Edufuturists

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by the lovely Tara Jones from Clever to discuss the evolving landscape of education technology. We explore the importance of cybersecurity, the disparities in student experiences with technology, and the need for personalised learning. The conversation emphasises the significance of creating a supportive digital environment for students, the challenges of screen time, and the necessity of adapting assessment methods to reflect real-world skills. The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of choice and agency in education, advocating for a balanced approach to technology use in classrooms.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Context Setting02:17 Exploring Technology in Education04:19 Student Experience and Device Disparity08:34 Cybersecurity and Student Safety12:21 The Role of Technology in Personalisation16:25 Balancing Screen Time and Learning20:30 Agency and Critical Thinking in Digital Spaces24:20 Future of Education and Technology Integration31:56 Navigating Educational Choices and Agency35:13 The Role of Reading in Learning37:58 Assessment and Learning: A Balancing Act42:36 Curriculum Flexibility and Digital Integration49:25 Exploring Creativity in Education52:18 Rethinking Educational Practices and Success MetricsFind out more about what Clever is doing in this space by clicking the links belowClever unveils Classroom MFA Layered Security Solutions from CleverU.K. trust boosts security and learning time for students with Clever BadgesClever’s 2025 Cybersecure ReportThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode of the podcast, we chat with Charlie Radman, the Global Head of Education at HP. We discuss the critical role of technology in education, the importance of partnerships, and the pressing global teacher crisis.Charlie shares insights on HP's commitment to sustainability and digital equity, emphasising the need for critical thinking and digital literacy in today's world. The conversation also touches on HP Futures, a programme aimed at transforming education systems, and the significance of hackathons in fostering innovation in developing countries. The episode concludes with quick-fire questions that highlight the need for a shift in educational practices and the importance of human connection in the digital age.Chapters00:00 Introductions01:01 Charlie Radman's Role at HP03:26 The Importance of Partnerships in Education09:02 Addressing Global Teacher Shortages13:18 HP's Commitment to Sustainability20:06 Digital Equity Goals and Initiatives23:52 Navigating the Digital Landscape for Youth25:15 The Importance of Critical Thinking in the Age of AI28:18 HP Futures: Transforming Education Through Collaboration31:02 Creating Effective Educational Frameworks35:24 Sustainability and Integrity in Technology38:49 Harnessing Innovation Through Hackathons43:14 Rethinking Educational Practices for the FutureThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode of the podcast, we engage with SL Rao, a design consultant from Optimistic Design. They explore the concept of equity-centred design, emphasising the importance of community involvement in the design process. SL shares their journey from engineering to design, highlighting the need for a more inclusive approach in technology and education.The conversation dives into the challenges of implementing equity-centred design and the significance of recognising privilege and bias in the design process. In this conversation, SL discusses the importance of recognising and overcoming biases in education, particularly in the context of equity.The dialogue explores how societal biases shape educational experiences and emphasises the need for an asset-based perspective. SL highlights the significance of understanding the diverse contexts of students, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds, and the importance of co-designing educational experiences with them. The conversation also look into modernising math(s) education, the role of technology, and the need for new assessment methods that go beyond traditional grading systems.Chapters00:00 Introductions01:52 Meet SL Rao: A Design Perspective03:58 Understanding Equity-Centred Design09:45 SL Rao's Journey: From Engineering to Design16:12 The Importance of Community in Design21:41 Challenges in Implementing Equity-Centred Design25:56 Navigating Privilege and Bias in Design30:35 Recognising and Overcoming Biases in Education32:20 Equity in Education: Understanding Context and Data34:46 Navigating Diverse Opinions in Educational Design35:57 Identifying and Prioritising Marginalised Voices39:31 Co-Designing with Students for Better Outcomes43:03 Modernising Math Education: Bridging Theory and Practice49:34 The Role of Technology in Education54:11 