partners:

    Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

    Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

    Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/

    EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/

    Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/

    Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website
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    1 時間
  • FF&E Procurement Revisionism Series: How to Select the Right Solution and Ensure Buy-In

    FF&E Procurement Revisionism Series: How to Select the Right Solution and Ensure Buy-In
    2024/11/14
    Are you ready to revolutionize the way your school thinks about furniture? In our FF&E Procurement Revisionism Series, we’ll explore how integrating flexible, student-centered furniture into your classroom designs can enhance engagement and foster better learning outcomes. Plus, learn how to overcome the hurdles of traditional procurement processes to streamline the journey from concept to installation. Episode 2 of 3: The HOW In Episode 2 of the FF&E Procurement Revisionism Series, guest speaker Carey Upton dives into the critical steps for selecting and integrating the best furniture solutions in schools. This episode covers the essential role of "test-driving" furniture options through workshops and demo products to make well-informed choices that meet classroom needs. Carey also highlights the importance of gathering feedback from teachers and students to ensure the selected furniture enhances learning environments effectively. Takeaways: The importance of trialing furniture before making decisionsEnsuring teacher and student buy-inContinuous professional development and supportGathering and utilizing feedback for continuous improvement We’re thrilled to introduce Aaron Buehring as the co-host for this special three-part series of the Better Learning Podcast. As the Director of Educational Environments at Lionakis, Aaron brings over 15 years of interior design expertise and a unique background as both a professional anthropologist and interior designer. His holistic approach to design—integrating finishes, branding, furniture, art, and lighting—along with his commitment to research-based strategies, positions him as a leading voice in shaping NextGEN learning environments. Aaron’s passion for enhancing how humans interact with space makes him the perfect guide for these thought-provoking discussions on the transformative role of furniture in education. Follow Aaron Buehring on Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-buehring-02473545/ Learn More About Lionakis: https://www.lionakis.com/ Episode Guest: Carey Upton is the Chief Operations Officer with the Santa Monica – Malibu Unified School District where he oversees Facility Improvements, Maintenance & Operations, and Facility Use. His journey to supervising school facilities might seem unconventional having devoted the first part of his work life directing Shakespeare, teaching and managing theaters. Carey’s broad range of experiences has led to a passion for creating engaging learning environments. Carey has overseen modernizing and building new school buildings at the sixteen schools in the district, including the Discovery Building at Santa Monica High School that was short listed for the 2022 World Architectural Festival award. Follow Carey Upton on Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carey-upton-7921764/ The FF&E Procurement Revisionism Series on the Better Learning Podcast Host: Kevin Stoller Co-Host: Aaron Buehring Episode 205 of the Better Learning Podcast Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com. For more information on our partners: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/ Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/ Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/ EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/ Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website
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    51 分
  • FF&E Procurement Revisionism Series: Seeing Furniture as an Active Participant in the Learning Environment

    FF&E Procurement Revisionism Series: Seeing Furniture as an Active Participant in the Learning Environment
    2024/11/14

    Are you ready to revolutionize the way your school thinks about furniture?

    In our FF&E Procurement Revisionism Series, we’ll explore how integrating flexible, student-centered furniture into your classroom designs can enhance engagement and foster better learning outcomes. Plus, learn how to overcome the hurdles of traditional procurement processes to streamline the journey from concept to installation.

    Episode 1 of 3: The WHY

    In our first episode of the series, we explore the transformative impact of considering furniture as an integral part of the learning environment. We have discussions that focus on how movement, student choice, and rapid student-owned solutions drive engagement for both students and teachers.

    Takeaways:

    • The role of furniture in promoting movement and flexibility
    • Success stories from educators who have adopted this approach
    • Early inclusion of furniture in design processes
    • Challenges faced and solutions implemented

    Dr. Lennie Scott-Webber is a Thought leader in the research and design of learning places and space, with a profound belief in the evidence that the design of space matters for learning outcomes, and passionate about the unanswered solutions that leave students behind in their learning.

