Silver Lining for Learning

Play is essential for child development but is not always encouraged within formal educational settings. Increasingly, children are losing the freedom, time, and space for play. They are under more adult supervision and play itself is becoming structured. At school, play is pushed aside for more formal academic content. In this episode, we have invited Pasi Sahlberg, a Professor of Education Policy at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, and coauthor of Let the Children Play: Why more play will save our schools and help children thrive (with William Doyle, 2019) alongside Alexandra Harper, an accomplished practitioner and leader in the early childhood, primary and tertiary sectors across government and independent systems to talk about the importance of play in education systems.  Join the conversation at silverliningforlearning.org 

The role of creativity in education has always been deemed necessary and important. In this episode, we discuss a new framework of viewing creativity as a participatory process in which creativity is a result of an interaction between elements, distributed across social, cultural, psychological, temporal, and material elements. Rather than defining certain individuals as ‘creative,’ the participatory creativity framework proposes a more democratic approach to creativity, empowering individuals to create and find agency within an evolving process. We are joined by guest speakers Dr. Vlad P. Glăveanu, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Psychology and Counseling at Webster University Geneva, Associate Professor II at the Centre for the Science of Learning and Technology (SLATE), and Edward P. Clapp, Ed.D. a Principal Investigator at Project Zero of the Harvard Graduate School of Education.   Join the conversation at silverliningforlearning.org 

Hosts Chris Dede, Curt Bonk, Punya Mishra & Yong Zhao gather to reflect on the past five episodes (#57-#60) and provide commentary.Episode 60 | Transforming Higher Education Policy and Practice for the Global Common GoodEpisode 59 | It’s Time to be Inclusive and Include UDLEpisode 58 | Unpacking the Digitization and Datafication of Education: Thoughts from Finland and BeyondEpisode 57 | Technology in Special Education and the National Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital LearningEpisode 56 | Welcome to the Wonderful World of Openness  Conversation topics include remote learning, brand recognition, and the power of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Join the conversation at silverliningforlearning.org 

Uliana Furiv, Associate Project Officer at the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning, will discuss how flexibility has been important both during COVID-19 and before for enhancing the resilience of education systems. During the discussion, Uliana will share some good practices regarding promising policy options for creating more flexibility in higher education, as well as share some experiences of eight countries that have developed effective policies at both national and decentralised levels.Trine Jensen, Manager of Higher Education & Digital Transformation at the International Association of Universities, will discuss changes she has observed while developing a new IAU Policy Statement: Transforming Higher Education for the Common Global Good in a Digital World. Although the initial draft of the statement was prepared prior to the pandemic, the accelerated digital transformation during the pandemic highlights the importance of this work and key issues at stake for the future of higher education. Join the conversation at silverliningforlearning.org 

Have you heard colleagues talk about University Design for Learning (UDL) and wonder what it is? Are you charged with developing training in your organization or institution related to UDL? Perhaps you are interested in developing online courses that take into account UDL. Knowing this is a global, if not universal, concern, Elizabeth (Betsy) Dalton and Susie Gronseth edited a book with 47 chapters and nearly 90 contributors, Universal Access Through Inclusive Instructional Design: International Perspectives on UDL, that was published by Routledge in 2020. In the show, they will be joined by chapter authors from South Africa and Chile who will share their perspectives on how universally designed programs and instruction is happening in their parts of the world, some strategies and tools that they have found helpful in their UDL journey, and the persisting issues they continue to face as they work to achieve the goal of inclusive education. Without a doubt, Episode #59 should be a highly enjoyable and informative session. Yes, it is time Silver Lining for Learning included an episode on UDL. Join the conversation at silverliningforlearning.org 

Is “the world” still open? Why does it sometimes feel that the digitalization of education, datafication, and digital learning platforms raise new impossibilities and paradoxes? For example, can we really claim to educate self-directed 21st century learners when we increase datafication and online platform surveillance? These are some of the questions the Critical Applied Research of Digitalization in Education (CARDE) research group in Tampere, Finland is exploring with educators and researchers around the world. The mission of CARDE (about) is “Promoting deeper understanding of digitalization in education through critical applied research.” Research conducted at CARDE is international and informed by critical theory and critical pedagogy. It is also intended to connect and unite people around the planet with similar aims and goals. Learn about the mission of CARDE (about), current status, and the results to date from two of the founders as well as three CARDE research team members and students. Join the conversation at silverliningforlearning.org 

Technology has played a significant role in special education and has a lot more potential. In this episode we invite the top professors in technology and special education to discuss the past, present, and future of technology in special education. They are also leading the newly funded national center: Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning (CIDDL). The center has a strong mission to connect with higher education faculty to promote better and more uses of technology. More about the guests below the video. Join the conversation at silverliningforlearning.org 

David Wiley, Co-founder and Chief Academic Officer, Lumen Learning, has been a leader in the open education movement for over two decades. If an interesting or ground-breaking open education project has happened, David likely is aware of it and perhaps even participated in it to make it so. Want to learn about open textbook research? Why not? David and his colleague, John Hilton, have conducted tons of it. OpenCourseWare advocacy? Here too David led the charge. MOOCs? Well, now, prior to the MOOC craze in 2009, David opened up his classroom to the world community and gave out certificates to those who joined. Open educational resources entrepreneur? As per his bio, there is no other like him. Organizer of the openness movement? David founded the Open Education Conference. Come to this session and find out how you can get involved in helping the world become more free and open for learning. You will likely learn about unique resources created for this open world as well as new trends and possibilities. Join the conversation at silverliningforlearning.org 

In this episode of Silver Linings for Learning, the Hosts reflect on the past 4 episodes. Join the conversation at silverliningforlearning.org 

In this episode, Jeremy Bailenson, Kristy Kroeker, and Anna Queiroz, will discuss their shared work on the Stanford Ocean Acidification Experience, which is an immersive VR journey where learners actively explore a virtual underwater ecosystem and observe firsthand how rocky reefs are expected to look by the end of the century if CO2 emissions are not curbed. In addition to discussing their shared work, they will also talk about some exciting new research, including Anna’s new findings on the use of VR headsets in schools and its effects on affective and cognitive learning,  Kristy’s research on ocean acidification and outreach and education regarding ocean climate change, and Jeremy’s work around policy and VR that focuses on a case study in Palau. Join the conversation at silverliningforlearning.org