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Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
Seth Fleischauer
72 episodes
1 day ago
Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning is the podcast for globally-minded educators seeking thoughtful conversations about how education can adapt to an ever-changing world. Your host is Seth Fleischauer, former classroom teacher turned founder of an international learning company specializing in the teaching of global learning. Each episode features educational changemakers whose insights lead to practical solutions as we explore the interconnectedness of people, cultures, and systems and how these relationships shape transformative ideas in education.
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Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning is the podcast for globally-minded educators seeking thoughtful conversations about how education can adapt to an ever-changing world. Your host is Seth Fleischauer, former classroom teacher turned founder of an international learning company specializing in the teaching of global learning. Each episode features educational changemakers whose insights lead to practical solutions as we explore the interconnectedness of people, cultures, and systems and how these relationships shape transformative ideas in education.
Show more...
How To
Education
Episodes (20/72)
Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#70 Teacher and Learner Autonomy in the Age of AI: Rethinking Language Education with Greg Kessler

In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer welcomes Greg Kessler, Professor of Innovative Learning Design and Technology at Ohio University, to explore the evolving intersection of language education, technology, and cultural context. Drawing on more than two decades of international consulting—with the U.S. Department of State among many partners, alongside universities, ministries of education, and NGOs worldwide—Greg shares how teachers can integrate new tools without losing the human and cultural heart of learning.

They trace the evolution of educational technology—from pre-internet classrooms and early chatbots like ELIZA to today’s AI-driven tools—revealing how innovation often cycles back with new accessibility and scale. The conversation centers on teacher and learner autonomy, authentic technology use, and how educators worldwide can adapt tools to fit their cultural contexts. Greg’s reflections highlight a timeless principle: technology should amplify learning, not replace it.

Key Topics Discussed:

  • The early roots of AI in language education and what’s truly new about today’s tools
  • How to identify technology that adds authentic value versus “digital noise”
  • Using social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram for meaningful language practice
  • Teacher and learner autonomy across different cultural settings
  • Avoiding “cognitive bypass” when using AI in EFL and language learning
  • The promise of virtual and augmented reality for global collaboration
  • Innovation as a mindset: turning educational challenges into opportunities

Guest Bio:
Greg Kessler is Professor of Innovative Learning Design and Technology at Ohio University. He has worked with educators across more than 40 countries to promote meaningful technology integration in English language teaching. His research focuses on teacher autonomy, AI, and the evolution of computer-assisted language learning.

Host Bio:
Seth Fleischauer is the founder and president of Banyan Global Learning, an international education company delivering experiential learning that builds global competency. A former classroom teacher, Seth is passionate about exploring how global learning and mindful innovation can transform education.

Episode Links:

  • Greg Kessler on LinkedIn

  • Greg Kessler’s Google Site

  • Our Next Reality: How the AI-powered Metaverse Will Reshape the World by Alvin Wang Graylin and Louis Rosenberg



Show more...
1 day ago
44 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#69 How Portland Is Reimagining CTE with AI and Community Partners (with Chris Brida from Portland Public Schools)

Guest: Chris Brida, District Administrator, Career & Technical Education (CTE), Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate at Portland (OR) Public Schools. 

A returning guest, Chris is building systems-level, boundary-spanning partnerships that tie K–12 CTE to real pathways in higher ed, industry, and community—while bringing AI into both the classroom and the collaboration process.

Episode Summary:
CTE isn’t “shop class” anymore. Chris Brida returns to map how AI is reshaping CTE on two fronts: AI in CTE (a cross-cutting skill every pathway needs) and AI for CTE (a co-pilot for partnership design and management). He explains “boundary spanning leadership”—innovation that happens in the gray space between systems—and shows it in action through the Albina D-Lab, a seven-year pipeline linking Portland Public Schools and Portland State Engineering to community partners serving Black student excellence. We also dig into student aptitudes, why literacy looks different in CTE (think schematics and blueprints), and why deeper, interdisciplinary learning is the antidote to anxiety about a fast-changing world.

Key Topics:

  • AI in CTE vs. AI for CTE—and why both matter now
  • Boundary spanning leadership as a template for real partnerships
  • The Albina D-Lab: a systems-level model for equity and engineering pathways
  • Student aptitudes, durable skills, and invention education
  • Deeper learning and the end of siloed “90 minutes of math”

Resources Mentioned:

  • Advance CTE (national career clusters; AI as cross-cutting)
  • Oregon Clean Energy Workforce Coalition (statewide clean energy pathway)
  • Albina Vision Trust
  • Portland State University — College of Engineering
  • MESA (engineering, human-centered design)
  • The Lemelson Foundation (invention education)
  • PPS Center for Black Student Excellence

Connect with Chris Brida:

  • LinkedIn

Connect with Banyan Global Learning:

  • banyangloballearning.com

 If this conversation sparked a new way of thinking, share it with a colleague or leave a review—more educators will find what’s possible when learning goes global.

