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The Student-Centered Shift: Empowered International Schools and Classrooms Through Project-Based Learning
The Student-Centered Shift: Empowered International Schools and Classrooms Through Project-Based Learning
The Student-Centered Shift, hosted by internationally acclaimed educator Kyle Wagner, helps international school educators transform their classrooms from passive to active learning spaces. Each week, Kyle offers actionable tips or interviews forward-thinking educators to share strategies for project-based learning and student empowerment. Past guests include project-based learning pioneer Ron Berger and bestselling author Gary Stager. The podcast covers mindset shifts, strategies for independent thinking, and practical ways to design project-based experiences.
Episodes
Is AI Making Students Independent or Isolated?
AI can give students more choice, personalize learning, and help them work more independently. But does that automatically make learning more student-centered? In this episode of Student-Centered Shift, I sit down with Dr. Justin Jang to explore one of the biggest questions facing international educators right now: How do we use AI to increase student agency without outsourcing thinking, reducin
Want More Student Voice? Let Them Help Design the Learning (Without Sacrificing Curriculum)
What if giving students more voice didn't mean giving up the curriculum—but actually helped them go deeper into it? In this episode of The Student-Centered Shift, I explore the shift from teacher-designed to co-designed learning through the story of Linda, a teacher who handed some of her most dreaded curriculum standards over to her students. Instead of deciding everything herself, she invited st
Will Student-Led Inquiry Sacrifice Rigor? Start Small With Agency
Want to give students more ownership of their learning, but worry that letting go of control could mean sacrificing rigor, curriculum coverage, or academic expectations? In this episode of The Student-Centered Shift, I sit down with inquiry expert Trevor MacKenzie to unpack one of the biggest misconceptions about student-led inquiry: that giving students more agency means giving up structure. Inst
Want Students to Lead the Discussion? Try These 6 Thinking Hats
Want students to lead more of the discussion, but find the same voices dominating while others stay silent—or the conversation quickly goes off track? In this episode of The Student-Centered Shift, I share a simple strategy I recently saw in action at ISKL in Malaysia: Six Thinking Hats. By giving students different lenses for questioning, challenging ideas, exploring possibilities, and using evid
Want Future-Ready learners? Start with their STRENGTHS
What if you didn't have to wait for your whole school to change before creating learning that better prepares students for the future? In this episode of the Student-Centered Shifts, I sit down with education scholar Dr. Yong Zhao to explore a bigger vision for what school could become. From strengths-based education and human interdependence to curriculum, assessment, equity, and AI, they challen
Why Student-Centered Change Fails- And How to Make it Stick
Ever introduced a promising student-centered initiative, only to watch the momentum fade once the PD ends? I've seen schools invest in new programs, professional development, curriculum, and technology with the hope of transforming learning. But lasting change doesn't happen simply because we introduce another initiative. It happens when we build the capacity of the people responsible for bringing
Students struggling to collaborate? Co-Create Norms for High Functioning Project Teams
Have you ever put students into groups, asked them to collaborate, and then watched the whole thing fall apart? One student takes over, others disengage, ideas get shut down, and no one seems quite sure who's responsible for what. The problem isn't necessarily the group—it's that effective collaboration needs to be taught. In this episode of The Student-Centered Shift, you'll discover a practical
Afraid to Step Back in Project-Based Experiences? Former Student Shares What Happens With Independence
Wondering if your students will succeed in projects when you stop leading every step? Or worried that giving them more independence will lead to less learning? In this episode, I reconnect with Nikola, a former student from High Tech High who is now a mechanical engineer, to reflect on the student-centered experiences that continue to shape his work nearly two decades later. From designing an inte
Think You're Building a Student-Centered Classroom? Start With These 5 Shifts
