What can students teach us about learning? As educators, parents, leaders, coaches, and mentors, we spend a lot of time thinking about how people learn. We design learning experiences. We create opportunities for growth. We look for ways to support, motivate, and engage others. But how often do we pause and ask learners themselves what learning actually feels like from their side of the experience? A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend the morning with three Grade 7 classes at the Calgary French & International School as part of their DaVinci Days program. I was invited to introduce students to the world of podcasting, and as part of the session, I asked them to help me plan a future episode of The People Teaching People Podcast. The focus of that episode was a simple question: What can adults learn about teaching and learning from students? Their responses were thoughtful, honest, insightful, and sometimes surprising. As I read through them afterward, I realized the students weren’t simply answering questions about school. They were offering a window into what it feels like to be a learner today. They shared ideas about what helps them learn, what gets in the way, what they wish adults better understood, and what learning looks and feels like from their perspective. Some responses made me smile. Some made me pause. And – some reminded me of things that can be easy for adults to forget. Listen in as we talk about: 02:27 Student voice and learning 05:25 Learning from student perspectives 07:20 Meaningful learning experiences 11:11 Understanding today’s students 15:05 Lessons beyond the classroom 17:42 Listening to student voices 19:31 Learning goes both ways 21:05 The wisdom of student voices 22:03 The power of connection Learn more about the Canadian French & International School (CFIS): Website: https://www.cfis.com/ LinkedIn: Calgary French & International School Instagram: @yycfrench Facebook: @CalgaryFrenchandInternationalSchool Connect with Tiana: Website: https://tianafech.com LinkedIn: Tiana Fech Instagram: @tianafech Facebook: @tianafech Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course NEW Workbook: Your Expertise Ready to Download – Turn what you know into an impactful downloadable resource STUDENT VOICE AND LEARNING My visit to the Calgary French & International School’s DaVinci Days program was more than a conversation about podcasting. As part of the session, Grade 7 students helped plan this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast by sharing their thoughts on learning, school, and what they wish adults better understood about students today. Their honest and thoughtful responses offered a valuable window into the learner experience and set the stage for a conversation about teaching, learning, and the importance of listening to student voices. Sometimes the people closest to the learning experience have the most important perspectives to share. LEARNING FROM STUDENT PERSPECTIVES The students’ responses were thoughtful, honest, insightful, and sometimes surprising. As I reflected on their comments afterward, I realized they were doing much more than answering questions about school. They were sharing their experiences, frustrations, hopes, observations, and ideas about learning. Some responses made me smile, some made me pause, and some reminded me of things that can be easy for adults to forget. Their reflections served as a powerful reminder that meaningful learning happens when we take the time to listen to perspectives that are different from our own. When we create space for people to share their experiences, we often discover there is just as much to learn as there is to teach. MEANINGFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCES When students were asked what they would change about learning, a clear message emerged: they were not asking for less learning, they were asking for different learning. Many students spoke about wanting fewer tests, more projects, greater flexibility, and more opportunities for hands-on, interactive learning. They emphasized the importance of engaging with ideas through discussion, movement, creativity, and real-world application rather than simply listening or memorizing information. What stood out most was the thoughtfulness behind their suggestions. Students questioned whether grades and tests always reflect true understanding and highlighted the reality that learners have different strengths, needs, and ways of processing information. Rather than lowering expectations, they were encouraging adults to think more deeply about how learning happens and what helps it feel meaningful. Their responses serve as a reminder that engagement is not an extra feature of learning. It is often an essential part of it. The most powerful learning experiences are often those that create space for curiosity, participation, and diverse ways of demonstrating understanding. UNDERSTANDING TODAY’S STUDENTS As I continued reading through the students’ responses, I realized they were trying to communicate something that extended far beyond classrooms, assignments, and grades. They wanted adults to understand their reality. Many spoke about growing up in a world shaped by social media, constant connectivity, changing expectations, and pressures that previous generations may not fully recognize. They reminded us that young people are navigating complex challenges, balancing academics, relationships, extracurricular commitments, mental health, and uncertainty about the future, all while trying to discover who they are. More than anything, the students expressed a desire to be seen and understood as individuals rather than assumptions. They wanted their experiences, emotions, and perspectives to be taken seriously and their voices to be heard before conclusions were made about them. Their reflections highlighted the importance of relationships, empathy, and taking the time to understand the person behind the learner. Whether in classrooms, families, workplaces, or communities, people thrive when they feel known, valued, and understood. Sometimes the most meaningful thing we can offer another person is not advice or solutions, but genuine understanding. DESIGNING MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES Joanna reflects on how creating the seamless Taste the City experience that people now enjoy actually began with plenty of trial and error. In the early days, timing issues, confused restaurants, and missed text messages made the experience feel far less polished than it does today. What stands out is the amount of care, learning, and intentionality that has gone into refining every detail over time. Joanna shares how important it is that guests feel guided, supported, and connected throughout the evening, not just through the food itself, but through thoughtful pacing, interactive elements, and small moments of surprise along the way. Rather than focusing only on logistics, Joanna and Melissa continue to think deeply about how people feel during the experience and how to make the night feel personal, engaging, and human. Their story is such a good reminder that meaningful experiences rarely begin perfectly, but they grow stronger through curiosity, listening, and a willingness to keep improving. LESSONS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM “Learning and understanding are more important than grades.” ~ CFIS Grade 7 Student As I reflected on the students’ responses, I noticed that many of their ideas connected to themes that extend far beyond school. They spoke about growth, perspective, balance, well-being, and the importance of recognizing that people bring different strengths, experiences, and ways of seeing the world. Their comments highlighted a level of wisdom and self-awareness that many adults continue to explore throughout their lives, from focusing on personal growth rather than comparison to valuing understanding over grades and recognizing that intelligence takes many forms. The students also challenged adults to consider perspectives beyond their own. They reminded us that different experiences create different insights and that meaningful learning can happen in both directions when we are willing to listen. Their reflections reinforced the importance of balancing achievement with well-being and recognizing that success is about more than outcomes alone. Learning, growth, relationships, and mental health are deeply connected, and when one is overlooked, the others are affected as well. The most important lessons are often not about what we learn, but how we understand ourselves and others along the way. LISTENING TO STUDENT VOICES A common message emerged from the students’ responses. They wanted learning to feel meaningful, engaging, and connected to their lives. They spoke about the value of creativity, interaction, and active participation, emphasizing that learning is most powerful when it captures curiosity and invites learners to be part of the experience. Their comments reinforced the idea that they were not asking adults to make learning easier. They were asking adults to make learning matter. At the heart of their responses was a deeper desire to be understood. The students spoke openly about the pressures they face, the complexity of growing up in today’s world, and the importance of having their experiences, perspectives, and emotions taken seriously. More than solutions or certainty, they seemed to be asking for adults to listen, to be curious, and to take the time to understand the people behind the learning. The students’ message was clear: understanding the person behind the learner matters just as much as the learning itself. LEARNING GOES BOTH WAYS As I reflect on my morning at the Calgary French & International School, I can’t help but appreciate the full-circle nature of the experience. I arrived to talk about podcasting and invite
