Meet Education Project

In this episode, Christine Flanagan joins MEP to talk about the potential of competency-based learning to provide new higher education opportunities for students, new school models, and how putting students behind the wheel in the classsroom could be education's "secret sauce".  You do not want to miss this episode! Chris Flanagan is a passionate advocate for experimentation and innovation in education. We simply aren’t doing enough to create the right kind of environments and structures to serve all our citizens. Since 2004, the community that serves as the hub of her cause is the Business Innovation Factory where she is the Director of the Student Experience Lab. Following a 15-year career in advertising, marketing and communications, toiling away to help Corporate America make meaning of itself, Chris decided she'd had enough. She became interested in taking her expertise and experiences to develop the capabilities of students to become innovators. She's intrigued how design can improve the quality of experience for students. And she believes students themselves should play an active role in education innovation. In so doing, we democratize our educational system. Chris received her B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany. She regularly writes and speaks on the topics of innovation, design thinking, student voice and education disruption. When she's not at the Lab or home with her interesting kids putting her (almost) culinary degree to good work, she's dreaming of hiking the mountains of northern Utah. Social media & key links from the episode: Twitter:  @chrisflanagan LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/riflanagan Email:  chris@businessinnovationfactory.com Student Experience Lab work at the Business Innovation Factory:  http://www.businessinnovationfactory.com/projects/sxl  

In this episode, Dawn Casey-Rowe joins MEP to discuss technology to improve teacher professional development, inspiring students in the classroom, and what the word "vendor" means to her.  Don't miss this! Dawn Casey-Rowe is a renaissance woman!  Dawn is an experienced entrepreneur, teacher, writer, ed tech consultant and mother (most importantly!).  Dawn currently teaches social studies at William M. Davies Technical and Career High School in Lincoln, RI.  She also consults for Learnist, a social learning platform started by Farb Nivi.  Dawn also blogs about learning, teaching, sustainability, and Rhode Island at www.cafecasey.com. Social Media Twitter: @runningdmc LinkedIn:  Dawn Casey-Rowe

In this episode, Seth Reynolds joins MEP from The Parthenon Group's education practice.  Seth talks to us about Teach for America, new school models, and his journey. Seth Reynolds is a leader in The Parthenon Group's Education Practice. His extensive education experience spans for-profit and public sectors across K-12, post-secondary, and corporate training. He advises clients on issues related to strategy development, operational improvement, performance management, investment due diligence, and new venture creation.  His clients include a wide range of organizations, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, school districts, universities, government agencies, and some of the world’s largest foundations. In addition, Mr. Reynolds has worked extensively with clients in the information publishing and financial services industries. Internal to Parthenon, he leads the firm's Alumni Program. Prior to joining Parthenon, Mr. Reynolds was a Teach For America corps member and worked at SchoolNet. He is a founding member of the Board of Trustees of Excel Academy Charter Schools, a charter network in the Boston area. Mr. Reynolds holds a B.A. in American Studies, magna cum laude, from Amherst College. He received his M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management and his Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Social Media Twitter:  @sethbreynolds Linkedin:  Seth Reynolds

In this episode, Shawn Rubin joins MEP to chat about blended learning, effective technology integration, and EdUnderground.  Don't miss it! Shawn Rubin is the Director of Technology Integration at the Highlander Institute in Providence, RI managing the institute’s blended learning and technology integration professional development and consulting programs. Shawn organizes EdUnderground, a lab for educator exploration & innovation, that pulls high-flying educators from across the state of Rhode Island and runs design thinking activities with them once a month. Shawn is also the co-founder and CEO of Metryx, a start-up software company building flexible formative assessment tools for educators to use on mobile devices. He began his education career in 2000 as a founding faculty member of the Highlander Charter School, teaching a range of grades including four years in kindergarten. Shawn currently organizes EdTechRI meetups in RI once a month and is working to turn RI into the first "Edtech Beta State". Social Media @shawncrubin  

Everyone has an opinion on education.  Learning is personal, so many conversations become intense and sometimes divisive.  Its about family, preferences, preconceived notions, curiosity, experience, and many other factors.  One thing is for sure; education is important. The reason I am launching Meet Education Project is to focus on the amazing people behind the topic.  The people who are making a difference everyday on the lives of students and families, whether directly or indirectly.  I wanted to have conversations with teachers, administrators, entrepreneurs, education consultants, higher ed professors, venture capitalists and students.  I want to focus on the action takers, the "Do-ers", and the lifelong learners who strive to make an impact everyday. I hope you enjoy the conversations.  I have alot to learn, and I will continue to get better as time passes (I promise!).   Episode 001 is a short introduction to the project mission, who I am, and why I believe it is important.  If you like what you hear, I would love to ask you to do three things: Please subscribe to Meet Education Project on iTunes Write us a review on iTunes Tell a friend or two who may enjoy the mission and content   Please keep in touch, and I appreciate you taking the time to stop by! Stay inspired, ND