Wide Walls

Mathieu Penot
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Education
  • Updated Monthly

Welcome to Wide Walls, a podcast where inspiring educators, researchers, designers, and innovators share their personal journey and their vision for creating better learning experiences for children. widewalls.substack.com

  1. Jun 23

    Adolescent Literacy, Reading Through Play, and Building an AI-Backed Company - Julia Rivard Dexter

    What if the biggest problem in education isn’t teaching children to read, but helping them believe they’re readers? I had the pleasure of welcoming Julia Rivard Dexter, entrepreneur, Olympian, and CEO of Shoelace Learning, to Wide Walls to explore exactly that question. What started as a conversation about adolescent literacy quickly became a much broader discussion about confidence, gaming as a tool for reading engagement, and how AI can help address some of the challenges of building an EdTech company. Here are a few ideas that stood out: 📚 The hidden literacy crisis — Why we focus so much on early reading, while millions of adolescents continue to struggle with comprehension, stamina, and confidence as readers. 🎮 Engagement before achievement — How game-based learning can motivate students to practice, build confidence, and eventually see themselves as readers. 🏷️ The cost of labels — How being labeled a “bad reader” at a young age can reshape a child’s identity and relationship with learning for years. 🤖 Building an AI-agents-backed company — Julia shared how Shoelace has integrated AI agents across the business, what became possible, and the very real human tradeoffs that came with that transformation. 🌱 A school built around passion — What education could look like if we connected students with mentors who share their interests and gave them more ownership over what and how they learn. One of my favorite quote from our conversation: “I believe humans are so much more capable than we think we are. If we give that space, that guidance, that coaching, in a place that’s fueled by passion, it’s pretty incredible where we could go.”  Find more about Julia and her work: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliarivard/ - Shoelace Learning: https://future.shoelacelearning.com/ - My Magic Moment: https://mymagicmoment.space/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

    Adolescent Literacy, Reading Through Play, and Building an AI-Backed Company - Julia Rivard Dexter

  2. Apr 2

    Co-Creating with Children, Rethinking AI Models, and Learning through Play - José Antonio Gordillo Martorell

    What if we’ve been thinking about learning, children, and AI all wrong? That’s exactly what this latest Wide Walls episode explores. I had the pleasure of speaking with José Antonio Gordillo Martorell. José is a design strategist and education innovator, Founder and CEO of Cultural Inquiry, and author of the recent book Children’s Boards in Museums. He has spent years working alongside researchers, museums, and global design communities to explore what happens when we truly take children seriously as creators, and what it means to build AI with and for children, not just adults. Here are a few key takeaways from our conversation: 🤝 From users to co-creators — What changes when children actively shape the systems, products, and environments designed for them 🎮 Play is serious work — Why play isn’t just for kids, but the foundation of learning, creativity, and even professional environments 🤖 AI isn’t built for children (yet) — How today’s AI systems are designed by and for adults, and what it would take to create AI that truly supports children’s development 📉 The risk of standardized thinking — How AI could reduce creativity and diversity of thought if we’re not intentional 🔮 Reimagining learning & AI — What a child-centered future could look like: more agency, more creativity, and systems designed with children, not just for them One of my favorite lines from the episode:“Children don’t need to be protected from the world. They need to be trusted to help shape it.” This conversation reinforced something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately:If we don’t intentionally design learning and AI for children, we’re implicitly designing it against them. Find more about José and his work: - LinkedIn -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-antonio-gordillo-martorell-28ab0727/ - Cultural Inquiry -> https://www.cultural-inquiry.com/ - (Book) Children's Boards in Museums -> https://www.routledge.com/Childrens-Boards-in-Museums-New-Approaches-to-Working-with-Children-in-Museums/GordilloMartorell/p/book/9781032937229 - (Book) Why it's so great to be a child (as an adult) -> https://www.united-pc-publishing.com/books/guidebooks-non-fiction/other-miscellaneous/why-its-so-great-to-be-a-child-as-an-adult.html This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

    Co-Creating with Children, Rethinking AI Models, and Learning through Play - José Antonio Gordillo Martorell

