Learning Unboxed

Microschools are positive disruptors of our modern education ecosystem. Today, CEO of Changemaker Microschools, David K. Richards, joins the show to help us dig a little deeper into the phenomenon.We discuss the ingredients to starting and sustaining a microschool: finding the right teachers; navigating facility and funding options; and deeply engaging student families. We also talk about microschools’ position in the wider education ecosystem. All signs point to the growth of microschooling, so tune in and see if this model might work for your community. To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:Recruiting and training teachers for self-directed learning modelsFamily engagement in opening new microschoolsHow microschools obtain fundingResources:Learn more at DavidKRichards.comCheck out MicroSchoolingCenter.orgProduced by NOVA Media

The most important part of a child’s education is developing a love of learning. That’s Amir Nathoo’s motto and what led him to co-found OutSchool. Amir joins the show today to talk about future-proofing education by allowing students to engage with what they are most interested in.OutSchool is a marketplace for live online classes for K-12 learners. It has helped over a million students explore their interests with live online classes in nearly any subject you can think of: learning social skills through Minecraft, to gaming clubs, to learning veterinary topics.As both parents and teachers are increasingly unhappy with the traditional education system, OutSchool hopes to act as a disruptive force to bring much needed change from outside the system. Tune in to hear Amir’s thoughts about the future workplace, technology, and happiness.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:How to future-proof educationWhy developing a love of learning is the most important part of a child’s educationWays to address t

Welcome to our new mini-series on our Portable Innovation Labs (PILs). Here at the PAST Foundation, we’ve been working hard to make this offering a reality. Now we want to tell you all about it! Our own Brianna Agomessou joins the show today to give an overview of our PIL program.The PIL program is made up of over 40 labs that educators can borrow for 2-3 weeks for free. The labs come with equipment, materials, and even curricula. The best part: They’re completely free. Besides talking about the nuts and bolts of PIL, we also dive deep into topics about partnering with companies, diversity in STEM, and how to scale up this initiative.Stay tuned for the next episode where we have an educator discuss their experience with PILs!To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:What Portable Innovation Labs areWho can use Portable Innovation LabsHow Portable Innovation Labs are scaling upResources:Learn more about Portable Innovation LabsProduced by NOVA Media

Dr. Keeanna Warren, CEO of Purdue Polytechnic High School, says her school is a school without walls. She means that metaphorically of course, but it did physically come to fruition through a student project at one point. Dr. Keeanna Warren joins us on the show today to explain.Purdue Polytechnic High School is a school without walls in the sense that it has strong relationships with industry partners. Industry partners are always welcomed in the school and students are always going out to industry partner sites. But it’s also a school without walls –or at least a few less walls– because a few years ago students successfully advocated tearing down some of the classroom walls that were hindering learning.That’s the essence of Purdue Polytechnic High School. They empower their students to engage in real world problems and have their voices heard. Tune in to hear all the details from Dr. Keeanna Warren.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:What’s needed for successful private-public partnershipsHow Pu

There are lots of conversations today about AI’s role in education. To help us more deeply discuss it, we have invited Ian Zhu on the show today. Ian is the co-founder and CEO of SchoolJoy.We have a conversation about SchoolJoy, an AI-powered education management platform that provides dynamically updated personal learning preference plans, as well as a comprehensive extended learning program management. We dig into issues of bias, data protection, data fidelity. Ian suggests we analyze AI’s value not by what it can do, but what it can support. In the case of his SchoolJoy project, AI supports teachers building strong relationships with students and better organizing student data. Tune in and let us know what you think about AI’s role in innovative, student-centered education.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:The role of AI in EdTechHow teachers can help each other better understand individual studentsAddressing bias and data protection in EdTechResources:Learn more at SchoolJoy.comProduced by

There’s a good chance your state’s policies actually allow for more innovative and student-centered learning than you think. Sonn Sam is the National Director of Partnerships at Big Picture Learning and he’s our guest on the show today. He explains how they have been able to create more space for innovative student-centered over the last 30 years.Big Picture Learning’s mission is to activate the potential of schools, systems, and education through student-driven, real-world learning with a vision that all students live lives of their own design, nurtured by supportive mentors, meaningful relationships, and equal opportunities to succeed. Big Picture Learning now has 111 schools in the US and 150 internationally.Sonn explains Big Picture Learning’s emphasis on locally-infused school design, working through everyday obstacles to community-based learning like transportation issues, and helping teachers become well-connected generalists.If you’re looking for practical ways you can make student-centered learning p

Andrea Vescelius is a Ohio public school teacher who has eliminated homework and limited grades to just quarterly marks for her students. In this episode, we ask her how she pulled this off and what impact it has had on her students.Andrea takes us on her 24-year teaching journey. She notes when and why her thoughts on homework and grades changed. She also describes the small steps she took, and continues to take, to make her teaching more centered on student needs.If you’ve ever dreamed of making your classroom less checkbox-driven and more student-led, this episode is for you.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:The benefits of no homework and no gradesAndrea’s journey to not assigning homework and limiting graded workHow other teachers can move in the direction of no homework and gradesProduced by NOVA Media

