Reinventing Education

Join us as we explore how a counsellor centered school might approach the challenge of aligning personal meaning with workplace readiness. We delve into how intrinsic values can serve both the self and our communities and how we must address the challenges and opportunities of pursuing meaningful paths, from nurturing dreams to bridging the gap between school ideals and real-world demands.

In today's episode, we speak with Hans van Heesewijk, an educator who was integral to the founding of the Agora School system utilised in schools across the Netherlands. The Agora model is a child centred approach that prioritises individualised learning experiences. It has no standard classes, classrooms, or fixed curriculum, instead students are encouraged to pursue their passions and interests under the guidance of personal coaches. We were also lucky that Pete Merry of Ubiquity university, whose children have attended an Agora school, was able to join us for the conversation. Join us as we delve into Hans' journey of transforming education and discover the profound impact the models such as the Agora system may have on shaping the future of learning.  We hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. If you are interested in establishing which of the the three of school contexts you are currently in and how to support positive growth, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found here.

In this episode, Rob & Brendan unpack the revolutionary approaches of Ubiquity University in an interview with its trailblazing leader, Peter Merry. Ubiquity, a global educational institution, reaches learners worldwide with diverse courses rooted in regenerative and holistic principles. Peter, Co-founding Chief Innovation Officer, guides us through the vision, strategic partnerships, and the holistic learning pathways that set Ubiquity apart and shows how the ideas pioneered at Ubiquity can be applied to schools and colleges around the world. We hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. If you are interested in establishing which of the the three of school contexts you are currently in and how to support positive growth, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found here.

How can a counselor-centered school strike the delicate balance between developing the individual and the community? Join us in this episode as we explore the intricacies of fostering an egalitarian, participatory, and supportive system while navigating challenges like the tragedy of the commons and toxic decision making. Discover real-world examples and practical strategies for cultivating a collaborative culture that encourages growth while addressing potential vulnerabilities. We hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. If you are interested in establishing which of the the three of school contexts you are currently in and how to support positive growth, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found here.

There are 3 types of school: expert, coach and counsellor.  The counsellor approach, more than the other 2, makes students the center of their learning and also authentic participation in the school. In this episode we compare and contrast the views of all 3 types regarding what childhood means for students now and later in life. To find out which type of school you are in now, take our free 2 minute survey found here.

In this episode, we explore the power structure of the counsellor-centered school. In this approach to school organization, every member of the learning community from the principal, to staff, to students and parents has an equal voice in all matters that concern the school. Gone is the hierarchy and roles of previous approaches to school.  To find out if your school is more expert, coach or counsellor take our free two minute survey found here.

In this episode, we embark on a new season dedicated to exploring the innovative Counselor Model of school. Over these episodes, we'll delve deep into the transformative ideas and practices that are reshaping the landscape of education. We inquire into how the Counselor Model addresses the diverse needs of students, fosters holistic well-being, and promotes an inclusive and empowering educational environment. We'll explore the principles, challenges, and successes of this cutting-edge model that places students at the center of their learning journey. We hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. If you are interested in establishing which of the the three of school contexts you are currently in and how to support positive growth, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found here.

For a while now, one of our ideas has been to take the ideas from the podcast and distil them into a book that could be used for school leadership and other interested parties to gain a deeper understanding of the three types of schools that we focus on in our podcast and the ways that they can inform school-wide development.  Rob has recently begun that process and so we took the opportunity to dig into how the book is coming along, its overall aims and how it could provide a step towards a conception of school that really aligns cultures and practices. We hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. If you are interested in establishing which of the the three of school contexts you are currently in and how to support positive growth, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found here.

Join Brendan and Rob as they discuss how the progressive counsellor-centred approach to school solves many of the drawbacks of the mainstream coach approach. This includes looking at how a system that emphasises standardised tests and statistics over well-being and personal development can lead to frustration and a hunt for new ways. And, as always, we hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. In terms of our 3 types of school model, If you are interested in establishing what kind of school context you are currently in and how to move forward, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found by clicking here.

Today, we're lucky to interview Chris Balme, the head of a project-based school in Hakuba, Japan, and author of "Finding the Magic in Middle School." In the interview, we discuss strategies for increasing student autonomy and democratic decision-making principles, as well as the need for adults in the learning community to shift from being instructors to facilitators. We also explore the importance of moving from coercion to consent in driving learning, delve into why learning experiences should be authentic, and ruminate on how Chat GPT and AI may transform the future of education. Here is Chris's website, where you can find links to buy his book and writings on all of the things we cover in today's episode. And, as always, we hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. In terms of our 3 types of school model, If you are interested in establishing what kind of school context you are currently in and how to move forward, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found by clicking here.

In today's episode, we have a special guest, Miriam Remy, of the FREI DAY project. Miriam's work with the FREI DAY project aligns perfectly with the big ideas of reinventing education. The FREI DAY learning format empowers students to take charge of their learning, become active participants in their communities, and develop the essential skills needed for the future.  Through our conversation with Miriam, we will delve into the core principles of FREI DAY, its impact on students' growth and development, and the vision for implementation in schools around the world. We hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. In terms of our 3 types of school model, If you are interested in establishing what kind of school context you are currently in and how to move forward, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found by clicking here.

