Today we unpack the trend of micro-credentials in universities. My guest is Leesa Wheelahan who connects micro-credentials to the gig economy and discusses their implications for higher education credentials and qualifications.

Leesa Wheelahan is professor emerita at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. She is also an honorary research fellow at the Department of Education at the University of Oxford and a Honorary Senior Fellow in the Centre for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Melbourne. 

She’s recently co-written with Gavin Moodie two articles: Gig Qualifications for the Gig Economy: Micro-credentials and the hungry mile and Revisiting Credentialism – Why qualifications matter: A theoretical exploration.

https://freshedpodcast.com/leesa-wheelahan/
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Email: info@freshedpodcast.com

FreshEd #404 – Micro-Credentials and the Gig Economy (Leesa Wheelahan)

In today’s conversation, we’ll explore how strategic planning can serve as a catalyst for growth and improvement. We’ll look at how it engages diverse stakeholders, fosters transparency and helps school boards make more informed, aligned decisions. We’ll also discuss how setting clear priorities and long-term goals can strengthen governance and drive impactful, system-wide change.

Whether your district is just beginning the planning process or looking to revisit and refresh its goals, this episode offers valuable insights on how to turn vision into reality—and build a strong foundation for a successful future.

Host:
Ann Laszewski, Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA

Guests:
Dr. Lance Lohman, Superintendent, Longwood Central School District
Victoria Molloy, Board President, Longwood Central School District

Need help with your district’s strategic plan? Schedule your Custom Board Retreat today! For more information contact ellen.kramek@nyssba.org. 

Have a question or a topic idea? We want to hear from you! Email us at ld@nyssba.org.

Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

Transforming Vision into Reality – Building a Road Map to Success

Ten years ago, on October 26, 2015, something special began in Japan. While working at the University of Tokyo, I launched the first episode of the FreshEd podcast, marking the start of what would become a cornerstone of conversations in comparative and international education. 
Over the past decade, FreshEd has grown into a global platform – far larger than I ever imaged -- connecting listeners interested in education, equity, and social change. We’ve made over 400 episodes in that time. We’ve counted 200 universities that use our content and we have listeners, like you, in over 180 countries. 

To celebrate our anniversary, we held a live event at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan as part of the 2025 International Education Development Forum. I’ve like to thank Dr. Jing Liu for co-organizing this event. 

Joining me on stage were Professors Iveta Silova and Yuto Kitamura, who are both board members of FreshEd. In our conversation, we take you behind the scenes of FreshEd’s development and reflect on what the podcast means for the wider field specifically and higher education generally. On a personal note, Iveta and Yuto are both mentors who have shaped my own career as an academic. So today we’ll air the conversation we had in Tohoku on October 18. I hope you enjoy the show and here’s to the second decade of FreshEd. 

 https://freshedpodcast.com/10years/

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FreshEd #405 - 10th Anniversary Special (Iveta Silova, Yuto Kitamura & Will Brehm)

Today we dive into the field of education in emergencies, highlighting its entanglements with colonialism, empire, and racial capitalism. My guest is Jess Oddy.

Jess Oddy is a researcher at the university of Bristol and has worked in various capacities in the field of education in emergencies. Her new article is “Retelling education in emergencies through the black radical tradition: on racial capitalism critical race theory and fugitivity,” which was published in Globalisation, Societies and Education.

Citation: Oddy, Jess with Will Brehm, FreshEd, 344, podcast audio, March 4, 2024. https://freshedpodcast.com/oddy/
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FreshEd #344 – Critiquing Education in Emergencies (Jessica Oddy)

Today we explore foundational learning in low and middle income countries. My guest is Michelle Kaffenberger. 

Michelle Kaffenberger is the Director of evidence translation at the What Works Hub for Global Education the University of Oxford. I Spoke with her on the sidelines of the Development and Education Conference (DevEd) held in Melbourne, Australia last week. 

https://freshedpodcast.com/kaffenberger/

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FreshEd #406 – Prioritizing and Improving Foundational Learning (Michelle Kaffenberger)

Thanks for listening to FreshEd. It’s rewarding to produce for the thousands of listeners around the world. But it takes a lot of work to make regular episodes. What sustains our effort are voluntary memberships from paying supporters. If you are enjoying FreshEd and would like to join our membership community, please sign up at www.freshedpodcast.com. 
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Today we take stock of climate education, its past and its future. With me are Christina Kwauk and Radhika Iyengar, who have recently co-edited the book, Curriculum and Learning for Climate Action: Toward an SDG 4.7 Roadmap for Systems Change. They argue that COP26 has been disappointing in terms of education and climate action, and encourage everyone to focus on local action and change.

