Episode 13: Creating a Learning Community "in the Sky"!

06/07/21 • 56 min

My friend Cath Fraise is ALWAYS creating, making, and dreaming of how to bringing learning to youth with a focus on their becoming agentic, self-directed agents of their own lives. Several years ago she created Workspace Education, which Chris went to see and then was blown away by. And since has been assisting and supporting others who want to create their own local version of workspace in their communities, through 100 Roads. Now she is building a Workspace in the Sky, a virtual co-learning community space for youth to be self-directed in their learning, find peers to work and learn with and from, offer multiple avenues for learning, support youth with ongoing advising and coaching, AND support parents in how THEY can best assist and support their children to be self-actualized. Amazing, amazing, amazing.
In this episode, Jim and Chris talked with Cath about why she does what she does (the 1st half of the podcast, recorded in late December 2020) and then Chris catches up with Cath in early June 2021 to see how her plans are taking shape to create her new learning space.
It all feels like "Alice in Wonderland" to Chris. In such a good, remarkable, and amazing way. Listen!
About The Revolutionaries
Cath Fraise

Previous Episode

Episode 12: Inspiring a Brighter Future

It's amazing how individuals from around the world come together around the same desire and purpose – to impact education for youth and the teachers in our systems. Hear how and why Vanessa Wilkins from Oregon with a background in leading efforts with Nike and Harvard, James Harris from his schooling in Oakland and subsequent President of the Oakland School Board, and Sanjili Gilway, by way of Toronto and now in the US supporting youth engage in projects that impact their community and the lives of others talk about their efforts. A special episode hearing from those coming from very different histories but sharing the pursuit of making a difference for others in education.
About The Revolutionaries
Vanessa Wilkins
James Harris
Sanjili Gidwaney
Vinay Gidwaney

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Episode 14: It's About MY Learning

In the center of Denver, on the corner of Navajo Street and W 37th Avenue exists three entities: Pinwheel Coffee, Framework Cycles, and Embark Education. But the big story here is Embark Education, an alternative, learner-centered middle school where the focus is on supporting young adolescents' curiosity in learning, "supporting students to courageously inquire, engage, and discover a sense of self." The school focuses as much on typical academics as it does on their students' social development and interpersonal growth. Listen here to Miguel Gonzalez, Director of the School, and Megan Parry, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and four of their students – Elijah, Eireann, Hayes, and Jazmin – talk about the design of the school and how it has given students the opportunity to own their own learning. As Eireann says, "It's about MY learning." And as Hayes adds, "I'm a lot happier here." She and the others talk about how the community supports their learning by focusing on who they are and how they best learn. Pinwheel Coffee and Framework Cycles are businesses where they can apply and extend their learning, but the real power of Embark is in its design of learning and the focus on youth – empowering their learning. Give a listen!
About The Revolutionaries
Miguel Gonzalez
Megan Parry
Embark Students