Back in 1971, Ivan Illich wrote the groundbreaking book "Deschooling Society."  Illich didn't hold back in criticizing the traditional and mainstream approaches to education that we've all become familiar with. He also presented a clear and progressive vision for the future, which still holds weight even after five decades. Join us for part 2 of our book review, where we dive into Illich's ideas for a post-school society. His proposals of skill exchanges, peer networks, and resource sharing, align pretty well with the systems we have available today in 2023. And so we're left wondering why our current reality doesn't match Illich's vision. We hope you find this discussion interesting and perhaps it inspires some ideas for how the 3 types of school model in your school’s context. If you are interested in establishing what kind of school context you are currently in, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found by clicking here.

Nicole Bordelais & Jörg Heinrichs are school leaders at Internationale Deutsche Schule in Brussels Belgium the school where Reinventing Education co-host Rob Macleod has taught for the last 5 years.   We have worked closely with Nicole and Jorg over the last few years using the 3 Types Of School model to guide school development. We wanted the opportunity to reflect on the work we have done together including the practicalities of how the concept of the 3 types of school was introduced to the school community, pros and cons as well as next steps.     We hope you find this discussion interesting and perhaps it inspires some ideas for how the 3 types of school model in your school’s context. If you are interested in establishing what kind of school context you are currently in, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found by clicking here.

Welcome to Episode 101 of our podcast! Over the past 100 episodes, we've been discussing the three types of school relationships: Expert, Coach, and Counselor. Today, we're excited to introduce a tool that we've built that can help you analyze your school's relationship type and determine the next steps to take. The link here will take you to the tool (form). Our tool considers various factors, including communication, trust, and collaboration, to provide an analysis of your school's relationship type. Whether your school has an Expert, Coach, or Counselor relationship, our tool will help you identify it and provide actionable insights to improve it. In this episode, we'll take a closer look at our tool and explain how you can use it to being a journey that empowers you as an educator, student, or parent. If you leave your email in the form, We'll reach out to begin a conversation how you can enhance your school's relationship type and create a better learning environment for everyone. Join us as we delve into the world of school relationships and discover how our tool can help you build stronger, more collaborative relationships in your school. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's passionate about education and wants to make a positive impact in their school community.

In our 100th episode, we summarize our first 99 episodes for you & update some of our terminology.  In this episode we provide you with tools to serve your school's development: -discern differences between the 3 types of school (expert, coach & counselor) -uncover which you gravitate toward, which your school is now & which is the best fit for its context -explore the 8 aspects of your school that reinforce the type of school and need to change to make sustainable change (systems, environments, activities, resources, communities, cultures, reactions & beliefs)  -we also make the case for a 4th type of school, an integrative approach that aims to integrate the babies and bathwaters of the others

In 1971 Ivan Illich wrote Deschooling Society, a text which was far ahead of its time.  Illich laid out a thorough critique of what we've called traditional and mainstream approaches to education. He also articulated a concrete progressive vision for moving forward. 50 years later his critique still holds weight.  In part 1 of our book review, we highlight the main components of his critique against schooling as it was in 1971 and still is in 2023. In this episode, we highlight what he calls the 4 myths of school and the 3 kinds of teachers.

In this episode, we identify how progressive education differs from traditional and mainstream approaches by defining the following aspects: -sociocratic systems of organization -adaptive physical and digital environments -transdisciplinary practices -sustainable & natural resources -inclusive communities & cultures -beliefs and reactions towards meaning

"School Circles is an independent documentary that explores the practice of democratic schools in the Netherlands. The film shows students, teachers and staff members coming together to dialogue, discuss proposals, mediate conflicts and make decisions about their school life. These schools not only challenge the mainstream education, but also democracy as we know it. They put into practice Sociocracy, a method for collective organisation based on a systems perspective, in which the decisions are made by hearing all the voices and getting everyone's consent."In this episode Brendan and Rob share their thoughts, questions and interest in circle schools and their progressive approach to school organization.  We highly encourage you to watch the documentary. It can be found here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/schoolcircles

Why do mainstream, curriculum-centered schools tend to engage with the community surrounding their school less than traditional or progressive schools? In this episode we focus on: -how parent's roles in schools have changed from passionate volunteers to qualified professionals -utilizing local businesses for job preparation -field trips as an extension or chance to apply learning  -creating communities that expand beyond your geographic location

We do our best to distill down the essence of the differences between traditional, mainstream, and progressive education. The process to get there can be messy.  Brendan and Rob working on a 2-week cycle to produce episodes.  Week 1 - brainstorm, sort & organize ideas Week 2 - record a condensed and hopefully concise episode For something different, we're giving you a chance to be a fly on the wall to listen in on what we do during Week 1. Next week we'll release the final product of this episode.

What kinds of events do mainstream schools host & more importantly why? We look at how the following events either serve the curriculum, help celebrate merit, or wow us with something unique: -parent information evenings -celebrations of learning -holiday celebrations -social gatherings and talent shows

How can parents best contribute to student learning and the functioning of the school and community?  Well, the answer seems to be, to get out of the way in a mainstream school.  In this episode, we look at how the role of a parent in a school has moved away from the passionate volunteer in the school to an informed coach at home. We examine the pros and cons of this new approach.