Trying to create a more student-centered classroom—but feeling constrained by curriculum, assessment, or time? In this episode, the tables are turned as I'm interviewed by Dan from Future Anything about the simple shifts that transformed my own teaching—from traditional instruction to classrooms where students ask better questions, lead meaningful discussions, and take ownership of their learning
Struggling to Motivate Teenagers? What Adolescents Need To Thrive
Feeling like your students are becoming more disengaged, dependent, or resistant as they move into adolescence? Wondering how to build genuine independence without constantly reminding, managing, or motivating them? In this episode, I sit down with Jan and Rhonda, two experienced Montessori adolescent guides, to explore a radically different model of middle school education. Instead of relying on
Stop AI Cheating By Doing THIS: The Top 1% of Project-Based Learning Designs Chatbots Can't Replicate
Students using AI to avoid thinking? Wondering how to create learning experiences that can't simply be generated with a chatbot? In this episode, I sit down with Coach Mark, veteran educator and project-based learning leader from Hawai'i, to explore why the rise of AI makes project-based learning more important than ever. We discuss how authentic, community-connected projects move students beyond
Want Independent Learners? 5 Simple Shifts That Help Students Lead Their Projects
Do your students constantly ask, "What do I do next?" Feeling like you have to manage every detail for projects to succeed? In this episode, I take you inside two real student exhibitions—from upper elementary passion projects to middle school independent studies—to show what happens when students are given ownership of their learning. Through interviews with the learners themselves, you'll hear h
End- of- Year Burnout? One Simple Shift To Get Students To Care
Watching student motivation disappear as the school year winds down? Seeing more behavior issues, rushed AI-generated work, and learners who seem mentally checked out before summer even begins? In this episode, I share a simple but powerful end-of-year shift that transformed our middle school energy: legacy work. Instead of piling on more reminders, consequences, or busy work, we asked one questio
Trying to Personalise for Neurodivergent Learners? Start with Student-Driven Projects
Trying to personalize learning for neurodivergent learners—but finding that traditional approaches still fall short? Wondering how to meet diverse needs without lowering rigor or managing several pathways at once? In this episode, I sit down with Rory, an innovative educator and founder of Barefoot Technology Academy, to explore how student-driven, project-based learning creates powerful, personal
Think You're Giving Students Voice in Your Classroom? 3 Things Students Actually Want
Want to amplify student voice—but not sure what it actually looks like in practice? In this episode, I flip the script and bring in the voices that matter most—students. You'll hear directly from middle school learners in a student-centered Montessori program as they share how voice, choice, and real-world projects are shaping their confidence, independence, and growth. 📍 From running a student-le
Want Stronger Student Teams? Use These Simple Systems to Boost Collaboration and Ownership
Want stronger student teams—but not sure what systems actually make collaboration work? In this episode, I sit down with James to explore how simple, practical tools can transform student groups from uneven and unpredictable to focused, collaborative, and accountable. Through real classroom stories—from student-run cafés to project-based learning environments—you'll hear how small shifts i
Got Student Teams- But Don't Manage Themselves? Empower Student Project Managers for High-Functioning Teams
Do you have student project teams- but don't manage themselves? I'm guessing you've experienced these frustrations.. - One student doing all the work - Poor Time Management - Low Work Output - Inability to Agree on an Idea In this short, bonus episode I show how making one small shift in your role can support student teams, and empower them to overcome these challenges and manage themselves. W
Can students LEAD parent/teacher conferences? Let students lead, save time, empower learners
What if the conversation that matters most at parent-teacher conferences wasn't between you and the parents—but between the student and their parents? In this episode I walk you through one of the most transformative shifts you can make in your classroom: student-led conferences. Picture this—students presenting their own work, their growth, their challenges to their parents while you blend into t
How do you engage students like a game designer? Ignite passion, empower learners, enliven curriculum