Show more...
2 weeks ago
46 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#68 AI Can Fix What’s Broken in Schools—If We Do It Right (with Aaron Baughman from Michigan Virtual)

In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer welcomes back Aaron Baughman—AI Strategist at Michigan Virtual—to explore what’s changed in K–12 AI and what’s working in real classrooms. With clear, passionate urgency, Aaron makes the equity-centered case that AI can fix what’s broken in K-12 schools—if we do it right: use tools and policies that protect students, empower teachers, and unlock truly personalized, student-paced learning.

Key Topics Discussed

  • Equity First: Why AI can level the playing field for under-resourced schools if implemented thoughtfully.
  • Personalized, Student-Paced Learning: Moving beyond static lesson plans to interest-aligned tasks and dynamic scaffolds.
  • Cognitive Bypass, Prevented: Designing AI-supported tasks that keep students thinking, drafting, revising, and reflecting.
  • Data Into Action: Turning chat logs and interactions into real-time grouping, targeted re-teaching, and MTSS support.
  • New Classroom Capabilities: Safe simulations (e.g., CTE scenarios) that create high-feedback, low-risk practice.
  • Policies That Enable Innovation: Keep board policy nimble; set local procedures; vet vendors; minimize data.
  • PD That Sticks: Building teacher capacity from AI-curious to AI-confident with practical, classroom-first coaching.
  • Digital Citizenship 2.0: Teaching skepticism and verification in the era of deepfakes and multimodal AI.

Guest Bio

Aaron Baughman is AI Strategist at Michigan Virtual. On loan from his position as Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services at Northville Public Schools, he now supports districts statewide in implementing safe, effective AI practices that center equity, privacy, and pedagogy.

Host Bio

Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and an advocate for global, digital, and cultural competencies in education. Through live virtual programs and thought leadership, he helps students and educators explore the interconnectedness of people, cultures, and systems.

Episode Links

  • Michigan Virtual AI Lab (educator, student/parent, and admin guides)
  • Tools Mentioned: SchoolAI, Brisk Teaching, Curipod, Snorkl
  • Previous Conversation with Aaron (earlier Make It Mindful episode)
  • Conversation with Aaron's colleague on Seth's other podcast, Why Distance Learning?: #63 The Human Side of Systems Change with Dr. Tovah Sheldon 

Host Links

  • Banyan Global Learning — meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.
Show more...
4 weeks ago
43 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#67 Building Sustainable Professional Development Across Cultures with Dr. Trevor Soponis

In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer welcomes back to the podcast Dr. Trevor Soponis—educator, researcher, and founder of the Sustainable Learning Projects—to explore how to make professional development more impactful for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers. Drawing on years of observation and coaching across continents, Trevor shares how he helps teachers in Taiwan increase student speaking opportunities while balancing progressive and traditional approaches. The conversation highlights what sustainable teacher support looks like in cross-cultural contexts and why teacher-driven strategies create lasting change.

Key Topics Discussed:

  • How Trevor’s classroom observations in Taiwan reshaped assumptions about classroom management and student readiness to learn
  • Why teachers often overestimate student talk time—and strategies to shift the balance toward more student speaking
  • The cultural contrasts between U.S. progressive pedagogy and traditional Asian classroom norms
  • Using structured professional development to surface teacher-driven strategies, including deeper explorations of “turn and talk”
  • Practical tools like whiteboards, open-ended questions, and accountability systems that foster authentic language use
  • The power of the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle for teacher-led continuous improvement
  • Lessons learned about providing hybrid and remote coaching support across time zones
  • Why sustainable teacher coaching is a “hill to die on” for Trevor, and how it combats burnout and turnover

Guest Bio:
Dr. Trevor Soponis is an educator, researcher, and founder of the Sustainable Learning Projects. With a background spanning classroom teaching, university partnerships, and district-level leadership, Trevor now supports schools around the world with professional learning that is teacher-centered, sustainable, and transformative. He is a longtime collaborator with Banyan Global Learning, supporting teachers both in-person and remotely. Trevor is most active on LinkedIn.
.

Host Bio:
Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and an advocate for global, digital, and cultural competencies in education. Through live virtual programs and thought leadership, he helps students and educators explore the interconnectedness of people, cultures, and systems.

