309. Designing Schools for Agency, Not Compliance with Jason Blair

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we welcome back Jason Blair, arts educator and founder of the Agents of Change, to explore what happens when schools are designed around student agency instead of compliance. Jason shares how the festival brings students from across Central Ohio together to showcase learning rooted in voice, ownership, purpose, and authentic connection with their communities.

We discuss why meaningful learning cannot simply be scaled through a one-size-fits-all model, and why educators should instead create conditions where ideas can spread and adapt to individual learners. Jason also shares how giving students authentic audiences builds confidence, resilience, and a stronger sense of mattering. 

Join us to explore how listening to students, embracing experimentation, and letting go of control can create classrooms where learners truly come alive.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• Designing learning environments around student agency rather than compliance
• Creating authentic audiences for student learning
• Helping educators move past fear and give students greater ownership
• Why successful educational ideas should spread and adapt rather than simply scale
• Viewing school as a place where students are continually becoming
• Building community support by making powerful student learning visible

Resources:

• Agents of Change

Produced by NOVA