Paths to Student Engagement - A Conversation with Andy Hargreaves
Summary
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.Episode description
Andy Hargreaves is Director of Chenine (Change, Engagement and Innovation in Education) at the University of Ottawa in Canada, and Emeritus Professor at Boston College, USA. He has published more than 30 books and has eight Outstanding Writing Awards. His most recent book, Five Paths of Student Engagement (with Dennis Shirley), focuses on engagement strategies that promote students' well-being, learning, and success. Highlights from his conversation with Rod and Jal include: how Andy is managing life and professionalism in retirement; why authoring his latest book felt like a quest; the difference between changing urban and rural school systems; how technology may actually discourage deeper learning; and how successful systems can serve as models for reducing educational inequities more broadly.