Ben Owens worked as an engineer for 20 years before becoming a STEM teacher for 11 years at a wall-to-wall PBL school in rural Appalachia. He founded the non-profit, Open Way Learning, and now works to help schools create the cultural conditions for localized, learner-centered innovation. Ben is also the co-author of Open Up, Education! 

 

Show Highlights

• Ben explains why "Culture eats strategy for breakfast" 
• How a tiny school in rural Appalachia became one of the most innovative schools on the planet 
• Ben shows you how to leverage the talents and skills of your community
• How to flip the script and harness innovation with “open way learning” 
• Ben shares a perfect embodiment of living a shared vision from students in Cambodia
• Learn how to teach true problem solving and critical thinking students will mimic for the rest of their lives
• How to find that true North and be a difference maker

 

“Recognize that there are a lot of educators who have operated in the system.  They have seen stories like this and just realized that the mountain they perceive they would have to climb in order to create that type of culture is so huge. They're often left with where do I even begin? And I think that's a pragmatic reality. My response is begin somewhere. The saying, ‘the best time to plant a tree was, 20 years ago and the second best time is today’. So let's start planting that tree today.”

  Full Transcript

243: Ben Owens Transcript

  Ben’s Resources & Contact Info

• Ben's Book
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

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