In this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, host Rebecca Midles sits down with Aylon Samouha, the CEO of Transcend and a visionary in education reform. They delve into the concept of The Third Way, an approach that blends community insights with proven educational practices to create lasting change in schools. Aylon shares his insights from years of experience in the field, discussing the limitations of traditional top-down reforms and the challenges faced by grassroots efforts. Together, they explore the importance of truly listening to students and communities to design learning environments that meet today's needs. The conversation is a thoughtful journey through the complexities and possibilities of transforming education, emphasizing the power of student-centered learning and community-based design.

Outline

• (00:00) Introduction to the Podcast
• (02:19) The Need for a New Educational Design
• (06:04) Historical Resistance to Change in Education
• (10:01) Impact of the Pandemic on Education
• (11:41) The Importance of Student Experience
• (14:31) Listening to Students: Challenges and Benefits
• (18:16) Surprises in Community-Based Design
• (21:47) Hopes for the Future of Education
• (24:20) Parallels Between Jazz and Education Design

Links

• Watch the full video
• Read the full blog
• LinkedIn
• Transcend Education
• The Aspen Global Leadership Network Fellow
• Watch Aylon as a jazz guitarist
• X profile