Free Range Humans is a podcast that explores "how we can make schools fit for human consumption." Hosted by Jal Mehta, professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Rod Allen, former district superintendent and Assistant Deputy Minister with the BC Ministry of Education.
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Anthony (Tony) Mackay is CEO/President of the Washington DC based National Center on Education and the Economy. He has held multiple positions within education and continues to consult in parts of the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Tony is deeply connected to the global learning transformation agenda and offers a unique perspective on the current and future state of our education systems. Highlights from the episode include: an overview of what the global learning agenda looks lik...
Alisa Berger was the founding principal at both the NYC iSchool, a New York City public high school, and the Mott Hall II school, a NYC public middle school. Devon Larosa is the former principal of La Follette High School in Madison, Wisconsin and currently works as the Deputy Chief of Schools - High School Network for the Chicago public school system. This robust conversation covers several topics including: lessons we can take from the virtual classroom and integrate into traditional teaching;...
In this episode, renowned educator Andy Hargreaves shares insights on achieving work-life balance in retirement, his philosophical journey behind writing "Five Paths of Student Engagement," and critical perspectives on common engagement myths like over-reliance on technology or "fun." He also delves into the structural challenges of educational inequity, drawing lessons from Finland, and advocates for addressing systemic wealth privilege alongside white privilege to foster truly equitable societies and schools.
Shane Safir is described as an innovator at heart, with a rare combination of leadership and instructional expertise. Her voice resonates with educators who want to reinvent their schools and organizations into places of equitable learning. Jamila Dugan began her career as a teacher in Washington D.C. and currently serves as an equity-centered leadership development coach across all sectors. Shane and Jamila started collaborating seven years ago and have co-authored the book "Street Data: A Next...
Michael Fullan is the former Dean of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, and Professor Emeritus of the University of Toronto. He is co-leader of the New Pedagogies for Deep Learning global initiative (npdl.global). Recognized as a worldwide authority on educational reform, he advises policymakers and local leaders in helping to achieve the moral purpose of all children learning. Highlights from his conversation with Rod and Jal include: definitions of coherence and enactment; an emph...
Neema Avashia teaches ethnic studies in the Boston Public School system, and Jen Poeger is the Assistant Principal of La Follette High School in Madison Wisconsin. Both have accomplished incredible things and learned valuable lessons over the past year. Highlights from their conversation with Rod and Jal include: what classrooms should be focusing on as students return to in-person learning; what it means to re-socialize an entire school community; how we should leverage the pandemic disruption ...
Ron Berger is Chief Academic Officer for EL Education, an organization that partners with districts and charter boards to found public schools in low-income communities. EL Education’s core work is building teacher capacity in schools and districts through professional coaching, resources and open-source curriculum. Ron teaches a course at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, he is an Annenberg Foundation Teacher Scholar, received the Autodesk Foundation National Teacher of the Year award, ...
Co-authors Jal Mehta and Sarah Fine offer a behind-the-scenes look at their book, "In Search of Deeper Learning." They recount their individual paths into education research, the influence of key mentors, and the initial disillusionment of their fieldwork. The discussion covers how they reoriented their study to discover what truly fosters deep engagement, the essential qualities of effective teachers, and the complexities of their co-writing partnership. They also reflect on how their views have evolved regarding racial equity and the broader scope of deeper learning beyond traditional schools.
Tyler Thigpen is the head of the Forest School and Institute for Self Directed Learning. He also teaches at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School. Tyler has led several schools and is one of the foremost champions of agentic learning in the U.S., a model that puts students at the center of learning design. Highlights from the conversation include: how Tyler's background as a minister helped shape his ideas when it came to building a school; the importance of teaching "learning science" ...
Dr. Suzanne Dillon is the governmental representative for Ireland in the OECD Future of Education 2030 project, which she has been involved in since 2016. She has also been Chair of the project's Advisory Group since Spring 2018. Suzanne trained as a second-level teacher and worked in schools for 15 years before joining the Department of Education and Skills in Ireland as a school inspector. Her research interests include teacher enablement and recognition and evaluation studies. During the conv...
David is a Senior Associate at Innovation Unit. As a co-founder and previous Board Director, David has helped shape the organization and its strategy since its foundation in 2006. For over two decades, David has consulted and advised on forming and implementing strategies and policies for transformation and innovation in education, early learning, healthcare and other public services. Interview highlights include: comparing learning challenges during the pandemic across multiple jurisdictions; t...
Houdda Balouch and Shannon Guglielmo are teachers at Landmark High School in New York City, part of the New York State Performance Standards Consortium that values student voice and ownership of learning tasks over standardized exams. They are both part of the Equity in Curriculum team that conducts action research on how a white supremacist system impacts our school in the day to day, as well as investigating strategies to mitigate these effects. The conversation touches on some of the hard and...
In this episode, Yong Zhao critically examines global education, highlighting issues with East Asian testing models and the general failure of systems to foster creativity and individual growth. He challenges the concept of "manufactured scarcity" in higher education and proposes a radical rethinking of schooling, especially in light of lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, advocating for student agency, global collaboration, and an education system focused on human dignity and solving future global challenges rather than repeating past mistakes.
In this week's episode, Rod and Jal are joined by Jeff Hopkins, Founder and Principal Educator at the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry in British Colombia, Canada. Jeff has been an educator since 1993 and has experience as a teacher of English, English Literature, Social Studies, History, Psychology, Physics, Math, and Independent Directed Studies blending almost every discipline. Throughout the conversation topics include the idea of constructivism; how we can change the "grammar" of sc...
In this week's episode, Rod and Jal are joined by Kevin Godden, Superintendent of Schools and CEO of the Abbotsford School District in British Columbia, Canada. Kevin is also involved in the Deeper Learning Dozen, and shares how his work with the organization has helped shape policy in Abbotsford. Throughout the conversation Kevin opens up about race and how he first discovered he was black; what it takes to really connect with young students; how the pandemic may have served as an accelerant fo...
Jason Glass, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education, shares his journey from education reformer to advocate for deeper, experiential learning. The conversation delves into the urgency of transforming education to prepare students for a future dominated by AI and rapid change, emphasizing human competencies over rote knowledge. They discuss the complexities of implementing system-wide change, balancing policy-level shifts with empowering classroom practitioners, and the challenges of traditional assessment and grading systems. Glass provides insights from his work in districts like Jefferson County and Eagle County, highlighting the importance of cultural shifts and aligning learning with students' natural dispositions to foster meaningful engagement and success.
In this week's episode, Rod and Jal are joined by two guests, Valerie Hannon and Amelia Peterson. Valerie co-founded Innovation Unit and currently leads their international education work, and is also the Co-Chair of the Global Education Leaders Partnership (GELP). Amelia holds the title of LSE Fellow at the The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and is a member of the founding faculty at LIS: The London Interdisciplinary School, a brand new UK university slated to open this...
Lillian Hsu is the Principal at Latitude High School in Oakland, CA, and Chris Lehmann is Principal at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, PA. Highlights from the interview include: Changes made by both schools when transitioning to an online space. Positive takeaways during the pandemic. The importance of valuing both the adults and kids in a learning environment. What it means to lead for equity. Lessons learned throughout the year. The infamous FRH "Lightning Round." Additional Re...
Denise Augustine is the Director of Aboriginal Education and Learner Engagement at School District 79 Cowichan, in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada. Highlights from the interview include: How to make our schools more equitable. Reflections on the role of indigenous people in education systems. What makes good learning. Should we be concerned about "learning loss" due to the pandemic? Preparing for a diversity of learners. Hope for the future of education in both Canada and the United States. A c...
