How John Dewey got his first job—and why it matters for the future of learning ecosystems
A school community is a precious and fragile ecosystem. Teachers and leaders must constantly perform a balancing act: build a healthy school-wide climate and culture, while also attempting to cater to each individual students’ academic strengths and needs. These twin values—of community and individual—have been around since the dawn of the Progressive Education Movement itself. […]
Cities as Learning Opportunities
In a world where sustainable growth is the ultimate lever or hack to being in the big lists, cities have begun to recognize the importance of education & learning as one of their top priorities. The value of Human Capital over Financial Capital has never been more evident for cities that want to stand the […]
Reclaiming the Learning City: Mobilizing Every-day and Expansive Learning for Urban Transformation
Cities are at the forefront of humanity’s responses to widespread and disruptive change. Within fifty years they will be home to over 50% of the world’s population. How cities respond to a warming climate, whether they enable transition to low carbon communities or continue to extract and exploit natural resources, how they relate to […]
Planning a City as a Living Lab for Learning
With the rise of developments in old cities and new cities, an emerging trend of maximizing the benefits of such developments at multiple levels includes economic, social, security, safety, and other benefits. Although this might not be a top priority for developers, one key element that should be considered when planning new developments is to […]
A Recipe for Empathy Partnerships
At what stage in an education or learning partnership, should we put people before the partnership? The assertion that all professional partnerships must be devoid of an emotional connection to the other partners limits us in authentically and qualitatively reaching our project goals in sustainable and innovative ways. Much has been written around the importance […]
Rethinking Test-Centric Admissions
In 2020, Asia’s GDP is forecasted to take over the rest of the world, with the emerging markets of China, India, and Southeast Asia driving the majority of the growth. Yet in much of the emerging world, students don’t have enough access to high-quality education domestically. Also, talented candidates from emerging market countries don’t have access to […]
How Might We Reimagine High School Education?
Think back to what you learned in high school. Was it amazing? Did it change your life, transforming your adolescent brain into a powerful multi-tool? Did it give you the independence and strength of character you needed to succeed in college, or whatever else you did? This is not a rhetorical question, but the fact […]
What Happens when Children Engage with Art?
A reflective essay written as part of the WISE Emerging Leaders program. 5 years ago, while facilitating a poetry workshop, I met Supriya Kumari, a 16-year-old student poet who is now an active member of Slam Out Loud’s ‘Bol Poetry Crew.’ Not only was she frugal with her words and cautious of everyone around her, […]
Are Randomized Evaluations the Key to Innovation in Early Childhood Development Lessons from Latin America
Early childhood is a critical period for long-term cognitive and psychosocial development. Developing in a responsive, stimulating, and caring environment is vital for children’s positive development and growth. Conversely, inadequate stimulation, lower opportunities for learning, stunting, anemia, exposure to violence, maternal depression, among others, can stifle children’s development. In Latin America alone, 11 million children under 5 are at […]
High-Stakes Test Preparation in a Time of COVID-19
School suspensions across Africa during COVID-19 disrupted learning for all pupils, but particularly those preparing for school-leaving examinations. School-leaving exams have enormous implications on pupils’ future educational and employment outcomes, including secondary school completion and future income. During national lockdowns, pupils have lacked in-class preparation and access to test-prep materials normally distributed via schools. No matter […]