The Future of Smart

Hosted by Ulcca Joshi Hansen | Grantmakers for Education

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Mar 2024

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About the show

The Future of Smart, a project of Grantmakers for Education, explores ideas at the intersection of education, equity, and philanthropy that point us towards a radical re-envisioning of our education system. We’ll hear from those working at the edge of what’s possible and explore what it means to support transformative change for young people and their communities. We can’t move our education system forward until we see what’s been holding us back. We have to recognize our assumptions, and our blind spots. This podcast helps listeners recognize how we got here and what assumptions we’ve accepted about young people and education. And it provides us with new ways to think about creating something truly different.

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29 recent

March 21, 20241 hr 8 min

Student-Centered Assessment with Temple Lovelace and Susan Lyons

In the final episode of Season 2, we are joined by Dr. Temple Lovelace, executive director of Assessment for Good, and Dr. Susan Lyons, co-founder and executive director of Women in Measurement. They are colleagues and leaders in the field of educational measurement, challenging fundamental assumptions that underpin how our dominant education system values, designs and uses assessments. Join us for a conversation in which we explore why thinking differently about what and how we measure is critical to building human-centered systems of learning and education. If you are new to this podcast, we suggest listening to episodes 2-4 to build a foundation for the concepts and principles we'll keep returning to on the Future of Smart.E.2 - From Brain Bound to Our Extended MindsE.3 - A Return Journey to WisdomE.4 - Using Science to Imagine a New Purpose and Design for Education with Dr. Pamela Cantor

February 22, 202458 min

Doing Philanthropy Differently with Jamie Allison

In this episode of the Future of Smart podcast, host Ulcca Joshi Hansen speaks with Jamie Allison, executive director of the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, which collaborates with partners whose work provides access and opportunity, building a more equitable community in the Bay Area. Their conversation explores the ideological shifts that have led the fund to engage in interest-based partnerships with the organizations they fund, and what this has meant for everyone engaged in the work, including the fund’s board and staff, as well as their nonprofit partners. If you are new to this podcast, we suggest listening to episodes 2-4 to build a foundation for the concepts and principles we'll keep returning to on the Future of Smart.E.2 - From Brain Bound to Our Extended MindsE.3 - A Return Journey to WisdomE.4 - Using Science to Imagine a New Purpose and Design for Education with Dr. Pamela Cantor

February 8, 20241 hr 9 min

Expanding Definitions of Success, Equity and Innovation with Mia Howard

In this week’s episode, Ulcca speaks with Mia Howard, managing partner and leader of Innovative Schools at NewSchools Venture Fund. Mia and Ulcca explore the work being done by a new generation of school leaders who are dedicated to building more human-centered programs that embrace expanded definitions of success, equity and innovation. Learn about the ways in which Mia and her team are learning about what it means to codesign with communities and deconstruct assumptions about what matters most about how we educate young people. If you are new to this podcast, we suggest listening to episodes 2-4 to build a foundation for the concepts and principles we'll keep returning to on the Future of Smart.E.2 - From Brain Bound to Our Extended MindsE.3 - A Return Journey to WisdomE.4 - Using Science to Imagine a New Purpose and Design for Education with Dr. Pamela Cantor

January 25, 202453 min

Innovation as Human-Centered Design with Jenny Curtin

Ulcca and Jenny Curtin, Director of Education at the Barr Foundation, explore the innovative approaches and human-centered design principles that are transforming education. Gain insights into how these efforts are ensuring that every student not only completes their high school journey successfully but also becomes an active and engaged member of their community.The Barr Foundation envisions high-quality schools where every child is known, challenged, and supported. Their commitment is to create environments where every student is not only prepared for college and career but is also equipped to navigate the opportunities and challenges beyond graduation.The high school years are crucial in shaping the future of young people. Unfortunately, many New England students face challenges, with some leaving high school early or graduating unprepared for the road ahead. In this episode, discover how the Barr Foundation is actively supporting a diverse range of public schools across New England. These include traditional district schools, charter schools, pilot schools, and innovation schools.Don't miss this insightful conversation on January 25, 2024, where education meets innovation on "The Future of Smart." Presented by Grantmakers for Education, this episode promises to inspire and inform as we discuss the vital role of education in shaping the future. If you are new to this podcast, we suggest listening to episodes 2-4 to build a foundation for the concepts and principles we'll keep returning to on the Future of Smart.E.2 - From Brain Bound to Our Extended MindsE.3 - A Return Journey to WisdomE.4 - Using Science to Imagine a New Purpose and Design for Education with Dr. Pamela Cantor

January 11, 202451 min

Reimagining Student Outcomes with Laurie Gagnon

In this episode, Ulcca Joshi Hansen interviews Laurie Gagnon, Program Director for CompetencyWorks at the Aurora Institute. They discuss competency-based approaches to education that organize learning around demonstrated skills and knowledge rather than lockstep grade-level standards. Gagnon explains how competency models better account for individual development and allow more flexibility in how and when learning happens. Ulcca and Laurie talk about how competency systems open the door for broader educational ecosystems involving families, out-of-school providers, and community organizations. They also discuss how competency models value the knowledge and skills students already have through their family, cultural roots, languages spoken, and passions. The episode explores how competency-based systems support more personalized, equitable learning for all students. If you are new to this podcast, we suggest listening to episodes 2-4 to build a foundation for the concepts and principles we'll keep returning to on the Future of Smart.E.2 - From Brain Bound to Our Extended MindsE.3 - A Return Journey to WisdomE.4 - Using Science to Imagine a New Purpose and Design for Education with Dr. Pamela Cantor

