In this episode, Alex speaks with Rachael Wilding, the visionary founder of Edsidera, about transforming the concept of student awards from mere "extrinsic fluff" into meaningful journeys of skill development. They explore how Edsidera's bespoke extracurricular programs are empowering children with vital life skills, fostering entrepreneurship, promoting wellbeing, and instilling a love for learning that goes far beyond the classroom. Rachael also unveils the exciting "Sunshine Squad" initiative, a unique summer program designed to keep children engaged and supported without adding to school or parental burdens. This conversation delves into the practicalities of creating impactful, non-screen-based learning experiences, the importance of community, and why encouraging children to "always give something a try" is fundamental to their growth.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Awards Reimagined: Certificates and badges should be by-products of a rich learning journey focused on skill development, not the sole aim.
• Holistic Development: Edsidera champions a bespoke approach, embedding life skills, entrepreneurship, sustainability, global citizenship, and wellbeing into its awards.
• Offline Engagement in a Digital World: While evidence can be digital, the core learning activities and challenges are designed to be hands-on and screen-free.
• Embracing Failure: Creating a supportive environment where children feel safe to try new things and learn from failure is crucial for building resilience.
• Flexible Learning: Programs must offer flexibility to accommodate busy family lives, fostering genuine engagement rather than adding pressure.
• Impactful Summer Learning: The "Sunshine Squad" demonstrates how summer holidays can be an enriching period of fun, learning, and wellbeing support for children.
• Power of Collaboration: Genuine collaboration between schools, parents, and educational partners can create "sparkle dust" opportunities for children.
• People First, Always: Despite technological advancements like AI, maintaining a human-centric, people-first approach in education remains paramount.
• Kindness is Key: Cultivating a culture of kindness and making time for personal connections are simple yet powerful actions for everyone in the educational community.
• The Courage to Try: The most important lesson for children is to develop the courage to "always give something a try" and explore new possibilities.

BEST MOMENTS

• "The journey and the opportunity for children to develop skills...is far more the rich reward than a certificate at the end."
• "Although we are an EdTech digital company, our challenges, our tasks, none of them are screen-based."
• "It's about really encouraging children to try new things, to have a go, to know and embrace failure."
• "It is basically having a summer camp, a summer buddy in your back pocket for six weeks." (On the Sunshine Squad)
• "I think collaboration is the key...when it's genuine...you really can get that sparkle dust of an opportunity."
• "We are a people company and I think we always will be."
• "Kindness is absolutely free. It is the easiest quality to have."
• "Always give something a try. Don't be afraid not to have a try."

ABOUT THE GUEST

Rachael Wilding is the founder of Edsidera, an innovative organisation creating bespoke extracurricular awards and programs. With an extensive 27-year background in international education in the UAE, Rachael has served as a teacher, school leader, and principal. Passionate about fostering real-world skills, wellbeing, and a love for learning, she now channels her expertise into developing impactful educational experiences that go beyond traditional academics. Rachael is also a school governor and continues to contribute to strategic educational development, championing a "people-first" approach in all her endeavours.

CONNECT & CONTACT

Instagram: ⁠https://instagram.com/theinternationalclassroom⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergray84/⁠Website: ⁠https://www.ticproductions.com⁠

In this episode, Alex sits down with renowned education expert Tom Sherrington to explore the often-complex world of educational research and its real-world application in schools. Tom, a veteran teacher, leader, and author of the impactful "Teaching Walkthroughs" series, challenges common assumptions about research implementation, questioning whether our efforts are truly impactful or merely surface-level. They delve into the practical realities teachers face when trying to adopt evidence-based practices, address the notion that research stifles creativity, and offer a grounded perspective on the potential (and limitations) of AI in the classroom. Discover why simply "doing" research isn't enough and how to cultivate a truly research-engaged teaching environment.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Beyond the Buzzwords: It's crucial to move beyond simply knowing the names of research and understand the "why" behind effective strategies.
• Long-Term Commitment: True implementation of research requires a sustained, deep engagement over time, not quick fixes or performative actions.
• Actionable Insights: Research needs to be translated into practical steps that teachers can realistically implement in their daily classroom practice.
• Creativity Thrives with Understanding: A strong grasp of learning principles and effective techniques actually enhances creative teaching, rather than hindering it.
• AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement: While AI holds potential, it's unlikely to replace the essential human elements of teaching and should be viewed as a supportive tool.
• Focus on Foundational Principles: Timeless research, like Rosenshine's Principles, continues to offer valuable insights into effective teaching practices.
• Collective Engagement: Schools see greater progress when research engagement is a shared endeavour, fostering discussion and collaborative implementation.
• Understanding Encoding: Effective retrieval practice hinges on successful initial encoding of information; simply testing what wasn't learned isn't effective.
• Teacher Well-being Matters: Creating a positive and engaging teaching experience for educators is crucial for motivation and student success.
• Manage Behaviour Methodically: Personalizing negative behaviour can be emotionally draining; a consistent and practical approach is more effective.

