The Educhange Podcast

Jake Plaskett is an innovative, self-confessed project-based learning evangelist who has been living in Australia since 2013. In his time here he has worked at MLC School in Sydney at a PBL Specialist Teacher, with the Department of Education in NSW, as the Coordinator of Innovation and Learning at Rosebank College, and at the time of interview, was the Director of Learning Innovation at Ruyton Girls’ School in Melbourne. Jake’s experience as a former student at High Tech High and then a teacher of Maths and Music at High Tech High ignited his passion for PBL pedagogy, and in this episode we unpack the benefits and a few of the challenges involved in project-based teaching and learning.

Melissa Moore is Deputy Principal at Rototuna Junior High School in Waikato, New Zealand, a state school that is pushing boundaries with integrated learning design. In this episode we explore the development of their integrated learning framework, the importance of Maori culture in informing the design and Rototuna Junior High School's commitment to measuring the learning they value.

Welcome to Season 5 of the Educhange Podcast. We're looking forward to dropping our first episode for the season on Saturday!

Dr. Lindsa McIntyre is currently the inspiring headmaster of the Jeremiah E. Burke High School, located in the heart of the “promise neighborhood” of Boston. As a school leader, she has helped transform the Burke into a positive learning environment of love, becoming the first high school in Massachusetts to exit Turnaround status. In 2011 she was honoured by the Freedom House as a Champion of Freedom. At EC18, she sat down with our CEO and co-founder Dave Faulkner to talk through her inspirational work.

Laura McBain is the co-director of the K12 Lab at the Stanford University d.school. She is an accomplished educator, having led deeper learning approaches in education through her contributions at High Tech High, a network of 14 schools based in San Diego, California. In this recent conversation with Nicole Dyson at EC18, she shares how educators can use the process of design and empathy to enable powerful learning for students, especially by deploying a project-based approach that engages and empowers.

Daniel Flynn is the co-founder of Thankyou. Starting in social entrepreneurship at the ripe old age of 19, he continues to drive Thankyou’s vision to see global poverty eradicated with the goal to help millions of people in need. An ‘ideas man’ through and through, Daniel is a big advocate for living out your dreams. In this recent conversation with our co-founder Aaron Tait at EC18, he discusses why social entrepreneurship is so important and how teachers make a difference. 

Brad Milne and Hamish Barclay are Assistant Principals at St Thomas of Canterbury College in New Zealand. They are working to evolve learning approaches for their school by focusing on shifting pedagogy and implementing innovative practice. They share their insights with Maddie Scott-Jones on how gamification and inquiry learning can be used to engage and empower, changing what learning can be for students. Both Brad and Hamish have completed Post Grad studies in Applied Practice and Digital Learning.

Jonathon Cook is currently an advanced skills teacher at Austins Ferry Primary School in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Apart from being a 5/6 teacher, he is also in charge of transition, career focused learning and STEM at the school. He’s in the early part of his career having been teacher for 10 years, with experience teaching in the Kimberly region, rural parts of Tasmania and in Hobart. Passionate about bringing equity to all kids in the state, we discuss what it takes to lift engagement in schools.

Chonny is the Director of Wellbeing at Presbyterian Ladies' College in Perth, Western Australia. In her role, Chonny has been charged with leading the work of the groundbreaking PLC Lighthouse, a $10.5 million health and wellness center for students from pre-kindergarten to Year 12. The Lighthouse is made up of three floors, each with a distinct purpose and focus and seeks to fully embed personalised wellbeing and positive education into the core work of the school.

Professor Adrian Piccoli was the NSW Minister for Education between 2011 and 2017. During these six years, he led significant education reform in NSW and nationally. His advocacy for quality teaching, needs-based funding for schools and improving the performance of rural and remote students see him regarded as one of the best education ministers in Australia. He holds degrees in economics and law and is now the director of the Gonski Institute for Education at UNSW, and Professor in the School of Education.