How do you get students so engaged that they ask for extra paper, and don't want class to end? In this episode I sit down with Vince, founder of Press Start Studios and curator for Games for Change Hong Kong, to explore how game design principles transform student engagement, creativity, and intrinsic motivation. Discover how thinking like a game designer shifts your entire approach to curriculu
From Eco Club to Curriculum: How to Scale Student-Led Change and Project-Based Learning
What if student-centered learning meant your students were running the coolest business venture at school—and made £5,000 in a weekend? Join me as we sit down with Ed Moore, an award-winning primary teacher and author of "100 Ideas for Primary Teachers for Greener Schools," to explore how environmental education becomes the catalyst for project-based learning, youth empowerment, and community enga
Burned Out in a Teacher-Led Classroom? 5 Classroom Resets for Ownership in Chinese New Year
Feeling stuck in old classroom routines that drain your energy and limit student ownership? Wondering how to reset your learning space without adding more to your plate? In this Chinese New Year–inspired episode, I explore how the traditions of renewal, clearing space, and beginning again can guide a powerful classroom reset. Drawing on my own experience teaching in Hong Kong and across internatio
Designing for the Adolescent Brain? Why Autonomy, Belonging, and Relevance Must Come First
Designing student-centered lessons but still seeing disengagement, emotional shutdowns, or surface-level participation? What if the issue isn't what you're teaching, but whether your learning environment aligns with how the adolescent brain actually works? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Ari Pinar, neuroscientist and educator, to unpack what brain science tells us about adolescence — and why au
Trying to Build Classroom Community Alone? Start a Student Led Council Instead
Still stuck playing classroom referee, solving every issue yourself, and wishing your students would step up? In this episode, I sit down with my colleague and veteran Montessori educator/ adolescent expert Meg Broz, who shares the single structure that transformed her classroom into a thriving student-led community: weekly student-run councils. Meg outlines how a simple shift—from teacher-driven
Tired of Micromanaging Students? Try This Self-Management Framework
Tired of students constantly asking "What do I do next?" or aimlessly bouncing between tasks during work time? In this episode, I unpack one of the most common frustrations educators face when trying to promote student agency—learners who simply don't know how to manage themselves. I share a practical tool that changed everything for our classroom: the Self-Direction Rubric. It's a simple, structu
Losing Momentum in Project-Based Experiences? Rotate Roles, Reignite Engagement
Tired of watching student teams burn out mid-project? Or seeing the same student take charge while others fade into the background? In this episode, I share a simple but powerful strategy that reinvigorated our year-long student-run business: rotating roles. You'll hear how a single shift—letting students try on new responsibilities—rebalanced workloads, re-energized participation, and fostered de
Why Student Agency Fails: 5 Simple Fixes
Have you provided students freedom and choice only to watch them fail miserably at exerting it? Make bad decisions. Poorly manage their time. Produce sloppy, unpolished work. That was me last week when I let students pitch their student generated business plan to a panel of investors. Real stakes and real people. And they were terribly unprepared. But what if I told you their failure was NOT t
Struggling to Get Traction for Makerspace, Student-Centered Learning? How One Educator Built Momentum with a Single Space
Feel like you're the only one pushing for more student-driven, hands-on learning in a system built for tradition? For many of us international educators, shifting toward student-centered, project-based learning feels like an uphill battle, especially when the system is slow to evolve. In this powerful episode, I speak with Steve from Bradbury International School, who turned a single underused str
Voice and Choice vs Curriculum Coverage (Replay)
I'm re-airing this episode based on popular demand and a recent study that shows a sharp decline in pupil's happiness in secondary school due to a lack of agency. Are you trying to build more student agency, but feel boxed in by curriculum coverage? What if you didn't have to choose between voice and academic rigor? In this episode, I sit down with Natalie Harvey, secondary principal at Beijing C
Tired of Students asking, "What did I get?" 5 Step Process for Self-Evaluation and Growth.