Christina Kwauk is the Research Director at Unbounded Associates and a non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institute. Radhika Iyengar is Director of Education at the Center for Sustainable Development, Earth Institute, Columbia University.

Citation: Kwauk, Christina, and Iyengar, Radhika interview with Will Brehm, FreshEd, 262, podcast audio, November 15, 2021. https://freshedpodcast.com/kwauk-iyengar/

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FreshEd #262 – Climate Education beyond COP26 (Christina Kwauk & Radhika Iyengar)

Today we explore the production of global learning metrics inside the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. My guest is Clara Fontdevila, a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow at the School of Education at the University of Glasgow.

Clara’s newest article is entitled “The politics of good enough data. Developments, dilemmas, and deadlocks in the production of global learning metrics,” which was published in the International Journal of Educational Development.
 
Today’s episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the School of Education at the University of Glasgow. Thanks to Matthew Thomas for organizing the event.

Citation: Fontdevila, Clara, interview with Will Brehm, FreshEd, 318, podcast audio, April 24, 2023.https://freshedpodcast.com/fontdevila/
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Support FreshEd: www.freshedpodcast.com/donate

FreshEd #318 – Producing Global Learning Metrics (Clara Fontdevila)

Before we start today’s show, I’d like to welcome our newest FreshEd Members, Amy Stambach and Tian Renxiang. Thank you for your support.

If you think FreshEd is a valuable educational resource and want to join our growing community, sign up at FreshEdpodcast.com.
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Today we unpack education alternatives to reimagine education for just futures.  My guests are Frank Adamson and Carol Anne Spreen.

Frank Adamson is associate professor of education leadership and policy studies at California State University, Sacramento. Carol Anne Spreen is a professor of international education at New York University. They were on the co-editorial team of the NORRAG Special Issue entitled “Education for Societal Transformation: Alternatives for a Just Future” and members of The Alternative Project, which I should mention I was a part of at its inception. 
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freshedpodcast.com/adamson-spreen/
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FreshEd #407 – Education for Societal Transformation (Frank Adamson and Carol Anne Spreen)

In your role as a school board member, have you ever wondered  - are we even asking the right questions? You are not alone! On today’s episode of the President’s Gavel, Leadership Development trainers Jamie McPherson and Ann Lazewski will answer some common but very important questions school board members often ask, like:  

Are we aligned with our district’s mission and vision?

How can we foster strong, transparent, community relationships that allow room for all voices to be heard while still providing clear information and addressing misinformation?  

How do we ensure all students are being served? It’s not just about access, it’s about impact. 

Stay with us as we answer these questions and more!

Host: Ann Laszewski, Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA
Guest: Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA

Resources:
Have a question about a topic not covered on today’s show? Send your questions to NYSSBA’s Leadership Development Team at ld@nyssba.org. 

Ready to dig deeper on topic covered on today’s show? Schedule a Custom Board Retreat today! Contact Ellen Kramek at 518-7833753 or via email at ellen.kramek@nyssba.org. 

NYSSBA’s Board Self-Evaluation: https://bit.ly/3MS175Q

SuperEval’s Board Self-Evaluation: https://bit.ly/4pHxBP2

For questions contact Zac Adams, NYSSBA’s Business Development and Member Relations Manager at 518.783.3726 or via email at zac.adams@nyssba.org

Stock media provided by www.pond5.com

The Big Board Questions: What’s on Every School Board Member’s Mind?

Today we unpack the education experiences of students from the former Soviet Union who have migrated to Canada. My guests are Sarfaroz Niyozov, Stephen Bahry and Max Antony-Newman. For the past few years, they have been working on a research project that has explored the experiences of the high school children with post-Soviet backgrounds in the Greater Toronto Area. The research project strives to improve the education experiences of this under-researched, often misunderstood group of Canadian youth, their parents, and communities who come from the countries of the former Soviet Union.

Sarfaroz Niyozov is an Associate Professor in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, where Stephen Bahry is a sessional lecturer. Max Antony-Newman is a lecturer in education at the university of Glasgow. Various articles from their research project will soon published. You can follow the link to their project website to find them. 
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freshedpodcast.com/niyozov-bahry-antony-newman/
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FreshEd #408 – From the Former Soviet Union to Canada (Niyozov, Bahry & Antony-Newman)

Schools that produce and use relatively equal amounts of energy are called net zero schools. Listen to learn more.

Getting to Net Zero

Put down the books. Grab your earbuds! Take a short study break with the New York State School Boards Association and hear about the latest, and greatest, in education research.

Getting to Net Zero

NYSSBA's Study Break