The Art & Science of Learning

Critical thinking is a widely sought-after skill in individuals, both in education and the workplace, but achieving it is often elusive. Although the definition of what critical thinking is has been changing since the time of Socrates, the core idea has remained the same. Socrates established the importance of asking deep questions before a particular idea is accepted as worthy of belief. Socrates established the importance of seeking evidence, and reflectively questioning beliefs and explanations. What does critical thinking mean in the modern workplace and how can it be developed in individuals? My guest is a leader in organizational development and has been successfully embedding critical thinking skills in the workplace. Julie Lavergne is the Vice-President of Organizational Development at CBN, the Canadian Bank Note Company - an award-winning Canadian secure solutions company, best known for printing Canada’s banknotes. Julie is a chemical engineer with extensive experience in senior roles in the areas of operations, quality management and systems development. In her current role, she has developed a new corporate division focused on attracting, developing, retaining and organizing people to support the business now and in the future. Julie Lavergne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-lavergne/

Managing major programs in government, such as digitally enabled transformations, requires different skillsets from regular project management. Projects that take many years, and enormous investments, are extremely complex. My guest in this episode has led, and developed learning programs to teach others to lead, major programs in government. Nick Borwell is the Co-founder of Oxford8, a consulting firm based in London, UK. Nick is highly experienced as a major program director and as a leader of organisations facing complex challenges. He has operated in both the private and public sectors most notably in the United Kingdom’s Cabinet Office, defense and health. He was the Principal of the UK Civil Service Leadership Academy (CSLA), after which he developed the program for the Office of Civil Society’s Covid-19 volunteering effort. While Nick was an Associate with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) in the Cabinet Office, he transformed the UK Government’s capability and capacity for delivering projects. A key plank of this success was the development of the Major Projects Leadership Academy (MPLA) and its associated programs delivered by Said Business School at Oxford University. He is currently cohort program leader with the MPLA where he has devised and delivered the first distance learning digital program. Nick gained an MSc in Major Program Management from Said Business School in 2011 where he is now an Associate Fellow. Nick Borwell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickborwell/ Oxford8: https://oxford8.com/ MSc in Major Programme Management at Said Business School: https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/programmes/degrees/msc-major-programme-management

Teaching is a complex skill that requires deep knowledge and practice. This is particularly true when the classroom suddenly transitions online and new pedagogical skills need to be learned and adapted quickly. Continuously learning and innovating in teaching is essential for helping students learn. To discuss how to innovate in teaching I am joined by a university professor who’s teaching has won her many prestigious teaching awards. Dr Melanie Adrian is Associate Professor in the Department of Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. She has been appointed to the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest honour, for establishing Carleton University as a global leader in protecting vulnerable scholars and founding an organization to help cancer patients navigate their treatment options. In addition to her academic work, Melanie is also a pioneer and innovator in her pedagogical approach. In 2019 she was appointed one of Carleton University’s inaugural Chair in Teaching Innovation. This prestigious position is awarded to educators who have demonstrated teaching excellence and innovation across their academic careers. It provides the professor with funding to develop a scholarly project to advance teaching excellence, with a particular emphasis on strategies to foster student success. Throughout her career, Melanie was recognized as an exceptional teacher. At Harvard University she was awarded five distinctions in teaching, and at Carleton University she received several teaching awards from the Faculty of Public Affairs and several at the University level.Dr Melanie Adrian: https://carleton.ca/law/people/melanie-adrian/Twitter: https://twitter.com/melanieadrianBe the Choice: https://bethechoice.orgScholars at Risk Network: https://www.scholarsatrisk.orgArticles: All Together Now: Teaching Trailblazer Melanie Adrian Wants to Make Remote Learning a Social Experiencehttps://carleton.ca/ravenmag/story/melanie-adrian-remote-learning/Carleton’s Melanie Adrian Appointed to Order of Ontariohttps://newsroom.carleton.ca/2021/melanie-adrian-order-of-ontario/

