Wide Walls

I am excited to share this new episode of Wide Walls on a very special day for my wonderful guest, Isabelle Hau, as her first book, Love to Learn, is released today!Isabelle is the Executive Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, and a passionate advocate for young children’s development and well-being, rooted in educational research and deep empathy.At the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, Isabelle collaborates with scholars, students, and external partners to leverage the latest advances in brain and learning sciences, data, and technology to create more effective and equitable learning solutions for everyone.She’s also served on the boards of some of the most innovative organizations in education and impact investing, such as EdSurge, Khan Academy Kids, Reach Capital, and Wonderschool. She has judged prestigious innovation competitions worldwide, including XPrize and the LEGO Foundation’s $143 million early childhood challenge, and spoken at over 100 national and international events, including the US Senate.In 2024, she was recognized as one of the “Women Leading in AI Revolution in EDU” by ASU-GSV, and in 2021, she received the GlobalMindED “Inclusive Leader Award – Early Childhood Education.”In this episode we first discuss Isabelle’s research and insights on relational intelligence, a concept that is central in her book. Then, we explore the role of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning and some of the challenges faced by learning science researchers. Finally, Isabelle shares her views on the potential applications and impact of new technologies in education.Find more about Isabelle’s work:* Isabelle’s website* Love to Learn - Book* Small Talks - Newsletter* Stanford Accelerator for Learning This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

A conversation with Sedinam Worlanyo is always packed with joyful stories, unexpected reflection, and actionable insights! Once you start this episode, I bet her contagious energy will keep you on!Sedinam is a Senior UX Researcher at Coursera, focusing on learner experience, as well as international expansion efforts, to make learning accessible to everyone across the globe. She also leads the Coursera for Africa initiative, aimed at nurturing young talent across Africa and serving as a connector for partnerships within Coursera and organizations based in Africa.Sedinam also created a newsletter called Skills Scratchpad where she shares personal insights to make UX research more approachable to people who may be interested but feel intimidated by this type of role.In this episode of Wide Walls, we discuss her experience at Coursera and reflect on challenges and best practices when conducting international research. Then, we expand our conversation towards her vision of the EdTech and entrepreneurial ecosystems in Ghana - and in Africa more broadly - and the exciting opportunities for exchanges of skills and knowledge.Find more about Sedinam’s work:* Sedinam’s LinkedIn* Skills Scratchpad - NewsletterReferences from the episode:* Coursera Global Skills Report 2024 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

Let’s start 2025 with a wonderful conversation with Dr. Maggie Broderick about social-emotional learning and the similitudes between music and language learning!Maggie is an Associate Professor and Dissertation Chair in the Department of Teacher Education at National University in San Diego. With over 20 years of experience in education, both in higher education and K-12, she is a leader in curriculum development and is passionate about fostering social-emotional learning in students.Throughout her career, Maggie has held multiple leadership positions, including Curriculum Director and Director of Advanced Research Center. She has also spearheaded numerous initiatives at the intersection of educational innovation and research.In this episode, we discuss her research and insights on social-emotional learning as well as the impact of the pandemic on students. We also explore the intersections and similitudes between music and language learning, and the impact of technology.Find more about Maggie’s work:- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-broderick-19321414/- Research Gate - https://www.researchgate.net/search/publication?q=maggie%20broderick- National University - https://www.nu.edu/References from the episode:- CASEL Framework - https://casel.org/- “Motivation and Momentum” (book) - https://www.igi-global.com/book/motivation-momentum-adult-online-education/309178- “How to Differentiate Instruction in Academically Diverse Classrooms” (book) - https://www.amazon.com/Differentiate-Instruction-Academically-Diverse-Classrooms/dp/1416623302 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

Scott is an inspiring Product Leader in the Toys and EdTech industries with more than 20 years of experience in the field and a wealth of knowledge and insights.In this episode, Scott explains the importance of spatial cognition to predict success in STEM fields along with insightful stories and research on the topic. He also shares his thoughts on the evolution of the toys and EdTech landscape over the past decade. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

