Getting Smart Podcast

Today, Tom Vander Ark talks with Tom Arnett about adult education. Tom recently spoke at the Arizona Department of Education Adult Education Institute where he caught up with Tom Arnett. Tom Arnett is a Senior Research Fellow at the Christensen Institute — the disruptive innovation folks that helped popularize blended learning.

In this episode, Tom and Tom speak between sessions at the AdultEd conference in Phoenix — a meeting that represents the breadth of adult education in America — from high school completion to career training; with instructors from school districts, community colleges, and juvenile justice. At the conference, Arnett talked about making blended learning work for teachers and Tom Vander Ark talked about trends in AdultEd. In this conversation, they compare notes and Tom Arnett talks further in depth about making blended learning work for teachers, and Tom Vander Ark speaks further about trends in adult ed. They are both excited to see the new learning options being made available to adults that need access the most, the new technology coming to adult ed, entrepreneurship in the curriculum, and organizations adopting blended learning.

Key Takeaways:

[1:28] Tom Vander Ark welcomes Tom Arnett to the podcast, and he gives an overview of his session at the Arizona Department of Education’s Adult Education Conference about the teacher’s experience with blended learning.

[2:56] The key ways blended learning can improve a teacher’s experience in a classroom.

[4:24] Teaching adults; questions raised and topics touched at Tom’s session at the conference.

[6:09] The discussions around helping organizations adopt blended learning.

[7:58] Trends in adult education.

[9:28] Broader aims in adult education, K-12 vs. adult ed.

[10:16] The importance of supporting teachers in the effort of adult education.

[11:39] Interesting, new technology coming to adult ed.

[14:19] The value of learner supports, and how adult learning in a blended setting is different than it used to be.

[17:00] The benefits of when employers are supportive of adult learning.

[18:34] The important trend of programs pulling more entrepreneurship into their curriculum — moving into a project-based world.

[19:35] 50/50 on College; Millennials views on entrepreneurship.

[20:31] AI behind everything — what it means for adult ed.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Arizona Adult Education Institute

Christensen Institute

Guild Education

Suggested Listening:

If you enjoyed this conversation, check out:

“S1: E40 Getting the Right Data to the Right People in the Right Way”

Get Involved:

Check out the blog at GettingSmart.com.

Find the GettingSmart podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.

In this episode, Tom speaks with Andy Calkins, director of Next Generation Learning Challenges — more commonly known as NGLC. They recently released a new outcome framework called MyWays, which Tom describes as the best and most robust definition of what high school students should know and be able to do. It builds on their early design principles, what they’ve learned from their grantees and the best work in the sector. NGLC recently released a comprehensive set of resources that will help more communities discuss and adopt their own graduate profiles. 

NGLC was created seven years ago and has since transformed secondary school environments. NGLC is one of the best and freshest expressions of student learning outcomes with their new MyWays framework — comprised of 20 competencies in four categories — that’s set out to improve communication, collaboration, and critical thinking amongst students. Tom and Andy discuss MyWays’ framework, their goals, and how school and system leaders can work to better education through MyWays. 

Key Takeaways: 

[1:06] Tom welcomes Andy Calkins to the podcast and Andy gives the backstory on NGLC. 

[3:00] Andy Calkins’ post-secondary challenge and higher education grantees. 

[3:50] Starting as a national grant program and developing into a set of regional funds. 

[5:37] The cities where the regional funds are active. 

[6:02] The transformation of secondary environments emerging from the regional funds work. 

[7:05] The initial goals of the program. 

[8:44] Outcome framework of MyWays; what the project is designed to do. 

[10:35] Becoming a network of networks. 

[13:03] The MyWays framework — 20 competencies in four categories, and the difference between it and what schools have been focusing on; core curricular areas. 

[15:04] The competencies in ‘creative know-how’; one of MyWays’ main categories. 

[16:46] ‘Habits of Success’ category. 

[18:36] Project-based learning and extended challenges and team-based work curricula. 

[21:05] 21st-century skills and learning. 

[23:13] The progression of assessment from regurgitation of content knowledge and proficiency over growth. 

[24:48] MyWays’ fourth category: ‘Wayfinding’. 

[29:51] What school and system leaders should do next, and defining the ‘why’ and ‘what.’ 

[35:36] Where you can find out more about Andy and MyWays. 

