New View EDU

Episode 20: The Future of Schools as Desirable Workplaces We often focus on the student experience in our schools, which is a critical issue needing constant attention. But our school communities also include adults—the faculty and staff who work to make the student experience worthwhile. With the post-pandemic workforce shifting dramatically in all sectors, what can school leaders learn about tra...

Episode 19: The Role of Failure and Risk in Designing Deeper Learning We’re all familiar with the stories of people who became wildly successful after failing dozens of times to reach their goals. But what if those “inspirational” failure stories are the wrong ones to share? What if we’re defining success and failure the wrong way to begin with? And how do our own expectations of how things “shoul...

Episode 18: Applying Neuroscience to Designing Inclusive Schools Schools are workplaces – not only for students, but for the faculty and staff who provide the learning environment in a school community. Are we truly designing our schools to be great workplaces for everyone? What does research about neuroscience and the human experience teach us about the qualities of truly productive, inclusive, d...

Episode 17: The Opportunities and Obligations of Citizenship in K-12 Education What if each of us believed we had the power to make change happen in civic life—and felt we had the responsibility to try? That’s the premise behind Eric Liu’s Citizen University, and the starting point for this New View EDU discussion on power literacy, changemaking, and civic agency in schools. How did the study of “...

Episode 16: Challenging Success to Design Schools for Well-Being What’s the difference between educating students for the future, and simply “doing school?” Are we designing school communities that foster the development of better adults, or are we clinging to old ideas about content and rigor that no longer serve us well? And what role do parental expectations, higher ed, and societal pressure pl...

Episode 15: Inspiring Wonder and Community in Schools After the many challenges of the past two years, how healthy are our school communities? How attuned are we to the lessons we can learn from the people and influences around us? How can we approach learning with gentleness, curiosity, care, and a sense of wonder? And what do mushrooms have to do with any of it? Guest: Michelle King Resources an...

Episode 14: Mapping the Future Purpose of Education Independent schools are inherently mission-driven. What would happen if we focused on becoming purpose-driven instead? How would we define our purpose, and how could we allow our schools and our communities to be changed through purpose-driven leadership? What challenges could we meet, and how would our schools be positioned to positively impact...

Episode 13: Giving Away Power for More Authentic Leadership We’re used to working and teaching in hierarchical structures, where power flows from the top down. But what would happen if, instead of maintaining power at the top, leaders gave power away to others? How could sharing power change the way we work, the way we relate to others, and the way we approach problem-solving? And what would schoo...

Episode 12: Applied Imagination and the Possibilities of School We know what it means to teach history. But what does it mean to teach the future? Ruth Wylie applies imagination and critical thinking to big questions about science, technology, artificial intelligence, and what it means to shape the futures we want to see. Guest: Ruth Wylie Resources and Expanded Show Notes Full Transcript In This...

Episode 11: The Importance of Play in Schools Societies depend on our ability to “play well together.” That concept is at the heart of Jill Vialet’s revolutionary work. But at a time when there are so many perceived threats to our well-being from external forces, how can we convince leaders of the importance of play? And what unique value does play bring to our schools and communities? Guest: Jill...

January 2022 Bonus Episode: Designing Backward to Move Forward What is the goal of modern education, and are we designing our schools and practices properly to help us meet that goal? That’s the central question of this episode with Jay McTighe, who provides a detailed road map to help educators navigate the answers. What should a school’s mission statement actually include? What is the most produ...

We are excited to share an episode from our sister NAIS podcast, Member Voices , which features stories from the independent school community. This episode shares the story of Logan Bowlds, Head of School at Stratford Academy, who talks about what it was like to be appointed head of school at age 29, how he got to this point in his career so quickly, and how he finds balance with two young kids at...

After a season of conversations about education, leadership, and the future, we’re pausing to reflect. What changes do we need to make to our systems and practices to best support students in navigating a future shaped by the events of 2020? Teaching and learning through a pandemic and a period of historic social and political change has exposed cracks in our system—but also surprising strengths....

Are we being good ancestors? This thought-provoking question strikes at the heart of what it means to design for the future. What can school leaders do right now, in the present, to ensure that long-term thinking is a pervasive, prominent practice in our schools? How can we overcome the daily short-term pressures of educational settings to take a future-focused approach to teaching, learning, plan...

How do we support our young people in becoming independent, thriving, adaptable, confident learners? How do we encourage them to develop a sense of their own agency and shape their lives, rather than having their lives dictated to them? And what is the role of schools in creating capable, responsible adults -- not just high-stat students who achieve academically but struggle to “adult” beyond the...

The way we understand equity in our schools is constantly evolving. Students and staff in our communities reflect a broader and richer spectrum of identity, heritage, and self-discovery at this moment than at any other moment in American history. Yet educational practice is still catching up, and the students most likely to be heavily impacted by trauma, such as the spectrum of recent events, are...

Complexity deserves an improvised response. In the wake of more than a year of uncertainty, our impulses may be to more tightly control and script the experience of school. But what opportunities might reveal themselves if we instead learn to let go and apply the principles of improvisation to leading our communities? With greater flexibility and a spirit of possibility, can we use this moment to...

Are we creating school environments that allow us to see the “assumed awesomeness” in everyone? Now, more than ever before, school leadership is about modeling hope, resilience, and a sense of possibility, so we can support our communities in developing their collective superpowers. School leadership has never been easy, but at this moment in particular, there are new challenges and opportunities...

What does it mean to be a citizen of this world, of our community, and of our future? What does “citizen” mean, anyway? And what is the role of schools in growing citizens—or what should it be? The current reality facing schools is one of rapidly changing social and political conditions that affect educators, students, and communities as a whole. Whether it’s a question of how personal choices imp...

It’s easy to say “have a good day at school!” But are we actually designing the environments that will support our students and staff in having good days? In a world that’s only becoming more complex, simple concepts like having a good day can almost feel too rudimentary to think about. School leaders have plenty to do without worrying about who’s having a good day, and who’s not. But having a goo...

2020 made us think about school safety in a completely different way from before. As we move forward, how can we redefine what we mean by “safety,” and imagine new ways to create school environments, conditions, and cultures of true safety and well-being?   It’s not just physical safety measures, like masks and social distancing, that mark the pandemic as a turning point for school safet...

Imagine that we have been given the opportunity to completely redesign the concept of school. Where would we go?   During the COVID19 pandemic, educators have been forced to reimagine almost every aspect of school, changing our ideas about what’s truly essential. As we rest, recover and reflect on the past year, we can also refine our vision for the future. NAIS President Donna Orem and...

A new podcast from the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) by Tim Fish and Lisa Kay Solomon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.