S E4: The Learning Game: Inspiring Critical Thinking in Kids – with Ana Lorena Fábrega

09/01/23 • 19 min

Kids are naturally inquisitive and ready to see everything with fresh eyes. But many traditional school settings sideline their innate curiosity in favor of teaching them how to follow norms and seek social approval. For most students, this stifles the innovative spirit and critical thinking we long for them to develop.

For this episode, Ana Lorena Fábrega joins me to talk about the challenges of conventional schooling. She has fresh ideas about alternative educational pathways and possibilities for a world where AI and other technologies help our children maintain fresh perspectives and a true love for learning.

Listen now to hear:

The concept of “vuja de” – encountering something familiar, but seeing it with fresh eyes [05:20];
The value of encouraging kids to develop an attitude of skepticism [06:30];
How we can help kids develop a big-picture view that reveals patterns and relationships between things [09:19];
Why it’s important for kids to ask why [13:17]; and
The power of asking children unconventional questions [15:12].

Don’t miss Today’s Takeaways!

Listen all the way to the end of the episode for three tips on how to inspire your children’s fresh thinking and love of learning.

Links and Resources

Check out Ana Lorena Fábrega’s website and sign up for her newsletter.
When you’re done, take a look at her YouTube channel and blog, and follow her on Instagram.
Ana also has a new book available, The Learning Game: Teaching Kids to Think for Themselves, Embrace Challenge, and Love Learning
Find more helpful resources on the Future of Education YouTube channel. Don’t forget to like and subscribe!
Learn more about 2hr Learning, an AI-powered program that helps schools provide personalized, mastery learning in as little as two hours per day.
Explore Alpha, a unique school that uses adaptive software and motivational strategies to help students to learn in the style that works best for them.
Learn more about GT School, an online program that helps gifted and talented kids supercharge their academics.

Be part of something special

Stay connected to the Future of Education community:

If you enjoy the Future of Education podcast, would you leave us a short review on your favorite podcast platform? We love reading your feedback and ideas.

About Ana Lorena Fábrega

Ana Lorena Fábrega is an edupreneur, writer, and chief evangelist at Synthesis. Growing up, she attended ten schools in seven different countries. She then earned her BS in Childhood Education and Special Education from New York University and taught elementary school in New York, Boston, and Panama. Today, Ana Lorena writes online to over 200,000 readers about the promise of alternative education. Her first book, The Learning Game: Teaching Kids How To Think For Themselves, Embrace Challenge, and Love Learning comes out September 5, 2023. You can follow her on Twitter at @anafabrega11

Podcast Credits

Executive Producer and Host: MacKenzie Price
Executive Producer: Lindsay Grubb,TillCo Media
Senior Producer: Amanda Avery
Senior Editor: Alisa Jenkins, Springboard Marketing
Video Production/Editing: Kevin Smith, Picturebox Productions
Music Producer: Dyami Wilson

Listen now to hear:

The concept of “vuja de” – encountering something familiar, but seeing it with fresh eyes [05:20];
The value of encouraging kids to develop an attitude of skepticism [06:30];
How we can help kids develop a big-picture view that reveals patterns and relationships between things [09:19];
Why it’s important for kids to ask why [13:17]; and
The power of asking children unconventional questions [15:12].

Don’t miss Today’s Takeaways!

Listen all the way to the end of the episode for three tips on how to inspire your children’s fresh thinking and love of learning.

Links and Resources

Check out Ana Lorena Fábrega’s website and sign up for her newsletter.
When you’re done, take a look at her YouTube channel and blog, and follow her on Instagram.
Ana also has a new book available, The Learning Game: Teaching Kids to Think for Themselves, Embrace Challenge, and Love Learning
Find more helpful resources on the Future of Education YouTube channel. Don’t forget to like and subscribe!
Learn more about 2hr Learning, an AI-powered program that helps schools provide personalized, mastery learning in as little as two hours per day.
Explore Alpha, a unique school that uses adaptive software and motivational strategies to help students to learn in the style that works best for them.
Learn more about GT School, an online program that helps gifted and talented kids supercharge their academics.

Be part of something special

Stay connected to the Future of Education community:

If you enjoy the Future of Education podcast, would you leave us a short review on your favorite podcast platform? We love reading your feedback and ideas.

About Ana Lorena Fábrega

Podcast Credits

Executive Producer and Host: MacKenzie Price
Executive Producer: Lindsay Grubb,TillCo Media
Senior Producer: Amanda Avery
Senior Editor: Alisa Jenkins, Springboard Marketing
Video Production/Editing: Kevin Smith, Picturebox Productions
Music Producer: Dyami Wilson

Previous Episode

S E3: I’m Exceptional! Identifying Neurodiversity in Kids, featuring Emily Kircher Morris, LPC

Every parent has moments when they wonder if their kid’s behavior is a normal phase or a sign of something more. Is a high-spirited middle schooler just full of energy or struggling with ADHD? Is a child’s efforts to excel a sign of healthy self-motivation or the result of excessive anxiety? It can be difficult to know the difference.