How do mainstream schools, that place importance on student success in relation to a curriculum, communicate effectively with parents?We analyze best practices with: - parent-teacher conferences - ongoing weekly or monthly communication - admissions & selling a school to parents

We cover the pros and cons of: -play-based learning -differentiation and addressing developmental stages -social-emotional learning strategies -conflict resolutions -assessment and developmental benchmarks

Breaktime can be an opportunity to maximize play, development & personal accountability.  We look at: - shared social agreements & conflict resolution -clubs, sports & organized activities -equipment & staggered timings -influence of health & safety and legal responsibility for supervision

Pros and Cons of supporting student government via: -student chaired meetings -class representatives -input in schoolwide decisions including staff hiring & budgeting -event organization   We also examine Roger Hart's framework Ladder Of Participation to help clarify student governments as merely tokenism vs authentic decision marking.

Pros and cons of making your classroom efficient using: -class job schedules -role-playing real-life job applications and reviews -jobs for lessons and student learning -school-wide jobs and rewards

In this episode we look at: -purposes for standardized assessments vs in school assessments -alternatives to written tests -testing validity: does it measure what it says it measures

Traditional approaches to feedback and marking focused on correcting mistakes.  In this episode we explore strategies the modern Mainstream approach uses: -feedback for improvement -finding your zone of proximal development -ongoing and frequent feedback -transparency  -specificity -conferencing models

In this episode, we discuss classroom agreements, preventative strategies, incentives for good behaviour, IEPs for behaviour, student choice and behaviour management models.

There are few more controversial issues in schooling than that of homework. Should it exist? How much is enough? Does it support progress or extinguish a love of learning? Tonight we dig into the pros and cons of the way the mainstream school system approaches homework. In this episode we reference the paper "Does High School Homework IncreaseAcademic Achievement?" by Charlene Marie Kalenkoski & Sabrina Wulff Pabilonia,  and the article "Key Lessons: What Research Says About the Value of Homework" from the Reading Rockets site. We also mention Alfie Kohn and his classic educational text, "The Homework Myth". Join us! And feel free to add your own voice to the conversation at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

Merry New Years & Winter Celebrations! We decided it would be a fun way to end the year to invite our friends Miriam (who is an integral coach) and Dwayne (an elementary school principal) along as we try to define the three types of school -Traditional, Mainstream and Progressive - in only ten words. Take a listen and see if you think we get close...and play along yourself if you like. We'd love to hear your ten! As always, get in touch at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.comFor more on Miriam's coaching: http://miriamthecoach.com/

The notion of learning as a joyous act with play at its centre has both its champions and detractors. We talked to early years educator Mark White about the benefits of integrating play into the classroom and the importance of educators being able to facilitate and nurture play. Mark is a highly experienced inquiry educator with a specialism in loose parts play and play responsive learning. Join Rob and Brendan as they dig into notions of agency, safety, reflection and experience in this fascinating, and often controversial, area of education. Get in touch at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

Transparency, goal setting and opportunity lie at the heart of the mainstream approach to education. Fundamental to success in all of these areas is the notion of differentiation. The responsibility of a mainstream teacher is to find what works for maximum achievement. Somewhat like a coach creating an athletic training plan. Mainstream schools use assessment based diagnostics to establish their next steps and aim to provide support for students of all levels and needs. Content, process or product may be differentiated for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in terms of student achievement in relation to curriculum standards.  As with everything, this concept carries positives ("babies") and drawbacks ("bathwater"). Join us as we navigate this tricky path. And as always, get in touch at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

This evening Rob, Brendan and Malcolm dig into their classroom practices and consider the role of the teacher in the context of student choice, freedom and agency. Join us!

A lesson is a lesson is a lesson right? Well in a mainstream school what happens in those 45 (or 30, or 60) minutes can look very different from a traditional or a progressive lesson. In a mainstream "3 Part Lesson" we may find differentiated instruction, transparent objectives, diagnostic assessments, and even the odd spot of "edutainment" (for better or worse).  Join us as we discuss the "babies & bathwaters" of the mainstream school's approach to instruction!

Maximizing the impact of the learning space on student achievement is what highly effective Mainstream teachers do. In this episode, we analyze how this is done via seating arrangements, use of walls & anchor charts, maker spaces and utilizing (and fundraising for) furniture.

What's the most useful framework for engaging with school development? Rob Macleod attempted to lay out the basic framework of the Reinventing Education Podcast earlier this year during his online presentation with Spiral Dynamics Integral Live. Check out their Facebook & Youtube pages for engaging & potent content on a wide variety of topics from education to LGBTQ equality in the workplace to self-organizing transit.

Tonight we are joined by educator and community connector Mihai Banelescu, of the One Room, One World Schoolhouse project. We discuss how to connect people with developmentally minded yet diverse perspectives to build the schools of the future. Join us!

The ethos or spirit of a mainstream classroom has wide-ranging implications on every aspect of a child's life. At its best, the mainstream school sees the class as a group of high achieving individuals supporting each other as a team. It's a place that is fair and acknowledges that fair looks different for each of us. There is an emphasis on personal motivation and trust is gained through transparency. However, an over-emphasis on competitiveness might erode those social connections leading to isolation and a loss of a sense of community. Today we look into the "babies and bathwaters" of classroom ethos in a mainstream school. Join us and let's keep the conversation going!

Armin Sieber, from the Integrale Tagesschule Winterthur in Switzerland, discussed his Future Perfect document, in which he writes from 10 years in the future looking back at what has changed in society and schools. In education, we often look at what can change within the walls of our schools, in this chat we discuss what could change in the world around us too. You can view the document here.

