Learning Unboxed

Riley Andrews is a middle-school student who we’ve had the pleasure of watching flourish academically since transitioning to a STEM school. Today, Riley shares the educational shifts between her different schools, how she navigated the increased workload, and the pros and cons of virtual learning during the pandemic.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

The Veterans Curation Program hires veterans to curate and maintain archeological collections that preserve U.S. history and endow participants with employable skills for the ever-changing civilian job market. This wonderful trio of educational leaders —Kelly Brown, Shannon Johnson, and Jessica Mundt — is on the ground, literally making history with those who have served. We discuss the ins-and-outs of this unusual program that connects the military to location and place through an archaeological lens, their current collections, and visions for the future. To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:Website: veteranscurationprogram.orgLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

On October 4, 2017, Shaesta Waiz made aviation history when she became the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft.And since then, she hasn’t stopped making her mark, in the skies or on the ground. Her foundation, Dreams Soar, runs inspiring outreach programs across the globe to encourage more girls and women to study and work in male-dominated spheres of STEM and aviation.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:Website: dreamssoar.orgBook: ¨Fly Girl Fly: The Story of Shaesta Waiz¨ by Nancy Roe Pimm Learning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

We cover quite a bit in this week’s episode Elizabeth Dinschel and Kristine Bullock: the work of Presidential Libraries, their public outreach and engagement of K-12 students, and a lot of social studies and language arts — and, of course, how that all ties back into STEM and STEM education. To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:Hoover LibraryVisit the Presidential Libraries onlineLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

Jasmine de Gaia, Executive Director of Transformation at JPMorgan Chase & Co., explains how the advancement of digital innovation in low-tech and high-tech industries is transforming the cultural fabric of our lives.If we adopt Jasmine's notion that ‘every company has become a tech company,’ it becomes of crucial importance that educators are preparing children for future tech-focused careers that are not the norm. We discuss the importance of agile-based learning over gadget dependency and how this upgraded mindset is transforming the consumer experience of today.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:Digital Innovation at JP Morgan: www.jpmorgan.com/insights/technology/digital-innovationLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

We’re talking to Ohio State graduates, Ruby Xun and Melissa Liang, who reached the finale of Best of Student Startups (BOSS) last year. While Covid-19 derailed execution plans for their sustainable fashion platform, Twirl, the applied learning experience at BOSS endowed them with useful insights for creating, maintaining, and growing a business.We imagine the different ways entrepreneurship could be integrated into a high-school program, and how familiarizing students with everyday business skills earlier on could help navigate a future in a way that textbooks and blackboards cannot.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:BOSS: The Best of Student StartupsLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

Groundwork USA shares our mission to move youth from the classroom to the forest, learning and thriving in the great outdoors.Today, Curt Collier and Lucy Crespo talk about how they’re combating environmental and socio-cultural barriers to getting kids outdoors, to make the mountains mainstream for urban youth.We discuss the cultural and generational shifts towards environmentalism, effective community engagement, past project highlights, and the different ways our teachers can integrate our great national parks into the national curriculum.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:Website: groundworkusa.orgLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

Tim Mitchell, executive director of The Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA), has mastered the (seemingly) impossible: he’s curated a hugely-successful fine art, math, and science institution — within the state’s public school system. With 85-95% scholarship rates for college — compared to the national average of 15% — it’s clear that their diverse student body is thriving. However, it’s the magic of marinating the world of STEM and STEAM together that makes this remarkable school stand out for us here at Learning Unboxed.Creating synergy between science and arts is not only possible, it’s already happening! We hope this expansive conversation plants a seed of hope for our community looking to ignite more change within the archaic education system. To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:Learn more about ASFA: www.asfa.k12.al.usFollow:@asfaschoolLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

At just 23 years old, Imran Nuri is transforming the way America approaches philanthropy with his impactful non-profit, The 52 Million Project. His subscription-based program, which costs $1 a week, donated just over $30,000 to 52 different non-profits last year. By breaking down the barriers of donating, students, young professionals, and local communities have jumped on the philanthropy wagon, without having to break the bank. Today Shannon, Imran, and I discuss how the project began, the evolving dynamics of the giving back model, and how charitable efforts from childhood can create altruistic habits for later life. To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:Donate: www.52millionproject.orgFollow: @52millionprojectConnect: Imran NuriLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

Learning through seeing, thinking, and wondering is the educational utopia we’re striving to achieve, and thanks to teachers like Sabrina Walters and parents like Lori Trent from Upper Arlington City School, we’re closer to making it a reality. These forward-thinking educators reveal how creating an active dialogue between parents, teachers, and students can revolutionize the learning process. Their holistic model builds on the notion that learning is best delivered from a dynamic pool of voices and perspectives. For Sabrina and Lori, true learning exists in constructive, shared conversations and not in top-to-bottom instructions from a teacher to a student. To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:Recreate the Dale Chihuly art project for your students: artsycraftsymom.com/10-dale-chihuly-art-projects-for-kids/Learning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio