
Education On Fire - Sharing creative and inspiring learning in our schools
Do you feel the education system is sucking the life out of you and the pupils you serve? I think many of us wish we could click our fingers and make it fit for purpose. A place of growth with shared learning that empowers pupils to be their best selves, so they can create a world they want to inhabit now and in the future.
While a magic wand or a visionary politician might sound like the answer I believe change is already happening. Educators are changing futures one conversation at a time. New technology and the environments where we learn are beginning to look different both in and out of the classroom. I hope you are seeing this first hand and are excited about what you can share with your pupils. We are having conversations, sharing organisations and communities that are supporting education in a way that you may have not experienced.
Educational change will come from us all working in way that supports the best interests of each of our pupils, personalised learning. Governments and policy makers will follow when they see fully how it can be different. So let us teach, coach, mentor and create an environment that fuels every child with feedback, inspiration, resilience and empowerment. The Education on Fire community is shining the torch, so no matter where you are in the world or how you are supporting children this podcast is here for you.
‘Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.’
Latest episodes

Apr 29, 2024 • 42min
393: Teaching personal and social responsibility through P.E with Dr. Michael Hemphill
Dr. Hemphill’s research focuses on teaching personal and social responsibility through sport, physical activity, and physical education with specific applications to urban communities and professional development programs for physical activity providers. His research is grounded in community-engaged scholarship, which features reciprocal community partnerships and interdisciplinary collaborations to address community-identified needs. This research has been situated in local contexts in Charleston, SC and Greensboro, NC as well as international applications in New Zealand and Sri Lanka. He has published several research articles in refereed journals including the Journal of Youth Development, Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, European Physical Education Review, Physical Education & Sport Pedagogy, and Sport, Education, and Society. Additionally, he has delivered research presentations to international, national, and regional conferences including the American Educational Research Association, SHAPE America, the International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education, and the International Association for Research on Service Learning and Community Engagement. He is a recipient of the community-engaged scholar award from the School of Health and Human Sciences and of the Charles D. Henry Award, honoring significant contributions to ethnic minorities in SHAPE America.Websitewww.kin.uncg.eduResources MentionedLittle Book of Restorative Justice Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) www.nape.org.ukSupport the show at www.educationonfire.com/supportHave you seen our live shows on YouTube? www.EducationOnFire.com/youtubeWant help to start a podcast? www.educationonfire.com/lsprMentioned in this episode:NAPE Al Kingsley Summit PromoWatch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley about 'Creating Digital Strategies for Schools' as part of the Primary Education Summit 2023 - Visions for the Future - presented by National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)
https://www.educationonfire.com/creating-digital-strategies-for-schools/

Apr 22, 2024 • 48min
392: Toddlers Can Read with Spencer Russell
Spencer Russell is the Founder of Toddlers Can Read, a groundbreaking program that helps thousands of parents across the world teach their children to read. His fierce conviction that every child deserves the best start in life inspired him to walk away from a comfortable 100K salary job after teaching his son to read at just two years old.With a background as a former award-winning kindergarten and first-grade teacher, Spencer has received widespread recognition as one of the most outstanding educators in his city, state, and national charter network. He has become a trailblazer in literacy innovation with his unique approach to education, leading him to amass over 2 million followers on social media.Spencer's incredible work has even earned him a feature in the TikTok Sparks Good docuseries, which highlights small businesses that have found success on the platform. He has also been featured on FOX, Parents.com, FamilyEducation and Popsugar Parenting. Through his unwavering dedication to providing children with the best start in life, Spencer is changing the face of education and empowering parents to help their toddlers achieve incredible feats of literacy.Websitewww.toddlersread.comSocial Media Information@toddlerscanreadResources MentionedPhonics from A-Z Wiley BlevinsShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) www.nape.org.ukSupport the show at www.educationonfire.com/supportHave you seen our live shows on YouTube? www.EducationOnFire.com/youtubeWant help to start a podcast? www.educationonfire.com/lsprMentioned in this episode:NAPE Al Kingsley Summit PromoWatch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley about 'Creating Digital Strategies for Schools' as part of the Primary Education Summit 2023 - Visions for the Future - presented by National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)
https://www.educationonfire.com/creating-digital-strategies-for-schools/London School of Public Relations - Podcasting Course with Mark TaylorThe 1-day Essentials of Podcasting Certificated short course is highly practical and packed full of useful information to get you on the road to producing your own professional podcasts. The Podcasting course will help you to create, edit, deliver and promote your podcast. The course also provides useful tips and tricks from industry experts on producing professional and effective results.LSPR

