In this episode of the UCET Podcast, host Kiera Beddes continues the mini series on the essential elements of education tied to the UCET Elements theme and welcomes guest David Blake, a longtime educator in Box Elder School District and the district’s ed tech coordinator, as well as a UCET board member. David shares his key elements of a great classroom, emphasizing strong student connections and meaningful engagement through frequent opportunities for students to respond, including support for students who may be hesitant to speak up. He explains how classroom dialogue and vulnerability help build trust and deepen learning, drawing parallels to the UCET theme-setting process. Reflecting on the conference elements, David highlights Spark for discovering new ideas and Amplify as his favorite for strengthening effective instructional practices with the right tools. He also discusses how technology has changed teaching by improving presentation, chunking learning, assessment, and rapid feedback, while noting that core factors like teacher collective efficacy and student relationships remain essential. The episode closes with David’s UCET conference tip: attend with a friend or mentor, make time to decompress, and talk through how to apply what you learn.
Welcome back to the UCET podcast, where we talk all things Utah, education, and technology. In this special series, we ask the following questions to our featured guests:
The Conversation
In this episode, host Kiera Beddes welcomes David (Dave) Blake, the EdTech Coordinator for Box Elder School District. With 23 years of experience in education and serving his second year on the UCET board, Dave brings a wealth of knowledge on how technology integrates with high-quality instruction.
Dave outlines his three essential elements for a great classroom: strong student connections, high student engagement, and frequent opportunities for students to respond. He emphasizes the importance of creating space for hesitant speakers and the power of "messy learning," where vulnerability and collaboration lead to multiple paths toward an answer.
UCET Elements
When discussing the UCET conference theme, Dave notes that while Spark resonates with his love for discovering new ideas, Amplify is his true favorite. He believes UCET’s greatest strength is its focus on lead-class instructional practices first, using technology as the tool to enhance and elevate those methods.
Reflecting on the evolution of the classroom—from simple whiteboards to modern displays—Dave highlights how tech has allowed for faster, "chunked" instruction and immediate feedback. However, he maintains that teacher collective efficacy and human relationships remain the core, unchanging elements of successful schooling.
Episode Timeline
00:00 Welcome to the UCET Podcast + Mini-Series on the Elements of Education
00:32 Meet David Blake: From Math Teacher to District EdTech Coordinator
01:06 Behind the Scenes at UCET: Board Service & the Rural Education Voice
02:04 David’s Essential Elements of a Great Classroom: Connection, Engagement, Responding
04:00 Messy Learning Done Right: Vulnerability, Collaboration, and Multiple Paths
06:08 Which UCET Element Fits Best? Spark vs. Amplify (and Why Amplify Wins)
08:23 How Tech Has Changed Teaching vs. What Never Changes
10:34 UCET Conference Survival Tips: Go With a Friend, Reflect, and Decompress
12:02 Final Thanks & Wrap-Up
Conference Details
This year's conference is March 16 & March 17th at the Salt Palace. Our theme is "UCET Elements." If you want to attend the UCET conference as a vendor, or as an attendee, you can find more info at: ucet.org/conference/
Special thanks to Kayla Towner for the podcast producing & editing and Kiera Beddes for hosting.