The Student-Centered Shift: Empowered International Schools and Classrooms Through Project-Based Learning

Does Project-Based Learning Feel Overwhelming? AI Might Be the Key to Making It Work. For busy educators like us, it's been a struggle to effectively implement project-based learning (PBL) while balancing standards, time constraints, and assessment requirements. There simply aren't enough hours in the day. But what if AI could eliminate these barriers and make PBL more accessible than ever? In this episode, I sat down with Phil Alcock and Thom Markham, two leading innovators who are bridging the gap between AI and student-centered classrooms. They share how AI tools are reshaping the PBL design process, freeing us to focus on what truly matters—guiding and supporting students in meaningful, inquiry-driven work. We learn: 🔹 Why AI isn’t replacing project-based learning—it’s making it easier to implement 🔹 How AI-powered tools help teachers align projects with curriculum standards in seconds 🔹 Why digital portfolios are shifting the focus from grades to real learning evidence 🔹 How co-designing with students (and AI) leads to deeper engagement and creativity Learn how to win back your time and unleash learner engagement... Connect with Thom: Email: thom@PBLFutureLabs.com, LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/thom-markham-ph-d-5292213/)  Website (https://thommarkham.substack.com/).  Connect with Phil: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipalcock/),  Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard to identify areas for growth: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard  Phil's Bio: Phillip Alcock is a global innovator in AI in education, known for his pioneering work connecting project-based learning (PBL) with artificial intelligence. In collaboration with PBL expert Thom Markham, Phillip founded PBL Future Labs to bridge the gap between project-based learning and artificial intelligence through specialized coaching programs. Based in Acapulco, Mexico, Phillip works on various projects, from edtech to writing AI-enhanced STEM curriculum for thousands of students annually, creating no-code AI platforms, and delivering workshops and keynote speeches for Beaconhouse. Thom's Bio: Thom Markham is a psychologist, author, speaker, educator, co-founder of PBL Future Labs and President of PBL Global, an educational organization focused on innovation and transformation through promoting inquiry-based learning, Thom offers a set of unique services that helps schools and districts envision, design, and implement a successful, sustainable plan for educating 21st century young people. 

🎙️ What if your students didn’t just study academic standards—but took ownership of teaching them to peers? Too often, students see academic standards as something to memorize and repeat. But what if they engaged with them in a way that deepened understanding and made learning more meaningful? In this episode, we talk with Mara Simmons, Phd., an international educator, school founder and learning designer who has reimagined how students learn by shifting control of academic content to them. She shares how structured peer-to-peer teaching leads to deeper understanding, stronger collaboration, and more student ownership of learning—all while staying aligned with curriculum goals. 🔹 How to turn academic standards into student-led learning experiences and student- initiated projects 🔹 Why peer teaching strengthens comprehension, confidence, and engagement 🔹 The role of the teacher as a facilitator who empowers students—while freeing up time to focus on deeper learning 🔹 How to start small—without losing structure or overwhelming students 🎧 Curious about how this shift can work in your classroom? Let’s explore what happens when students become the experts. Connect w/ Mara: LinkedIn, Instagram (@maras9876) Mara's Blog: https://teachinghacks4all.com  Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard  Learn more about the 'Student-Centered Classrooms' Mastery Cohort: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsmasterclass  Mara's Bio:  Mara has 25+ years of experience teaching and learning. Her career has been centered in schools that serve underprivileged communities and served as a teacher/ founder/ leader and director of several secondary schools in Los Angeles. In her teaching experience she lead project based learning programs aligned to the Big Picture Schools design and trained teachers in PBL strategies. She spent five years in the UK leading and reinvigorating a Post 16 secondary teacher training program which taught her a lot about the secondary sector. Currently in partnership with CTL Academy she is transforming secondary education and growing CTL Academy Global- an accredited project based, UN sustainable goals aligned program to build Global citizens, passionate scholars, servant leaders and agents of positive change in their communities.  