BEST MOMENTS

• "Are we truly listening to the research that's meant to guide our practice, or are we sometimes just paying it lip service?"
• "Where you find there's a kind of real kind of deep engagement with research, it's a kind of long, deep, slow commitment over time."
• "No, I just don't recognise that at all. I think that's really weird." (Regarding research killing creativity)
• "You have to translate that into things that teachers actually do differently in the classroom."
• "The way people learned in the 70s is the same as it is now." (Regarding the timelessness of some research)
• "It's not like you can get away with not seeing the other things. But it's what your focus is for the improvement journey."
• "Progress... basically it means moving through the curriculum and accumulating knowledge in a deeper, more connected way."

ABOUT THE GUEST

Tom Sherrington: Tom is a highly respected education consultant, speaker, and author based in London, UK. With decades of experience as a teacher and school leader, he is passionate about evidence-informed teaching and learning. He is the co-author of the influential "Teaching Walkthroughs" series, providing practical strategies for classroom improvement. Tom works with schools globally, supporting them in developing effective professional learning and embedding research-based practices to enhance student outcomes.

CONNECT & CONTACT

Instagram: https://instagram.com/theinternationalclassroomLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergray84/Website: https://www.ticproductions.com

In this episode, Alex dives into the world of Artificial Intelligence in K-12 education with guest Tai Paschall. Tai, a seasoned educational leader, author of "When AI Goes to School," and a visionary in digital learning strategies, challenges the status quo, questioning if education systems are adapting fast enough. They discuss Tai's vision for integrating AI across administration, teaching, and student levels, the practical steps educators can take, crucial ethical considerations around data and bias, the need for a clear AI literacy framework, and how AI can foster equity and a deeper focus on student creation in the classroom.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• • Education Lag: Education systems, like governments, are often the slowest sectors to adopt and integrate new technologies compared to industry.

  • Integrated Approach: AI implementation should span administrative uses (data analysis), teacher uses (differentiation, planning), and student uses (learning, creation).

  • Practical Starting Point: Teachers can begin by utilising AI tools already integrated with their school's existing platforms (e.g., Gemini for Google schools, Copilot for Microsoft schools) to maintain data containment.

  • Ethical Foundation: Safeguarding student data and understanding where information goes is paramount. Using platform-aligned tools helps manage this risk.

  • Equity Catalyst: AI tools can significantly enhance equity by providing students with diverse needs or starting points the ability to contribute and participate at a higher level through modifications.

  • Assessment Evolution: The AI era necessitates a shift from traditional, memory-based assessments towards evaluating creation, project-based learning, and the process of using AI as a tool.

  • AI Literacy: Explicitly teaching students how to use AI ethically, effectively, and discerningly (prompting, evaluating outputs) is essential and should be part of the curriculum across subjects.

  • Teacher Empowerment: A common misconception is that AI replaces teachers; instead, it can be a powerful tool to enhance their effectiveness and capacity.

  • Focus on Creation: AI's greatest potential lies in enabling students to reach the highest level of Bloom's Taxonomy – creation – by automating lower-order tasks and providing tools for rapid prototyping and idea generation.

  • Framework Needed: A clear, regional or systemic framework for AI literacy and implementation is needed to guide schools and educators effectively.

BEST MOMENTS

"We're always late. And in education, we're always kind of the step behind in industry."
"I just... smelled what was coming out of the kitchen... and I was just like, we gotta pay attention to this."
"I always approach now, you know, the three strands... administration, the teacher level, and then of course the student level."
"Safeguarding, student information, student data... that's gotta be now something that is a part of our daily routines as 21st century teachers."
"What if we allow a specific level to be used based on a modification?"
"We can't just focus on these same endpoints for assessments anymore... It can't just be exams or quizzes..."
"No, it's going to... make you better. Like you'll gain your superpower from this."
"Remember not just the why... Remember what we're told as educators that we must do. We must take students through that evolution of learning that we call the Bloom's Taxonomy... the highest level of learning is creation."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Tai Paschall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tai-paschall/
Website: https://whenaigoestoschool.com/

