Learning Unboxed

As always on this podcast, we’re excited to have conversations about innovative opportunities for students, for schools, and in this case, for professionals as well. In this episode, we cover a new program called Mentor Ship.Joining the conversation is Rania Ajami, an award-winning filmmaker and founder of several successful entities and organizations centered around creating modern programming for students. With Rania is Angelica Estevez, an attorney and legal counsel.Mentor Ship is an interactive learning platform that connects children with experts from around the world, bringing together changemakers and thought leaders in the areas of survival skills, climate change, space, artificial intelligence, archeology, health and wellbeing, arts, and more.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:mentor-ship.tvLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rania-ajami-7457452Learning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate Media

We know that the traditional education system doesn’t work for most people, but rarely do people set out to come up with solutions on their own. We talk to Vivian Shen, the founder of Juni Learning, about what subjects give students the most value throughout their lives, how Juni is doing things differently from the traditional school system, and how to prepare kids for the real world.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:junilearning.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vivianmshenLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate Media

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we take another field trip, this time, to the New Albany Intermediate School. Our guide is Pete Barnes, a twenty-five year veteran of education with eighteen of those spent serving young people in New Albany schools. He shares his fresh take on curriculum work involving pollinator gardens, outdoor education, and environmental science – and why it makes such a big difference for kids.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:New Albany Intermediate SchoolLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate Media

Communion is an aspect of education that we rarely discuss, but it can have a tremendous impact on students’ personal outlooks and futures. Christopher Travers is a scholar, minister, writer, speaker, and curator of communion. Anchored in an ethic of love, his work explores the intersection of spirituality, race, and gender among Black men. Joining him is Derrick Tillman-Kelly, who serves as the Chief of Staff to the Dean of The Ohio State University College of Engineering. In this episode, we have a conversation that allows us to think critically, to think deeply, to think about community and what it means to be a part of one.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:communioncollective.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopher-travers-97865236LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/derricktillmankellyLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

Dan McClure draws on over thirty years of experience in order to, in his words “choreograph ambitious, messy change”. Now, he’s turning his attention to the education landscape, with a focus on which pieces are and aren’t relevant to make the whole thing run as efficiently as possible.If you haven’t noticed, a lot has changed since our current education system was built. But, there aren't many ways in which it’s been updated to match the times. It can be very difficult to get people to embrace change, especially when civic funding is at stake, but that’s exactly what Dan’s work is all about.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:ThoughtworksDan McClure on LinkedInLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

Many people shy away from talking about middle school, but it’s an important topic. Middle school is often where we make or break a kid’s future – and there is so much opportunity and potential during middle school to shape them for the rest of their lives.Andrew Ravin and Denise Daniels join us to discuss what Workshop Middle School does differently and how they’re rethinking the structure of the classroom, from starting later in the day to organizing smaller class sizes. Getting things right for kids at this transitional period in life is so important. To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:workshopmiddleschool.orgLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andrewravinLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/denise-daniels-5006a611bLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

Mara Mintzer from Growing Up Boulder gives us the scoop on their youth-friendly city initiative, a program established to include the voices of children in the decisions of local government, focusing on things such as public spaces, transit, and housing. If kids are going to be affected by these decisions, doesn’t it make sense to at least hear what they have to say? Involving children – especially those from underrepresented backgrounds – sheds a whole new light on aspects of city and social planning that would otherwise go unnoticed. It also gives them a glimpse of what it looks like to make a true and tangible impact on the world, with the hope that the experience inspires them both professionally and personally down the line.Growing Up Boulder is now working alongside UNICEF USA to inspire and educate children through unique projects their students are sure to remember for the rest of their lives.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:Growing Up BoulderMara’s TED TalkMara on LinkedInLearning Un

In this episode, I connect with Jeneille Branen and Erin Corwine, the powerhouses behind the Palouse Prairie Charter School in Moscow, Idaho. As a credited EL institute, it’s exemplary in executing the EL Education philosophy (formally known as  Expeditionary Learning). We discuss what makes the Palouse community and curriculum unique, the intentionality behind their rigorous hiring process, integrating natural learning environments, and how they pivoted their practices during the pandemic. To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:Website: palouseprairieschool.orgLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