Embedded deep in every thing that happen in the classroom is the notion of what teaching and learning should be. In a mainstream school, driven by values of achievement and opportunity, what does this look like? We may see differentiation, transparency, accountability and collaboration emerge as central. The complexity of study may move up the taxonomy from remembering, through understanding and into analysis or application. But it is all for the best? What do we gain and what do we lose as we move into a world than may see us boiled down into data points or thrust into a winner takes all competition?  Join us as we dig into the "babies and bathwater" of the mode of thought and beliefs that underpin mainstream teaching and learning.   Get in touch!     reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

Traditional, mainstream and progressive schools all approach school assemblies differently. In this episode, we explore how mainstream schools are efficient, effective, motivating, merit-based and a chance for the community to work on curriculum objectives together. For fun, we also discuss the chaotic end of the school year tradition of the “abi-gag” in Germany. Speaking of chaos, we ramble at the beginning of this episode, and if you have any interest in following up on the wide variety of inside topics we mention, here are some introductory links.  Frank Sidebottom - unique northern England entertainer  Chris Sievey - underappreciated pop musician who created a 45 single that had its own computer loaded video on the bside.  Uncle Bob Pollard - the lead singer of the band Guided By Voices and general prolific song writer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqecxYBKtOY Kayfabe - a pro wrestling term that has now worked its way into mainstream political commentary.  Tragically Hip - a band who were successful in Canada, but failed to make a splash internationally. Kind of like REM but with a lot of added Canadiana:  Kincardine - Rob’s hometown.  Bruce County - the county that Rob originates from. Some HD footage  Lucy Calkins Readers & Writers Workshop - A model that Brendan and I have used in our teaching.   Stewart Lee’s Clowns Documentary.  Maudecast- Brendan’s other podcast about Maude Flanders of (semi) Simpsons fame.

Brendan and Rob share ideas, models & critiques freely.  But they've been stingy about their personal details. Malcolm Giles returns to flip the tables & ask us questions about why we're doing what we're doing and where things might be going. Malcolm was our guest in our 65th episode. All 3 of us wanted to keep our conversation going, so here he leads the discussion with Brendan and Rob.

What are your superpowers? Michael helps students define theirs.  We focus on the importance of letting students know they are valued, gratitude in the classroom and helping students tell an empowering story about themselves.  Brendan and I then reflect on some of Michael's key points and do our best to see what a superhero might mean to traditional, mainstream and progressive teachers.  You can check out Michael's book here:https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Superhero-SECRET-Official/dp/1674020309 & his work here:http://www.superherohill.com

How did schools get to where they are? Who are the stakeholders in our education system and how are their needs met? What has been the impact of schools shifting their attention from nation-building to cultivating value? What are the impacts of gamifying education? Our conversation with Dr. David Labaree from episode 68 brought up so many important questions that we unpack some of what he brought to the table here.

Today we chat with Dr. David Labaree, a sociologically oriented historian at the  Stanford Graduate School of Education on some of the major processes and patterns that define the relationship between education and society. David's books include, “Someone Has to Fail" & "How to Succeed in School Without Really Learning.” We are joined by fellow educator Dwayne Primeau to discuss how the purposes of school have evolved from building citizens to producing human capital. Along the way, we dig into hopes for the future and ways to bring political decisions about education back to the community. Enjoy! And please get in touch with us at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com if you want to be part of the conversation.

Buses, taxis and walking trains! A deep dive today into how the mainstream values of opportunity play out at the start of the school day.  Following this, we tackle that most controversial of issues.. what shall we wear? The mainstream opportunity centred school is torn between the freedom of fashion and the efficiency of uniforms. Join us! Get in touch with us at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

Today we dig deep into the minutiae of the mainstream school to see just how deeply those values of opportunity, independence and efficiency run. How does the mainstream school system support parents that work beyond the school day? Should childcare in these cases be the responsibility of schools and local government to support and subsidise or should friends, family and the local community take care of it? Get in touch with us as reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com and let's continue to discussion!

Malcolm Giles works with those training to become teachers. As a professor, he provides them with an integral & holistic approach to better understand the nature of the profession they are entering. We explore his best practices, engaging exercises, and frames for thinking.

Without staff meetings a mainstream school cannot: -debate the merits of ideas & proposals together -collaborate in teams to reach school goals -share roles to ensure effective & efficient use of time In this episode, we dive deep into the culture, protocols and activities found in mainstream staff meetings and tease apart the pros and cons of this approach.

How do we help students effectively and efficiently demonstrate their learning at school? How do I as a teacher engineer the best possible unit to maximize the use of our time together to achieve our curricular goals? These could be questions at the core of the hearts and minds of teachers in mainstream schools. Today we dig deep into the indicators you'd see when planning that help you identify that you are likely teaching in a mainstream school.

Mainstream schools support teacher growth through continuous training or "professional development". Today we look at how this professional development, with its transparent and achievable goals, lines up with the core mainstream value of "opportunity". Also... We all agree that we want “good teachers”, but it's tough to reach a consensus about just what constitutes a good teacher ,and even tougher to measure it. Teacher Evaluation can come in many forms and when done effectively can contribute to individual growth and a supportive school culture. In the second half of the show, we look at how mainstream schools go about this evaluation and the "babies and bathwaters" of the mainstream opportunity value approach. In the show we reference the following articles : 5 Ways To Make Teacher Professional Development Effective by Maria Kampen (Prodigy) and Teacher Evaluation: An Issue Overview by Stephen Sawchuk (Education Week)