Rethinking Assessment and Learning Success56:22 Taking Steps Towards Equity-Centred DesignFind out more about the work SL is involved with at:Modernizing MathOptimistic DesignThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode, we have a collection of the interviews from across Day 2 of BETT 2025. There is an incredible amount of content here from our conversations, including discussions around sustainability, collaboration, mental health & wellbeing, creativity and gamification, as well as hopes for the future of education. And it's double Ben Whitaker at one point - another person with the exact same name who works less than 20 miles from our Ben Whitaker!Chapters00:00 Evo & Zak Hannan - Design4SDGs and ChangeMakerz09:03 Katie Hall - NetSupport15:55 Rick Cowell & Ben Whitaker (the real one!) - ANME20:40 Nicola Pearce - BenQ25:55 Louise Jones - Thinglink31:48 Jonathan Kim Sing - Canva34:57 Bridgette Claery & Laura Dickinson - ClassDojo41:32 Sara Cornish - Minecraft (Microsoft)49:50 Louisa Rose - Beyond1:07:44 Kelly Hannaghan - Mind Work Matters1:23:22 Brian Johnsrud - AdobeThis concludes over 5 hours of content from our time at BETT. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did recording it! Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedIn Check out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touchGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode, we have a collection of the interviews from across Day 1 of BETT 2025, including some of the conversations we had in our tuxedos at BETT Awards! There is a treasure trove of content here from our conversations, including discussions around inclusion, enabling technology, mental health and wellbeing, as well as hopes for the future of education.Chapters00:00 Morgan Weisman, Devan Witter & Alon Sacks - Google28:39 Daniel Sobel, Ben Levy & Joanna Gibbs - Inclusion Discussion46:56 Kalam Neale - British Esports55:09 Andrew Sliwinski - LEGO01:02:20 Professor Rose Luckin - Educate Ventures1:15:56 Melanie Tagg - FutureSource1:26:13 Julia Adamson & Miles Berry - BCS1:34:09 Lyra Leyton - Beyond1:37:43 Jon Neale - Quizizz1:44:58 Victoria Mallinson - OlexAI1:50:22 Jon Jones - RGS WorcesterThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode, Ben and Steve reflect on their experiences at the BETT conference, discussing the importance of community, creativity, and collaboration in education. They also review their guests over the last few weeks, including the episode around Ben's book, exploring the concept of schools as ideas factories rather than exam factories. The conversation emphasises the need for spaces that foster creativity and curiosity, the infinite nature of education, and the significance of building supportive communities for educators and students alike, looking at conversations with Leisa Grace Wilson and Dan Fitzpatrick. They also touch on the challenges faced in the current educational landscape and the potential for positive change. Chapters 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 03:12 Reflections on BETT and New Beginnings 05:55 The Ideas Factory: Insights from Ben's Book 09:00 Community and Collaboration in Education 11:55 The Role of Creativity and Curiosity in Learning 15:00 The Infinite Game of Education 18:00 Building Spaces for Educators and Students 20:48 The Importance of Community in Education 23:51 Final Thoughts and Future Directions Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you. Ben & Steve x Championing those who are making the future of education a reality. Follow us on X Follow us on LinkedIn Check out all about Edufuturists Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touch Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this special episode, you can see and hear the presentation that we did at Canva HQ for our Wolfpack Community event in partnership with Clever the night before BETT. It was an incredible gathering of people from all around the UK and beyond, including Germany, India, Poland, Indonesia and the US! We presented around the Trends as well as casting a net out around the 2024-2025 Trends, which we will launch at Uprising 2025 in Manchester on 26th June. The future of education may be pick and mix! Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you. Ben & Steve x Championing those who are making the future of education a reality. Follow us on X Follow us on LinkedIn Check out all about Edufuturists Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touch Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode of the podcast, we welcome Sophie Pickles, who Ben met out in Dubai at a gathering curated by the awesome, Simon Blower. Sophie is an educational consultant and author and discusses her journey in education, focusing on child-led learning and the importance of play in early years education.  