More about this week's guest:
More about this week's guest:
We're a bit off our regular weekly schedule, but we're thrilled to present a full hour with the remarkable Deborah Meier. She has been on the front lines of school and education reform for decades. And she is a delight: exceedingly knowledgable, deeply experienced, passionate, and reflective about all that she has done. She's also frustrated because the change has not been everything we need; in fact, we've fallen quite short. This is one of those interviews that I'm hoping people will pass along so everyone can learn as much as I did--HB
More about this week's guest:
On Thursday, October 29 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we present the 27th LIVE episode of the new LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL.
One of the best ways to understand the life of a student is to study the mythology of the Hero's Journey. Over a dozen years, every student leaves the ordinary world of his or her young childhood and responds to a call for adventure. Many students don't want to go. They want the security and comfort of the familiar, so they refuse the call. Then, they meet a mentor, a teacher, a kind soul who guides them toward a threshold. But there are tests along the way, allies, enemies, and eventually, a series of difficult ordeals. The young student becomes the smarter older soul; he or she overcomes the midpoint in the journey and carries the reward along a road back home, much improved by the process. But there are further obstacles, deeper dangers, reasons for doubt, and the very real possibility that the elixir, the magic of personal growth, will be lost. This is the hero's journey, the basis for so many stories, books, movies, videogames, legends. Fortunately, author Christopher Vogler studied the journey and has written about it in great detail. His work, written for writers who use it as a tool to build their own stories (many books, many screenplays), is called The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. Earlier this year, the book was published in a 25th-anniversary edition, and we're here to celebrate. We're also here to discuss the use of this important, and popular book, for learning and in school. To help us do that, we'll be joined by Will Linn, Founder of the Mythology Channel and Founding Chair of the General Education Department at Hussian College--a new film and performing arts school; Julia Torres, Teacher Librarian, Montbello Campus Library, Denver Public Schools; and Julie M. Wilson, Founder & Executive Director of the Institute for the Future of Learning.
Please join us on Thursdays for our live shows, or visit www.reinventing.school for the recorded versions.
More about this week's guests:
On Thursday, October 23 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we present the 26th LIVE episode of the new LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL.
All-day, every day, we are exposed to news stories about the dreaded COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus) Coronavirus. As a result, most people know about six-foot distancing, masks, and we can recite some of the unfortunate statistics by county, state, and nation. There has been a great deal of discussion among teachers, in school board meetings, among parents, and certainly among students about what we must do, what could happen, whether there is a vaccine around the bend, and more. However, most of us don't know much about viruses, about this particular virus, how viruses work, what we can reasonably expect from science and medicine, and whether this is an isolated incident. To answer those questions--keeping politics out of the discussion, we've invited several scientists to help us navigate current knowledge, history, beliefs, and the future. And so, this week, we welcome Tista Ghosh, MD, MPH, Senior Director of Impact Evaluation at Grand Rounds, and former Lieutenant-Commander in the United States Public Health Service; Glenn F. Rall, Ph.D., Professor and Chief Academic Officer for Fox Chase Cancer Center; and Steven Taffet, Ph.D., Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University.
Please join us on Thursdays for our live shows, or visit www.reinventing.school for the recorded versions.
More about this week's guests:
On Thursday, October 15 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we present the 25th LIVE episode of the new LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL.
This week's episode looks at the world of school from a different point-of-view. Often, when asked about key classroom and school decisions, people at the local level (teachers, principals, school districts) look to state government. And so, this week, we're joined by people in charge of state education departments. This week: Randy Spaulding, Executive Director of the Washington State Board of Education; and Sydnee Dickson, Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
LINKS from this episode:
https://schools.utah.gov/portraitgraduate
Please join us on Thursdays for our live shows, or visit www.reinventing.school for the recorded versions.
More about this week's guests:
On Thursday, October 8 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we presented the 24st LIVE episode of the LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL.
This week's episode continues our one-on-one interviews about Positive Psychology and Positive Education. Our guest is Peggy Kern, an associate professor at Centre for Positive Psychology within the University of Melbourne's Graduate School of Education.
Please join us on Thursdays for our live shows, or visit www.reinventing.school for the recorded versions.
On Thursday, October 1, we produced our first one-on-one LIVE hour of the LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL.
