The Education Innovators Podcast

Kyle Wagner - PBL Meets Montessori

PBL meets Montessori
 
Kyle Wagner is the Inaugural IMS Middle School Director and Founder of Transform Educational Consulting Limited, an organization that empowers forward thinking schools and educators to create more globally, socially and emotionally aware citizens through project-based learning. Kyle fell in love with project-based learning as a teacher at High Tech High (the most prominent PBL school in the world) where he witnessed students publish best- selling books, create their own social enterprises, and even influence policy change in the
community through real- world projects.
 
As the Director of the International Montessori School, Kyle is responsible for Interdisciplinary Curriculum Development and Founding Teaching Team development and training. This is the first Montessori Adolescent Programme in Hong Kong- where they are building a personalised, student-centered programme where students manage their own projects to actively contribute to their local and global communities.
 
He has taken this passion global, helping over 1,000 educators from schools around the world develop their own transformative learning experiences for students. Kyle is also the former co-founder of the innovative micro-school ‘Futures Academy’ at the International School of Beijing, a program that uses interdisciplinary project- based learning to connect students to their passions and the world outside of school.
 
 A published author, his book, "The power of SIMPLE," documents this experience and shares how edu-visionaries can create their own vision for learner-centered spaces through simple, research-based strategies. Kyle holds a M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership with a thesis that focuses on developing democratic classrooms and distributed leadership models. When not writing or teaching, he is performing with his original band, participating in karaoke contests and traveling the world with his partner. He currently resides in Hong Kong where he spends time developing learner-centered schools of the future while helping other school leaders build theirs.
 
The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of education around the world. We look for innovative ideas and practical examples of things happening in schools and learning environments that are of interest to teachers, corporate trainers, school administrators, EdTech providers, students, parents, and anyone else interested in education.
 
Links:
 
Kyle Wagner:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwagssd3/
 
International Montessori School:
https://www.ims.edu.hk/en
 
Twelve shifts:
https://www.gettingsmart.com/2024/05/21/12-shifts-to-move-from-teacher-led-to-student-centered-environments/
 
The Education Innovators Podcast Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551034804742
 
The Education Innovators Podcast YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLru4kYugzLerU1S8mQu2Jo2-jX6H_3kd3
 
The Human Intelligence movement:
https://www.humanintelligencemovement.org/
 
This podcast is produced entirely by Eric Byron.
You can contact Eric at eric@edinnovationpod.com
 

Teachers are Our Superpower

Teachers are Our Superpower
 
This is a short solo episode as Eric looks back on 2 years of doing this podcast and reflects on some of what he has learned. This is a powerful call to action in time of radical change that is both necessary and dangerous. Empowered teachers will make the difference!
 
The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of education around the world. We look for innovative ideas and practical examples of things happening in schools and learning environments that are of interest to teachers, corporate trainers, school administrators, EdTech providers, students, parents, and anyone else interested in education.
 
 
Links:
 
The Education Innovators Podcast Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551034804742
 
The Education Innovators Podcast YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLru4kYugzLerU1S8mQu2Jo2-jX6H_3kd3
 
The Human Intelligence movement:
https://www.humanintelligencemovement.org/
 
This podcast is produced entirely by Eric Byron.
You can contact Eric at eric@edinnovationpod.com

Marsha Enright - Enlightenment Education

Enlightenment education – developing independent thinkers
 
Marsha Familaro Enright is an educational entrepreneur, writer and speaker with a rare blend of scientific training, liberal‑arts expertise and institution‑building experience. She holds a B.A. in Biology from Northwestern University and an M.A. in Psychology from the New School for Social Research. Her broad scholarly interests range from neuropsychology and philosophy to literature and politics.
 
She is the founder and president of the Reason, Individualism, Freedom Institute (RIFI), the organization behind the Great Connections seminars. These week‑long seminars use a Great Books–based methodology to immerse young adults in the full range of influential ideas, drawing on the best of classical liberalism, the Montessori method and Ayn Rand's philosophy.
 
The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of education around the world. We look for innovative ideas and practical examples of things happening in schools and learning environments that are of interest to teachers, corporate trainers, school administrators, EdTech providers, students, parents, and anyone else interested in education.
 
Links:
 
Marsha Enright:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marsha-familaro-enright-8a973b
https://marsha-familaro-enright.com/about-me/
 
Reliance College:
https://reliancecollege.org/
 
The Education Innovators Podcast Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551034804742
 
The Education Innovators Podcast YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLru4kYugzLerU1S8mQu2Jo2-jX6H_3kd3
 
The Human Intelligence movement:
https://www.humanintelligencemovement.org/
 
This podcast is produced entirely by Eric Byron.
You can contact Eric at eric@edinnovationpod.com

Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead
This is a short solo episode where Eric previews 6 of the episodes that will be published in the coming weeks. Season 4 has an amazing line up of diverse educators who are bravely innovating and making a difference.
The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of education around the world. We look for innovative ideas and practical examples of things happening in schools and learning environments that are of interest to teachers, corporate trainers, school administrators, EdTech providers, students, parents, and anyone else interested in education.
 
