Better Learning Podcast

Kevin speaks with Nathan Strenge - a "rogue teacher" who went on to found Exploration High School in Minneapolis - a school that strives to be a "public school for the public good". He speaks with Kevin about his transformation into a rogue teacher, the importance of student agency, and the value of authentic learning experiences.

Nathan Strenge is passionately committed to transforming education into a learner-centered experience, uniquely tailored to each individual's gifts and needs. With a decade of experience as an award-winning teacher, Nathan understands the critical role of deep relationships and authentic experiences in education. He utilizes time and space innovatively to reshape the educational landscape.

Currently a Senior Learning Designer at Fielding International, Nathan offers diverse services including learning environment design, spatial auditing, leadership coaching, and project-based learning (PBL) support. He crafts practical tools to help schools expand their initiatives, aiming for a more inclusive and adaptable educational system. Notably, Nathan has written and directed two series of short films in collaboration with Cranston Public School, focusing on Learning Communities and Project-based Learning.

Find Nathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-strenge-3232b326/

Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/

For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

Who made this episode possible?

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Classical education is an approach to teaching that emphasizes the liberal arts and the study of classic literature. Erik Twist, with over 15 years of experience in classical education spaces, shares his background to make a case for classical education in our modern, fractured times. Erik highlights the importance of preparing students for college, the need for education to extend beyond basic test preparation, and the challenges faced by school leaders.

Erik Twist is the Principal Partner and President of Arcadia Education. From 2008 to 2022, Erik helped build Great Hearts Academies into the largest network of classical schools in the country. He served as president of Great Hearts Arizona from 2017 to 2022. Erik was a member of the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools from 2016 to 2021, as well as a member of the Arizona Charter Schools Association.

Erik holds degrees from Trinity University, where he studied political science, and Oxford University, where he studied theology and philosophy. Erik has been married for 20 years to Allison, and they have six children.

Find Erik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-twist-697ba284/

Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/

For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

Who made this episode possible?

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Second Class Foundation - https://www.secondclassfoundation.org/

Kevin welcomes Mike Realon to discuss his 20 years of transforming public schools in and around Charlotte, North Carolina. He shares the underlining philosophy behind the innovative Olympic High School - which has five separate career academies on the same campus. Mike also talks about the importance of understanding local job needs as a way to create a successful path forward for students.

Mike Realon has significantly impacted public education for over 20 years. His recent efforts include launching Palisades High School in Charlotte which was selected to pilot a "Green Energy & Sustainability" high school pathway and an Advanced Technology Hub. Previously at Olympic High School, he led the development of five distinguished National Academy Foundation career academies. Recognized by Microsoft as one of America's top innovative educators, Mike's approach emphasizes apprenticeships and industry partnerships, enhancing experiential learning. His initiatives at Palisades High have formed over 700 community partnerships, contributing to project-based learning. Mike's work, celebrated in major media outlets, serves as a model for educational and workforce development.

Mike's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-realon-85b9855/

Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/

For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

Who made this episode possible?

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Second Class Foundation - https://www.secondclassfoundation.org/

Kevin speaks with Amar Kumar about his journey to becoming the founder of KaiPod Learning - a company that helps organize microschools for children all over the United States. Amar explains what microschools are, their guiding principles, and what the future holds for the parents and students who might be interested in microschooling.

Amar Kumar is an education entrepreneur who is passionate about making learning more personal, more social, and more engaging. He is the founder of KaiPod Learning, where small group learning is paired with online schools or homeschool curriculum to deliver a new type of learning experience. In his past experience, Amar was the Chief Product Officer for Pearson's Online K-12 division. He has also been a school teacher and a principal at a high-needs rural school in India.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kumaramar/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmarKumarEdu

Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/

For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

Who made this episode possible?

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Second Class Foundation - https://www.secondclassfoundation.org/

Kevin Stoller speaks Punya Mishra, an Associate Dean and Professor at Arizona State University. They explore the intersection of design and education, emphasizing the importance of questioning assumptions within the education system. They also discuss the role of reflection in learning, the coexistence of arts and STEM, and the design of learning spaces.

Dr. Punya Mishra is Associate Dean of Scholarship & Innovation and Professor in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. He also has an affiliate appointment in ASU's Design School. As associate dean he leads a range of initiatives that provide a future-forward, equity driven, approach to educational research. He is internationally recognized for his work in educational technology; the role of creativity and aesthetics in learning; and the application of design-based approaches to educational innovation. He has received $9.5 million in grants; published over 200 articles and edited 5 books. With over 50,000 citations of his research, he is ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide and the top 100 scholars with the biggest influence on educational practice and policy. A TED-Ed educator, he co-hosts the award-winning Silver Lining for Learning webinar as well as the Value Laden and Learning Futures podcasts. Dr. Mishra is an award-winning instructor who has taught courses at undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels in the areas of educational technology, educational psychology, design, and creativity. He is also an engaging public speaker, and an accomplished visual artist and poet. You can learn more about him by going to https://punyamishra.com/.