If you miss any of the LIVE sessions, you can always find the recordings on this web page several days after the recording session. You may be familiar with the concept of Positive Psychology--a two-decade-old part of psychology that studies the positive side of the human experience through hope, resilience, mindfulness, relationships, agency, and future mindedness. All of this applies to education in very useful ways. Positive Education incorporates aspects of social-emotional learning, but it goes much further. This week, we're joined for the full hour by Laurie Santos, a psychology professor whose big project at Yale University is to positively influence the culture of the institution by teaching happiness and well-being.
Please join us on Thursdays for our live shows, or visit www.reinventing.school for the recorded versions.
On Thursday, September 24 at 3:00 pm US-EDT, we produced our first LIVE half-hour of the LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL.
If you miss any of the LIVE sessions, you can always find the recordings on this web page several days after the recording session.
You may be familiar with the concept of Positive Psychology--a two-decade-old part of psychology that studies the positive side of the human experience through hope, resilience, mindfulness, relationships, agency and future mindedness. All of this applies to education in very useful ways. Positive Education incorporates aspects of social-emotional learning, but it goes mufh further. This week, we're joined by Sir Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Buckingham since 2015, one of Britain’s leading contemporary historians, educationalists, commentators and political authors.
Please join us on Thursdays for our live shows, or visit www.reinventing.school for the recorded versions.
On Thursday, September 17 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we present the 21st LIVE episode of the LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL. If you miss the LIVE show, we'll post the recorded version next week.
This week's episode tries to make sense of our system of testing, evaluation, and assessment. It's not simple. It is imperfect, controversial, and beginning to change (in part due to the virus, in part because change is overdue). This week: Alfie Kohn, an independent scholar who writes and speaks about education, homework, testing, and other provocative topics; and Jeff Snyder, Chair of Educational Studies at Carleton University whose expertise includes evaluation and assessment.
Please join us on Thursdays for our live shows, or visit www.reinventing.school for the recorded versions.
On Thursday, September 10 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we celebrate with the twentieth (!) LIVE episode of the new LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL. If you miss the LIVE show, we'll post the recorded version early next week.
This week's episode is the second part of a two-parter. REINVENTING SCHOOL looks at the world of the teacher. We've been working with the Council of Chief School Officers (CCSSO), and we'll be joined by three winners of their "Teacher of the Year" awards. This week: Chanda Jefferson, 2020 South Carolina Teacher of the Year, currently Albert Einstein Fellow in Congress; Rodney Robinson, 2019 National Teacher of the Year, senior advisor, Richmond Public Schools; and Tabatha Rosproy, 2020 National Teacher of the Year (Early childhood education, Winfield Early Learning Center, Winfield, KS.
Please join us on Thursdays for our live shows, or visit www.reinventing.school for the recorded versions.
On Thursday, September 3 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we present the nineteenth LIVE episode of the new LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL. If you miss the LIVE show, we'll post the recorded version early next week.
This week's episode begins a two-parter. REINVENTING SCHOOL looks at the world of the teacher. We've been working with the Council of Chief School Officers (CCSSO), and we'll be joined by three winners of their "Teacher of the Year" awards on Episode 19 and three more on Episode 20. This week: Lynette Stant, 2020 Arizona Teacher of the Year; Mandy Manning, 2018 National Teacher of the Year; and Takeru Nagayoshi, 2020 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year.
Please join us on Thursdays for our live shows, or visit www.reinventing.school for the recorded versions.
On Thursday, August 27 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we present the eighteenth LIVE episode of the new LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL. If you miss the LIVE show, we'll post the recorded version early next week.
This week, REINVENTING SCHOOL asks a basic question: if distance learning is the solution, how does this work without 100% broadband coverage in the U.S.? By our count, about 2 in 3 U.S. students (K-12) lack either reliable fast broadband service, the necessary devices, or a quiet space to study and learn. Our discussion will focus on broadband inequality so we can learn the reasons why the system is (wildly) imperfect, and what is being done to correct the situation.
Our guest experts: Dr. Veronica C. Garcia, Superintendent of New Mexico's Santa Fe Public Schools; Matt Dunne, Founder & Executive Director, Center on Rural Innovation; Dee Davis, Center for Rural Strategies; Michael Romano, Senior Vice President of Industry Affairs, NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association; and Evan Marwell, Founder and CEO of EducationSuperHighway.