Laksh Dhir’s goal is to revolutionize how informal education is being done in classrooms around the world. Laksh is the CEO and Chairman of Youth for STEM Equity, and he is our guest on the show today.Laksh explains that informal education has three main strengths. It helps students imagine themselves in the professional field they are learning about. It deeply engages students in key educational subjects. It also connects students with professionals in the industries they are learning about.Youth for STEM Equity harnesses the power of informal learning through an escape room model. Take a listen as Laksh describes some of the STEM-based escape rooms they have put on. You’ll want to jump in and do one yourself!To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:What “equity” means in the context of educationThe unique strengths of informal learningThe power of the escape room model for STEM engagement and retentionResources:Learn more about Youth for STEM Equity at yforse.orgFollow Youth for STEM Equity on Insta

Usually, one-on-one coaching is reserved for business executives, but Joel Nicholson’s mission is to bring it to students. Joel is the co-founder of Youthfully, a coaching and development platform for students. He’s our guest on the show today.Joel explains Youthfully’s holistic and non-directive coaching philosophy. He walks us through their process, starting with an intake assessment all the way through application of the student’s stated goal. He also lays out his vision for scaling up the platform so more families can benefit from it.Bloom’s 2 Sigma problem has been around for a few decades now– how do we achieve the outcomes of one-on-one teaching while being limited by resources. Joel is tackling this problem head-on and has a lot to teach us about the lessons he’s learned along the way.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:What the term ‘holistic’ means in educationHow to scale up one-on-one coachingThe three levels of the Youthfully process: foundations, experiences, applicationsResources:L

Dr. Tyler Thigpen co-founded The Forest School in Fayetteville, GA and from there he also co-founded the Institute for Self Directed Learning. Tyler is our guest on the show today and shares with us key practices he has researched and used to nurture student-led environments.We talk about the concept of mastery and how to measure it with single point rubrics, with an emphasis on longitudinal growth. We discuss the role exhibitions and practicals play in developing student responsibility. We also get into how to create space for students to forge their character and learn how to manage conflict.The Forest School is a model for all of us interested in education innovation, and its Institute for Self Directed Learning is a resource to help us achieve it. To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:How Tyler implements self directed learning at the micro school he co-founded, The Forest School.The importance of measuring longitudinal growth in a mastery-based environment.How to create an environment where ki

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” was made almost 40 years ago, yet it still is seen as an accurate representation of education in America. Kevin Stoller is on a mission to update America’s perception of its schools. He’s our guest on today’s episode.Kevin is the founder of the Second Class Foundation and is creating a new docuseries called “What We Show Them.” He explains the power of entertainment to change culture. We discuss the importance of leadership, how anyone can be a storyteller, and the roadmap for his series. Be sure to check the Resources section to find out how you can connect with Kevin and potentially showcase your own innovative education program.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:The power of entertainment to change cultureThe lag between progress in education and how it is reflected in the mediaHow anybody can be a leader and a storytellerResources:Learn more at SecondClassFoundation.org Email Kevin at info@secondclassfoundation.orgWatch “What We Show Them” Episode 1 on YouTubeRead

Often game-based learning is treated simply as a hook to get students initially engaged. Today our guest Chris Ramsden explains how game-based learning should instead be deeply infused in a curriculum, supported with a strong methodological and pedagogical foundation. Chris is a game-based consultant for Accelium Australia, an organization that provides a digital platform and 24-session “Thinking Journey” to help teachers integrate gamification into their classroom. The sessions are focused on learning abilities, mathematical thinking, scientific thinking, and flexible and agile thinking.Even more importantly, Chris notes, is that game-based learning builds social and emotional skills in students. It helps them create a toolkit of metacognitive habits that they can use in their personal, and eventually professional, life.This conversation will make you want to stop and play a game right now– what Chris calls “nutritional candy for the brain.”To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:Teaching metacognit

All great things start with a podcast! What started out as a podcast by Ryan Pruitt during COVID lockdowns has morphed into his business called Be All You. Ryan joins the show today to introduce his unique business and discuss the state of education. Be All You is an education company creating an exploratory platform for students who need to create unique projects or initiatives to enhance their college applications or build their resumes. It’s designed to get students to create entrepreneurial projects that are made up of their skills and their passions. We talk about the importance of youth self-discovery and empowerment. We also discuss how to help teachers develop their own entrepreneurial mindset. Take a listen to learn more about this exciting new program.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:Fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in students and teachersThe importance of students being able to choose their learning projectsHow future careers can be created through what students learn todayReso