December 14, 202342 min

Neurodiversity and a System for All Minds with Dr. Temple Grandin

This week’s guest is world-renowned animal rights advocate and autism spokesperson, Dr. Temple Grandin. Having spent her career exercising her skills in service of humane animal treatment in the livestock industry, Dr. Grandin is becoming increasingly engaged in educating communities about the need to recognize and support diverse kinds of minds within our education system. Join us for a conversation in which we explore the differences between how verbal and visual thinkers see the world, her concerns about how our education system fails to nurture the potential of learners with different kinds of minds and why that matters; as well as her suggestions for change. If you are new to this podcast, we suggest listening to episodes 2-4 to build a foundation for the concepts and principles we'll keep returning to on the Future of Smart.E.2 - From Brain Bound to Our Extended MindsE.3 - A Return Journey to WisdomE.4 - Using Science to Imagine a New Purpose and Design for Education with Dr. Pamela Cantor

November 30, 202346 min

This Moment and Movement

Join us for a special conversation between civil rights icon Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Jr., and LaShawn Routé Chatmon, executive director of the National Equity Project. In this intimate chat held prior to their 2023 EdFunders conference plenary session, they explore lessons from America’s civil rights movement and their relevance at a moment when many of the hard-won rights of that era feel under siege. If you are new to this podcast, we suggest listening to episodes 2-4 to build a foundation for the concepts and principles we'll keep returning to on the Future of Smart.E.2 - From Brain Bound to Our Extended MindsE.3 - A Return Journey to WisdomE.4 - Using Science to Imagine a New Purpose and Design for Education with Dr. Pamela Cantor

November 9, 202356 min

Opening New Paths for Philanthropy

In this episode of the Future of Smart podcast, host Ulcca Joshi Hansen speaks with Christina Engel and Tiffany Johnson of Magic Cabinet, a philanthropic organization that seeks to shift power dynamics in philanthropy by championing community-driven grantmaking.Engel and Johnson explain how Magic Cabinet centers community voice, builds trust, and creates the conditions for nonprofits to define success for themselves. They share stories of the relationships they foster and the lessons they've learned over five years of this community-driven approach.Looking ahead, they envision Magic Cabinet modeling more equitable practices and advocating for systemic change in philanthropy, with the goal of decentralizing power and shifting decision-making authority to communities. The episode explores how funders might adopt more holistic, indigenous values and grantmaking strategies. If you are new to this podcast, we suggest listening to episodes 2-4 to build a foundation for the concepts and principles we'll keep returning to on the Future of Smart.E.2 - From Brain Bound to Our Extended MindsE.3 - A Return Journey to WisdomE.4 - Using Science to Imagine a New Purpose and Design for Education with Dr. Pamela Cantor

October 26, 202353 min

Intergenerational Work with Student Parents to Enable Postsecondary Success with Nicole Lynn Lewis

In this thought-provoking episode of the Future of Smart podcast, guest Nicole Lynn Lewis, founder of Generation Hope, shares her personal journey from being a pregnant teenager to a college graduate and a change-maker. She discusses the societal biases and stereotypes that often limit the potential of teen and student parents, particularly within communities of color. Highlighting her organization's work, Lewis talks about the FamilyU program, which collaborates with colleges and universities to create inclusive campuses for student parents. She emphasizes the need for systemic change in the educational sector and the importance of involving student parents in solution-building. Lewis also underscores the inherent value of a college education beyond earning credentials - as a platform for individuals to discover their identity, explore their passions, and decide how they want to contribute to society. The episode concludes with a discussion on the unique skills and experiences that parenting students bring to classrooms and workplaces, challenging the narrative around under-resourced students. Tune in to hear a powerful conversation about changing narratives and creating more inclusive educational spaces. If you are new to this podcast, we suggest listening to episodes 2-4 to build a foundation for the concepts and principles we'll keep returning to on the Future of Smart.E.2 - From Brain Bound to Our Extended MindsE.3 - A Return Journey to WisdomE.4 - Using Science to Imagine a New Purpose and Design for Education with Dr. Pamela Cantor

September 21, 202355 min

Using Tech to Create More Human-Centered Support Systems with Alexandra Bernadotte

In this episode of the Future of Smart podcast, host Ulcca Joshi Hansen interviews Alexandra Bernadotte, founder of Beyond 12, a tech-enabled nonprofit that supports students in navigating the complex higher education ecosystem. Bernadotte shares her own experiences as a first-generation college student and discusses how Beyond 12 leverages technology to enable a human-centered approach to mentoring and advising to help students succeed in higher education. The episode also explores the growing trend of EdTech and its impact on education funding. Tune in to hear how Alexandra and Beyond 12 are working towards transforming the college experience for historically underserved populations. If you are new to this podcast, we suggest listening to episodes 2-4 to build a foundation for the concepts and principles we'll keep returning to on the Future of Smart.E.2 - From Brain Bound to Our Extended MindsE.3 - A Return Journey to WisdomE.4 - Using Science to Imagine a New Purpose and Design for Education with Dr. Pamela Cantor