Episode Links:

  • Sustainable Learning Projects
  • Previous episode with Dr. Trevor Soponis (Episode 13 of Make It Mindful)

Host Links:
Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.

Show more...
1 month ago
41 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#66 How a Scrappy Video Experiment Became a Model for Cultural Fluency (with Tsai Hsing Alumni)

In this episode of Make It Mindful, host Seth Fleischauer takes us on the origin story of Learning Live—his scrappy, video-conferencing English program that began in 2007 with one camera and 42 fifth-graders in Taipei. Through candid student testimonials (from reporting on Ukraine news to college-application interviews) and Seth’s own memories of adapting progressive pedagogy to a Taiwanese context, we explore how this live virtual learning program evolved from a novel experiment into a model of cultural fluency, confidence, and connection that’s now reached over 5,000 students on three continents.

Key Themes

  • From Drill to Dialogue: How shifting away from grammar drills toward real-world communication transformed English learning.
  • Context and Courage: Student stories of stepping out of comfort zones—using English to cover international news, interview professors, and tackle college applications.
  • Blended Beginnings: The humble roots of Learning Live—borrowing teleconferencing gear after teaching in New York and pitching a bridge-across-the-world model to Tsai Hsing School in Taipei.
  • Cultural Adaptation: Lessons in moving slowly, celebrating mistakes, and balancing collectivist expectations with a global mindset.
  • Authentic Connection: Why imperfect, “messy” live virtual field trips—from Starbucks lines in L.A. to Christmas traditions—became powerful windows into everyday life around the world.
  • Enduring Impact: How graduates carry forward confidence, critical thinking, and cultural fluency long after their time with the program ends.

Student Voices

  • “Because of this program, I had the courage to jump out of my comfort zone.”
  • “Learning Live felt like a break from regular class—it was unforgettable.”
  • “I use English now to report on international events and interview people for college applications.”
  • “Those field trips—when the video shook or the audio crackled—it felt real, and that authenticity taught me more than any textbook.”

Host & Guest Bios
- Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and the architect of Learning Live. After experimenting with contextualized English lessons in Taipei, he pioneered daily, live virtual classes that blend quality pedagogy with cross-cultural exchange. Over 17 years, his program has helped thousands of students build language skills, confidence, and global citizenship.

- Featured Alumni include:

  • Jasper, current Boston University finance student
  • Alicia, reporter at Taiwan’s news station
  • Emily, Ariel, and Ian - 12th graders at Tsai Hsing High School


Episode Links

  • Banyan Global Learning: https://www.banyangloballearning.com
  • Learn more about Learning Live: https://banyangloballearning.com/learning-live-2/
Show more...
2 months ago
21 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
(Rewind) #41 Lindy Hockenbary on AI in Teacher PD

How can schools use AI thoughtfully to help educators reclaim time, reduce burnout, and stay focused on teaching?

In this condensed episode of Make It Mindful, EdTech expert Lindy Hockenbary joins us to unpack what practical, human-first AI-powered professional development really looks like for teachers today. We dig into:

  • Where AI makes the biggest difference (and where it doesn’t)
  • How to help teachers start using AI without adding overwhelm
  • Why mindful, teacher-first PD matters now more than ever

👉 Want to bring AI into your school with confidence and clarity?
Download our free AI PD Starter Kit — a quick-start guide to help educators use AI as a tool to enhance learning.

📥 Download the Starter Kit

Show more...
3 months ago
14 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#65 Why We’re All Becoming Third Culture Kids with Chris O'Shaugnessy

In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer welcomes Chris O’Shaughnessy, international speaker, author, and advocate for third culture kids (TCKs) - children who grow up in a culture different from their parents’ or passport country and who often attend international schools. The episode explores how the TCK experience is becoming increasingly relevant for students everywhere. Chris and Seth discuss how growing up with multiple cultural inputs and frequent transitions shapes identity, empathy, conflict resolution, and resilience—and why these same themes are essential in today’s rapidly changing world. The episode highlights how we can build the small “weights” of resilience into classrooms and homes, helping students better navigate discomfort, conflict, and complexity.

Key Topics Discussed:

  • What defines a third culture kid and why their experiences matter beyond international schools
  • Identity formation and the challenge of answering “Where are you from?” in a globalized world
  • How relational resilience is undermined by both transience and technology
  • The cost of avoidance and the rise of “relationship disposability”
  • Why adaptability is a critical life skill and how to help students build it
  • The need for intentional inefficiencies to build resilience in the age of convenience
  • How rethinking culture as a non-zero-sum game creates more compassionate global citizens

Guest Bio:
Chris O’Shaughnessy is a speaker, author, and passionate advocate for international and third culture kid communities. With a background in both performance and global education, Chris brings humor and insight to topics like identity, cross-cultural communication, and resilience. He has worked with international schools, diplomatic organizations, and corporate groups around the world.

