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Education
Society & Culture
Harvard Graduate School of Education
In the complex world of education, the Harvard EdCast keeps the focus simple: what makes a difference for learners, educators, parents, and our communities. The EdCast is a weekly podcast about the ideas that shape education, from early learning through college and career. We talk to teachers, researchers, policymakers, and leaders of schools and systems in the US and around the world — looking for positive approaches to the challenges and inequities in education. Through authentic conversation, we work to lower the barriers of education’s complexities so that everyone can understand.
The Harvard EdCast is produced by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and hosted by Jill Anderson. The opinions expressed are those of the guest alone, and not the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Examining the 'M' in MOOC
Justin Reich, adjunct lecturer on education at HGSE, reflects on the design process of his new course, 'Massive: The Future of Learning at Scale.'
10:3122/10/2014
Inner Strength Leadership Training
Jerry Murphy and Metta McGarvey, faculty for the upcoming PPE institute, 'Inner Strengths of Successful Leaders,' share insight into the growing practice of mindful leadership.
17:2315/10/2014
How Caring is Your School?
Rick Weissbourd, co-director of the Making Caring Common Project, outlines a new way for schools to examine their culture and environment through the power of big data.
05:3308/10/2014
The Finnish Education Ambassador
Pasi Sahlberg, author of the book 'Finnish Lessons' reflects on what the world can learn from educational change in Finland. #ICYMI
14:5623/09/2014
Are We Privatizing Public Universities?
Matthew Lambert, author of the book 'Privatization and the Public Good' reflects on the momentous challenges plaguing present day public universities.
13:0910/09/2014
Planting the Seeds of STEM Careers
Catherine Riegle-Crumb, associate professor at UT Austin, shares insight into the gender divide in schools and how this relates to gender disparities in STEM careers.
14:5427/08/2014
Admissions Merit in the U.S. and Abroad
Natasha Warikoo, associate professor at HGSE, analyzes how students in elite institutions understand merit in admissions, looking at schools both in England and the United States.
11:4926/08/2014
Want To Run a Better Meeting?
Kathy Boudett and Liz City, co-authors of the book 'Meeting Wise,' reflect on how meeting planning can become a key strategy in the service of school improvement.
11:2420/08/2014
The Future of Independent Schools
John Chubb, president of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), reflects on the future of independent schools and examines how school administrators can lead in a changing context.
10:4512/08/2014
Protecting Your Child's Brain
Professor Jack Shonkoff, director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, explains some of the science behind early childhood development and how education can help.
16:0707/08/2014
On Being a First: The College Presidency
New college presidents reflect on being a first.
Order of speaking:
Alicia Harvey Smith, River Valley Community College, Claremont, NH
Elizabeth Davis, President of Furman University in South Carolina,
Laurie Leshin, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA
Joanne Berger-Sweeney, Trinity College, Hartford, CT
02:5505/08/2014
Four Female College Presidents Reflect
Participants in the "Harvard Seminar for New Presidents" reflect on the program and being part of a diverse cohort.
Order of talking:
Elizabeth Davis, President of Furman University in South Carolina,
Laurie Leshin, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA
Joanne Berger-Sweeney, Trinity College, Hartford, CT
Alicia Harvey Smith, River Valley Community College, Claremont, NH
02:5505/08/2014
A Conversation w/Ted Mitchell: Improving College Counseling
Ted Mitchell, Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, reflects on the great importance of equity in education and the national movement to expand college readiness, college access, and college completion.
07:2305/08/2014
A Conversation w/Eric Waldo: Reaching Higher
Eric Waldo, executive director of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative, reflects on the origins and goals of the HGSE/White House co-sponsored event, "College Opportunity Agenda: Strengthening School Counseling and College Advising."
14:5605/08/2014
East Meets West In the Classroom
Jin Li, professor of education at Brown University, examines the differences between western and eastern learners.
12:2209/07/2014
The Children We Mean To Raise
Rick Weissbourd, senior lecturer at HGSE, shares findings from his new 'Making Caring Common' project report examining the real messages adults are sending about values.
06:5025/06/2014
To Disagree, But Not Be Disagreeable
Mike Johnston, Colorado state senator, reflects on his commencement speech (and protests), his vision for American education, and best practices for thoughtfully communicating in broader education discourse.
07:5717/06/2014
Closing the Achievement Gap
Ronald Ferguson, faculty director of the Achievement Gap Initiative, discusses his upcoming PPE Institute 'Closing the Achievement Gap: Strategies for Excellence with Equity.'
09:1510/06/2014
Making Global Local
Jeff Shea, Massachusetts Teacher of the Year, reflects on his craft and examines his focus on global education in the classroom.
10:2020/05/2014
What Excellent Community Colleges Do
Josh Wyner, author of 'What Excellent Community Colleges Do' examines the characteristics of high performing community colleges and how they prepare all students for success.
10:3114/05/2014
Revisiting "Repairing the Breach" : The Way Forward for African-American Males
Dr. Bobby William Austin, the developer of the initiative and editor of the report reflects on the 2014 RTB Conference.
09:2406/05/2014
The Internet-Based Public High School
Julie Young, president and CEO of Florida Virtual School, examines the history and growth of the first statewide Internet-based public high school in the United States
13:4106/05/2014
M. Night Shyamalan's School Sense
M. Night Shyamalan, filmmaker and author of “I Got Schooled,” shares his unique journey as a curious, education reform outsider looking for data informed answers on how to close America's education gap.
