From the International Academy of Process Educators, this podcast explores issues of interest to educators at all levels who are passionate about active learning and learning to learn.
Evolution of the Six Functions of Process Education
This episode focuses on the article, "Evolution of Six Functions in the History of the Process Education Framework," by Cy Leise, Dan Apple, Wade Ellis, and Steve Beyerlein. It appeared in the International Journal of Process Education, Vol. 13, Issue 1 (2023).
28 Aug 2026
Enhancing Student Readiness for College
This episode focuses on a classic International Journal of Process Education article (2020) by King-Berry, Ellis, and Apple. The article focuses on defining the qualities of a strong first-year student, including rubrics to assess student progress.
International Journal of Process Education (July 2020, Volume 11 Issue 1): Closing the College Readiness Gap: Tools for Preparing Students for College Success.
28 Jul 2026
How the Learning to Learn Experiences Model the Seven Universal and Perennial Principles of Student Learning and Persistence
This episode provides insight into the article about Learning to Learn experiences and how they model principles of student learning. This article, by Apple, Leasure, Nelson, Ulbrich, and Woodbridge, focuses on the student success and learning gains that happen in Learning to Learn experiences over time.
https://www.ijpe.online/2020/universal.pdf (https://www.ijpe.online/2020/universal.pdf)
28 Jun 2026
2026 Conference Wrap-Up
This episode recaps the 2026 Process Education Conference, the 20th annual event, which was held in conjunction with West Coast University's annual Academic Conference. Hear about some key session themes, and learn about how you can become more engaged with the International Academy of Process Educators and the 2027 conference.
28 May 2026
The Four Anchors of Self-Growth
This episode features ideas from the 2025 article by Leise, Apple, and Ellis, entitled The Self-Growth Journey: Transforming Mindset, Consciousness, and Motivation. This article outlines the relationship between growth and self-growth. By focusing on how mindset, consciousness, and motivation play specifi c roles for each anchor, the model resolves some of the concerns of practitioners about the complexity of the PE self-growth model while also making more transparent how a self-growth mindset, higher-order consciousness, and motives can be harmonized on an individual level to attain life aspirations possible only through self-growth.
https://www.ijpe.online/2025/self-growth-journey.pdf (https://www.ijpe.online/2025/self-growth-journey.pdf)
28 Apr 2026
Transforming Deming's Cycle Into a Role-Based Growth Cycle
This episode focused on the 2025 article by El-Sayed, Burke, Onodipe, Apple, and Ellis, exploring Deming's Cycle and turning it into a growth cycle for individuals and organizations. The original article can be found here: https://www.ijpe.online/2025/deming-growth-cycle.pdf (https://www.ijpe.online/2025/deming-growth-cycle.pdf).
28 Mar 2026
Prioritizing Human Connection Over Rigid Rules
This month’s podcast, "Prioritizing Human Connection Over Rigid Rules," explores the profound intersection between the philosophical foundations of proximity ethics and the practical framework of Process Education. Based on the article, "Between You and Me: A Comparison of Proximity Ethics and Process Education" by Hintze, Romann-Aas, and Aas, this exploration reveals that the educator-student relationship is not merely transactional but a face-to-face ethical encounter that carries an "irrecusable obligation" to care and a fundamental responsibility to facilitate student success. By comparing the works of thinkers like Buber and Løgstrup with Process Education methodologies, we see how moving to a learner-centered model requires educators to risk giving up control to foster authentic dialogue and mutual respect. This approach replaces traditional, objective "I-It" interactions with an "I-You" perspective that intentionally avoids prejudgment, using assessment-based feedback to meet the unique needs of the "Other". Ultimately, both proximity ethics and Process Education align in their mission to empower students toward full autonomy, helping them transition into independent "self-growers" capable of lifelong success.
26 Feb 2026
Master Weekly Planning with Five Roles
In this episode, we share a structured approach to intentional self-growth through the Weekly Transition Methodology, which utilizes five distinct roles—Guide, Director, Coach, Scriptwriter, and Performer—to provide the necessary mindsets for effective action planning. This framework helps individuals overcome common challenges in self-regulation and goal setting by aligning specific cognitive perspectives with the 16 steps of the planning process, from reflecting on past insights to executing "in the moment" behaviors. By internalizing these roles, practitioners can move beyond reliance on external "self-help" and instead take full command of their own development, using an inner compass to align daily actions with a long-term vision of their ideal self. This deep dive explores how each role contributes to a synergistic system for continuous improvement, transforming weekly planning into a powerful tool for enhancing both productivity and overall quality of life.
27 Jan 2026
Beyond Knowing: Evolving in a Changing World
In an age where knowledge is "fast, cheap, and always updating," the true differentiator for a busy professional is no longer what you know, but how effectively you can adapt and grow. This audio overview serves as a definitive guide to Process Education (PE), a performance-based philosophy that moves beyond the simple acquisition of information to focus on the continuous development of learning skills. By distilling decades of educational theory into a practical framework, this resource explains how to shift from a traditional culture of evaluation to an assessment culture—a move that is critical for anyone looking to improve the quality of their performance in a rapidly changing, experience-based economy.
You will be introduced to the "PE in a Nutshell" framework, which offers a streamlined methodology for performing, assessing, and growing to reach your unlimited potential. This overview is the single best source for learning how to become a "self-grower": an empowered individual who takes control of their own destiny, navigates ambiguity, and serves as a mentor to others. Whether you are looking to enhance your own capability or lead your organization through uncertainty, this recording provides the essential tools to help you become the "guide, director, coach, and scriptwriter" of your own professional journey.