Host Bio:
Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and an advocate for global, digital, and cultural competencies in education. Through live virtual programs and thought leadership, he helps students and educators explore the interconnectedness of people, cultures, and systems.

Episode Links:

  • Chris O’s website: www.chris-o.com
  • Chris’s podcast Diesel & Clooney Unpack the World
  • Book: Arrivals, Departures, and the Adventures In-Between by Chris O’Shaughnessy

Host Links:

Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.

Show more...
4 months ago
41 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#64 CTE 2.0: Preparing Students for High-Wage, High-Demand Futures with Chris Brida

In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer welcomes Chris Brida, district administrator at Portland Public Schools, to explore how career and technical education (CTE) can transform K-12 learning. They discuss the urgent need for public-private partnerships and the role of cross-functional teams in driving educational systems change. The episode highlights how aligning education with workforce needs can empower students with durable, transferable skills—without sacrificing choice or creativity.


Key Topics Discussed:

  • The evolution of CTE: from vocational stigma to future-ready pathways
  • Why CTE must start before high school: awareness, exploration, and preparation
  • Building public-private partnerships to align K-12 with workforce needs
  • How to design systems that are nimble, sustainable, and equitable
  • The power of cross-functional teams to solve educational problems
  • Why K-12 must stop working in isolation—and what happens when it doesn't
  • How bringing in outside expertise can solve internal challenges (like teacher burnout)

Guest Bio:
Chris Brida is a district administrator for Portland Public Schools, overseeing Career and Technical Education (CTE), Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. He is also a doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky, where his research focuses on the role of public-private partnerships in education systems change.

Host Bio:
Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and an advocate for global education. He leads conversations with forward-thinking educators who are shaping the future of learning by connecting people, cultures, and systems.

Episode Links:

  • Connect with Chris Brida on LinkedIn
  • Learn more about Portland Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education programs

Host Links:

Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.

Show more...
5 months ago
40 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#63 What If Middle School Didn’t Suck? Rethinking Adolescence with Chris Balme

In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer welcomes Chris Balme, educator, author, and founder of Hakuba International School and Millennium School, to explore how middle school can be redesigned to better support adolescent development. They discuss how current structures often fail kids during this crucial time—and how identity, social belonging, and real-world engagement can drive meaningful transformation. The episode highlights the importance of brave spaces, authentic adult role models, and trusting students to lead.

Key Topics Discussed:

  • Why middle school “doesn’t have to suck”—and how to redesign it
  • Three developmental drivers in early adolescence: identity, social belonging, and contribution
  • The role of advisory in creating safe and brave spaces for meaning-making
  • How weird (authentic) adults help model real growth for students
  • The power of apprenticeships and real-world learning experiences
  • Navigating cultural authenticity in American and Japanese school contexts
  • How distance learning can level access to global ideas and connections

Guest Bio:
Chris Balme is an internationally recognized educator, school founder, and author of Finding the Magic in Middle School. He founded Millennium School in San Francisco and Hakuba International School in Japan, both designed around the developmental needs of adolescents. Chris is also the creator of Spark, a nonprofit that has facilitated over 17,000 apprenticeships for middle schoolers. His newsletter, Growing Wiser, shares ongoing insights on adolescent learning.

Host Bio:
Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and an advocate for teaching digital and cultural competencies through a global lens.

Episode Links:

  • Chris Balme’s book: Finding the Magic in Middle School – https://www.findingthemagicinmiddleschool.com
  • Growing Wiser Newsletter – https://chrisbalme.substack.com
  • Hakuba International School – https://www.hakuba-is.jp
  • Millennium School – https://millenniumschool.org
Show more...
6 months ago
33 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#62 Peer-Based Mental Health with Dr. Hayley Watson

In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer welcomes Dr. Hayley Watson, clinical psychologist and founder of Open Parachute, to explore how schools can meaningfully address student mental health without overburdening teachers. They unpack the developmental science behind peer-based mental health education and discuss how a preventative, skill-based approach can empower both students and educators.

Key Topics Discussed:

  • Why traditional therapy alone can’t meet the scale of the youth mental health crisis.
  • How peer-driven, documentary-style lessons create authentic, relatable entry points for mental health discussions.
  • The power of practicing emotional regulation, communication, and critical thinking in a classroom setting.
  • Why teachers don’t need to be mental health experts to facilitate meaningful conversations.
  • The developmental need for adolescents to learn from peers rather than adult authority figures.
  • How Open Parachute equips educators with ready-to-use, non-clinical mental health lessons.
  • What happens when we avoid the “can of worms” — and why we must open it with care and structure.
  • Building a culture of self-reflection in schools to shape future generations of emotionally aware adults.

