Learning Unboxed

Welcome to the July edition of Learning Unboxed. As many of you know, we tend to take the month of July off, but we have heard from our loyal listeners that you would love content during your summer vacation. So we have crafted a set of four episodes to run during the July holiday that are all about exploring student agency. For those working to make a meaningful shift in your classrooms, schools, and communities, the most crucial place to start is making the decision to shift from a teacher-led ecosystem to one that is student-led. But this shift can be daunting. So join us as we explore four examples of student-centered learning that demonstrate what's possible.We’ve come to believe that protecting kids from experiences is a good thing, but what ends up happening is we cripple their ability to make decisions, function as adults, and be intrinsically motivated in anything. Gever Tulley is the co-founder of Tinkering School which came about in 2005. We talk about how trusting kids lead to big things, how

In this fascinating episode of Learning Unboxed, we delve deep into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its profound implications for our future.Joining us is Sanjay Saigal, Executive Director for Affiliates and Research Engagement at Stanford Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering (ICME), brings us the rich history of AI, the democratization of this powerful tool, and its evolving user interface. He also sheds light on the critical role humanities play in steering the ethical questions and decision-making processes involved in AI use.We’re also joined by Jasmine De Gaia, a Global Product Strategy and Technology Executive in Banking and Financial Services, shares her insights from the business world and the increasing integration of AI in her field. She underscores the necessity for strategists and technologists to deploy AI meaningfully and ethically while maximizing organizational value.We talk about the pressing need for a Chief AI Officer to manage the ethical, strategic, and t

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we dive deep into the world of Montessori education and its transformative potential. Our special guest is Tessa Wessels, founder of Casa Bilingual Montessori. Tessa opens up about her personal journey, from her upbringing in apartheid South Africa to creating an educational environment that nurtures critical and independent thinking in the Netherlands.Join us as we explore the distinguishing features of Tessa's school, such as its all-day, all-year program, and its core focus on individual personal development. Tessa expounds on the Montessori principles, from fostering an environment that meets a child's developmental needs to guiding older children towards self-reflection and independent thinking.Discover the unique challenges and rewards of adopting a Montessori education model. We discuss the diversity and continuous learning philosophy of the staff at Casa Bilingual Montessori, Tessa's frustration over the perceived lack of curiosity from traditional scho

Today, we're honored to have Nick Salmon, founder and president of the Collaborative Learning Network, join us as we discuss the topic of extreme innovation in the education space. As a ninth-generation educator and self-certified 'educational furniture whisperer,' Nick is deeply committed to positively influencing the lives of 1.6 billion young people worldwide.Together, we'll delve into the heart of innovation in education, challenging traditional concepts of school and why they matter. From the dynamics of teachers working in pairs or small groups to a complete revamp of how we perceive the school day, Nick offers fresh insights and ideas that have the potential to transform the way we approach teaching and learning.Join us as we navigate through compelling topics such as the significance of personal transformative learning experiences, the power of collaboration in projects, and unique methods to promote deep learning. We wrap up with a conversation on overcoming the isolation many educato

Welcome to another exciting episode of "Learning Unboxed" where we’re talking about zoo schools as transformative educational institutions.We're joined by four distinguished guests from the world of zoo education and conservation: Chris Edelen, a career tech teacher at Cincinnati Public Schools' Hughes STEM School and a former zookeeper at the Cincinnati Zoo, brings in over two decades of experience in the zoo and education sectors; Trene't Schill, a proud 2018 Zoo Academy alumni and University of Cincinnati graduate, specialized in Horticultural Science; Rickey Kinley, a dedicated professional, who's led a career spanning 28 years at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden and is currently the head keeper of the aviculture department; finally, we have Nhy'Aire Dunn-North, an ambitious senior at the Zoo Academy, who aspires to make a difference in the zoo conservation space, particularly in the African and elephant exhibits.Tune in to learn how specialized programs like the Zoo Aca

Welcome to another episode of Learning Unboxed, where we dive into the innovative and transformative world of education. Today, we're thrilled to have Catherine Gray, the founder of Na'atik School in Mexico. Na'atik is an intercultural school that has been disrupting traditional education models by blending local and foreign learning experiences for over 12 years.In this episode, Catherine discusses the evolution and mission of Na'atik, an institution that provides subsidized English classes to local and indigenous students in Felipe Carrillo Puerto Mexico while also offering language and cultural immersion experiences for foreign students. She shares her journey of growing Na'atik into an intercultural hub, granting scholarships to local students and inviting foreign students to learn Mexican Spanish and Yucatec Maya.We delve into the power and importance of authentic intercultural interactions, how they can revolutionize traditional education systems, and their role in providing immersiv