Mentioned in This Episode: 

NextGenLearning.org 

MyWays 

GatesFoundation.org 

Hewlett.org 

College for America 

The Colorado Education Initiative 

Leap Innovations  

New Schools for New Orleans 

Rogers Family Foundation 

Education Week 

David T. Conley 

Julia Freeland Fisher 

Suggested Listening: 

If you enjoyed this conversation, check out: 

“S2: E49 It’s Time to Update Your Graduate Profile — Here’s How” 

You can also visit: ProfileofaGraduate.org 

Get Involved: 

Check out the blog on GettingSmart.com. 

Find the GettingSmart podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe. 

Today we’ll hear from Julie Young, CEO of ASU Prep Digital, a new College prep option that started in August of 2017 and supports districts in Arizona and students worldwide. Julie founded and led Florida Virtual in the 90s and has been a leader in online and blended learning for 30 years. Her new gig, ASU Digital Prep, combines online high school and university classes to provide a really unique learning opportunity for students. The ASU Digital Prep students have the chance to explore College majors and careers with ASU centers and staff. Qualified high school students will be concurrently enrolled at ASU, giving them a real leg up on enrollment at ASU, or acceptance at leading universities worldwide. 

In this episode, Tom talks with Julie about Florida Virtual and ASU Prep Digital and gets her predictions on the future of online learning. They discuss in-depth about what made FLVS and ASU both huge successes and the future implementations for ASU, as well as her reflections on FLVS. 

Key Takeaways: 

[1:27] Tom talks with Julie to learn more about her background with Florida Virtual, her current work with ASU Prep Digital, and her predictions for the future of online learning. 

[6:19] The goals and differences between Florida Virtual School and other online charter schools. 

[8:39] Julie’s pioneering of the performance-based funding model. 

[11:47] The keys to success in scaling and academics during Julie’s time at Florida Virtual School. 

[14:45] Why Julie thinks iNACOL is an important organization in kids education. 

[17:39] Julie on leading ASU Prep Digital and the success she’s had with her team. 

[20:15] The value of the concurrent ASU online credit vs. the dual enrollment college credit. 

[21:19] Personalized pathways and the unlimited possibilities for students. 

[22:47] Serving part-time, full-time, and international students and the goal to connect students to other students around the world. 

[24:46] Connected collaborative and project-based learning online. 

[26:33] Concurrent enrollment and how they know when a student is ready to take a college class. 

[28:15] ASU’s business model for Arizona students and international students. 

[30:23] The future of online learning and Julie’s take on game-based learning and engaging students through the latest technology. 

[32:21] Data-driven student supports and A.I. technology. 

[33:16] Julie closes with some reflections from her first year at ASU. 

Mentioned in This Episode: 

ASU Arizona State University 

ASU Prep Digital 

Florida Virtual School 

Miami Dade College 

Adobe Connect 

iNACOL 

Suggested Listening: 

If you enjoyed this conversation, check out: 

S3: E1 “The Getting Smart Team on the Future of Learning” 

Get Involved: 

Check out the blog on GettingSmart.com. 

Find the GettingSmart podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe. 

Twitter-Specific Quotes: 

“[The performance-based funding model] really changed how we viewed our roles in our industry.” — Julie Young 

“[ASU Prep Digital will have] a mastery-based model, so students do not move on until they’ve mastered the material.” — Julie Young 

“I think we have finally gotten to the point where … online learning is just part of learning.”[Text Wrapping Break]— Julie Young 

“I think the instructional methodology was totally our secret sauce [for the success of FLVS].”  

— Julie Young 

“My belief at this point is that every classroom should be a blended learning classroom.”[Text Wrapping Break]— Julie Young 

“Blended learning is not new — it shouldn’t be new. But it requires a … highly-trained teacher.” 