Tired of students asking, "What did I get?" after every assignment? What if they asked, "How did I grow?" instead? In this solo episode, I share a powerful reflection conversation with one of my students after his seventh real-world presentation of the day during Exhibition. Rather than assigning a grade, we walk through a rubric he co-created, debating scores, celebrating growth, and co-construct
Tired of Running Every Classroom Activity Yourself? Simple Shifts to Empower Student Leadership
Do you ever feel like your students rely on you for every next move? What if you could shift from being the sole driver to creating a classroom where students lead with confidence? In this episode, I sit down with Nicole, a passionate PE teacher and learning leader who shares her journey of transitioning from teacher-led instruction to student-led experiences. From student-designed fitness plans t
Want Empowered Learners? Start with Who's Watching
Do your students disengage the moment a presentation starts- or never fully show what they're capable of? What if the missing ingredient was as simple as who was watching? In this episode, I share the powerful impact of expanding the audience beyond the teacher. You'll hear how one identity-based exhibition at our Montessori Middle School completely transformed students' confidence, participation,
Stuck Teaching in a Bubble? How Place Based Learning Brings the World to Your Students
Do you ever feel stuck trying to make learning relevant, but tied to the four walls of your classroom? What if the place students learn became the curriculum itself—full of stories, problems, and people to learn from? In this episode, I sit down with Jen Buchanan, principal at Think Global School—one of the world's only fully traveling high schools—to explore how place-based learning transforms ed
Sick of Managing Every Project? How Student Managers Boost Engagement and Accountability
Do you feel like every classroom activity depends on you to keep things running? What if one small shift could hand that responsibility to your students, and spark more energy and accountability than you imagined? In this episode, I share a classroom story of empowering a student to take on the role of project manager. What began as a way to distribute responsibilities in a café project quickly ex
Want to Empower Students and Staff? 3 Shifts That Actually Work
What does it really take to lead a student-centered shift, especially in exam-driven environments? In this conversation, I sit down with Rikke (pronounced like reggae), an international school leader who is transforming her 600-student campus in Portugal to align with her bold vision: "Together, we educate for change." Rikke shares the small but intentional moves that created momentum for whole-sc
Why Most Student Teams Fail. Three Shifts to Foster Collaboration and Ownership
Why do most student teams fail, and what can you do to change it? In this re-published episode, I sit down with Kristin Damburger, Associate Division Head at Avenues, to explore the common pitfalls that prevent student teams from thriving. Kristin shares three simple shifts you can make in your classroom to turn disengaged or unproductive teams into high-functioning, collaborative groups. From red
Want more Curious Learners? Start with Yourself
Feel like curiosity is getting lost in content coverage, deadlines, or disengaged classrooms? What if our own vulnerability was the key to unlocking it? In this episode, I speak with Austin Levinson, Director of Learning at Megaminds and long-time champion of student agency, curiosity, and connection. From macro photography projects to travel blogs and AI-powered adventures, Austin shares how he m
Is Your Classroom Built for Student Thinking? 4 Design Shifts to Spark Shared Ownership
Is Your Classroom Built for Student Thinking? 4 Design Shifts to Spark Shared Ownership Ever walk into a classroom and instantly feel the energy? Not from the teacher—but from students leading the work. That's not an accident. It's the result of intentional design choices that turn passive learning into shared ownership. In this episode, I walk you through four practical spatial shifts to transfor
From Classroom to Co-Working Space: How to Design Learning Spaces That Invite Agency and Flow
Still stuck in the same classroom setup year after year? You're not alone. Too many classrooms signal teacher control before a single word is spoken—and that design choice shapes everything about how students engage. In this episode, I take you inside the transformation of an old office into a vibrant Montessori adolescent hub—and unpack what it means to move from "classroom" to "co-working space.