Andy is a Group Product Manager for ChromeOS Education at Google - reaching more than 50 million children - and co-creator of the award-winning Toontastic app designed to help kids easily create and share their own animated stories.In this episode, Andy shares his entrepreneurial journey building Toontastic and his design approach to support children’s creativity. We also discuss his role at Google managing large scale projects and his optimistic vision of generative AI for education. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

Ryan Jenkins defines himself as a constructionist educator, a term we will define further in our conversation. After working for more than 10 years at the Exploratorium, the fantastic science museum in San Francisco, he co-founded Wonderful Idea Co. with Nicole Catrett to support the exploration of art, science, and technology through making and tinkering.For many years, Ryan has been advocating for educators to explore a tinkering-based education philosophy through professional development workshops, keynote talks, mentorship, and written guides and resources. In fact, this October, he will release his first book, The Tinkering Workshop. This book will help kids and adults get started with everyday materials, build personally meaningful projects, and explore ideas related to art, science, and technology. I personally can’t wait to get my hands on it!In this episode, we dive into the world of making and tinkering to understand its values and benefits for learning, and we learn more about Ryan’s personal journey as an educator, entrepreneur, and writer.Find more about Ryan's work:- wonderfulidea.co/blog - www.thetinkeringworkshop.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

Elaine Chung, Founder and Chief Play Officer of My Play Type, shares her passion for integrating playful practices in organizations. She discusses the transformative power of play in professional life, enhancing employee well-being and productivity. The conversation highlights the twelve play types, emphasizing their role in teamwork and creativity. Elaine also reflects on navigating complex identities and the importance of authentic self-expression, especially in the workplace. Get ready to rethink how play can revolutionize both work culture and personal fulfillment!

Danny Joe LaBrecque is a preschool teacher, early childhood specialist, and the creator and host of the amazing children's show Danny Joe's Tree House.Danny Joe uses play-based therapies including puppetry to help children, teachers and parents process complex social issues. He created Danny Joe’s Tree House to invite families to slow down and engage with characters and stories that provide valuable opportunities for social-emotional learning.The series features a diverse community of real-life caregivers, plus a lively cast of puppets, working together to explore strategies for self-regulation, communication, caring for oneself, and acceptance of others.In this episode, we discuss his journey towards becoming a content creator, the risks and benefits of using different media for children’s content, the impact of social-emotional learning through play-based stories, and more.Find more about Danny Joe's work:- Danny Joe's website- Danny Joe's Tree House: Youtube and Sensical TV- Cookies for Breakfast (podcast) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

Evren Yiğit is a renowned author and expert in children’s content and storytelling, with a background in child development studies, media creation, and creative writing, and over 15 years of experience in the industry.She co-founded Mako Kids in 2017, a children-first media, production, and consultancy company that specializes in creating quality content for kids of all ages. She also recently co-founded KidsAI, a community hub and internet journal for safe, ethical, responsible, and beneficial AI practices and tools for children.In this episode, we discuss Evren’s passion for leveraging research and industry insights to create content that is both enjoyable and beneficial to children, with a focus on cultural sensitivity, inclusion, social behavior change, and the opportunities brought by AI to advance children’s media.Find more about Evren's work:- https://www.linkedin.com/in/evren-yi%C4%9Fit-25160450/- https://makokids.io/- https://kidsai.io/   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com

Janella Watson is an educational and organizational strategist and champion of inclusion, equity, and authentic representation in Children’s Media. She is an executive leader, brand manager, experiential learning specialist, and researcher whose transformative approach to advising inspires and guides clients to create curriculum, experiences, and media content that spark family engagement, learning, and joy. Janella is an accomplished international speaker and leading voice in culturally responsive education. Her team’s recent and current clients and partners include Nickelodeon, Spin Master Entertainment, Brooklyn Public Library, Cartoon Network Studios, and Sesame Workshop.In this episode, we first discuss her experience reframing family experiences at children’s museums and science centers, and then explore the topics of inclusion and equity when creating learning experiences and media content for children.Find more about Janella's work:- https://www.linkedin.com/in/janella-watson-educational-consultant/- https://www.watsoncreativeconsulting.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit widewalls.substack.com