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The Student-Centered Shift: Empowered International Schools and Classrooms Through Project-Based LearningAuthor: Kyle Wagner
Want to turn your classroom into a hub of curiosity, innovation, and real-world impact but don't know where to start? The Student-Centered Shift with internationally acclaimed educator Kyle Wagner equips international school educators with the simple shifts to move from passive to active learning spaces, so you can grow more engaged and empowered learners. Each week, Kyle interviews forward-thinking educators who share actionable strategies and proven frameworks to create a classroom buzzing with energy and purpose. Past guests include project-based powerhouse Ron Berger and bestselling author Gary Stager. By tuning in, you'll unlock: * The mindset shifts needed to transition from teacher-led to student-centered spaces. * Strategies to empower students as independent thinkers, creators, and problem-solvers. * Tips for designing and implementing project-based experiences * Practical ways to redefine your role from instructor to facilitator. Discover how Kyle made the same shifts to transform his own teaching from burnout to breakthroughguiding students to publish bestselling novels, launch businesses, and build museums. Over 1,000 classrooms have experienced similar results worldwidewill yours be next? Let's shift learning together! Language: en Genres: Courses, Education, How To Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Designing for the Adolescent Brain? Why Autonomy, Belonging, and Relevance Must Come First
Episode 130
Tuesday, 27 January, 2026
Designing student-centered lessons but still seeing disengagement, emotional shutdowns, or surface-level participation? What if the issue isn't what you're teaching, but whether your learning environment aligns with how the adolescent brain actually works? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Ari Pinar, neuroscientist and educator, to unpack what brain science tells us about adolescence — and why autonomy, belonging, and relevance aren't "nice-to-haves," but neurological necessities for learning. Dr. Pinar helps us bridge the gap between student-centered intentions and brain-aligned practice. Drawing from neuroscience research and classroom examples across international school contexts, we explore how common school structures unintentionally work against adolescent development — and what shifts truly support agency, regulation, and motivation. You'll learn: Why autonomy, belonging, and relevance are core drivers of adolescent engagement and learning How the developing adolescent brain responds to risk, feedback, identity, and peer connection Why some student-centered strategies fail without the right environmental conditions Practical ways to redesign space, time, relationships, and routines to support teen learners How brain-aligned environments reduce disengagement, resistance, and burnout — for students and teachers If you're serious about moving from passive compliance to active, empowered learning, this episode will help you design with the adolescent brain — not against it.