CONNECT & CONTACT

Instagram: https://instagram.com/theinternationalclassroom
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergray84/
Website: https://ticproductions.com

In this episode, Alex dives into the complex world of Artificial Intelligence in education with guest Bianca Farthing. Bianca, a practicing UK teacher and founder of AI Edify, challenges common assumptions about AI, questioning whether we're focusing on the right things. They discuss the practical realities of using AI in the classroom today, the critical importance of ethics, why AI won't replace teachers, and how we should be preparing students for a digital future, moving beyond AI as just an efficiency tool to seeing its potential as a cognitive aid.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• • Reframe the Question: Instead of asking "What can AI do for education?", we should ask, "What should education look like in a new digital era?" to evaluate our systems more broadly.
  • Focus on Practicality: While AI promises future revolutions, teachers need tools and strategies that help now, within the constraints of a standard lesson.
  • Options Over Answers: AI's value lies in providing options, perspectives, and challenges to stretch thinking, rather than simply generating answers.
  • Ethics are Foundational: Understanding data privacy, potential bias in outputs, and the ethical implications of AI use is non-negotiable before implementation for both teachers and students.
  • AI Can't Replace Care: Teaching is more than content delivery; it requires care, belief, and human connection, elements AI inherently lacks.
  • Cognitive Aid, Not Crutch: AI should be used to enhance and challenge thinking (cognitive aid), not replace the learning process or critical thought (cognitive crutch).
  • Critical Evaluation Needed: Users must be aware that AI outputs can be biased, incomplete, or even factually incorrect (e.g., generating fictitious citations).
  • Mind the Equity Gap: Differences in access, school policies, and training can widen existing inequalities if not addressed systemically.
  • Assessment Needs Rethinking: Current assessment models (especially memory-based ones) may need re-evaluation in an AI era, potentially shifting towards assessing process, problem-solving, and resourcefulness.
  • Involve Parents: The conversation about AI use in schools needs to include parents, ensuring transparency and understanding.

BEST MOMENTS

• • "What if we're asking the wrong questions?"
  • "When I've got my 45 minute lesson, I want to know what can I do for those 45 minutes?"
  • "Ultimately when we think about AI, it doesn't inherently care."
  • "We don't need answers. We need options to be able to stretch and challenge ourselves."
  • "Ethics in terms of AI... is inherently the most important thing."
  • "Use AI not as an answer generator, but something that is a creative aid, ask for options, not answers."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

• • AI Edify Website: ⁠aiedify.com⁠
  • Connect with Bianca Farthing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancafarthing/

ABOUT THE GUEST

• • Bianca Farthing: Bianca is a practicing teacher based near London, UK, and the founder of AI Edify, a platform dedicated to the ethical and effective integration of AI into education. Currently also pursuing her Masters (MSci) focusing on AI in education, she is passionate about creating practical tools and training that support teachers in using AI as a cognitive aid to enhance learning and critical thinking, rather than just for efficiency. Her work emphasizes ethics, teacher agency, and preparing students for a technology-driven future.

CONNECT & CONTACT

• • Instagram: https://instagram.com/theinternationalclassroom
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergray84/
  • Website: https://deepprofessional.com/

As Artificial Intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in our lives and classrooms, educators face a crucial question: How can we integrate AI in ways that empower student agency, rather than creating dependency or turning it into an intellectual crutch?In this episode, Alex sits down with Danny McCamlie, an expert in educational technology and AI integration with a unique perspective shaped by years supporting low-resource schools across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. (Danny joins us amidst a tropical cyclone in Madagascar, highlighting his dedication!)

We get into the complex relationship between AI and student autonomy, exploring:

What is Student Agency? Moving beyond buzzwords to understand "voice and choice" in learning and how AI challenges or supports it (think Spotify playlists!).

Critical Thinking as a Survival Skill: Why AI doesn't create new problems but dramatically amplifies existing educational challenges, making critical thinking more vital than ever.

Beyond "AI Ethics": Is the real issue a fundamental gap in teaching foundational ethics? How can we cultivate fairness, kindness, and responsibility in an AI-rich world?

Practical AI Literacy: What does it truly mean to be AI literate, and how can educators seamlessly integrate these concepts without just "shoehorning" tech?

AI as a Catalyst for Change: Viewing AI not just as a tool, but as a force pushing education to finally implement the student-centered practices discussed for decades.

Addressing Educator FOMO: Moving past the pressure to use every new tool and focusing on pedagogy and human connection first.

