Education Leaders

This week, I delve into a personal experience where I stumbled quite significantly but managed to find a silver lining in it. It's all about transforming setbacks into stepping stones. We'll explore how to incorporate resilience and forward-thinking when faced with unexpected challenges.I'll share my recent visa mishap, which unexpectedly stranded me in Hong Kong and how I turned this situation into a learning and growth opportunity by connecting with inspiring educators here. This episode is a journey through handling setbacks, with a focus on resilience, practical strategies, and emotional intelligence.Key Quotes"I'm going to be honest – this week I messed up, but this got me thinking: how do we turn our setbacks into stepping stones?"."We're often challenged with setbacks in education... I want to talk about common types of setbacks leaders face and how we can bounce back."."Emotional resilience is vital... Daniel Goleman's work on emotional intelligence focuses on self-awareness and self-regulation as crucial in handling setbacks effectively."."In crisis, first, immediately deal with the issue... then seek support and resources... and finally, adapt and find alternative solutions."Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this international school leadership podcast episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on X, Linkedin and Instagram: @leaningshane. My website is shaneleaning.com.For international school leadership tips, subscribe to my newsletter here.About the hostShane Leaning is a passionate organisational development enthusiast with over 11 years of international teaching and leadership experience. His approach to coaching and professional development is all about approachability and attentiveness to the unique strengths and contexts of schools and educators. Shane believes that empowerment fosters growth and success for both educators and students alike.Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover how Nihad Ćehić, founder and CEO of Vibbl, is transforming the way teachers give feedback in the classroom. In this episode, Nihad introduces us to Vibbl, a digital tool that allows teachers to provide faster and more meaningful feedback to their students. Through Vibbl, teachers can record verbal feedback, snap student work, and send it directly to their students' accounts.Nihad discusses the power of verbal feedback, its impact on student learning, and the role of technology in enhancing feedback practices. Learn about the potential impact of AI in feedback and the importance of maintaining the irreplaceable human connection between teacher and student. And find out how Vibbl supports collaboration and continuous professional development among teachers, and how it provides valuable analytics to track feedback effectiveness.Key Quotes"Verbal feedback adds an additional seven months of learning, whereas written marking adds an additional five months of learning."“When you give verbal feedback, you have the tone of voice within that piece of information and that can make a big difference, I believe, in how a student relates to that feedback."'We’ve built a tool that allows teachers to very quickly record verbal feedback in a no nonsense, quick and easy way that they can then send to their students.”"The biggest challenge is changing behaviours. One of the things that we were mindful of when we built Vibbl is to build it in a way that was similar to the way in which teachers mark in that it's very difficult to change a behavior where someone's been doing something for two decades."Find out more about Nihad and Vibbl at vibbl.co.ukThank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshane. My website is shaneleaning.com.For international school leadership tips, subscribe to my newsletter here.About the hostShane Leaning is a passionate leadership development enthusiast with over 11 years of international teaching and leadership experience. His approach to coaching and professional development is all about approachability and attentiveness to the unique strengths and contexts of schools and educators. Shane believes that empowerment fosters growth and success for both educators and students alike.Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn how to maximize your conference ROI by aligning objectives, engaging post-conference speakers, hosting structured sharing sessions, and implementing post-conference coaching. Get insights on translating conference inspiration into actionable steps for school-wide impact.

I speak with Orlene Badu, a passionate advocate for education equity and the elimination of systemic biases in schools. Orlene shares her personal experiences as a young black girl growing up and how those experiences motivated her to challenge low expectations and create opportunities for other children. She discusses the importance of racial literacy training for staff and the need to understand the perspectives and experiences of the communities international schools serve.Orlene also highlights the significance of creating safe spaces for marginalized members of the community to share their experiences and for staff voices to be heard without fear of negative consequences. We dive into the challenges of addressing biases within the education system, the importance of role modeling anti-racist behavior, and the use of rubrics for self-assessment and reflection. Orlene emphasizes that addressing biases and inequalities requires active effort and collaboration, and provides valuable insights for international school leaders who are committed to creating inclusive and equitable learning environments.Key Quotes"The actively antiracist educator or organization will be actively disrupting those inequalities, actively taking ownership of their own biases, whether that be in the individual or the system”"I think sometimes people think if you say unconscious bias, they seem to think that means that you're giving people you're allowing people to be biased because they were unconscious and they never knew. Rather than really understanding that it's knowing that we all have biases and we can admit them without realizing and we have to challenge ourselves to do better.""But us trying to challenge them on our own is not enough because the system can also have biased outcomes."