Podcasts about big picture learning

Join Shawnee Caruthers and Carlos Moreno in an enlightening conversation on the Getting Smart Podcast as they delve into the transformative power of leading with love, care, and vulnerability in education. This episode, recorded live at South by Southwest, explores the theme of Humanizing Pathways Leadership. Carlos Moreno, co-director of Big Picture Learning, shares his insights and experiences in empowering students and communities. With heartfelt stories and thought-provoking discussions on emotional intelligence and leadership, this episode is a must-listen for educators, leaders, and anyone passionate about creating impactful educational pathways. Discover how embracing emotional intelligence and community-focused leadership can redefine success in education. Tune in to learn more about how we can all contribute to a more inclusive and supportive learning environment. Read the full blog here: Outline (00:00) Introduction to Storytelling and Change (02:11) Humanizing Pathways Leadership (04:50) Audience Interaction and Icebreakers (08:24) Emotional Intelligence in Education (12:17) Leadership Lessons and Personal Stories (29:58) Building Trust and Respect in Education (30:59) Navigating Emotions and Vulnerability (34:42) The Role of Mentorship in Education (41:24) Living by Your Values as a Leader (47:24) The Importance of Relationships in Schools (50:07) Counseling and Mentoring Educators (56:48) Closing Thoughts and Future Actions

What if school was designed around student agency, real-world learning, and deep relationships—instead of compliance and test scores? In this episode, I take you inside Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School, a Big Picture Learning school in the South Bronx that is reimagining what education can be. I spent two days observing classes, talking with students and teachers, and experiencing firsthand how this school operates within the constraints of the public school system while centering student voice and engagement. You'll hear about: How Fannie Lou's advisory system, looping, and block scheduling create a close-knit, supportive learning environment Why students don't take standardized tests and instead defend portfolios of work How extended learning opportunities (ELOs) and internships connect students to real-world experiences The role of AI and technology in supporting student-driven, competency-based learning What it actually looks like to make relationships the foundation of a school Fannie Lou's approach isn't a magic bullet or an exclusive model—it's a public school choice within NYC's Department of Education that any student can opt into. Listen in to hear what's possible when we trust students, empower teachers, and rethink what high-quality learning truly looks like. Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here.

The most important thing about being a teacher is... Something ethereal... Something you can't quite put your finger on. “What is it?” you may ask… Carlos calls it leadership soul. Leadership soul is all about “the important functions love, care and vulnerability play in education leadership and how our society tends to shun these characteristics in leaders.”So how do we tap into this in an artful way that authentically reaches your students? And what does this have to do with Black male educators? Tune in to find out…We cover: Is it even possible to separate work and life as an educator? The importance of diversity in schools - specifically Black male educators What it means to replace the idea of a “classroom” with the idea of a “community of learning” How leaders need to model behaviors and attitudes for their staff(0:00) Class in session(2:20) Carlos introduces himself.(8:45) Carlos and Ashanti share their masks(23:00) Maintaining wellness as educators so that we can help others(30:55) Why we need more Black male teachers(36:15) Creating a community of learning - a culture of openness and empathy in your classroom(40:30) Modeling from school leaders, and Carlos's Leadership Journeys(45:35) How to connect with Carlos---Connect with Carlos Moreno:Instagram: @ColossalEducatorLinkedIn: Carlos R. MorenoX: @Carlos_Moreno06Website: https://www.bigpicture.org/ Book: https://www.leadershipsoul.org/ ---Join our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/efc-young-mens-advocates-2345 Email us questions and comments at totmpod100@gmail.com Create your own mask anonymously at https://millionmask.org/ ---Connect with Ashanti Branch:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/branchspeaks/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BranchSpeaksTwitter: https://twitter.com/BranchSpeaksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch/Website: https://www.branchspeaks.com/---Support the podcast and the work of the Ever Forward Club: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/branch-speaks/support ---Connect with Ever Forward Club:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everforwardclubFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/everforwardclubTwitter: https://twitter.com/everforwardclubLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ever-forward-club/

What if the healthcare system wasn't just broken—but actually keeping people sick? Hey there, Health Feast listeners! Dr. Rak here, and in this episode, I'm thrilled to welcome Dr. Marsha-Gail Davis to The Feast. You may know her as Dr. D, a board-certified physician, a leader in Lifestyle Medicine, and a fierce advocate for health equity. She's someone who brings an incredible mix of energy, creativity, and passion to everything she does—and let me tell you, it's contagious. In this episode, we get into: ✅ Her journey from Jamaica to Georgia and how her faith shaped her path in medicine ✅ Why health equity and lifestyle medicine must go hand in hand ✅ The hidden ways our food system keeps people sick—and how we fight back ✅ How small, consistent actions create big transformations ✅ The role of creativity in medicine and why storytelling is such a powerful tool for change And one of the boldest and most memorable ways Marsha-Gail has delivered her message? WACK.

In this episode with The Chamber Chicks, the hosts sit down with Katrina Martinez, an experienced educator and advocate for student-driven learning, to explore how Big Picture Learning (BPL) is transforming traditional education systems. Katrina shares how BPL partners with schools and communities to co-create sustainable, real-world learning models that empower students to take ownership of their education and achieve equitable outcomes.With nearly two decades of experience as a bilingual teacher, charter school director, district administrator, and educational consultant, Katrina discusses her passion for disrupting outdated practices and fostering innovative, learner-centered environments. From her work with BPL's coaching principles to her commitment to urban, under-resourced communities, this episode highlights the power of collaboration and capacity-building to create lasting, impactful change in education. Whether you're an educator, parent, or community leader, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what's possible for today's students.https://www.bigpicture.orgConnect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

In this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark sits down with Dennis "Doc" Littky, an educational innovator whose work with Big Picture Learning and College Unbound is reshaping the landscape of personalized and experiential education. From the inception of Big Picture Learning, which challenges conventional schooling with its "leaving to learn" model, to the founding of College Unbound, a transformative institution serving adult learners, Littky shares his journey and insights. He discusses the importance of making education relevant and personalized, with each student following their unique path. Tune in to discover how Littky's visionary approach is influencing schools worldwide and paving new pathways for students of all ages. Outline (00:00) The Beginnings of Big Picture Learning (00:59) A Conversation with Dennis Littky (04:58) Innovative Education Models (17:08) Expanding the Vision: College Unbound (27:01) Reflections and Future Plans Links Watch the full video here Read the full blog here Dennis Littky Bio The MET High School Big Picture Learning

When you think of women working with rivet guns, you might picture a woman with her hair wrapped up in a red polka-dot bandana, flexed muscles and the famous words, “We Can Do It.” Just as Rosie the Riveter inspired countless women to take on roles in industries traditionally dominated by men during World War II, Habitat for Aviation aims to ignite the same spirit of courage and innovation in women aspiring to enter the aviation field.“We really take a lot of inspiration from our World War II Rosie the Riveters, who stepped into these factories when the men went off to war,” says Habitat for Aviation's founder Beth White. The group's multi-generational, all-women team of “Modern Rosie's” are currently building a Rans S-21 airplane. Beth's journey into aviation began with a memoir that sparked her curiosity and inspired her to take a discovery flight.In this episode, Beth reveals how an unfortunate life-changing event led her to create Habitat for Aviation, a nonprofit that's preparing the next generation of airplane mechanics, pilots, and avionics specialists. Plus, you'll hear from some of the young women participating in the airplane build. Beth provides insights into Habitat for Aviation programs and discusses resources, such as EAA's Young Eagles, which offers free discovery flights to youth. She also gives practical advice for anyone interested in getting a pilot certificate. Share this episode with your friends, family, and colleagues. They may be the future airplane mechanics, air traffic controllers, pilots, and other aviation professionals working to keep us safe. Learn more about FAA job opportunities and how you can become an aviation mechanic.Meet Our Guests Beth White is a certificated private pilot, an airplane mechanic apprentice, and the founder of Habitat for Aviation; a nonprofit that offers hands-on learning opportunities that align with the FAA's apprenticeship certification track. In 2024, Habitat for Aviation launched its Women Build Planes program, where an all-female team of “Modern Day Rosies” is building an airplane at Franklin County Airport. Beth has worked in public schools, including The Met, a Big Picture Learning flagship public high school and she earned a PhD in educational leadership and policy studies from University of Vermont.Aubrianna Mayette has completed over 130 hours with the Women Build Planes program at Habitat for Aviation. She is a Harbor Freight Fellowship scholarship recipient who plans to enter the U.S. Airforce through the Vermont National Air Guard to pursue an aviation mechanic career.Zoë Brosky is a photographer and part of the ground crew at Habitat for Aviation. She has a BS in accounting from Cumberland University and is working towards her private pilot's license. Abby Demar is the recipient of an EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship who is working towards her private pilot certificate and participating in the airplane build with Habitat for Aviation.Ashwil Bell is a student of mathematics and science participating in the Women Build Planes program at Habitat for Aviation.  

