In this special edition of the UCET Podcast, host Kiera Beddes interviews Teacher Fellow and UCET board member Stacey King, who shares her background in family consumer sciences, math education, learning and technology, and computer science, along with her passion for using technology to solve problems. Stacy describes three essential elements of an ideal classroom: an engaged teacher, engaged students, and sufficient support from parents and administrators. Connecting to the UCET Elements conference theme, she relates most to “Spark,” emphasizing transformative strategies with emerging tech, but stresses that technology should be chosen to meet a specific instructional need and remain grounded in evidence-based pedagogy. She reflects on how technology has expanded options for differentiation, streamlined teacher workflows, and removed barriers through tools like Canvas and individualized videos, while noting that human connection and qualified teachers remain timeless. The episode closes with Stacy’s advice for first-time conference attendees: focus on one need and leave with one or two actionable takeaways rather than trying to implement everything at once.
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 sits down with Stacey King, a Logan native, Utah State University alum, and a powerhouse in the Utah edtech community. With a diverse background ranging from math and family consumer sciences to computer science, Stacey brings a unique "problem-solver" lens to the classroom.
Stacey breaks down her three essential elements for a thriving classroom: an engaged teacher, engaged students, and robust support from parents and administrators. She also shares her wisdom from 13 years of online teaching, discussing how tools like Canvas and individualized video can bridge gaps for students and remove barriers to learning.
UCET Elements
While the UCET conference features four distinct strands—Spark, Amplify, Flow, and Grounded—Stacey finds her strongest connection with Spark.
Focusing on emerging tech and transformative strategies, she offers a vital reminder: technology should never be used for its own sake. For Stacey, the "Spark" must always be purposeful, meeting specific instructional needs while remaining firmly Grounded in evidence-based pedagogy. She reflects on how tech has streamlined the "backend" of teaching and provided new avenues for differentiation, all while maintaining that the human connection remains the most timeless element of all.
Episode Timeline
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.