Reinventing Education

In this episode, Rob & Brendan unpack the revolutionary approaches of Ubiquity University in an interview with its trailblazing leader, Peter Merry. Ubiquity, a global educational institution, reaches learners worldwide with diverse courses rooted in regenerative and holistic principles. Peter, Co-founding Chief Innovation Officer, guides us through the vision, strategic partnerships, and the...

How can a counselor-centered school strike the delicate balance between developing the individual and the community? Join us in this episode as we explore the intricacies of fostering an egalitarian, participatory, and supportive system while navigating challenges like the tragedy of the commons and toxic decision making. Discover real-world examples and practical strategies for cultivating a coll...

There are 3 types of school: expert, coach and counsellor.  The counsellor approach, more than the other 2, makes students the center of their learning and also authentic participation in the school. In this episode we compare and contrast the views of all 3 types regarding what childhood means for students now and later in life.  To find out which type of school you are in now, take our free 2 mi...

In this episode, we explore the power structure of the counsellor-centered school.  In this approach to school organization, every member of the learning community from the principal, to staff, to students and parents has an equal voice in all matters that concern the school. Gone is the hierarchy and roles of previous approaches to school.  To find out if your school is more expert, coach or coun...

In this episode, we embark on a new season dedicated to exploring the innovative Counselor Model of school. Over these episodes, we'll delve deep into the transformative ideas and practices that are reshaping the landscape of education. We inquire into how the Counselor Model addresses the diverse needs of students, fosters holistic well-being, and promotes an inclusive and empowering educational...

For a while now, one of our ideas has been to take the ideas from the podcast and distil them into a book that could be used for school leadership and other interested parties to gain a deeper understanding of the three types of schools that we focus on in our podcast and the ways that they can inform school-wide development.  Rob has recently begun that process and so we took the opportunity to d...

Join Brendan and Rob as they discuss how the progressive counsellor-centred approach to school solves many of the drawbacks of the mainstream coach approach. This includes looking at how a system that emphasises standardised tests and statistics over well-being and personal development can lead to frustration and a hunt for new ways. And, as always, we hope you find this discussion interesting and...

Today, we're lucky to interview Chris Balme, the head of a project-based school in Hakuba, Japan, and author of "Finding the Magic in Middle School." In the interview, we discuss strategies for increasing student autonomy and democratic decision-making principles, as well as the need for adults in the learning community to shift from being instructors to facilitators. We also explore the importanc...

In today's episode, we have a special guest, Miriam Remy, of the FREI DAY project. Miriam's work with the FREI DAY project aligns perfectly with the big ideas of reinventing education. The FREI DAY learning format empowers students to take charge of their learning, become active participants in their communities, and develop the essential skills needed for the future.  Through our conversation wit...

Back in 1971, Ivan Illich wrote the groundbreaking book "Deschooling Society."  Illich didn't hold back in criticizing the traditional and mainstream approaches to education that we've all become familiar with. He also presented a clear and progressive vision for the future, which still holds weight even after five decades. Join us for part 2 of our book review, where we dive into Illich's ideas f...

Nicole Bordelais & Jörg Heinrichs are school leaders at Internationale Deutsche Schule in Brussels Belgium the school where Reinventing Education co-host Rob Macleod has taught for the last 5 years.   We have worked closely with Nicole and Jorg over the last few years using the 3 Types Of School model to guide school development. We wanted the opportunity to reflect on the work we have done togeth...

Welcome to Episode 101 of our podcast! Over the past 100 episodes, we've been discussing the three types of school relationships: Expert, Coach, and Counselor. Today, we're excited to introduce a tool that we've built that can help you analyze your school's relationship type and determine the next steps to take. The link here will take you to the tool (form). Our tool considers various factors, in...

In our 100th episode, we summarize our first 99 episodes for you & update some of our terminology.  In this episode we provide you with tools to serve your school's development: -discern differences between the 3 types of school (expert, coach & counselor) -uncover which you gravitate toward, which your school is now & which is the best fit for its context -explore the 8 aspects of your school tha...

In 1971 Ivan Illich wrote Deschooling Society, a text which was far ahead of its time.  Illich laid out a thorough critique of what we've called traditional and mainstream approaches to education. He also articulated a concrete progressive vision for moving forward. 50 years later his critique still holds weight.  In part 1 of our book review, we highlight the main components of his critique again...

In this episode, we identify how progressive education differs from traditional and mainstream approaches by defining the following aspects: -sociocratic systems of organization -adaptive physical and digital environments -transdisciplinary practices -sustainable & natural resources -inclusive communities & cultures -beliefs and reactions towards meaning

"School Circles is an independent documentary that explores the practice of democratic schools in the Netherlands. The film shows students, teachers and staff members coming together to dialogue, discuss proposals, mediate conflicts and make decisions about their school life. These schools not only challenge the mainstream education, but also democracy as we know it. They put into practice Sociocr...

Why do mainstream, curriculum-centered schools tend to engage with the community surrounding their school less than traditional or progressive schools? In this episode we focus on: -how parent's roles in schools have changed from passionate volunteers to qualified professionals -utilizing local businesses for job preparation -field trips as an extension or chance to apply learning  -creating commu...

We do our best to distill down the essence of the differences between traditional, mainstream, and progressive education. The process to get there can be messy.  Brendan and Rob working on a 2-week cycle to produce episodes.  Week 1 - brainstorm, sort & organize ideas Week 2 - record a condensed and hopefully concise episode For something different, we're giving you a chance to be a fly on the wal...

What kinds of events do mainstream schools host & more importantly why? We look at how the following events either serve the curriculum, help celebrate merit, or wow us with something unique: -parent information evenings -celebrations of learning -holiday celebrations -social gatherings and talent shows 

How can parents best contribute to student learning and the functioning of the school and community?  Well, the answer seems to be, to get out of the way in a mainstream school.  In this episode, we look at how the role of a parent in a school has moved away from the passionate volunteer in the school to an informed coach at home. We examine the pros and cons of this new approach. 

How do mainstream schools, that place importance on student success in relation to a curriculum, communicate effectively with parents? We analyze best practices with: - parent-teacher conferences - ongoing weekly or monthly communication - admissions & selling a school to parents

We cover the pros and cons of: -play-based learning -differentiation and addressing developmental stages -social-emotional learning strategies -conflict resolutions -assessment and developmental benchmarks

Breaktime can be an opportunity to maximize play, development & personal accountability.  We look at: - shared social agreements & conflict resolution -clubs, sports & organized activities -equipment & staggered timings -influence of health & safety and legal responsibility for supervision

Pros and Cons of supporting student government via: -student chaired meetings -class representatives -input in schoolwide decisions including staff hiring & budgeting -event organization   We also examine Roger Hart's framework Ladder Of Participation to help clarify student governments as merely tokenism vs authentic decision marking. 

Pros and cons of making your classroom efficient using: -class job schedules -role-playing real-life job applications and reviews -jobs for lessons and student learning -school-wide jobs and rewards