In this episode of Educast 3000, Ryan and Melissa chat with Alana Heath, co-founder of the organization How to Change the World. Their conversation explores the importance of experiential learning in education, the challenges faced in higher education regarding skills gaps, and the transformative potential of technology and AI in enhancing learning experiences. Alana shares insights on how her organization empowers students to tackle complex social and environmental challenges through hands-on experiences and innovative pedagogical approaches. She emphasizes that sustainability should be integrated into core business practices and highlights the challenges and complexities of creating impactful educational experiences.
Takeaways:
- Experiential learning is crucial for tackling real-world problems.
- The traditional education model has not kept pace with technological advancements.
- AI can enhance learning by providing personalized support and coaching.
- Less than a third of higher education institutions offer experiential learning opportunities.
- The integration of technology in education can make experiential learning more accessible.
- Human connections should remain central in technology-driven learning environments.
- The skills gap in education is a significant barrier to student success.
- How to Change the World aims to empower students to create positive impacts through experiential learning. AI cannot replace the human experiences in learning.
- Sustainability education is becoming more prominent in higher education.
- Sustainability must be integrated into core business functions.
- A resilience mindset is essential for navigating challenges in impact work.
- Human-centered design thinking is crucial for impactful organizations.
- Diverse perspectives enhance the design of impactful practices.
- Impactful education requires experiential learning opportunities.
- The future of education will blur the lines between learning and professional development.
- Students will increasingly demand experiential learning as part of their education.
What is Educast 3000?
Ah, education…a world filled with mysterious marvels. From K12 to Higher Ed, educational change and innovation are everywhere. And with that comes a few lessons, too.
Each episode, EduCast3000 hosts, Melissa Loble and Ryan Lufkin, will break down the fourth wall and reflect on what’s happening in education – the good, the bad, and, in some cases, the just plain chaotic. This is the most transformative time in the history of education, so if you’re passionate about the educational system and want some timely and honest commentary on what’s happening in the industry, this is your show.
Subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts and join the conversation! If you have a question, comment, or topic to add, drop us a line using your favorite social media platform.
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Experiential Learning: How to Change the World
Welcome to Educast three thousand. It's the most transformative time in the history of education.
So join us as we break down the fourth wall and reflect on what's happening, the good, the bad, and even the chaotic. Here's your hosts, Melissa Lobel and Ryan Lufkin.
Hello, and welcome to Educast three thousand. I'm your cohost, Ryan Lufkin.
And I'm your other cohost, Melissa Lobo. And I am so excited by our guest today. This is really not only somebody that has inspired me since the first day I've met her, but she's got some really great insights into education, experiential education, experiential learning, sustainability education, and a whole lot of other things. So we're gonna have a we're gonna have a good conversation today.
And with us, just to get that going, is Alana Heath, cofounder of How to Change the World. Now Alana and I met through Transcend Network. It's an incubator focused on EdTech organizations that are really trying to help shape the future of learning and work. And we have instant chemistry, so I know you're gonna love hearing from her today.
And I'm excited for us to dig into so many really rich areas of things that can impact how we think about learning well into the future. So, Alana, welcome.
Thank you so much. It is really a pleasure to be here, and I'm just excited to be invited. Thank you for having me.
It's funny. I always talk about our podcast and say people have to explain, you know, what's that about. I'm like, it's the smartest people in education who make Melissa and I smarter.
Yes. And so it's I love every time we do it. And so, Alana, tell us a little bit about your background because I think it's it's amazing.
Well, I actually started my first career when I was three years old, and that's when I started studying to become a classical ballet dancer.
So a little different from where I am now, but that's a personal tidbit that has impacted my career and my entire background. So throughout my youth and teenage years, my parents traveled around the US as artists, and my brother and I traveled with them. And we were both homeschooled while I also trained to be a ballet dancer.
And in many ways, that whole process was actually my first exposure to experiential learning, both through my ballet training and also how my parents approached exposing my brother and I to the real world as we were learning. And they intentionally integrated experiential learning approaches at that time. So fast forward a little bit. At seventeen, I was honored to be offered a trainee spot in one of the top American ballet companies.
But even after those fourteen years of training, I decided not to take the opportunity. And the reason was really simple. I wanted my professional career to have positive social and environmental impact, and I didn't see dance fulfilling that aim. So I went to university and graduated passionate and ready to launch my career, but the entry level jobs that I saw just weren't engaging, and I didn't have the skills or experience I needed for the jobs I wanted.
It quickly became clear that my university career was not preparing me with the skills I needed for the work I was committed to doing.
So at that time, I chose to cofound a nonprofit, and this entailed basically a crash course in gaining skills and experience I can imagine.
Yeah.