“There are so many young people for whom if they had had the support that they needed when they needed it, then behavior would never have been a concern.""Your behavior policy is as strong or as it is as strong as the adult who administers it." "I think one of the mistakes that we can make is we can think we know what's needed, we can think as educators or as leaders that we know what's kind of where we need to go in terms of approach, but actually it's really important that we understand what our community feel as well."Resources MentionedHow to Build Your Antiracist ClassroomHackney diverse curriculum resources, adaptable, six weekly units of work that were developed by highly skilled teachers in Hackney for teachers. You can sign up for these resources here.Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshane. My website is shaneleaning.com.For international school leadership tips, subscribe to my newsletter here.Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I discuss the concept of "leadership flexibility" and how strategies that were once effective can become counterproductive if not adapted to changing contexts. I also define the concept of a "lethal mutation" where an effective strategy mutates into something counterproductive.To finish, I provide a 5-step framework for developing leadership flexibility:1. Consistent self-assessment2. Seeking feedback from others3. Being open to change4. Avoiding ego by focusing on student outcomes rather than personal achievements5. Ongoing professional development focused on adaptive leadership skillsResources and books mentioned include:- Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman- Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman- "The Power of Vulnerability" TED talk by Brené Brown- Good to Great by Jim CollinsThank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshane. My website is shaneleaning.com.For international school leadership tips, subscribe to my newsletter here.About the hostShane Leaning is a passionate leadership development enthusiast with over 11 years of international teaching and leadership experience. His approach to coaching and professional development is all about approachability and attentiveness to the unique strengths and contexts of schools and educators. Shane believes that empowerment fosters growth and success for both educators and students alike.Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I chat with Rob Coe, a leading figure in evidence-based education. We delve into the complexities and paradoxes surrounding instructional coaching, a topic that has gained significant attention in educational circles. The conversation explores the tension between research and real-world application, between fidelity and adaptation, the importance of time allocation in professional development, and the need for adaptive expertise among teachers and leaders.Key Quotes“Adaptation is not a bug, it’s a feature.” -Rob Coe"Time is really, really important. Time is a barrier, but I am just incredibly intolerant of that as an excuse." - Rob Coe"If you're a leader of an organisation, your responsibility is to develop strategy... So if there isn't enough time to do something, that's because you've chosen to do other things." - Rob Coe"Professional learning is the most powerful thing you can do to improve students' learning... professional learning is the biggest lever you've got." - Rob Coe"Are we, as leaders, merely reacting to the immediate needs of our institutions, or are we proactively carving out time for what truly matters?" - Shane LeaningResources MentionedEvidence-Based-Education (EBE)Why are we holding out for more professional development time (even though school leaders say they can’t manage it)?Why aren’t we doing ‘instructional coaching’ (even though everyone else seems to be)?Why do we see teacher expertise as needing knowledge, skill and judgement (even though most people seem to focus on just one of these)?Why are we betting on giving teachers more effective feedback (even though no one else is really doing this)?Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshane. My website is shaneleaning.com. Subscribe to my newsletter here.About the hostShane Leaning is a passionate leadership development enthusiast with over 11 years of international teaching and leadership experience. His approach to coaching and professional development is all about approachability and attentiveness to the unique strengths and contexts of schools and educators. Shane believes that empowerment fosters growth and success for both educators and students alike.Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crafting a clear personal mission and vision is crucial for leaders in international schools. The podcast explores the difference between mission and vision, and provides a powerful visualization exercise to connect with your future self. It also emphasizes the importance of taking action on your guiding principles and incorporating them into your daily narrative.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jack George, an innovative educator and leader in the field of education technology. We dive into the fascinating world of School 3.0, where blockchain technology, AI, and character education intersect. Jack shares Aiglon College’s journey towards creating a new system of badging, using Merits and Demerits as a form of currency. We explore the potential of NFTs and blockchain for student data ownership, as well as the importance of resilience in education. From the future of schools to the role of AI in education, this conversation is a thought-provoking exploration of the changing landscape of learning.Episode Outline:- Introduction to Jack George and his role in leading innovation in education technology.- School 3.0: Exploring the use of Merits and Demerits as a form of badging and currency within the school.- The potential of blockchain technology and NFTs for student data ownership and validation of credentials.- The role of character education and the celebration of soft skills in the future of education.- The importance of resilience as an ongoing skill and the use of skills wheels to track soft skill development.- Exploring Aiglon College's forward-thinking approach to reimagining education.- The launch of a new AI project and the potential of artificial general intelligence (AGI) in education.- The need to reimagine education and find the balance between technology and human connection.- Collaboration with other schools and think tanks to roll out the School 3.0 framework.