Having a positive mindset is a critical part of overcoming adversity and living a happy life. Although there are challenges that seem insurmountable, history is filled with examples of individuals who never lost hope and overcame the most harrowing challenges. But what does it mean to have a positive mindset when faced with a great adversity, and how can we learn to think positively? My guest in this episode is a truly inspiring individual, who faced an unimaginable challenge with a positive mindset that he attributes to enabling him to turn obstacles into opportunities. Andrew Mangan had an accident in December 2016, at the age of 17, that injured his spinal cord and left him paralyzed from below his neck. The doctors were unable to predict if Andrew would ever recover and be able to walk again. However, Andrew was always convinced that if he worked harder and pushed further, he would one day recover. In the four short years since his accident Andrew went on to be able to walk again, he started Connecting the Resilient, a platform for spinal cord injury information, researched and wrote the book Plugged In: How mind-machine interfaces will transform the world, and is now in his second year of mechanical engineering and computer science at Stanford University. He has recently started a company that helps people apply to jobs and internships. Andrew has been working on this company, Kiter, with his older brother. Andrew attributes his ability to achieve all that he has done to his positive mindset, which we will discuss in this episode. Andrew Mangan: https://www.connectingtheresilient.com/new-blog/2017/7/7/andrew-mangan-c5 Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewmangan2?lang=en Connecting the Resilient: https://www.connectingtheresilient.com/new-blog/2017/7/7/andrew-mangan-c5 Book: Plugged In: How mind-machine interfaces will transform the world https://www.amazon.ca/Plugged-Machine-Interfaces-Transform-World-ebook/dp/B07H7RJLYC Article: Severe spinal cord injury inspires student to help others https://news.wbfo.org/post/severe-spinal-cord-injury-inspires-student-help-others Kiter: www.kiter.app

There are many different kinds of schools that offer different experiences for children. The United Kingdom is home to some of the most famous and historic independent schools in the world, with some schools dating back to as far as the 600s. What do these schools look like in the modern era and what is their approach to education that keeps them among the most sought-after schools in the world? To give an inside look at the best independent schools in the UK, I am joined by the person at the core of investigating and writing about these schools. Tori Cadogan is the Education Editor at Tatler, the British magazine owned by Conde Nast. She writes about the UK’s independent schools, edits the annual Tatler Schools Guide, and she offers parents bespoke 1:1 educational consultation. Tori also wrote, produced and presented the accompanying podcast series Tatler Talks: Education, focusing on wellbeing and mental health within the education system. Tatler Schools Guide 2020: https://www.tatler.com/article/schools-guide-2020 Twitter: https://twitter.com/schoolstatler?lang=en Tatler Talks Education Podcast: https://www.tatler.com/article/schools-guide-podcasts

Innovation is an essential part of our increasingly complex world. This can not be more important that in governments that serve the public good. In order to innovate, there needs to be an effective and innovative learning resources that enables innovation. In this episode I speak to the person leading innovations in learning in the Canadian Government. Neil Bouwer is Vice President of the Innovation and Policy Services Branch at Canada School of Public Service (CSPS). The mission of Canada School of Public Service is to provide a broad range of learning opportunities and establish a culture of learning within the public service. Neil’s career as a leader in government spans many sectors, including his role as Assistant Secretary at Treasury Board Canada, Assistant Deputy Minister at Natural Resources, and Senior Vice President at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Twitter: https://twitter.com/jdneilbouwer Canada School of Public Service: https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx

The only way that humans can have a peaceful and collaborative society is by having effective conversations. However, in an increasingly polarized and complicated world, having difficult conversations, that result in deeper understanding, is challenging. It is more important than ever to learn to have constructive conversations. My guest today has extensive experience on this topic, both personally and professionally. Catherine Clark is an internationally respected broadcaster, writer, emcee and the co-founder of the popular podcast The Honest Talk. She also runs Catherine Clark Communications, a consultancy which provides strategic communications advice and support to institutions, corporations, and individuals. Catherine has spent her entire life observing and conducting meaningful conversations. As the daughter of former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark and the prominent lawyer Maureen McTeer, Catherine grew up observing her parents have meaningful conversations with diverse groups of people across the country and around the world, and in her professional life, Catherine leads engaging conversations through the television shows, documentaries, panels and events that she hosts. Website: https://catherineclark.ca/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/catherinejclark The Honest Talk: https://www.thehonesttalk.ca/podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinejclark76/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-clark-50b7247b/?originalSubdomain=ca