— Julie Young 

“ASU actually launched the network of charter schools back in 2008.” — Julie Young 

“We’re changing the conversation and creating a new category of school.” — Julie Young 

“We’re combining high school and college in … a ... way that really gives kids the flexibility to work at their own pace.” — Julie Young 

“If we teach it and students don’t learn it, we haven’t taught it; we haven’t done our job.” [Text Wrapping Break]— Julie Young 

Quotes: 

“Students take the courses for all kinds of reasons. Wonderful opportunity for kids who are accelerating, kids who are strugglings, kids who are pursuing their dreams … We’ve had athletes, we’ve had kids on The Voice, we’ve had kids who are pro golfers, kids who have been in the Olympics...” — Julie Young 

“[Florida Virtual School was] just a wonderful opportunity to meet the students where they are and provide a learning environment that is all about them.” — Julie Young 

“ASU’s new online high school program … allows students to actually take university-level courses and earn credit towards both a diploma and a university degree at the same time.” — Julie Young 

Under Paul LeBlanc’s leadership, Southern New Hampshire University has become one of the most important innovators in higher education in the world. Paul took over SNHU in 2003 when there were 2,500 students and currently today they have over 80,000 students. SNHU is the second largest nonprofit online provider in the world. Paul has also developed a program called ‘College for America’ — a business partnership program that’s project- and competency-based where you can move at your own pace — as well as Motivis, SNHU’s unique learning platform. 

In this episode, Tom interviews Paul LeBlanc, the President of Southern New Hampshire University. Paul and Tom discuss how SNHU’s became one of America’s leading nonprofit online universities and how Paul turned it into the innovative program that it is today. Paul also further elaborates on what he has learned about students’ experiences, his personal practices that feed his innovative mindset, and what he has learned about building a culture of innovation in the nonprofit sector. 

Key Takeaways: 

[:24] Tom provides some background on Paul LeBlanc. 

[1:59] Tom welcomes Paul LeBlanc and asks how Southern New Hampshire University became one of America’s leading online universities. Marketing and keeping the needs of potential students close by (The four Cs: Convenience, Cost, Credentials, and Completion time). 

[9:18] What Paul has learned about the student learning experience that makes online the ‘way to go’ and the benefits of going online. 

[12:54] More about the University: Asynchronous courses with an emphasis on convenience. 

[14:45] About ‘College for America,’ a competency-based and project-based program and how it came to be, and scaling it out. 

[21:40] High schools partnering with ‘College for America’ 

[22:52] Developing SNHU’s platform: Motivis 

[25:14] The creation of Rethink Education: Investing in people, ideas and companies that are rethinking the way we learn and teach. 

[28:01] What Paul LeBlanc has learned about building a culture of innovation in the nonprofit sector. 

[32:42] Paul’s personal practices that feed his innovative mindset. 

Mentioned in This Episode: 

Southern New Hampshire University 

Rise High LA 

Met’s School in Providence 

Match Beyond 

Motivis Learning 

Rethink Education 

UMUC 

University of Florida 

Suggested Listening: 

If you enjoyed this conversation, check out: 

“S2: E45 HigherEd Reinvented: Minerva Goes Global” 

Get Involved: 

Check out the blog on GettingSmart.com. 

Find the GettingSmart podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe. 

Twitter-Specific Quotes: 

“10 years ago I would argue that online was not nearly as good as traditionally delivered education.” — Paul LeBlanc 

“I would argue today that the best online [schools] … are better than most face-to-face.”[Text Wrapping Break]— Paul LeBlanc 

“The secret sauce for us … is not the platform … it’s student support —  student coaching.”[Text Wrapping Break]— Paul LeBlanc 

“If you’re doing truly disruptive innovation you probably want to keep it at arm’s length.”[Text Wrapping Break]— Paul LeBlanc 

“I think the great impediments to genuine innovation are status and money.” 

“If you are an institution that’s neither wealthy or high status there’s a hunger to be better … different.” — Paul LeBlanc 

“The world is moving faster and in a more volatile way than it ever has before.” — Paul LeBlanc 

“Everyone is going to have to be more innovative.” — Paul LeBlanc 

Quotes: 

“[You have to be] your institution’s greatest cheerleader externally, but internally you have to be the most hard-nosed analyst. ”— Paul LeBlanc 

“If you build rigid institutions that can’t be flexible and fluid and changeable …  you are … much more vulnerable than you would’ve been in Higher Ed 20 years ago.” — Paul LeBlanc 

In this episode, CEO of Getting Smart, Tom Vander Ark interviews Mario Basora, Superintendent of Yellow Springs School in Ohio. Mario explains his journey from being an average student on the West Coast to becoming a successful Superintendent in Ohitical pedagogy, new tech schools, strategic planning, and the various projects children at his school have o. As well as learning about Mario’s background, Mario and Tom discuss project-based learning, critaken pride in.

