The Student-Centered Shift: Empowered International Schools and Classrooms Through Project-Based Learning

Kyle Wagner
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Want to turn your classroom into a hub of curiosity, innovation, and real-world impact but don’t know where to start? The Student-Centered Shift with internationally acclaimed educator Kyle Wagner equips international school educators with the simple shifts to move from passive to active learning spaces, so you can grow more engaged and empowered learners. Each week, Kyle interviews forward-thinking educators who share actionable strategies and proven frameworks to create a classroom buzzing with energy and purpose. Past guests include project-based powerhouse Ron Berger and bestselling author Gary Stager. By tuning in, you’ll unlock: * The mindset shifts needed to transition from teacher-led to student-centered spaces. * Strategies to empower students as independent thinkers, creators, and problem-solvers. * Tips for designing and implementing project-based experiences * Practical ways to redefine your role from instructor to facilitator. Discover how Kyle made the same shifts to transform his own teaching from burnout to breakthrough—guiding students to publish bestselling novels, launch businesses, and build museums. Over 1,000 classrooms have experienced similar results worldwide—will yours be next? Let’s shift learning together!

  1. AUG 19

    Why Most Student Teams Fail. Three Shifts to Foster Collaboration and Ownership

    Why do most student teams fail, and what can you do to change it? In this re-published episode, I sit down with Kristin Damburger, Associate Division Head at Avenues, to explore the common pitfalls that prevent student teams from thriving. Kristin shares three simple shifts you can make in your classroom to turn disengaged or unproductive teams into high-functioning, collaborative groups. From redefining roles to giving students the tools to take ownership of their learning, these shifts will help foster deeper collaboration and student agency. You’ll learn: Why most student teams fail and how to avoid those traps How giving students a voice in their team roles leads to greater ownership and success Simple collaborative structures for project work Why feedback loops, rather than grading, are key to accountability in group work Kristin's Bio: Kristin Damberger is a Learning Coach at the International School Nido de Aguilas in Santiago, Chile. She has spent the last 12 years of her 15 year career in education working overseas in international schools in China, Brazil, and now Chile. She started her career teaching 6th grade English and Social Studies at a Title I school in California, where she began her experimentation with inquiry and PBL. Soon after starting a masters degree in global studies in education, she wanted to pursue a life overseas and moved to Beijing. Over the course of her international career Kristin has served in many roles, including teacher, facilitator, curriculum coordinator, Associate Division Head, and now Learning Coach. In all of these roles Kristin has had the opportunity to continue in her pursuit to redefine the traditional structures of "school" and continue to deepen and expand her work in inquiry, PBL, and design thinking.

    29 min

  2. AUG 6

    Want more Curious Learners? Start with Yourself

    Feel like curiosity is getting lost in content coverage, deadlines, or disengaged classrooms? What if our own vulnerability was the key to unlocking it? In this episode, I speak with Austin Levinson, Director of Learning at Megaminds and long-time champion of student agency, curiosity, and connection. From macro photography projects to travel blogs and AI-powered adventures, Austin shares how he models curiosity based learning alongside his students, and why doing so flips the traditional dynamic in transformative ways. You’ll learn: Why “getting messy” and showing your own struggle inspires student risk-taking How co-designing projects creates ownership, purpose, and curiosity How to bring parents and administrators along when you don’t have all the answers How AI can be used to scaffold—not shortcut—critical thinking and real-world inquiry Trade control for connection, and rediscover curiosity as your classroom’s driving force Learn more about Megaminds: www.gomegaminds.com  Connect with Austin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/austin-levinson-innovator  Get the 12 Shifts Book: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Teacher-Kyle-Wagner/dp/1032484713  Austin's Bio: From a young age, Austin was a soccer referee, running alongside the students on the field, not standing in the center calling the shots. His early teaching roles in Oakland and Richmond, California taught him the power of connection, voice, and risk-taking in learning.Later, while designing STEM and gifted programs in international schools, he focused on deeper learning through questioning, critical thinking, and real-world purpose. Whether leading workshops for parents on constructivism and board games or offering enrichment classes in ikebana, macro photography, and juggling, he kept learning joyful and human. Back on the school soccer field, he noticed that values like empathy and leadership were best taught through shared experience, not lectures. He brought this mindset into his PBL work, discovering that students take bigger risks when they see their teacher right there with them, learning too. In one project, students used AI tools to co-design film imagery and lead their own discussions. They selected the materials, chose the protocols, and reflected on their facilitation moves—building voice, confidence, and metacognition in the process. Now as Director of Learning at MegaMinds, Austin is scaling that same spirit of agency and curiosity. Through immersive 3D environments and AI-powered challenges, he’s helping tens of thousands of students think critically, take ownership, and find meaning in their learning.