    Eliza Loyola is a former Elementary School Teacher and Principal at Austin Independent School District in Austin, Texas. She helped lead the rebuild process at the district and was an advocate for change while going through the furniture procurement process during the renovation project.

    Follow Dr. Lennie Scott-Webber on Social Media:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennie-scott-webber-phd-2594a912/

    Follow Eliza Loyola on Social Media:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliza-loyola-0702541b0/

    The FF&E Procurement Revisionism Series on the Better Learning Podcast

    Episode 204 of the Better Learning Podcast

    Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

    For more information on our partners:

    Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

    Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

    Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/

    EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/

    Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/

    Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website
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    42 分
  • Portland Perspectives: Radically Student Centered™ at LearningSCAPES

    Portland Perspectives: Radically Student Centered™ at LearningSCAPES
    2024/11/06
    At this year’s LearningSCAPES conference in Portland, our team at the Better Learning Podcast had the incredible opportunity to sit down with a diverse group of educators, architects, designers, and thought leaders from across the nation. We wanted to get to the heart of what "Radically Student Centered™" means from different perspectives, so we asked all our guests two key questions: What does Radically Student Centered mean to you?How does that phrase apply to the work you do every day? The answers we received in this compilation episode were as varied and insightful as the guests themselves, each highlighting unique ways the concept of centering students drives innovation in education. Our guests included: Chuck Saylors Vice President, JM Cope Construction Rosemary Park Educational Planner, SMMA Abby Dacey Architectural Principal, Mahlum Architects Andy Cottrill Associate Principal, Hutteball + Oremus Architecture Séamus Kelly Associate Principal, Mithun Laura Durgerian Senior Associate, Mithun Jeffrey Mann Facilities Planner, Bethel School District Brian Parker Vice President / K12 Director, MHTN Architects Tina McKone Project Manager, DLR Group Meredith Watassek Senior Educational Planner, Stantec Architect Irene Nigaglioni President, IN2 Architecture, Inc. Andy L'Esperance Director of School Projects, Goode Van Slyke Architecture Sean O'Donnell Principal + K12 Practice Area Leader, Perkins Eastman Wayne Reynaud Principal / Texas K-12 Practice Leader, HKS, Inc. Sarah Knize Associate Principal, Ratcliff Leonardo Gonzalez Sangri Global Practice Director for Education, HKS, Inc. Ken Crawford Executive Director of Support Services and Athletics, Ogden City School District Sandi Massey Chief of Leadership and Professional Development, Houston Independent School District Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com. Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/. For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/ Episode 203 of the Better Learning Podcast Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com. For more information on our partners: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/ Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/ Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/ EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/ Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website
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    53 分
  • Lessons for New School Leaders