  3. Feb 12

    The Art of Teaching, Jazz and Mastery, and Learning by Doing - Dr. Gary Stager

    On this episode of Wide Walls, I’m joined by Dr. Gary Stager — educator, author, jazz lover, and one of the most outspoken champions of constructionism and learning-by-doing in classrooms. Gary has spent decades reimagining how children learn, championing hands-on, creative, and learner-driven approaches inspired by the work of Seymour Papert and Reggio Emilia philosophy. In this episode, we discuss: Jazz as a Model for Learning Jazz blends mastery, collaboration, and deep listening. Excellence emerges from practice, tradition, and co-creation — not shortcuts. Classrooms should aspire to that same standard. Reanimating the Art of Teaching Teaching is not curriculum delivery. It’s designing environments where powerful ideas can flourish. Empathy and intuition matter as much as content. High Ceilings Matter Creativity without ambition is shallow. Students need real complexity and meaningful standards to grow. Computers as Intellectual Laboratories Programming is a way of thinking, not just a skill. When students model ideas with code, they engage deeply with concepts. Making with bits expands what’s possible. Love Over Duty Dignity and meaningful work reduce discipline better than rules. Students remember relationships, not worksheets. Love is a better master than duty. Find more about Gary and his work: * Personal Website -> https://professorgarystager.com/ * LinkedIn -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/garystager/ * Invent to Learn -> https://inventtolearn.com/ * Seymour Papert Archives -> https://dailypapert.com/ * The Language of Computation - CMK in Reggio Emilia -> https://reggio.constructingmodernknowledge.com/ * Cymbal Press -> https://cymbalpress.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

    The Art of Teaching, Jazz and Mastery, and Learning by Doing - Dr. Gary Stager

  4. 11/25/2025

    Innovation, Learning Transfer, and AI Impact on Metacognition - Dr. Tessa Forshaw

    In this episode, I discuss with the fantastic Dr. Tessa Forshaw, a cognitive scientist, educator, and innovation leader researching and shaping how we learn and work in an age of rapid change. Tessa is the co-founder and research lead at Harvard’s Next Level Lab, where she explores learning transfer, creative cognition, and how humans and AI can work together. She also teaches design thinking and creativity at Harvard and previously served on the faculty at Stanford’s d.school. Before academia, she worked at IDEO CoLab and Accenture, bringing together strategy, design, and human-centered innovation. In her recent book Innovation-ish, Tessa distills her experience and insights into a practical guide for tackling challenges and sparking creative solutions across both personal and professional contexts. Here are some takeaways from the conversation: 🌀 Get Comfortable with Ambiguity — Tessa’s #1 skill for kids and adults: learn to sit with the unknown and move anyway. 🧪 Innovation Is Everywhere (Not Just Gadgets) — From a child’s DIY monster-detector to a philanthropy’s NLP-powered outreach, process innovation can be just as world-changing as products. 🧭 Mindset · Moves · Metacognition — Tessa’s innovation stack: adopt the right mindset, use small repeatable moves, and steer with metacognition (your inner compass when there’s no map). 🤖 AI: Starter, Not Substitute — Great for jump-starting ideas and surfacing options; risky if it replaces productive struggle, deep schemas, or your own judgment. 🎓 Explore Before Explain — Tessa teaches creativity by letting learners do first, then naming the patterns—so ambiguity becomes a practice ground, not a panic zone. ❤️ Design School Around Love of Learning — If we nurture curiosity and resilience, the rest follows. Find more about Tessa and her work: * LinkedIn * ”Innovation-ish” book * “Innovation-ish” website * Next Level Lab @Harvard This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

    Innovation, Learning Transfer, and AI Impact on Metacognition - Dr. Tessa Forshaw

  5. 10/21/2025

    Playful Learning, Research in EdTech, and Parenting with AI - Dr. Jody LeVos

    In this episode of Wide Walls, I’m particularly excited to welcome Dr. Jody LeVos, a true champion for early childhood and play-based learning. Jody currently serves as Chief Learning Officer at BEGiN, where she leads curriculum design and pedagogy across a family of beloved learning products, including HOMER, codeSpark, Little Passports, and Learn with Sesame Street. With over a decade of experience designing early learning experiences across digital apps, toys, books, and other media, she’s brought her expertise to some of the most iconic brands in the industry, such as LeapFrog and Mattel. Jody is also a dedicated advocate for parents and educators, having contributed to major platforms like CES Kids@Play, Psychology Today’s “Science of Play” series, and the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Screen Time Summit. In this episode, we discuss: 🌟 Jody’s Purpose-Driven Career — Jody’s shift from research to industry as a model for aligning expertise, mentorship, and impact at scale. 🎲 Play as a Learning Paradigm — Why play is foundational (not decorative) to early development and genuine understanding. 🌎 Designing for Diverse Learners — Building inclusive experiences through real-world kid testing, family insights, and evidence of transfer. 📱AI’s Role in EdTech Research and Parenting — Using AI to accelerate prototyping and feedback while guiding families toward thoughtful, balanced tech use. Find more about Jody and her work: * LinkedIn * BEGiN * Psychology Today * Children’s Media Association * Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

    Playful Learning, Research in EdTech, and Parenting with AI - Dr. Jody LeVos

  6. 09/09/2025

    Climate Science in Children’s Media, Social Activism, and Environmental Justice - Suzie Hicks