As you will have heard on previous episodes with Sandra Milligan, Yong Zhao, folks from Mastery Transcript Consortium and Rethinking Assessment, standardised tests and assessments are often one of the biggest barriers to change in education as these credentials and school-leaving certificates often hold the key that opens up the next door or higher education for many young people. This week I'm so excited to share an amazing success story of someone who decided that this compromise was just unacceptable for their young people.  Viv White AM is CEO and co-founder (with John Hogan) of Big Picture Learning Australia (BPLA) - https://www.bigpicture.org.au/ - a non-profit company established in Australia in 2006. Building on the work started by Dennis Littky and Elliot Washor in the US in 1995 (https://www.bigpicture.org/), Big Picture Learning Australia's design for personalised, student-driven learning is being implemented in over 50 schools around Australia. Viv has also pioneered a new non-ATAR credential known as the International Big Picture Learning Credential (IBPLC) that is warranted by the University of Melbourne, and accepted by 17 universities around Australia. In 2018 Viv was appointed to the Order of Australia for her services to education and to the reengagement of young people in learning for life. Prior to leading BPLA, Viv was CEO of the Victorian Schools Innovation Commission and CEO of the Australian National Schools Network. She has a thirty-year history of international work in educational reform, research, policy and practice. Viv taught primary and secondary education for 13 years, worked in tertiary research for five years as a research fellow at Macquarie University and Victoria University, and served as an adjunct professor at the University of Western Sydney. Viv is a Fellow of the Australian Council of Education and was admitted, in 2014, to the Australian Businesswomen's Network Hall of Fame. Viv was also named one of The Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence in 2019. Find out more: LinkedIn: @viv-white - https://www.linkedin.com/in/viv-white-am-297642142/ Instagram: @bigpicture.edu.au - https://www.instagram.com/bigpicture.edu.au/  @bigpiclearning - https://www.instagram.com/bigpiclearning/ (US) Website: https://www.bigpicture.org.au/

Sersie and Gigi sit down with a rockstar in the lifestyle medicine space. Dr. Marsha-Gail Davis is a mover-and-shaker empowering patients with lifestyle medicine. Get healthy plant-based recipes at danielsplate.com. Connect and follow Dr. Davis on IG @mgdthedoc. Check out the full version of her Wack rap video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cPsSGLY2VZw?si=xw4W5ZHlNmmYQSx2 Health care, not sick care article: https://lifestylemedicine.org/articles/health-care-not-sick-care/ About Dr. Marsha Gail Davis: Dr. Davis is a primary care internist and preventionist with an interest in working at the intersection of primary care, lifestyle medicine, public health, and health equity. She completed her medical training at Yale and UCSD in internal medicine and preventive medicine. She is quadruple-board certified in Internal Medicine, Preventive Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, and Obesity Medicine and has a Masters in Public Health. She currently practices as a primary physician at Piedmont Healthcare, served as the Young Director on the Board of Directors of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), and is the former Co-chair of ACLM's HEAL (Health Equity Achieved Through Lifestyle Medicine) Initiative. She also serves as Medical Lead for the student-led health initiative Big Picture Living, created in collaboration with Big Picture Learning, FableVision and ACLM. She is committed to helping her patients and her community live healthy and dignified lives through the prevention and effective treatment of preventable chronic diseases using the full spectrum of clinical medicine (where lifestyle medicine is foundational) to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by preventable diseases and the disparities that exacerbate them. She is an artist and seeks to use her creativity to develop innovative public health solutions to make prevention the priority and to make it popular. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/healthyformypurpose/message

Sonn Sam, National Director of Partnerships at Big Picture Learning, discusses his experiences and insights on creating learner-centered education systems. Sonn shares how his experiences as a refugee from Cambodia shaped his educational journey and how he did not feel seen or supported in traditional school environments. He found mentors and purpose through community programs focused on his interests, like dance. Later, transformative educators helped Sonn discover his passion for empowering youth by asking him questions no one had asked before about what he cared about. This led him into education and working with Big Picture Learning. Key topics covered include: The importance of knowing students' interests and passions to drive relevant learning Small group advisory structures for relationship building- Connecting students with mentors and internships in the community Developing competency-based systems and authentic assessments Moving from theory to action by starting small and evolving practice over time Sonn emphasizes the need to build ecosystems that honor the brilliance in every student, not just those who fit traditional measures of success. His vision is for an education system where every child feels seen, heard, and loved.

On this Getting Smart Town Hall, we took a look at our latest publication, Support & Guidance For All New Pathways Journeys and spoke with practitioners and policy experts to get an overview of the current state of advisory models in U.S. schools. Together, we highlighted some exemplars in the space and discuss how support, guidance and advisory systems are critical parts of building New Pathways that serve all learners. Be sure to check out some of the links that were shared in the deck and the chat at the button below: Watch Recording View Links View Recap Blog

On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark is joined by Elliot Washor, the co-founder of Big Picture Learning and author of the great new book Learning to Leave: How Real-World Learning Transforms Education. This book is the followup to the great Leaving to Learn: How Out-of-School Learning Increases Student Engagement and Reduces Dropout Rates. Elliot is also the co-founder of The Met Center in Providence, RI and has been involved in school reform for more than 50 years as a teacher, principal, administrator, video producer, and writer. He has taught and is interested in all levels of school from kindergarten through college, in urban and rural settings, across all disciplines. His work has spanned across school design, pedagogy, learning environments, new forms and new measures for learning, and is supporting others doing similar work throughout the world. Elliot's interests lie in the field of how schools can connect with communities to understand tacit and disciplinary learning both in and outside of school. Elliot is deeply committed to imagining Big Picture Learning as a ‘do-think-do' organization, and persistently pushes the boundaries of its design in order to continually innovate practice and influence in the world of education especially for those youth living in communities furthest from opportunity. Links:  B Unbound Learning to Leave: How Real-World Learning Transforms Education Leaving to Learn: How Out-of-School Learning Increases Student Engagement and Reduces Dropout Rates One Kid at a Time: Big Lessons from a Small School Big Picture Learning  Imblaze Namahana School  

Welcome back to Season 2 of the Hummingbird Stories! This week, Donnell and Jenny are learning about the Leandro case in North Carolina and dreaming about what it means to go Beyond Leandro. They talk to EdNC.org's Rupen Fofaria and hear from education leaders Aylon Samouha of Transcend Education, Sonn Sam of Big Picture Learning, and Carol Bowar of GALS Denver. Learn more about their organizations at the links below. But first, we want to hear from you! Our weekly question is: Everyone in our state is talking about a sound, basic education. But what would an extraordinary education look like? Visit SayHi.chat/hummingbird to chime in. Learn more about Aylon Samouha and Transcend: www.transcendeducation.org Learn more about Sonn Sam and Big Picture Learning: www.bigpicture.org Learn more about Carol Bowar and GALS Denver: www.galsdenver.org. The artwork on our album cover is by 11th grade student Jocelyn H. Check out her work at @celyns_arts on Instagram.

Kyle Denman's work at New Village Girls Academy in Los Angeles is changing the lives of "at-promise" students, many of whom have have experienced trauma and challenges such as trafficking, homelessness, gang violence, domestic violence, and substance abuse. Through the lenses of fashion, art, and design, Denman  teaches social-emotional skills. Learn how a robust internship and career-readiness program positions his students for success. Some of his many accolades include: - 2022 MUSE Design Award Winner - 2021 International Design Awards Fashion Design of the Year - 2021 30 Under 30 Changemaker in Education - 2018 Young Fashion Designer of the Year - 2016 Project Runway Remake It Work Grand Prize Winner   Resources: ImBlaze New Village Girls Academy  New Village Girls Academy on instagram Follow thekyledenman on instagram. You won't regret it! email Kyle at k.denman@newvillagegirlsacademy.org  EdCuration's Certified EdTrustees Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events EdCuration's Certified EdTrustees Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events Read about the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools, 30 under 30 Changemakers. So inspiring! Big Picture Learning's Big Bang Conference.  I will be there!   EdCuration's Certified EdTrustees Micro Professional Learning ExPLorations EdCuration's Blog: Learning in Action EdCuration's upcoming Online Events  

Zelia Gonzales is the co-founder of Rebel Ventures Network (RVN) which provides a structured environment for young people to develop, maintain, and reflect upon community and personal explorations. David Banda is a teacher at The MET, a network of six small, public high schools located in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island. They are joined by Andrew Frishman, a member of the Big Picture Learning leadership team. Their conversation with Rod and Jal covers a variety of topics including: what it was like to attend a BPL school; the importance of developing self-efficacy in our students; how internships play a vital role in the BPL curriculum; ways to ensure students get to explore their passions and really figure out what they want to do in life; highlighting how much learning takes place outside the classroom; what needs to be done to ensure that deep relationships are forged across all levels of the school system; and a lightning round full of spicy hot takes! Questions? Thoughts? Feedback? Email us at  freerangehumanspod@gmail.com or Tweet us at @jal_mehta and @Rodroad219

Welcome back to episode 6 of the UCET podcast, where we talk about all things Utah, education, and technology. In this episode, we are focusing on how to provide opportunities for students to engage virtually with experts, teams, and students, locally and globally. We not only want to discuss how to bring the world into our classrooms but how we can take our classrooms out into the world. We have two wonderful guests on this episode, Dany Macías, a teacher in Alpine School District, and Matt Winters, a UEN instructor. Over the course of this episode, we discuss the following questions:Why is it important to learn about the world beyond our city/state/country?What are some tech tools that can help educators engage virtually with people outside of the classroom?What are some challenges teaching a globalized perspective?At the end of the episode, we discussed some of the best ways to develop global citizens, for our students and for ourselves as educators.  If you want more, you can follow Dany on Instagram @Book_Talk_Lady and Matt can be found on Twitter @TeacherWinters or https://www.teacherwinters.net/ Resources mentioned in the episode:NearpodNewselaKisstheBook BlogFlipgrid PalsNational Endowment for the Humanities Professional Development ProgramsUN Sustainable Development GoalsNewslit.org Newsroom to Classroom featureUCET Grant Wakelet#Globaledchat every 3rd Thursday on TwitterSpecial thanks to Matt Winters for the sound editing and Kiera Beddes for hosting.

