Natural Pod™ LIVE
By Natural Pod
Natural Pod™ LIVEMay 26, 2022
Episode 12 - Designing cohesive environments to support whole-child learning
When designing learning spaces to support the unique interests and needs of younger children, having an understanding of how the built environment can contribute is vitally important. By creating a system of environments that complement one another; it’s possible to craft an ecosystem where children can thrive. In this episode, our host, Bridgitte Alomes, CEO of Natural Pod will be in conversation with Suzy Potts and Amanda Barrett of Creekside Creative Academy, about how Creekside Creative Academy designed a range of spaces that create one cohesive and functional environment. They’ll examine Creekside Creative’s process from ideation to implementation, and explore the impact on the children and the community this environment created. Watch live to learn how designing cohesive environments can support whole-child learning.
About Natural Pod™ LIVE
Natural Pod™ LIVE has been created for, and by, our incredible community of educators, students, architects and anyone with a stake in creating better learning spaces and experiences. It’s an online streaming talk show where we interview education leaders who are sharing their personal stories behind the challenges and opportunities of creating exceptional learning environments. Join us as we explore the new approaches for what’s possible in the future of education with the people who are making it happen. This is your opportunity to learn directly from them about the challenges and successes and how they are approaching this work.
Watch and listen to all episodes at https://naturalpod.com/live
Episode 11 - Making sustainable choices for an impact that matters
Each choice we make, leads to an outcome, whether intended or not. In this episode, our host, Bridgitte Alomes, CEO of Natural Pod will be speaking with Jennifer Seydel, Executive Director for the Green Schools National Network and Keith Reeves, Discovery Elementary, on Making sustainable choices for an impact that matters. They’ll discuss how to put action behind our intended outcomes of making choices today, that create a more sustainable tomorrow. Watch live to learn about what each of us can do, now, to continue the positive momentum in the sustainability movement.
About Natural Pod™ LIVE
Natural Pod™ LIVE has been created for, and by, our incredible community of educators, students, architects and anyone with a stake in creating better learning spaces and experiences. It’s an online streaming talk show where we interview education leaders who are sharing their personal stories behind the challenges and opportunities of creating exceptional learning environments. Join us as we explore the new approaches for what’s possible in the future of education with the people who are making it happen. This is your opportunity to learn directly from them about the challenges and successes and how they are approaching this work.
Watch and listen to all episodes at https://naturalpod.com/live
Episode 10 - Creating cultural change through student co-authorship
In this episode of Natural Pod LIVE, our host, Michelle Carpenter, CSO with Natural Pod will be speaking with Heather Breton an educator at Garden City Elementary, Megan Breton, a student at Garden City Elementary, and Enrico Giori with Fielding International, about how a school has begun to impact cultural change through student co-authorship of their learning environments.
About Natural Pod™ LIVE
Natural Pod™ LIVE has been created for, and by, our incredible community of educators, students, architects and anyone with a stake in creating better learning spaces and experiences. It’s an online streaming talk show where we interview education leaders who are sharing their personal stories behind the challenges and opportunities of creating exceptional learning environments. Join us as we explore the new approaches for what’s possible in the future of education with the people who are making it happen. This is your opportunity to learn directly from them about the challenges and successes and how they are approaching this work.
Watch and listen to all episodes at https://naturalpod.com/live
Episode 09 - Becoming a trailblazer for whole school transformation
Educating for a sustainable future is no longer an option; it’s a necessity. In this episode, our host, Bridgitte Alomes, CEO of Natural Pod will be speaking with Jennifer Seydel, Executive Director for the Green Schools National Network on becoming a trailblazer for whole school transformation. They’ll discuss practical tips and examples found in the newly released book, Trailblazers for Whole School Sustainability: Case Studies of Educators in Action. Watch live to learn about what is possible when educators resolve to blaze a trail to re-imagine K-12 education for a just and sustainable future.
About Natural Pod™ LIVE
Natural Pod™ LIVE has been created for, and by, our incredible community of educators, students, architects and anyone with a stake in creating better learning spaces and experiences. It’s an online streaming talk show where we interview education leaders who are sharing their personal stories behind the challenges and opportunities of creating exceptional learning environments. Join us as we explore the new approaches for what’s possible in the future of education with the people who are making it happen. This is your opportunity to learn directly from them about the challenges and successes and how they are approaching this work.
