Future Learning Design Podcast

Eric Dozier (https://www.ericdozier.com/) is not only an incredible musician and, as he calls himself, itinerant blues preacher, but also a cultural activist and anti-racism educator.  We talk about the power of music as a social force that brings people together to learn, builds community and holds space for transformation, in particular in Eric’s critical work challenging white supremacy culture and racial injustice. Eric is former musical director for the World Famous Harlem Gospel Choir and the award winning Children’s Theatre Company of NYC, co-founder and former National Director of Arts and Education for One Human Family Music Workshops, Inc., an organization devoted to eradicating discrimination by ‘Uniting the World.. One Song at a Time"; and one-half of the duo Moanin' Sons, which develops a creative context, through music, to address racial inequality. Through his insightful lyrical stylings, soulful melodies, and interactive workshops, he continues to dedicate his musical, spiritual, and intellectual talents to welding the hearts and minds of a divided humanity into one loving fellowship. Eric is also the co-founder of the Oneness Lab with Homa Tavangar a previous guest on the podcast (https://www.onenesslab.com/). And the co-composer of ‘Henry Box Brown - A Musical' a music about the true story of Henry Box Brown, an 1850’s enslaved Virginia man who shipped himself to freedom in a box with the help of African American and white abolitionists. Hopefully soon to be opening on Broadway!: https://www.henryboxbrownthemusical.com/ In this episode you can hear Eric perform his stunning song 'Cotton and the Cross' that he wrote, with Ketch Secor from Old Crow Medicine Show. Social Links Instagram: @ericdozier - https://www.instagram.com/ericdozier/ LinkedIn: @ericdozier - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdozier/

Dr. Vanessa Andreotti discusses radical education paradigms, focusing on global justice, Indigenous knowledge, and the climate emergency. She emphasizes education for the gut and heart, not just the head. Topics include responsibility, interconnectedness, climate crisis education, probiotic education, capoeira in teaching, and the fusion of tradition with technology for future wisdom.

Prof. Ray Ison, a seasoned expert in systems education, cybernetics, and systems science, discusses the evolution of systems thinking and cybernetics. He explores the concept of 'Juggler Isophore,' integrating systems and design thinking, and delves into systemic sensibility in practice.

This week I’m chatting with Jamilah Pitts, whose incredible work challenges us to root our educational practices in activism, healing and love. This is so that we tell the truth about the deep biases and harms that continue to persist within our societies and many of our educational settings. Jamilah’s work follows in the incredible tradition of bell hooks, Audre Lorde, James Baldwin and many others. Jamilah is an educator, writer, social entrepreneur and yoga teacher whose work centers the liberation, healing and holistic development of communities of the global majority. She has served in various roles and spaces to promote racial justice and healing as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and as a dean.  As the Founder and CEO of Jamilah Pitts Consulting, Jamilah partners with schools, communities and organizations to advance the work of social and intersectional justice through an emphasis on wellness and educator training. Jamilah is also the Founder of  She, Imprints, an organization designed to support the unique wellness needs of women and girls of color through advocacy, coaching programs, curriculum design, training and wellness retreats.   Jamilah’s written work has appeared in the Huffington Post, Learning for Justice, and Edweek.  Jamilah’s amazing book, Toward Liberation: Educational Practices Rooted in Activism, Healing and Love, was published in November. She can be found at ⁠jamilahpitts.com⁠. 

Professor Rex Li and Dr. Clara Cheng discuss incorporating research and inquiry practices in education inspired by John Dewey and Howard Gardner. They share insights on nurturing students' growth at GT College, Hong Kong, emphasizing the balance between fun and academic rigor, multiple intelligences, and individualized learning for a collaborative educational landscape.

Homa Tavangar (https://homatavangar.com/ ) is an incredible educator and leader. She is the co-founder of the Oneness Lab with Eric Dozier  (https://www.onenesslab.com/ ) where she helps schools and companies go ‘deeper than diversity,’ as well as the Big Questions Institute, (https://bigquestions.institute/)  where, with her co-founder Will Richardson, she leads professional learning opportunities to build capacity and design the future with fearless inquiry for individuals, schools, and many other education-related organisations.     Homa is the author of widely-acclaimed books, including Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home in the World (Random House, 2009), Global Kids: 50+ Games, Crafts, Recipes & More from Around the World (Barefoot Books, 2019), The Global Education Toolkit for Elementary Learners (Sage/Corwin, 2014), co-author of a 3-book series with Professor Yong Zhao on educating creative, entrepreneurial World Class Learners (Corwin, 2016), and contributor to Mastering Global Literacy, by Heidi Hayes-Jacobs, ed. (Solution Tree, 2013). Most recently she co-authored 9 BIG Questions Schools Must Answer to Avoid Going “Back to Normal” (*Because “Normal” Wasn’t That Great to Begin With). Social Links LinkedIn: @homatavangar - https://www.linkedin.com/in/homatavangar/  Instagram: @homatavangar - https://www.instagram.com/homatavangar/  X: @homatav - https://twitter.com/homatav?lang=en 

Exploring decolonization in education with Prof. Jonathan Jansen, tackling power structures and biases. Discussing the challenges of radical ideas in institutions, language barriers, and financial obstacles for students. Highlighting the complexities of decolonizing curriculum and promoting diverse national identities.

The podcast discusses the importance of play and playfulness in learning and work environments, focusing on the use of Lego Serious Play method. Topics include inclusive learning opportunities, benefits of structured play, utilizing simple objects like Lego for collaboration, and promoting inclusivity and creativity through play. The conversation also touches on the cultural influence on cognition and communication, redefining time and play in education and work environments.

The podcast features Prof. Natalia Kurcikova discussing children's use of e-books and literacy apps, personal data in EdTech, and her 'Sensory Books' project. It also explores the challenges in evaluating educational technology, the debate on standardized assessments, the role of values in EdTech development, and the necessity of context in technological advancements within education.

Dr. Yong Zhao challenges the idea of countries relying on PISA scores, advocating for personalized education instead. He emphasizes the importance of diversity and local context in shaping effective learning environments. The conversation delves into redefining education beyond standardized norms and promoting intrinsic values in the educational system.