Today's episode is one that you won't want to miss. It's no secret that I am passionate about education, especially when it comes to our teens. And while it doesn't make me popular with some people, I tend to speak up about the critical need for education reform in our schools. For me, it's not so much about education but about learning and how we can fix a broken system so that the young people of today will be equipped for the future. This isn't just about college prep or career planning. Don't get me wrong, those are important too. But I am talking about the impact that our current education system has on our kids' ability to learn, to build skills, to explore, be curious and gain confidence and self-worth. I'm beyond thrilled to welcome Dr. Sonn Sam to the podcast today. Dr. Sam is the Regional Director with Big Picture Learning, a national and international network of schools committed to activating the potential of schools, systems, and education through student-driven, real-world learning. He has been an innovative educator for over 18 years. During our conversation, Dr. Sam talks about his own journey through high school and how it impacted the work he does today. He also shares how we can provide students with authentic opportunities to solve real-world problems. You won't want to miss Dr. Sam's perspective on what needs to change and how that change is already underway. It's conversations like this that remind me why I pivoted in this direction in the first place. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Please visit the show notes page for more information and links mentioned during this episode. Connect with Me! High School Hamster Wheel Facebook Page No Degree Required Facebook Group Betsy Jewell Career Coaching Instagram LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss a single episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you want to go deep on Big Picture Learning, check out this longitudinal study of big picture students and alumni that Eva coauthored!Episode Notes If you want to learn more about Don Berwick, listen to Stacey Caillier's interviews with him: "Improvement as Learning" and "Building Courageous Networks" A short biography of W. Edwards Deming A short biography of Anthony (Tony) Bryk A short biography of Peter Senge

Con una reconocida líder del cambio escolar en High Tech High en California, conoceremos cómo los maestros subvierten los roles, trocan la voz única en oído y logran que los estudiantes sean protagonistas en el aprendizaje activo, crítico y basado en preguntas. Por medio de la indagación es posible repensar, comprender, aplicar, analizar, evaluar y, finalmente, proponer de manera creativa, como lo sugiere la llamada “Taxonomía de Bloom”. Exploremos esa atractiva migración de estudiantes receptores de información a creativos. Invitada: Melissa Agudelo, magister en liderazgo para el cambio escolar en High Tech High (California). Directora de San Diego Met High School, escuela Big Picture Learning. #EscuelaEnBicicleta © 2021 Parque Explora. Todos los derechos reservados.

Dr. Dennis Littky is co-founder and co-director of The Met School, co-founder of Big Picture Learning and founder and President of College Unbound. He is nationally known for his game changing and extensive work in secondary education in urban, suburban, and rural settings, spanning over 40 years and now in higher education. His work as an educator has been featured in a movie, A Town Torn Apart, as well as a book, Doc: The Story of Dennis Littky and His Fight for a Better School. He is an author and the recipient of many awards and honors, and is the recipient of two earned doctoral degrees in psychology and education from the University of Michigan. Described as a ‘radical educator', as ‘someone who works up against the edge of convention and out of the box', and as ‘someone who has changed the conversation in this country about education', Littky has dedicated his life to making education possible for all. For more information: https://www.bigpicture.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=584289&type=u&pREC_ID=915338

Carlos Moreno, co-executive director of Big Picture Learning, joins us to talk about what it takes to build a student-centered school.

Remaking Tomorrow

In this episode, I had the honor of having Dr. Tyra Good on the podcast to share about her upbringing in Pittsburgh, PA, how her time at an HBCU (i.e. Howard University) shaped her development as an educator, and the current work she's doing as the founding executive director of the Center for Equity in Urban Education (CEUE) at Elms College in Chicopee, MA. To learn more about Dr. Good's work, you can follow her on all social media platforms with the handle @tyrathegooddr or visit the Center for Equity in Urban Education website at https://www.elms.edu/ceue/. BIO: Dr. Tyra Good is the founding executive director of the Center for Equity in Urban Education (CEUE) at Elms College. Good has more than 10 years of experience teaching education, and, most recently, she was assistant professor of practice in education at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. Good is the founder and chief academic consultant for GOOD Knowledge Connections and the founder of the Black Educators Network (BEN) of Greater Pittsburgh. The BEN is a strategic team of K-12, Higher Education, and community educators working across school district and community lines to help ensure the academic and personal success of African-American youth from underserved communities. For her dedication and commitment to diversifying the teaching pipeline and preparing pre-service teachers to work in urban settings, Good has received a myriad of award recognitions. Most recently, she was awarded a 2019 National Deeper Learning Equity Fellowship through Big Picture Learning and Internationals Network for Public Schools. Deeper Learning Equity Fellows are exceptional leaders, education practitioners, policy advocates, and researchers who are committed to expanding Deeper Learning educational practices aimed at improving public education opportunities for underserved communities. Dr. Good received her bachelor's in business management from Howard University, a master of arts in teaching from Chatham University, and a doctorate in educational leadership and evaluation from Duquesne University. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/identitytalk4educators/support

"The New Social Learning: Connect. Collaborate. Work." by Tony Bingham and Marcia Conner (2015) (http://bit.ly/2NpXaXP) "Etienne Wenger, co-author of Digital Habitats: Stewarding Technology for Communities and author of Communities of Practice: Learning, Meaning, and Identity asserts that human knowing is fundamentally a social act. By hearing about the experiences of others, you mash up snippets of data, add them to your own, and fit them into your sense of who you are and what you can do — together and with others. Learning 'changes who we are by changing our ability to participate, to belong, and to experience our life and the world as meaningful'" (p. 33). References: Tony Bingham (https://twitter.com/tonybingham) Marcia Conner (https://twitter.com/marciamarcia) qwivid (https://qwivid.com/) Etienne Wenger (https://twitter.com/etiennewenger) "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World" by David Epstein (http://bit.ly/3cG2bnJ) David Epstein (https://twitter.com/DavidEpstein) Futurity (https://www.futurity.org/) Big Picture Learning (https://twitter.com/bigpiclearning) Michael Lipset, PhD of PassTell Stories (http://www.michaellipset.com/) Connect: Twitter (https://twitter.com/mjcraw) Website (https://www.mjcraw.com) Music from Digi G'Alessio CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 (https://bit.ly/2IyV71i)

Today, many schools still focus on deficit learning, measuring students by a perceived lack instead acknowledging their inherent strengths.  The problem is not the students. The problem is an outdated educational system. With a renewed focus on finding personal purpose, supportive relationships, and a broader perspective of the world, we change the world we live in by changing the way we approach teaching our students.  Today’s guest, Sara Mounsey of Big Picture Learning, talks about her school’s transition from content-driven to student-driven, how a human-centered approach to education creates lifelong learners, and how Leaving-to-Learn programs empower students in the “real world.”  About Sara Mounsey: As one of two Big Picture Learning high school leaders in the Methow Valley School District, Sara Mounsey helped transform a content-driven learning model into a student-driven one, where students are actively engaged in internships and passion projects.  Jump in the Conversation: [1:48] Defining Big Picture Learning  [6:05] Practicing accountability [9:12] “Leaving to Learn” activities [14:14] Two internship transformation stories [21:41] Evolution towards engaged, high school learning [29:16] Sara’s Magic Wand: Districts creating high schools where every student has a caring mentor, equitable opportunities, potential realized, and leadership experiences. [30:33] Maureen’s hope that we can redefine academic success and transform high schools. Links and Resources: Email Sara Mounsey Independent Learning Center The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates Brene Brown on Empathy Episode 44: Learning About Trauma-Informed Education with Heather Batchelor Email Maureen Facebook: Follow Education Evolution Twitter: Follow Education Evolution LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids Micro-school feature on Good Morning America The Micro-School Coalition Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition LEADPrep

"Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis" by Robert Putnam (2015) (http://bit.ly/3pj7hKV) "This is not the first time in our national history that widening socioeconomic gaps have threatened our economy, our democracy, and our values. The specific responses we have pursued to successfully overcome these challenges and restore opportunity have varied in detail, but underlying them all was a commitment to invest in other people's children. And underlying that commitment was a deeper sense that those kids, too, were our kids" (p. 261). References: Robert Putnam (http://robertdputnam.com/) Unicef (https://www.unicef.org/) Anja Nielsen (https://twitter.com/anjanielsen_) Unicef UK (https://www.unicef.org.uk/) Big Picture Learning (https://www.bigpicture.org/) Michael Lipset of PassTell Stories (http://www.michaellipset.com/) Connect: Twitter (https://twitter.com/mjcraw) Website (https://www.mjcraw.com) Music from Digi G'Alessio CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 (https://bit.ly/2IyV71i)

Brent Maddin talks with Dr. Mahnaz Charania, Senior Research Fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute, in advance of Building the Next Normal, the January 2021 convening hosted by ASU's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, where Mahnaz will be a featured expert.Comments? Feedback? Ideas? Drop us a line at edworkforce@asu.edu. Follow MLFTC on Twitter at @asueducation and follow Mahnaz at @mahnazcharania. Share this episode with #NextEducationWorkforce.0:58: Mahnaz defines social capital, makes the connection between social capital and equity, and describes the framework she has developed to measure social capital2:55: “You can't be who you don't know:” Mahnaz explains what it looks like to build students' social capital and provides specific examples of schools, networks, and organizations (e.g., Big Picture Learning, Future Focused Education) that design and measure students' social capital7:04: Mahnaz proposes shifts in policy that might be conducive to helping students build social capital  8:57: Mahnaz talks about bringing “outside” resources into schools and shares examples of how other districts (e.g., Cajon Valley Union School District) are doing this effectively10:46: Mahnaz describes the intersection between teams of educators; community stakeholders; and diversity, equity and inclusion.12:11: Mahnaz shares her thoughts on professional learning for educators, educational leaders and community members.14:12: Mahnaz reacts to the idea that the pandemic may have accelerated innovation in education and shares her concern that we might be “innovating in the dark.”16:10: Mahnaz recommends readings educators might consider before they join her at Building the Next Normal, the January 2021 convening hosted by ASU's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College.  

Brent Maddin talks with Carlos Moreno, Co-Executive Director of Big Picture Learning, in advance of Building the Next Normal, the January 2021 convening hosted by ASU's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, where Carlos will be a featured expert.Comments? Feedback? Ideas? Drop us a line at edworkforce@asu.edu. Follow MLFTC on Twitter at @asueducation and follow Carlos at @Carlos_Moreno06. Share this episode with #NextEducationWorkforce.1:26: Carlos explains why he is passionate about issues of educational equity and how he sees the educational system hardening inequality instead of maximizing students' talents and strengths.3:12: Carlos shares his concern that we may not be adequately empowering educators to identify and address issues of equity for all learners and explains that more action, direct communication and mobilization may be necessary.5:24: Carlos explains some of the ways this moment--the COVID-19 pandemic--might allow us to think more broadly about outcomes for learners and educators.8:34: Carlos recommends reading educators might consider exploring before they join him at Building the Next Normal, the January 2021 convening hosted by ASU's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. 

What can help lead to deeper learning when integrating technology?  Matthew Downing and Dr. Scott McLeod discuss this relevant and important question. Scott brings it with theory and examples galore that can be easily applied to the learning environment.   Scott adds to the conversation by highlighting his 4 Shifts Protocol: higher level thinking, student agency, authentic work, and technology infusion.   Dr. Scott McLeod is the Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Colorado Denver. He started off as a middle school social studies teacher before earning his JD and Ph.D.  Scott is a leading expert in K-12 technology leadership issues. He shares his work through his wonderful website (dangerously irrelevant), blog, presentations, books, and countless articles. Music: Believin Stephen Shout outs:  Virginia Educators, Big Picture Learning, PBL, High Tech High, New Tech Network Give a listen.  Subscribe.  Post a review.

When evaluating the success of our students, what we’re really evaluating is the failures of our approach. Students who don’t feel valued and engaged won’t succeed and as educational leaders we are responsible for creating an environment our students can thrive in. It’s not about changing who we are serving, it’s about changing how we are serving them.  Loren Demeroutis, of Big Picture Learning, joins us on Education Evolution today to discuss how we can take a more student-centered learning approach in order to drive higher interest and engagement within our educational environments. By creating a student-centered learning environment, we close the achievement gap and create spaces where students feel safe, heard, valued, and engaged. About Loren Demeroutis: Loren Demeroutis is an experienced administrator, educator, and the director of Big Picture Learning, a system of schools that work hard to engage students and make learning authentic. He has a passion for interest-based learning that he uses in his mission to sustainably undo systems of oppression. To learn more about the work of Loren and BPL, visit their website and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also find Loren on LinkedIn and Twitter. Jump Through the Conversation [2:00] Big Picture Learning Vision [3:18] BPL is leading on shifting from doing learning to...to for...to with our learners [9:44 ] BPL students are seen and valued. Sound familiar? [15:17] Schools building “wonder and awe” [16:19] Activism by school working together for change as a “meshwork” [19:56 ] Relationships are really love in action [23:13] Loren’s Magic Wand: Give the wand to a young person and trust! [25:45] Love is the opposite of of hate  Links and Resources: Micro-School Coalition Big Picture Learning Confronting unconscious biases or stereotypes Love = boldly challenging racism Email Maureen Schedule free 15-minute consultation with Maureen Facebook: Follow Education Evolution Twitter: Follow Education Evolution LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids Maureen on Good Morning America For this episode and more, EducationEvolution.org  

When evaluating the success of our students, what we’re really evaluating is the failures of our approach. Students who don’t feel valued and engaged won’t succeed and as educational leaders we are responsible for creating an environment our students can thrive in.It’s not about changing who we are serving, it’s about changing how we are serving them.Loren Demeroutis, of Big Picture Learning, joins us on Education Evolution today to discuss how we can take a more student-centered learning approach in order to drive higher interest and engagement within our educational environments. By creating a student-centered learning environment, we close the achievement gap and create spaces where students feel safe, heard, valued, and engaged.About Loren Demeroutis:Loren Demeroutis is an experienced administrator, educator, and the director of Big Picture Learning, a system of schools that work hard to engage students and make learning authentic. He has a passion for interest-based learning that he uses in his mission to sustainably undo systems of oppression. To learn more about the work of Loren and BPL, visit their website and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also find Loren on LinkedIn and Twitter.Jump Through the Conversation[2:00] Big Picture Learning Vision[3:18] BPL is leading on shifting from doing learning to…to for…to with our learners[9:44 ] BPL students are seen and valued. Sound familiar?[15:17] Schools building “wonder and awe”[16:19] Activism by school working together for change as a “meshwork”[19:56 ] Relationships are really love in action[23:13] Loren’s Magic Wand: Give the wand to a young person and trust![25:45] Love is the opposite of hateLinks and Resources: https://educationevolution.org/30Education Evolutionhttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/education-evolution/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/30-creating-student-centered-learning-spaces-with-loren-demeroutis

When evaluating the success of our students, what we’re really evaluating is the failures of our approach. Students who don’t feel valued and engaged won’t succeed and as educational leaders we are responsible for creating an environment our students can thrive in.It’s not about changing who we are serving, it’s about changing how we are serving them.Loren Demeroutis, of Big Picture Learning, joins us on Education Evolution today to discuss how we can take a more student-centered learning approach in order to drive higher interest and engagement within our educational environments. By creating a student-centered learning environment, we close the achievement gap and create spaces where students feel safe, heard, valued, and engaged.About Loren Demeroutis:Loren Demeroutis is an experienced administrator, educator, and the director of Big Picture Learning, a system of schools that work hard to engage students and make learning authentic. He has a passion for interest-based learning that he uses in his mission to sustainably undo systems of oppression. To learn more about the work of Loren and BPL, visit their website and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also find Loren on LinkedIn and Twitter.Jump Through the Conversation[2:00] Big Picture Learning Vision[3:18] BPL is leading on shifting from doing learning to…to for…to with our learners[9:44 ] BPL students are seen and valued. Sound familiar?[15:17] Schools building “wonder and awe”[16:19] Activism by school working together for change as a “meshwork”[19:56 ] Relationships are really love in action[23:13] Loren’s Magic Wand: Give the wand to a young person and trust![25:45] Love is the opposite of hateLinks and Resources: https://educationevolution.org/30Education Evolutionhttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/education-evolution/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/30-creating-student-centered-learning-spaces-with-loren-demeroutis

Guest Dr. Elliot Washor, co-founder of Big Picture Learning, joins us to share the impact of his organization and their work to foster learning spaces where students can freely and courageously pursue their passions and interests. Over the past 25 yrs, Big Picture Learning has worked to innovate and change education and Dr. Washor discusses the student focused learning model which is at the center of their student success.Host Bio: Dr. Chris Balow is the Chief Academic Officer at SchoolMint. Dr. Balow has a Ph.D in Educational Psychology and served for 33 years as an educator in various roles with focuses on literacy, mental health, and the behavioral and emotional growth of students. He has worked the last 6 years in the educational technology field to promote student success on a larger scale.