    38 min

  3. JUL 15

    Is Your Classroom Built for Student Thinking? 4 Design Shifts to Spark Shared Ownership

    Is Your Classroom Built for Student Thinking? 4 Design Shifts to Spark Shared Ownership Ever walk into a classroom and instantly feel the energy? Not from the teacher—but from students leading the work. That’s not an accident. It’s the result of intentional design choices that turn passive learning into shared ownership. In this episode, I walk you through four practical spatial shifts to transform your classroom into a hub for student-led collaboration. These aren’t high-budget maker spaces—they’re reimagined learning environments where thinking becomes visible and shared. Whether you’re planning for your next project-based unit or reworking the layout of your room, these provocations will help you support deeper dialogue, better teamwork, and more student agency. You’ll explore: Why table clusters can make or break group work How to equip students with shared tools—and why visibility matters The role of vertical thinking spaces in making ideas public and iterative How to create distinct studio zones that support diverse learning tasks This is part two in a four-part series on designing student-centered learning environments. If you're ready to move from controlling learning to cultivating it, this episode offers a practical next step. Get more ideas in my 12 Shifts Book for Student-Centered Environments: 'Where is the Teacher?'

    9 min

  4. JUL 8

    From Classroom to Co-Working Space: How to Design Learning Spaces That Invite Agency and Flow

    Still stuck in the same classroom setup year after year? You’re not alone. Too many classrooms signal teacher control before a single word is spoken—and that design choice shapes everything about how students engage. In this episode, I take you inside the transformation of an old office into a vibrant Montessori adolescent hub—and unpack what it means to move from “classroom” to “co-working space.” You’ll learn how even small space shifts can foster agency, collaboration, and creative thinking. You’ll discover: Why subtracting furniture may be the boldest design move you make How to create learning “zones” for different kinds of student work Why your teacher desk might be sending the wrong message How co-working models can inspire fluid, student-led learning Practical design tweaks—from flexible seating to portable whiteboards—that invite movement and autonomy Whether you’re working with a blank slate or reimagining a familiar room, this episode gives you the mindset and strategies to build a learning environment that empowers—not controls—your students.

    14 min

  5. JUL 1

    Looking to Deepen Student Agency? Tools to Support Inquiry, Independence, and the Shift to Facilitator

    Even after shifting to student-centered learning, it’s easy to fall into familiar routines: sparking a project, guiding students along, and quietly doing the heavy lifting ourselves. But what does it take to fully hand over the reins—and trust students to direct their own learning? In this episode, inquiry-driven educator Robynne Esther shares how she made that shift herself, and the practical tools she now uses to support real student independence, without sacrificing structure. From co-creating checklists to guiding expert research and using visible thinking strategies, Robynne walks us through how to scaffold agency without oversteering it. You’ll hear: How inquiry provocations can open up—not narrow—student-led direction What expert groups and feedback loops look like in project-based units Why the right checklist isn’t about control, but about clarity How thinking routines help students reflect, take risks, and follow their curiosity The subtle mindset shifts that allow teachers to lead by stepping back Whether you’re refining your role as facilitator or looking for ways to help students take the next leap in self-direction, this conversation offers inspiration—and strategy—you can put to use right away. Connect with Robynne: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynne-esther-24990771/  Dive Deeper into Student-Centered Environments: Get the 12 Shifts Book  Robynne's Bio: Ever wonder how to spark genuine curiosity in your students? Robynne Esther has spent 15 years, including seven within the PYP, unlocking that secret through inquiry-based and project-based learning. She has empowered teachers across Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Shanghai to adopt 21st-century learning through engaging IBL/PBL & AI workshops. Currently inspiring young minds at DSHK, Robynne leads Grade 6 Project-Based Learning and teaches Grade 4 Inquiry, fostering classrooms buzzing with collaboration and community. But her journey's even richer than that! She's an AFHEA-accredited mentor who has guided aspiring teachers at Sunderland University and has even spent time as a pastry chef in Hong Kong's Soho district. Robynne brings this uniquely diverse background to her exploration of the fascinating intersection of PBL and IBL. Join her as she shares her insights on their similarities and differences.