Sophie shares her experiences transitioning from traditional teaching methods to a more child-centred approach, highlighting the challenges faced in the education system, including parental expectations and the need for educational reform. The conversation emphasises the significance of fostering children's wellbeing and autonomy, questioning outdated practices like homework, and the necessity of innovative training for educators. Sophie also discusses her work in parenting education and the growing community of parents seeking alternative educational options for their children. Chapters 00:00 Welcome and Introduction06:30 Child-Led Learning: A New Approach10:51 Challenges in Early Years Education14:55 The Importance of Play in Learning19:54 Questioning the Education System25:20 Parenting and Education: Bridging the Gap31:45 Innovative Training for Educators39:48 Quickfire Questions and Closing Thoughts Follow Sophie on LinkedIn Follow Sophie on Instagram Subscribe to her Parenting YouTube channel Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you. Ben & Steve x Championing those who are making the future of education a reality. Check out all about Edufuturists Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touch Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode of the podcast, Steve does a solo interview with Ben  about his upcoming book, The Ideas Guy: Unleash Your Inner Genius. They explore the origins of Ben's identity as 'The Ideas Guy', the influences that shaped his thinking, and the importance of authenticity in personal and professional development. The discussion also goes into the metaphor of a dinner party to illustrate how Ben curates ideas and insights from various influential figures, emphasising the need for a structured approach to creativity and innovation.  In this conversation, we explore the themes of authenticity, leadership, and personal development. We discuss the importance of shining one's light and being true to oneself, the role of coaching in leadership, and the concept of unleashing one's inner genius. The discussion also touches on the purpose of Ben's book, which aims to help individuals discover and frame their unique ideas and potential. Grab a copy of Ben's book here Chapters 00:00 Introduction02:00 The Birth of the Ideas Guy (not literally!)07:41 Influences and Inspirations12:42 The Dinner Party Metaphor21:25 The Importance of Authenticity26:54 Shining Your Light: Authenticity in Leadership32:14 The Role of Coaching in Leadership39:03 Unleashing Your Inner Genius46:49 The Purpose of the Ideas Guy Book Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you. Ben & Steve x Championing those who are making the future of education a reality. Follow us on X Follow us on LinkedIn Check out all about Edufuturists Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touch Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025

In this episode of the podcast, we engage in a lively conversation with Leisa Grace Wilson, an educator and leader based in Abu Dhabi. We discuss Leisa's journey from the UK to the Middle East, the challenges and opportunities of leading in a culturally diverse environment, and the rapid pace of educational reform in the region. Leisa shares insights on the importance of community for educators, the role of her platform Teach Middle East, and the impact of her podcast. The conversation also touches on the significance of using LinkedIn for professional growth and the courage it takes to pivot in one's career. Find out more about Leisa and her work via the links below: Teach Middle East Magazine Leisa Grace Linkedin The Middle East School Leadership Conference The AI in Education Summit 2025 Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:45 Leisa's Journey to the Middle East 06:29 Cultural Navigation in Leadership 09:18 Rapid Development in Abu Dhabi's Education 12:27 Future-Proofing Education 19:59 Teach Middle East: A Resource for Educators 22:36 Creating Community for Educators 26:11 The Importance of Staff Rooms and Community Spaces 30:02 The Importance of Social Interaction in Education 31:40 Insights from the Teach Middle East Podcast 34:20 The Passion Behind Podcasting 37:26 The Value of Long-Form Conversations 39:49 Understanding Educational Leadership 41:55 Personalised Professional Development in Education 46:20 Creating Meaningful Connections at Events 56:42 Leveraging LinkedIn for Educators 01:00:42 The Courage to Pivot in EducationThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you. Ben & Steve x Championing those who are making the future of education a reality. Follow us on X Follow us on LinkedIn Check out all about Edufuturists Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touch Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025