Guest Bio: Dr. Hayley Watson is a clinical psychologist specializing in adolescent mental health and the founder of Open Parachute. Her organization provides documentary-based mental health education programs for schools globally, helping students build emotional resilience and social-emotional skills through authentic peer storytelling.

Host Bio: Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and an advocate for global competence, digital literacy, and education reform. As a former classroom teacher, he brings deep experience and thoughtful insight to conversations that bridge practice and possibility in today’s schools.

Episode Links:

  • Try Open Parachute for free: https://openparachuteschools.com
  • Connect with Hayley on LinkedIn: Dr. Hayley Watson
Show more...
6 months ago
43 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#61 Why Most PLCs Don’t Work—and How to Fix Them with Steve Ventura

In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer welcomes Steve Ventura, educator, author, and founder of the Achievement Teams model. They explore how reflective teaching, collective efficacy, and purposeful collaboration can transform both teacher culture and student outcomes.

Ventura shares why traditional PLCs often fall short—and how his framework, rooted in evidence and emotional intelligence, gives teachers the tools to improve practice without fear. The conversation highlights the emotional challenges of teacher self-assessment, the power of root cause analysis, and the global applications of culturally responsive collaboration.

Pain Point: Teachers are expected to constantly improve—but often lack the time, structure, and emotional safety to do so effectively.

Solution: Achievement Teams provide a collaborative framework that supports honest reflection, shared responsibility, and mid-course corrections grounded in student data—not blame.

Action: Start small. Identify one meaningful learning target, build a short-cycle assessment, and focus on what you can control. From there, build trust and clarity within your team before scaling up.

Episode Links:

  • Steve Ventura’s Website
  • Achievement Teams book on Amazon

Host Links:

Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.

Show more...
7 months ago
33 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#60 Why This Online Model Outperforms Traditional Education with Highgrove's Heather Rhodes

Many educators assume online education is inherently inferior to in-person learning—especially when it comes to student agency, academic rigor, and building a real sense of community. Teachers worry students will fall behind, become socially isolated, or struggle to self-motivate in virtual settings.


Heather Rhodes, founder of Highgrove Education and former leader of Harrow School Online, proves otherwise. Her students consistently outperform their in-person peers while becoming confident, globally-minded adults. In this episode, Heather shares the key structures behind that success:

• Flipped learning models that promote deeper understanding.

• Cultural collaboration and rituals that foster true connection.

• Executive functioning skill-building baked into the curriculum.

• A values-based culture of shared academic goals and high expectations.


Listen in to learn how online educators—and brick-and-mortar schools too—can build learner autonomy, nurture global citizenship, and deliver world-class academic outcomes. Plus, Heather shares how conflict transformation, small-group work, and personalized coaching create a safe and rigorous environment where students thrive.


Key Topics Discussed:

• How to build community in an international online school

• Fostering learner autonomy and executive functioning

• The flipped classroom model done right

• Turning cultural differences into shared values

• Why online learning might actually reduce social conflict

• What kind of adults online education can uniquely produce


Guest Bio:

Heather Rhodes is the founder of Highgrove Education and the former leader of Harrow School Online. With over a decade of experience at the forefront of online international education, she’s known for designing high-impact models that combine academic excellence with global citizenship.


Host Bio:

Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and an advocate for meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.


Episode Links:

1. Highgrove Education
2. Highgrove Speaker Series – A public-facing program of expert-led talks that anyone can attend, not just enrolled students.

Show more...
7 months ago
35 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#59 How to Have Enough Time for What Matters with Miles Madison

In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer welcomes Miles Madison, an expert in literacy, SEL, and character education, to tackle a universal teacher struggle: the feeling of never having enough time.


Pain Point:

Teachers everywhere say, “There’s just not enough time.” But what if the issue isn’t time itself, but how it’s structured, prioritized, and used? Too many educators are caught in cycles of inefficiency—over-planning, managing classroom disruptions, or doing tasks for students that could be built into routines. Without strong organizational systems, clear routines, and structured collaboration, learning time gets lost.


Solution:


Miles introduces a three-pillar framework that reclaims time without sacrificing engagement:


1. Organizational Management – Optimize classroom space and daily schedules for smoother transitions and fewer distractions.


2. Routines & Rituals – Automate repetitive tasks so students can self-manage, freeing teachers to focus on deeper instruction.


3. Collaborative Learning – Teach explicit teamwork skills to reduce student dependence on teacher intervention.


Actionable Takeaways:


• Instead of saying “I don’t have time,” ask: “What am I prioritizing?”


• Invest time upfront in systems and routines that save time later.


• Recognize that SEL, literacy, and global learning aren’t “extras”—they integrate naturally when systems are in place.



Episode Links:


• EffectiveClassrooms.org


• Erin Kent Consulting: https://erinkentconsulting.com/


Host Links:


• Follow Make It Mindful for more episodes.


• Learn more about global learning with Banyan Global Learning.


If you’re ready to take back control of your teaching time, this episode is packed with practical, real-world strategies you can apply today!

Show more...
7 months ago
43 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#58 You Don’t Have to Love AI—But You Do Need to Engage With It - Special Crosspost Episode with AI Portland

Bridging AI & Education: Insights from a Live Panel Discussion


This week on Make It Mindful, we’re bringing you a special crossover episode with AI Portland, diving into one of the most pressing conversations in education today: How should AI be integrated into teaching and learning?


At a packed AI Portland event, host Seth Fleischauer moderated a panel featuring four educators with diverse perspectives on AI, from deep skepticism to full adoption. This episode captures the key insights, tensions, and takeaways from that conversation—plus reflections on what made this event such a must-attend moment for the education and AI communities.


👉 The Big Debate: Is AI a threat to foundational learning, or a tool for building student agency?


🎧 Inside this special episode:

✅ Why educators are grappling with AI’s role in critical thinking, ethics, and skill-building

✅ How different schools are approaching AI policy—from cautious restriction to full integration

✅ The tension between AI’s potential for equity vs. its environmental and ethical concerns

✅ What last night’s event revealed about the urgency and passion behind this conversation

Sharing the conversation with Seth are the founders of AI Portland, Nicole Mors and Megan Notarte.


🔥 Panelists discussed in this episode:


• Dr. Isabelle Boleyn (Associate Professor) – Highlights the risks of AI, from bias to environmental impact


• John Down (University of Portland Professor) – Predicts AI will radically transform education in the next five years


• Chris Brita (Portland Public Schools CTE, AP & IB Leader) – Advocates for AI as a tool for equity and access


• Marty Sampson (High School English Teacher) – Shares a pragmatic approach to AI policies in the classroom


Why this episode matters:

“You don’t have to love AI. But you do need to engage with it—because your students already are.” – Eric Hudson


This conversation makes one thing clear: The future of education is not about banning or blindly adopting AI—it’s about building ‘wide walls, not narrow hallways’ for students to explore their learning with agency and ethical awareness.

Visit https://www.aipdx.info/ for more information about Megan and Nicole's project, AI Portland.

Show more...
8 months ago
45 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#57 Turning Global Learning into Global Impact with Jennifer Williams (Special Crosspost Episode of Why Distance Learning? Podcast)

🎙 SPECIAL EPISODE!


This week, we’re crossposting a must-hear episode from Why Distance Learning?, featuring a conversation with Dr. Jennifer Williams, a global leader in educational technology, climate action, and social impact. Virtual learning has the power to connect classrooms across continents—but how do we ensure these connections lead to meaningful, real-world change?


👉 Today’s Big Question: Can EdTech Drive Global Action, Not Just Global Connection?


🎧 Global educators face these key challenges:

• “How do I move beyond ‘awareness’ and turn global learning into real action?”

• “What tools and frameworks actually work for integrating climate education into my curriculum?”

• “How do I foster authentic collaboration across cultures, rather than just surface-level exchanges?”


🔥 Our guest:


🔹 Dr. Jennifer Williams (Founder, Teach SDGs & Co-Founder, Take Action Global), an EdTech thought leader who helps educators harness technology to drive social impact, equity, and climate action.


🔹 Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring discuss how virtual learning can go beyond content delivery to inspire students to become active global citizens.


Key Takeaways:


✅ How Take Action Global (TAG) connects teachers and students in over 160 countries to tackle climate challenges together

✅ Why educational technology is a catalyst for real-world impact—not just an engagement tool

✅ The power of community-driven initiatives like Climate Action Day in fostering global citizenship

✅ How to design cross-cultural virtual learning experiences that build identity, empathy, and agency

✅ Practical resources and programs that help educators integrate climate education into any subject area


Learn More:


🔗 Visit Take Action Global to explore the organization’s programs: takeactionglobal.org

🌎 Explore the Climate Action Project: takeactionglobal.org/climate-action-project

📲 Check out The Earth Project App (Available on App Store & Google Play)

📚 Read Teach Boldly: Using EdTech for Social Good by Dr. Jennifer Williams (Available on Amazon)

🎉 Build the Change (Lego Group Partnership): lego.com/en-us/sustainability/build-the-change


Host links:
1. Discover more virtual learning opportunities and resources at CILC.org with Tami Moehring and Allyson Mitchell.

2. Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.

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8 months ago
42 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#56 Wide Walls, Not Narrow Hallways: How to Build Agency in a World of AI with Eric Hudson

AI is reshaping education—but how do we ensure it enhances learning without eroding foundational skills, student agency, or global competence?


Pain Points:


• “How do we balance AI-assisted learning with essential human skills?”


• “What’s the role of teachers in an AI-driven future?”


• “How do we ensure AI is a tool for agency, not a crutch?”


🔥 Our guest, Eric Hudson, is an expert in learner-centered education, AI literacy, and global learning. As a former Director at Global Online Academy, he’s seen firsthand how digital tools can empower students—when used with intention.


🎤 Key Topics Discussed:


• The balance between foundational skills and AI-powered learning


• Why decision-making & agency are the most important AI-era skills


• The vulnerability spectrum: Knowing when AI should—or shouldn’t—step in


• AI’s impact on global learning and cross-cultural education


• Lessons from Global Online Academy: How passion-based, tech-enabled learning works


Guest Links:

📍 Eric Hudson’s Substack: Learning on Purpose


References & External Mentions:


• Global Online Academy (GOA) – globalonlineacademy.org


• Scratch (MIT Media Lab’s Lifelong Kindergarten Group) – scratch.mit.edu


• UNESCO AI & Education Guidelines – UNESCO


• International Baccalaureate (IB) AI Guidance – ibo.org


Host Links:

 Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.

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8 months ago
31 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#55 The Secrets to Creating Authentic Global Connections Online with Shared Studios' Virtual Portals (Special Crosspost of Why Distance Learning? Podcast)

🎙 SPECIAL EPISODE!

This week, we’re crossposting a must-hear episode from Why Distance Learning? where we explore how immersive global connections can transform education. Virtual learning can open the world to students—but how do we ensure these experiences feel real, engaging, and deeply impactful?


👉 Today’s Big Question: Can Virtual Learning Build Real-World Global Competencies?


🎧 Global educators face these key challenges:

• “How do I create genuine, meaningful student connections across cultures?”

• “Can technology foster empathy and understanding, not just content delivery?”

• “What if cross-cultural conversations go wrong?”


🔥 Our guests:


• Dr. Brandon Ferderer (Head of Programming, Shared Studios) reveals how immersive portals create face-to-face, full-body interactions that foster authentic global dialogues.


• Ross Phillips (Social Studies Teacher, Winnacunnet High School) shares how he uses this technology to prepare students for global conversations that deepen their understanding of history, culture, and world issues.


Key Takeaways:


✅ Why screen-based interactions often fall short in creating true connection—and how immersive experiences change the game

✅ How to prepare students for respectful, deep cross-cultural discussions

✅ The role of facilitators in guiding meaningful, bias-free global conversations

✅ Real-life student success stories from transformative global learning moments


Guest Links:
Shared Studios: https://www.sharedstudios.com/

Host links:
1. Discover more virtual learning opportunities and resources at CILC.org with Tami Moehring and Allyson Mitchell.

2. Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.


Show more...
9 months ago
47 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#54 Why Most AI-Powered Teaching Misses the Mark (and How to Do It Right) with Vriti Saraf

🚨 “AI won’t replace teachers, but it will change what great teaching looks like.” 🚨


Educators are being pushed to adopt AI—but is it actually making teaching better? Too often, AI in education is used for efficiency rather than transformation, leaving teachers feeling like they’re just automating tasks instead of improving learning.


🎧 In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer sits down with Vriti Saraf, founder of Ed3 DAO, to tackle the real impact of AI on teaching and learning. Instead of using AI to churn out generic lesson plans, how can educators harness it to deepen student engagement, critical thinking, and global collaboration?


Key Takeaways:


✅ AI should enhance great pedagogy, not just automate bad teaching.

✅ The danger of cognitive offloading—how relying on AI too early can weaken essential teaching and learning skills.

✅ Why first-year teachers shouldn’t start with AI-generated lesson plans—and how to integrate AI thoughtfully instead.

✅ The “City of Learning” vision: What if an entire city became a classroom, powered by AI-driven learning experiences?

✅ The Portrait of a Teacher project: How AI might redefine who teaches and how we measure great teaching.