Parents are a huge part of the success of a micro-school. They’re there to advocate for their children and help both the school and its community achieve common goals. But often parents shy away from participating fully because they’ve been taught by traditional institutions that their help isn’t always welcome.Without the support of families in a smaller school community, those schools wouldn’t be as successful as they could be. In this week’s episode of the Education Evolution podcast, I’m sharing how parents can and should get involved and how school leaders can support parent empowerment.Whether you’re a start-up micro-school or a school leader looking for new ways to bring parents into the fold of your school community, you’ll find tips and resources that can help you encourage parents to step up and get involved.Jump Through the Conversation[1:20] Village approach to raising a child[3:10] Big Picture Learning[4:46] Synergy with common goals to maximize learning and development[6:08] Three steps every school leader can take to support parent empowerment in the classroom/micro-school[8:56] Four quadrants of time management[11:46] Maureen’s magic wandLinks and Resources:https://educationevolution.org/20Education Evolutionhttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/education-evolution/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/20-empowering-parents-in-a-micro-school

Parents are a huge part of the success of a micro-school. They’re there to advocate for their children and help both the school and its community achieve common goals. But often parents shy away from participating fully because they’ve been taught by traditional institutions that their help isn’t always welcome. Without the support of families in a smaller school community, those schools wouldn’t be as successful as they could be. In this week’s episode of the Education Evolution podcast, I’m sharing how parents can and should get involved and how school leaders can support parent empowerment. Whether you’re a start-up micro-school or a school leader looking for new ways to bring parents into the fold of your school community, you’ll find tips and resources that can help you encourage parents to step up and get involved. Jump Through the Conversation [1:20] Village approach to raising a child [3:10] Big Picture Learning [4:46] Synergy with common goals to maximize learning and development [6:08] Three steps every school leader can take to support parent empowerment in the classroom/micro-school [8:56] Four quadrants of time management [11:46] Maureen’s magic wand Links and Resources: https://educationevolution.org/20 Education Evolution https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/education-evolution/ Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/20-empowering-parents-in-a-micro-school

Parents are a huge part of the success of a micro-school. They’re there to advocate for their children and help both the school and its community achieve common goals. But often parents shy away from participating fully because they’ve been taught by traditional institutions that their help isn’t always welcome.Without the support of families in a smaller school community, those schools wouldn’t be as successful as they could be. In this week’s episode of the Education Evolution podcast, I’m sharing how parents can and should get involved and how school leaders can support parent empowerment.Whether you’re a start-up micro-school or a school leader looking for new ways to bring parents into the fold of your school community, you’ll find tips and resources that can help you encourage parents to step up and get involved.Jump Through the Conversation[1:20] Village approach to raising a child[3:10] Big Picture Learning[4:46] Synergy with common goals to maximize learning and development[6:08] Three steps every school leader can take to support parent empowerment in the classroom/micro-school[8:56] Four quadrants of time management[11:46] Maureen’s magic wandLinks and Resources:https://educationevolution.org/20Education Evolutionhttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/education-evolution/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/20-empowering-parents-in-a-micro-school

In this episode of The Project, Stanley and Laureen are joined by guests, Dinah Becton-Consuegra and Carlos Moreno! Carlos Moreno is an educational trailblazer committed to supporting school and district leaders in creating high-quality, non-traditional schools designed to tackle systemic issues related to equity in education. He currently serves as Executive Director for Big Picture Learning, a nonprofit organization that, since 1995, has developed over 150 such schools in the United States and throughout the world.   Dinah Becton-Consuegra is currently an equity consultant for PBLWorks, and previously served as the organization's Director of Partnership Development. Prior to her roles with PBLWorks, Dinah was the West Regional Director for EL Education, a K-12 PBL-focused non-profit partnered with more than 150 schools in 31 states. A focus on closing the opportunity gap has been a primary driver in Dinah's 20 years in education.   Together, Carlos and Dinah explore the topic of equitable education and what we can do as teachers and leaders to close the opportunity gap. They speak about the sorts of schools they're working for, how they are redesigning them with equity in mind, and the important hallmarks of equitable education. They also offer advice to teachers and leaders about what they can do to make PBL more accessible and how they can begin to make a shift toward more equitable outcomes for Black and Brown students.   Key Takeaways: [:32] About today's episode and guests! [1:48] Stanley and Laureen welcome Dinah and Carlos to the podcast. [1:54] Kicking off the podcast with a fun question, Stanley asks Dinah and Carlos who their favorite rap artists are (and their favorite hip-hop lines)! [4:18] As Executive Director of Big Picture Learning, Carlos's focus is redesigning schools with equitable education in mind. What types of schools are they working with? And what are some of the hallmarks of equitable education? [8:44] Dinah chimes in with what she believes to be the hallmarks of equitable education. [10:46] Bringing project-based learning into the mix, Carlos elaborates on his quote, “PBL isn't just curriculum; for some students, it's a lifeline.” [14:23] What does meaningful learning look like with all of this emergency, remote learning? And how can we support equitable access to it? [22:27] Dinah shares the advice she would give to teachers or leaders about what they can do to begin making a shift toward more equitable outcomes for Black and Brown students. [26:22] Carlos speaks about the notion of love, equity, and what teachers should spend time on before stepping into the classroom. [28:27] Laureen and Stanley thank Carlos and Dinah for joining The Project!   Mentioned in This Episode: PBLWorks Big Picture Learning Carlos Moreno's LinkedIn Dinah Becton-Consuegra's LinkedIn EL Education Bryan Stevenson's TEDTalk: “We Need to Talk About an Injustice”   Twitter Quotes (for Social Media Use):   “There's no better time for PBL to support equitable access to authentic learning for students.” — Dinah Becton-Consuegra   “I think the first piece [of advice] I would give teachers or leaders is just to start with [themselves]. … Do the internal work of examining your own racism, your own hidden biases, and how they're impacting your teaching or leading.” — Dinah Becton-Consuegra   “Pay attention to power dynamics. Pay attention to who speaks. Pay attention to who doesn't. Pay attention to which students are engaged [and] which ones aren't … and do some follow-up. … Strive to be constantly adaptable and … willing to … shift.” — Dinah Becton-Consuegra   “In my own organization, we've been grappling with the question of what the future ... should look like. … The most important step for us, … was to … acknowledge that this [pandemic] was something very different than anything any of us had experienced.” — Carlos Moreno   “We have to ensure that all of the strengths, challenges, and opportunities that come along with these awesome groups of young people in communities that they belong to, are being considered in every fabric of this new design that folks are working on.” — Carlos Moreno   “These … different times just require teachers letting go of this structure [and] power dynamic where they feel like they have all the answers or need to have all the answers.” — Carlos Moreno

Listen in as our co-hosts have a conversation with Eva Mejia, the Chief Program and Strategy Officer at Big Picture Learning, and Zelia Gonzales, a recent graduate of the Met Sacramento and a current Cornell University student. Our conversation uncovers some of the power of Big Picture for young people like Zelia, how BP students students are known, given opportunities to connect learning to their interests, and set on a future trajectory that is unique and bountiful. Plugs include Big Bang Summer Fest, Books With Brothers, Rebel Ventures Network, The Body Is Not An Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor, Education Elements, and Atomic Habits by James Clear. Music by Ketsa.