Apr 15, 2024 • 58min
391: Wisdom Factories: AI, Games, and the Education of a Modern Worker with Dr. Tim Dasey
Dr. Tim Dasey has a long history in AI and learning science, and recently published the book “Wisdom Factories: AI, Games, and the Education of a Modern Worker.” After thirty years at MIT leading AI development for diverse government needs, Tim leapt into education due to concern that minds won’t be ready for the jobs that remain human. He has a smidge of teaching experience at corporate, higher ed, and K-12 levels. Dr. Dasey has atypical perspectives on the future of schooling built from a blend of AI expertise, experience with many industries, depth in the science of learning and judgment, and more than a decade leading development of game-based learning tools.Websitewww.timdasey.comSocial Media Informationlinkedin.com/in/timdaseyResources MentionedUse the paid version of AI to really see what it can do.Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) SEND Conference Friday 26th April – Hybrid event https://nape.org.uk/conference-2024Welcome to the NAPE Conference 2024, which is focusing on SEND: challenges and strategies! Join us at the University of Bedfordshire for a day filled with insightful discussions, workshops and networking opportunities. This event is designed to address the unique challenges faced by individuals with special educational needs and disabilities; we hope you come away at the end of the day fired with ideas and knowledge about SEND.Learn from experts specifically chosen to talk to you, some of whom are practitioners who have come away from their school to be at the conference. We have an excellent keynote speaker, and you can choose two of the workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to collaborate and learn together! https://nape.org.uk/conference-2024Support the show at www.educationonfire.com/supportHave you seen our live shows on YouTube? www.EducationOnFire.com/youtube

Apr 8, 2024 • 59min
390: Setting and Scoring Financial Goals with Pete Huryk
Setting and Scoring Financial Goals is a basic guide for any soccer fan who wants to understand personal finance better. The consistent sports metaphor explains intimidating concepts such as "small cap stocks" with ease for anyone who understands "the beautiful game." Although it may seem complex, finance is simply a game like any other with players, strategies, and results. In order to win the game, it's necessary first to understand it and this book is a great first step!Fill Your Boots was Pete Huryk’s first book. Intended for high school-age soccer players, it is filled with life lessons that overlap with the game of soccer. The book can be read as a whole or read section by section depending on the needs of the individual.In his sophomore work, Soccer Life Balance, Pete took a more methodical approach to individual achievement. Using facets of the game as metaphors for different aspects of life and their systematic improvement, Soccer Life Balance is a resource manual for taking steps toward being a better version of one’s self.Chris Schaefer is a senior advisor at a boutique wealth management firm based outside of Washington, D.C. with over 20 years of experience. As a senior advisor, Chris manages all aspects of his client relationships and works closely with the firm's investment management, portfolio operations and client services divisions.Previously, Chris spent five years at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in the audit and assurance services group. His specialization was in financial services, with expertise in the banking and mortgage banking industries. While there, he also gained experience in investment management, real estate and insurance.Chris holds a B.B.A degree, cum laude, from Loyola University Maryland, where he was a member of the Beta Alpha Psi (Accounting), and Beta Gamma Sigma (Business) honor societies. Websitewww.sportsfinancellc.comSocial Media InformationInstagram - @sportsfinancellcResources MentionedImpact Theory PodcastShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) SEND Conference Friday 26th April – Hybrid event https://nape.org.uk/conference-2024Welcome to the NAPE Conference 2024, which is focusing on SEND: challenges and strategies! Join us at the University of Bedfordshire for a day filled with insightful discussions, workshops and networking opportunities. This event is designed to address the unique challenges faced by individuals with special educational needs and disabilities; we hope you come away at the end of the day fired with ideas and knowledge about SEND.Learn from experts specifically chosen to talk to you, some of whom are practitioners who have come away from their school to be at the conference. We have an excellent keynote speaker, and you can choose two of the workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to collaborate and learn together! https://nape.org.uk/conference-2024Support the show at www.educationonfire.com/supportHave you seen our live shows on YouTube? www.EducationOnFire.com/youtube