The Bigger Picture: Shifting the focus from just skills acquisition to nurturing ethically-minded, "good people" prepared for an uncertain future.

Tune in for a thoughtful and practical discussion essential for educators, school leaders, parents, and anyone navigating the intersection of technology and learning. Discover how to leverage AI effectively while ensuring students remain critical, autonomous thinkers in control of their educational journey.

Danny McCamlie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-mccamlie/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: AI in Education & Student Agency
01:04 Guest Introduction: Danny McCamlie (Joining from Madagascar!)
01:31 Danny's Journey: Focus on Low-Resource Contexts & AI's Impact
04:21 Critical Thinking: Using AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch
04:53 Why Critical Thinking is Crucial in the Age of AI
09:36 What is Student Agency? (Voice and Choice Explained)
11:17 Challenges: Agency vs Curriculum Needs & Teacher Workload
12:25 AI Highlights Gaps: Grade-Chasing vs. Learning Process
14:29 AI Also Highlights Gaps in Teaching (Pedagogy First)
16:06 AI Ethics Introduction & Addressing Teacher FOMO
18:09 The Real Issue: Lack of General Ethics Education
22:17 Embedding Ethics: Reframing Education Around "Good People"
25:06 Challenge: Teachers Imposing Beliefs? (Access to Info Mitigates)
28:43 What is AI Literacy? (Identify, How, Why, Meaning)
30:24 Integrating AI Literacy: Making Existing Connections Visible
32:19 How AI Concepts Are Already in Your Curriculum (Examples)
37:08 Collective Responsibility: Moving Beyond Subject Silos for AI Literacy
40:14 AI Literacy vs. Using AI Tools: What's the Difference?
43:31 Practical Challenges: Choosing Platforms & Data Privacy
44:34 Agency Over Tools: Understanding When/Whether to Use AI
47:34 Quick Fire Round Start
48:38 Misconception: You need to be an AI expert
49:13 Resource: Start with your own curriculum & a framework
51:14 Advice for Hesitant Educators: Be a novice, join the conversation
53:01 Final Takeaway: Model Curiosity & Be a Good Human

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Kate Longworth, CEO of Gaia Learning, the first online learning provider to achieve the ADHD Friendly School Award. In this episode, Kate shares her personal journey as a parent of a neurodivergent child and explains how Gaia Learning is revolutionising education for students with autism, ADHD, and other learning differences.

Discover how personalised, interest-driven educational pathways help neurodivergent students thrive and why engagement should be prioritised over traditional attendance metrics. Kate provides powerful examples of student success stories and discusses the challenges of scaling such a customised educational model.

You'll learn:

✅ Practical strategies to better support neurodivergent learners.

✅ The importance of integrating student interests into educational content.

✅ Innovative ways to authentically measure student engagement.

✅ Don't miss this conversation packed with valuable insights and inspiration for educators, parents, and anyone passionate about inclusive education.

Learn more about Gaia Learning: https://gaialearning.co.uk

Like this episode. Subscribe and turn on notifications to never miss out!

#Neurodiversity #InclusiveEducation #ADHD #Autism #EducationInnovation #StudentEngagement

In this insightful episode of The International Classroom Podcast, host Alex Gray speaks with renowned reading specialist Kristy Jones about evidence-based approaches to improving reading skills, rekindling a love of reading, and understanding the science behind literacy development.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Science of Reading: Kristy explains the "Big Five" components—Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension—and how they form the foundation of effective reading instruction.

• Early Identification & Intervention: Discover why early recognition of reading challenges is crucial, including how educators and parents can differentiate between general struggles and specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia or ADHD.

• Engaging Reluctant Readers: Practical tips to foster enjoyment and motivation in reading, including innovative strategies parents can implement at home.

• Role of Secondary Teachers: A vital conversation about why reading skills matter beyond primary school, highlighting the significance of literacy across all educational phases.

• The Future of Reading Instruction & AI: Kristy shares insights into the potential and current limitations of AI-based reading tools, emphasizing a balanced, hybrid approach to integrating technology in reading programs.

Resources Mentioned:

• Epic Digital Library

• Nessie Learning App

Connect with Kristy Jones:

• Website: The Reading Specialists

• LinkedIn: Kristy Jones

Who Should Listen:Educators across all stages, parents seeking practical literacy advice, and school leaders interested in evidence-based reading strategies.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The International Classroom Podcast and leave us a review to support our continued conversations about global education, leadership, and learning!

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