What Have Students Learned During Their School Years and What Do They Value?

What Have Students Learned During Their School Years and What Do They Value? | Benjamin Freud, Ph.D.

Posted By: Benjamin Freud, Ph.D.

January 6, 2022

Listening to education podcasts, there are many conversations about the student experience that take place between adults, and while there can be so much to learn from pedagogical experts and leaders, it’s all too rare that anyone asks the students themselves about their school years.

In this podcast, I interview 3 recent High School graduates about what they learned the past 4 years, in school and outside, what resonates with them, what they would change in schools, and how prepared they feel for life after High School.

We often talk about voice and choice for students, so this was a chance to give them space to express themselves. They have much to teach us if we want to design learning experiences that make an impact as well as make connections with the students.

In this episode, we learn (confirm?) that students value choice, relationships, and the space to pursue their interests. No surprise maybe, but these kids have some insightful ideas about how to go about it all.

You may also be interested in listening to more Coconut Thinking podcasts on Intrepid Ed News.

student voice and choicce

Benjamin Freud, Ph.D.

Benjamin Freud, Ph.D. is the co-founder of Coconut Thinking, which creates learning and action experiences where all learners have a common purpose; positive impact on the welfare of the bio-collective — any living thing, sentient or plant, that has an interest in the healthfulness of the planet. Benjamin also works as the Whole School Leader of Learning and Teaching at an International School in Thailand. He was the Academic Coordinator at Misk Schools, which, as the school of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is the most prestigious and high profile school in the kingdom. In 2018-2019, he was also the Head of Upper Primary and Middle School at Misk. Prior to this, he was Vice Principal of the Middle School and High School at the Harbour School in Hong Kong. He holds a Ph.D. in History, an MSc in Education, an MBA, an MA in International Relations, and a BA in International Affairs. Benjamin was born and grew up in Paris, France. He moved to the U.S. when he was 15 and spent 11 years there in different cities, before living in the U.K., Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and now Thailand. He started his career in consulting for Internet start-ups in Silicon Valley in the late 1990s, working with people whose ambitions were no less than to change the world. This experience had a profound effect on Benjamin’s outlook on education, innovation, and entrepreneurialism.