The old model of schools with the focus on content delivery and skills not attentive to or directly connected to the interests, passions, and context of youth needs to go.  But how can we pursue new designs of teaching, learning, and schooling that far better engages our youth and affords them the capacity to pursue the lives they want?Jeff Petty, Regional Director of Big Picture Learning and Founder and Director of the Puget Sound Consortium for School InnovationAlexis Gwin-Miller, Executive Director of Momentum Edge Coaching and Consulting Agency and former Principal of Crosstown High SchoolJenn Charlot, Transcend Education and co-founder of Rev-XSonya Wrisley, who helped to develop and was the first Principal at Design39 in San Diego

APPLY FOR THE 2020 WISE ACCELERATOR: https://bit.ly/2W13iaY ----------------------------------------------------- Innovation. You’ve probably seen the word being generously used across the media you consume. It’s the buzzword that many companies and organizations strive to achieve and specifically mention in their strategy (including ours!). In fact, a consulting firm, Board of Innovation, estimates that there are over 70,000 books written on innovation and the philosophies behind it. Despite its status as an overused term, it's values is most definitely still appreciated and adopted by industries alike, including the education space. However, education has been one of the sectors where innovation and change have been notoriously difficult to scale. Many cite challenges such as limited resources, undercompensated teachers, and students who are disengaged. At WISE, we know that innovative education projects are taking shape in many forms across the globe. The question is what is the most effective way to scale innovation? We talked to Ted Fujimoto, President of Landmark Consulting Group in an attempt to crack the code. Ted is an entrepreneur and expert in leadership development and organizational redesign. His experience helped him provide guidance for the launch and expansion of the organization that evolved into the New Tech Network and the growth of Big Picture Learning that currently have over 400 schools using their whole-school designs between them. The network has become famous for its ‘speed scaling’ across the United States. -------------------------------------------------- Related links New Tech Network: newtechnetwork.org Follow Ted: twitter.com/tedfujimoto --------------------------------------------------- Check out more WISE content and send us your thoughts! Website: www.wise-qatar.org Twitter: twitter.com/WISE_Tweets Instagram: wiseqatar

Today, the Getting Smart team is going to learn about a school that is taking student-centered learning global! Rebecca Amis is the co-founder of MUSE School in Calabasas, California. MUSE is a small student-centered P-12 school with a robust sustainability agenda, a great Seed-to-Table program, a vegan kitchen, and climate action integrated across the curriculum. Rebecca and her team are also launching a new initiative called MUSE Global that will provide access to the key elements of the MUSE School model to communities around the world.   Tune in to learn more about MUSE School, what the learning experience is like from P-12, the progress and impact that co-founders Rebecca Amis and Suzy Amis Cameron have made through MUSE School and MUSE Global, and how they are setting a new course for education around the world.   The Getting Smart team really appreciates the thoughtful way that MUSE teachers are weaving learning standards and student passions into community-connected projects, and cannot wait to share today’s episode with you all!   Key Takeaways: [:12] About today’s episode with Rebecca Amis. [:47] Tom Vander Ark welcomes Rebecca Amis to the podcast. [:52] When and why did Rebecca initially get interested in early childhood learning? [3:50] Rebecca shares the history of her career. [6:15] Fastforwarding to MUSE, Rebecca tells the origin story of the school. [10:10] What the learning experience is like in elementary school at MUSE. [11:50] What the learning experience is like in middle and high school at MUSE. [13:10] Where to pre-order Tom’s new book, The Power of Place! [14:12] Rebecca shares the influences that Elliot Washer of Big Picture Learning had on MUSE. [15:19] Rebecca speaks about MUSE’s Seed-to-Table program and how it fits into the life of the school. [17:40] Rebecca elaborates on how MUSE is a plant-based school and what that means for kids on campus and the environment. [21:15] How public schools across Los Angeles are following MUSE’s lead. [21:54] Rebecca’s strategies for sharing what she learned at MUSE with the world and how she’s supporting others doing similar work. [23:00] Rebecca speaks about MUSE Global and what they’re doing to influence schools around the world. [28:14] Where to go online and learn more about MUSE. [28:35] Tom thanks Rebecca for joining the podcast.   Mentioned in This Episode: MUSE School MUSE Global Martin Hoffman — NYU Reggio Emilia Approach Early Head Start UPrep The Power of Place: Authentic Learning Through Place-Based Education, by Tom Vander Ark, Emily Liebtag, and Nate McClennon Big Picture Learning Forks Over Knives (Film, 2011) Rebecca’s Email: Rebecca@MUSEGlobal.org   For Another Great Episode on Place-Based Learning, Check-Out: Getting Smart Ep. 237: “Giving the Gift of Place with Teton Science Schools”   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include ‘Podcast’ in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!

We interview Elliot Washer of Big Picture Learning and Hamish Gray a Senior Vice President of Keysight Technologies Preparing students and young people for their future can be very different than many educators and adults realize today. The demands of 21st Century careers are changing and will continue to change. Therefore, when educators work to prepare students to be College AND Career ready, we can not continue to educate students in the way that we adults were educated. This podcast explores how and why we need to think of preparing students to be College and Career Ready from two experts.

This webinar featured experts from the field and researchers who discussed the challenges and opportunities educators and district leaders face in expanding deeper learning. The discussion featured new research from the Learning Policy Institute that highlights how three networks— Big Picture Learning, Internationals Network for Public Schools, and New Tech Network—have partnered with traditionally structured public school districts to create systems and processes that spread deeper learning models in ways that advance equity and result in greater success for traditionally marginalized students.

In de zoektocht van Maarten en Gijsbert naar duurzaam en waardevol onderwijs stuiten wij op Big Picture onderwijs. Wij zijn te gast op de Big Bang, een evenement waarbij verschillende Big Picture scholen uit Europa bij elkaar komen voor inspiratie en kennisdeling. Tijdens dit evenement stellen wij de vraag 'Wat is Big Picture onderwijs?'. We spreken met betrokkenen over de ervaringen van het werken volgens de tien onderscheidende kenmerken van Big Picture onderwijs. In een tafelgesprek gaan we dieper in op deze gesprekken en bespreken we de principes waarop Big Picture Learning is gebaseerd; Relatie, Relevantie en Rigor.

Change is daunting. Change to entrenched systems and institutions can feel impossible. Even thinking about where to begin can be exhausting. For schools that are interested in remaining healthy and relevant in the 21st-century, Transcend brings resources, experience, energy, optimism, and support to the design process. We are joined today by Sujata Bhatt and Anirban Bhattacharyya from Transcend - a national nonprofit dedicated to accelerating innovation in the core design of “school.” They have a vision for creating extraordinary, equitable learning environments. Listen as our guests unpack the design process and share their belief that schools interested in innovative change are not alone, and are in fact, a part of a revolutionary movement that is accelerating in education.Quotes:12:00 “Another advantage of a holistic blueprint is that not only are the pieces sometimes going in different directions and suffer from each other, they’re often not even in the same place, and so you can’t even go and learn (from each other), and so, a lot of times, there are messy sub-systems where you can see that, manage that, and create a plan to get them in sync.” SujataHere are some resources mentioned in our discussion:How Edtech Can Help Build a Blueprint for Real Change in K-12 -https://www.edsurge.com/news/2019-08-21-how-edtech-can-help-build-a-blueprint-for-real-change-in-k-12KIPP Houston Public Schools https://kipphouston.org/New Tech High School - https://www.newtechhigh.org/Big Picture Learning - https://www.bigpicture.org/Intrinsic Schools - https://intrinsicschools.org/Van Ness Elementary School - https://www.vannesselementary.org/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2YwTbyJW34&=&feature=youtu.beTed Fujimoto at Landmark Consulting - consultlandmark.comWhere to learn more about the guest:Transcend - www.transcendeducation.orgTranscend Blog - http://www.transcendeducation.org/blog-and-news#blog-newsSujata at Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/sujatabhattSujata’s linked websites -incubatorschoolplaybook.org/sites.google.com/bostonpublicschools.org/innovate/home?authuser=0Sujata at Twitter - SujataBhattAnirban’s at Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/anirban-bhattacharyya-a785b667Where to learn more about Enrollhand:Website: www.enrollhand.comOur webinar: https://webinar-replay.enrollhand.comOur free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolgrowth/You can always reach out by emailing hello@enrollhand.com

Nina Rees is the president and chief executive officer of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. After working for more than 20 years in Washington, D.C., including at Knowledge Universe, the U.S. Department of Education, and working as a deputy assistant for domestic policy to Vice President Dick Cheney, she needs no introduction in the education sector. She is passionate about the ultimate goal of charter schools to provide options for families who want an innovative public school education for their child. Nina offers a forthright talk with us about the accomplishments of the charter school movement, the challenges it faces, and the future that it aspires to shape. Whether your school is public or private, there is much to be learned from what charter schools have done, where they are headed, and how they see their value proposition.Listen as Nina shares her vision of the future of the charter movement.Quotes:08:13 “Ultimately, what we’re trying to do in most places is to take low-income families and get them to and through college in order for them to move out of poverty.”16:45 “I do think the future is going to be more personalized; our (charter) schools are well-equipped to fit into this future because we are nimble and we don’t have to coordinate with a centralized bureaucracy before we make a change.” 21:40 “I think it’s important for policymakers to bridge the gap and create ‘convenings’ where the two sectors (traditional system and charter system) have to sit down together.”Here are some resources mentioned in our discussion:The B.A. Breakthrough by Richard Whitmire https://breakthrough.the74million.org/The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools - https://www.publiccharters.org/Prenda Schools - https://prendaschool.com/Valor Collegiate Academies - https://valorcollegiate.orgSummit Public Schools - https://summitps.orgNew Tech High School - https://www.newtechhigh.org/Big Picture Learning - https://www.bigpicture.org/How The Other Half Learns: Equality, Excellence, and the Battle over School Choice by Robert PondiscioTom Vander Ark - www.tomvanderark.comTranscend - www.transcendeducation.orgKinderCare - https://www.kindercare.comWhere to learn more about the guest:Nina at Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/nina-rees-76911111Nina on Twitter - NinachartersWhere to learn more about Enrollhand:Website: www.enrollhand.comOur webinar: https://webinar-replay.enrollhand.comOur free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolgrowth/