Website: punyamishra.com

LinkedIn: PunyaMishra

Twitter: @punyamishra

Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/

For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

Who made this episode possible?

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Second Class Foundation - https://www.secondclassfoundation.org/

Kevin Stoller attended EDspaces 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. While he was there he met with dozens of designers, leaders, manufacturer, and educators. Kevin asked them all two questions: "What does radical learning meaning to you?" and "Why do you do this work?".

The voices in this episode include:

Dave Diller, Christina Counts, Chuck Rudalavage. Aimee Eckmann. Julie McLaurin, Stacey Waxtan, Shalini Bhattacharya, Dr. Robert Dillon, Victoria Morian, Tracy Hucul, Katelyn Forcucci, Asher Marcus, Hailey Wrasman, Lauren Gauthier. Charlotte Nienhaus, Rebecca Baibak, Brian Proctor, Kelsey Jordan, Sarah Brown, Dr. Tammy A. Andreyko, Jenniver Gracyalny, Christopher White, Will Anderson

Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/

For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

Who made this episode possible?

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Second Class Foundation - https://www.secondclassfoundation.org/

Elana Leoni (CEO, Leoni Consulting Group) talks with Kevin about the unique challenges and opportunities that both educators and professionals face as they attempt to push forward in a post-COVID environment. This episode dives into the dynamics of the education technology industry, exploring the shift from free to paid services, the impact of the pandemic on edtech startups, and strategies for engaging busy school leaders and educators.

Elana Leoni has had a significant career in improving K-12 education, notably leading marketing at the George Lucas Educational Foundation and expanding Edutopia's social media reach. She is a board member of Mt. Tam College, a prominent blogger and speaker in social media and education, and has been recognized as a top community professional. Elana introduced Edcamps to the West Coast and holds a business administration degree from Cal Poly and an MBA from Berkeley's Haas School. In her leisure time, she enjoys international travel, yoga, "old man sports," and almost anything on the water.

Find Elana online:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/elanaleoni

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elanaleoni/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elanaleoni/

Find Leoni Consulting Group online:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeoniGroup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lcg-found/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leoniconsultinggroup/

Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/

For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

Who made this episode possible?

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Second Class Foundation - https://www.secondclassfoundation.org/

Kevin Stoller discusses the integration of technology into the art curriculum with a team from Lincoln, Nebraska. The team includes Guy Trainin, a professor and principal investigator from University of Nebraska and two teachers from Art-Holmes Elementary School: Amy Spilker, a second-grade teacher, and Matt Akmudi, an art teacher. They share their experiences and insights on how they are using technology to meet the needs of their students.

Dr. Guy Trainin is a University of Nebraska-Lincoln education professor specializing in literacy, technology integration, and innovative learning with recent research in AI. He is an active digital author, blogger, and podcast host. He blogs at [email protected] podcasts at tech-edge on apple podcasts and TechEdge01 on Youtube. Find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guytrainin

Matt Auch Moedy is an Art Specialist at Art-Holmes Elementary with a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, skilled in Art Education and K-12 classroom management.

Amy Spilker, a dedicated 2nd Grade Teacher at Art-Holmes Elementary, brings 16 years of experience to her teaching, emphasizing creative problem-solving and collaborative student discovery.

Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/

For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

Who made this episode possible?

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Second Class Foundation - https://www.secondclassfoundation.org/

Kevin speaks to almost 30 attendees at LearningScapes 2023 in Chicago. He asks them two important questions:

"What does Radically Student-Centered mean to you?"

"What's your 'why' for doing this type of work?"

The hope is that by hearing this tapestry of voices, you will be able to understand all of the exciting viewpoints and ideas that are percolating within the education sector. Think of this as a Sonic Word Cloud.

Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/

For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

Who made this episode possible?

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Second Class Foundation - https://www.secondclassfoundation.org/

Challenged to plan and design sustainable and resilient learning spaces that encourage innovation, critical thinking and collaboration, a handful of young designers have broadened the potential of a school by connecting excellence in design with excellence in education. Their rigorous research, exceptional teamwork and eco-friendly solutions not only meet the needs of students, but address the economy and society of the future, enabling them to master the skills they need to take on the challenges of a world defined by change.

Yasmin Sanchez and Michelle Guerrero, two of the young designers for the award-winning Sustainable Open Learning (SOL) Academy, joined us on the Better Learning Podcast during LearningSCAPES to talk through the SchoolsNEXT Design Competition and how it helped offer them an opportunity to illustrate the kind of creativity that students bring to the planning and design process.

The competition highlights the importance of well-planned, healthy, safe sustainable and resilient schools that foster student and teacher achievement and enhance community vitality. The international annual competition, open to middle school and high school students, challenges student teams to design their learning environments to enhance learning, conserve resources, be environmentally responsive and engage the surrounding community. The multi-disciplinary solution requires students to follow a planning process from the concept phase to completion of the project, with thorough documentation. The students will present their project to a jury for review.

Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Find out more about Kevin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/

For more episodes of the Better Learning Podcast, visit https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

Who made this episode possible?

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Second Class Foundation - https://www.secondclassfoundation.org/