20:3028/04/2014
Stuck In Place: Racial Inequality in America
Patrick Sharkey, associate professor at New York University, discusses urban neighborhoods and the persistence of racial inequality --analyzed through the lens of his new book "Stuck in Place" and the upcoming Askwith Forum.
08:0828/04/2014
President McCartney's Big Year
Kathleen McCartney, president of Smith College and former dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, reflects on an exciting year involving a new job, book, and Twitter account.
10:1618/04/2014
Wendy Kopp: A Candid Conversation
Wendy Kopp, CEO and Co-Founder of Teach for All, candidly reflects on her experiences leading Teach for All and Teach for America, with thoughts on the future of both organizations.
18:1115/04/2014
The Next 40 Years of Child and Family Policy
Hiro Yoshikawa, professor of globalization and education at NYU, discusses his new co-edited book, 'Improving the Odds For America's Children' and its tie in with an upcoming Askwith Forum celebrating 40 Years of the Children's Defense Fund.
08:4709/04/2014
10 Minutes with Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin, world famous animal scientist and autism activist, sheds insight into the way she thinks, reflects on the state of autism awareness, and even reveals her favorite Claire Danes movie.
10:0531/03/2014
Schools in a Broken State
Sarah Dryden-Peterson, assistant professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, reflects on how education systems fare during periods of great turmoil and strife within a country.
17:5025/03/2014
Examining the Common Core
John King Jr., commissioner of education of the State of New York, shares his perspective on the common core --its perils, pitfalls, and opportunities.
08:4312/03/2014
Unlocking the Immunity to Change
Robert Kegan, professor at HGSE, discusses the mechanics, challenges, and excitement in teaching his new HarvardX course called, "Unlocking the Immunity to Change."
14:3010/03/2014
Restoring Opportunity in Education
Greg Duncan, co-author of the HEPG book "Restoring Opportunity" discusses the crisis of inequality and the challenge for American education in a historical and practical context.
09:2705/03/2014
A Conversation with Beverly Daniel Tatum
Beverly Daniel Tatum, president of Spelman College, re-examines the expression of Martin Luther King's "dream" for America, while redefining the dreams we have for ourselves, our communities, and our world.
08:3626/02/2014
Incubating #Edtech
Eileen Rudden, co-founder of LearnLaunch, reflects on the state of entrepreneurship and ed tech - with anticipation for LearnLaunch's annual conference in Boston on February 28th.
12:3519/02/2014
Can Love be Taught?
Richard Weissbourd, lecturer on education at HGSE, discusses whether love can be effectively taught in schools, reflects on the state of sex-ed, and examines where love is best modeled in the media.
12:0011/02/2014
Mayor Menino's Education Legacy
Thomas Menino, former mayor of Boston, reflects with HGSE's Rick Weissbourd on his leadership role in helping reshape Boston schools and shepherding education policy over the past two decades.
14:3229/01/2014
HarvardX: A Year Later
Justin Reich, HarvardX research fellow, examines the effectiveness of edX's open online courses through quantitative and qualitative research.
11:4816/01/2014
LGBT Activism Abroad
Pedro Robledo, one of the leaders of the LGBT movement in Argentina, shares his deeply personal story of equal rights, education activism, and role in the adoption of quality bullying legislation in his country.
15:3708/01/2014
A Reading Revolution
Jessica Marshall, chief strategy officer at LightSail Ed, explains how an adaptive, tablet-based literacy platform is revolutionizing how students are gaining 21st century skills.
12:3608/01/2014
The Tutors
Michael Lombardo, CEO of Reading Partners, shares his organization's 'secret sauce' for closing the reading achievement gap.
12:4117/12/2013
Making the Rounds
Lee Teitel, author of the book "School-Based Instructional Rounds" shares his evolving research on one of the most innovative and powerful approaches to improving teaching and learning.
11:5609/12/2013
Learning Outside the Box
Gerald A. Lieberman, author of "Education and the Environment" provides an innovative guide to creating a new type of environmental education that combines standards-based lessons with community investigations and service learning projects.
12:5304/12/2013
edX Marks the Spot
Anant Agarwal, president of edX, discusses common misconceptions with online learning, new models for leadership, and how social media will play a critical role in the future of digital learning communities.
16:1920/11/2013
The Ed Reform Menu
Helen Janc Malone, editor of the book, "Leading Educational Change: Global Issues, Challenges, and Lessons on Whole-System Reform" discusses the collaborative process of editing a book with diverse authors and opinions about education reform.
11:2513/11/2013
What's Happening With Vegas
Emiliana Vegas, chief of the education division at the Inter-American Development Bank examines the transformative relationship between banking and education in developing countries, while reflecting on her time at HGSE as a student.
12:0005/11/2013
Stretching the Higher Education Dollar
Andrew Kelly, co-editor of the book, "Stretching the Higher Education Dollar" shares insights into the future of higher education and explains how true reform can take place.
11:3516/10/2013
Understanding a Bully
Elizabeth Englander, author of the book "Bullying and Cyberbullying" discusses what every educator needs to know about this subject.
12:5016/10/2013
How Learning Can Click
Sari Factor, CEO of Edgenuity, discusses the future of blended learning as it relates to improving schools and districts across the country.
13:0225/09/2013
Lessons from "The Watsons Go To Birmingham"
Randy Testa, vice president for education at Walden Media discusses the educational and historical power of Walden Media's new film, "The Watsons Go to Birmingham."
11:1718/09/2013
Immigration Policy's Impact on Education
Roberto Gonzales, assistant professor at HGSE discusses his research on the impact of immigration policy as it relates to educational success in our country.
12:4111/09/2013