Looking to Deepen Student Agency? Tools to Support Inquiry, Independence, and the Shift to Facilitator
Even after shifting to student-centered learning, it's easy to fall into familiar routines: sparking a project, guiding students along, and quietly doing the heavy lifting ourselves. But what does it take to fully hand over the reins—and trust students to direct their own learning? In this episode, inquiry-driven educator Robynne Esther shares how she made that shift herself, and the practical too
Essential Summer Reading List: 5 Books That will Transform Your Life as an Educator
What if a single book could transform your life as an educator this Summer? Shifting burnout, boredom, and breakdown to BREAKTHROUGH. That's what these 5 📖 books did for me. One helped transform my uninspiring worksheets into student designed works of art- where no two products looked the same One helped unlock the magic formula for designing prompts that transformed disengaged learners into
Is Inquiry Still Teacher-Led in Your Classroom? How to Design for True Student Ownership
Is inquiry still too teacher-directed in your classroom, even when it's framed as student-centered? You're not alone. Many international educators find that despite good intentions, "inquiry" still looks like teacher-planned lessons with limited student agency. In this episode, I speak with Dawn York, Head of Hanoi International School, about how she and her team shifted from teacher-led inquiry t
Hiring for a Student-Centered School? 3 Shifts to Attract the Right Educators
Starting a student-centered school or program but not sure how to find educators who can thrive in it? You're not alone, and the answer isn't just another job fair or standard posting. In this episode, I share the exact 3 shifts that helped me staff our brand-new Montessori Middle School with mission-aligned "unicorn" educators in less than three weeks. If you're launching a new initiative or simp
No Time and Space for Project-Based Learning? How One Shift Changes Everything
Feel like project-based learning sounds powerful—but totally unrealistic in your packed curriculum and schedule? What if one small shift could open the door? In this episode, I talk with international educator, VIS Dean of Academic Affairs and social scientist Tristan Reynolds, who shares how he replaced a single unit test with a project—and saw student ownership, engagement, and reflection skyroc
Teacher Led vs Peer Led: What Sparks Real Student Action?
You want your students to take action but how do you actually empower them to lead real change? In this episode, I speak with Arlian Ecker, a 19-year-old environmental changemaker and co-founder of Plastic Free Boy, who has reached over 1.5 million students across 350 schools through film, storytelling, and action-based learning. From citizen science on the Great Barrier Reef to student-led plasti
Shifting From Teacher to Project Coach? Simple Tools for Self-Directed Learning
You've handed over choice, but you're still doing the heavy lifting. Many well-intentioned student-led experiences fall flat—not because students can't lead, but because they lack the structure, tools, and guidance to own the process. So how do we support self-directed learning without taking control back? In this episode, Laurence Myers, K–12 Service Learning and Self-Directed Projects Coordinato
Structure vs. Space: What Students Really Need to Thrive
What if creating a student-centered classroom wasn't about adding more—but about holding space for what's already there? In this episode, I speak with movement and mindfulness educator Lawrence about what it means to create environments that center curiosity, personal exploration, and connection. From yoga studios and sound healing sessions to forest clearings and public parks, Lawrence shows us h
Is Your Schedule Working Against Student-Centered Learning? Here's How to Fix It
They say you can tell a lot about what a school values by looking at its timetable. What does yours say? If you're trying to create more time for student-driven projects, real-world connections, and deeper learning, but your current schedule feels rigid and confining, this episode will show you a better way. It's part two of our special monthly series on Building Student-Centered Schools. In this
Voice and Choice vs. Curriculum Coverage? How One School is Making it Work
Trying to build more student agency—but feel boxed in by curriculum coverage? What if you didn't have to choose between voice and academic rigor? In this episode, I sit down with Natalie Harvey, secondary principal at Beijing City International School (BCIS), to explore how her team is shifting culture around student agency while still honoring the demands of a rigorous curriculum. From co-creatin
Planning Projects Across Subjects? Three Shifts to Make Them Work
