The Learner-Centered Collaborative Podcast

Learner-Centered Collaborative
The Learner-Centered Collaborative Podcast

The future of education is now because today’s learners can’t wait! Join Katie Martin, educator, author, mom and Learner-Centered Collaborative CIO, as she explores challenges in education today and celebrates the bright spots in thought-provoking conversations with practitioners working to put learners at the center. Tap into her vast experience supporting hundreds of schools and districts to turn their vision for learning into actions that best serve learners.

  1. Episode 30: Empowering Learners Through Real World Challenges (with Miguel Gonzalez & Meg Parry)

    JUN 5

    Episode 30: Empowering Learners Through Real World Challenges (with Miguel Gonzalez & Meg Parry)

    Meg Parry and Miguel Gonzalez, former leaders at Embark, a learner-centered micro-school embedded in a small business in North Denver, share their experiences and insights into creating learning environments grounded in trust, authentic challenges, and the development of learner agency. Meg and Miguel discuss their personal journeys into education. Meg was motivated by her father's work as a teacher and her own realization of education as a lever for social change. Miguel was motivated by his love of working with youth, which began with a high school job at a YMCA program. Both share how experiences in small school communities that put relationships first shaped their educational philosophies. They dive into the key elements of Embark's model, including how the school is physically embedded in a coffee and bicycle shop, how learning experiences are designed around solving real business challenges, and how they hold learners to professional standards for their work. Key topics covered include: - Flipping the script on trust, with learners managing their own schedules and learning to handle that responsibility - Shifting from content-focused teaching to competency-based learning - The importance of a community-embedded model and concentric circles of authentic challenge for learners - How to support educators in shifting to learner-centered mindsets and practices - Meg and Miguel's visions for education systems that foster learner agency and brilliance

    1h 4m
  2. Episode 29: What Makes a Great Principal? (with George Couros)

    APR 24

    Episode 29: What Makes a Great Principal? (with George Couros)

    George Couros, an innovative teaching, learning, and leadership expert, shares his insights on what makes a great principal. The discussion revolves around the five key pillars outlined in his book "What Makes a Great Principal," co-authored with Allyson Apsey. The conversation delves into the following topics: 👥 Relationship Builder: George emphasizes the importance of building meaningful connections with students, staff, and the community. He shares personal experiences and lessons learned from his parents on the value of relationships. 🌱 Continuous Learner: George stresses the significance of principals being continuous learners themselves, modeling the behavior they expect from their staff and students. He discusses the impact of learning by example. 🌟 Talent Cultivator: George explores the idea of recognizing and nurturing individual strengths, rather than focusing solely on weaknesses. He emphasizes the importance of helping everyone find their unique talents and supporting them in their growth. 🔀 Resource Maximizer: George highlights the often-overlooked aspect of resource management, which is crucial for bringing visions to fruition. He shares strategies for maximizing available resources and leveraging the diverse talents within a school community. 🔭 Visionary: George discusses the importance of cultivating a shared vision for the school, one that involves the entire community. He emphasizes the need for principals to facilitate a collaborative process, rather than imposing their personal vision. Throughout the episode, George draws upon personal experiences, anecdotes, and research to illustrate the significance of these pillars in shaping an effective and impactful principalship. He encourages principals to embrace a learner-centered approach, foster a culture of continuous growth, and empower their staff and students to reach their full potential.

    1h 4m
  3. Episode 28: Honoring Growth Over Time With Competency-Based Learning (with Bryanna Hanson)

    APR 3

    Episode 28: Honoring Growth Over Time With Competency-Based Learning (with Bryanna Hanson)

    Bryanna Hanson, Learner-Centered Collaborative’s Director of Learning Design, delves into her educational journey and her commitment to transforming assessment and grading practices. Bryanna’s teaching career began with enthusiasm but soon encountered the constraints of conventional grading and curriculum standards. With a foundation rooted in a genuine passion for learning and an early realization of the limitations of traditional assessment methods, Bryanna’s path took a transformative turn when she found herself teaching Spanish at a competency-based micro-school. This experience steered her towards a learner-centered approach that emphasizes authentic learning experiences over teaching to the test. During this episode, Bryanna and Katie discuss: 🇪🇸 Bryanna’s “aha” moment when studying abroad in Spain and seeing how acing Spanish class did not translate to real-world use. ⛓️ The limitations and inequities traditional grading and assessment create. 🌮 Lessons learned when doing competency-based assessment within the context of a student-run food truck. 🎯 Distinguishing between traditional, standards-based, and competency-based assessment practices. 🕓 The power of measuring growth over time and how competency-based assessment honors this goal. Throughout the conversation, Bryanna reflects on the challenges and opportunities within the current educational landscape, advocating for a future where education is more aligned with fostering holistic development and preparing students for the complexities of the world they live in every day.

    1h 1m
4.9
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

The future of education is now because today’s learners can’t wait! Join Katie Martin, educator, author, mom and Learner-Centered Collaborative CIO, as she explores challenges in education today and celebrates the bright spots in thought-provoking conversations with practitioners working to put learners at the center. Tap into her vast experience supporting hundreds of schools and districts to turn their vision for learning into actions that best serve learners.

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