🎙️ Is “letting go” the secret to student empowerment? For years, teachers have been told that structure, control, and direct instruction drive student success. But what if the opposite were true? In this episode, we sit down with Dan Jones, a veteran educator, 2x author, and student-centered champion who nearly left the classroom—until he discovered the power of flipping the script. He shares how shifting from teacher-led to student-initiated projects transformed engagement, reduced discipline issues, and reignited his passion for teaching. We learn how to create structures that support student-driven inquiry, shift the teacher’s role, and make learning more meaningful. We also unlock how: 🔹 Students create better projects when they are designed with them—not for them 🔹 Daily micro-conversations make grading simpler and more meaningful 🔹 Passions—not real-world problems—lead to the most impactful learning 🔹 Assessment isn’t about grading—it’s about guiding student growth Hear about these shifts in practice and how to apply them in your setting starting tomorrow.     Get in Touch with Dan: Twitter/X @ideasforteacher, Instagram @ideasforteachers, LinkedIN, Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@flippedpbl), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/modernpbl)  Article on intersection of AI and PBL: 'Revolutionizing Learning' Learn more about the 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Classrooms Course: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsmasterclass  Take the 12 shifts scorecard: transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard Dan's Bio: Dan Jones has been teaching for 20 years and currently teaches 7th and 8th-grade social studies at The Richland School of Academic Arts. He holds a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on digital teaching and learning from the American College of Education. His diverse teaching experience spans private, public, and inner-city charter schools. Jones trains educators in implementing Project-Based Learning and integrating AI into the classroom. His innovative teaching has been showcased on Cleveland’s ABC and NBC news affiliates. He has led students in pioneering distance learning collaborations with institutions like The National Archives, The U.S. Capitol, The White House Historical Association, and Mount Vernon. A founding member of the International Faculty for Flipped Learning, Jones also served as an editor for FLR Magazine and has authored Flipped 3.0 Project-Based Learning and Modern PBL: Project-Based Learning in the Digital Age. He continues to explore the intersection of education and technology as the host of The AI Cafe podcast.

Is your classroom setup holding your international learners back? Traditional, teacher-centered layouts often stifle the creativity, collaboration, and cultural inclusivity needed for students to thrive—especially in our international schools. Outdated setups can act as barriers, preventing meaningful learning and student engagement. In this episode, I’ll share five simple shifts to redesign your learning spaces into vibrant, student-centered environments. Learn: 1️⃣ How to ditch the teacher desk, and empower every learner to conribute. 2️⃣ Why a progress wall can skyrocket motivation 3️⃣ The easiest way to showcase student work and build classroom pride Let’s move from outdated spaces to thriving learning communities. Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard and start creating an environment where all students feel engaged and empowered!

What do you think of when you hear the term 'learner agency?' You might envisage students having some "voice" and "choice" around what they learn, or where they sit in class.  And while that's a nice start, learner agency is more than allowing students some choice in what they learn. It's about involving them in every step of the journey. Imagine a school with... 🙌🏼 Student- run electives. 🙌🏼 Seventy + student led businesses to carry out the school's day to day operations. 🙌🏼 Timetables that are created and carried out by a student design team. 🙌🏼 A school board that includes young learners. 🙌🏼 100+ Individualised Learning Plans that students co-design. That's Templestowe College, or more affectionately known as "Take Control" College in Australia. It's one of Hundred.org's top 100 most innovative schools in the world. And Peter Hutton was the mastermind at its helm.  I was lucky enough to sit down with Peter to learn more about how he built this kind of learner agency; and how we as learner-centered champions can heed the lessons to build more student agency in our classrooms and schools. Connect with Peter: LinkedIn, Twitter Join Future Schools: https://futureschools.education/ Take the 12 Shifts for Learner-Centered Classrooms Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsmastermind Buy the 12 Shifts Book for 20% off: 'Where is the Teacher: 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments.'  Join the 12 Shifts Certificate Program: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsmasterclass  Peter's Bio: Peter is a maverick, a free radical, a challenger of the status quo. His strength is in transformational insight and supporting educational leaders to build innovative and adaptive cultures. As a person with dyslexia, Peter sees the world differently. Co-founding the Future Schools Alliance in 2018, Peter now works with a community of 100 member schools to significantly improve the lives of young people by transforming the education system to promote purpose-filled empowered learning and equip them for times of exponential change. Peter was the former Principal of Templestowe College which has been recognised by Finland’s HundrED organisationas one of the most innovative schools in the world.