Links:
 
The Education Innovators Podcast Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551034804742
 
The Education Innovators Podcast YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLru4kYugzLerU1S8mQu2Jo2-jX6H_3kd3
 
The Human Intelligence movement:
https://www.humanintelligencemovement.org/
 
This podcast is produced entirely by Eric Byron.
You can contact Eric at eric@edinnovationpod.com
 
 

Dr Amanda Gummer - Let Them Play

Let Them Play
 
Dr Amanda Gummer is a research psychologist, passionate about children’s play. She is the CEO of the research consultancy Fundamentally Children, home of Dr Gummer’s Good Play Guide. Amanda is also the independent chair of the Association of Play Industries. In addition, she is an NED for Families in Focus CIC and is on the advisory board of a small number of mission-led businesses.
Amanda has a PhD in neuropsychology, the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and over 20 years’ experience working with children and families. Widely considered as the UK’s go to expert on play, parenting and child development, her book ‘Play’ was published in May 2105 and has been translated into different languages with extracts being published in the USA’s Toy Industry Association’s Genius of Play initiative for which she is an expert ambassador.
Amanda has an increasing international profile and was commissioned by the Toy Association to create the STEAM toy accreditation framework, and more recently has created the MESH Toy accreditation program for toys promoting Mental, Emotional and
Social Health. She is also the UK Chapter chair for Women in Toys – an international group supporting women within the toy, entertainment and licensing industries.
Amanda is regularly in the media and continues to take an active role in research, presenting papers at various international conferences. She is often involved in government policy around children’s issues, presenting her Balanced Play Model at the European Parliament in September 2019.
 
The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of education around the world. We look for innovative ideas and practical examples of things happening in schools and learning environments that are of interest to teachers, corporate trainers, school administrators, EdTech providers, students, parents, and anyone else interested in education.
 
Links:
 
Dr Amanda Gummer:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandagummer/
 
FUNdamentally Children:
https://fundamentallychildren.com/
 
“Play: Fun ways to help your child develop in the first five years”
https://www.amazon.com/Play-child-develop-first-years-ebook/dp/B00W2WCCXC
 
The Education Innovators Podcast Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551034804742
 
The Education Innovators Podcast YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLru4kYugzLerU1S8mQu2Jo2-jX6H_3kd3
 
The Human Intelligence movement:
https://www.humanintelligencemovement.org/
 
This podcast is produced entirely by Eric Byron.
You can contact Eric at eric@edinnovationpod.com
 

Shai Reshef - The University of the People

University of the People
 
Shai Reshef is the President of University of the People (UoPeople). Shai has over 25 years of experience in the international education market and has been awarded the 2023 Yidan Prize for Educational Development, referred to as the Nobel Prize for Education and, amongst many other awards, he was selected by The Huffington Post as the Ultimate Game Changer in Education.
 
An expert on the intersection of education and technology, Shai has spoken internationally at conferences, including DLD, TED, World Economic Forum, EG5 Conference, and Google’s Higher Education Summit. He has also lectured at Yale, Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford, among others. Shai holds an M.A. in Chinese Politics from the University of Michigan.
University of the People (UoPeople) is the first non-profit, tuition-free, American, accredited, online university dedicated to opening access to higher education globally.
 
The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of education around the world. We look for innovative ideas and practical examples of things happening in schools and learning environments that are of interest to teachers, corporate trainers, school administrators, EdTech providers, students, parents, and anyone else interested in education.
 
Links:
 
Shai Reshef:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaireshef/
 
The University of the People:
http://www.uopeople.edu/
 
The Education Innovators Podcast Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551034804742
 
The Education Innovators Podcast YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLru4kYugzLerU1S8mQu2Jo2-jX6H_3kd3
 
The Human Intelligence movement:
https://www.humanintelligencemovement.org/
 
This podcast is produced entirely by Eric Byron.
You can contact Eric at eric@edinnovationpod.com
 

Jobs of the Future

Jobs of the Future
 
This is a solo episode from Eric Byron as he rants about the threat of AI replacing humans in the workforce/classroom and makes a case that we are still in control and our greatest weapon is education that advances human intelligence.
 
The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of education around the world. We look for innovative ideas and practical examples of things happening in schools and learning environments that are of interest to teachers, corporate trainers, school administrators, EdTech providers, students, parents, and anyone else interested in education.
 
