Loading...

PODCAST

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation & Resources

Dr. Lisa Hassler

Hosted by Dr. Lisa Hassler, The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation, & Resources is a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited podcast that offers innovative solutions to educational challenges. We bring together research, expert insights, and practical resources to help teachers and parents tackle everything from classroom management to learning differences. Every episode focuses on turning common education challenges into opportunities for growth. Whether you"re a

kids & family education for kids

All Episodes

28:17

How Adaptive Learning Changes Teaching Without...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2026/10/01

Send us Fan Mail If a student can get a perfectly tailored lesson from AI in seconds, what exactly is the teacher’s job, and what does school become? That question sits underneath every new adaptive platform, every AI policy debate, and every parent’s uneasy feeling that “personalized” might also mean “alone.” We talk with Tom Woelper, Head of School at Cheshire Academy, about what’s genuinely promising in adaptive learning technology and where schools can go too far. We dig into why pairing ...

en-us

26:17

How to Identify and Treat Math Anxiety in Learners|...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2026/09/03

Send us Fan Mail We talk with mathematician and computer scientist, Dr. Aditya Nagrath, about why students avoid math even when they are capable and how confusion can harden into anxiety over time. We focus on treating math anxiety by rebuilding understanding, reshaping beliefs, and using practical strategies that teachers and parents can apply right away. • math anxiety as a cycle of stress, self-doubt, and avoidance • early comprehension gaps in quantity and math language • manipulatives a...

en-us

34:19

History as the Human Story: Teaching Students to...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2026/08/06

Send us Fan Mail History is the human story, a way of seeing the world and our place in it. In this episode of The Brighter Side of Education, Dr. Lisa Hassler welcomes back historian and Associate Professor Dr. Christopher Berg for a thoughtful conversation about the purpose of history education, how it has changed over time, and why it remains essential in today’s classrooms. Drawing from his work in Why Study History?, History and the Public Good, and “My Friend! You and I Have Passed Our ...

en-us

31:49

Why Kids Miss School: A Human-Centered Approach to...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2026/05/22

Send us Fan Mail Chronic absenteeism keeps getting described as a kid problem, but the evidence tells a different story. When we label students as “disengaged,” we miss what is often right in front of us: unreliable transportation, health crises, caregiving demands, and school policies that punish families for not having options. I’m joined by Dr. Ivory Toldson, Chief of Research for Concentric Educational Solutions and a professor at Howard University, to unpack insights from his white pape...

en-us

24:26

When Schools Can’t Find the Right Teacher: Expanding...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2026/04/09

Send us Fan Mail A student’s future should not depend on whether their school can find a qualified chemistry teacher this year—but that’s often how geography-bound education works. When the PISA 2022 report revealed declines in performance and widening gaps across countries, it’s easy to point to motivation or effort. This conversation takes a different angle: what if the real constraint is the structure of schooling and how learning is organized? Dr. Lisa Hassler is joined by Maurice O’Shann...

en-us

24:06

More Than Play: What Toybuilding Teaches Students |...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2026/03/26

Send us Fan Mail In many classrooms, toys are something we put away when it’s time to get serious. But what if toys are actually one of the most effective ways to teach? In this episode of The Brighter Side of Education, Dr. Lisa Hassler explores toybuilding as a powerful instructional approach with educational toymaker Rick Hartman, founder of School of Toy. With over 25 years of experience and more than one million students reached, Rick shares how building simple toys transforms learning f...

en-us

20:01

Not Your Granny’s Grammar: Bringing Joy Back to...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2026/03/12

Send a text Ever feel like grammar turns a lively class silent? We dig into a brighter way forward with literacy consultant and author Patty McGee, exploring how short, focused routines transform grammar from rote correction into a set of powerful choices that make writing clearer, bolder, and more authentic. Instead of chasing perfection on worksheets, we show how to build sentence craft in tiny, joyful steps that actually transfer to real writing. We start by naming the problem: isolated d...

en-us

26:20

Rebuilding Student Focus: Neuroscience-Informed...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2026/02/26

Send a text Educators across grade levels are observing a consistent pattern: students are increasingly distracted, mentally fatigued, and less able to sustain focus during academic tasks. These challenges affect reading comprehension, problem-solving, written expression, and overall learning stamina. This episode examines the cognitive and neurological foundations behind these trends and explores how neuroscience-informed innovation may support learning readiness. Drawing on research in neur...

en-us

24:46

Competency-Based Learning & Human-Centered Design: A...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2026/02/12

Send a text As automation and artificial intelligence reshape the future of work, educators face a critical question: Are we preparing students for a world defined by automation and innovation? In this episode of The Brighter Side of Education, Dr. Lisa Hassler speaks with Camp, Head of Teaching and Learning at New England Innovation Academy, about how competency-based learning and human-centered design can work together to support meaningful, future-ready education. The conversation explores...

en-us

22:22

Innovation in STEM Education: Preparing Students for...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2026/01/29

Send us a text How can STEM education keep pace with a rapidly changing world? In this episode of The Brighter Side of Education, host Dr. Lisa Hassler explores innovative approaches to STEM learning with Dr. Jennifer Berry, CEO of SmartLab. This conversation examines how authentic, project-based STEM experiences help students build STEM identity, develop problem-solving skills, and see real connections between classroom learning and future careers. Drawing on research, classroom examples, an...