    Lessons for New School Leaders
    2024/10/30
    Are you a new school leader wondering how to create learning spaces that truly engage students and foster success? In the latest episode of the Better Learning Podcast, Dr. David Cupolo, principal of St. James Intermediate School, shares valuable insights on the profound impact of school design on student engagement. In his conversation with Kevin Stoller, Dr. Cupolo highlights how thoughtful learning environments can transform education and offers essential lessons for new leaders navigating this journey. Dr. Cupolo also explores how instructional leaders can drive change by focusing on both physical spaces and the school culture. He underscores the idea that a well-designed building must be paired with a culture that prioritizes student growth and active listening. When students feel heard and supported, they thrive in environments that encourage collaboration, exploration, and a genuine sense of excitement for learning. For new school leaders, this episode is filled with actionable tips, from the importance of understanding the "why" behind school design decisions to embracing flexibility in both space and teaching. Whether you're aiming to enhance student agency, foster collaborative learning, or simply reimagine your school's layout, this conversation provides the guidance you need to take the first steps. Takeaways: Schools should be designed with the needs of students in mind.Creating engaging learning environments can reduce boredom and increase student success.Student agency is essential for effective learning.Research can guide the design and use of educational spaces.It's important to reflect on the 'why' behind educational practices.Building a positive school culture is as important as the physical space.Listening to students can provide valuable insights into their learning experiences.Homework often has minimal impact on student learning outcomes. Dr. David Cupolo has 18 years of experience in educational leadership as a building principal, including eight years at a cutting-edge, non-traditional facility; I offer a blend of practical experience and academic insight. Recently, I earned a Ph.D., during which my dissertation research delved into how instructional leaders understand and engage with the concept of 'learning thrill,' utilizing a framework developed by esteemed educational researcher John Hattie. The results of my research have profound implications for the design and renovation of school facilities and classrooms, highlighting crucial conditions that facilitate learning. I have presented on the topic of flexible learning environments at various conferences, most notably at three Association for Learning Environment (A4LE) Conferences, including the 2024 Southeast Region Conference this past April. Sound Bites: "You can have beautiful buildings and be an ugly culture." "Kids want to collaborate and explore." "We need to trust kids and listen to them." "Learning thrill can be developed in schools." Follow David Cupolo on Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-cupolo-6b4a1623/ Read David's Article Designing for Learning Thrill Spaces4Learning Article: https://spaces4learning.com/Articles/2024/07/09/Designing-for-Learning-Thrill.aspx Episode 202 of the Better Learning Podcast Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com. For more information on our partners: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/ Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/ Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/ EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/ Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website Kevin Stoller (00:07.454) It's another episode of the Better Learning Podcast. I am excited about our guests today because we talk a lot about furniture and use and we can talk about it from like the designers and from the architects and what we do supporting education from the outside. But it's always good to get the perspective of the principals and the ones that are actually like using the spaces and hearing from the teachers and the students and being able to have that lens to it. So I'm excited to bring in Dr. David Capolo. I screwed it up, I? Did I announce it? Did I pronounce it? David Cupolo It's Koo-pal-o! It's all good. Kevin Stoller Yep, and he's a principal at St. James Intermediate School in Horry County in South Carolina. Just for the audience, because I'll give you a little behind the scenes, I'm horrible at pronunciation and making sure I do it. And whenever I get it stuck in my head, it's so hard to switch it. David Cupolo It's why I don't read names at award ceremonies. Kevin Stoller I know because I'll get it stuck and I'm afraid ...
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    40 分
  • Addressing a Multi-Billion Dollar Challenge

    Addressing a Multi-Billion Dollar Challenge
    2024/10/23
    In the latest episode of the Better Learning Podcast, host Kevin Stoller dives into a thought-provoking discussion with experts Bruce Levine, Sean O'Donnell, and Heather Jauregui on the profound connection between education and design. The episode unpacks how collaboration between architects and educators can reshape school environments, positively influencing student outcomes and community engagement. Takeaways: Education policy and design can significantly impact student outcomes.Collaboration between architects and educators is essential for effective school design.Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) plays a crucial role in student comfort and performance.Modernized schools positively influence community perception and engagement.Investment in school facilities is an investment in the future of communities.Research supports the connection between school design and educational outcomes.Schools should be designed to be inviting and supportive learning environments.Advocating for funding is critical to improving educational facilities. Bruce Levine, J.D., from Drexel University, highlights the role of education policy and design in shaping the future of communities. Sean O'Donnell, of Perkins Eastman, sees schools as the heart of community life, advocating for the integration of civic architecture with sustainable, high-performing design. Heather Jauregui adds to the conversation with her passion for sustainability, emphasizing how the wellness of students and the planet are intertwined in the design of resilient schools. The impact of modernized versus non-modernized schools, drawing from the Latrobe research study: https://perkinseastman.com/white-papers/addressing-a-multi-billion-dollar-challenge/ Sound Bites: "My school experience is different than what I aspire to create." "Schools are community assets." Follow Bruce Levine on Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-a-levine-91667b6/ Follow Sean O'Donnell on Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-odonnell-faia-leed-ap-perkinseastman/ Follow Heather Jauregui on Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-jauregui-61929269/ Learn More About Perkins Eastman: Website: https://www.mpsaz.org/ Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com. Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/. For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/ Episode 201 of the Better Learning Podcast Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com. For more information on our partners: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/ Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/ Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/ EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/ Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website
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    47 分