This week, we look into the culture and beliefs of the staff in a mainstream school. We ask, what matters to teachers in mainstream schools in terms of their relationships? And how can we build strong, positive cultures that balance transparency, logic and support without being in constant flux or getting tied up in the cold data of bureaucracy? We also dive into the evolution of the staffing hierarchy, from the single teacher in the one room school house to the mainstream mega-schools with its hundreds of specific roles. And finally, we discuss how we can employ our limited budges to build a pastoral & teaching staff that best serves the wide needs of students. Listen in and tell us you thoughts on twitter and at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

In today's episode, we talk about the pushes and pulls that shape the role of a principal or head teacher in a mainstream school, including; the challenges of managing a large and diverse staff, bearing ultimate responsibility for student growth and being the conduit between government agencies and the community. We also discuss how the job of principal grew from coordinating a few teachers in the one room schoolhouse to the complex managerial role that it is today. We hope that you enjoy the conversation. Feel free to reach out to us on Twitter or at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

Today we have a second chat with Dr Brad Kershner that builds on the strands from our first conversation back in episode 55. We dig deeper into the ways that we can create a developmentally minded school in both culture and practice. We also talk about the kinds of relationships that we want to nurture and ask how we can best embody our broad and complex human values in a world where education is often reduced to workplace preparation. Brad is a school leader and educational theorist. He is currently the head of the Early School at Carolina Friends School in Durham North Carolina. He has an MA in the philosophy of religions and a PhD in education.  Brad's book "Understanding Educational Complexity" is available for pre order now and will be published in December. You can pre-order here! Before listening today, if you have not already checked out episode 50 of Reinventing Education, we suggest heading over there first to get an overview of many of the ideas that we talk about in today’s episode. It might also be helpful to listen to that first discussion with Brad a few weeks back in episode 55. We hope that what you hear is engaging, relevant and enjoyable. Feel free to contact us with questions and feedback at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com or on Twitter.

In today's episode, we look at how evolving designs of school buildings have gone hand in hand with changes in education. We discuss why the traditional one room schoolhouse gave way to the mainstream cellular model and consider the extent that this better serves students and teachers. And, of course, we get to the thorny issue of whether schools are just designed to save money, even where education sufferers.

Here at Reinventing Education, we have a theory that the three main aims of school are citizenship, workplace preparation and self development. But how does a mainstream school, with its core value of opportunity, carry out these three aims? And when push comes to shove, where does it devote its limited resources? Join us! And be sure to let us know your thoughts and experiences in this area at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com and on Twitter. In today's show we refer to this paper written by Shuayb & O'Donnell (UK National Foundation for Educational Research) which compares aims in schools across Europe since the 1960s.   The website purposeofschool.org was also very helpful in clarifying school aims.

Today we launch Season 5 in earnest with our first deep dive into the world of the "mainstream" school. This is the school just down the road. It's the one that populates our collective memory. It's a world of differentiation, standardised tests, sports teams, report cards, graduations and qualifications. The mainstream school is the water that we swim in, and it's very easy to see it as the only form of education. However in this season we will ask, "To what extent does mainstream education fit the global context of the 21st century, and what can it learn from the traditional and progressive systems?

Season 5! Welcome back. We fire up the new season by interviewing Dr. Brad Kershner on issues relating to creating a school that has development at its core. The discussion includes; the fundamental importance of relationships, finding truths that cut across all values and how the codes we speak are not always in alignment with the cognition going on inside us. Brad Kershner is a school leader and educational theorist. He is currently Head of the Early School at Carolina Friends School in Durham, NC. He earned a MA in Philosophy of Religions at the University of Chicago and a PhD in Education at Boston College. His recent writings and presentations have addressed topics such as: complex systems, mindfulness and meditation, human development, integral theory, racism, and the (mis)use of technology. Check out one of his talks here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjktqQ0SSSNwUCcjh-Av1vg

I'm sure you are familiar with the old saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater." meaning that we don't want to lose the best aspects of an idea when we change things up.   Every kind of school, be it traditional, mainstream or progressive has some vital, healthy elements that we want to keep and expand on. We call these "babies". While at the same time there are things that are holding us back from really making educational cultures & systems that serve the entire community. These are our "bathwaters".   In today's episode, we take a look at the "babies" that the traditional paradigm brought to the table as it swept away the problems that the previous mindset was causing. And then we talk about how some of these same innovations became bathwater in the eyes of the emerging mainstream opportunity minded system over the course of the 20th century.    Hope you enjoy. Thanks for all your support and feedback. We will see you back here after our Summer break for Season 5, as we deep dive into the "mainstream" opportunity minded school!

This episode we are joined by Integral coach Lennie MacLeod, to discuss how schools can use the theories underpinning the Reinventing Education model to become the healthiest possible version of their core values. We talk on topics such as, how traditional schools allow for redemption, how an administrator can use values to best place staff and how we can consciously move in the direction that is best for the whole community. For further details on Lennie's work as an integral Coach, or to contact him, please check out his website at https://www.lenniemacleod.com/

Hi. Before you check out episode 52, it might be good to go back and listen to episode 50 for an explanation of all the bits and pieces that make up our attempt to lovingly reinvent education! Today, we take a casual tour thought the back roads of the Reinventing Education model. We dig deep into some of the pros and cons of the traditional, mainstream and progressive school systems to answer the question, "How we can best serve the huge range of needs within our educational communities?"