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we explore the transformative power of student agency and autonomy in education. Our guest is Mike Nicholson, principal of Learning Inspired Ed, a forward-thinking education consultancy agency dedicated to supporting the development of student agency across school districts.Mike shares his passion for moving from a compliance-based education system to one where students have the freedom to make decisions about their learning. We dive into the "55 perspectives" he has developed for teachers to transform their classrooms, including the idea of shadowing a student for an entire day to gain a visceral understanding of their experience. Mike also offers a practical tip for teachers who want to introduce student autonomy in their classrooms but may not be able to do so on a larger scale.Join us for an insightful conversation on the power of student agency and how to implement it in your classroom. Reach out to Mike at Learning Inspired Ed for resources and support on thi

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we're exploring the innovative world of self-directed learning with April Huard, the Executive Director of Clonlara School, a K-12 institution that empowers students to take charge of their own education. Starting as a small homeschooling collective, Clonlara School has expanded to multiple campuses across the United States with a mission to transform education on a global scale.April shares insights on the self-directed learning model, which allows students to choose their projects and follow their interests while being supported by facilitators who guide them through the learning process. She also addresses the challenges they face, such as misconceptions about self-directed learning and scaling their model to include more students.One of the core values of Clonlara School is joy, and April talks about the immense joy she finds in her work, witnessing students discovering their passions and families expressing gratitude for the transformations they've seen in the

We're diving into the fascinating realm of global citizenship through the lens of a fantastic program called World Savvy. Our esteemed guests are Dana Mortenson, co-founder and CEO of World Savvy, a national education nonprofit working to educate and engage youth as responsible global citizens, and KK Neimann, World Savvy's Director of Professional Learning, with an impressive 20 years of teaching experience in social studies across fifth to 12th grades.We explore the changing landscape of education and the pivotal role of World Savvy in fostering global competence among K-12 students and teachers. We discuss the importance of integrating global competence into education, preparing students for an interconnected and rapidly changing world. World Savvy's approach champions project-based learning, empowering students to tackle real-world issues while honing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.Join us as we underscore the importance of global competence and adapting to change to better prepa

Welcome to today's episode of Learning Unboxed! In this episode, we're excited to have an incredible conversation with our guest, Michael Stone, from the Public Education Foundation, based in Tennessee. Michael has an impressive career journey, including being an Albert Einstein Educator Fellow with the National Science Foundation and spending 10 years as a high school mathematics and computer science teacher. In his current role, he's led the development of the largest school-based Fab Lab network in the world through the Volkswagen e-Lab.We dive deep into the impact of maker spaces and fabrication spaces on education, emphasizing the importance of teaching essential skills like collaboration, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. We explore the opportunities for meaningful learning in schools through Fab Labs and discuss the importance of tracking essential skills and technical proficiencies in student learning.Michael shares his insights on an app called Fabfolio, designed to track t

Dr. Trevor Soponis is the Founder and Chief Learning Officer of The Sustainable Learning Projects, a lifelong education professional with experience in leading transformative education projects. The purpose of The Sustainable Learning Projects is to provide students with meaningful work that is relevant to their lives and to provide teachers with the curriculum and support they need to make their lives easier. He is focused on having students, teachers, and schools tackle meaningful real-world problems. We talk about the projects that he has worked on, how programs like this can scale, and how a part of their program, Project Student Voice, allows students to customize their curriculum around their passions.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:Why the Sustainable Learning Projects exist and what they doCreating models for programs that work and scaling themProject Student Voice and providing opportunities for students to share their voiceResources:Learn more at thesustainablelearningprojects.comCo

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we're diving into the exciting world of STEM Games with Josip Torić, the Director of Sports at STEM Games. STEM Games is an international competition that allows students to showcase their knowledge, athletic abilities, and gaming skills across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.Josip Torić, who has been instrumental in the growth of STEM Games in Croatia, will be sharing his insights into the competition's success and the benefits it provides for students. We'll be discussing the different arenas of the competition, including the knowledge, sports, and esports components, and the innovative tasks that students tackle in each.Join us to learn more about how STEM Games encourages creative problem-solving and provides a powerful networking opportunity for STEM students.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:Solving real world problems through STEM Games and focused hackathonsWhat students can learn from the eSports arenaThe qualities that

Today's episode is a special takeover, hosted by Ibrahim Aly, a Metro High School junior participant in the PAST Foundation's Workforce Development Program. Ibrahim previously joined us on episode 165 to talk about using internships to encourage STEM careers, and we're thrilled to have him back to lead the conversation about fusion splicing.A panel of experts will join Ibrahim to discuss this exciting field. Pat Stichter, the hyper-scale trainer from Sumitomo, brings years of experience in the industry. Quin Jernigan, the economic workforce development manager from Amazon Web Services, will discuss the career opportunities available in this field and the skills needed to succeed. Wesley Olinger, the division manager from Team Fishel, will share his perspective on the importance of workforce development and training in this industry. Together, this panel will provide a comprehensive overview of fusion splicing and its potential as a career path. Join us as we learn more about this fascinating field