Apr 1, 2024 • 42min
389: Viable alternatives to a 4-year college degree with Nat Greene
Nat Greene, founder of Futures Forge, discusses viable alternatives to traditional college degrees, emphasizing core skills over prestigious universities. They explore the limitations of the current education system, advocate for project-based learning, and highlight the importance of personal growth and adaptability in a dynamic job market.

Mar 25, 2024 • 47min
388: AI and CYPHER Learning with Graham Glass
Graham Glass is the founder and CEO of CYPHER Learning, which offers game-changing training and learning solutions for businesses, educational institutions, and entrepreneurs around the world. He is passionate about leveraging better experience design in digital platforms that delight learners and make organizations more effective.As an ex-university lecturer, serial entrepreneur and innovator, he took his university lectures on training dynamics to high-technology organizations, then launched a series of companies culminating in CYPHER Learning, whose platforms are used today by more than 20,000 organizations. Graham has also written multiple books and spoken internationally on the case for better learning systems in the 21st century.Websitewww.cypherlearning.comSocial Media Informationwww.linkedin.com/in/grahamglass@grahamglass (Twitter / X)Resources MentionedPrevious episode 244 with Graham Glass, which includes his origin story and history of CYPHER LearningThis podcast was recorded live from the 2022 BETT Show in London, and includes an interview with the team on the CYPHER Learning stand.Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) SEND Conference Friday 26th April – Hybrid event https://nape.org.uk/conference-2024Welcome to the NAPE Conference 2024, which is focusing on SEND: challenges and strategies! Join us at the University of Bedfordshire for a day filled with insightful discussions, workshops and networking opportunities. This event is designed to address the unique challenges faced by individuals with special educational needs and disabilities; we hope you come away at the end of the day fired with ideas and knowledge about SEND.Learn from experts specifically chosen to talk to you, some of whom are practitioners who have come away from their school to be at the conference. We have an excellent keynote speaker, and you can choose two of the workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to collaborate and learn together! https://nape.org.uk/conference-2024Support the show at www.educationonfire.com/supportHave you seen our live shows on YouTube? www.EducationOnFire.com/youtube

Mar 18, 2024 • 1h
387: Own Your Work Journey with Edward D. Hess
Professor Edward D. Hess discusses the intersection of technology and humanity in fulfilling work. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and continuous learning for success in the digital age. The podcast highlights the transformative power of mentors, emotional management, and feedback on personal growth.

Mar 11, 2024 • 56min
386: Strengthening Executive Function Skills for Children with Dr. Lynne Kenney
Dr. Lynne Kenney, leading pediatric psychologist, discusses executive function skills for children. Topics include using music to enhance cognitive functions, drumming for skill development, and the benefits of rhythm and musicality in education for children with learning challenges.

Mar 4, 2024 • 31min
385: A Gobblegark's Guide To Your Brilliant Neurodivergent Brain with Suzanne Robertshaw
Suzanne Robertshaw, author and experienced teacher, discusses the positive aspects of being neurodivergent in her book 'A Gobblegark's Guide To Your Brilliant Neurodivergent Brain'. She encourages self-discovery through challenges, highlighting the strengths of the brain. The podcast explores embracing neurodiversity in education, creating supportive classroom environments, and resilience in unexpected circumstances.

Feb 26, 2024 • 52min
384: A new innovation to support your college searching journey with Troove
Dave, an innovator behind Troove, shares how his kids' college journey inspired him to create a platform using AI to help students find the right fit. They discuss the challenges in college searching, the importance of cultural fit, and the role of technology in enhancing the enrollment process.