In this first episode, we delve into the core of the matter: what is the purpose of school today? What skills do students need to learn for their future and how do schools go about teaching them?  

Our guest, Dr. Alan Knobloch, the Head of the International School of Hamburg, will argue that to best prepare citizens of the future who can thrive in an ever-changing global environment, schools should aim to serve the needs of the child as a whole, develop students’ knowledge and their talents, but also, and increasingly, their socio-emotional wellbeing and resilience. How do they go about this? Tune into this podcast to learn more.  

Reading List: 

• A whole new mind : why right-brainers will rule the future - Daniel H. Pink
• OECD Future of Education and Skills 2030
• One Foot in the Future by Will Richardson
  

Education Technology Integration Coach, Laura Jakubowski, shares insights on teaching digital citizenship to students. From an early age, students are taught to navigate the online world, use technology responsibly, critically, and fluently. The curriculum includes teaching how to remain safe online, how to add value to their lives and the society, and emphasizes on maintaining media balance and data protection. Laura discusses how the program helps students to grapple with complex concepts such as digital footprint and media literacy. She also sheds light on addressing cyberbullying from various angles. A significant point students are taught is technology should be used to make meaningful connections.

Reading List: 

• Teen Tips on Social Media by the New York Times

• Setting clear family rules with Psychology Today

• This family media use plan from the American Academy of Pediatrics

• Digital Detoxing for Kids

• Common Sense Media on Privacy and Internet Safety: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/privacy-and-internet-safety

• InternetMatters.org: https://www.internetmatters.org/

• Personalised Family Digital Toolkit: http://internetmatters.org/digital-family-toolkit/

• Klicksafe DE: https://www.klicksafe.de/Eltern

In this episode, we explore those fundamental skills that young people can acquire outside the traditional classroom and school campus, particularly in the great outdoors. 

Our guest, Michael Kent, a Geography and Environmental Science teacher at the International School of Hamburg, will introduce the Duke of Edinburgh International Award program he opened up in Hamburg. He'll discuss how these experiences in nature and broader society contribute to enriching essential life skills and reinforce what students learn in school.

So tune in for a breath of fresh air.

Reading List: 

Good research on the impacts of the program in the UK: https://pearsfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DofE_Impact-exec-summary.pdf

Good resources and tools for students doing it in Germany: https://duke-award.de/en/resources-and-tools/

In this episode 'The Power of Play-based learning,' Dr. Suzan Weishof explains how unstructured play is crucial for developing social skills, negotiation skills, and problem-solving abilities. Based on these important findings, Suzan describes how the International School of Hamburg incorporates play-based learning into its program and its after school care offer. She explains how play assists teachers in meeting the individual needs of each child. The interview concludes with a discussion about the decline of unstructured play in children's lives and the role of parents in encouraging learner agency by providing time, space, and open-ended materials for their children's play.

Reading List: 

• Axline, V. M. (1969). Dibs: In search of self (Vol. 6109). Mansion.
• Danger, S. (2003). Adaptive doll play: Helping children cope with change. International Journal of Play Therapy, 12(1), 105
  
• Samuelsson, I. & Johansson, E. (2007). Play and learning—inseparable dimensions in preschool practice.  Published online: 25 Jan 2007 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0300443042000302654?scroll=top&needAccess=true

• Cohen, L. (2009). Playful Parenting. Random House.

• Landreth, G. L. (2012). Play therapy: The art of the relationship. Routledge.

• Weishof, S. E. (2019). Play and speech therapy in schools: Toward a model of interprofessional collaborative practice. In Early Childhood Development: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications (pp. 186-216). IGI Global

• Whitebread, D., Basilio, M., Kuvalja, M., & Verma, M. (2012). The importance of play. University of Cambridge.

• KARAOĞLU, S. (2020). The importance of play in pedagogy in curriculum delivery and play provision for young children’s learning and development. Erciyes Journal of Education, 4(2), 18-34.

• Prins, J., van der Wilt, F., van Santen, S. & van der Veen, C. (2022). The importance of play in natural environments for children’s language development: an explorative study in early childhood education.  Published online: 11 Nov 2022 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09669760.2022.2144147

• Bongiorno, L. (2023). Ten Things Every Parent Should Know About Play. Published online https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/10-things-every-parent-play

This episode of Kids Gone Global, "Data Driven Teaching and Learning in Early Education" Tracy Rabbitts, Assistant Principal at the International School of Hamburg (ISH), shares her insights into utilizing data to enhance teaching practices.

Tracy's journey as an educator began in England, where she recognized the importance of assessing student learning. Upon transitioning to ISH, Tracy delved deeper into data analysis to understand student needs better. She explains the data-wise process implemented at ISH, which involves setting specific learning goals based on data analysis and implementing targeted teaching strategies.

Through concrete examples, Tracy demonstrates how ISH uses data analysis to inform lesson planning, support continual growth in student learning, and identify trends in student performance. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration among educators and the involvement of parents in supporting students' learning journeys.

Overall, the episode highlights the transformative role of data analytics in education, empowering educators to tailor instruction, foster critical thinking, and promote student success through personalized learning experiences.

Reading List: 

https://datawise.gse.harvard.edu/ Data Wise process

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/using-student-data-inform-teaching-rebecca-alber

Edutopia - 3 ways student data can inform your teaching