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, our guest is Bo Ryan, the principal of Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary Magnet School in Bloomfield, Connecticut, and the author of “The Brilliance in the Building”. Bo is a passionate advocate for professional learning communities (PLCs) and believes in the power of collaborative teams in schools.In our conversation, Bo shares his insights into what PLCs are and why they are not yet widely implemented in schools. He discusses the benefits of building out collaborative teams within schools and how this approach can lead to more effective teaching and learning.Bo emphasizes the importance of learning by doing and shares his experiences with implementing PLCs at Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary Magnet School. He also offers practical advice for educators who want to develop and sustain their own PLCs. Tune in to hear his expert insights and learn how you can build and sustain a professional learning community in your own school.To learn more, visit: pastfound

We're taking you on a virtual journey to Denmark, where innovation and collaboration are at the forefront. Our special guests today, Allan Kristensen and Josefine Strandgaard, are both part of the Innovation Center Denmark Silicon Valley, an organization that facilitates collaboration between Denmark and the US since 2006 as part of the Danish government's initiative to tap into the world's leading innovation hubs.Today, the center has seven other locations worldwide, including Boston, Munich, Tel Aviv, India, South Korea, and Shanghai. The Silicon Valley office is the oldest and largest, with 14 people working to build bridges between science, education, and innovation for both scholars and Danish companies. Their mission is to internationalize Danish education, science, and innovation.We talk about introducing students to the startup mindset, incorporating education, business, and government, and how those lessons carry forward in other areas of life.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe un

Are we doing enough to prepare our children for the future? As the world becomes increasingly complex, academic success alone is no longer enough to guarantee a bright future. Today on the podcast, we have David Adams, the CEO of the Urban Assembly, an organization leading the charge in bringing social and emotional learning (SEL) into classrooms across its network. With the Resilience Scholars Program (IRSP), David and his team are crafting unique approaches to integrate SEL into curriculum and classroom practices. Join us as David shares his insights on why SEL is missing in modern education and how Urban Assembly is working to bridge the gap.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:Creating a private-public partnership that involves industry in educationHow exposing students to different avenues helps them understand their likes and dislikesThe role of the K-12 system to ensure that young people can contribute to their communityThe importance of social-emotional skill developmentResources:Learn mor

Today, we have Marcy Raymond joining us, an innovative educator in the STEM space. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because Marcy was the first guest we had on this program. Marcy has started multiple schools and transformed existing ones into high-quality, fully-applied STEM schools. We will discuss the concept of mastery learning, which often arises in the transformative school space.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:What “mastery learning” is and how it’s being applied in schools todayThe necessary elements for fostering mastery learningThe challenges and barriers to practicing mastery learning in schoolHow teachers can use mastery learning in their classroomsResources:Connect with Marcy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marcy-raymond-1193aa205Twitter: @MarcyRaymond

Dr. Mandy Smith is the Director of Research at PAST Foundation. She has a wealth of experience in the K-12 education system, including teacher preparation and the intersection of science and technology.In this episode, we will be discussing the concept of STEM identity. The lack of diversity and opportunity in STEM careers has been a topic of debate and conversation for over a decade. The "leaky pipeline" phenomenon, where individuals drop out of STEM pathways, is a well-known issue, particularly for women and underrepresented minorities. However, PAST Foundation has received funding from the Battelle Memorial Institute to delve deeper into the issue and explore STEM identity in the K-12 space. The goal is to understand and define STEM identity and determine ways to address the issue collectively.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:What STEM identity is and why we should care about itHow to give students the opportunity to engage in STEM activitiesPartnering with school districts to bolst

Kelly Preheim has done incredible work as a teacher, but she knows it's important to push herself to step out of her comfort zone. In this episode, we talk to Kelly about her experience as part of the National Geographic Grosvenor Teaching Fellowship cohort and how she balances the everyday pieces of being a teacher with the need to try new things. Don't miss Kelly's insight into how she pushes herself to take risks and try new experiences!To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:Having the courage as a teacher to push outside of your comfort zoneWhat Kelly learned in the Teaching FellowshipHow teachers can apply for and take advantage of opportunitiesResources:BirdTeach: birdteach.blogspot.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/BirdTeach-367011353690070030 | Teaching Through Your Passion to Create Passionate Students with Kelly PreheimSpotlight: Problem-Based Learning with Birds!

Dawn Heideman and Carla Hegyi are the founders of Be the One, a program aiding at-risk youth in schools in the central Ohio region, both by improving students’ lives and the lives of those around them, through relationship-building and service programs.Most of the time, when a student experiences trauma, they are only aided for a few days or weeks before everyone returns back to their daily lives — leaving the student to cope with that trauma themselves. Dawn and Carla realized that more needed to be done and that those kids needed long-term support. That’s why they started Be the One: To offer daily support to kids dealing with a variety of struggles in life. They talk about the value of making kids feel heard and seen, making an impact one student at a time, and scaling programs like this to affect more students.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:Giving kids the time necessary to overcome emotional traumaHearing from people who recognize what you’ve been throughBuilding a long-term support sys