As a leader in innovative education and community with a purpose to inspire all people to love learning and flourish in life, we spend a lot of time spreading the word about what we do and how we do it.
In fact, we feel it’s our duty to ensure that kids around the world have access to education that not only takes into account their interests and their passions but uses those passions as the vehicle for accessing deep learning experiences.
One of the ways we connect our practices with other institutions is through our two-day Inspire summit, which takes place twice a year at our lighthouse hubs in Barcelona. Inspire shares our education innovation in action and teaches participants skills that they can use to transform their learning community.
As the date for the next Inspire conference nears, our Inspire team wanted to take a moment and share with you some of our own sources of inspiration. We hope you’ll share them with your colleagues and partners and use them in your own professional practice.
1. Ted Talk: “Every kid needs a champion"
Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, "They don't pay me to like the kids."
Her response: "Kids don't learn from people they don't like." Her talk, “Every kid needs a champion” is a rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.
“I LOVE this Ted Talk! Because it is about connection, about positive relationships, and never giving up on kids. Every kid needs a champion, a passion pusher, a coach. That is what is the essence of Learning Guides!” - Leticia Lipp, People & Professional Services Lead
2. HundrED
The HundrED is a global mission-driven organisation specialised in educational innovation. They identify, amplify, and facilitate the implementation of impactful and scalable education innovations.
Learnlife was recognised among many other global changemakers as one of the top 100 education innovations to watch in 2023 by HundrED.
“I love HundrED for giving visibility to all the amazing projects created around the world that allow children to flourish towards their true potential.” - Caroline Fournier, Customer Success & Administrative Champion
Learn more about the HundrED here.
3. Summerhill by A.S. Neill
This book, originally published in 1960, is the story of the English boarding school Summerhill School, founded in 1921 by headmaster Alexander Neill. It teaches Neill's educational philosophy of self-regulation for children, the founding idea of Summerhill School.
The book explores the premise that children can't be taught; they can only learn, and Neill believed that children should learn only what they want and when they want, a practice that would lead to happy, well-adjusted children.
“Devin Carberry, who's an educator I admire, a colleague, and a friend, recommended it to me. I was–and still am–interested in how brave schools self-govern.
The example and stories of Summerhill are very inspiring to that end. After reading it, the connection between personal-autonomous learning, culture, positive relationships, and thriving (micro) societies is more evident to me." - Joan Urgell Farran, LearnGuides Product Manager & Trainer
4. In Conversation with Yong Zhao: Learning Beyond 2020
This video interview between Dr. Yong Zhao and Stephen Harris follows up the themes from their first 2020 interview at the start of the pandemic. They discuss where education and schooling need to go beyond 2020, and what lessons we should take away from 2020.
The video explores topics like developing resilience in children, students as change partners, and the importance of the socio-emotional lives of our students.
“Many writers and speakers inspire me, but one of the most influential for me (and someone who I have met) is Professor Yong Zhao. Yong shows such strong clarity and understanding of the scope, urgency and need for transformation in our education systems.
"One of his articles points out with great insight the reason why the examination systems of the world are not helping, but in reality hurting students and school systems.
The time for change is now! If, as educators, we are not prepared to initiate significant transformation now, in order to best meet current known contexts, then we have already failed the next generation and those to come." - Stephen Harris, Co-Founder and Chief Learning Officer
5. Ted Talk: The Power of Vulnerability by Brené Brown
In her Ted Talk, Brené Brown describes vulnerability as the core of all emotions. “To feel is to be vulnerable,” she says.
So when we consider vulnerability to be a weakness, we consider feeling one's emotions to be so, too. But being vulnerable connects us with others. By embracing vulnerability, Brown believes you can achieve wholehearted living and accept that you are worthy of love and belonging.
“I feel deeply connected to the topic of vulnerability and the magic that comes out of a place of openness and trust. I am trying to live from that place and to connect with others from there, as we are beyond our professional selves–we all are human, and in the end, we share the same fears, the same thoughts, the same feelings. So why not just open up about them in a safe and loving environment?” - Georgi Panayotov, Learning and Development Specialist
We hope you enjoy the list and that you’ll share them with your colleagues and partners and use them in your own professional practice.