For the past three years the Canadian Government has been transforming and modernizing the way Canadian public servants are learning in the workplace. I’m thrilled to have on this episode the individual leading this change to discuss learning in the government context and how to modernize a learning organization that serves a massive and diverse workforce. Taki Sarantakis is the President of the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS). The Canada School of Public Service leads the Canadian Government's enterprise-wide approach to learning by providing a common, standardized curriculum that supports public servants through key career transitions, ensuring that they are equipped to serve Canadians with excellence. Since Taki’s appointment to this role in 2018, he has transformed and modernized this learning organization. Among his many achievements, in 2011 he was awarded Canada's Public Service Award of Excellence in Public Policy, and in 2013 he was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Taki Sarantakis: https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/about_us/organizationalstructure/president-eng.aspx Twitter: https://twitter.com/TakiSarantakis Canada School of Public Service: https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx Twitter: https://twitter.com/School_GC

Designing effective and enjoyable online and blended learning experiences requires some particular strategies. In this episode I am speaking to a leader in online and blended learning who works with school districts, state departments of education, colleges and universities and other educational organizations in the United States, to enable them to build successful online and blended programs for educators and students. Barbara Treacy is Adjunct Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) as well as for the HGSE Professional Education Programs. Throughout her career Barbara has led projects in online and blended learning across a wide spectrum of organizations and industries including currently serving as a co-chair of Digital Promise’s Education Leadership Institute, working with district leaders from across the country in an online Institute to their support planning and implementation of online, blended and hybrid learning during the COVID crisis and beyond. Barbara also served as a consultant to the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation to develop blended curriculum and capacity-building facilitator training for their national Leadership in Blended Learning Program, and is the former chair of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Digital Learning Advisory Council and recently served as their consultant on virtual school accountability. Barbara is also the former director of EdTech Leaders Online, Education Development Center's award-winning capacity-building online learning program for educators which she led for 15 years, providing online courses, online instructor and course developer training, and implementation consulting for online programs for educators and students in more than 30 states. She also directed EDCs collaboration with e-Learning for Educators, a 10-state consortium funded by the U.S. Department of Education to establish statewide online professional development programs in each of the 10 states. She also served as co-chair of the iNACOL Online Course Standards committee and led the Technical subcommittee for iNACOL's Blended Teaching Competencies. Barbara Treacy: https://www.gse.harvard.edu/faculty/barbara-treacy Twitter: https://twitter.com/barbaratreacy Harvard Graduate School of Education – Professional Education https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ppe Book: Teaching in a Digital Age by Dr Tony Bates https://www.tonybates.ca/teaching-in-a-digital-age/

Governments are among the most complex organizations to transform in the digital age. Having large and diverse organizations, legacy systems, and established cultures, transformation can be particularly complex. Having effective learning opportunities is an essential component of this transformation as governments and their employees learn new ways of working and creating services for the public good. In this episode I’m joined by a leader in the Canadian Government who is leading the way in helping to improve digital literacy and skills across the Public Service. Chris Allison is the Director General at Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) where he has led the CSPS Digital Academy from the very start. The CSPS Digital Academy was established to help federal public servants gain the knowledge, skills and mindsets they need in the digital age. It supports Canada's initiative for an agile, inclusive and equipped workforce and advocates for a digital-first approach that aligns with Canada's Digital Standards. These ten digital standards form the foundation of the government's shift to becoming more agile, open and user-focused. Chris assembled a team of passionate public servants to form the CSPS Digital Academy, developing extremely popular learning experiences. I was fortunate to have worked with Chris at the CSPS Digital Academy and experience his leadership, insights and vision, which I am thrilled to have him share on this episode. Chris Allison: https://twitter.com/ToferC Canada School of Public Service Digital Academy: https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/digital-academy/index-eng.aspx Bus Rides – Bite sized learning about digital technology and government: https://www.busrides-trajetsenbus.ca/ CSPS Digital Academy twitter: https://twitter.com/DigiAcademyCAN

