Tyler Thigpen
Co-founder and CEO of The Forest School and the Institute for Self-Directed Learning, and Academic Director at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, focused on building self-directed, agentic learning environments for young people.
Top 3 podcasts with Tyler Thigpen
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May 6, 2026 • 54min
Episode 97: High Agency Learning Environments. A Conversation with Tyler Thigpen.
Tyler Thigpen, co-founder of The Forest School and Academic Director at UPenn GSE, builds self-directed, agentic learning environments. He discusses why kids thrive with purpose and choice. They cover defining agency, the DRIP pathway (desire, resourcefulness, initiative, persistence), adult unlearning to become guides, mastery transcripts, freedom levels, and helping learners make self‑agreements.
Feb 9, 2026 • 47min
Why Friday Night Lights May Hold the Key to Mainstreaming Microschools
Tom Arnett, researcher at the Christensen Institute who studies how new school models scale. Tyler Thigpen, CEO of the Forest School at Acton Academy who runs learner-centered K–12 programs. They explore whether traditions like Friday Night Lights, dances, and rituals matter for teen identity and belonging. They discuss student-led sports, theater, rites of passage, badges, and how networks or new supports could help microschools scale.
Jan 14, 2025 • 38min
Supporting self-directed learning in and out of conventional classrooms
Tyler Thigpen, co-founder and CEO of The Forest School and a leader in self-directed learning, dives into transformative education practices. He shares his journey from teaching Spanish to advocating for environments that foster learner autonomy. The discussion highlights the evolution of Acton Academy, showcasing collaborative methods that empower student agency. Thigpen emphasizes innovative models like mastery-based transcripts and addresses the growing demand for alternative education, urging teachers to embrace personalized approaches for deeper learning.
