Edufuturists

In this episode of the podcast, we reflect on our recent experiences and interviews, discussing the evolving landscape of education. We explore themes of hope for the future of education, the importance of inclusion and equity, and the role of technology in bridging gaps.

The conversation emphasises the need for a collective vision and the importance of listening to student voices in shaping educational practices. We discuss the importance of sustainability in education technology, the need for critical thinking in curricula, and the challenges posed by an abundance of information.

We cover the necessity of balancing knowledge acquisition with critical thinking skills, the significance of safeguarding students' futures, and the concept of digital ecosystems in transforming education. Again, it highlights the need for a holistic approach to education that considers cultural values and the context of learning.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

05:01 Reflections on Recent Interviews

11:00 Hope for Education: A Collective Vision

16:04 Inclusion and Equity in Education

20:00 Technology's Role in Bridging Gaps

22:27 Sustainability in Education Technology

23:11 The Role of Critical Thinking in Curriculum

24:46 The Importance of Contextual Knowledge

30:21 Navigating Information Abundance

35:55 Balancing Knowledge and Critical Thinking

40:01 Safeguarding Futures in Education

41:41 Digital Ecosystems in Education Transformation

Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode, we are joined by Philippa Wraithmell to discuss the transformative role of technology in education through Philippa's company, Edruption. We explore her journey from teaching to leading educational change, emphasising the importance of understanding the unique needs of each school. The conversation delves into the four pillars of digital education: governance, safeguarding, pedagogy, and innovation, and highlights the necessity of effective digital governance to empower educators and enhance learning experiences. In this conversation, Philippa covers the integration of technology in education, emphasising the importance of a strategic approach to digital tools. She highlights the financial implications of educational technology and the need for schools to evaluate their spending. Philippa also focuses on empowering parents in the digital age, advocating for open communication about technology use at home. She introduces Digital Bridge, a programme aimed at helping families navigate technology and its impact on children. The discussion further explores the significance of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in creating inclusive educational environments. Finally, Philippa calls for a rethinking of assessment methods to prioritise student understanding and creativity over traditional grading systems.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Edruption and Its Mission03:00 Philippa's Journey in Education09:48 The Four Pillars of Digital Education19:00 Digital Governance in Education26:56 The Role of Technology in Learning28:39 Integrating Technology in Education32:19 Financial Implications of Educational Technology34:42 Empowering Parents in the Digital Age39:27 Building a Digital Bridge for Families45:02 The Importance of Universal Design for Learning51:12 Rethinking Assessment and Learning Success

Check out Edruption, Digital Bridge and get a copy of Philippa's bookThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by the lovely Tara Jones from Clever to discuss the evolving landscape of education technology. We explore the importance of cybersecurity, the disparities in student experiences with technology, and the need for personalised learning. The conversation emphasises the significance of creating a supportive digital environment for students, the challenges of screen time, and the necessity of adapting assessment methods to reflect real-world skills. The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of choice and agency in education, advocating for a balanced approach to technology use in classrooms.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Context Setting02:17 Exploring Technology in Education04:19 Student Experience and Device Disparity08:34 Cybersecurity and Student Safety12:21 The Role of Technology in Personalisation16:25 Balancing Screen Time and Learning20:30 Agency and Critical Thinking in Digital Spaces24:20 Future of Education and Technology Integration31:56 Navigating Educational Choices and Agency35:13 The Role of Reading in Learning37:58 Assessment and Learning: A Balancing Act42:36 Curriculum Flexibility and Digital Integration49:25 Exploring Creativity in Education52:18 Rethinking Educational Practices and Success MetricsFind out more about what Clever is doing in this space by clicking the links below

Clever unveils Classroom MFA Layered Security Solutions from CleverU.K. trust boosts security and learning time for students with Clever BadgesClever’s 2025 Cybersecure ReportThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode of the podcast, we chat with Charlie Radman, the Global Head of Education at HP. We discuss the critical role of technology in education, the importance of partnerships, and the pressing global teacher crisis.

Charlie shares insights on HP's commitment to sustainability and digital equity, emphasising the need for critical thinking and digital literacy in today's world. The conversation also touches on HP Futures, a programme aimed at transforming education systems, and the significance of hackathons in fostering innovation in developing countries.

The episode concludes with quick-fire questions that highlight the need for a shift in educational practices and the importance of human connection in the digital age.

Chapters

00:00 Introductions

01:01 Charlie Radman's Role at HP

03:26 The Importance of Partnerships in Education

09:02 Addressing Global Teacher Shortages

13:18 HP's Commitment to Sustainability

20:06 Digital Equity Goals and Initiatives

23:52 Navigating the Digital Landscape for Youth

25:15 The Importance of Critical Thinking in the Age of AI

28:18 HP Futures: Transforming Education Through Collaboration

31:02 Creating Effective Educational Frameworks

35:24 Sustainability and Integrity in Technology

38:49 Harnessing Innovation Through Hackathons

43:14 Rethinking Educational Practices for the Future

Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode of the podcast, we engage with SL Rao, a design consultant from Optimistic Design. They explore the concept of equity-centred design, emphasising the importance of community involvement in the design process. SL shares their journey from engineering to design, highlighting the need for a more inclusive approach in technology and education.

The conversation dives into the challenges of implementing equity-centred design and the significance of recognising privilege and bias in the design process. In this conversation, SL discusses the importance of recognising and overcoming biases in education, particularly in the context of equity.

The dialogue explores how societal biases shape educational experiences and emphasises the need for an asset-based perspective. SL highlights the significance of understanding the diverse contexts of students, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds, and the importance of co-designing educational experiences with them. The conversation also look into modernising math(s) education, the role of technology, and the need for new assessment methods that go beyond traditional grading systems.

