We are led to believe that the education system will continually evolve to meet the needs of learners and society. This has not happened. We need a revolution!
In this special episode, you can see and hear the presentation that we did at Canva HQ for our Wolfpack Community event in partnership with Clever the night before BETT. It was an incredible gathering of people from all around the UK and beyond, including Germany, India, Poland, Indonesia and the US!
We presented around the Trends as well as casting a net out around the 2024-2025 Trends, which we will launch at Uprising 2025 in Manchester on 26th June. The future of education may be pick and mix!
Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.
Ben & Steve x
Championing those who are making the future of education a reality.
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Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025
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30:34
Edufuturists #277 Bringing Play Back with Sophie Pickles
In this episode of the podcast, we welcome Sophie Pickles, who Ben met out in Dubai at a gathering curated by the awesome, Simon Blower. Sophie is an educational consultant and author and discusses her journey in education, focusing on child-led learning and the importance of play in early years education.
Sophie shares her experiences transitioning from traditional teaching methods to a more child-centred approach, highlighting the challenges faced in the education system, including parental expectations and the need for educational reform. The conversation emphasises the significance of fostering children's wellbeing and autonomy, questioning outdated practices like homework, and the necessity of innovative training for educators. Sophie also discusses her work in parenting education and the growing community of parents seeking alternative educational options for their children.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Introduction06:30 Child-Led Learning: A New Approach10:51 Challenges in Early Years Education14:55 The Importance of Play in Learning19:54 Questioning the Education System25:20 Parenting and Education: Bridging the Gap31:45 Innovative Training for Educators39:48 Quickfire Questions and Closing Thoughts
Follow Sophie on LinkedIn
Follow Sophie on Instagram
Subscribe to her Parenting YouTube channel
Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.
Ben & Steve x
Championing those who are making the future of education a reality.
Check out all about Edufuturists
Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?
Get in touch
Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025
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42:51
Edufuturists #276 Schools as Ideas Factories with Ben Whitaker
In this episode of the podcast, Steve does a solo interview with Ben about his upcoming book, The Ideas Guy: Unleash Your Inner Genius. They explore the origins of Ben's identity as 'The Ideas Guy', the influences that shaped his thinking, and the importance of authenticity in personal and professional development. The discussion also goes into the metaphor of a dinner party to illustrate how Ben curates ideas and insights from various influential figures, emphasising the need for a structured approach to creativity and innovation.
In this conversation, we explore the themes of authenticity, leadership, and personal development. We discuss the importance of shining one's light and being true to oneself, the role of coaching in leadership, and the concept of unleashing one's inner genius. The discussion also touches on the purpose of Ben's book, which aims to help individuals discover and frame their unique ideas and potential.
Grab a copy of Ben's book here
Chapters
00:00 Introduction02:00 The Birth of the Ideas Guy (not literally!)07:41 Influences and Inspirations12:42 The Dinner Party Metaphor21:25 The Importance of Authenticity26:54 Shining Your Light: Authenticity in Leadership32:14 The Role of Coaching in Leadership39:03 Unleashing Your Inner Genius46:49 The Purpose of the Ideas Guy Book
Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.
Ben & Steve x
Championing those who are making the future of education a reality.
Follow us on X
Follow us on LinkedIn
Check out all about Edufuturists
Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?
Get in touch
Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025
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50:23
Edufuturists #275 Building a Community with Leisa Grace Wilson
In this episode of the podcast, we engage in a lively conversation with Leisa Grace Wilson, an educator and leader based in Abu Dhabi. We discuss Leisa's journey from the UK to the Middle East, the challenges and opportunities of leading in a culturally diverse environment, and the rapid pace of educational reform in the region.
Leisa shares insights on the importance of community for educators, the role of her platform Teach Middle East, and the impact of her podcast. The conversation also touches on the significance of using LinkedIn for professional growth and the courage it takes to pivot in one's career.
Find out more about Leisa and her work via the links below:
Teach Middle East Magazine
Leisa Grace Linkedin
The Middle East School Leadership Conference
The AI in Education Summit 2025
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:45 Leisa's Journey to the Middle East
06:29 Cultural Navigation in Leadership
09:18 Rapid Development in Abu Dhabi's Education
12:27 Future-Proofing Education
19:59 Teach Middle East: A Resource for Educators
22:36 Creating Community for Educators
26:11 The Importance of Staff Rooms and Community Spaces
30:02 The Importance of Social Interaction in Education
31:40 Insights from the Teach Middle East Podcast
34:20 The Passion Behind Podcasting
37:26 The Value of Long-Form Conversations
39:49 Understanding Educational Leadership
41:55 Personalised Professional Development in Education
46:20 Creating Meaningful Connections at Events
56:42 Leveraging LinkedIn for Educators
01:00:42 The Courage to Pivot in EducationThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.
Ben & Steve x
Championing those who are making the future of education a reality.
Follow us on X
Follow us on LinkedIn
Check out all about Edufuturists
Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?
Get in touch
Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025
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1:05:21
Edufuturists #274 Infinite Education with Dan Fitzpatrick
In this episode of the podcast, we welcome back Dan Fitzpatrick to discuss the evolving landscape of education in 2025. We explore the challenges and innovations in global education systems, the impact of artificial intelligence, and the need for strategic thinking to prepare students for the future.
The conversation goes into the necessity of both revolutionary and evolutionary changes in education, emphasising the importance of innovation and adaptability in a rapidly changing world. In this conversation, we explore the evolving landscape of education, emphasising the need to rethink traditional metrics and the purpose of education.
We discuss the concept of treating education as an infinite game, focusing on lifelong learning and personal development rather than merely preparing students for the workforce. The conversation also touches on the importance of decentralisation in education, the potential for innovation, and the role of community involvement in shaping a more holistic educational experience.
Many of these themes are in Dan's upcoming book - Infinite Education - which you can preorder here.
Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome to 2025: A New Year and New Beginnings
02:59 Dan's Journey: Insights from the Field
06:02 Global Perspectives on Education: Challenges and Innovations
09:08 The Future of Education: Shifting Paradigms and Strategies
11:58 Artificial Intelligence in Education: Opportunities and Threats
14:53 Navigating the Education System: The Need for Change
17:57 Speculative Design: Imagining the Future of Learning
21:02 Revolution or Evolution? The Dual Path of Educational Change
27:19 Rethinking Education Metrics
28:54 The Infinite Game of Education
31:14 Defining the Purpose of Education
32:41 Preparing Students for Life, Not Just Work
36:10 Decentralisation in Education
40:20 The Future of Educational Innovation
46:41 The Shift from Finite to Infinite Learning
50:34 Community Involvement in Education
Ben & Steve x
Championing those who are making the future of education a reality.
Follow us on X
Follow us on LinkedIn
Check out all about Edufuturists
Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?
Get in touch
Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2025
We are led to believe that the education system will continually evolve to meet the needs of learners and society. This has not happened. We need a revolution!