42 min
87. Empowering Learners & Educating Their Guides Education Evolution
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- Education
We know that learning is challenging for many kids, especially when schools rely on a prescribed curriculum that’s voted on from the top--not with individual kids’ needs in mind. Seeing all the gaps in the education system has led many to taking action to support our colorful, mismatched learners. I’m one of those, and so are this week’s guests.
This week we’re talking to three amazing powerhouses in educational change, Kathleen McClaskey, CEO and chief learning officer of Empower the Learner; Julie Hartman, chief mindfulness officer; and Dr. Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles, Chief Accessibility and Technology consultant rounds out the team..
In this episode, we talk about the roadblocks to assistive technology, teaching kids mindfulness and how to empower them, being more compassionate parents and teachers, preconceived notions about learning, and so much more.
This is such an eye-opening and thought-provoking conversation. Be sure to tune in!
About Kathleen McClaskey
Kathleen McClaskey, M.Ed. is CEO and Chief Learning Officer of Empower the Learner, LLC, founder of Make Learning Personal, and co-author of bestsellers Make Learning Personal and How to Personalize Learning, and contributing author to 100 No-Nonsense Things that ALL Teachers Should STOP Doing. She is an innovative thought leader, international speaker, professional developer, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) consultant with over 35 years of experience in creating learner-centered environments as a teacher, K-12 technology administrator, and consultant. Kathleen is passionate about empowering ALL learners to thrive with tools, skills, and practices so they become self-directed learners, learners with agency, who are future-ready for college, career, and life.
About Julie Hartman
Julie Hartman, Chief Mindfulness Officer for Empower the Learner, is the founder of The Mindful Learner Program, and is also a Life and Mindfulness Coach with over 20 years of experience coaching, mentoring, and teaching. Julie is an eternal optimist dedicated to helping others realize their own inherent worth and empowerment. She designs, leads, and teaches individual and group coaching programs, classes and workshops, meditation groups, and coaching intensives. She is committed to bringing the best of what she is living and learning to her work and continually strives to be a positive leader in the fields of personal growth, mindfulness, and transformation.
About Dr. Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles, ATP
Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles is an accessibility accomplice specializing in assistive and inclusive technology, universal design for learning, and accessible educational materials. She has been in the field of education for 26 years, as a special education teacher and as an assistive technology specialist. She is also an adjunct faculty member, course designer, and subject matter expert at the University of New England and the University of Maine at Farmington. She is a firm believer that educators have been prepared backward to teach in education, which excludes children who do not "fit the mold," and recognizes the intentionality of this harmful design. She serves as the Chief Accessibility and Technology Consultant for ETL. Home is where her heart is in Saco, Maine with her husband, son, and stepson (who have both left the nest) and cats.
Jump in the Conversation:
[2:28] - What is Empower the Learner (ETL) [3:04] - How ETL was formed [4:29] - ETL process for getting kids to understand who they are and how they learn [6:53] - It’s wrong to teach one way [7:32] - If we come at it from a place of love, we can help kids be seen and heard [8:49] - Most commonly recommended tools [10:33] - We need to presume confidence for all kids [11:39] - Mindfulness in personal development [15:15] - Using mindfulness for self-regulation [16:35] - Examples of how to apply this learning [20:22] - Preconceived notions in learning and labels [21:27] - Goal is the same; means to get to tha
We know that learning is challenging for many kids, especially when schools rely on a prescribed curriculum that’s voted on from the top--not with individual kids’ needs in mind. Seeing all the gaps in the education system has led many to taking action to support our colorful, mismatched learners. I’m one of those, and so are this week’s guests.
This week we’re talking to three amazing powerhouses in educational change, Kathleen McClaskey, CEO and chief learning officer of Empower the Learner; Julie Hartman, chief mindfulness officer; and Dr. Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles, Chief Accessibility and Technology consultant rounds out the team..
In this episode, we talk about the roadblocks to assistive technology, teaching kids mindfulness and how to empower them, being more compassionate parents and teachers, preconceived notions about learning, and so much more.
This is such an eye-opening and thought-provoking conversation. Be sure to tune in!
About Kathleen McClaskey
Kathleen McClaskey, M.Ed. is CEO and Chief Learning Officer of Empower the Learner, LLC, founder of Make Learning Personal, and co-author of bestsellers Make Learning Personal and How to Personalize Learning, and contributing author to 100 No-Nonsense Things that ALL Teachers Should STOP Doing. She is an innovative thought leader, international speaker, professional developer, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) consultant with over 35 years of experience in creating learner-centered environments as a teacher, K-12 technology administrator, and consultant. Kathleen is passionate about empowering ALL learners to thrive with tools, skills, and practices so they become self-directed learners, learners with agency, who are future-ready for college, career, and life.
About Julie Hartman
Julie Hartman, Chief Mindfulness Officer for Empower the Learner, is the founder of The Mindful Learner Program, and is also a Life and Mindfulness Coach with over 20 years of experience coaching, mentoring, and teaching. Julie is an eternal optimist dedicated to helping others realize their own inherent worth and empowerment. She designs, leads, and teaches individual and group coaching programs, classes and workshops, meditation groups, and coaching intensives. She is committed to bringing the best of what she is living and learning to her work and continually strives to be a positive leader in the fields of personal growth, mindfulness, and transformation.
About Dr. Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles, ATP
Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles is an accessibility accomplice specializing in assistive and inclusive technology, universal design for learning, and accessible educational materials. She has been in the field of education for 26 years, as a special education teacher and as an assistive technology specialist. She is also an adjunct faculty member, course designer, and subject matter expert at the University of New England and the University of Maine at Farmington. She is a firm believer that educators have been prepared backward to teach in education, which excludes children who do not "fit the mold," and recognizes the intentionality of this harmful design. She serves as the Chief Accessibility and Technology Consultant for ETL. Home is where her heart is in Saco, Maine with her husband, son, and stepson (who have both left the nest) and cats.
Jump in the Conversation:
[2:28] - What is Empower the Learner (ETL) [3:04] - How ETL was formed [4:29] - ETL process for getting kids to understand who they are and how they learn [6:53] - It’s wrong to teach one way [7:32] - If we come at it from a place of love, we can help kids be seen and heard [8:49] - Most commonly recommended tools [10:33] - We need to presume confidence for all kids [11:39] - Mindfulness in personal development [15:15] - Using mindfulness for self-regulation [16:35] - Examples of how to apply this learning [20:22] - Preconceived notions in learning and labels [21:27] - Goal is the same; means to get to tha
42 min