Drawing on decades of work with students and teachers worldwide, Gary argues that experience — not instruction — is the foundation of real knowledge, and that the tools available to learners today make what was once unimaginable entirely within reach.

Dive into how AI is being used — and overused — in K‑12 education, from practical classroom tools to sourcing concerns. Experts separate hype from reality.

Dan and Gary talk about Gary's dear friend, the late Seymour Papert, and the meaning of a computer in a classroom, phones in schools, Gary's experience teaching in a prison in Maine, and why reading from actual books is so vital.

In this keynote address, Seymour Papert spoke of "learning environmentalism" and shared the "Land of Suet" parable he loved.

This recently found video features insights from Professor Carla Rinaldi and Dr. Edith Ackerman. Rinaldi emphasizes the Reggio Emilia approach, illustrating with a story about young children learning through projects and peer interactions. Ackerman discusses the intersection of design, play, and aesthetic in learning. Both stress the value of iterative learning, documentation, and the teacher’s role in creating a dynamic, supportive learning environment. Additionally, the conversation addresses the importance of projects, meaningful documentation in education, advocating for a holistic and reflective approach to teaching and learning.

In this conversation, Gary and Will discuss the complexities and pressing issues faced by educators in the modern world. They reflect on past educational practices, the impacts of the pandemic, and the importance of prioritizing the well-being of students over rigid adherence to curricula and standardized testing. The dialogue critiques the ill-advised educational methods adopted during the pandemic, such as hybrid classrooms and policing of student behaviors during remote learning. The conversation transitions to broader societal issues, including the political and social divides affecting education, authoritarian tendencies, and the controversies surrounding artificial intelligence in schools. The speakers emphasize the necessity for educators to vote and act in their own interests, suggesting potentially drastic measures like strikes to advocate for better conditions. They also touch on the problematic nature of current educational fads and policies, urging a return to child-centered learning approaches and questioning assumptions about literacy and learning crises. The discussion explores how schools and educators can better respond to meta-crises like climate change and biodiversity loss. They conclude by contemplating a radical thought exercise about redesigning the educational system to maximize quality learning within a limited timeframe, acknowledging the challenges against a backdrop of political and social turmoil. Throughout, the importance of empathy, teacher autonomy, and genuine engagement with students is highlighted as key to fostering a meaningful educational experience.

In this episode, Dr. Kahn discusses his journey with AI, including his work in generative AI, ToonTalk programming, and his focus on enabling children to integrate AI into their projects. The conversation highlights the book's focus on engaging students with chatbots to create interactive web apps, educational simulations, and storytelling exercises. Dr. Kahn shares specific examples, from simple web apps to complex, curriculum-related simulations and structured conversations. The discussion underscores the potential for AI to enhance project-based learning, foster computational thinking, and support creative explorations in various educational contexts.

In this episode, Gary Stager, and Las Vegas school administrator Joseph Carver discuss Gary's work with teachers, Seymour Papert, 1:1 computing, teaching computing to children, the Constructing Modern Knowledge summer institute, and inventing the future of education.

After about fifteen years of the maker movement and the adoption of makerpsaces in education, Dr. Gary Stager, co-author of Invent to Learn - Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom, has some thoughts on tinkering. This keynote reviews lessons learned and launches educators towards a future students deserve.

Fearless educator, author, and guest speaker Alfie Kohn has been featured at Constructing Modern Knowledge on three separate occasions, including our very first year. Here is a a recording of his most recent CMK conversation.