The Weeds of Curriculum Reform - A Conversation with Ben Jensen
Summary
Dr. Ben Jensen joins the hosts to delve into the intricate "weeds" of curriculum reform, advocating for an evidence-based approach rather than opinion-driven changes. The conversation also explores the societal challenges of social media, particularly for youth mental health, and the role of schools and parents in managing screen time. They discuss varying philosophies on content-rich curricula, the foundational importance of a strong curriculum for effective teacher training, and how schools should adapt to global political polarization and emerging technologies like AI, with a special lightning round offering quick insights.Episode description
Dr. Ben Jensen is the CEO of Melbourne-based consultancy Learning First. Ben has advised governments in Australia, North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia on education strategy and reform. Before founding Learning First in 2014, he was director of the Grattan Institute’s School Education Program. He also worked with numerous education systems across the world during five years at the OECD, where he conducted research on education policy and school and teacher effectiveness, and has a PhD in Economics from the University of Melbourne. Highlights from his conversation with Rod and Jal include: an amazing Australian accent; opening banter that covers the Celtics 18th championship; brief thoughts on an announcement that the U.S. surgeon general is recommending warning labels for social media platforms as it relates to youth mental health; the difficulties of managing screen time for children, both at home and in the classroom; an emphasis on the importance of a systematic, evidence-based approach to curriculum development; how to better align education goals with practical classroom implementation; why less content doesn't always mean better outcomes; and a lightning round that will make you thirsty for either a coffee or a beer!
Questions? Thoughts? Feedback?
Email us at freerangehumanspod@gmail.com or Tweet us at @jal_mehta and @Rodroad219