While virtual learning is often associated with COVID lockdowns and isolation, it actually has the power to create more connections than traditional brick-and-mortar schools for some students. Dr. Lorna Bryant, Head of Career Solutions at Pearson Virtual Schools joins the show today to explain how.With virtual learning, students can access knowledge, networks, and opportunities across the globe while still remaining in a physical setting that works best for them. Sometimes these students have disabilities, are parents themselves, or simply learn best in a virtual setup.Lorna walks us through how Pearson does career assessments for their students, develops their soft skills, and connects them with industry partners. Even if you work in a brick-and-mortar location, Lorna’s insights can help you broaden your students’ world through technology.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:How virtual learning can bring more learning opportunities and connections to under-resourced kidsPearson Virtual School’s

Many times we say we value students’ voices and aspirations, but we don’t do the work to truly make them partners in designing and delivering education. Today, Dr. Russ Quaglia and Dr. Lisa Lande from the Quaglia Institute for School Voice and Aspirations join the show to talk about how to change this.We have a great conversation about being honest with where you’re at as an organization in terms of student voices and aspirations, and starting from there. We talk about trusting students with more responsibility, and being ok when things get messy. We also talk about the importance of building a foundation of community and individuality. If you are interested in truly utilizing student voices, this episode is for you.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:The definition of voiceHow values inform aspirationsThe importance of ongoing relationship-building to create space for voices and aspirationsResources:Learn more at QuagliaInstitute.orgProduced by NOVA Media

Welcome to our special series about shifting to a more student-lead ecosystem! Usually we take the month of July off, but this year we’re going to re-examine episodes with the theme of empowering students and communities to determine their own needs and successes.Sometimes we get caught up in the idea that the purpose of education is to create a future workforce. Heather Van Bethuysen joins the show to remind us that the purpose of education is a strong democracy. We want to educate young people to be powerful in the world in which they live. The goal is to develop them to be powerful to enact change, be powerful to advocate, be powerful to know.If we look at education through that lens, student empowerment becomes a more natural and necessary part of our systems. Heather gives us a specific example of how they are doing this in Chicago Public Schools: Not only do they collect student surveys, but they then give that data back to students to co-collaborate on what changes need to be made.Join us for a fascina

Welcome to our special series about shifting to a more student-lead ecosystem! Usually we take the month of July off, but this year we’re going to re-examine episodes with the theme of empowering students and communities to determine their own needs and successes.Kids today are different. Compared to high school graduates in 2000, today’s graduates are less likely to have a driver’s license (80% to 52%), less likely to have had a part-time job (85% to 35%), and less likely to have ever been on a date (decreased by 50%). Using these numbers, our guest today, Bill Daggett, explains just how out-of-date and out-of-touch our education system is for today’s students.We discuss how to fundamentally transform the system so it connects with students and what they need to thrive in the modern marketplace.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:How today’s students are fundamentally different than those of past generationsThe need for schools to focus less on content and more on skillsWhat it takes to change m

Welcome back to our special series about shifting to a more student-lead ecosystem! Usually we take the month of July off, but this year we’re going to re-examine episodes with the theme of empowering students and communities to determine their own needs and successes.Sheryl Cababa researches and designs educational products and services on behalf of philanthropists and investors. In this episode, she explains how she combines design thinking and systems thinking in her work in order to elevate the voices of students and teachers, and examine the underlying structures that shape success. She explains how we all can use concepts of human-centered design, equity-centered design, and targeted universalism in our work.We wrap up by discussing the latest trend in educational products: AI. Sheryl applies systems thinking to it, highlighting the fact that the commonly used AI models have been built on data sets rife with discrimination. To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:What key terms mean like “syste

Welcome to our special series about shifting to a more student-lead ecosystem! Usually we take the month of July off, but this year we’re going to re-examine episodes with the theme of empowering students and communities to determine their own needs and successes.In today’s episode, Kavita Tanna, founder of Global Reconnect, speaks about our interconnectedness, not just as human beings, but as creatures on this planet. She weaves together strength-based approaches, sustainable ownership, and care for the environment.  The more we understand our interconnectedness, the more we can make decisions as a community of individuals.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgWe unbox:Why strength-based conversations are criticalHow students can learn with empowered dignity, sustained ownership, and cultivated relationshipsThe power of connecting with each other around the question of what it means to be a human beingResources:Learn more at globallyreconnect.orgConnect with Kavita on LinkedIn"Factfulness" by Hans

Humans think in story. Story is not just a way to connect with others, it’s how we connect to ourselves and how we navigate our world. At Just Bloom School, adults and children learn how to tap into their innate story-telling abilities to develop creativity and resilience. Head educator Sarah Lagrotteria joins us today to tell us more.Sarah has trained Special Ops members, business leaders, and third graders in how to think in story to come up with creative problem-solving solutions. She gives us an example of how she has kids come up with a kind of “Pokemon card” for someone who thinks differently than them, and then asks the kids to solve problems thinking like that person.Sarah explains that the ongoing practice of story-based creativity leads to significant results in individuals’ self-efficacy and resilience. Individuals feel confident that they can come up with several different solutions to fix a problem rather than giving up after one.We discuss how this kind of creativity education can be integrated