 
Links:
 
The Education Innovators Podcast Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551034804742
 
The Education Innovators Podcast YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLru4kYugzLerU1S8mQu2Jo2-jX6H_3kd3
 
The Human Intelligence movement:
https://www.humanintelligencemovement.org/
 
This podcast is produced entirely by Eric Byron.
You can contact Eric at eric@edinnovationpod.com
 
 

Lisa Pak - Playing for the Planet

Playing for the Planet – Inspiring Action through Gaming
 
Lisa Pak is the Head of Operations at Playing for the Planet - an initiative facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme - that unites the global video games industry around a bold mission: to reduce its environmental impact and harness the power of games to inspire meaningful environmental action. 
 
With over 3.3 billion people worldwide playing games, this entertainment medium holds a unique power to shift hearts and minds on themes like nature, climate, and the environment. Her work is driven by one clear goal: to meet people where they are - at play and at work - and help turn the industry into a force for good. 
 
She brings over a decade of experience across the gaming and advertising sectors, with expertise in strategic partnerships, monetization, and project management. Lisa is passionate about empowering people and teams to align purpose with play - creating impact through collaboration, innovation, and creativity. 
 
The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of education around the world. We look for innovative ideas and practical examples of things happening in schools and learning environments that are of interest to teachers, corporate trainers, school administrators, EdTech providers, students, parents, and anyone else interested in education.
 
Links:
 
Lisa Pak:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/paklisa/
 
Playing for the Planet:
https://www.playing4theplanet.org/
 
The Education Innovators Podcast Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551034804742
 
The Education Innovators Podcast YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLru4kYugzLerU1S8mQu2Jo2-jX6H_3kd3
 
The Human Intelligence movement:
https://www.humanintelligencemovement.org/
 
This podcast is produced entirely by Eric Byron.
You can contact Eric at eric@edinnovationpod.com

Teaching Game Design

Teaching Game Design
This short solo episode is a follow up to last week’s episode with Jussi Holopainen. Eric shares his thoughts on the impact of teaching game design and the transferable skills that students can gain from the learning experience.
The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of education around the world. We look for innovative ideas and practical examples of things happening in schools and learning environments that are of interest to teachers, corporate trainers, school administrators, EdTech providers, students, parents, and anyone else interested in education.
 
Links:
 
The Education Innovators Podcast Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551034804742
 
The Education Innovators Podcast YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLru4kYugzLerU1S8mQu2Jo2-jX6H_3kd3
 
The Human Intelligence movement:
https://www.humanintelligencemovement.org/
 
This podcast is produced entirely by Eric Byron.
You can contact Eric at eric@edinnovationpod.com
 

Jussi Holopainen - Game Design and Symbolic Thinking

Game Design and Symbolic Thinking
In this episode we explore how playing games is foundation for developing higher order thinking skills and Dr Holopainen shares insights into the many transferable skills that can come from studying game design.
Dr Jussi Holopainen holds a PhD in Digital Game Development from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden. He has been researching game design and gameplay experiences since 1998, having authored or co-authored scores of academic publications and patents. His PhD thesis, Foundations of Gameplay, focused on understanding how to construct conceptual frameworks to aid game design. One of these frameworks is the influential gameplay design patterns approach, which he has developed together with Prof. Staffan Björk. Jussi is a member of the Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA) executive board and has served as a member of several program committees such as Games and Culture, Game Studies, CHI PLAY, and the DiGRA annual conference.
Before joining City University of Hong Kong in 2021, he was a senior lecturer of Games Computing at University of Lincoln, UK, in the School of Computer Science. Before Lincoln he worked at Centre for Game Design Research, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology as an associate researcher. He has also served in senior research management positions at the Nokia Research Center (NRC) and has been involved in coordinating several industry and academia collaboration projects.His latest research has focused on principles of game design, playful design, and aesthetics of gameplay.
The Education Innovators Podcast is a set of conversations between Eric Byron and guests from all aspects of education around the world. We look for innovative ideas and practical examples of things happening in schools and learning environments that are of interest to teachers, corporate trainers, school administrators, EdTech providers, students, parents, and anyone else interested in education.
 
Links:
Jussi Holopainen:
https://www.scm.cityu.edu.hk/people/holopainen-jussi-pekka
 
Centre for Game Design Research:
https://gamedesignresearch.net/
 
The Education Innovators Podcast Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551034804742
 
The Education Innovators Podcast YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLru4kYugzLerU1S8mQu2Jo2-jX6H_3kd3
 
The Human Intelligence movement:
https://www.humanintelligencemovement.org/
 
This podcast is produced entirely by Eric Byron.
You can contact Eric at eric@edinnovationpod.com