Today’s episode features the story of Eagle Rock School — a residential high school for young people that haven’t been successful in other environments. Located on a square mile of mountain wilderness in Estes Park, Colorado, Eagle Rock is supported by American Honda Motor Co. Inc.   In 1995, Dan Condon was an intern at the innovative new school. Today, he holds the title of Associate Director of Professional Development and leads the professional development center that shares lessons from the Eagle Rock model with educators nationwide.   In this episode, Tom gets the chance to sit down with Dan to speak about Eagle Rock and all of the unique opportunities and experiences that are offered there! Listen in as Dan describes the sustained engagement model that makes Eagle Rock so special!   Key Takeaways: [:14] About today’s episode. [:50] Tom welcomes Dan Condon to the podcast. [:56] How did a kid from Wisconsin arrive in Estes Park, Colorado? [2:07] Dan speaks about his career journey after he first arrived at Eagle Rock School. [3:03] Dan speaks about what the learner experience is like at Eagle Rock. [6:02] Dan describes the academic program at Eagle Rock. [6:36] Dan talks about the advisory program at Eagle Rock. [7:33] Dan speaks about the unique experience new students do in the first trimester once they arrive at Eagle Rock. [8:27] Dan’s experience working with kids who are not experienced campers and what he thinks they gain from such an experience. [8:52] About the opportunities for expression in the arts at Eagle Rock and why it is so important. [9:27] How and when do students graduate from Eagle Rock? [10:15] How is the school program is organized? And how long do the students attend? [10:21] Dan speaks about the various courses that are offered at the school and how the curriculum is organized. [11:06] How much voice and choice do students get at Eagle Rock in terms of what they can study? [12:11] Dan speaks about the professional learning practice that he runs. [13:45] Do they work with any big, traditional public schools that are trying to embrace some of their practices? [14:36] Is Dan encouraged by what he sees happening with American education? And is he seeing more educators and schools adopting some of the practices that they’ve honed here at Eagle Rock? [16:01] How is Eagle Rock paving the way for learner-centered environments… and why you should come down to visit the school for yourself! [17:47] Tom and Jessica wrap up this week’s episode!   Mentioned in This Episode: Eagle Rock School Dan Condon Public Allies All Who Dare (Documentary, 2018) Big Picture Learning   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include ‘Podcast’ in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

In this episode, Ted Fujimoto, President of Landmark Consulting Group, entrepreneur, and expert in leadership development and organizational redesign, leads us to understand how to scale a school design with “fidelity.” The goal is always to achieve world-class performance. He explains the ways that system replication is not the same thing as “cloning.”Everything Ted does is built on the pillars of trust, respect, and responsibility, and whether you are launching a school, or redesigning an organization in the fields of entertainment, music, technology, or real estate, that’s not a bad way to start. Ted is the co-founder and co-chair of the Right to Succeed Foundation. They intend to transform at least 6,000 public schools into “American Dream Schools” within the next ten years using “replicable deeper learning whole-school designs.” The key - whether you are trying to replicate a system design, or maximize the performance of one student - is in the relationships that are built. Ted always starts by creating a “power team culture.” If you would like to see a power team culture in your school or to transform your organization into a “dream school,” this is the man to talk to. Or, in this case - to listen to.Quotes:09:10 “Students - in a heartbeat - can detect when something is authentic or not, and whether they are safe or not. How do you create an environment that… ensures that no matter what is happening at home for a teacher, their first interaction with a student is in the right mindset?”14:50 “Intrinisic motivation is what drives long-term, sustained performance and engagement by students and team members.” 19:30 “The common factor (in these school design success stories) is that you are unlocking the intrinsic motivation of a student who never had that, and was never able to tap that motivation in an environment that was safe to do so, and... that same environment is positive for the school team members, as well.” 22:11 “A program or a practice cannot exist in isolation. It could be the very best thing in the world, but what is most important is that you have the ecosystem around it to support it and sustain it, and not kill it.” Here are some resources mentioned in our discussion:New Tech High School - https://www.newtechhigh.org/Big Picture Learning - https://www.bigpicture.org/Prenda Schools - https://prendaschool.com/Acton Academy - http://www.actonacademy.org/Where to learn more about the guest:Ted Fujimoto at Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/tedfujimotoLandmark Consulting - consultlandmark.comRight to Succeed - righttosucceed.orgGo All Creative - https://www.goallcreative.com/Twitter - tedfujimotoTwitter - RightToSucceedTwitter - USADreamSchoolsTwitter - GoAllCreativeInstagram - tedfujimotoWhere to learn more about Enrollhand:Website: www.enrollhand.comOur webinar: https://webinar-replay.enrollhand.comOur free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolgrowth/

Today the Getting Smart team is bringing you a conversation with Andrew Frishman.   From the minute Andrew Frishman met a student from the flagship Big Picture Learning school, he knew he would be involved in crafting education one student at a time. He became a Big Picture advisor at (the now world famous) Met in Providence and then the internship coordinator at Met Sacramento. For the last six years, Andrew has been co-director of Big Picture. One of his initiatives is Imblaze, an internship management platform that helps young people connect with work-based learning and helps teachers monitor their location and progress.   Tune in to learn more about Andrew’s backstory and all the work that he has done at the Met, Big Picture Learning, and Imblaze in this conversation with Tom Vander Ark!   Key Takeaways: [:15] About today’s episode. [1:06] About Andrew’s upbringing, early education, and the genesis of his interests in teaching and biology. [4:21] What inspired Andrew to get started at the Met. [7:54] Tom and Andrew give some background on the Met. [8:57] About Andrew’s past roles and current role at the Met and some of the benefits and challenges that come with it. [10:44] How Andrew came to work at the Met in Sacramento. [11:41] About Andrew’s work as the co-director of Big Picture Learning and how he and his co-director are thinking about the future of the network. [13:42] Andrew proposes the hypothetical question: Why affiliate — or not — with Big Picture? [15:30] How Andrew thinks about the services Big Picture provides. [18:00] How Andrew thinks about his aspirations for the network. [20:54] Why are so many people in the Alt Ed space turning to Big Picture Learning? [25:17] Andrew’s thoughts on how public policy could better recognize the value-add of alternative schools? [28:47] What is Imblaze? [30:40] Where to learn more online!   Mentioned in This Episode: Big Picture Learning Met High School (in Providence) Met Sacramento Imblaze New England Secretary School Consortium Deeper Learning Equity Fellowship The Upstream Collaborative   Get Involved: Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com. Find the Getting Smart Podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.   Is There Somebody You’ve Been Wanting to Learn From or a Topic You’d Like Covered? To get in contact: Email Editor@GettingSmart.com and include ‘Podcast’ in the subject line. The Getting Smart team will be sure to add them to their list!  

