Living On The Edge of Chaos

172: Susannah Johnson Rethinking Education: Fostering Critical Thinking and Authentic Connections

Episode Summary

In this episode of the podcast, I speak with Susannah Johnson. Susannah is the owner and founder of Individualized Realized to support educators in developing and implementing truly individualized learning practices. She is co-founder of Impact. Susannah is also the Director of Global Curriculum and Coaching Development for What Schools Could Be. She believes in pursuing liberated learning for the individual by the individual, Susannah seeks an education revolution that includes the ultimate in empowered, student-centered learning, and redefining what it means to be an educator. My insights from the conversation. She believes that critical thinking is essential for the future and wants to design schools that promote well-being. She is curious about how humans can increase their capacity individually and collectively. She thinks that personalization is key to engaging learners and making education more fun. She is also feels frustrated with the current educational system's emphasis on numbers over human development. We want educators to take care of the hearts and souls of every learner at every age. Unforunately, we both believe that safety isn't even guaranteed anymore in schools due to all the problems we face as a society. So, let's work with others to move the needle forward in leveraging learning as a way to develop humans. How can we make space for educators to collaborate, share ideas, research, problems, and get support? Susannah asks questions like "What are you thinking about today?" or "Are you OK?" to honor everyone's humanity before diving into work.

Episode Notes

Introduction:

• Embrace the challenges and goals of rethinking education and fostering critical thinking.
• Explore the importance of moving beyond traditional differentiation and personalized learning.

Challenges:

1. Moving beyond traditional differentiation and personalized learning.
2. Fostering authentic connections and curiosity in learners.
3. Balancing virtual and in-person interactions in the post-pandemic world.

Goals:

1. Develop and implement truly individualized learning practices.
2. Encourage students to create their curriculum and collaborate in the learning process.
3. Build a global community of educators to share ideas, research, and support.

Surprising Takeaways:

1. The scale and reach of the "What School Could Be" community, with 14,000 members and 50,000 connections globally.
2. The concept of "rethinking" the time in the classroom with time spent doing things that matter instead of tedious tasks that can be done by tools like ChatGPT

Key Moments:

1. Susanna Johnson introduces herself and her work in education.
2. The discussion of Susanna's involvement with "What School Could Be" and her role as the Director of Coaching and Curriculum.
3. Susanna's emphasis on critical thinking as a skill set and the need to connect at a human level.

Emerging Patterns:

1. A focus on collaboration and shared learning experiences among educators and students.
2. The importance of authenticity and human connection in the learning process.
3. The shift towards a more global and connected approach to education.

Discussion Points:

• Inquire about the power of personalized learning and how it can change students' educational experience.
• Explore the concept of rethinking the classroom and the potential benefits of this approach.
• Engage with the idea of a global community of educators and the role it can play in shaping the future of education.

Conclusion:

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  • Rethinking education and fostering critical thinking is crucial for the future of learning.
  • Authentic connections and collaboration are essential for a more human-centered approach to education.
  • Let's work together to build a brighter future for our students and create a more connected global community.

Listener Challenge:

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  • Share your thoughts and experiences with rethinking education and fostering critical thinking on social media.
  • Reach out to other educators and build a supportive network for sharing ideas, research, and support.
  • Encourage others to join the conversation and help shape the future of education.

💬 Share your thoughts and takeaways from this enlightening conversation with us on social media! What resonated with you the most?

Resources Mentioned in Show:

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  • https://www.individualizedrealized.com/ 
  • https://www.impact-bound.com/
  • https://whatschoolcouldbe.org/ 

Favorite Ideas from the Conversation: