Authentic Learning

My guest today is Andrew Hallam. Andrew is originally from Canada and taught English and Personal Finance internationally for 11 years, setting him up nicely to become a best selling author of the financial guides; Millionaire Teacher and Millionaire Expat while consistently contributing to international publications. We are lucky to have him at Green School this week to share his no-nonsense ideas about saving and investing and preparing for retirement with our students, teachers and parent community. His ideas have an authenticity to them that are hard to ignore and I think you’ll enjoy his thoughts on how schools can make learning ‘authentic’ for our students.

My guest to day is Michael Bol. Michael leads the development and delivery of 21st Century Learning International’s online professional development courses. 21st Century Learning was founded by educators with a mission to help teachers and schools develop best practices for education in today’s world through consulting and hosting a variety of events that bring together educators, administrators and parents from all over the world. They also host a variety of online professional development courses you can find at 21c-learning.com

My guest today on Authentic Learning is Dr. Courthney Russell Jr, co-founder of the Mastermind society, focused on bringing health and opportunities to underserved neighborhoods of Atlanta, Georgia, USA . Dr. Russell knows first hand the pitfalls of growing up in a community with limited opportunities presented to the youth having himself narrowly escaped the pitfalls of gang and violence and worked his way through medical school while living homeless on the streets. Courthney and Mastermind Co-founder, David Roman, who navigated a violent childhood on the streets of the Bronx, New York City now operate free medical clinics for those in need, as well as bringing their spirit of enterprise and a strong work ethic to students around the USA

My guest today is Daniel Cordaro, Co-Founder and CEO Of the Contentment Foundation. I feel its important to point out the CEO in this case designates the ‘Chief Equanimity Officer’. Daniels holds a phd from UC Berkley and has acted as a meditator, scientist, writer, and cross-cultural researcher at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. His current work with the Contentment Foundation studies contentment from a scientific viewpoint with some of the top universities in the world and creates curriculum for all ages to help individuals cultivate contentment in their lives.

My guest today is Paul Bocko, a faculty member at Antoch Univeristy New England in New Hampshire, USA. Paul is a faculty memeber in the Education department at Antioch with focuses on Real World Learning and Connecting Curriculum to community. Paul is currently working on a Phd examining the - ‘Synergy between problem based learning and sustainability’ and focuses his work on public school reform. Paul also served as my advisor for my studies in educating for sustainability and brought Antioch’s Critical Skills Institute to Green School for teacher training and jump start our focus on fostering skills in our students.

Chris has been a member of the Green School community since 2010 when he, his wife Jo and their two children, Chayton and Chenoa moved to Bali from Singapore to experience Green School. In that time, he has gone from an engaged parent – to Green School’s managing director and board member and back to engaged parent, all the while exemplifying Green School’s mission to create a ‘community’ of learners, by always being involved in our community’s learning journey. Whether he is mentoring students for their Quest and Green Stone projects, being an active member of parent association meetings, giving a tour of the campus to visitors, helping our teachers identify learning opportunities in the wider world, or sharing articles on progressive education with our everybody, Chris has been a tireless participant in our community of learners.

My guest today is Andrea Downie , co-founder and director of Project Thrive, an organization that works to inspire and co-create eco systems of well-being in schools, organisations and communities and promote well-being, health and the building of resilience and adaptability in individuals and organizations

Today’s guest on ‘Authentic Learning’ is Clover Hogan, a Green School graduate from 2016 Clover has a unique educational journey that gives her an interesting perspective on schooling in today’s world and what best prepares students to engage with the world. From Australia to Green School to France and back to Green School, Clover’s educational journey can help shed light on the advantages and potential pitfalls of progressive education models.

I’m here today with Noan Fesnoux, Green School educator. Noan has taught across all learning neighborhood with an emphasis on environmental science, enterprise, outdoor ed, and entrepreneurial studies. He holds a graduate degree in ‘Education Technology’, has served as the Green School Faculty reprehensive on our Board of Directors and is Green School’s Green Projects Coordinator. Noan has been integral in creating Green School’s LEAP program, which functions as somewhat of a school within a school. LEAP students are off the normal timetable for a six week block and immersed in real world projects as part of a team while also creating space for each student to work on their own personal projects.