Hot off the tightly scripted overview of our model in episode 50, we take a looser journey through the highways and byways of Reinventing Education. We dig into the the Integral theory that underpins many of these ideas before discussing how the three kinds of school; traditional, mainstream and progressive, are battling it out for the soul of education in the 21st century. Go check out episode 50 first and then join us back here for further glimpses into the nuts and bolts of Reinventing Education!

How do we change education?  This episode is our best answer.   In short, we believe that educational change comes when we seek to identify and act on the core values as they manifest across 8 key aspects of school: the activities, resources, systems, environments, communities, cultures, beliefs & reactions.   In this special episode, we attempt to summarise our ideas from our first 49 episodes with a focus on how the three types of school that we see today, the traditional, the mainstream & the progressive address the main aims of school: citizenship, self growth & work preparation.   We hope you find this interesting and valuable. Let us know what you think!

Today we wrap up our season long look at the traditional school! How does a traditional school communicate with parents? Are the kinds of parent teacher conferences that you find in these schools still meaningful and effective in 2020? Today we dig into the thorny topic of interaction with parents and discuss the strengths & weaknesses in the ways that Traditional schools go about it. We also talk about how students in a traditional educational system work with those in the local and global community. As with everything, there are babies and bathwaters! In our reverse sponsorships, we shout out the Circle Schools documentary & the book "The Conditions of Learning" by Robert Gagne. During the main part of the show, we talk about this study on parent involvement from the University Islam Indonesia, this article from "The Resilient Educator" on great parent teacher conferences and Robert Hart's "Ladder of Participation". Find us on Twitter or Email us at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

The traditional school prides itself on having a beautiful range of facilities. From a well maintained grounds, spacious sports pitches and a dining hall that is clean as a whistle to a fully stocked library.  The benefits of having such a physical environment may be obvious. But in 2020 is it still possible and desirable to have this old school approach? Today we dig into the babies and bathwater of the security minded traditional school’s physical spaces. We also look at something that is close to our hearts - the staff meeting. Over the last 15 years Rob & I have attended hundreds of these meetings in traditional, mainstream and progressive schools. So what do they look like in the traditional school and does this form still serve the school? In today’s episode, we refer to this Quartz article on great meetings & this BBC piece on how meetings may even function as a form of therapy.Our “reverse sponsorships” today mention Rob's upcoming presentation at the Integral European Conference and the Joseph Campbell classic “The Hero with 1000 Faces” Find us and feedback to us on Twitter or at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

Each type of school has its own conception of how young children should be educated. Today we look at how Traditional schools run their Kindergartens. One of the questions we ask is, "Why do schools that value self discipline an order allow the youngest children such freedom?" In the second part of the show we dig into how a security minded traditional school might run a student government. How does a school that values authority delegate decisions to its students? Also, as the Corona virus pandemic continues to have a major effect on the world, we update how our own schools are adapting to the crisis.   In this show we reference this research paper on the introduction of academic studies to Kindergarten and also this article on the differences between Montessori early years education and traditional kindergarten. Our "Reverse Sponsorship" this week shout the online portfolio tool "Seesaw" and the book "Igniting Brilliance : Integral Education for the 21st Century"

The Corona virus global pandemic has forced schools around the world into the largest experiment of virtual learning that has ever been undertaken. Traditional, mainstream and progressive schools have dealt with this unfolding crisis in very different ways. Today we look into the solutions that these three types of school systems have developed as they attempt to continue teaching and learning while staying true to their core values.

Break times, eh? We all love em! But what role do they play in a traditional education? And are there elements that no longer work well in 2020? Today we dig into the rules of the playground in our search for "babies & bathwater". We also discuss the idea of classroom jobs for students and look into the belief that they play an important role in building responsible people. In our opening ramble, we reverse sponsor, "Third Culture Kids" a great book on the topic of students who live in multiple cultures and we give a shout out to the "Meetup" app as great way to organise informal educational events. Enjoy!

Traditional school prides itself on being disciplined, but how does this type of education deal with those who hurt others and disrupt the flow of things? In the first part of this episode we dig into the idea of punitive discipline and its outcomes. We follow this with a discussion on the whys and hows of traditional school grading and assessing of student work.  Our reverse sponsorship today celebrates the work of Stephen McIntosh and his video  ("Developmental Politics in 5 Minutes"). And during our segments on discipline and assessment, we refer to the following articles & research papers : Michael Carson - Psychology Today article - “Punishment Doesn’t Work" ; Jessica Samakow -  Huffington Post article - “What Science Says About Using Force To Punish A Child” ; Elizabeth Gershoff - American Psychological Association article -  “Is Corporal Punishment an Effective Means of Discipline?” ; Mark E. Bouton and Scott T. Schepers - Research Paper - "Renewal after the punishment of free operant behavior" ; Rebecca Putman - Texas Journal of Literacy Education article - "Using Research To Make Informed Decisions About The Spelling Curriculum"

In the world of traditional education we would expect to see students completing homework on a regular basis. But does homework still have meaning in 2020? Alongside this, marking of this work was traditionally done in private by teachers and then returned with comments, including the dreaded "See me!". In today's episode, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses in the approach to homework and marking that you may find in a traditional "security" minded educational establishment. We reference the work of Alfie Kohn (rethinking homework) & John Hattie (feedback in schools) We also throw out a few of our own (non educational) podcast recommendations -enjoy! Adam Buxton, The Portal, Weird Studies, Athletico Mince, The Daily Evolver & That Naturopathic Podcast

