The Education Innovators Podcast

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

Google LearnLM

Google LearnLM
 
This short solo episode with Eric Byron takes us through his test drive of Google’s LearnLM platform. See how he navigates learning with this AI-powered learning coach.
 
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:
 
Google LearnLM:
https://cloud.google.com/solutions/learnlm
 
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

The Education Innovators Podcast with Priscilla Cheung - Games-based Financial Literacy Education

Game-Based Financial Literacy Education
 
Priscilla Cheung is currently helping to lead AI and digital innovation at CoCoon Foundation, an NGO that teaches entrepreneurial thinking as a life skill to youths in Hong Kong. She brings a unique blend of experiences to her work - her journey into educational game design began years ago with her Computer Science master's thesis at MIT, where she developed an augmented reality game for high school science students called "Charles River City", a project that sparked her passion for applying innovative technology to real-world problems. After a decade-long career as an equity derivatives trader, Priscilla felt a calling for a more meaningful path, one where she could use her creative and technical skills to make a greater impact.Her latest project is a perfect example of this. As a key designer on the team behind the “Marketplace Money Dash” game, part of an initiative of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Financial Education Program, she helped create an engaging, experiential learning game for primary 4-6 students, teaching financial literacy in a practical, fun way.  Aligned with a 10-lessons long curriculum, the game allows a safe space for students to practice making good decisions, develop the right attitudes, and build financially responsible behaviors, all while learning about budgeting, saving, and resisting external pressures.
 
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:
 
Priscilla Cheung:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/priscilla-cheung-98110210/
 
Hong Kong Jockey Club Financial Education Program:
https://www.hkjcfep.com/
 
Cocoon Foundation Financial Education:
https://foundation.hkcocoon.org/fe.html
 
 
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

Leslie Gruis - Privacy Pirates

Privacy Pirates
 
Born a patriot, Dr. Leslie Gruis spent 30 years as a mathematician and intelligence officer at the National Security Agency, where she helped develop technology solutions that balanced national security with civil rights. She later served at U.S. Cyber Command and the National Intelligence Council. Now retired, she writes and speaks on privacy, surveillance, and democracy—making complex topics accessible for everyday Americans. Dr. Gruis is the author of Privacy: Past, Present, and Future; The Privacy Pirates, and a forthcoming third book. She also mentors K–12 STEM students, with a special focus on middle school girls.
 
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 Leslie Gruis:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-gruis-b8060b141/
https://lngruis.ag-sites.net/index.htm
 
The Privacy Pirates:
https://www.amazon.com/Privacy-Pirates-Being-Stolen-About/dp/168053825X
 
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
 

Season 4 Trailer

Season 4 Trailer
Welcome to Season 4. This is a short episode to grab your interest in the upcoming season with all new guests and incredible stories of innovation in education.
The Education Innovators Podcast is one of the top education podcasts in Asia with a global audience. Eric Byron looks for innovative ideas and practical examples of things happening in schools and learning environments that are of interest to educators, 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

Season 3 Review

Season 3 Review
Eric takes us through a review of the blockbuster guests on the show during this season.
The Education Innovators Podcast is one of the top Education Podcasts in Asia. It 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

DJ Begbie - Experiential Learning - Teaching Empathy

Experiential Learning – Teaching Empathy
 
David (DJ) Begbie is a Director and senior spokesman for the Crossroads Foundation, a humanitarian aid and development organization headquartered in Hong Kong. This agency provides direct assistance to those in need, and an online humanitarian platform
connecting corporates and NGOs globally. They currently operate out of an 8-acre former army base, and impact almost 1 million people, across 50 nations, per year.
 
DJ is also the Director of Crossroads’ experiential programs which have seen over 250,000 participants engage in simulations, including attendees at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. DJ holds a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies and a Master of Arts in Leadership.
 
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:
 
David (DJ) Begbie:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-dj-begbie-248359252/
 
Crossroads Foundation:
https://www.crossroads.org.hk/
 
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

Adrian Ireland - Designing Different

Designing Different
 
Adrian Ireland is an international educator, systems thinker, and author dedicated to reimagining the architecture of learning. With extensive experience teaching and leading across Asia and Europe, Adrian has spent his career challenging the traditional, standardized models of education by championing learner-centered approaches that value individuality, curiosity, and creativity. His entrepreneurial mindset drives him to experiment with bold ideas, test innovative systems, and design frameworks that empower both students and educators to thrive. 
 
He wears a mix of hats that have shaped his perspectives on education: Watching the development and natural learning progressions of his two boys as father. Coaching Volleyball at both high and low levels. Teaching in the classroom in both middle and high school. Leading full school change efforts around interdisciplinary learning and  project-based learning. Redesigning time and scheduling to allow space for change and most recently Coordinating the MYP (Middle Years Program).  
 
Rooted in both practical classroom experience and a deep understanding of educational theory, Adrian believes that the future of learning lies not in small improvements, but in daring to create something fundamentally different. His work blends systems thinking with human-centered design principles, helping schools and organizations shift toward environments that foster authentic engagement and personal growth.
 
In "Designing Different", Adrian shares the lessons, insights, and strategies gathered from years of navigating the complexity of educational reform, inspiring others to move beyond "better" and design the future of learning.
 
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:
 
Adrian Ireland
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-ireland-413191278/
 
Book “Designing Different: A New Architecture for Learning”:
https://designingdifferent.carrd.co/
 
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

Iuri Melo - Creators and Destroyers of Worlds

Creators and Destroyers of Worlds
Iuri Melo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20 years of experience and the proud father of five. He’s the co-founder of SchoolPulse, a nationwide student support service that delivers positivity, optimism, and growth mindset tools to students, parents, and faculty via text and email. After several teen suicides in his community, Iuri co-created SchoolPulse in 2017 to proactively support student well-being. He’s also the author of Mind Over Grey Matter and the teen best-seller Know Thy Selfie, and the developer of “Adventure Based Therapy.” With over 300 schools in 25+ states, Iuri’s mission to “bless the human family” is inspiring students every day through kindness, psychology, and powerful weekly videos.
 
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:
Iuri Melo:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/iuri-melo-1b41482/
 
SchoolPulse:
https://schoolpulse.org/schools/schoolpulse/
 
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

Stefan Bauschard: Thriving in an AI World

Thriving in an AI World
Stefan Bauschard is a course instructor (teaching the Introduction to AI) at Union College. He is also an AI literacy curriculum designer for Study Hall in the UK. He is also an AI Education Policy Consultant, and, as featured in his first appearance on the Education Innovators Podcast, Stefan is a debate coach.
 
He has come back on the show to talk about one of his weekly newsletters that struck a chord with me. Honestly, many of his newsletters strike a chord with me, but his article titled “Shifting AI Readiness Benchmarks from In-School Use to Thriving in an AI World” is particularly insightful, in my humble opinion.
 
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:
 
Stefan Bauschard:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-bauschard-4b87589/
 
Shifting AI Readiness:
https://stefanbauschard.substack.com/p/shifting-ai-readiness-benchmarks
 
Education Disrupted:
https://stefanbauschard.substack.com/p/beyond-policing-text-to-text-a-call
 
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