    38 min

  6. JUN 17

    Essential Summer Reading List: 5 Books That will Transform Your Life as an Educator

    What if a single book could transform your life as an educator this Summer?  Shifting burnout, boredom, and breakdown to BREAKTHROUGH.  That's what these 5 📖 books did for me.  One helped transform my uninspiring worksheets into student designed works of art- where no two products looked the same  One helped unlock the magic formula for designing prompts that transformed disengaged learners into citizen scientists, authors, and budding engineers  One helped transform preclusion into new possibility One uncovered three traits to motivate all learners without using grades  And one helped shift my role in the classroom forever  So what are the five life changing books? I reveal them in this short episode.

    20 min

  7. JUN 10

    Is Inquiry Still Teacher-Led in Your Classroom? How to Design for True Student Ownership

    Is inquiry still too teacher-directed in your classroom, even when it’s framed as student-centered? You’re not alone. Many international educators find that despite good intentions, “inquiry” still looks like teacher-planned lessons with limited student agency. In this episode, I speak with Dawn York, Head of Hanoi International School, about how she and her team shifted from teacher-led inquiry to real student ownership. From launching a student-led middle school council to embedding project-based learning across grades 6–10, Dawn shares how to design structures that make student-led learning stick — even in a busy international curriculum. You’ll discover: How to carve time out of the timetable for student-led PBL Why teacher-led inquiry still dominates (and how to shift it) Strategies to build buy-in through teacher leadership, not compliance What motivates students when grades and gold stars are removed How PBL transforms student ownership, even for neurodiverse learners If you're ready to move beyond surface-level inquiry and build classrooms where students truly lead their learning, this episode offers both inspiration and practical tools. Connect with Daun: LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/daun-yorke-469b9540/  Get the 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments Book: 'Where Is The Teacher'- https://www.amazon.com/Where-Teacher-Kyle-Wagner/dp/1032484713  Daun's Bio: Steering Hanoi International School with a steadfast commitment to educational excellence, Daun's role as Head of School for 2.5 years has been marked by fostering an environment where staff development and instructional design thrive. Her expertise in creating sustainable educational ecosystems positions our team at the forefront of progressive education management. As a Professional Development Lead Educator at The International Baccalaureate for nearly a decade, Daun has honed her skills in educational leadership, ensuring that each initiative contributes significantly to our global mission. Her organization's recognition as a #Edruptor of 2022 reflects our collective efforts to innovate and inspire within the international education landscape.

    35 min

  8. JUN 3

    Hiring for a Student-Centered School? 3 Shifts to Attract the Right Educators

    Starting a student-centered school or program but not sure how to find educators who can thrive in it? You’re not alone, and the answer isn’t just another job fair or standard posting. In this episode, I share the exact 3 shifts that helped me staff our brand-new Montessori Middle School with mission-aligned “unicorn” educators in less than three weeks. If you’re launching a new initiative or simply want to rethink how you hire, this will help you attract the right teachers: You’ll discover: Why the traditional job description fails for student-centered roles How to build a visual, values-driven educator profile that attracts the perfect candidates Smarter ways to share your opportunity (that attract the right candidates) How to go beyond interviews and actually see how applicants think and teach This is the blueprint for recruiting educators who do more than fill a role, they bring your vision to life. Listen in, and have a whiteboard ready. Link to the Sample Educator Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kwagssd3_educationalleadership-schoolleadership-activity-7307687237410795521-P7ll/

    22 min
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About

Want to turn your classroom into a hub of curiosity, innovation, and real-world impact but don’t know where to start? The Student-Centered Shift with internationally acclaimed educator Kyle Wagner equips international school educators with the simple shifts to move from passive to active learning spaces, so you can grow more engaged and empowered learners. Each week, Kyle interviews forward-thinking educators who share actionable strategies and proven frameworks to create a classroom buzzing with energy and purpose. Past guests include project-based powerhouse Ron Berger and bestselling author Gary Stager. By tuning in, you’ll unlock: * The mindset shifts needed to transition from teacher-led to student-centered spaces. * Strategies to empower students as independent thinkers, creators, and problem-solvers. * Tips for designing and implementing project-based experiences * Practical ways to redefine your role from instructor to facilitator. Discover how Kyle made the same shifts to transform his own teaching from burnout to breakthrough—guiding students to publish bestselling novels, launch businesses, and build museums. Over 1,000 classrooms have experienced similar results worldwide—will yours be next? Let’s shift learning together!

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