What if a child could become literate and numerate—without ever stepping into a formal classroom? In this episode of Lectures on Learning, Heather Clayton Staker travels to the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi to explore how Imagine Worldwide is delivering powerful learning gains to the most marginalized students using only tablets, adaptive software, and a caring facilitator. Joined by Vafa Hakimi, a field leader from Imagine, Heather discovers how children—many of whom have never attended school—are becoming confident readers and mathematicians. Together, they explore a bold new vision for education in underserved communities and the future of learning for displaced youth around the world.

KEY TOPICS COVERED:

• The learning crisis facing refugee children in Malawi and beyond
• How Imagine Worldwide tablets use AI-powered adaptive software to teach literacy and numeracy
• A behind-the-scenes look at implementation in refugee-led schools and community centers
• Stories of students who have never attended school now learning entirely through tablets
• Pros and cons of extrinsic motivators (e.g. play zones, books, raffles) for younger learners
• Why refugee-led organizations can outperform traditional NGOs in education delivery
• The surprising conversion story of a social worker who was once skeptical of edtech
• Insights on sustainability, device durability, and the need for wraparound support like meals
• The emerging “brick-and-mortar Flex Model” as a solution for out-of-school learners
• Real-life partnerships between Imagine Worldwide and Limitless Education’s 2-Hour Learning

LINKS:

Download the "Innovation Spotlight: Imagine Worldwide" infographic at: https://www.guide.school/6

YouTube version of Lectures on Learning: www.youtube.com/@guideschooling/playlists

Podcast version: Available on all major platforms (Spotify, Apple, etc.)

Description:

Have you struggled to motivate students? In this episode of Lectures on Learning, campus director Paige Fultz of Alpha Brownsville reveals her groundbreaking approach that propels students to outpace traditional learners by 2.3x—all through a unique two-hour learning model. Join us as Paige explores how blending intrinsic passion with extrinsic incentives creates an environment where students thrive, adapt, and master new challenges in tomorrow’s schools.

KEY TOPICS COVERED:

• Overview of Alpha Brownsville and its innovative two-hour learning model
• How intrinsic and extrinsic motivators work together to boost student performance
• The use of creative tools like raffle tickets, Class Dojo points, and Alpha Bucks
• Strategies for personalized incentives and real-time student feedback
• Balancing immediate rewards with long-term, deep engagement
• The role of school culture in fostering a motivated, resilient learning community

FREE RESOURCE

Page from Paige's Playbook: Discover the top intrinsic and extrinsic motivators that power success at Alpha Brownsville. Download here: https://www.guide.school/5

LINKS

• www.guide.school/5 - Paige's Playbook on Motivators
• YouTube version of Lectures on Learning: www.youtube.com/@guideschooling/playlists
• Podcast version of Lectures on Learning: Available on all major podcast platforms.

Do you secretly dread your job? Do you resist going to work each day. Do you regret your low salary? Or do you feel you’re not making much of a difference? In this provocative episode of Lectures on Learning, Heather Clayton Staker explores the emerging role of the Guide in AI-powered Flex studios and questions whether you might be happier if you make the jump into this new role, whether because you see the downsides of traditional teaching or you are compelled by the upsides of what’s on the horizon with AI-powered Flex learning. 

KEY TOPICS COVERED:

- The emergence of AI-based adaptive learning software in education

- What is a Guide?

- Comparison of traditional "Teacher" role vs. new "Guide" role

- Benefits of the Flex model in K-12 education

- Reasons for current teachers to consider becoming Guides

- Opportunities for non-teachers to enter the field as Guides

- Quiz to help listeners determine if they're suited for the Teacher or Guide role

- Potential ways Guides can transform education globally

- Characteristics of individuals who should not pursue teaching or guiding roles

FREE RESOURCE

Quiz: “Do you have a Teacher or a Guide Mindset?” Download here: https:www.guide.school/4

LINKS

• www.guide.school/3 - Microschool budget resource
• www.guide.school/4 - Quiz to determine suitability for Teacher or Guide role
• https://faculty.washington.edu/kate1/ewExternalFiles/SageOnTheStage.pdf - Alison King's article on "From Sage on the Stage to Guide on the Side"
• https://www.christenseninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/JTBD.pdf - Paper on "jobs to be done" in education
• YouTube version of Lectures on Learning: www.youtube.com/@guideschooling/playlists
• Podcast version of Lectures on Learning: Available on all major podcast platforms.

