Education Leaders

• Change Starts Here | A Conversation with Efraim Lerner

  What if everything your school needed was right in front of you? In this special extended conversation, Shane sits down with his co-author Efraim Lerner for an unfiltered chat about their upcoming book "Change Starts Here" and why they believe schools need to rediscover confidence in their own communities. Shane and Efraim dig into how schools have gradually outsourced their decision-making, creating dependency on quick fixes and outside solutions. They challenge the assumption that expertise must come from outside, arguing instead that schools create the most powerful change when they leverage the knowledge already within their walls - from teachers and students to parents and support staff. They talk through their question-driven approach to change, featuring 40 questions that help schools discover what they already have rather than telling them what they need. Why do most change initiatives collapse within three years? How can schools create "resonant" change that feels authentic to their community? And why must schools build internal confidence before they engage with external consultants? These are the questions driving their thinking.Resources & LinksOrder "Change Starts Here: What If Everything Your School Needed Was Right in Front of You?"Amazon Pre-order LinkPublisher Website - RoutledgeWaterstones Pre-order Work CollaborativeWebsite: workcollaborative.com Connect with Efraim LernerLinkedIn: Efraim LernerJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• The Truth About Metacognition | A Conversation with Nathan Burns

  Shane sits down with Nathan Burns, widely known as "Mr Metacognition," to tackle one of education's most discussed yet frequently misunderstood concepts. Nathan brings refreshing honesty to the conversation, immediately acknowledging that metacognition is complicated and that existing definitions don't do a particularly good job of explaining what it actually is. Far from being the latest educational fad, Nathan traces metacognition back to John Flavell's work in the 1970s, highlighting how education often repackages established concepts as revolutionary new ideas. Nathan offers his own practical definition of metacognition as "the little voice inside your head that's guiding your planning and your evaluation." He breaks down metacognition into six foundational pillars: knowledge of task, knowledge of self, knowledge of strategies, plus the regulation processes of planning, monitoring, and evaluation. This framework provides concrete areas that schools can focus on rather than treating metacognition as an invisible, unmeasurable concept. Perhaps most valuably, Nathan provides clear guidance on when schools are actually ready for metacognition work. He's refreshingly direct that metacognition isn't a silver bullet and certainly isn't the right starting point for every school. As Nathan puts it, "if chairs are being thrown, then that's not the next step in that journey." Instead, metacognition works best in schools where strong teaching foundations already exist and leaders are ready for long-term improvement focused on incremental gains.Guest InformationNathan Burns, known as "Mr Metacognition," brings over half a decade of expertise in metacognitive theory and practice to schools across the UK and internationally. He's the author of two five-star reviewed books on metacognition published by Sage Publications and has contributed articles to leading education platforms including TES and SecEd. Nathan collaborates with major educational organisations like Oxford University Press and has built a reputation for making complex educational theory accessible and practical for classroom implementation. Resources and LinksEducation Endowment Foundation (EEF) Metacognition and Self-Regulated Learning Guidance ReportNathan Burns' website and resourcesNathan Burns on Twitter/XNathan Burns on LinkedInJohn Flavell's foundational 1979 research "Metacognition and Cognitive Monitoring"Nathan's book "Inspiring Deep Learning with Metacognition"Nathan's book "Teaching Hacks: Fixing Everyday Classroom Issues with Metacognition" Episode PartnerThe International Curriculum Association: Learn moreJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• An Ecological Approach to Wellbeing | A Conversation with Lori Cohen

  What if the secret to transforming your school culture wasn't another initiative, but learning to tend to it like a terrarium? In this episode, Shane talks to Lori Cohen about her revolutionary ecological approach to wellbeing in schools. Rather than treating wellbeing as just another programme, Lori introduces a powerful terrarium metaphor that shows how all elements of school culture work together as an interconnected ecosystem. Lori Cohen is an experienced school leader, instructional coach, and education consultant with over two decades in education. She's co-author of "Integrating Educator Well-Being, Growth, and Evaluation: Four Foundations for Leaders."Key TakeawaysWellbeing as Soil, Not Another PlantEducator wellbeing is the foundational soil from which all other school improvements growWithout healthy soil, nothing else can truly thriveRuptures Are Necessary for EvolutionChange requires some things to break down before they can be rebuilt strongerWhat needs to "die" so something better can emerge?The Fractal Approach to ChangeStart small and deep rather than broad and shallowFocus on one dimension rather than trying to fix everything at onceAllow successful patterns to naturally replicate and scaleThe Eight Dimensions of Collective WellbeingWage satisfaction and transparent compensationJob stability and role clarityWorkload management and equitable distributionAutonomy and self-efficacyInclusion in policymaking and decision-makingCommunity care and leadership modellingEmotional intelligence (individual and collective)Strong, supportive relationships that can be built, sustained, and repairedResources and LinksConnect with Lori:Lori Cohen on LinkedInIntegrating Educator Well-Being, Growth, and Evaluation: Four Foundations for Leaders by Lori Cohen and Elizabeth Denevi (Routledge)Additional Resources Mentioned:Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brownMindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol DweckThinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanEpisode PartnerThe International Curriculum Association: Learn moreJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Should Schools Teach Gaming? | A Conversation with Dr. Khizer Khaderi & Dr. Steffen Sommer

