Free Range Humans

Dr. Suzanne Dillon is the governmental representative for Ireland in the OECD Future of Education 2030 project, which she has been involved in since 2016. She has also been Chair of the project's Advisory Group since Spring 2018. Suzanne trained as a second-level teacher and worked in schools for 15 years before joining the Department of Education and Skills in Ireland as a school inspector. Her research interests include teacher enablement and recognition and evaluation studies.

During the conversation, Suzanne talks about: the OECD project and the "learning compass" that is at the core of the work; how important it is for today's youth to develop global competencies; the challenges of moving a school, district, or even the world of education forward; how evolution may be the key to an education revolution; and finally, she shares her "five big lessons" from the OECD project.

David is a Senior Associate at Innovation Unit. As a co-founder and previous Board Director, David has helped shape the organization and its strategy since its foundation in 2006. For over two decades, David has consulted and advised on forming and implementing strategies and policies for transformation and innovation in education, early learning, healthcare and other public services. Interview highlights include: comparing learning challenges during the pandemic across multiple jurisdictions; the importance of context when analyzing  complex systems; the power of stepping back from children and giving them their own space to learn; how recent "forced changes"  in education delivery may result in powerful reflection and longer-term impacts; and David shares who and what has shaped and inspired his thinking. 

Houdda Balouch and Shannon Guglielmo are teachers at Landmark High School in New York City, part of the New York State Performance Standards Consortium that values student voice and ownership of learning tasks over standardized exams. They are both part of the Equity in Curriculum team that conducts action research on how a white supremacist system impacts our school in the day to day, as well as investigating strategies to mitigate these effects. The conversation touches on some of the hard and soft data that came out of their research; and in-depth look at equity across gender, race, and socio-economic background; how equity needs to be so much more than just a checkbox for teachers; the pros and cons of teaching with Zoom; ideas and changes from COVID that might carry forward in schools; and a brief look at "Free Range Parenting." 

In this week's episode, Rod and Jal are joined by Yong Zhao, a Foundation Distinguished Professor in the School of Education at the University of Kansas, and a professor in Educational Leadership at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education in Australia. Yong has published numerous articles and over thirty books to date!

Throughout the conversation topics include problems with the Chinese approach to education; issues with assessment methods; what sparks will be needed to really shift the "grammar" of schooling; "crazy" ideas that have come from the COVID era and what may stick; how we can  encourage students to liberate themselves; and finally, discussing the intelligence of pigs.

http://www.deeperlearningdozen.org

In this week's episode, Rod and Jal are joined by Jeff Hopkins, Founder and Principal Educator at the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry in British Colombia, Canada. Jeff has been an educator since 1993 and has experience as a teacher of English, English Literature, Social Studies, History, Psychology, Physics, Math, and Independent Directed Studies blending almost every discipline.

Throughout the conversation topics include the idea of constructivism; how we can change the "grammar" of schooling; trying to define transformation so people know what it looks like, and Jeff shares success stories and lessons learned from his experience with PSII. 

http://www.deeperlearningdozen.org

In this week's episode, Rod and Jal are joined by Kevin Godden, Superintendent of Schools and CEO of the Abbotsford School District in British Columbia, Canada. Kevin is also involved in the Deeper Learning Dozen, and  shares how his work with the organization has helped shape policy in Abbotsford.

Throughout the conversation Kevin opens up about race and how he first discovered he was black; what it takes to really connect with young students; how the pandemic may have served as an accelerant for transforming schools; the benefits of student agency for encouraging curiosity and innovation; and recognition of Canada's National Indigenous Peoples Day.

http://www.deeperlearningdozen.org

In this week's episode, Rod and Jal are joined by Jason Glass. Jason  is the commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education, and prior to that, served as superintendent for Jefferson County (Jeffco) Public Schools in Colorado. 

The discussion covers how Jason developed his own view of what education and deeper learning should be; the conundrum of balancing top-down vs. bottom-up approaches;  thoughts on the traditional A–F grading system; what role the state plays in developing education systems; and how politics, especially in a state like Kentucky, affect the landscape.

http://www.deeperlearningdozen.org

In this week's episode, Rod and Jal are joined by two guests, Valerie Hannon and Amelia Peterson. Valerie co-founded Innovation Unit and currently leads their international education work, and is also the Co-Chair of the Global Education Leaders Partnership (GELP). Amelia holds the title of LSE Fellow at the The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and is a member of the founding faculty at LIS: The London Interdisciplinary School, a brand new UK university slated to open this fall.

The four cover a number of topics including, opportunities and challenges to educational transformation, the dilemma of meritocracy and credentials in schooling, whether we should rethink colleges and universities as the main path for students, and advice for where to focus our efforts when seeking systemic change.

http://www.deeperlearningdozen.org 

Lillian Hsu is the Principal at Latitude High School in Oakland, CA, and Chris Lehmann is  Principal at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, PA.

• Changes made by both schools when transitioning to an online space.
• Positive takeaways during the pandemic.
• The importance of valuing both the adults and kids in a learning environment.
• What it means to lead for equity.
• Lessons learned throughout the year.
• The infamous FRH "Lightning Round."

• http://www.deeperlearningdozen.org

Denise Augustine is the Director of Aboriginal Education and Learner Engagement at School District 79 Cowichan, in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada. 

• How to make our schools more equitable.
• Reflections on the role of indigenous people in education systems.
• What makes good learning.
• Should we be concerned about "learning loss" due to the pandemic?
• Preparing for a diversity of learners.
• Hope for the future of education in both Canada and the United States.
• A closing flurry of questions in the Free Range Humans "Lightning Round."

• http://www.deeperlearningdozen.org