Chapters

00:00 Introductions

01:52 Meet SL Rao: A Design Perspective

03:58 Understanding Equity-Centred Design

09:45 SL Rao's Journey: From Engineering to Design

16:12 The Importance of Community in Design

21:41 Challenges in Implementing Equity-Centred Design

25:56 Navigating Privilege and Bias in Design

30:35 Recognising and Overcoming Biases in Education

32:20 Equity in Education: Understanding Context and Data

34:46 Navigating Diverse Opinions in Educational Design

35:57 Identifying and Prioritising Marginalised Voices

39:31 Co-Designing with Students for Better Outcomes

43:03 Modernising Math Education: Bridging Theory and Practice

49:34 The Role of Technology in Education

54:11 Rethinking Assessment and Learning Success

56:22 Taking Steps Towards Equity-Centred Design

Find out more about the work SL is involved with at:

Modernizing Math

Optimistic Design

Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode, we have a collection of the interviews from across Day 2 of BETT 2025. There is an incredible amount of content here from our conversations, including discussions around sustainability, collaboration, mental health & wellbeing, creativity and gamification, as well as hopes for the future of education.

And it's double Ben Whitaker at one point - another person with the exact same name who works less than 20 miles from our Ben Whitaker!

Chapters

00:00 Evo & Zak Hannan - Design4SDGs and ChangeMakerz

09:03 Katie Hall - NetSupport

15:55 Rick Cowell & Ben Whitaker (the real one!) - ANME

20:40 Nicola Pearce - BenQ

25:55 Louise Jones - Thinglink

31:48 Jonathan Kim Sing - Canva

34:57 Bridgette Claery & Laura Dickinson - ClassDojo

41:32 Sara Cornish - Minecraft (Microsoft)

49:50 Louisa Rose - Beyond

1:07:44 Kelly Hannaghan - Mind Work Matters

1:23:22 Brian Johnsrud - Adobe

This concludes over 5 hours of content from our time at BETT. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did recording it! Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.

Ben & Steve x

Championing those who are making the future of education a reality.

Follow us on X

Follow us on LinkedIn

Check out all about Edufuturists

Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touch

Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode, we have a collection of the interviews from across Day 1 of BETT 2025, including some of the conversations we had in our tuxedos at BETT Awards! There is a treasure trove of content here from our conversations, including discussions around inclusion, enabling technology, mental health and wellbeing, as well as hopes for the future of education.

Chapters

00:00 Morgan Weisman, Devan Witter & Alon Sacks - Google

28:39 Daniel Sobel, Ben Levy & Joanna Gibbs - Inclusion Discussion

46:56 Kalam Neale - British Esports

55:09 Andrew Sliwinski - LEGO

01:02:20 Professor Rose Luckin - Educate Ventures

1:15:56 Melanie Tagg - FutureSource

1:26:13 Julia Adamson & Miles Berry - BCS

1:34:09 Lyra Leyton - Beyond

1:37:43 Jon Neale - Quizizz

1:44:58 Victoria Mallinson - OlexAI

1:50:22 Jon Jones - RGS Worcester

Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve x

Championing those who are making the future of education a reality.

Follow us on X

Follow us on LinkedIn

Check out all about Edufuturists

Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?

Get in touch

Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode, Ben and Steve reflect on their experiences at the BETT conference, discussing the importance of community, creativity, and collaboration in education. They also review their guests over the last few weeks, including the episode around Ben's book, exploring the concept of schools as ideas factories rather than exam factories.

The conversation emphasises the need for spaces that foster creativity and curiosity, the infinite nature of education, and the significance of building supportive communities for educators and students alike, looking at conversations with Leisa Grace Wilson and Dan Fitzpatrick. They also touch on the challenges faced in the current educational landscape and the potential for positive change.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

03:12 Reflections on BETT and New Beginnings

05:55 The Ideas Factory: Insights from Ben's Book

09:00 Community and Collaboration in Education

11:55 The Role of Creativity and Curiosity in Learning

15:00 The Infinite Game of Education

18:00 Building Spaces for Educators and Students

20:48 The Importance of Community in Education

23:51 Final Thoughts and Future Directions

Ben & Steve x

In this special episode, you can see and hear the presentation that we did at Canva HQ for our Wolfpack Community event in partnership with Clever the night before BETT. It was an incredible gathering of people from all around the UK and beyond, including Germany, India, Poland, Indonesia and the US!

In this episode of the podcast, we welcome Sophie Pickles, who Ben met out in Dubai at a gathering curated by the awesome, Simon Blower. Sophie is an educational consultant and author and discusses her journey in education, focusing on child-led learning and the importance of play in early years education. 

Sophie shares her experiences transitioning from traditional teaching methods to a more child-centred approach, highlighting the challenges faced in the education system, including parental expectations and the need for educational reform. The conversation emphasises the significance of fostering children's wellbeing and autonomy, questioning outdated practices like homework, and the necessity of innovative training for educators. Sophie also discusses her work in parenting education and the growing community of parents seeking alternative educational options for their children.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Introduction
06:30 Child-Led Learning: A New Approach
10:51 Challenges in Early Years Education
14:55 The Importance of Play in Learning
19:54 Questioning the Education System
25:20 Parenting and Education: Bridging the Gap
31:45 Innovative Training for Educators
39:48 Quickfire Questions and Closing Thoughts

Follow Sophie on LinkedIn

Follow Sophie on Instagram

Subscribe to her Parenting YouTube channel

Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.