Prior to becoming the interim superintendent of Santa Fe Public Schools, Dr. Garcia served as the Executive Director of New Mexico Voices for Children, a state children’s advocacy organization that champions policies meant to improve child well-being in the areas of education, health, family economic security, and racial and ethnic equity. During her time as executive director of NM Voices for Children, she fully integrated the organization’s two major work areas—the KIDS COUNT program and the Fiscal Policy Project—which resulted in the creation of the NM KIDS are COUNTing on Us policy campaign, a blueprint for improving child well-being. Her decades of work within the state’s K-12 education system have also included teaching in the classroom, serving as principal and regional superintendent in the Albuquerque Public Schools, and serving as associate superintendent and superintendent of the Santa Fe Public Schools. As the Superintendent of Santa Fe Public Schools from 1999-2002, the District transformed a $2.6 million deficit into a $2.4 million cash balance.
We are producing TWO episodes this week, one on Wednesday and one on Thursday.
On Thursday, August 20 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we present the seventeenth LIVE episode of the new LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL. If you miss the LIVE show, we'll post the recorded version early next week.
This week, REINVENTING SCHOOL considers a serious technology threat to (a) our sanity; (b) our business and industry; and (c) our schools. Could a giant cyberattack disrupt or even disable our access to the internet? (How would we do distance learning with no internet?) Is our national power grid at risk? What happens if a cyberattack strikes in the midst of the pandemic? Are we thinking about any of this clearly? For clear and rational answers, we look authors and experts who presented the Solarium Cyberspace Commission report mandated by the U.S. Congress (see NY Times article)
Our guest experts: Frank Cilluffo, Director, McCrary Institute for Cyber & Critical Infrastructure Security at Auburn University, Suzanne Spaulding, Senior Adviser for Homeland Security and leads the Defending Democratic Institutions Project (DDI) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and Mark Montgomery, Executive Director, Cyberspace Solarium Commission.
We are producing TWO episodes this week, one on Wednesday and one on Thursday.
On Wednesday, August 19 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we present the sixteenth LIVE episode of the new LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL. If you miss the LIVE show, we'll post the recorded version early next week.
This week, REINVENTING SCHOOL goes deep into the question of the safety, wisdom and controversy associated with opening, and perhaps closing, U.S. schools. For this special episode, we look to Avik Roy, Dan Lips and Preston Cooper, all co-authors of a popular WSJ cover story entitled Why It's (Mostly) Safe to Reopen the Schools. Find out more about our guests below.
On Thursday, August 13 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we present the fifteenth LIVE episode of the new LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL. If you miss the LIVE show, we'll post the recorded version early next week.
This week, REINVENTING SCHOOL is all about student empowerment, agency, and a model of learning that grows from the needs of children and teenagers. While the education system promises this approach, many students, parents, and teachers see a need for change. In addition to several students who are so important to these conversations, we welcome Chris Lehmann, founding principal and CEO of Science Leadership Academy, Julie Evans is the CEO of Project Tomorrow, an internationally recognized education nonprofit organization that focuses on improving learning opportunities for students through the effective use of STEM resources. Michelle D. Jones founded and now runs a college that she founded, Wayfinding Academy.
On Thursday, August 6 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we present the fourteenth LIVE episode of the new LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL. If you miss the LIVE show, we'll post the recorded version early next week.
This week, REINVENTING SCHOOL focuses on the spectacular rise in interest in pod schools--small groups of students studying with one or more teachers in an environment that is both similar to, and different from, traditional school. Our professional guests: Lian Chikako Chang, a "data storyteller," started the Pandemic Pods group on Facebook in July; just weeks later, the group includes more than 35,000 members. Mara Linaberger, EdD is Founder & COO, Microschool Builder, and the author of The Micro-School Builder’s Handbook. Tasha C. Ring, M.Ed. is the Founder, Directress, and Principal Consultant for Meridian Learning.
On Thursday, July 29 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we present the thirteenth LIVE episode of the new LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL. If you miss the LIVE show, we post the edited version here by Monday over the weekend.
