The Education Vanguard

21C Learning

The Education Vanguard is on a mission to seek out and discover interesting educators building, changing and improving the way we deliver education. Insightful questions, a casual atmosphere, and frank discussion help this show deliver value.

  1. 11h ago

    When Teachers Step Back, Students Step Up: Kyle Wagner on Student-Centered Learning

    What changes when teachers stop being the center of the classroom and students start taking ownership of their learning? In this episode of Education Vanguard, Justin Hardman sits down with Kyle Wagner, student-centered learning designer, project-based learning expert, and author of Where's the Teacher? 12 Shifts for Learner-Centered Classrooms. Drawing from his experiences at High Tech High, the International School of Beijing's Futures Academy, and the International Montessori School in Hong Kong, Kyle shares what it takes to create learning environments where students have greater voice, choice, and responsibility. Their conversation explores how educators can move beyond traditional instruction, overcome curriculum constraints, and make small but meaningful shifts toward more authentic learning. Kyle also reflects on the importance of designing projects that extend beyond classroom deadlines, creating learning experiences with real-world purpose and lasting impact. In this episode: What High Tech High teaches us about student-centered learning Bringing educational innovation into established school systems Moving from teaching to educational consulting Overcoming barriers to project-based learning The 12 shifts toward learner-centered classrooms Lessons from Montessori middle school education Practical changes teachers can make to encourage student agency At its heart, this conversation is about rethinking the teacher's role, not making teachers less important, but creating the conditions where students can do more of the thinking, exploring, and learning themselves. Continue the conversation at 21CLHK 2027. Kyle Wagner joins Chris Bush for the pre-conference workshop Personalise Your Next Unit With AI: Keep the Thinking, Grow the Agency on 11 March 2027 in Hong Kong. Discover how to redesign an existing unit using project-based learning and AI while keeping students actively engaged in the thinking. Learn more: https://www.21clconf.org/item/personalise-your-next-unit-with-ai-keep-the-thinking-grow-the-agency/

    When Teachers Step Back, Students Step Up: Kyle Wagner on Student-Centered Learning
  2. Oct 12

    Good Intentions Aren't Enough: Making Global Citizenship Matter with Aaron Moniz and Scott Jamieson

    Nearly every international school talks about developing global citizens. But how many are actually giving students the skills and opportunities to make a difference? In this episode of Education Vanguard, Justin Hardman sits down with Aaron Moniz and Scott Jamieson from Inspire Citizens to explore what it takes to move global citizenship beyond mission statements and into meaningful action. They discuss the Empathy to Impact framework, why lasting school transformation requires more than one-off professional development, and how schools can help students develop the confidence and skills to become genuine leaders and change-makers. The conversation also explores the challenges of building a mission-driven organization, the importance of sustainable leadership, and why sometimes the best thing school leaders can do is say no to good ideas. Plus, Aaron and Scott share their excitement for the upcoming AIFE Student Leadership Conference in Bangkok, where AI, student leadership, and collaboration will come together.  In this episode, we explore:  - Why global citizenship needs to be more than a school mission statement - Turning empathy and awareness into meaningful student action - Building sustainable, whole-school approaches to global citizenship - Why student leadership requires intentional skills development - The importance of doing fewer things well - Helping students navigate AI while developing their leadership potential  About Inspire Citizens  Inspire Citizens works with schools around the world to embed global citizenship, sustainability, service learning, and student leadership into meaningful educational experiences. Learn more: https://inspirecitizens.org/  AIFE Student Leadership Conference  Explore the upcoming conference in Bangkok:   https://aife.community/aife/student-leadership-conference/

    Good Intentions Aren't Enough: Making Global Citizenship Matter with Aaron Moniz and Scott Jamieson

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The Education Vanguard is on a mission to seek out and discover interesting educators building, changing and improving the way we deliver education. Insightful questions, a casual atmosphere, and frank discussion help this show deliver value.