For this episode, Emily Kircher-Morris shares insights into how parents and caregivers can discern what's developmental and what’s something that needs support. As a counselor and the host of The Neurodiversity Podcast, she’s an expert on parsing typical behavior from neurodiversity indicators. She’s also taking her counseling into the future by using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help build coping skills. She has great advice about how parents of kids with learning disabilities or autism can help their children thrive.

Listen now to hear:

The meanings of the terms neurodivergent and twice exceptional [01:45];
Signs parents can look for that might correlate to diagnoses [04:07];
Steps to take if you believe your child needs support [07:19] and
How you can use AI to support your efforts to help your child [09:00].

Don’t miss Today’s Takeaways! Listen all the way to the end of the episode for three tips on how to help your neurodiverse child.

Links and Resources

Listen to The Neurodiversity Podcast and learn more about Neurodiversity University.
Don’t miss Emily’s free course, Using Fandoms + AI to Develop Coping Skills for Neurodivergent Kids
Check out Emily’s books, Teaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today’s Classrooms and Raising Twice-Exceptional Children: A Handbook for Parents of Neurodivergent Gifted Kids.
Connect with Emily on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, and check out The Neurodiversity Podcast’s Facebook page too!
Find more helpful resources on the Future of Education YouTube channel. Don’t forget to like and follow!
Explore Alpha, a unique school that uses adaptive software and motivational strategies to help students to learn in the style that works best for them.
Learn more about GT School, an online program that helps gifted and talented kids supercharge their academics.

Be part of something special

Stay connected to the Future of Education community:

If you enjoy the Future of Education podcast, would you leave us a short review on your favorite podcast platform? We love reading your feedback and ideas.

About Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC

Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, is the host of The Neurodiversity Podcast, which explores the psychological, educational, and social needs for enriching the lives of neurodivergent people. She is the author of several books for parents and educators related to the development of children and teens who are neurodivergent and cognitively gifted. Her private practice outside of St. Louis, Missouri, specializes in mental health support for neurodivergent kids, teens, and their families.

Podcast Credits

Executive Producer and Host: MacKenzie Price
Executive Producer: Lindsay Grubb, TillCo Media
Senior Producer: Amanda Avery
Senior Editor: Alisa Jenkins, Springboard Marketing
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Next Episode

S E5: Get on the AI Train: Teaching Kids to Use Artificial Intelligence, with Zain Punjwani

The explosion of artificial intelligence (AI) has taken many parents and teachers by surprise. It feels like this technology should have taken years to reach our schools and children, but it’s already arrived, and now families are trying to catch up.

But what’s the right approach to take when it comes to AI and our children? How can they benefit from it, and are there potential dangers to watch out for? Today, I’m speaking with Zain Punjwani, program director at Apollo School. We’re going to break down the best ways for families to approach AI to help their kids thrive.

Listen now to hear:

How to think about AI when it comes to helping kids learn and grow [02:53];
Why many schools are intimidated by AI and what they can do about it [07:58];
Ideas for experimenting with AI with teens [11:49] and younger children [14:24]; and
The importance of getting on the AI train TODAY [16:50].

Don’t miss Today’s Takeaways!

Listen all the way to the end of the episode for three tips on how to inspire your children’s fresh thinking and love of learning.

Links and Resources

Read this McKinsey & Company report about the growing use of AI in the workplace.
Explore AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Dream Studio, and Runway that can help kids learn through creating games, stories, art, and other creative work.
Take a look at how ChatGPT has already advanced to deliver responses that cater to users' context and goals.
Learn more about Apollo School.
Find more helpful resources on the Future of Education YouTube channel. Don’t forget to like and subscribe!
Learn more about 2hr Learning, an AI-powered program that helps schools provide personalized, mastery learning in as little as two hours per day.

Be part of something special Stay connected to the Future of Education community:

If you enjoy the Future of Education podcast, would you leave us a short review on your favorite podcast platform? We love reading your feedback and ideas.

About Zain Punjwani Zain Punjwani builds education systems that help students become the best version of themselves. Zain’s journey in education began when he helped build an entrepreneurship academy for the University of Cape Town. Over the last three years, Zain has designed and delivered over 500 sessions for more than 300 students from 30+ countries focused on problem-solving, decision-making, and increasing inner confidence and curiosity. Zain has also built over 30 experiential learning courses using AI for universities across North America that are used by over 1,000 students. Zain is currently a Program Director at Apollo where students ages 10-13 explore their interests and learn about technologies shaping the world through application-based challenges.

Podcast Credits