About Learning

Stan talks to Max Noble about Anarchism and education. Based in Canada, Max runs a radical project that gives children free rein to play and create collaboratively.

What is Anarchy? What does an Anarchist education look like? How can we create non-coercive learning environments?

Read more about Max’s Creation Stations here: https://www.tmaxrd.education/

Read Stan’s recent article about Anarchy and Education: https://stanpinsent.wordpress.com/2021/09/04/the-case-for-anarchy-in-schools/

Around the world, young people are cooped up in classrooms. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Stan Pinsent speaks to a series of experts to see how we can set learners free.

Most people in Education agree that schools are far from perfect. Should we be making small changes, or do we need a radical rethink? 

In a conversation with his partner Zoë Guzy-Sprague, Stan talks about the influence of self-directed learning and unschooling on his thinking. He looks back the past few months and asks “what next?” for the podcast, his career and for Education in general.

Also, Zoë gives her thoughts before she enters teacher training in the UK. Listen to the end for the bit when they accidentally get talking about having kids.

How do we decide whether schools are doing a good job? Stan sits down with three students at School 21 who have been asking whether the British inspection system is fit-for-purpose. Their project examines the mental health impact of school inspections, and questions the assumption that third-party oversight is a good thing.

At the end Stan reflects on the power of project-based learning and offers a hopeful message to teenage students.

Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - silvermansound.com

I speak to Margaret Wang about the role of a teacher.

Can teachers be apolitical? Can they be trusted to take lessons off-piste? How can education policy better support teachers?

At the end of the show I reflect on recognising Pride month with my students. Even with a good cause like Pride, is there danger in expecting students to adopt beliefs uncritically?

Links:

Subject to Climate: subjecttoclimate.org

Rose Luckin on AI and human intelligence: ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/mar/opinion-ai-education-will-help-us-understand-how-we-think

No Outsiders (teaching tolerance in UK schools): no-outsiders.com/about-us

Music: Dark 'n' Stormy by Shane Ivers - silvermansound.com

Many of our approaches to teaching are driven by what sounds good. But can we take a more evidence-based approach?

Dr Alex Blakes gives us a window into how scientists make medical discoveries. We discuss whether we could apply the same methods in education.

A wide-ranging conversation that covers student activism, big data and alternatives to exams.

About Learning is back for another season! Stan talks to philosophy teacher Yoni Suissa about Utilitarianism - striving for the greatest good for the most people - and how it can be applied to Education.

What are the goals of education? What are the hidden costs? What do we lose when we design schools for the masses?

Skip to the outro to hear about what Stan’s been reading and how this is shaping his thoughts.

After a chaotic twelve months many of us long for a return to normal. But disruption can give us a fresh perspective on the world. What have we learnt from lockdown? Stan shares his personal thoughts and asks how schools, and the world of work, can build back better.

“Home-schooling” is something everyone has heard of but few of us understand. Why would a parent stop their child going to school? Can mainstream education learn anything from the movement? I speak to Jo Gunning, who has been educating her children at home for seven years.

Links and Further Reading

- “Free to Learn” by Peter Gray

- “The Element” by Ken Robinson

- Parentkind.org.uk

Everyone wants their child to do well in school, but few understand how best to help. What role can parents play in their child’s academic achievement? I speak to Alberto Gonzales about his experiences as a student, teacher and a parent.

We touch upon a number of core questions such as: how do parents shape their children’s view of learning? Can eager middle-class parents fuel inequality? What do we teach children without realising? At the end, I summarise some of the research on the links between parental involvement and academic success.

Links for further reading/listening

- The parent-run school that Alberto attended is San Patricio in San Sebastian, Spain

- I mention the podcast series “Nice White Parents”

- For my academic source on parental involvement, go to shorturl.at/sALT4