The Learning Future Podcast with Louka Parry

Are we truly promoting self-control or just compliance to adult demands? How can we engage students in deep, effortless, and meaningful learning experiences? Stephanie M. Jones is the Gerald S. Lesser Professor in Child Development and Education and Director of the EASEL Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her research, anchored in prevention science, focuses on the effects of poverty and exposure to violence on social, emotional, and behavioral development from early childhood through early adolescence. Over the past fifteen years, her work has centered on evaluation research addressing the impact of preschool- and elementary-level social-emotional learning interventions on behavioral and academic outcomes and classroom practices, as well as new curriculum development, implementation, and testing. Stephanie is also co-Director (with Nonie Lesaux) of the Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative and Co-PI of the Early Learning Study at Harvard (ELS@H). She serves on numerous national advisory boards and expert consultant groups related to social-emotional development, early childhood education, and child and family anti-poverty policies, including recently as a member of the Council of Distinguished Scientists for the Aspen National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development. Her research is published in academic and educational journals as well as in trade publications, and she regularly presents her work to national academic and practitioner audiences. Jones holds a Ph.D. from Yale University and a B.A. from Barnard College.—-This Season is done in partnership with Salzburg Global Seminar. https://www.salzburgglobal.org/Please check out our partner’s publication advocating for education transformation: https://www.diplomaticourier.com/issue/transformed-the-case-for-education-transformationTranscript available at www.thelearningfuture.com

How might a background in politics, including as Minister of Education, shape an approach to public education? What significant initiatives or reforms from Government might spearhead successful and positive education reform in the public sector? Mr Olli-Pekka Heinonen became the 8th Director General of the International Baccalaureate Organization on 1 May 2021. Prior to joining the IB, Mr Heinonen was Director General of the Finnish National Agency for Education where he worked from January 2017. Mr Heinonen had an active career in politics in Finland between 1994 and 2002: he was Minister of Education and Science from 1994-1999; Minister of Transport and Communication from 1999-2002 and a Member of Parliament from 1995-2002. From 2002 to 2012, Mr Heinonen was Director of Yle, the Finnish national public broadcasting company, before joining the Finnish Prime Minister’s Office in March 2012 as State Secretary, responsible for organizing and leading the office. He has also been responsible, as State Secretary, for the portfolios of the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development and then as State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance of Finland. Mr Heinonen holds a Master of Laws from the University of Helsinki in Finland and has been awarded honorary doctorates by both the University of Jyväskylä and the University of Turku in Finland. He is married and has three children. Transcript available at thelearningfuture.com

Have you ever considered how curiosity is a powerful state of mind and being? What feel-good trends are there in modern humanity? Jigyasa says her name means curiosity, and in this conversation, she doesn't shy away from delving into deep explorations of creativity, holism, beautiful futures, and even meeting our dreams. These two deep-thinking changemakers share their insights, free of inhibitions, and encourage listeners to embrace their own curiosity to change the world for the better. Jigyasa Labroo is the Co-Founder and CEO of Slam Out Loud (SOL), where she leads program development, fundraising, and partnerships. SOL uses the transformative power of visual and performing arts like theatre, poetry, and storytelling to build Socio-Emotional Learning skills in children from underserved backgrounds. Slam Out Loud collaborates with state governments and teaching artists, currently working with children across five states in India through their in-person programs, building Creative Confidence in them to find their voice. Organisations across 19 countries have used their online open-source curriculum with a cumulative reach of 10 million children. Jigyasa studied Learning Design as a KC Mahindra scholar at Harvard Graduate School of Education and is one of the winners of Falling Walls, Berlin. She is also on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list and was most recently awarded Innovator of the Year 2023 by HundrED, Finland. Jigyasa has been a fellow at Salzburg Global Seminar, WISE- Qatar, Arts for Good- Singapore, and Teach For India. She believes in the power of finding one’s voice and engages with music, travel, and coaching to evolve hers constantly.—Slam Out Loud, Educationhttps://slamoutloud.com/—-This Season is done in partnership with Salzburg Global Seminar. https://www.salzburgglobal.org/Please check out our partner’s publication advocating for education transformation: https://www.diplomaticourier.com/issue/transformed-the-case-for-education-transformationTranscription available at thelearningfuture.com

