Future Education Podcast

What does democracy mean when you are eight, nine or ten years old? And can children really understand democracy without experiencing it themselves?

Just two days before the 2026 Berlin elections, primary students at Berlin Cosmopolitan School took part in their own Election Day — complete with voter IDs, polling stations, voting booths, ballot papers and secret voting.

But this was about much more than learning how elections work. It was about having a voice. Making a choice. Thinking about fairness. Respecting different opinions. And discovering what happens when the majority chooses something different from what you wanted.

In this episode of the Future Education Podcast, we hear from BCS students, teachers and parents about learning democracy by doing — and why experiences like this can help children understand that their voice matters, but so do the voices of others.

What does it take for a child arriving in a new country to not only adapt, but truly feel that they belong?

In this episode, I speak with Katharina Ehrenfried, Head of Primary at Berlin Cosmopolitan School, about SCHOOLinHUB — a European project exploring how schools and kindergartens can become hubs of inclusion for children and their families.

We talk about the challenges young migrant children face beyond learning a new language, practical approaches such as Social Stories and learning through play, the role of teachers and parents, and how celebrations, mentoring and the wider school community can help families build real connections and a sense of belonging.

Recorded at Career Day at Berlin Cosmopolitan School, this episode brings together different perspectives on the future of education — from school leaders and parents to professionals and students themselves.

We discuss future skills, changing career paths, AI and technology, practical learning beyond the classroom, and why curiosity, critical thinking, resilience and the ability to keep learning may become more important than preparing for one specific profession.

We also explore why conversations between students, educators, families and professionals matter when thinking about the future of education.

This episode was recorded during the workshop for 6th grade students from Berlin Cosmopolitan School about the podcasting format and how podcasts are used in Media & Communication. We talked about different podcast formats, and the students made their own mini-podcasts on topics they are truly passionate about. They discussed movies, social media and influencers, school life, music and K-pop culture, as well as hobbies and sports that shaped their lives. It was incredibly inspiring to dive into their stories and imaginations. In today's digital world it is so important that young people are not only consumers but also creators. This project gave them the space to find their voices and share what really matters to them. So now let's step into their discussions and discover their perspectives.

This episode was recorded at the "AI and Digital Literacy Day" organized for the primary students at Berlin Cosmopolitan School. This parents' initiative started with a simple, yet powerful question from a first grader: “What does AI actually mean?”. To answer this question, fourty AI experts joined our school to share their knowledge, creativity, and curiosity with students from grades 1 to 6. Together they explored how Artificial Intelligence is shaping our world: through workshops, experiments, and conversations about innovation, ethics and imagination. Parents designed digital stations that aligned with the BCS core learning goals science, creativity, critical thinking, and social-emotional learning. Each station invited students to explore not just what AI is, but how it works, why it's exciting, and what questions we should be asking about it. So let's dive into conversations about AI with our teachers, parents and students!

In this episode we are talking with the 6th grade students from Berlin Cosmopolitan School about their experiences during the forest days in Prenden.

1. How do you feel when you spend a whole day in the forest instead of the classroom?

2. What is the most interesting thing you have discovered during the forest days?

3. What new skills have you developed during forest days?

4. Can you share a story or a memorable moment from your time in the forest?

5. Why do you think it is important to spend time in nature and take care of our environment?

1. What in the main idea behind Forest Days?

2. Could you describe your schedule

during Forest Days?

3. Do you practice project work? What skills students can develop by learning in nature?

4. How forest days help the sixth graders transition into puberty?

5. How do you discuss topics related to nature protection?

In this episode we talk to Apameh Schönauer. We discuss the following topics:

1. What is the role of "Female empowerment" and how to help young women feel more confident and achieve their goals?
2. “Female empowerment” vs “Male empowerment”?
3. What technological trends can we notice in architecture and design?
4. What role does education play in female empowerment?
5. Why is it important for parents to be actively involved into their children's school life?

In this episode we talk to Hamza Önal and the Student Council members about the “Anti-Bullying Week” at Berlin Cosmopolitan School.

We discuss the following topics:

🎓 What motivates students to join the Student Council, and why its role is significant within the school community?

🎓 How does a typical Student Council meeting look like? What topics do students usually discuss?

🎓 What are the main responsibilities of Student Council members, and how does the Council gather input from the student body on important issues?

🎓 What advice would be given to the students who are considering joining the Student Council?

🎓 How was “Anti-Bullying Week” organized? What activities were involved, and how did students prepare for them?

🎓 What were some challenges students faced during this project, and how did they overcome them? What skills did they develop?

🎓 What types of bullying might students experience, and how can they recognize them? What steps should a student take if they witness bullying?

🎓 How can the school community work together to create a more inclusive environment that discourages bullying?

BCS Highlights (Darius Moeini): BCS Career Day 2024