Shift Your Paradigm: From School-Centered to Learner-Centered

Episode 061: Exploration High School Interview with Nathan Strenge & Sam Neisen on Founding a Learner-Centered Learning Environment

Today we are speaking with Nathan Strenge and Sam Neisen. Nathan and Sam will be launching Exploration High School in the fall of 2021 – a learner-centered environment designed to empower youth to contribute to a healthier, more equitable society.   Nathan’s drive to transform education and open Exploration High School comes through his belief that all people deserve to learn in an environment that adapts to their unique gifts and needs. He has a decade of experience as a teacher leader and is now a Senior Learning Designer at Fielding International, where he helps schools and districts around the world (including Salisbury) to transform to a learner-centered paradigm through integrated design. Education is in Sam’s blood; both of his parents were k-12 public school teachers and the drive to put kids first to solve the problems of today and tomorrow motivates Sam to launch Exploration High School.  Sam’s background is in teaching high school humanities, having taught both internationally and locally.  Sam’s experiences as an educator led him to opportunities such as being an Open Way Learning Fellow and winning the WCCO Educator of the Week Award.   Here is what we are thinking about? What might be if you built a learning environment from scratch in your community? Resources Exploration High School A conversation with Sam and Nathan – Education Reimagined Defining and Measuring Student-Centered Outcomes from Education Evolving Articulating the Change: What do we mean by a learner-centered paradigm?

Episode 060: The QUESTion Class Interview with members of the Youth Advisory Council

In this episode, we are speaking with students who took the QUESTion Class when they were in high school and have formed a Youth Advisory Council to support the creation of a new subject field in education. The QUESTion class is a semester-long course designed by the Open Future Institute to support learners in the exploration of big life questions in five areas: Choice, Purpose, Fearlessness, Interconnectedness and The Bigger Picture. We’re also joined by the Founder and President of the Open Future Institute, Gerard Senehi. The Student Ambassadors speaking with us today include Katery Castelan,  Charlos Do, and Tyreik Skelton. Gerard is Founder and President of the Open Future Institute, about his work with the QUESTion Project. Katery  is an ambassador for the QUESTion Project and a self-made fashion designer. She has a keen passion for writing and philosophy. Her mission is to use her platforms in order to give a voice and pave a way for the youth of tomorrow.  Besides being a QUESTion Project Ambassador, Charlos is a personal trainer and aspiring fitness influencer.  His goal is to not just get people into shape but to inspire them to use fitness to help them find a new purpose  Aside from being a QUESTion Project ambassador, Tyreik has many interests, but his favorite one is making music. He loves being able to assist people in any way that he can, including helping them speak their truths. Here’s what we are thinking: How might inquiry, like that found in the QUESTion class, support your learner-centered transformation work? Resources Open Future Institute QUESTion Class TLTalkRadio Season 6: Episode 32 – Interview with Gerard on the QUESTion Project

Bonus Episode 18 – Outdoor Learning Interview with Adam Aronson, Founding Lead Teacher at Chelsea Opportunity Academy

In this bonus episode, we are speaking with Adam Aronson, founding lead teacher at the Chelsea Opportunity Academy (COA) in Chelsea, MA, about the academy’s outdoor experience course.  The Chelsea Opportunity Academy (COA) is a competency based, alternative high school in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Chelsea Opportunity Academy offers an engaging and supportive learning environment for young adults seeking a new educational experience. At COA, every day is a new day. The school is built on strong relationships that help learners overcome obstacles and grow stronger. COA students develop and practice the specific skills they need to be successful, valued community members.  It offers flexible hours for its students and a curriculum that is driven by students, for students.  Here’s what we’re thinking about: How might your school or district benefit from taking learners beyond the classroom walls? Resources If you are interested in learning more about COA’s design process, their outdoor experience course—or just want to say hello—reach out to Adam at aronsona@chelseaschools.com. Chelsea Opportunity Academy Zaretta Hammond’s Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain  Appalachian Mountain Club  

Episode 059: Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) Interview with Corey Mohn, Executive Director & Erin Jacobson, learner

In this episode, we’re learning with Corey Mohn and Erin Jacobson. Corey is the Executive Director of the Blue Valley Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS), a nationally recognized, innovative high school program. Students fast forward into their future and are fully immersed in a professional culture, solving real world problems, using industry standard tools and mentored by actual employers, all while receiving high school and college credit. CAPS is an example of how business, community and public education can partner to produce personalized learning experiences that educate the workforce of tomorrow, especially in high skill, high demand jobs.  Erin Jacobson is a junior at Blue Valley CAPS. Last semester she was in Technology Solutions and is in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship class this semester. Here is a question we are pondering: What are your school’s or district’s core values, and how do they support your transformation to a learner-centered environment? Resources About the CAPS Network Twitter: @NetworkCAPS  Where students lead  film on CAPS network Education Reimagined article on CAPS Education Reimagined conversation with Cory Mohn and Ashlyn Kennedy Venture Dash Competition – video featuring Erin Jacobson

Episode 058: Voyagers’ Community School Interview with Karen Giuffre’, Founding Director

In this episode we are learning with Karen Giuffre’ from Voyagers’ Community School in New Jersey. Karen began her teaching career in Harvard, Massachusetts where she taught 5th, 6th, and 8th-grade social studies. Karen developed an elementary interdisciplinary curriculum as a researcher and writer and then as a trainer and promoter of the national physical education program, Physical Best.  Karen’s children inspired her to create a progressive learning environment that honors all children as powerful, resourceful, and competent people here and now. She founded Voyagers’ Community School in 2004 after spending 18 months composing the philosophical foundation that guides the day-to-day operations. Karen has garnered recognition as the Keynote Speaker and Presenter at both national and local professional conferences, including, most recently, the Association for Constructivist Teaching Conference and the Progressive Education Network. The children attending Voyagers’ Community School, from 3 months to 18 years of age, are typically developing and driven by curiosity, wonder, a sense that anything is possible, and a willingness to try and try again. They are innovative, articulate, focused, and accomplished. Here is a question we are pondering: What are the core values reflected in your learning environment, and how do those values support learner-centered transformation? Resources: Voyagers Community School Voyagers on Twitter: @VoyagersNJ