Josh Keidan

Josh Keidan is a Toledo-based expert in education with a love for helping students at every level. As a former Peace Corp volunteer, Josh has seen firsthand the importance of getting out and experiencing different ways of being and thinking.

Josh Keidan began his academic career at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, from which he received both his Bachelor and Master of Arts in English Language and Literature. Even as these programs afforded him the opportunity to delve into classic and more obscure literary works, and to develop expertise on 19th-century literature, 20th-century poetry, and fantasy and science fiction, Josh found himself becoming even more intrigued with how learning works.

This led him to pursue a career in education; he has taught at virtually every level and subject area, from leading science camps for preschoolers to nature education and cooking programs at summer camps, to teaching English, filmmaking, creative writing, and songwriting at the high school level, to teaching courses for teachers, training college instructors, and teaching ESL to children and adults at every age and experience level. Through it all, he has worked to gain a deep understanding of how learning works, and how educators, trainers, and teachers can work best to support that learning.

During his tenure as an educator, Josh took to exploring different methodologies that teachers took to teaching their students, as well as how students learned the information provided to them. It was this exploration that lead him to the principles and practices of improvisational theater — in which plot, characters, and other vital information are created on the spot by the actors — to foster such learning. Such techniques bring participants fully into the moment of the activity, and ask them to bring their self to the table by listening and responding deeply to others, all while saying “yes, and” in order to accept what has been offered and add their own spin to things.

Currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Education from The University of Toledo, Josh is a Curriculum Specialist at the school, designing coursework that can help students across a variety of learning styles integrate and implement important information.

In addition, Josh Keidan is passionate about music and improv comedy. He has run workshops and performed in groups at Unfiltered Improv and Glass City Improv throughout his time in the discipline.