How can a basic understanding of neuroscience empower children to take control of their reactions and behaviors? How can schools cultivate conditions that promote flow in their students and why is this important for optimal learning and fulfillment?This conversation is a goosebump inducer, an optimistic and can-do showcase of the practicality of practices that can promote flow - high-level performance and deep learning. Dido Balla Speaker, Educator, and Entrepreneur, Dido is currently the Head of Education for the Goldie Hawn Foundation, where his focus is to maximize the impact of MindUP in schools, communities, and families. He is on a mission to make the world a happier, healthier, and more fulfilled place. of Education for MindUp. Dido graduated with a Master’s of Science in Secondary Education from the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Dido has seven years of experience as a High School teacher, and he is also the founder of a non-profit organization called FitLit, whose mission is to use a blended curriculum of fitness and literacy to empower youth.As an experienced brain trainer, Dido has positively impacted thousands of parents, educators as well as students in the areas of emotional intelligence, mindful awareness, and positive psychology. His work has expanded across the 10 countries.In this episode of the Learning Future podcast, hosts Louka and Dido explore the concept of flow and its impact on health, well-being, performance, achievement, and growth. They discuss the importance of long-term fitness rather than short-term gains, the profound experiences of flow, and the collective nature of this state. Join them as they delve into the depths of flow and share insights on how to cultivate it in everyday life. With inspiring conversations and a focus on honoring the learning journey, this podcast episode is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to tap into their own flow experiences.Educator, Speaker, Entrepreneurhttps://www.didoballa.com/FitLit Chief Vision Officerhttps://www.fitlitters.com/Kindness Matters 365 Board Memberhttps://kindnessmatters365.org/Transcripts available at www.thelearningfuture.com—-This Season is done in partnership with Salzburg Global Seminar. https://www.salzburgglobal.org/Please check out our partner’s publication advocating for education transformation: https://www.diplomaticourier.com/issue/transformed-the-case-for-education-transformation

What are the ingredients, components and other big Cs for human flourishing? What tools are available and what are unneeded to achieve our visions? Alex sets out clear and enactable frameworks and approaches to achieve our visions and ultimately create systems in our work and life geared for human flourishing.Alex Battison is Senior Deputy Head at Lord Wandsworth College in Hampshire, UK.  Previous to that, he was on the SLT at Wells Cathedral school in Somerset and taught at Hurstpierpoint College in West Sussex, holding a variety of different roles.He is Chair of Educational Futures at Harvard’s Human Flourishing Programme and in May 2022 he was one of 51 individuals convened to discuss the future of education at Salzburg Global Seminar in Austria, with the work produced then being published at the UN Conference for Transforming Education in New York last September. He is a Salzburg Global and RSA fellow, has a Masters in Learning and Teaching from Oxford, and is currently in the last year of a Doctorate in Leadership, Learning and Policy from Bristol University.Outside of school, Alex is routinely engaged in exploring and collaborating for educational transformation around the world, following his dream of co-creating the future of education.Alex is also involved in two international working groups that are collaborating to affect systemic change; one that has a focus on supporting school leaders in the UK, and the other investigating inter-generational leadership and methods of co-construction as pathways for greater societal flourishing.  Alex consults in other industries where he mentors for both the Premier League and Reluctantly Brave in the areas of leadership and culture change, which exposes him to transformational leadership environments away from schools.Transcripts available at www.thelearningfuture.com—-This Season is done in partnership with Salzburg Global Seminar. https://www.salzburgglobal.org/Please check out our partner’s publication advocating for education transformation: https://www.diplomaticourier.com/issue/transformed-the-case-for-education-transformation

Why do some students have such few hopes for the future where others do, when both have the same potentials and opportunities? What are some revolutionary, brave, and ingenious developments of technology design in education?Lasse Leponiemi is a co-founder and executive director at HundrED, https://hundred.org/ a mission-driven organisation focusing on identifying, amplifying and implementing education innovations.Lasse has been working with the youth education and career planning since 2003. In 2008, he founded an e-student counseling and marketing service whose clientele included everyone in Finland that was interested in university studies, reaching over 100.000 students monthly. When the company merged with the biggest prep-course provider in Finland in 2011 Lasse co-founded the NGO Mentors of Finland, which helps over 400 unemployed young people get a job every year. Since 2012 he has been working at HundrED developing educational concepts. Find out more about Lasse at HundrEDTranscripts available at www.thelearningfuture.com—-This Season is done in partnership with Salzburg Global Seminar. https://www.salzburgglobal.org/Please check out our partner’s publication advocating for education transformation: https://www.diplomaticourier.com/issue/transformed-the-case-for-education-transformation