Mario was born in the Bronx, New York, but raised by his single mother in Santa Ana, California from a young age, along with his sister. Growing up was tough — he lived in a poor neighborhood and had no father-figure — and he was an uninspired C-Student all the way from Elementary to High School. After High School, he went to College, down in San Diego, for a year but ended up dropping out and coming back to Orange County and enrolling in a community college. It was while in his second year of community college that he had an epiphany from several inspirational professors: He had to become the change he wanted to see in the world. After that, he traveled between Northern Kentucky as a camp counselor and Ohio to earn his Dual Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at Cal State Fullerton, and Social Studies Degree in Northern Kentucky. He then began teaching in Cincinnati at Princeton High School while earning his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at the Miami University. Presently, Mario Basora’s main focus is on Yellow Springs School — where he is Superintendent — to continue to work on strategic planning and develop an innovative teaching model based around the idea of PBL (project-based learning) with the help of his fellow staff, teachers, and students.

Key Takeaways:

[:42] Tom welcomes Mario and Mario gives more insight into his background of growing up as a C-Student.

[3:14] Mario’s wake up call: Becoming the difference he wanted to see in the world.

[3:38] Becoming interested in education through several inspirational professors and turning his life around.

[4:22] The 180° that occurred from the combination of ‘getting serious’ and powerful learning experiences.

[5:45] Mario getting to Northern Kentucky, becoming a camp counselor, earning his Dual Bachelor’s Degree, and beginning to work at Princeton High School in Cincinnati.

[7:07] Mario’s passion for student engagement and becoming enlightened to critical pedagogy.

[8:39] Starting out as a Principal, visiting a New Tech School in Indiana, and becoming even more inspired to pioneer the sort of school he would want all kids to go to.

[10:55] Receiving the opportunity to work at Yellow Springs School, working on the strategic planning process from scratch, and the bend towards project-based learning.

[12:42] Identifying the “big rocks” in the planning; Creating a school with a new, innovative teaching model.

[14:02] Tom asks Mario to unpack who was driving the direction of their new strategic plan. Tom describes the consensus the community had on their plan (for project-based learning).

[15:47] Tom asks how Mario plans to make the project-based learning successful in Yellow Springs.

[18:03] Mario discusses the training they’ve had: Buck, High Tech High, as well as visiting expeditionary learning schools and multiple High Tech High Schools.

[18:55] Tom and Mario take a look at projects at each level. First, Elementary.

[22:28] Mario outlines several projects at the 7th Grade level, and the recognition they’ve gotten from the community.

[27:32] Mario talks about the project, ‘Is it Too Late to Save the Planet?’ for the High School students.

[30:40] Mario’s advice to those who want to learn more about PBL (project-based learning).

Mentioned in This Episode:

New Tech Network

Buck Training

High Tech High

Trouble Don’t Last, by Shelley Pearsall

Get Involved:

Check out the blog on GettingSmart.com.

Find the GettingSmart podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.

Twitter-Specific Quotes:

“No one is going to change your life but you. You have got to be the one that makes a difference in your world.” — Mario Basora

“I wanted teaching to be an opportunity to really, really help kids learn and do great things with their lives.” — Mario Basora

“One of the things I found with PBL is our teachers are tapping into their creativity more than ever.” — Mario Basora

“Having teachers as part of the planning process and design process from inception — I think — is critical.” — Mario Basora

“We want teachers to take risks … to move from a culture of ‘failing is not an option,’ to one of ‘failing forward.’” — Mario Basora

“Teachers have to be allowed to take risks if they’re ever going to be innovative and change our culture.” — Mario Basora

“In order to get [education] to move forward, it’s going to require a cultural shift towards innovation and risk-taking.” — Mario Basora

Quotes:

“I felt like I had a spark that happened with me in College and it made a difference in my life. I felt like I really wanted to be able to do the same for other kids and I wanted to really, truly make a difference.” — Mario Basora

“If this is the kind of school I want my kids to go to … I should do whatever I can to make this the kind of school that all kids can go to.” — Mario Basora

“Bringing teachers… in as part of the planning process [for a new strategic learning plan] … is critically important to success.” — Mario Basora

Kicking off Season 3, The Getting Smart team discuss what’s next in learning and how each of them is playing a role in the development of better education. In this episode, you will hear CEO

Tom Vander Ark, Director of Strategic Design Mary Ryerse, Director of Advocacy Emily Liebtag, COO Caroline Vander Ark and Getting Smart’s new Project Manager Janice Walton’s thoughts on where education is now and where it is headed. The team reflects on the exciting developments they’ve recently seen in learning as well as makes predictions on the future of learning and share how they’re all working to help support these positive changes to the country’s education system.