Watch and listen to all episodes at https://naturalpod.com/live
Episode 08 - Pursuing passion to make an impact on learning
In this edition of Natural Pod LIVE, our CEO Bridgitte Alomes chats with Jerzell Pierre-Louis, Owner/Founder at Sprout and Bloom Early Education Centers about her journey as an educator. Starting from scratch, Jerzell followed her passion and opened up an early childhood center in 2013, hoping to make an impact on the lives of children within her community. Today, Jerzell is the Owner of both Sprout and Bloom Early Education Centers, two thriving spaces. Despite adversity, Jerzell channelled her passion toward an impactful mission - to inspire the joy of learning. Bridgitte and Jerzell will reflect on their journeys and share their experiences around lessons learned, and words of wisdom to pursue meaningful work. This session will not only inspire others in following their passions, whether in education or not, but also to know it’s possible to bring a dream to life.
About Natural Pod™ LIVE
Natural Pod™ LIVE has been created for, and by, our incredible community of educators, students, architects and anyone with a stake in creating better learning spaces and experiences. It’s an online streaming talk show where we interview education leaders who are sharing their personal stories behind the challenges and opportunities of creating exceptional learning environments. Join us as we explore the new approaches for what’s possible in the future of education with the people who are making it happen. This is your opportunity to learn directly from them about the challenges and successes and how they are approaching this work.
Watch and listen to all episodes at https://naturalpod.com/live
Episode 07 - Creating a Culture of Care + Connection
The idea of Culture of Care + Connection is ever evolving, but at the core it’s simple: to care for ourselves and those around us, by connecting with our communities and the natural environment. Verena Gibbs, Principal/Educational Consultant, and Bridgitte Alomes, CEO and Founder of Natural Pod, will explore how to create space that fosters cultural values and connection to each other.
About Natural Pod™ LIVE
Natural Pod™ LIVE has been created for, and by, our incredible community of educators, students, architects and anyone with a stake in creating better learning spaces and experiences. It’s an online streaming talk show where we interview education leaders who are sharing their personal stories behind the challenges and opportunities of creating exceptional learning environments. Join us as we explore the new approaches for what’s possible in the future of education with the people who are making it happen. This is your opportunity to learn directly from them about the challenges and successes and how they are approaching this work.
Watch and listen to all episodes at https://naturalpod.com/live
Episode 06 - Designing an Integrated and Holistic Sustainability
In this episode, our host, Bridgitte Alomes, CEO of Natural Pod will be speaking with Kate Mraw, Design Director at LPA about designing an integrated and holistic sustainability journey. LPA is an award winning design firm, most recently being noted as the California firm of the year by AIA in 2021. Kate has over fifteen years of K-12 educational design experience. This session will inspire both those who design learning spaces and those that have them; with a focus on the design process, sustainability and bringing student voice in.
About Natural Pod™ LIVE
Natural Pod™ LIVE has been created for, and by, our incredible community of educators, students, architects and anyone with a stake in creating better learning spaces and experiences. It’s an online streaming talk show where we interview education leaders who are sharing their personal stories behind the challenges and opportunities of creating exceptional learning environments. Join us as we explore the new approaches for what’s possible in the future of education with the people who are making it happen. This is your opportunity to learn directly from them about the challenges and successes and how they are approaching this work.
Watch and listen to all episodes at https://naturalpod.com/live
Episode 05 – How open ended learning environments deepen the learning experience
In this episode, our host, Bridgitte Alomes, CEO of Natural Pod will be speaking with Alana Gelnick, the Associate Principal at SAR Academy’s Early Learning Center in New York. At SAR, both the students and teachers have been able to engage with their environment to create more unique learning experiences, and they’ve learned a lot along the way.
About Natural Pod™ LIVE
Natural Pod™ LIVE has been created for, and by, our incredible community of educators, students, architects and anyone with a stake in creating better learning spaces and experiences. It’s an online streaming talk show where we interview education leaders who are sharing their personal stories behind the challenges and opportunities of creating exceptional learning environments. Join us as we explore the new approaches for what’s possible in the future of education with the people who are making it happen. This is your opportunity to learn directly from them about the challenges and successes and how they are approaching this work.
