Embracing AI in Education: A Conversation with Dr. Nneka Johnson

In this episode of Kids Gone Global, host Sarah Reich sits down with Dr. Nneka Johnson, a leading voice on innovative educational technologies, to discuss the integration of generative AI like ChatGPT into schools. They explore how educators and administrators are responding to this fast-changing technological frontier. Dr. Johnson recounts her background in design thinking and her journey into AI, highlighting its potential to transform learning while acknowledging the associated challenges such as privacy risks, data bias, and the importance of critical thinking. She advises schools to focus on foundational understanding of generative AI, including prompt engineering and the creation of AI policy labs, and encourages parents to engage with these technologies to support their children's learning.

Further reading: 

• AI Act: Have Your Say on Trustworthy General-Purpose AI  - European Commission 
• 9ine - AI Readiness Guide for Schools
• AI in Education and the workforce
• Gen AI is Racist. PERIOD
• Recommended approaches to Generative AI 

In this episode Ana Mara Leppink, a Dutch-German national who graduated in 2023 and is now a student at Harvard University, and Navin Proff, a German student set to begin his studies at Yale University share with us how they navigated the international school and beyond. They discuss their diverse experiences with the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum at ISH, detailing how it prepared them for university and shaped their personal development. 

Ana-Mara and Navin highlight the rigorous academic challenges and the broad curricula of the IB, including the extended essay and Theory of Knowledge (TOK) components, which they believe equipped them well for higher education. Beyond academics, they also share how engaging in extracurricular activities like sports teams, student council, and various clubs contributed to their growth, leadership skills, and sense of community. The alumni emphasize the significant support they received from the school's faculty, particularly in terms of college applications, and reflect on the lasting impact of ISH's culturally diverse environment on their perspectives and personal growth. They conclude with advice for current and prospective students and parents on making the most of their time at ISH, reinforcing the value of taking on challenges, seeking support, and immersing oneself in the vibrant school community.

Further Reading: 

-  Proff, Navin: "Telosismus: Genesis und Vollendung des Menschen", 2023

In this episode, we delve into the critical role of arts in education with Adrian More, an award-winning pianist, composer, stage director and Head of the Arts department at the International School of Hamburg.

Adrian shares insights from his journey and student success stories, highlighting the transformative impacts of arts on mental resilience and self-belief as well as discipline and critical thinking. He addresses challenges in integrating arts into the education system and presents compelling data supporting the positive influence of a robust arts program on students' overall performance.

Adrian also explores the potential and opportunities presented by AI in the creative landscape and provides valuable advice for educators and parents to nurture creativity and artistic expression in students.

This discussion underscores the arts' unique capacity to foster individuality and build essential social skills for modern citizens.

Further Reading: 

How the Arts Develops your brain

Learning in and through the Arts

Learning in and Through the Arts: The Question of Transfer

A Study into the Effects of Art Education on Children at the Socialisation Process

Interdisciplinary working practices: can creative dance improve math?

How Arts Training Improves Attention and Cognition

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