Episode 330: Tisha Poncio & Rick Butterworth

Digital Portfolios, Feedback Culture, and Rethinking Readiness with Tisha Poncio and Rick Butterworth In Episode 330 of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Tisha Poncio and Rick Butterworth, authors of Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders. This conversation is all about transforming classrooms by prioritizing neurodiversity, digital portfolios, and building real-world readiness through entrepreneurial thinking. We dig into what it really means to shift from compliance-based learning to authentic student voice, how educators can reframe feedback, and why every learner deserves space to reflect, create, and grow. Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome and intros  03:10 – Tisha and Rick’s origin story  06:35 – The real message behind Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders 10:45 – What digital portfolios can unlock in the classroom 14:20 – Why feedback culture needs to change 19:00 – Classroom examples of student voice in action 25:10 – Rick’s take on workplace readiness and how schools miss the mark 29:40 – Branding, identity, and giving students ownership 35:15 – Practical steps to empower neurodivergent learners 42:50 – Why educators should embrace their inner entrepreneur 50:00 – The question: “What’s your EduKryptonite?” 58:00 – Closing thoughts and reflection 🛠️ Learn more about Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders: Inspire Your Students to Succeed in School and Beyond.  🙏 Big thanks to our sponsors for supporting meaningful conversations in education:  Book Creator, Eduaide.ai, and Yellowdig 🎧 Listen to more episodes at: https://www.myedtech.life/ Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission. See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today! Support the show