In this thought-provoking episode of Joining the Dots, Al Kingsley and Matt Jessop are joined by global education innovator and learner-centred strategist Carla Aerts. With decades of experience in EdTech, AI, and digital learning, Carla brings a passionate, challenging, and compassionate lens to the big question: what is education really for?
đ§ From soft skills (or rather, âpower skillsâ) to digital equity, learner agency, neuroplasticity, and the troubling persistence of high-stakes testing, this episode is a tour de force through the most pressing issues facing education today. The trio tackle:
Why education should be the catalyst for childrenâs potential, not just a pathway to employment
The hidden dangers of retrofit EdTech and surface-level AI use in schools
Why teachers must be supported to experiment safely with AI, not excluded by fear or poor infrastructure
The critical need for curriculum reform beyond political cycles â and why tweaking around the edges wonât do
How teaching kids about how their brains work can supercharge motivation and learning
The growing assessment crisis, and why we should stop trying to monitor broken systems with new tech
The risks of inequity if we fail to provide digital access as a basic right
đŹ Carla calls for a new kind of educationâadaptive, co-created, scaffolded for safe experimentation, and deeply human. Expect challenging takes, energising provocations, and plenty to reflect on long after the episode ends.
đ As ever, grab a notebook â or better yet, gather your team â because this oneâs packed with ideas to take back to your school or trust.
