Place-Based Education

Smiling teacher sits cross-legged on a blanket outdoors, engaging a diverse group of children in a circle on a sunny lawn.

SEL & Mindset

Can’t. Will. Did.: How One Teacher-Mountaineer Is Bringing Social-Emotional Learning Outdoors

Guest Author

Apr 6, 2026

Tiny white schoolhouse with red roof on Falkland Islands grassland beside a calm inlet under cloudy skies

Leadership

Innovation at the Edge of the World: What the Falkland Islands Can Teach Us About Small School Excellence

Guest Author

Feb 3, 2026

Classroom ceiling tiles printed with a forest canopy photo, creating a nature-immersive learning environment

Learning Design

What If You Could Bring the Restorative Benefits of Nature Indoors?

Guest Author

Jan 30, 2026

Cross-section of a nautilus shell beside text reading "Revelatory Learning & Assessment offers a container for individual meaning-making

SEL & Mindset

A Revelatory Mindset – what is it, and why might it be transformative for learners?

Abby Benedetto, Kelly Niccolls

Jan 27, 2026

Leadership

Can Space and Ecosystem Design Transform How We Learn? | Danish Kurani

Mason Pashia

Jan 23, 2026

Community volunteer in mask serves beef chili from a large pot at an outdoor disaster relief food distribution event

Green Schools

Safe Haven: Putting Our Schools at the Heart of Disaster Preparedness

Guest Author

Dec 15, 2025

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This podcast highlights developing trends in K-12 education, postsecondary and lifelong learning. Each week, Getting Smart team members interview students, leading authors, experts and practitioners in research, tech, entrepreneurship and leadership to bring listeners innovative and actionable strategies in education leadership.

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Students and staff standing in a semicircle on a school basketball court at Big Picture Ukiah during a PMU Circle gathering.

Learner-Centered

In Ukiah, Eternal Truths Are Saving Young Lives

Sam Chaltain

Nov 17, 2025

Big Picture South Valley High empowers struggling teens with personalized, learner-centered education, fostering community, healing, and purpose.

Mother and child snorkeling underwater together, both wearing diving masks, flashing OK and peace signs

Future of Work

Learning to Let Go (and Stay Connected): A Parent’s View from 2040

Carri Schneider

Oct 28, 2025

A future parent reflects on how connected, unbundled, and learner-centered systems empower students to thrive in a reimagined learning ecosystem.

Glacial lake reflecting snow-capped mountains and autumn forests in rural Montana wilderness

Future of Work

How Montana is Advancing Rural Workforce Solutions

Guest Author

Aug 5, 2025

Montana pioneers rural workforce solutions, bridging education, policy, and training to address geographic and small business challenges.

Children holding artwork listen to an instructor in a bright Dallas community learning space

Leadership

In Dallas, a Big Thought is Brewing About How Cities Can Help Their Children Grow

Sam Chaltain

Jun 17, 2025

Explore how Big Thought in Dallas fosters learner-centered ecosystems, empowering youth like KJ through creative outlets.

	Beginning	Piloting	Implementing
From Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery	BeginningFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Beginning	PilotingFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Piloting	ImplementingFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Implementing
From One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning	BeginningFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Beginning	PilotingFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Piloting	ImplementingFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Implementing
From Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry	BeginningFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Beginning	PilotingFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Piloting	ImplementingFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Implementing
From Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning	BeginningFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Beginning	PilotingFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Piloting	ImplementingFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Implementing
From Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities	BeginningFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Beginning	PilotingFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Piloting	ImplementingFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Implementing
From Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment	BeginningFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Beginning	PilotingFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Piloting	ImplementingFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Implementing
From Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets	BeginningFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Beginning	PilotingFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Piloting	ImplementingFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Implementing

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Place-Based Education

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