Two weeks ago, the US Senate held a critical hearing addressing the state of K-12 education. This episode uncovers evidence-backed insights revealing that our education crisis is a broad structural shift, not just a temporary issue. With testimony from academics and district leaders, and global parallels, this discussion highlights the decline in reading and math performance, the entanglement with absenteeism, disengagement, and adolescent mental health, and the reshaping impact of new technologies. We explore practical imperatives for designing educational environments that prioritize cognitive development, and the need for a family-community-policy partnership to combat learning losses exacerbated by COVID disruptions. Tune in for a deep dive into the proposed Pedagogy of Cultivated Attention and actionable strategies to restore focused, meaningful learning in our schools.

00:00 Introduction: The Crisis in K-12 Education
00:26 Global Trends and Alarming Statistics
01:24 Key Findings from the Senate Hearing
01:45 The Role of Technology in Education
02:56 Proposed Solutions and Practical Imperatives
03:24 Questions for Educational Design
04:00 The Pedagogy of Cultivated Attention
04:13 Auditing Educational Environments
05:03 The Role of Parents and Policymakers
05:57 Successful Interventions and Policy Recommendations
07:43 Conclusion: Designing Schools for Deep Learning