Feeling stuck planning projects across subjects? It's more common than you think. Without the right structures, interdisciplinary projects often feel messy, disconnected, and overwhelming — for both teachers and students. But what if a few small shifts could lead to more engaged students, stronger collaboration across subjects, and less stress for you? In this episode, I sat down with Ryan Murfie
Is your student data locked away? Use AI to put learning power in student's hands
What if the real reason students aren't owning their learning... is because the data about their progress stays locked in a teacher's spreadsheet? In today's episode, we tackle one of the biggest missed opportunities in education: when rich data about student learning stays hidden from the very people it matters to most — students. I sit down with Daniel Rosenberg from Otis to explore how giving s
Why Student-Centered Change Fails—and How Leaders Can Make It Stick
🎙️ What if your efforts as a leader to shift classroom practice were falling flat, not because of teacher resistance, but because of how change is being led? Studies show that only 30% of school change initiatives succeed. Often, it's because the teachers we support in shifting practice feel overwhelmed, unclear, or unsupported. But what if one simple changed that? In this episode, I talk with
Overwhelmed by Student-Centered Program Design? Start with Story and Stakeholders
Ever been handed a blank sheet of paper to design your dream school—but felt totally overwhelmed by where to begin? You're not alone. This episode kicks off a special monthly series airing in the final week of each month on Building Student-Centered Schools Building Student-Centered Schools, where I take you behind the scenes of a real program I'm helping launch in Hong Kong. Each month, we'll unp
Stuck in Classroom-Based Learning? How Community Connections Boost Engagement and Real-World Learning
Struggling to make learning feel relevant and real for your students? What if shifting from classroom-based instruction to community-connected learning could spark deeper engagement—without adding to your workload? In this episode, I sit down with Lori, an expert in community-based STEM learning, to explore how shifting learning from the classroom to museums, libraries, and local spaces creates po
Too many projects to manage? Shift to Mentor Mode for easier PBL and Less Overwhelm
What if you didn't have to manage every student project—but guided students to lead their own? Too often, teachers in project-based learning feel like they have to run the show—juggling endless questions, guiding every decision, and holding all the details. But shifting from master to mentor can lighten your load and deepen student ownership. In this episode, we talk with Byron, an international e
Why Students Struggle with Problem-Solving: Build Entrepreneurial Mindsets Without the Chaos
What if your students used what they're learning to tackle meaningful challenges- right in your classroom? If you've ever watched our students struggle with real-world problem-solving, you're not alone. Many are used to following directions—not thinking like innovators. But what if, through a simple shift in learning design, we could help them approach our subject like entrepreneurs, creators, an
Why Traditional Assessment Fails—And How Co-Creation Drives Ownership and Better Work
What if assessment wasn't just about measuring learning—but actually deepened it? Traditional assessment often fails because it's something done to students rather than with them; leading to disengagement, surface-level work, and a lack of real ownership. Rigid rubrics, one-size-fits-all grading, and limited student input leave learners disconnected from their own progress, making assessment more
Using AI to Simplify Project-Based Learning w/ Thom and Phil
Does Project-Based Learning Feel Overwhelming? AI Might Be the Key to Making It Work. For busy educators like us, it's been a struggle to effectively implement project-based learning (PBL) while balancing standards, time constraints, and assessment requirements. There simply aren't enough hours in the day. But what if AI could eliminate these barriers and make PBL more accessible than ever? In
Are Students Just Memorizing Standards? How PEER Teaching Unlocks Deeper Engagement and Understanding"
🎙️ What if your students didn't just study academic standards—but took ownership of teaching them to peers? Too often, students see academic standards as something to memorize and repeat. But what if they engaged with them in a way that deepened understanding and made learning more meaningful? In this episode, we talk with Mara Simmons, Phd., an international educator, school founder and learning
Stuck in Teacher-Led Projects? How Student-Initiated Projects Boost Engagement and Deeper Learning.
