Innovations in Education with David Adams

In this episode of Innovations in Education, host David Adams from The Urban Assembly [https://www.urbanassembly.org/] welcomes Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, a renowned education expert and policy advocate and President and CEO of The Learning Institute [https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/]. We explore Linda's key innovations in education, including redesigning schools for more supportive environments, improving teacher education, and addressing inequitable school funding systems. She shares insights from the science of learning and development, emphasizing the importance of creating safe, engaging, and personalized learning environments. We discuss the evolving purpose of public education in light of changing workforce needs and technological advancements like AI. Linda advocates for a shift from selecting and sorting students to developing each student's unique talents and capacities. We dive into the concept of community schools as a model for integrating supports and fostering civic engagement. The conversation concludes with a call to action for policymakers and educators to strive for equitable, high-quality education for all children, not just a select few. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts [https://www.urbanassembly.org/media/innovations-in-education-podcast]. Visit us at UrbanAssembly.org [https://UrbanAssembly.org] for more.

In this episode of Innovations in Education with David Adams [https://www.urbanassembly.org/media/innovations-in-education-podcast], we explore the vital role of civic education in public schools with Rashid Duroseau and Stephen Popper from Democracy Prep [https://democracyprep.org/]. We discuss how their charter network integrates civics into every aspect of learning, from traditional classroom instruction to hands-on community projects. The conversation delves into the challenges of teaching civics in today's political climate and the importance of developing students' sense of efficacy within institutions. We examine Democracy Prep's innovative approaches, including student leadership councils and a new self-development program. Throughout, we reflect on the broader purpose of public education in shaping engaged citizens and the future of American democracy.

David Adams dives into Ohio's innovative education landscape with Shannon Cox and Candice Sears from Montgomery County Educational Service Center [https://www.mcesc.org/]. Shannon shares her journey from aspiring fighter pilot to superintendent and Candice tells her more traditional pathway to a career in education. We explore their groundbreaking initiatives: an integrated SEL curriculum, a preschool for foster care children, and a Future Self Center offering restorative alternatives to expulsion. Cox and Sears discuss Ohio's leadership in STEM, early college, and connections with private industry. They emphasize the importance of AI literacy, with Ohio leading statewide initiatives in a global context. Don't miss this conversation about building students' "future self" competency, helping them envision their future and navigate life's challenges. We also touch on the role of teacher-student trust in driving academic outcomes. Listen in to hear how Ohio's educators are innovating to ensure every child has the skills to thrive in an ever-changing world.

In this episode, host David Adams explores the profound implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for education with Alex Kotran, CEO of AI Education Project. Alex shares his journey from political organizing to the forefront of AI ethics and education. We delve into rapidly evolving AI capabilities, from machine learning to large language models and generative AI. David and Alex examine AI's potential to solve longstanding education challenges like personalized learning, while grappling with philosophical questions about content knowledge, critical thinking, and preserving shared narratives. The conversation touches on balancing individual and collective development, ensuring equitable access to AI tools. There's also an extended surfing the AI wave metaphor and a Lightning Round to add to the fun. Alex expresses cautious optimism, acknowledging AI's potential workforce upheaval and potential for uneven access while highlighting educators' encouraging engagement in shaping this transformation. Ultimately, he emphasizes AI's unprecedented opportunity to expand access to prosperity through intentionality and commitment to equity but it will take work.

This episode explores how the quality of human relationships and interactions, not merely the delivery of content, allows students to thrive academically and socially. Dr. Bridget Hamre, CoFounder and CEO of Teachstone [https://teachstone.com], traces her thinking to early research on teacher-child interactions and the development of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) [https://teachstone.com/class/]. This tool focuses on emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support as key drivers of positive student outcomes. Skills like teacher cue detection, individualization, facilitating dialogue, and nurturing student perspectives create classrooms where students feel safe, engaged, and empowered. Dr. Hamre counters myths that social-emotional development is separate from academics, explaining how emotional support gives students confidence to learn. She discusses challenges translating research into practice but finds inspiration from innovative leaders advancing relationship-centered visions of education. While dedicated to disseminating classroom research through tools like the CLASS, Dr. Hamre wonders if new language is needed around the adult role as technology transforms what students must learn. She argues human interactions will remain essential to guiding students across all domains, even with advances in AI. The quality of relationships, not merely content delivery, allows students to thrive.