In this episode of 'Kids Gone Global' from the International School of Hamburg, host Sarah Reich interviews five students—Noelle, Tammy, Annabel, Ben, and Gasper—about their transformative journey to Sri Lanka. Crossing cultural boundaries, these teenagers participated in a student-run program assisting local Sri Lankan communities in schools and sustainable projects. 

They share their initial expectations, experiences of cultural immersion, emotional challenges, and the impactful service activities they engaged in. The students reflect on personal growth in empathy, teamwork, and leadership abilities while emphasizing the importance of sustainability and giving back. This episode provides an enlightening look into their meaningful travels and offers advice for future participants and their parents.

In this episode, we dive deep into the lesser-known IB International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (CP), currently offered in over 400 schools and recognized by more than 310 universities globally. Our guest, James Knight, a CP alum from the International School of Hamburg (ISH), shares his personal journey and experiences. James discusses how the CP, blending academic courses with real-world career skills in fields like business, arts, and technology, provided him with the flexibility and opportunities that traditional educational pathways might not. He also emphasizes the program's role in honing essential skills like leadership, communication, and cultural awareness. James recounts his involvement in school productions and how these experiences paved his way to the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (Lambda), where he is now a second-year student. 

The episode highlights the CP's practical and theoretical components, such as the reflective project and service learning, which equip students with diverse skills suitable for the globalized job market. James also offers valuable advice for current and prospective students and their parents, detailing how the program can support various career aspirations. Tune in to explore the unique advantages and challenges of the IB Career-Related Program and its potential to shape successful futures.

In this episode of Kids Gone Global, host Sarah Reich sits down with Dr. Nneka Johnson, a leading voice on innovative educational technologies, to discuss the integration of generative AI like ChatGPT into schools. They explore how educators and administrators are responding to this fast-changing technological frontier. 

Dr. Johnson recounts her background in design thinking and her journey into AI, highlighting its potential to transform learning while acknowledging the associated challenges such as privacy risks, data bias, and the importance of critical thinking. She advises schools to focus on foundational understanding of generative AI, including prompt engineering and the creation of AI policy labs, and encourages parents to engage with these technologies to support their children's learning.

In this episode Ana Mara Leppink, a Dutch German national who graduated in 2023 and is now a student at Harvard University, and Navin Proff, a German student set to begin his studies at Yale University share with us how they navigated the international school and beyond. They discuss their diverse experiences with the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum at ISH, detailing how it prepared them for university and shaped their personal development. 

Ana and Navin highlight the rigorous academic challenges and the broad curricula of the IB, including the extended essay and Theory of Knowledge (TOK) components, which they believe equipped them well for higher education. Beyond academics, they also share how engaging in extracurricular activities like sports teams, student council, and various clubs contributed to their growth, leadership skills, and sense of community. The alumni emphasize the significant support they received from the school's faculty, particularly in terms of college applications, and reflect on the lasting impact of ISH's culturally diverse environment on their perspectives and personal growth. They conclude with advice for current and prospective students and parents on making the most of their time at ISH, reinforcing the value of taking on challenges, seeking support, and immersing oneself in the vibrant school community.

In this episode, we delve into the critical role of arts in education with Adrian More, an award-winning pianist, composer, stage director and Head of Arts department at the International School of Hamburg. Adrian shares insights from his journey and student success stories, highlighting the transformative impacts of arts on mental resilience and self-belief, as well as discipline and critical thinking. 

He addresses challenges in integrating arts into the education system and presents compelling data supporting the positive influence of a robust arts program on students' overall performance. Adrian also explores the potential and opportunities presented by AI in the creative landscape and provides valuable advice for educators and parents to nurture creativity and artistic expression in students. This discussion underscores the arts' unique capacity to foster individuality and build essential social skills for modern citizens.

In this episode of Kids Gone Global, Tracy Rabbitts, Assistant Principal at the International School of Hamburg (ISH), shares her insights into utilizing data to enhance teaching practices.

Tracy's journey as an educator began in England, where she recognized the importance of assessing student learning. Upon transitioning to ISH, Tracy delved deeper into data analysis to understand student needs better. She explains the data-wise process implemented at ISH, which involves setting specific learning goals based on data analysis and implementing targeted teaching strategies.

Through concrete examples, Tracy demonstrates how ISH uses data analysis to inform lesson planning, support continual growth in student learning, and identify trends in student performance. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration among educators and the involvement of parents in supporting students' learning journeys.

Overall, the episode highlights the transformative role of data analytics in education, empowering educators to tailor instruction, foster critical thinking, and promote student success through personalized learning experiences.

In this episode of Kids Gone Global, 'The Power of Play-based Learning,' Sarah Reich interviews Dr. Suzan Weishof, an expert in play-based child therapy. 

Dr. Weishof explains that unstructured play is crucial for developing social, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. Based on these important findings, Suzan describes how the International School of Hamburg incorporates play-based learning into its program and after-school care offer. She explains how play assists teachers in meeting each child's individual needs. 

The interview concludes with a discussion about the decline of unstructured play in children's lives and the role of parents in encouraging learner agency by providing time, space, and open-ended materials for their children's play.

In our first episode, Dr. Alan Knobloch discussed the important role of schools in helping students develop crucial skills for their future by offering real-life challenges and experiences. This included fostering students’ self-awareness, building up their social and emotional resilience and enhancing their problem-solving abilities.

In this episode, we explore skills that young people can acquire outside the traditional classroom and school campus, particularly in the great outdoors.

Our guest, Michael Kent, a Geography and Environmental Science teacher at the International School of Hamburg, introduces the Duke of Edinburgh International Award program he opened up in Hamburg. Michael discusses how these experiences in nature and broader society contribute to enriching essential life skills and reinforce what students learn in school.

Tune in for a breath of fresh air.

 In this digital age, our children are growing up as digital citizens. To ensure their safety and ability to contribute positively to society, educating them about their digital responsibilities is essential. 

Join us on Kids Gone Global as we talk to Laura Jakubowski, the Technology Integration Coach about how she developed a digital citizenship curriculum for the International School of Hamburg tailored to younger students, focusing on digital literacy and societal participation. 

The program follows a systematic approach, beginning with digital citizenship for 5-6-year-olds, building a foundation of skills for their journey through secondary school. Concepts covered include responsible use, media balance, digital identity, data protection, research skills, and managing online presence. 

Laura emphasizes self-awareness and establishing routines and habits around technology use and screen time. Digital safety and addressing cyberbullying are fundamental aspects of education. The curriculum focuses on teaching students to use technology responsibly and kindly, while also providing resources to handle cyberbullying situations. Ultimately, the goal is to prepare children for a future where technology serves as a conduit for meaningful connections between people. 

In this first episode, we delve into the core of the matter: what is the purpose of school today? What skills do students need to learn for their future and how do schools go about teaching them?  

Our guest, Dr. Alan Knobloch, the Head of the International School of Hamburg, will argue that to best prepare citizens of the future who can thrive in an ever-changing global environment, schools should aim to serve the needs of the child as a whole, develop students’ knowledge and their talents, but also, and increasingly, their socio-emotional wellbeing and resilience. How do they go about this? Tune into this podcast to learn more.