    Welcome to my conversation with Suzie Hicks — an award-winning filmmaker, author, and television host whose work sits at the crossroads of entertainment, education, environmental justice, and community activism. Their latest project, the amazing YouTube series “Suzie Hicks the Climate Chick & Sprout,” pairs Suzie with their puppet sidekick Sprout on a seven-episode adventure through climate science. In this episode, we discuss: 🌎 Their Journey into Climate Storytelling — Suzie shares their personal path into climate activism and how storytelling became their most powerful tool. 📺 Making Science Fun and Hopeful — We explore the power of children’s media in making climate science engaging, playful, and accessible. 🌱 Behind the Scenes of Suzie Hicks the Climate Chick & Sprout — Suzie opens up about the creative process and what it means to communicate complex issues with joy. 🤝 The Power of Community — We discuss why building community is essential for climate action, and how collective storytelling fosters hope and resilience. 💡 Blending Entertainment, Education, and Activism — Suzie shows how these worlds can come together to inspire real change on both local and global scales. Find more about Suzie and their work: * Suzie Hicks the Climate Chick & Sprout on Youtube * Website * Instagram * TikTok * LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

    Climate Science in Children’s Media, Social Activism, and Environmental Justice - Suzie Hicks

  7. 08/06/2025

    Storytelling in STEM, Molecular Literacy, and Playful Learning - Dr. Colleen Kelley

    In this episode, I am thrilled to discuss with Dr. Colleen Kelley — a fantastic science educator, and the creator and founder of Kids’ Chemical Solutions, a comic-book based curriculum designed to make chemistry accessible and exciting for learners of all ages. Colleen’s journey began with a love for chemistry and research, leading her to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry from Penn State University by the age of 24. Over the past 25 years, she’s been teaching chemistry — currently at the University of Arizona — all the while asking one big question: Why do students think chemistry is so hard? Her answer? Chemistry is a language — one we’ve never properly taught students to read. From this insight, she coined the term Molecular Literacy and developed creative new frameworks to help students embrace science learning as a whole, and chemistry in particular. In this episode: * 🌟 Colleen shares her journey from falling in love with chemistry to becoming a chemistry instructor and launching her own educational content. * 🧙‍♀️ She’s reimagining STEM education by challenging outdated narratives and embracing the power of storytelling. * 🧩 We dive into molecular literacy—what it is, how it can be approached as a universal language, and why it opens the door for children to start learning chemistry at a much younger age. * 🧠 She introduces four other essential types of literacy that are key to children’s development but often go overlooked. * 💡 Colleen offers practical tips for educators and parents on how to bring more curiosity and joy into learning—both in the classroom and at home, even when it comes to homework. Find more about Colleen and her work: * Kids’ Chemical Solutions * Colleen’s LinkedIn * Colleen’s Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

    Storytelling in STEM, Molecular Literacy, and Playful Learning - Dr. Colleen Kelley

  8. 06/03/2025

    Chatbots, Constructionism, and AI in Education - Ken Kahn

    In this Wide Walls episode, I’m honored to welcome Ken Kahn — a true pioneer in using technology to support creative learning. Ken has spent over 30 years as a researcher in programming languages, computer animation, and programming systems for children. After completing his doctoral thesis on creating computer animation from story descriptions, Ken taught at MIT, Stockholm University and Uppsala University, before joining Xerox Palo Alto Research Center as a research scientist. In 1992, Ken founded Animated Programs and developed ToonTalk, an award-winning, game-like programming language for kids. He went on to become a Senior Researcher at Oxford, where he developed AI programming resources for students, and held visiting positions at NUS - National University of Singapore - and Yale-NUS. With his recent - and fantastic - book, The Learner’s Apprentice: AI and the Amplification of Human Creativity, Ken demonstrates how generative AI can foster rich educational experiences and support creative learning, a topic we discuss in depth in this episode, answering questions such as: 🤖 What roles can chatbots play in supporting children's learning and development? 🎨 What kinds of ideas and projects can children explore using AI tools? 🌱 How can we design learning experiences with generative AI that both benefit children and ensure their safety? 🏫 What are effective ways to integrate AI into traditional classroom settings? Find more about Ken’s work: * Ken Kahn on LinkedIn * Ken’s book: The Learner’s Apprentice: AI and the Amplification of Human Creativity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

    Chatbots, Constructionism, and AI in Education - Ken Kahn
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Wide Walls, a podcast where inspiring educators, researchers, designers, and innovators share their personal journey and their vision for creating better learning experiences for children. widewalls.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Mathieu Penot
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Wide Walls by Mathieu Penot
  • Show Website
    Wide Walls