💡 PROBLEM → SOLUTION → ACTION

AI can be an incredible tool—but only if it’s used with intention. If you’re an educator wondering how to prepare students for a world where AI is everywhere, this episode is for you.


About Today’s Guest:


Vriti Saraf is the founder of Ed3 DAO and K20 Educators, pioneering the integration of AI, digital identity, and Web3 into global education. She works at the intersection of pedagogy and emerging technology, helping schools worldwide reimagine how learning happens.


Episode Links:


 • Ed3DAO


 • Vriti’s Substack


 • Vriti Saraf on LinkedIn


Host Links:

 Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.

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9 months ago
40 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#53 Building Cultural Competence with Gen Alpha Digital Nomads (with Noam Gerstein - Special Crosspost of Why Distance Learning? Podcast)

SPECIAL EPISODE!

In this episode of Make It Mindful, we are crossposting a stellar episode from host Seth Fleischauer's other podcast, Why Distance Learning? In this episode, hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Noam Gerstein, CEO of the Bina School and a leading expert in precision education. Noam shares her journey of creating a global, digitally native school that reimagines how education serves young learners, blending emotional connection, cultural diversity, and innovative uses of live virtual learning. The episode explores Bina School’s unique approach to play-based, personalized learning for students aged 4 to 12, with a focus on fostering global awareness and nurturing emotionally safe, collaborative learning environments.

Key Topics Discussed:

  • The importance of emotionally held learning spaces in live virtual education.
  • How Bina School uses thematic biomes and SDG projects to create meaningful learning experiences.
  • The role of adaptive content generation in balancing personalization and standardization.
  • Building a global community for young learners and redefining what a school can be.

Guest Bio: Noam Gerstein is the CEO of the Bina School, a pioneer in precision education and a thought leader in the field. With a background in history, technology, and social innovation, Noam has spent years researching global education systems and building solutions to meet the needs of Gen Alpha learners. She is a frequent speaker at education conferences and a passionate advocate for blending cultural diversity with cutting-edge technology.

Host Links:

  1. Discover more virtual learning opportunities and resources at CILC.org with Tami Moehring and Allyson Mitchell.
  2. Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.

Episode Links:

  • Bina School - thebinaschool.com
  • Contact Noam Gerstein: noam@bina.school
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9 months ago
45 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
#52 Cyberpsychology: Bringing Mindfulness to Digital Life with Michael Davis

In this episode of Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning, host Seth Fleischauer welcomes Michael Davis, founder of Mindful Bytes and Merek Security Solutions, to explore how mindfulness and cybersecurity intersect in education. They dive into the transformative potential of teaching digital citizenship through mindfulness practices to young learners, focusing on how educators can help students develop a healthier relationship with technology. Michael shares insights from his innovative pilot program, which empowers students to build digital agency and emotional awareness while navigating the digital world.


Key Topics Discussed:


 • Michael’s career journey from Navy cybersecurity expert to mindfulness educator.


 • The importance of understanding the “space between you and the device.”


 • Strategies for fostering mindfulness in children aged 6-10 to develop healthy tech habits.


 • Role-playing exercises that help kids recognize and regulate emotions in digital spaces.


 • The responsibility of schools in teaching digital citizenship and creating mindful technology users.


 • Early results from the pilot program, including increased family discussions about technology use.


 • How Mindful Bytes is addressing the emotional and psychological challenges of the digital age.


Guest Bio:


Michael Davis is the founder of Mindful Bytes, a platform that integrates mindfulness into digital citizenship education, and Merek Security Solutions, a cybersecurity consulting firm. A Navy veteran with over 20 years in cybersecurity, Michael’s passion for exploring the human side of technology has led him to pioneer innovative approaches to education. His work focuses on equipping young learners with the tools to navigate the digital world with awareness, courage, and emotional intelligence.


Host Bio:


Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning, specializing in teaching digital, linguistic, and cultural competencies through live global learning experiences. A former classroom teacher, Seth brings a thoughtful approach to exploring how education can adapt to an ever-changing world.


Episode Links:


 • Mindful Bytes: mindfulbytes.io


 • Merrick Security Solutions: merrick.io


 • Connect with Michael Davis on LinkedIn: Michael Davis LinkedIn

Show more...
9 months ago
35 minutes

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning
Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning is the podcast for globally-minded educators seeking thoughtful conversations about how education can adapt to an ever-changing world. Your host is Seth Fleischauer, former classroom teacher turned founder of an international learning company specializing in the teaching of global learning. Each episode features educational changemakers whose insights lead to practical solutions as we explore the interconnectedness of people, cultures, and systems and how these relationships shape transformative ideas in education.