The discussion begins with CEO Tom Vander Ark speaking about the global shift of personalized learning and the development of schools becoming more interesting, engaging and inspiring. He highlights the importance of having a network to create a rich learning ecosystem as well as a competency-based learning system. Next up, Mary Ryerse discusses a more sophisticated approach to academic development and the future of Social-Emotional Learning and developing a way to measure it. Emily Liebtag then shares her insights on classrooms today and what she sees for the future of learning from her recent school visits. She predicts more high-quality learning experiences through a wayfinding, informal learning approach with guidance. After that, Caroline speaks about focusing on the individual student, building a professional network, and amplifying teaching and learning innovations through storytelling. And lastly, Janice — the newest member of the Getting Smart team — shares her predictions on the future of technology and how she’s involved herself in these advancements.

Key Takeaways:

[:16] Introduction to Season 3

[1:08] Tom and Mary speak about what they’re most excited about in the world of learning today.

[4:30] What Tom sees on the horizon for ‘what’s next’ in the education system. He describes a competency/demonstrated-based system rather than grade-based.

[6:50] Tom’s insights on Getting Smart

[8:30] Tom’s views on social and emotional learning and how to measure this progress

[9:47] What Mary is most excited about in learning today: Increased focus on broader aims for students and straying away from the grade-based system and the elevation of the teacher role.

[11:25] Mary’s views on ‘what’s next’: A more sophisticated approach to academic development: SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) and finding a way to measure it.

[12:25] The future of SEL: Teaching networks prioritizing SEL skills

[14:04] How Mary is helping people and organizations adopt a broader range and incorporating more thoughtful Social-Emotional Learning

[16:00] Emily discusses her insights about learning today from her school visits.

[17:40] What Emily sees for the future of learning: More informal learning and students crafting their own paths through guidance

[19:50] Emily’s role in Getting Smart: Unpacking how we can see more high-quality learning experience in schools

[20:50] Emily shares the improvement she has seen within schools and educators.

[22:09] Caroline shares with Janice what she sees going on in today’s learning that she’s excited about: Technology in schools and the learning needs of both students and teachers.

[25:10] What Caroline sees is next in learning: Focusing on the individual student.

[26:35] Educating both the teacher and student: Building a professional network

[27:50] Caroline’s role in Getting Smart: Amplifying teaching and learning innovations through storytelling

[29:57] Janice’s hopes for the future of learning and what she has seen recently in education: Global education and virtual connections

[32:34] What’s next in learning? Janice predicts virtual reality and hopes that all students will have access to technology to be able to participate in the future of learning.

[34:39] Janice’s role in Getting Smart: Talking with organizations about these advancements and helping them get involved.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Network Effect

Smart Cities That Work for Everyone, by Tom Vander Ark with Mary Ryerse

Get Involved:

Check out the blog on GettingSmart.com

Share your thoughts on Twitter with the team using #futureoflearning

Find the GettingSmart podcast on iTunes, leave a review and subscribe.

Timothy Shriver, nephew of John F. Kennedy and chair of the Special Olympics, discusses his part in helping define social and emotional learning and his dream of launching a dignity revolution for all.

Several years ago, Gregg Behr heard many teachers saying, “I’m not connecting with kids they way I used to.” Here he shares more on his journey to help create the Pittsburgh Remake Learning Network, a professional network of educators and innovators working together to make these connections with today's students and shape the future of teaching and learning. Remake Learning Playbook: http://remakelearning.org/playbook/ Learning Together Ten-Year Impact Report: http://downloads.sproutfund.org/remakelearning/Learning-Together_digital.pdf

Michael Moe, co-founder of GSV, discusses how artificial intelligence is being used in human resources to "obtain, train and retain talent," and what this means for education.

Chris Sturgis of CompetencyWorks and Tom Vander Ark share their thoughts on what Mastery (or competency-based learning) is, what it does and why it's important as part of the continuing conversation sparked from the recent National Mastery Communication Week.