By far the most inspiring thing about living in the communication age is seeing school innovation at work throughout the world. Sometimes we can get trapped in our microcosm obsessing over what doesn’t work in schools - after all, there is a lot that needs changing. But that doesn’t mean, of course, that there aren’t awesome things happening.To expand on the word "innovation" - I know that these word can be "fad worthy" - if you will. The education community tends to look at every new initiative as innovative, including those that just do everything most normally do - better. But that's not what I'm getting at here...innovation is taking a risk against the status quo, doing something that little to no other people are doing. It's important to highlight and express these ideas are not only legitimate, but extraordinary - we should celebrate work and be careful of solely critiquing the established system.In this episode, we’re speaking to a variety of people - from students in high school to business leaders - on what innovation looks like in schools. However, instead of focusing on broad, sweeping topics on progressive education (which lends itself to a lot of banal conversations about “inspiring creativity” or “preparing for life”), we want to hone in on specifics. Each person we’ve invited has a different specialty. Whether it be going gradeless, mastering a portfolio, enabling student/teacher relationships, tackling AI and digital literacy, or scaling progressive education to multiple schools, I guarantee you’ll learn from these conversations!The expectation isn’t that we jump into our classrooms tomorrow and rapidly change everything based on what we’ve heard here. No - our goal is to have these conversations in order to shift the pedagogical dialogue. There’s not a set curriculum or step-by-step you can purchase, or a podcast that you’ll hear, that will make changes in your school. Instead, developing a mindset of progressive education - hearing these thoughts and bringing your perspective, then (of course) taking action is the only way we’ll see true innovation in schools.In other words, listen, dissect, question, reflect, and engage in this field. Don’t let time and “that’s just not realistic’s” wear you down. Any measure of progressive education is possible anywhere - our guests on this podcast have been from all walks of life, all stages of teaching, across the United States and many countries. Once you understand what you feel when it comes to what “restoring humanity” means in schools, have the ample research and expert voices to back you up, and form that into mitigated risks you can take, we’ll see more and more communities embracing positive educative change for the souls of our students. After all, that’s the Human Restoration Project’s goal! A one-stop for everything you’ll need: research, resources, pedagogical guides, expert opinions, and opinionated, targeted blogs that actually push some boundaries. Let’s push forward together.GUESTS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCEBennett Jester, a high school freshman at the progressive Clark Street Community School in Middleton, Wisconsin, who blogs and speaks on issues of grades and traditional education at-large.Ted Fujimoto, the president of Landmark Consulting Group, a business that focuses on scaling, leadership, and redesign, and whose hand shaped the growth of New Tech Network and Big Picture Learning, both of which have seen massive whole-school progressive redesigns.Deanna Hess, an English educator at Dover High School in Dover, Delaware, who teaches a range of classes including dual-credit courses, where she focuses on developing purpose in writing and reading in what is typically regarded as a traditional setting.Sophie Fenton, the Head of Education Design at the Asia Education Foundation in Melbourne, Australia, who focuses on promoting intercultural and communicative schools in an increasingly connected world.RESOURCESBennett Jester’s BlogClark Street Community SchoolRise Up & Write Program (WI)New Tech NetworkBig Picture LearningGo All CreativeAsia Education FoundationFoundation for Young AustraliansAn Overview by Insight.com on the “Intelligent Digital Mesh”FURTHER LISTENINGS2: E11: Administration, Organization, and Vision w/ Amy Fast Ed.D.E20: Timeless Learning w/ Ira Socol See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Ted Fujimoto. Ted Fujimoto is an entrepreneur and expert in leadership development and organizational redesign. At age 18, Ted founded his first company that designed and implemented logistics, customer relationship management and financial systems for large company clients. At the time in 1992, his biggest challenge was finding qualified people to hire to help grow the company thus igniting the co-development and co-creation of Napa New Technology High School, which opened in 1996. The school conducted all learning through project-based learning, modeled after the project management protocols used by his company combined with a focus on creating a culture and team agreement of trust, respect and responsibility. Shortly thereafter, he sold his first company and became an equity partner in a consulting firm that had a 35+ year track record of redesigning the customer retail network experience for eleven automotive and hospitality brands worldwide. The magic in the firm’s methodology was how organizations can systematically create, replicate and sustain a completely different culture by changing the mindset of team members and changing the motivational drivers from extrinsic to intrinsic. This experience helped him provide guidance for the launch and expansion of the organization that evolved into the New Tech Network and the growth of Big Picture Learning that currently have over 400 schools using their whole-school designs between them. Ted then oversaw the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Carnegie Foundation grants for a Sacramento region education and workforce development intermediary organization working to redesign schools and later advised and helped design programs for over a dozen state charter school associations to provide better support to improve charter school quality. For the past 12 years, Ted Fujimoto has been president of Landmark Consulting Group that helps clients redesign their organization and scale innovations, and develop strategic alliances. The firm works with and at times holds equity in game changing clients that span across education, entertainment, music, technology and real estate. He serves on the board of the California Credit Union, a $3 billion credit union which recently completed the largest merger of equals in credit union history. Ted is the co-founder and co-chair of the Right to Succeed Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming at least 6,000 public schools into “American Dream Schools” within the next 10 years using replicable deeper learning whole-school designs like New Tech Network and Big Picture Learning. Learn more about Ted at twitter.com/tedfujimoto --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This episode we meet three practitioners who are putting in place education methods, solutions, and policies that tackle the mismatch between how we teach and how our brain functions. They also share how they use findings in educational neuroscience to shift educational practices from standardization to personalization. This episode was recorded during a webinar with members from the WISE community:  
Ondine Bullot, CEO and Founder, Better Kids www.betterkids.education/
Elliot Washor, Co-Director, Big Picture Learning www.bigpicture.org/
Rogers Kamugisha, National Design and Training Manager, Educate! www.experienceeducate.org/ You can view the original webinar here: youtu.be/WBrXdLW0ihg

Ted Fujimoto is President of Landmark Consulting Group, Inc., a management and investment consultancy for scaling innovations in learning. Ted helped to design and create the replication systems and strategy for several of the highest performing public school designs in the country that created over 350 schools, including New Tech Network and Big Picture Learning. ...

Have you ever wondered why the implementation of a new idea doesn't seem to be working well? If so, don’t miss this insightful leadership interview with Ted Fujimoto, President of Landmark Consulting Group, Inc., a management and investment consultancy for scaling innovations in learning. Ted helped to design and create the replication systems and strategy for several of the largest scalable, fastest growing, highest performing public school designs in the country that created over 350 schools, including Big Picture Learning and New Tech Network. Big Picture Learning public schools are located in some of the toughest urban areas in America, are graduating over 95% of their students with nearly 100% of them being accepted to college. The New Tech Network has created over 130 public schools and is opening 30 to 40 new schools per year. Ted also serves on the Board of Directors of the California Credit Union, a $1.2 billion credit union. This interview is packed with great lessons in leadership and fantastic information about systems thinking and educational reform. Freshwater fish can’t survive in saltwater tanks! Ted opens with a discussion of systems thinking in education where people enter into the school system with the best of intentions but that the system itself is failing, not the people. He says it’s like taking a healthy freshwater fish and putting it into saltwater tank. His example about an awesome teacher who underperformed in a new situation is painfully common because it’s too often the system, and no the people, that is misunderstood. He also describes a scenario where one school was built on the idea of project-based learning but came close to failure because the system couldn’t let go of pacing guides. Plus, much more...we promise. As someone who is obsessed with creating healthy systems, Ted surrounds himself with those who are pushing boundaries and closely follows the work of Richard Branson. Listen to what he says about being a disruptor in a sector that is foreign to you. Fujimoto tells our listeners that the environment around you impacts the way you behave more than we often realize. Listen to what he says about spending years behaving in ways that are contrary to what we know would be more effective. Listen to Ted talk about the future of artificial intelligence, automation, and the magic of humans doing things that computers can’t do in a time when computers can do so much. It’s an incredible discussion of creativity and innovation. His answer to our #onethingseries personal growth question is awesome. He talks about isolation as stagnation and working to widen your perspective. Don’t miss it. Ted used to think that a convincible innovative idea would be enough, but too often the established systems gets in the way. Listen to what he says about actively changing systems or replacing them entirely.

Andrew Frishman is co-executive director of Big Picture Learning, where the mission is the education of our nation "one student at a time." Listen to Andrew and Tom Vander Ark as they chat about what that means in real terms in schools across the United States.

Listen to Marieli Hernandez's interview of Big Picture Learning Co-Directors Carlos Moreno and Andrew Frishman on the Rhode Island Educator's Guide to Personalized Learning.

Jayne Conway, podcaster for The Rhode Island Guide to Personalized Learning, interviews Dennis Littky about educational philosophy, how and why he started The Met, Big Picture Learning and College Unbound, and why personalized education is powerful and being both adopted and ignored.

Big Picture Learning has a purpose. They walk the talk - their mission is the education of a nation, one student at a time.  This week we will interview Executive Director and storyteller, Carlos Moreno who will share the impact, passion, and what is really behind the success of BPL. As a non-profit organization dedicated to a fundamental redesign of education in the United States, their vision is to catalyze vital changes in K-Adult education by generating and sustaining innovative, personalized learning environments that work in tandem with the real world of their greater community.   At the core of Big Picture Learning’s mission is a commitment to equity for all students, especially underserved urban students, and the expectation that these students can achieve success. Join us as we put Carlos in the innovation hotseat! Dial 914-338-0796 to join this dynamic conversation.   

Most people have a story of a poor or badly-organised introduction to a workplace. As the beginning of an employee’s relationship with their new employer, however, getting the induction process right is really important, and an unmissable opportunity to explain what the company’s all about. On a mission to find out how to do induction differently, we spoke to three companies from a range of sectors who have all recently revolutionised their induction processes. Coffee company UCC send a ‘culture pack’ to new hires, and establish a strong connection with employees before they even begin. BBC Worldwide have worked with communication company One Fish Two Fish to develop a truly multimedia approach to induction that introduces employees to their content and brand. Meanwhile, global HR consultancy Mercer have worked with Big Picture Learning to create a visual representation of their company and strategy, which helps new starters to see where their roles fit in the context of the organisation. All of these companies have moved away from a traditional ‘broadcast’ approach, which sees lots of information transmitted to bewildered new starters, to a process that is far more two-way, and that involves interaction, discovery, and conversation. Author and academic Paul Turner discusses the importance of this, and of aligning the induction with the brand and values of the company. He also describes how companies can measure the success of a new approach. Share your induction experiences, or let us know what you thought of this episode, using the hashtag #CIPDpodcasts Paul Turner, author and academic Naomi Godwin, HR Advisor, UCC Anna Charleston, Head of HR Operations, BBC Worldwide Nicole Black, UK Market Manager, Mercer

Elliot Washor, cofounder of Big Picture Learning, and collaborator Charlie Mojkowski discuss their new book, "Leaving to Learn: Designing a Student Experience that Reduces Dropouts and Produces Deep Engagement in Learning."