What does it mean to empower younger generations? Does it shift power away from others, or does it empower the whole?The concept of sharing and building and renovating our spaces, co-designed intergenerationally, enables more broad outcomes and possibilities.This episode features two guests and contributors to Salzburg Global Seminar, this seasons partner. Elo·ise loves to connect ideas, people and places. In her work with the charity Big Change, a catalyst for long-term changes to how we support the next generation, she nurtures Global Alliances. In particular, the Big Education Conversation, which has evolved from a campaign in England to get the public talking about the purpose and future of education into a global invitation launched at the UN Transforming Education Summit. With intergenerational collaboration at its core, the initiative is currently being adopted, adapted and co-created by partners across 6 continents. Elo·ise is committed to the craft of holding space for system transformation, from the personal to the global. This ranges from work to raise awareness and build agency around the Sustainable Development Goals, in her previous role building the World's Largest Lesson and presently with Colombian Charity Worn-en, to her practice as a massage therapist and Circles facilitator with Space To Pause. At the moment, she is particularly curious about the power of listening and attunement. Aliyah lrabor-York is the founder of Pupil Power, a nation wide movement based in the UK which empowers young people to develop their agency in order to reimagine the 21st century's Education system. Since starting her organisation at 16, her work has been awarded and recognised for advising global leaders/organisations on how to embed a genuine culture for youth voice. Currently she serves as the youngest board member for Lyfta Education, as well as an Associate Consultant at Big change. Her expertise include designing, aligning, and implementing collaborative and intergenerational campaigns and programs that transform practice in the Education system. Aliyah is currently studying Education, Policy and International Development at the University of Cambridge. Transcripts available at www.thelearningfuture.com—-This Season is done in partnership with Salzburg Global Seminar. https://www.salzburgglobal.org/Please check out our partner’s publication advocating for education transformation: https://www.diplomaticourier.com/issue/transformed-the-case-for-education-transformation

What does it mean to recognise that education is more than an institution, but a state of being? What are some of the shifts of perspective required for positive systemic transformation?People and their systems are in symbiosis, the relationship between personal and systemic transformations is an inseperable one. Romana Shaikh is the Chief Program Officer at Kizazi, a global non-profit that seeks to catalyze innovation in the design of school models to enable all children to thrive. She has deep experience working across India, West Africa and Armenia with local teams to transform public education to so education is contextually responsive, restorative of culture and identity & relevant to the needs of young people and their communities. Romana practices Presence Oriented Psychotherapy with individuals and groups and is currently involved in collaborative and peace building efforts in India. Through her work, Romana is studying the relationship between personal transformation and systemic transformation. She is a faculty member for Comprehensive Sexuality Education, Presence Oriented Psychotherapy. A Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow and an alumnus of Teach For India. Previously, she has been the Director of Training & Impact for Teach For India & a consultant to TFIx, TFAll and various other NGOs in rural & urban India.Romana loves tending to plants, practicing yoga and meditation and learning from various wisdom traditions. She enjoys learning about cultures and the diversity of life experiences people have through reading, traveling & being a part of communities.—-This Season is done in partnership with Salzburg Global Seminar. https://www.salzburgglobal.org/Please check out our partner’s publication advocating for education transformation: https://www.diplomaticourier.com/issue/transformed-the-case-for-education-transformation

How do projects of Agency across broad ranges and portfolios across Peru impact upon the lives in the community? Hear from a Peruvian expert in education about how a system has empowered hundreds of students into role models and doers of admirable public and community good.Franco is CEO and co-founder at Enseña Peru. https://ensenaperu.org/Franco finds, connects and develops leaders to transform education together. His passion is student leadership. He holds a master’s degree in education from Harvard and studies in strategy also from Harvard. He is a TEDx Speaker and Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow. He was a member of the Network Advisory Council of the global network Teach for all. He is also an author, publishing several chapters and articles in UNESCO, Diplomatic Courier, OECD, Teach for All, Harvard Latin Review, Global Education Initiative. In 2018 he was the recipient of the Leadership in Education award from Harvard, as well as the Faculty Tribute award from Harvard. His courses have become public policy in several regions in his country, scaling to thousands of teachers, especially promoting transformations such as student agency and personalized teaching in rural areas. He lives in Peru with his wife and daughter.—-This Season is done in partnership with Salzburg Global Seminar. https://www.salzburgglobal.org/Please check out the partner publication: https://www.diplomaticourier.com/issue/transformed-the-case-for-education-transformation

Is there a way to prepare ourselves for complexities that don’t fit standardised approaches or formula? How complicated can pedagogy become before it’s unworkable, and what does it take to increase this threshold? Transcripts available at https://www.thelearningfuture.comThis episode features The Learning Future’s Director of Leadership and Culture. Dr Anne Knock is an educator, facilitator, and coach who enables profound shifts in strategy, leadership, culture and pedagogy through her wisdom.Anne holds a PhD in Education from The Univeristy of Melbourne with a focus in complexity theory, revealing how to craft successful and sustainable practice and culture in innovative learning environments. She also routinely supports education leaders and architects to develop school masterplans and design briefs.Commencing as a primary teacher, Anne has experience in community development, school system administration, and school-based innovation consultancy. At The Learning Future, Anne leads programs and projects to help educators, leaders and organisations step into the future through strategic design and learning experiences that optimistically chart a path ahead in our increasingly complex world. Anne also leads the executive coaching and learning tour aspects of The Learning Future, supporting schools and organisations to integrate the cutting edge of school design, philosophy and practice.