🎙️ Is "letting go" the secret to student empowerment? For years, teachers have been told that structure, control, and direct instruction drive student success. But what if the opposite were true? In this episode, we sit down with Dan Jones, a veteran educator, 2x author, and student-centered champion who nearly left the classroom—until he discovered the power of flipping the script. He shares how
Why Traditional Classroom Setups Fail International Learners (And How to Create Spaces Where Students Thrive)
Is your classroom setup holding your international learners back? Traditional, teacher-centered layouts often stifle the creativity, collaboration, and cultural inclusivity needed for students to thrive—especially in our international schools. Outdated setups can act as barriers, preventing meaningful learning and student engagement. In this episode, I'll share five simple shifts to redesign your
How to build 100% learner agency: Where Students Run the School w/ Peter Hutton
What do you think of when you hear the term 'learner agency?' You might envisage students having some "voice" and "choice" around what they learn, or where they sit in class. And while that's a nice start, learner agency is more than allowing students some choice in what they learn. It's about involving them in every step of the journey. Imagine a school with... 🙌🏼 Student- run electives. 🙌🏼
Ditch Resolutions: Build your 2025 Student-Centered Classroom Vision
Do you still set New Year's Resolutions? I used to—until I realized I broke nearly all of them by February. And I'm not alone. Research shows that 88% of people abandon their resolutions within the first two weeks! But there's a far more powerful, research-backed method for casting your vision for Student-Centered Learning in 2025. This method has already helped me and over 2,000 educators achieve
Running Your First Project: From Teacher Led to Student-Led Environments
"Feeling Overwhelmed by Running Your First Project with Learners?" 🎙️ You aren't alone. Moving from a teacher-centered to student-led environment takes a lot of courage. Bu what if all it required was a few simple shifts in what you already do? In this episode, three student-centered elementary teachers share the shifts, stories, strategies, and lessons learned from running their first student-c
The Brain Museum: Unlocking Student Agency in Secondary Classrooms
How do you develop a student-centered secondary classroom with a packed curriculum, strict assessment guidelines, and an exam based culture? This is the dilemma Gisou Ravanbaksh faced when wanting to provide more agency to her students in her DP Psychology class. But through a few simple shifts in the learning process and audience for student work, her classroom came alive with students research
From Classroom to Creative Studio: Empowering Students to Design a Better World
What happens to the classroom environment when you give students a real problem to address? That's what Dave Strudwick, former Teacher/Principal of Real School Budapest was wondering when he asked year 5 students to fuse literacy, multimedia, and fashion to "create a better world." His classroom transformed from a teacher-centered space to a real world design studio, with students taking on roles
From Isolated Classroom to IMPACT in the Community
What learning opportunities exist beyond our classroom doors? That's the question that led school founder and student-centered educator Dr. Jane Shore on a community mapping expedition with her high school students in Philadelphia. Through a simple 5-step process, they uncovered community stories, built strategic connections, and forged long term learning partnerships that would give learning in
From Grades to Documenting Learning Journeys
What do grades tell students about their learning? Are they even helpful? Even though evidence suggests grades are a poor motivator for student learning, we still use them in our classrooms to evaluate learning. But there's a much better way to not only evaluate learning, but track learner GROWTH and PROGRESS. In this highly engaging episode recorded live at my Book Launch Party , Gary Heidt tak
How to Help Kids Create Work that MATTERS with Matt Neylon
With AI able to fill out worksheets, write five paragraph essays, craft short stories, or pen reports in seconds, the impetus for inspiring original, real-world work couldn't be greater. How as student-centered faciltiators do we support students in producing the kind of work that they find PERSONALLY meaningful and beautiful? Helping them find THEIR unique, personal voice. In this groubreaking e
From Teacher to Facilitator of Learning Environments
What happens to student empowerment when we move from the the front of the classroom to a gentle facilitator on the side? We get more self-directed learners. More student voice, opinions, and ideas. A range of diverse work products. Making this shift is NOT easy. It requires a mindset of trust, and the facilitator 'moves' to support this kind of student-centered environment. Andrew Faulstich, a
