Transforming Education Through Innovation
Although I struggled as a student, it’s clear to me now that my struggles shaped the journey I am on today. Although I was always interested in math and science in applicable ways—rocketry, rock formation, astronomy—the way the topics were taught in school was so abstract that my brain just wouldn’t engage. In retrospect, I realize I was an experiential learner, but at the time, I was just anxious and frustrated.
I survived and became a TV producer. For the first fifteen years of my career, I was fortunate to work with incredible professionals on some world-renowned shows. The turning point came in 2009 when Nat Geo asked me to help create a new show about the human brain, and I ended up Executive Producing what became their biggest hit series: Brain Games.
That moment led to an “aha” moment for me—the moment when I combined my love of learning with my storytelling skills to create a way for people to learn.
Today, students and teachers face even more pressure than I ever did as a student. Pandemic learning gaps, the constant bombardment with information and social media, and rising anxiety levels are very real. But I know from personal experience that every challenge is an opportunity for innovation. If we focus on a few key areas in our control, we can create more compassionate and engaging classrooms.
Better Mental Health for Everyone
The world today feels heavier for students and teachers because, in many ways, it does. Students often struggle with heavy workloads, social anxiety, and the pressure to keep up, creating a mental space that is not conducive to learning.
With a few lightweight exercises that require little or no preparation, educators can create spaces that recognize these struggles and prioritize mental well-being. Techniques like short pre-recorded mindfulness exercises, journaling for five minutes on anything that bothers them, or simple daily check-ins can help students feel seen and supported without creating additional work for the educator.
These techniques can also be useful for educators who face their own pressures. Taking a few minutes in a classroom to support students' mental health and give them an opportunity to release some anxiety is not only conducive to better learning but also a way to remind students that we are all in this together.
Tomorrow’s Workforce, Today’s Classroom
The school system is still based on a design and idea that prepared students for predictable careers or industrial work. Most education systems remain anchored in outdated models from the past century that prioritize memorization and book learning to prepare students for stable office and industrial careers that are rapidly vanishing. Meanwhile, critical thinking and creativity - essential skills for success in the coming decades - are treated as an afterthought.
One way to create a more critical thinking-based environment is to blend subjects in a way that makes it fun to learn. By looking for ways to combine subjects like science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) rather than teaching them in silos, educators can help students see connections between fields and develop creative problem-solving skills.
For example, rather than teaching coding and creative writing separately, creating a project that requires using both skills is engaging. It can also help students understand both the technical aspects of program design and the narrative elements of storytelling. In our current educational system, this may require educators to take the initiative to collaborate with colleagues on cross-disciplinary curriculum design. However, to future-proof our education system, schools will need to create formal systems and dedicate time for a curriculum that teaches creativity, connection, and critical thinking.
Partnerships between schools and industries are also invaluable. Internships, mentorship programs, and project-based learning opportunities provide students with hands-on experience that is exciting, motivating, and fun - and gives students an anchor in real-world skills.
Using Relatability to Harness Attention Spans
Today's students live in a world of hyper-personalized digital experiences, where sophisticated algorithms curate content specifically for them 24/7. Meanwhile, the classroom uniquely remains a place where students are expected to resonate with the same material in the same way. This traditional one-size-fits-all education can feel jarring and boring compared to students' experiences nearly everywhere else.
The reality is that personalizing the learning experience for students would require an impossible amount of time and effort from already-stretched educators. Fortunately, teachers can leverage current events, social media trends, and even hyper-local information like weather and local events that can be linked to math, English, or other lessons as a relatable entry point.
A plethora of short-form, classroom-friendly educational content also gets kids excited and interested in a topic by making it fun and relatable. By way of example, my podcast Who Smarted? is designed to connect lessons to students' lives and interests with fun and humor. Tools like podcasts, videos, and relatable news help make complex topics accessible and engaging while saving valuable teacher bandwidth.
Challenges & Opportunities
The education system's challenges are immense, but so are the opportunities. My own journey—from a distracted, anxious student to someone passionate about reshaping education—has shown me the power of crafting engaging learning experiences. By leveraging relatable experiences to capture short attention spans, supporting mental health in lightweight but meaningful ways, and preparing students for the future with practical, skills-based approaches, we can create an educational landscape that empowers and inspires the next generation.