29 Dec 2025
Tough Love Builds Grit and Accountability
In this episode of Active Listening, we dive into the essential question of why some individuals push themselves to their limits while others of equal intelligence do not. Research suggests that the defining quality shared by high achievers is grit, defined as "perseverance and passion for long-term goals". While standardized tests like the SAT are useful, studies indicate that grit and self-discipline are actually better predictors of success in college than IQ or test scores
We explore how educators can move beyond simply praising talent—which can actually harm student motivation—and instead foster a growth mindset
You will hear about the importance of teaching students that confusion and mistakes are a normal, expected part of the learning process rather than a sign of failure
This episode also examines the role of "tough love" in higher education. We discuss how creating a quality learning environment requires faculty to:
Set high expectations that challenge students to move beyond their comfort zones
Avoid "enabling behaviors" that create dependency, such as intervening too quickly when a student struggles
Manage short-term failure so it serves as a catalyst for growth and long-term goal directedness
Utilize peer interaction and common vocabulary to build a culture of character and resilience
Ultimately, student success is not an entitlement; it must be earned. By teaching students how to regulate their attention and emotions through deliberate practice, we empower them to reach their full potential.
To understand the necessity of high expectations, consider the high jumper: if an athlete successfully clears a bar at six feet, the coach must raise it to six feet and six inches to motivate a better performance
In the same way, academic excellence requires us to raise the bar for our students, providing them with the "stamina" to clear it.
This episode is based on the following sources:
Faculty Guidebook 3.1.8 Letting Students Fail So They Can Succeed (by Jim Hadley) https://www.facultyguidebook.com/fgb/efgb4/modules/3/3_1_8.htm (https://www.facultyguidebook.com/fgb/efgb4/modules/3/3_1_8.htm)
Developing Grit In Our Students: Why Grit is Such a Desirable Trait, and Practical Strategies for Teachers and Schools (by Jennifer Bashant) https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1081394.pdf (https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1081394.pdf)
29 Nov 2025
Assessment vs. Evaluation: How to GROW
This episode takes on the idea that assessment, at its core, is not merely a task but a transformative engine of continuous improvement, establishing a strategic partnership with students dedicated solely to elevating future performance rather than judging the quality of past work. For this powerful academic alchemy to occur, faculty must cultivate a specialized, non-judgmental mindset built on mutual trust and respect. Instructors must intentionally focus feedback only on improving the characteristics of the performance, strictly avoiding judgmental statements or language that targets the individual performer, ensuring students feel supported rather than criticized. This process is most potent when the learner is in control, actively seeking assessment and collaborating to define the criteria for feedback, thereby validating the relevance and ensuring their willingness to act on suggestions. By honoring the student's central role and maintaining a relentless focus on growth, this non-evaluative approach creates a positive, trusting learning environment that produces "magical" or "teachable moments" and effectively shifts the responsibility for lifelong learning and growth directly onto the student.
30 Oct 2025
The Regret of a Lifetime: Why Extrinsic Rewards Sabotage Passion
Join us for an extensive discussion on the importance of aligning one's life with individual values and passions as a foundation for personal fulfillment and life vision. It highlights the potential for regret when people live according to the expectations of others, citing the work of nurse Bronnie Ware, and emphasizes that true happiness stems from making decisions consistent with personal and professional values. The text contrasts intrinsic motivation, driven by personal beliefs and interests, with extrinsic motivation, which relies on external rewards and punishments, such as the "carrot and stick" model. Crucially, the source argues that while extrinsic factors can initiate behavior, only self-motivation and alignment with core values can sustain long-term commitment and persistence in achieving goals, reinforcing the need for self-reflection and self-regulation.
30 Sept 2025
Unpacking 10 Steps to a Quality Learning Environment
Educators interested in creating a more impactful and effective learning environment will want to delve into this methodology, which provides a step-by-step process for significantly enhancing student learning performance, growth, and development.
This deep dive offers a practical framework, consisting of ten key steps, designed to cultivate an environment where students take greater ownership, responsibility, and control of their learning. It emphasizes that establishing this environment early in a course is critical for developing mutual trust and respect, which minimizes judgment and allows for more effective assessment and, ultimately, student success.
31 Aug 2025
Architect Your Life: Mastering Self-Growth with Mindset, Consciousness, and Motivation
For educators deeply invested in the scholarly pursuit of personal and professional advancement, the Process Education (PE) framework presents a compelling and meticulously articulated approach to self-growth. This framework critically distinguishes itself from conventional 'growth mindsets' by emphasizing intentional and autonomous transformation as foundational to an individual's journey.
At the heart of the PE framework lies the Four-Anchors Model, a structured conceptualization designed to guide this transformative process. This model comprises four essential components: insightful reflection, envisioning an ideal self, intentional action planning, and growth capability development.
The framework further delves into the profound influence of mindset, consciousness, and motivation, meticulously detailing how these dynamic factors interact with and shape each of the four anchors. To elucidate these complex interactions and provide practical strategies for personal development, the PE framework offers twelve illustrative narratives.
Ultimately, the PE framework is engineered to demystify and reduce the inherent complexity of self-growth practices. It posits that by fostering a harmonized approach to self-improvement, individuals can significantly enhance their quality of life and refine their capacity to achieve deeply held aspirations.
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