Reinventing Education

EP 81 : Differentiation in Mainstream Schools

Transparency, goal setting and opportunity lie at the heart of the mainstream approach to education. Fundamental to success in all of these areas is the notion of differentiation.

The responsibility of a mainstream teacher is to find what works for maximum achievement. Somewhat like a coach creating an athletic training plan.

Mainstream schools use assessment based diagnostics to establish their next steps and aim to provide support for students of all levels and needs. Content, process or product may be differentiated for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in terms of student achievement in relation to curriculum standards. 

As with everything, this concept carries positives ("babies") and drawbacks ("bathwater").

Join us as we navigate this tricky path. And as always, get in touch at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

 

 

 

EP 80 : Life in the Forest. The Role of Choice in School. Brendan & Rob with Malcolm Giles.

This evening Rob, Brendan and Malcolm dig into their classroom practices and consider the role of the teacher in the context of student choice, freedom and agency. Join us! 

Ep 79 Instructional Models in Mainstream Schools

A lesson is a lesson is a lesson right? Well in a mainstream school what happens in those 45 (or 30, or 60) minutes can look very different from a traditional or a progressive lesson.

In a mainstream "3 Part Lesson" we may find differentiated instruction, transparent objectives, diagnostic assessments, and even the odd spot of "edutainment" (for better or worse). 

Join us as we discuss the "babies & bathwaters" of the mainstream school's approach to instruction!

 

 

EP 78 Effective Classroom Layouts In Mainstream Schools

Maximizing the impact of the learning space on student achievement is what highly effective Mainstream teachers do. In this episode, we analyze how this is done via seating arrangements, use of walls & anchor charts, maker spaces and utilizing (and fundraising for) furniture. 

EP77 Reinventing Education 101 Spiral Dynamics Integral Live Presentation

What's the most useful framework for engaging with school development?

Rob Macleod attempted to lay out the basic framework of the Reinventing Education Podcast earlier this year during his online presentation with Spiral Dynamics Integral Live. Check out their Facebook & Youtube pages for engaging & potent content on a wide variety of topics from education to LGBTQ equality in the workplace to self-organizing transit. 

EP 76 : Connecting Communities with Mihai Banelescu

Tonight we are joined by educator and community connector Mihai Banelescu, of the One Room, One World Schoolhouse project. We discuss how to connect people with developmentally minded yet diverse perspectives to build the schools of the future. Join us!

EP 75 : Classroom Ethos in Mainstream Schools

The ethos or spirit of a mainstream classroom has wide-ranging implications on every aspect of a child's life.

At its best, the mainstream school sees the class as a group of high achieving individuals supporting each other as a team. It's a place that is fair and acknowledges that fair looks different for each of us. There is an emphasis on personal motivation and trust is gained through transparency.

However, an over-emphasis on competitiveness might erode those social connections leading to isolation and a loss of a sense of community.

Today we look into the "babies and bathwaters" of classroom ethos in a mainstream school. Join us and let's keep the conversation going!

EP74: Armin Sieber - Future Perfect - 10 Years From Now Looking Back

Armin Sieber, from the Integrale Tagesschule Winterthur in Switzerland, discussed his Future Perfect document, in which he writes from 10 years in the future looking back at what has changed in society and schools. In education, we often look at what can change within the walls of our schools, in this chat we discuss what could change in the world around us too. You can view the document here.

EP 73 : Mainstream School's Philosophies on Teaching & Learning

Embedded deep in every thing that happen in the classroom is the notion of what teaching and learning should be. In a mainstream school, driven by values of achievement and opportunity, what does this look like?

We may see differentiation, transparency, accountability and collaboration emerge as central. The complexity of study may move up the taxonomy from remembering, through understanding and into analysis or application.

But it is all for the best? What do we gain and what do we lose as we move into a world than may see us boiled down into data points or thrust into a winner takes all competition? 

Join us as we dig into the "babies and bathwater" of the mode of thought and beliefs that underpin mainstream teaching and learning.

 

Get in touch!     reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

EP 72: Effective & Efficient Student Learning During Assemblies In Mainstream Schools

Traditional, mainstream and progressive schools all approach school assemblies differently. In this episode, we explore how mainstream schools are efficient, effective, motivating, merit-based and a chance for the community to work on curriculum objectives together. For fun, we also discuss the chaotic end of the school year tradition of the “abi-gag” in Germany.

Speaking of chaos, we ramble at the beginning of this episode, and if you have any interest in following up on the wide variety of inside topics we mention, here are some introductory links. 

Frank Sidebottom - unique northern England entertainer 

Chris Sievey - underappreciated pop musician who created a 45 single that had its own computer loaded video on the bside. 

Uncle Bob Pollard - the lead singer of the band Guided By Voices and general prolific song writer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqecxYBKtOY

Kayfabe - a pro wrestling term that has now worked its way into mainstream political commentary. 

Tragically Hip - a band who were successful in Canada, but failed to make a splash internationally. Kind of like REM but with a lot of added Canadiana: 

Kincardine - Rob’s hometown. 

Bruce County - the county that Rob originates from. Some HD footage 

Lucy Calkins Readers & Writers Workshop - A model that Brendan and I have used in our teaching.  

Stewart Lee’s Clowns Documentary. 

Maudecast- Brendan’s other podcast about Maude Flanders of (semi) Simpsons fame.