Sal Gordon, the Head of Teaching and Learning at Green School Bali, is here to explain the mission statement and vision behind the school in Bali which has now grown into a global movement. Sal spent 12 years in formal education and, at the end of his journey, realized that all he’d really learned along the way was how to learn. That’s what inspired him to join Green School; it matched up with his unique view of what teaching can and should be.We also get into how Green School Bali pivoted to keep moving during COVID, the ways that their model of education has helped students already, and its global expansion with other Green Schools in South Africa and Tulum.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:Green SchoolGreen School BaliSal on LinkedInLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

The Conrad Challenge has been inspiring students to collaborate and innovate for years as just one of the programs run by The Conrad Foundation. Its founder and chair, Nancy Conrad, joins us, as well as tech investor and Conrad alum, Ankesh Madan, for a discussion on how the challenge continues to benefit people around the globe.A former teacher, Nancy is now a globally recognized leader in transformative education and a highly sought-after speaker. She established The Conrad Foundation to honor her husband, Pete Conrad, the third man to walk on the moon. Also joining us is Ankesh Madan. Ankesh is a self-described recovering materials engineer who made the transition to tech investor following his involvement in the 2010 Conrad Challenge. Together, they give us a full picture of how The Conrad Challenge is able to innovate, bring people together, and bring the best out of our children.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:The Conrad ChallengeNancy Conrad on LinkedInAnkesh Madan on LinkedInLearning

Kaisa Koistinen is the mastermind behind Finland’s innovative Yrityskylä concept. Me and My City seeks to empower children to learn the world of business and entrepreneurship instead of expecting them to learn it on the fly once they’re older. The idea is simple but profound: children act out different roles within companies and organizations so as to build their understanding of the corporate landscape and how industries fit together. The idea is to prepare them for adulthood in a way that the current education system overlooks. In essence, they put the children in charge.For example, many young adults lack the basic capabilities to manage their own finances. Me and My City arms people with these tools before they reach an age where they need to rely on them.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:Me and My CityKaisa Koistinen on LinkedInLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate Media

It’s fascinating the way archaeology impacts how we think about teaching, learning, and the future of the world.We’re going to be talking about exploring the legacy of race through archaeology as a teaching tool with Matthew Reeves, Director of Archaeology at James Madison's Montpelier in Orange, Virginia.The story of James Madison is a complex and fascinating one, and what they are trying to do at Montpelier is retell that story as accurately as possible. He was a father of the constitution, but he was also a slave owner up until his retirement. We look at the role of archaeology in digging up and telling that story, the value in uncovering the difficult history of the United States, and making sure all voices are heard.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:montpelier.orgLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matthew-reeves-72295836Learning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

As the new academic year gets ready to start, we're going to have a conversation about some of the amazing science programs that are happening in and around our community. Today we’re taking a look at a program at the Ohio State University called WOW (Wonders of Our World), which brings creative, hands-on science experiments to elementary school classrooms grades K through five.Leading that conversation is Jessica Caton Diefenbach, the WOW Program Coordinator for the last five years at the Ohio State University. Joining Jessica are two third-year Ohio State students who have been participating in the WOW Program for a number of years, Brianna Agomessou and Grace Benecke.We talk about teaching forensic science to young students, how to approach them at their level, sparking an interest in science, and setting up the next steps for inspired students.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:wow.osu.eduInstagram: @wowprogramosuFacebook: facebook.com/WOWProgramOSULearning Unboxed is produced in part b

Elementary school students in the United States don’t typically focus much on science, but sparking that interest early can be a great opportunity to create a lifelong pursuit.Jessa Goldner is part of the PAST Foundation’s Student Experience Team. She’s been focusing the past six months on designing an environmental science program geared towards elementary students. She’s been building this program out at KIPP Columbus, a local school with an amazing outdoor space.She dives into the importance of teaching young children about the environment, how she gets them involved and interested in participating in something directly, and incorporating environmental education into every classroom.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:The PAST Foundation - KIPP Summer 2021 ProgramsLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