  When 89% of a population plays games and two-thirds are under 35, that's not a problem to solve - it's a medium to embrace. Today we explore a fascinating partnership between Stanford University's Human Perception Lab and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince School, where gaming isn't just motivation - it's pedagogy. Dr. Khizer Khaderi (Stanford University) & Dr. Steffen Sommer (Misk Schools, Saudi Arabia) challenge everything we think we know about digital natives, revealing how we're systematically "un-teaching" natural curiosity and forcing students to live in two worlds: digital at home, analogue at school. From Pokemon champions attending Ivy League universities to students learning astrophysics through gameplay, this conversation reveals why the future of education lies not in dragging students back to the 20th century, but in meeting them where they already are.Key Topics DiscussedThe Gaming Revolution in EducationSaudi Arabia's unique demographic: 89% of population plays games, 70% under 35Moving from "gamification" (tricking students) to "gaming for purpose"Why gaming should be treated as sport, not just entertainmentMeeting Students Where They AreThe fundamental disconnect: teaching how we think they should learn vs. how they want to learnWhy motivation problems stem from this educational misalignmentThe danger of forcing students to live in two worlds: digital at home, analogue at schoolRethinking Traditional CurriculumWhat should we stop teaching if students can look it up in seconds?The difference between memorising times tables and understanding mathematicsWhy handwriting skills matter less in a digital worldMoving from knowledge acquisition to information verification skillsInnovation and Divergent ThinkingHow we systematically "un-teach" natural curiosityThe importance of making mistakes and asking "what if?"Cross-pollination and generalist thinking in a specialised worldAcademic innocence: why younger minds generate breakthrough ideasPractical ImplementationCreating gaming suites with educational purposeForming partnerships with universities beyond just university admissionWorking with examination boards to change assessment methodsThe role of interdisciplinary teaching and teamwork in exams Resources MentionedBook: "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World" by David EpsteinHistorical Educational Games: Oregon Trail, MULEResearch: Daphne Bavelier's work on gaming and learning (University of Rochester, 2003)Stanford Human Perception Laboratory: Stanford HPLMisk Schools: Misk Schools WebsiteEpisode PartnerThe International Curriculum Association: Learn moreJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• The Hidden Science of Human Values | A Conversation with Ruth Taylor

  Shane Leaning sits down with Ruth Taylor from the Common Cause Foundation to explore the fascinating world of human values and what they mean for school leadership. Ruth shares insights from decades of social psychology research that challenges everything we think we know about motivation.Key Topics CoveredThe Schwartz Values FrameworkHow 58 human values map onto our decision-makingWhy some values are complementary whilst others are antagonisticThe difference between intrinsic and extrinsic valuesThe Values Perception GapWhy 74% of people prioritise intrinsic values like equality over extrinsic ones like wealthHow we consistently misjudge what motivates othersThe self-fulfilling prophecy this creates in our organisationsPractical Applications for School LeadersWhy competitions and prizes might backfire in the long termHow to ask "what values am I wanting to nurture?" before designing initiativesMoving from outcome-focused to values-focused leadershipCreating space for conversations about what really mattersKey InsightsWe all hold all 58 values but "dance" in different parts of the map at different timesCultural pressures often push us towards extrinsic values even when we'd naturally choose intrinsic onesYou're always strengthening values through your leadership - the question is which onesStarting small and building habits around values-based thinking can create significant changeSimply reflecting on our own values strengthens our intrinsic motivations Useful LinksRuth Taylor's website: ruthtaylor.orgCulture Soup newsletter: valuesnarrativesculture.substack.comCommon Cause Foundation: commoncausefoundation.orgSchwartz Values Framework map: Available on the Common Cause website Episode PartnerThe International Curriculum Association: Learn moreJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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