What do we mean when we say "a lesson"? It seems an obvious question, but to each type of school - traditional, mainstream & progressive, what you may see may be markedly different. Today, we question the pros and cons of the traditional "chalk & talk" style lesson and we also ask how such a model supports and differentiates for the wide range of students that we have in our classrooms. Join us for another deep delve into the world of traditional education as we fish for babies and bathwater. Also in today's show we talk briefly about Salman Khan's Khan Academy and the influential work of Ernest Boyer and his book, "The Basic School"

Traditional approaches to education relied on a master and apprentice model. Modern education has largely abandoned this approach. In this episode we argue that it, and many other elements of a traditional education, given the right context, still have an important place today. Schools could learn a thing or two from how pro wrestlers are trained. We interview Tyson Dux, owner and head trainer at the Tyson Dux Wrestling Factory in London Ontario Canada. Tyson is a 23 year veteran of the wrestling world and has a reputation as one of the greatest because of how he conducts himself in and out of the ring. We discuss how a traditional old school approach to teaching serves upholding lineage, reputation and belonging. Tyson helps us see the sense of responsibility and accountability a master has to push their students to meet the demands that mastering a craft requires. Check out Tyson's Wrestling Factory here: https://www.facebook.com/tysonduxwrestlingfactory/ See Tyson in action in one of the matches he mentions here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCGuCWlZeLw

How should we be with each other? The traditional school might suggest that we should show respect and expect support....but what are the pros and cons of such a worldview? And is it really as straightforward as this? Today we dig into the ethos or culture that we might find in the traditional "security-minded" classroom. And then, in the second half of the show, we discuss how the learning spaces in a school can work for or against learning. Join us and let us know your take! In this episode, we give a shout out to: Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed https://www.amazon.com/Pedagogy-Oppressed-Anniversary-Paulo-Freire/dp/0826412769 Brad Kershner's Parenting & Education in the 21st Century - A Developmental Evolutionary View https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFvluOoBQCE&t=

Today we tackle two age old questions. Is there a place in 2019 for the textbooks and school uniforms so beloved by traditional schools? Spoiler alert..the answer is no...and yes! Join us to get the ins and outs of this conundrum as we try to find out which elements of a traditional education benefit us today and which maybe do not.

Traditional school likes to say that it operates from a sense of duty, pride, common sense and self discipline. But what is its place in 2019? Today we dig into how parents interact with traditional schools and the levels of trust afforded to teachers. What can we learn from this system of education and what should we leave behind?

A school's driving value will inform everything it does. Security is a key value often found in "traditional" education. Schools in this traditional mindset may highly value duty, lineage and self discipline. Today we consider the type of people who may become headteacher in this type of school. We inquire into how they might approach education and how they may evaluate their staff. Join us for this deep dive into the "Security" mindset!

One of the foundational values of education is "Security". A school operating from this mindset may highly value duty, self-discipline, responsibility to the group and authority. In this episode we follow up on our visit to a virtual "traditional" minded school. Here we reflect on the Pros & Cons (or "babies" & "bathwater") of such a school in 2019.

It is helpful to think about schools by looking at the different core values they uphold. Much of "traditional" public education has been rooted in the security value. In pt3 we take one final look at how the security value informs the beliefs, culture, practices and environment within a school. We do this by visiting a fictitious school where security calls all of the shots... and everyone is alignment with it.

Join us as we delve further into the world of the "traditional" school. As we try to answer the question of what the healthiest version of a school that prides itself on self discipline and duty might look like. What can we learn from a place where adherence to authority and tradition are top dog?

Season Four! In this episode, we pay a virtual visit to a "traditional" school. We look at how a school community that operates with ideas of tradition, common sense and hierarchy of trust at its core might operate in its ideal context.

How do we know if our school community is healthy? In this episode, we argue that school health comes through aligning the key aspects of community culture, individual beliefs, resources & systems with our values.

We have talked many times on the show about our "values". But what do we mean by that? On today's episode we dig into what a value is and how the values that we hold determine much of what we perceive, how we think and the actions we take. Important stuff! Enjoy!

What does it mean to say someone is healthy?According to the World Health Organisation it no longer merely means that they aren’t sick or impaired. Health is more about one’s ability to handle and adapt to different challenges. What does it mean to say that a community is healthy?Well, this has more to do with it having the resources it needs to meet its needs and wants. And….why are we discussing health on this education podcast? Moving forward we will discuss how each of the values driving educational communities (security, achievement, inclusion and integration) has healthy aspects that we wish to keep and unhealthy aspects we wish to consciously set aside.

We’ve built a map. A map that points out the territory that anyone or anything in education finds itself a part of. The map highlights why education looks different depending on what you value. The 4 values we see impacting what education looks like are security, achievement, inclusion and integration. Imagine 4 people and that each holds one of the 4 values.If you asked them about what education should look like in the following quadrants: Activities & Resources; Environment & Systems; Community & Culture; Beliefs & Reactions ...each person would provide different answers. We look into how acknowledging these aims, values and perspectives allows us to get the conversation moving in the right direction for us.

Sports Day (Or Track & Field day for you North Americans) is a tradition in schools worldwide. These events come in a wide range of forms from the competitive Canadian events, to the egg and spoon races of the Brits and the highly stylised dance troupes found in Japanese elementary schools. In this special episode, we dig into the idea that a Sports Day holds up a mirror to the values of the school community. In particular we look at the role of rewards in these kind of events and discuss a school that has moved away from medals & certificates entirely.