Every year new technologies emerge that have the potential, or claim to have the potential, to revolutionize mathematics education. Countries around the world focus on improving the way mathematics is taught in their schools, and technology often plays a big role in that. However, it is widely recognized that technology does not always have the impact it was hoped to have. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has declared that “despite considerable investments in computers, Internet connections and software for education use, there is little solid evidence that greater computer use among students leads to better scores in mathematics and reading.” However, there are many very effective technologies, and ways of using them, that can greatly improve mathematics education. In this episode I am joined by an expert in mathematics education to discuss key ways that technology can help improve mathematics education in schools. Dr Naomi Norman is a creative, reflective and strategic consultant, researcher, reviewer and author who’s work spans research and practice in mathematics education. She works with some of the most prominent universities and educational companies around the world. Naomi obtained a doctorate in mathematics education at Oxford University, and has extensive consultancy, research and writing experience in the field. She has worked as a consultant on London 2012, BBC, Granada Media, Sesame Workshop, Pearson, Oxford University Press, Collins, and at the UK Government’s Department of Education, just to name a few. Naomi also held posts as Director of Learning at Epic (now Leo Learning) - one of the UK's leading e-learning companies. In academia she has undertaken research contracts for Oxford University, Imperial College London, and Pearson.

A powerful source of learning and culture in any organization can come from having a well structured and supported learning community. It may be difficult in busy workplaces to prioritize creating and supporting learning communities, but the benefits of doing so are neuromas and can be the glue that holds everything together. To discuss the impact of thriving learning communities and how they can be fostered, I’m joined by an internationally recognized education leader who has been creating learning communities for teachers in several different contexts and countries. Liz Free is CEO and Director of the International School Rheintal in Switzerland, an IB World School. Prior to this role, Liz was the Founding Director of the International Leadership Academy at the Netherlands, and Head of Professional Development at Oxford University Press. She is also global board member for the TES Institute and a strategic lead for WomenEd, an organization connecting women leaders in global education. Liz is also an author, of the recently published ‘International Perspectives’ chapter of the Amazon number one bestseller ‘10% Braver: Inspiring Women to Lead Education’ book, a columnist with TES International and she writes for publications such as Schools Week, International Schools Magazine and Independent Schools Magazine. Liz Free: https://lizfree.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LizAMFree International School Rheintal: https://www.isr.ch/ WomenEd: https://www.womened.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/WomenEd Books: 10% Braver Inspiring Women to Lead Education Being 10% Braver https://www.womened.org/the-book

Teaching online requires different strategies and skills than those used in classroom teaching. There are great opportunities in online teaching, but there are also many challenges. To discuss the best practices for making online teaching a success, I am joined by Dr Sarah Krongard, Associate Director, Program Development within the Professional Education division of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Sarah designs and produces professional development experiences for educators, particularly focused on using media and technology to facilitate effective teaching and learning. Sarah is a media education specialist with a doctorate from Boston University, where her research focused on the social, emotional, and cognitive implications of media engagement. She has been a teaching fellow and researcher at Harvard and Boston University, as well as an instructional designer at Lesley University. Sarah is passionate about harnessing the informal and formal learning potential of emerging technologies. Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahkrongard Harvard Graduate School of Education – Professional Education https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ppe

Behind technologies that effectively solve real problems, there is a methodical design process. From identifying and defining a problem to creating a solution, the process is critical for good design. To discuss the process involved in developing effective technologies, I am joined by the founder of a successful medical technology start-up that is having significant impact on people with chronic respiratory conditions. Mikesh Udani is Co-founder and CEO of Albus Health, a medical technology spinout company from the University of Oxford that develops intelligent remote monitoring systems. Their first product is an award-winning device that remotely monitors respiratory symptoms without anyone having to do or wear anything.Within three years of starting, they have won several innovation awards, including the AI in Health and Care award by the UK government which was announced by the Secretary of the State for Health and Care. They also raised nearly £3 million in funding and commercialised their first product through a contract to supply one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Mikesh, who studied mathematics and computer science, started his career in finance at Deutsche Bank. Prior to starting Albus Health, he completed a masters of computer science degree at Oxford University and was an Oxford Biodesign Fellow. Albus Health: https://www.albushealth.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlbusHealth

As lifelong learning is becoming an essential component of any successful business, how is business education changing to support that? The two-year MBA (Masters of Business Administration) has been the foundation for many business leaders, but this may be changing. Harvard and Columbia’s business schools are starting to add certificates to their programs. Online learning is also paving the way for a different learning experience. Six years ago, Harvard launched the extremely successful Harvard Business School Online, which offers certificates instead of degrees in a fully online learning environment. These changes may transform business education for the years ahead. To discuss the future of leadership and business education, I am joined by the person leading this transformation. Patrick Mullane is the Executive Director of Harvard Business School Online, where he is responsible for managing growth, expansion in global markets, and long-term success. Harvard Business School Online delivers rigorous and immersive courses that enable professionals at every level to advance their careers, positively impact their organizations, and appreciate business in powerful new ways. Patrick is also the author of The Father, Son, and Holy Shuttle: Growing Up an Astronaut’s Kid in the Glorious 80s a humorous memoir of his life growing up as the son of an astronaut. Patrick Mullane: https://www.hbs.edu/about/leadership/Pages/leadership-profile.aspx?profileId=30 Twitter: https://twitter.com/mullaneHBS Book: The Father, Son, and Holy Shuttle: Growing Up an Astronaut’s Kid in the Glorious 80s https://www.amazon.ca/Father-Son-Holy-Shuttle-Astronauts-ebook/dp/B087B8F7LH Harvard Business School Online: https://online.hbs.edu/

There is a commonality among high-quality learning programs, regardless of the medium, type of learning, or audience. Whether it be workplace training, online learning, school curriculum, or children’s educational television, to have an effective and enjoyable learning experience it is critical to develop it on a strong foundation of quality education research and beautiful design. In this episode we will discuss the interplay of research and design in creating quality learning programs. Sesame Street, the children’s television program developed by media and education nonprofit Sesame Workshop, is a shining example of the power of quality research and design in educational programs. For over 50 years Sesame Street has brought critical early childhood education to over 150 countries, helping to prepare children for their first year in school as well as addressing critical social issues such as HIV, homelessness, death, and autism. Most viewers of the show possibly aren’t aware that every aspect of Sesame Street is backed and supported by years of research driven by a longstanding partnership with the Harvard Graduate School of Education. To discuss how research and design work together to create such a successful educational program, I am joined by leaders from each of those domains at Sesame Workshop. Shanna Kohn is the Senior Education Manager of Humanitarian Programs at Sesame Workshop. She leads educational content development for Ahlan Simsim, a localized version of Sesame Street in the Middle East and manages the design of multimedia teaching and learning materials for Sesame Workshop’s humanitarian programs. Dr Kim Foulds is the Senior Director of International Research & Evaluation at Sesame Workshop. She oversees research and evaluation on Sesame Workshop’s international co-productions and community engagement interventions across the globe focused on a variety of curricular areas and media. Shanna Kohn: https://www.sesameworkshop.org/who-we-are/our-leadership/shanna-kohn Kim Foulds: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimfoulds/ Article: Using Mass Media to Address the Socio-Emotional Needs of Children Affected by Conflict: Sesame Street in the Syrian Response Region https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2020/creating-sesame-street-syrian-response Books: The Sesame Effect: The Global Impact of the Longest Street in the World https://www.routledge.com/The-Sesame-Effect-The-Global-Impact-of-the-Longest-Street-in-the-World/Cole-Lee/p/book/9781138806917 “G” is for growing: Thirty years of research on children and Sesame Street https://www.amazon.ca/Growing-Thirty-Research-Children-Sesame/dp/0805833951