This week, REINVENTING SCHOOL looks at the connection between friendship, learning, school, and education. In the U.S., and in many other countries, questions about opening schools during the pandemic include concerns about social interaction between students. In short, how is it possible to make new friends if you're not interacting with new people? We'll learn more about the study of friendship from four professional guests: Lydia Denworth, Contributing Editor of Scientific American and author of the book, Friendship: The Evolution, Biology and Extraordinary Power of Life's Fundamental Bond. Dr. Caroline Fenkel, Executive Director at Newport Health, which provides teens with the guidance, support, and education to build strong relationships, learn and practice healthy coping skills, grow their personal self-worth, and reestablish trust and communication with themselves and their loved ones. Dr. Lyle Ungar, a multi-disciplinary scholar, and researcher whose technology interests include friendship. Dr. Caroline Connolly has enjoyed a lengthy research interest in the study of friendship, first with Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, now at The University of Pennsylvania's Psychology Department.
This week, REINVENTING SCHOOL changes its perspective. Our guests are not professional educators. Instead, this is a moderated discussion among students about what school is, and what it could be. Given the uncertainty of the next school year and the potential for new solutions, we're very excited about this episode.
Special thanks to our student guests, and to our one adult guest:
Dr. Podguriski founded The Washington Health System Teen Outreach in 1988 and a peer education program in 1995. Through the Teen Outreach Program, Dr. Podgurski mentors young parents and trains peer educators. She has trained over 15,000 peer educators and over 10,000 young parents.
In honor of her noteworthy accomplishments, Dr. Podgurski was awarded the Athena Women of Wisdom Award (2004), the NAACP Human Rights Award (2008), The ARC Community Award (2014), the Healthy Teen Network Excellence in Sexuality Education Award (2014), and the Carol Mendez Cassell Award for Excellence in Sexuality Education (2014).
On Thursday, July 16 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we present the eleventh LIVE episode of the new LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL. If you miss the LIVE show, we post the edited version here by Monday over the weekend.
This week, REINVENTING SCHOOL digs into the numbers, the trends, the policies that shape the contours of school, education, and learning in our 21st-century world. Jonathan Supovitz is a Professor at The University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education, and the Director of the Consortium for Policy Research in Education. Jean-Marc Bernard is a Senior Education Economist with Global Partnership for Education.
On Thursday, July 9 at 4:00 pm US-EDT, we present the tenth LIVE episode of the new LearningRevolution.com weekly interview series, REINVENTING SCHOOL. If you miss the LIVE show, we post the edited version here by Monday over the weekend.
This week, REINVENTING SCHOOL has fun. Our topic is one of the most important aspects of growing up--playing with friends, playing with peers, playing with family members, making new friends through play, learning through play. Three professional guests will join two students. Becky Wolfe is the Director of School Programs and Educational Resources for The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Stephen Nachmanovitch, Ph.D. first caught our attention some 20 years ago with a terrific book entitled Free Play. Lenore Skenazy is the President of Let Grow and the founder of the Free-Range Kids movement.
Before the virus, more than a billion children and teenagers relied upon school for learning. After the virus (or, after the current wave of our current virus), basic assumptions about school and education are no longer reliable. School buildings may become unsafe for large numbers of students. The tax base may no longer support our current approach to school. Without the interaction provided by a formal school structure, students may follow their own curiosity. Many students now possess the technology to learn on their own. And many do not.
Reinventing.school is a new weekly web television series that considers what happens next week, next month, next school year, and the next five years. Hosted by University of Pennsylvania Senior Scholar Howard Blumenthal, Reinventing.school features interviews with teachers, principals, school district leadership, state and Federal government officials, ed-tech innovators, students, leading education professors, authors, realists and futurists from the United States and all over the world.
Each episode features 2-4 distinguished guests in conversation about high priority topics including, for example, the teaching of public health, long-term home schooling, technology access and its alternatives, the role of parents, friendship and social interaction, learning outside the curriculum, the future of testing and evaluation, interruption as part of the academic calendar, job security for teachers and support staff, setting (and rethinking) curriculum priorities, special needs, student perspectives on the job of school, the importance of play, the psychology of group dynamics and social interaction, preparing for future rounds of a virus (or cyberattack or impact of climate change, etc.), college readiness, higher education transformed, the higher education promise in an economically challenged world, and more. Clearly, there is much to discuss; nearly all of it ranks high on the list of priorities for raising the world’s children.