In this episode of Lectures on Learning, we explore the evolution of education from one-room schoolhouses to modern microschools. Historically, one-room schoolhouses were prevalent in the U.S. and other countries, where a single teacher instructed mixed-age students. With advancements in online learning and AI, educators like Rhonda Hermes da Fonseca in Maui are reviving this model by starting their own microschools, leveraging technology to personalize education and eliminate the need for long commutes to large, impersonal schools.

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KEY TOPICS COVERED:

• One-room schoolhouses were common in the United States, Prussia, and many other countries. A single teacher led a single classroom with a mixed-age cohort.
• School buses and the desire for higher standards led to the consolidation of schooling into large, comprehensive public schools that students took the bus to attend.
• The arrival of online learning software, apps, lessons, and games radically transforms this story. Students no longer need to endure long bus rides and large, institutional settings to access subject expertise or to accelerate academically.
• Rhonda Hermes da Fonseca, a school teacher in Maui, Hawaii with more than 20 years of experience teaching in a conventional classroom, started her own one-room schoolhouse for middle school students. She shares how she did it.
• Today, more adults can start one-room schoolhouses, or “microschools,” because they can leverage online software powered by AI to personalize academic instruction for each student.
• Three foundational elements include the physical facility, the people and human component, and the curriculum. There are basic ways to get started.

#FlexBlendedLearning #AIinEducation #PersonalizedLearning #EducationInnovation #FutureOfEducation #AIInLearning #TeachingInnovation #EdTech

FREE RESOURCES

1. Starting Your Microschool: Startup Expenses and Budget Considerations (PDF)
2. Sample Microschool Budget (Excel)

Download here: https://www.guide.school/3

LINKS

• https://www.guide.school/
• YouTube version of Lectures on Learning: www.youtube.com/@guideschooling/playlists
• Podcast version: Available on all major podcast platforms, such as Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Tw4gHH7ebOScn5ja1Xusv

In this episode of Lectures on Learning, we dive into the innovative world of Flex blended learning. We follow five teachers as they experience this revolutionary educational model firsthand during a three-day Guide School immersion. The episode explores how Flex blended learning combines AI-powered adaptive software with essential human elements to create a more efficient, engaging, and personalized classroom.

KEY TOPICS COVERED:

• Introduction to Flex blended learning
• The four pillars of the Flex Learning Arc: Group Discussion, Independent Work, Collaborative Work, and 1-on-1 Check-ins
• How AI adaptive software transforms academic instruction
• The changing role of teachers in the Flex model
• Benefits of personalized learning and human coaching
• Addressing misconceptions about AI-based learning models
• Practical application of the Flex model through sourdough breadmaking

#FlexBlendedLearning #AIinEducation #PersonalizedLearning #EducationInnovation #FutureOfEducation #AIInLearning #TeachingInnovation #EdTech

FREE RESOURCE

“The Flex Learning Arc” PDF

Download here: https://www.guide.school/2

LINKS

• https://www.guide.school/
• YouTube version of Lectures on Learning: www.youtube.com/@guideschooling/playlists
• Podcast version: Available on all major podcast platforms, such as Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Tw4gHH7ebOScn5ja1Xusv

Join host Heather Clayton Staker as she explores the revolutionary shift in education brought on by AI and adaptive learning technologies. This episode follows five teachers transitioning from traditional roles to "guides on the side" in an innovative charter school.

KEY TOPICS COVERED:

• The history of the Prussian education model and its lasting impact

• The disruptive potential of AI-powered adaptive learning

• Two possible paths for the future of education: transformed classrooms vs. microschools

• The changing role of teachers in the AI era

Witness the journey of five educators as they grapple with this paradigm shift. Gain insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in education, and discover how this transformation might reshape learning for generations to come.

Whether you're an educator, political leader, parent, or simply interested in the future of learning, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of K-12 education in the age of algorithms.

#FutureOfEducation #AIInLearning #TeachingInnovation #EdTech

FREE RESOURCE

Discussion Guide: “How Will Teaching Change in the Age of Algorithms and How Can We Prepare? Download here: https://www.guide.school/1

LINKS

• https://www.guide.school/
• YouTube version of Lectures on Learning: www.youtube.com/@guideschooling/playlists
• Podcast version: Available on all major podcast platforms, such as Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Tw4gHH7ebOScn5ja1Xusv