Watch and listen to all episodes at https://naturalpod.com/live
Episode 04 – Changing engagement for Indigenous learners
In this episode, our host, Bridgitte Alomes, CEO of Natural Pod will be speaking with Maureen Dockendorf, Early Care and Learning Strategic Consultant at the British Columbia Ministry of Education, and Denise Augustine, Director of Aboriginal Education and Learner Engagement at BC School District 79, about how we can weave in different perspectives and worldviews into our daily practice in an educational setting, through a connection to culture, land and people. With play as our biggest teacher we’ll discuss how we should be focusing on early care, before learning. And how the small and ordinary moments, when weaved together, can create such an extraordinary and engaged learning experience.
About Natural Pod™ LIVE
Natural Pod™ LIVE has been created for, and by, our incredible community of educators, students, architects and anyone with a stake in creating better learning spaces and experiences. It’s an online streaming talk show where we interview education leaders who are sharing their personal stories behind the challenges and opportunities of creating exceptional learning environments. Join us as we explore the new approaches for what’s possible in the future of education with the people who are making it happen. This is your opportunity to learn directly from them about the challenges and successes and how they are approaching this work.
Watch and listen to all episodes at https://naturalpod.com/live
Episode 03 – Discover how high quality childcare helps communities thrive
In this episode our host, Bridgitte Alomes, CEO of Natural Pod will be speaking with Ashanti Bryant, Director of Early Childhood Services at IFF. The need for high quality childcare has intensified in the last year. Learn how mission-driven leadership helps communities thrive by increasing capacity in and creating access to high quality childcare centers in the midwest, USA. Ashanti and Bridgitte’s discussion will empower educators and share insights for those seeking to do similar work in their local communities.
About Natural Pod™ LIVE
Natural Pod™ LIVE has been created for, and by, our incredible community of educators, students, architects and anyone with a stake in creating better learning spaces and experiences. It’s an online streaming talk show where we interview education leaders who are sharing their personal stories behind the challenges and opportunities of creating exceptional learning environments. Join us as we explore the new approaches for what’s possible in the future of education with the people who are making it happen. This is your opportunity to learn directly from them about the challenges and successes and how they are approaching this work.
Watch and listen to all episodes at https://naturalpod.com/live
Episode 02 – How Student Life Informs Equitable Learning Space Design
In this episode, our host, Bridgitte Alomes, CEO of Natural Pod will be speaking with Jill Ackers-Clayton, Senior Learning Designer with award-winning education design firm Fielding International. Their conversation will go inside the ideation, planning, design, and opening day of a new school for a student-centered learning environment. They will explore the student and educator protocol and curriculum that aligns with the five stages of Project Based Learning (PBL) design for students to critically think about their desired learning environment and identify possible solutions for creating it, aligning the design of the learning space, to the behaviors taking place within, leading up to opening of a new school.
About Natural Pod™ LIVE
Natural Pod™ LIVE has been created for, and by, our incredible community of educators, students, architects and anyone with a stake in creating better learning spaces and experiences. It’s an online streaming talk show where we interview education leaders who are sharing their personal stories behind the challenges and opportunities of creating exceptional learning environments. Join us as we explore the new approaches for what’s possible in the future of education with the people who are making it happen. This is your opportunity to learn directly from them about the challenges and successes and how they are approaching this work.
Watch and listen to all episodes at https://naturalpod.com/live
Episode 01 – Creating Indoor/Outdoor Learning Spaces
The shipping containers turned classrooms at Medea Creek Middle School are a fresh take on learning spaces with indoor/outdoor design. In this episode, our host, Bridgitte Alomes, CEO of Natural Pod will be speaking with Jay Greenlinger, Ed.D., Director of Curriculum & Instruction at Oak Park Unified School District about their recent collaboration building out the school in Oak Park, California. Equipped with open access to outdoor seating and table arrangements, shade structures and trees, the indoor/outdoor design of Medea Creek Middle School enriches the possibilities for project-based learning and discovery. Each of the six learning studios, made from three shipping containers and furnished with sustainably made learning furniture from Natural Pod, were constructed with wide sliding doors that open onto a central courtyard so teaching and learning can flow into the outdoors while making use of all the beautiful natural light at the site.
About Natural Pod™ LIVE
Natural Pod™ LIVE has been created for, and by, our incredible community of educators, students, architects and anyone with a stake in creating better learning spaces and experiences. It’s an online streaming talk show where we interview education leaders who are sharing their personal stories behind the challenges and opportunities of creating exceptional learning environments. Join us as we explore the new approaches for what’s possible in the future of education with the people who are making it happen. This is your opportunity to learn directly from them about the challenges and successes and how they are approaching this work.
Watch and listen to all episodes at https://naturalpod.com/live