We talk about education, but where do we find education? In this episode we use the quadrants to help identify where you go to find education. Education is defined as the giving or receiving of systematic instruction, especially at school. In this episode we explore how the giving or receiving of systematic instruction can be found in the: activities & resources used for systematic instruction   environment where & the systems through which systematic instruction is given culture and communities of people connected to the systematic instruction reactions and beliefs of the individuals involved How each of these is carried out is impacted by the 4 values influencing what education looks like. These values are the belief that the systematic instruction should be organized in one of the following ways. Either with an adherence to security, achievement, inclusion or integration.

In order to find how to get to where we want to go we need to know where we are. In this episode we begin to construct our map to navigate the reinvention of education. We clarify:- the difference between reinventing and improving education - what the 3 aims of school are- what the 4 values influencing education at this time Some of this is a recap of our earlier episodes but is a necessary synthesis to build up our thesis on healthy schools which we will explore over the next handful of episodes.

A school hallway is transformed into a space that encourages physical activity. This supports student’s physical health, stress management and ability to focus. How could someone criticize this? Well, we play devil’s advocate to raise concerns and praise that would come from the 4 different values that inform what education looks like. We also address the perceived relationship between mind and body from each of the 4 values. What role do the mind and body play in one’s education? Article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/physical-activity-guidelines-children-1.4932070 Youtube clip: https://youtu.be/P4q8dNwsR3E

How should colleges go about filtering who gets in and who doesn’t?At what point does a competitive advantage for an applicant become cheating? We discuss the current college admissions scandal in the US through the 4 values that inform what education looks like. Standardized tests which have been of great value seem to be losing favour due to the numerous ways students and parents can gamify or cheat the system. In this case, parents were paying for students scores to be enhanced and even paying for other people to go write the tests for their kids. Will a scandal like this or others in the future lead to us abandoning standardized test scores as entrance criteria or will they simply compliment other criteria deemed worthy? https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/13/us/what-we-know-college-admissions-cheating-scandal/index.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/14/us/sat-act-cheating-college-admissions.html?fbclid=IwAR1eOMmp_ZZ6hjiiS_NrJfupriPPL5GolQ50JseUQqImrGpfoZmzfYn6Htc

Facial recognition AI used to track your child’s attentiveness and mood in school. On what grounds would you be OK with it? Is it supporting teachers or putting fear into students? Or both? Would you feel comfortable having AI mark your child’s work? China is piloting practices like these in over 60 000 schools. Will this lead to innovation in education or a doubling down on more traditional pedagogy with the help of new technology? In this episode we explore how compliance, ambition, sensitivity and development driven schools might try to bring AI into the classroom. Article: https://newatlas.com/china-ai-education-schools-facial-recognition/54786/

It’s easy for others to understand us incorrectly. At times this is because we’re speaking from different quadrants or perspectives. In this episode we introduce Ken Wilber’s quadrants as an analytical tool to help us specify which particular aspects of school we are addressing in our discussions. Simply put it helps us navigate whether we are addressing a topic from a 1st person 2nd person or 3rd person perspective. Distinguishing which topics must be addressed in each quadrant will help us distinguish nuance from noise in future episodes. In this episode we make distinctions between discussing school in terms of the: upper left quadrants: Response & Beliefs lower left quadrants: Culture & Communities upper right quadrants: Resources & Activities lower right quadrants: Environment & Systems

New features on our show. We take stories about education from the news. We look at the issues from the perspective of the 4 different values at play in education. We tease apart how compliance, ambition, sensitivity and development focused schools might respond to the story.  Today we begin with the current student climate protests.

Should everyone be taught in the same way? How should we measure progress in learning? How much of their “real” self should teachers bring into the classroom? Recently we’ve interviewed 6 leaders on the cutting edge of education. In the last episode of this season we complete our exploration of the shared themes in these discussions and the patterns they revealed in the roles of students, teachers and parents in development-focused schools. We discuss: Philosophies on differentiation; Assessment and valid measurements of progress in learning & Teachers as authentic people.How the role of the teacher is beginning to encompass elements of the mentor, coach & facilitator. Creating meaningful connections between school, home and the wider community.

What should be taught in school? If you sat down and made a list of 10 things, what would be on it? Recently we’ve interviewed 6 leaders on the cutting edge of education. In this episode, we attempt to connect the dots between the discussions to reveal patterns in how development-focused schools view learners and what should be taught in their schools. We discuss: -Beliefs about learners-How different values prioritize certain things over others in curriculum-How to balance the school’s requirements with student agency and autonomy-How self-organizing leadership fosters a community capable of inquiry and self-direction

What does leadership look like in a developmental school? According to our interviews with leading-edge educators, in terms of leadership, it...-dissolves the traditional hierarchy pyramid of a school -brings students into the structure in an authentic way- is built off a sense of purpose and self-organization-must reflect the adaptive characteristics required to navigate the VUCA world

What is a developmentally or integration minded school?   We tried to answer this in a single episode. We had a lot to explore.  In pt1 we discussed the concept of personal development through stages in schools.  In pt2 we begin to explore the practical side of how a Development or Integrated (teal/integral) school organizes itself.

What is a developmentally minded (aka integration minded) school?    Recently we've interviewed 6 people who are living this inquiry. We scan through our interviews to connect the dots and articulate what these educators have in common. It takes a lot to unpack what makes a development-centric approach to education unique and different from what we know.   Enjoy our attempt to put words to this emerging leading edge of education in part 1.