You’ve likely heard of safe spaces before. The problem is that, when having tough conversations, it may not always be possible to feel completely safe. That’s where the idea of brave spaces comes in – a space where people show up with good intent, but with the knowledge that mistakes will likely be made, and can be corrected as they happen. Creating brave spaces is critically important in what's happening in classrooms, schools, and communities today.Joining us to discuss brave spaces is Dr. Melissa Crum. She’s an artist, an author, a researcher, and the founder of Mosaic Education Network. She leads a consulting company that infuses the arts, research, storytelling, and critical thinking into professional development, community building, and curriculum development. We discuss why brave spaces are important, how coded messages in children’s media can have an impact on their perception of the world, and how to facilitate difficult conversations in the classroom.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResou

What happens when social enterprise meets education and opportunity? A whole lot of good.Nik Kafka is the Chief Executive and Founder of Teach A Man To Fish, a charity he founded after leaving a successful banking career. He discovered an innovative school in Paraguay that was aiming not only to teach the poor how to become rural entrepreneurs, but to do so as a self-financing enterprise. He helped transform the school and turn it into a replicable model which turned into Teach A Man To Fish.We hear all the time about what isn’t working in our education system – and yet there are examples of successful models out there in the world. We need to learn to capture what they are doing right and replicate them as possible in a variety of ways.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:teachamantofish.org.ukschoolenterprisechallenge.orgLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

Apprenticeship is a classic mode of education that we have yet to tap into the full potential of in modern times. But there are organizations out there making the most of apprenticeship, and the benefits it can provide.Joining us to talk about apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and how these are taking place across the world are Rebecca DeMatteis and BJ Knutson of ApprenticeOhio.Rebecca is the program administrator at ApprenticeOhio and the Executive Secretary of The Ohio State Apprenticeship Council. She’s responsible for overseeing all aspects of the registered apprenticeship program for the state of Ohio. BJ Knutson is the Program Delivery Supervisor for ApprenticeOhio, who oversees the daily operations for Apprenticeship. We talk about who apprenticeship is for, and how it can benefit both industries and individuals.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:apprentice.ohio.govLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bjknutsonLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rebecca-dematteis-1606a932Learning Unboxed is produced in par

How can we effectively, as a community, create STEM pipelines for our local businesses and industries? And how can we make sure that effort spreads well beyond the local community?Frederic Bertley is President and CEO of The Center of Science and Industry (or COSI as it’s known colloquially).Our current K-12 system is woefully inadequate at preparing children for the world they are growing into. Without a solid STEM background, we are not going to solve the massive problems of our future. We unbox how we can ensure children are going to get the education they need to set them – and our communities – up for success.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:cosi.orgTwitter: @FredericBertleyLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio

When you think about learning, it’s important to remember that each classroom – or wherever the learning takes place – is made up of a number of individuals with different needs. A one-size-fits-all approach just won’t work. How does that play out when you are overseeing nearly two million students?Paolo DeMaria is Ohio’s Superintendent of Public Instruction. He’s a passionate leader, a tireless worker, and a respectful listener – and he also has a great sense of humor. He uses all of these skills on a regular basis as he supports Ohio’s 3,600 public schools and 1.7 million students.We talk about the bigger picture of how the education machine works, improving the school system to be more proactive than reactive, and creating partnerships based around mutual work towards a common goal.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paolo-demaria-a38b95113Paolo DeMaria, Ohio's Superintendent of Public Instruction | Ohio Department of EducationLearning Unboxed is produced in part

Colin McGinnis is the CEO of South Side Early Learning, a high-quality early learning school founded in 1922. He’s passionate about early education and ending the disparities that prevent young learners from accessing the education they need to develop a solid foundation. He’s also working to end low wages paid to the teachers who influence children’s success through life.When South Side and PAST had the opportunity to come together and rethink what education could look like, we developed a moonshot together of what the future of education could look like from a blank slate.We talk about what the future should look like, how to attract quality talent in early education, and the importance of starting early and continuing that education moving forward.To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.orgResources:southsidelearning.orgLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colinmcginnisLearning Unboxed is produced in part by Crate MediaRecorded by Eric French at WOSU Studios in Columbus, Ohio