We like to think we’re the master of our own destiny–that the trajectory of our life is based on free will and merit. Yet, when we look at it through an ecological lens we realize our future is shaped by our relationships and our environment. Which also means that the structure of the environment we’re...

Jamie’s perspective, his teaching, and identity changed when he had a few experiences that turned his window into a mirror, and what he saw was Whiteness. So what does this have to do with systems? Listen and learn. In Episode 6, we talk with Jamie Utt about racial literacy, feedback loops, and the role of...

To look at learning through an ecological lens, you have to consider the environment–the place where the learning situated. In this episode, we talk to Eric Dhruv with Ironwood Tree Experience (ITE) about place-based learning. ITE offers programs that give young people the opportunity to explore the intersections of nature and community through many lenses...

It’s easy to get caught up in the minutia–the test scores, the record keeping and data, the meetings. And when we get distracted by the details, we lose sight of what’s really needed to support learning: meaningful relationships and emotional well-being. This episode we go meta with neuroscientist Mays Imad and explore the conditions that...

Back the day–in the 1960 and 70s–Apollo was “the school” to go to–it was cutting edge, innovative, and actually built in the shape of the Apollo lunar lander. Today, Apollo the school community is quietly reclaiming its identity. In this episode, hear how the administrators at Apollo, Roy Massani and Angelica Encinas, are thinking about...

All human systems are designed. They have a vision and purpose (implicit or explicit). In this episode, we explore the design behind the Sunnyside system that makes the district unique–the Sunnyside Coherence Framework. The Sunnyside Coherence Framework pinpoints the district’s direction while illustrating the connectedness of the system. Tune in for a conversation with Sunnyside Superintendent...

The Adobe Sessions is back with a new podcast series, EDUcology. Often when we talk about education, we drill down on specific components of the system, like teacher pay or school rankings. When we look at these segmented components, it’s easy to lose track of the big picture and the people in the system. So, with...