Getting Unstuck #141: Unleashing Learner-Centered Educators
In this episode of Getting Unstuck
Dr. Chris Unger is a professor at Northeastern University where he teaches in the Doctor of Education program and co-leads their experiential learning educator network called NexT. Dr. Unger works with educators across the country to "re-imagine" teaching, learning, and schooling, to better support the development of student agency and opportunity through the pursuit of their interests and passions in the world.
Dr. Unger on why this conversation matters
“Our current system of education is broken. The structures, models, and practices of our system starting first with our federal system, down to the states, to the districts, to the schools – including most of higher education – do not support or incentivize creative and innovative ways of engaging our youth that then encourage them to pursue their interests and passions, and develop the skills necessary to contribute to a better world. We must inspire and empower educators to make it different through images, stories, and practices of possibility. Compounding this problem is that many educators who seek to make changes, often work in isolation, disconnected from other educators who are wrestling to implement the same change.”
How you can put this podcast to work
A number of times during the interview, Chris reinforces the idea of making connections with other educators as a way to promote and support change. On a scale of 1-10, how connected are you? How often do you run ideas up the flagpole of change with other educators?
Most school change initiatives fail due to one of the reason Chris expounds on: people tried too much, too soon. Where do you have change incubating in your school or district?
Chris makes the point that a big part of the teacher’s role in a student-centered environment is “creating the right soil” for student ideas to take hold. Where is that happening in your school or district.