From Isolated to Collaborative Learning Environments (Shift #8)
If I walked into your classroom, would I find students seated neatly in rows facing the front, or in small interdependent table teams? One of the best ways to shift from a teacher-led to a student-centered environments is to re-arrange your furniture. In this short bonus episode, I unpack simple ideas for creating this kind of collaborative environment, strategies for developing interdependent s
From Worksheets to Real World Work (Shift #5/6)
In a world with advancing AI, personalized chatbots, and ready made content at student's fingerprints, how do we engage them in work that they find personally meaningful? This short episode helps unpack the conditions necessary to engage students in this kind of work, irregardless of age or school subject. From podcasts, to state of the art green spaces, discover how to have students create profes
From Siloed to Trans-disciplinary Learning Experiences (Shift #4)
What happens when we allow learning to move outside the siloes of our classrooms? In this episode, through a real case study, we learn how to design empowering, trans-disciplinary experiences with teachers across mutiple subjects. And all it takes is a few shifts in how we approach learning design. Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard: https://transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard/ Pre-Order the 12 Shi
From Led by Content to Led by INQUIRY (Shift #2/3)
What happens when we lead learning with big questions, rather than mandated curriculum content? Four year 7 teachers across 3 different subjects wanted to find out. Over a seven week unit, they devised activities, lessons, and hands-on learning that helped students dive deeper into big questions around developing future societies. As a result...agency, empowerment and engagement went through th
From Teacher designed to CO-DESIGNED Learning (Shift #1)
Fifth grade teacher Linda Amici's most 'dreaded standards' became her favorite after making one simple shift.... She turned them over to her students. With this new agency, students worked harder than they ever had before. Learn about Linda's story of co-design, and simple strategies for co-designing learning experiences with your own learners in the 2024-2025 school year. Take the 12 Shifts
Co-Designing Learning with Kids and the Bio-Collective w/ Dr. Ben Freud
How do you design learning in your classroom/school? Imagine inviting student input on everything from the way the timetable is organized, to the design of learning experiences, even to how they are assessed and evaluated. That's the kind of voice and choice The Green School Bali provides its learners. And their learners are empowered as a result. In this illuminating podcast episode, Head o
Accelerating Deeper Learning Classrooms: Transformation Story with Jenn Fisher
What is deep learning? Is it students engrossed in semester long units or learning experiences? Inquiring, probing, investigating, and making meaning of their learning. Perhaps. But most of us don't have that kind of time, or freedom with our curriculum. What if deeper learning didn't mean re-organizing everything we had, but simply making a few tweaks to what's already there.. Gathering studen
Green School Bali: Teaching regenerative education w/ Kenny Peavy
Imagine a school where you take your shoes off every time you enter the classroom. You shared the space with local bugs, insects, bees, and biodiversity surrounding you. You rode a bus to school powered by used vegetable oil. The curriculum was built around the natural world surrounding you. You got to take up action projects to save the planet, whether protecting local reefs, or buidling roads ou
Empowering our SEN Learners w/ Ail Durban and Tamaryn Yatu
How do we EMPOWER our SEN learners? What if by accomodating for their unique needs, we were able to create a more student-centered environment for ALL learners? Provided alternative methods of assessment. Allowed for hands-on projects. Built learning around common themes. Emphasized life skills as much as academic ones. That's exactly what founder Ali Durban and Head Teacher Tamaryn Yatu have a
Cultivating Creativity in Classrooms
How do we cultivate and unleash student creativity in our classrooms? Right now it's happening on the peripheries. In makerspaces, STEM projects, electives, and arts/music/drama classes. But how do we make creativity a core part of day to day learning? Building opportunities for students to tinker, build, create, and problem solve on a daily basis in ALL classrooms? In this short episode, Adam Hil
How to EMPOWER Adolescent Learners
How do we EMPOWER adolescent learners? Anyone who works with this age group, knows that they have a unique set of needs. Adolescent learners have unique needs for increased social connections, purpose, autonomy, ownership, and real-world purpose and pursuits beyond the walls of the classroom. As student-centered adolescent educators, how do we design experiences and environments that allow for t
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