- The responsibility of educators to drive positive change in education.Key Quotes:- "We're looking at how these things intersect and looking for ways to incentivize good behaviour and character traits, and demerits for weakening or negative character traits." [Timestamp: 00:04:25]- "The ultimate aim is that students would own their credentials and achievements for life, beyond school." [Timestamp: 00:14:30]- "AI can augment teachers, make them more efficient, amplify their impact, but it can't teach students how to be good, kind, world-changing humans." [Timestamp: 00:19:05]- "What if we could genuinely prove personhood online and protect our children from bots?" [Timestamp: 00:38:40]- "Education is at a crossroads. We need to reimagine education because when AGI comes, our whole lives will change. All that we think we know will have to be questioned and reevaluated.." [Timestamp: 00:49:15]Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshane. My website is shaneleaning.com. For international school leadership tips, subscribe to my newsletter here.About the hostShane Leaning is a passionate organisational development coach with over 11 years of international teaching and leadership experience. His approach to coaching and professional development is about approachability and attentiveness to the unique strengths and contexts of schools and educators.Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I had the privilege of continuing my conversation with Dan Fitzpatrick, an expert in AI in education. As leaders in education, we understand the importance of staying ahead of the curve and preparing our students for the future. Dan shares valuable insights on how we can embrace innovation, strategically plan for the future, and navigate the disruptive forces of technology, specifically AI.In this episode, Dan emphasizes the need for leaders to take action and not wait for the future to unfold on its own. He introduces the concept of the three boxes, where Box One represents the current education system, and Box Three focuses on future innovations that have the potential to disrupt the current system. While Box One innovation aims to optimize the current system, Dan highlights the importance of nonlinear innovation in Box Three, which involves research, experimentation, and scaling of new ideas. He shares a seven-step strategy for easing into innovation and emphasizes the value of collaboration in the AI era.Throughout the episode, Dan Fitzpatrick provides valuable insights and practical advice for leaders in education. Here are some key quotes from our conversation:1. "Leaders should not wait too long to embrace innovation. It's about finding that balance between optimizing the current system and exploring future innovations."2. "The education system needs to embrace nonlinear innovation in Box Three to stay relevant and prepare students for the future."3. "Collaboration with different sectors is key in the AI era. We must work together to leverage the potential benefits of technology in education."4. "The AI Classroom, my book, offers frameworks, models, and prompts for educators to effectively communicate with AI and integrate it into their lesson planning."5. "Taking action and implementing nonlinear innovation is crucial to prepare students for the ambiguous future they will face."Resources mentioned- "The AI Classroom: The Ultimate Guide to Artificial Intelligence and Education" by Dan Fitzpatrick- AI Educator Facebook group- Aieducator Tools- The three-hour course on using AI technology for teachers on theaeducator.ioThank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshane. My website is shaneleaning.com.For international school leadership tips, subscribe to my newsletter here.Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first of a two-part episode, I explore the landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) in education with Dan Fitzpatrick, an award-winning author and Edtech strategist. As private enterprises' role in schools continues to grow, there is a prediction that it will disrupt the status quo.We delve into the current state of AI in education and the challenges faced by schools in implementing AI. Dan provides valuable insights into understanding the AI revolution and shares practical strategies for leaders.Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how AI is transforming the education landscape.Overview- Introduction of Dan FitzPatrick, an expert on AI in education (00:00:00)- The current stage of AI adoption in schools (00:01:06)- Challenges faced by schools in implementing AI (00:03:16)- The need for schools to filter through AI tools and platforms (00:04:36)- Different positions of schools in relation to AI adoption (00:06:28)- Understanding the varying levels of staff familiarity with AI (00:06:59)- The challenge of delivering AI training and keynotes (00:07:51)- Strategies for school leaders to initiate AI integration (00:08:38)Key Quotes- "We're at a really interesting point in terms of the AI journey for a lot of schools at the moment...a few months into people becoming aware of generative AI." - Dan FitzPatrick (00:01:06)- "A lot of schools are under pressure...so to actually entertain something innovative and new...is just not possible for a lot of schools." - Dan FitzPatrick (00:03:56)- "Schools and teachers have got really good BS filters...they can really filter through what doesn't work and what works." - Dan FitzPatrick (00:05:55)- "You got to try and start at the beginning, but then also give everybody some value in the room, of course." - Dan FitzPatrick (00:07:36)- "School leaders can strategize by thinking about how AI can align with their broader goals and vision for the school." - Shane Leaning (00:09:16)In the next episode of Global Ed Leaders, Dan Fitzpatrick will offer practical strategies for school leaders to effectively navigate the AI revolution and leverage AI tools and platforms for improved educational outcomes.You can learn more about Dan’s work at https://theaieducator.io/Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshane. My website is shaneleaning.com.About the hostShane Leaning is a passionate leadership development enthusiast with over 11 years of international teaching and leadership experience. His approach to coaching and professional development is all about approachability and attentiveness to the unique strengths and contexts of schools and educators. Shane believes that empowerment fosters growth and success for both educators and students alike.Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.