en-us

20:25

Intentional Kindness in Schools | Bucket Filling with...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2026/01/15

Send us a text What if a few words and a simple image could reshape how students treat each other—and how they feel about themselves? We dive into bucket filling, a plain-language framework that sparked a global kindness movement. Grounded in the CASEL competencies and early brain research, this approach replaces vague advice with three clear rules: be a bucket filler, try not to dip, and use your lid. Carol McCloud, president of Bucket Fillers Academy and author of 11 children’s books, share...

en-us

22:20

Tinsel, Turkeys & Trying New Things: Holiday Special...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2025/12/05

Send us a text We hit “Go Live” to close our longest season yet and lean into a simple truth: growth beats perfect. Holiday crunch time made the choice easy—pivot, try the new thing, and share what’s working for educators and parents who want less noise and more clarity. We review the milestone that mattered most this year—CPD credits for listeners—so your professional learning can count toward recertification while you collect practical strategies you’ll actually use. Across the season, AI ...

en-us

22:38

How to Prepare Students for a Changing World | Barry...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2025/11/20

Send us a text Are we preparing young people to follow instructions or to solve real problems? We explore a better path with Barry Garapedian—financial advisor, mentor, and author of Winning the Game of Life—who makes a compelling case for teaching value creation as the antidote to uncertainty, inflation, and the AI upheaval. Together, we unpack the hidden curriculum, why compliance still shadows classrooms, and how to build graduates who contribute, not just compete. Barry maps out his Seve...

en-us

23:25

Grading What Matters: Rethinking Student Learning and...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2025/11/06

Send us a text Imagine a school where grades reward collaboration, character, and genuine mastery—not just memorization and speed. In this episode, Dean of Academics Marc Aronson shares how his school, Cheshire Academy, rethought assessment through Grading What Matters, a framework focused on authentic learning, student agency, and mission-aligned outcomes. We explore Final Demonstrations of Learning instead of exams, a Community of Learners model that grades students on contribution ...

en-us

26:14

From Players to Creators: How Student Game-Making...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2025/10/23

Send us a text Play isn’t just fun—it’s a blueprint for learning. In this episode, Dr. Lisa Hassler and Matt Dalio (Endless Studios/Foundation) explore how student game-making builds creativity, collaboration, and resilience while scaffolding real tools—from no-code building to Unity and Blender. We unpack the research on learning by making, connect Jane McGonigal’s mechanics of motivation to classroom practice, and trace a big-picture story from the printing press to software literacy. ...

en-us

22:19

Supporting Students with ADHD: Executive Function...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2025/10/09

Send us a text Nearly 1 in 10 children are diagnosed with ADHD, yet most educators receive no formal training in supporting executive function deficits. This gap creates challenges for teachers, frustration for parents, and academic struggles for students who are often mislabeled as unmotivated or lazy. In this episode, Dr. Lisa Hassler speaks with Ann Dolin M.Ed., founder of Educational Connections and author of "Homework Made Simple," about the critical role of executive function in student...

en-us

29:02

AI Education for Kids: Expert Guide for Teachers &...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2025/09/25

Send us a text The digital revolution in education is happening right now, and AI literacy has surged to become the #1 skill employers demand. With 70% of job skills projected to change by 2030, our conversation with Mike Todasco couldn't be more timely or crucial for parents and educators navigating this shifting landscape. Mike brings a rare dual perspective as both a visiting fellow at San Diego State University's AI Center and father of two school-aged children. His insights bridge the t...

en-us

24:26

Handwriting Instruction: How it Boosts Literacy &...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2025/09/11

Send us a text Discover why handwriting instruction is disappearing from classrooms and how this impacts your child's literacy development. In this research-backed episode, handwriting specialist Holly Britton reveals the neuroscience behind why forming letters by hand activates crucial brain pathways that typing cannot replicate. What You'll Learn: Why explicit handwriting instruction is missing from most schools and its impact on reading comprehensionThe kinesthetic connection between hand ...

en-us

30:34

A Gen Z Guide to Success: After College Insights|...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2025/08/28

Send us a text The transition from college to adulthood has dramatically transformed over recent decades, with financial independence, full-time employment, and independent living occurring much later for today's graduates than their 1980s counterparts. Yet despite these shifting timelines, Sallie Mae's latest research reveals that higher education continues to deliver tremendous value for Gen Z. According to Annat Shrabstein, Senior Director of Consumer Insights & Brand Strategy at Sall...

en-us

19:11

Who’s Behind the Curriculum? Missing Voices in...

The Brighter Side of Education: Research, Innovation... ·

2025/08/14

Send us a text Curriculum doesn’t start in the classroom—it starts in the knowledge system: the people, institutions, and practices that produce and disseminate research. Dr. Cassidy Sugimoto, a Tom and Marie Patton Professor and School Chair from the School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech, explains how publishing and citation practices flow into standards and textbooks. Dr. Sugimoto highlights the systemic barriers faced by women and underrepresented minorities in academia and how these ba...

en-us

91 results

Similar Podcasts

Who Smarted? - Educational Podcast for Kids

Atomic Audio

Storytime for Kids

Storytime for Kids

Doxology Go

Matt Doan

Big Fat Positive: Pregnancy and Parenting (BFP)

Laura Birek, Shanna Micko

Plugged In Entertainment Reviews

Focus on the Family