Do you still set New Year’s Resolutions? I used to—until I realized I broke nearly all of them by February. And I’m not alone. Research shows that 88% of people abandon their resolutions within the first two weeks! But there’s a far more powerful, research-backed method for casting your vision for Student-Centered Learning in 2025. This method has already helped me and over 2,000 educators achieve radical transformations in their classrooms. In this short bonus episode, I’ll share this simple, proven method and show you how to use it to create more self-directed, empowered learners in the 2025 school year. Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard to target areas for growth: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard  Get the 12 Shifts Book (20% off for the holidays): Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Teacher-Shifts-Student-Centered-Environments/dp/1032484713  Routledge: https://www.routledge.com/Where-Is-the-Teacher-The-12-Shifts-for-Student-Centered-Environments/Wagner/p/book/9781032484716  Join the 12 Shifts Training Certificate Course: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsmasterclass  

"Feeling Overwhelmed by Running Your First Project with Learners?" 🎙️ You aren't alone.  Moving from a teacher-centered to student-led environment takes a lot of courage. Bu what if all it required was a few simple shifts in what you already do?  In this episode, three student-centered elementary teachers share the shifts, stories, strategies, and lessons learned from running their first student-centered projects.  Learn how to overcome the three most common challenges:  Keeping projects manageable Engaging and empowering all learners Balancing structure and curricular demands with student voice. ..with a few simple tweaks in how you design learning. If you're new to project-based learning, this episode will give you actionable tips and the confidence to get started right away. The 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftscorecard  Get the 12 Shifts Book: www.transformschool.com  Learn more about the 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments Certificate Course: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsmasterclass 

How do you develop a student-centered secondary classroom with a packed curriculum, strict assessment guidelines, and an exam based culture?  This is the dilemma Gisou Ravanbaksh faced when wanting to provide more agency to her students in her DP Psychology class.  But through a few simple shifts in the learning process and audience for student work, her classroom came alive with students researching, developing, and exhibiting an authentic 'brain museum' they co-created from start to finish. Learn more about the shifts she implemented and how you can unleash student agency in yours as well.  Learn more and connect with Gisou: LinkedIN Get the 12 Shifts Book: https://transformschool.com/whereistheteacher  Take the Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard   Join a 12 Shifts Cohort in January: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsmasterclass  Gisou's Bio:  Gisou is a student-centered international educator and educational leader with 20 years of experience in both adolescent and adult learning. She has xpertise in designing and delivering customized professional development workshops on student wellbeing, cross-cultural understanding, diversity and inclusion, character development, curriculum design, leadership training, and other areas of targeted need.

What happens to the classroom environment when you give students a real problem to address? That's what Dave Strudwick, former Teacher/Principal of Real School Budapest was wondering when he asked year 5 students to fuse literacy, multimedia, and fashion to "create a better world."  His classroom transformed from a teacher-centered space to a real world design studio, with students taking on roles as sustainble fashion designers, and magazine publishers.  Learn more about his transformation story and how through a few simple shifts, you can experience the same transformation in your classroom as well.  Connect with Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-strudwick-a6152128/  Get the 12 Shifts Book: www.transformschool.com/whereistheteacher  Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard to Identify Target Areas of Growth: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard  Learn more about the 12 Shifts Master Class starting in January: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsmasterclass  Dave's Bio:  Dave is a creative leader who has founded three schools and lead others. He has worked in a wide range of contexts including schools, museums, with tech companies, start ups, and with excluded children. His focus is on the development of rounded young people who have great knowledge, habits of success, creative know how and way finding abilities. He loves writing, facilitating workshops and keynote speaking that looks to design and develop curriculum, pedagogy, community and culture. His approach improves outcomes through the development of people, student ownership, digital processes and creating a high quality learning environment.

What learning opportunities exist beyond our classroom doors?  That's the question that led school founder and student-centered educator Dr. Jane Shore on a community mapping expedition with her high school students in Philadelphia.  Through a simple 5-step process, they uncovered community stories, built strategic connections, and forged long term learning partnerships that would give learning in the classroom new purpose and meaning.  This 'ecosystem map' became their North Star. Hear Jane's story and discover how to more meaningfully connect your classroom to the community as well.  Connect with Jane: jane@schoolsofthought.org Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard to target araeas of growth: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard Get the 12 Shifts Book: www.transformschool.com/whereistheteacher Learn more about the 12 Shifts Cohorts starting in January: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsmasterclass