The Education by Design podcast explores the architecture of learning environments—how schools are designed, not just operated—how culture is disrupted to make way for innovation and reaching potential.
Your host, Phil Evans is a career educator and creative. His guests bring inspirational and practical ideas into classrooms, all over the world. Join him as he engages with innovators who untangle the complexity of educational systems to align with shared values, common practices, and a common language to create powerful, human-centered learning experiences.
For any formal schooling system to have an impact, the central focus must be on learning. Let's learn together.
Dive deeper on the EduByDesign Blog: https://edubydesign.com/blog
Point of Reflection S2E1 - Voice, silence, and owning our thinking
Share your thoughts The Point of Reflection is the companion to each episode of Education by Design — a short, spoken reflection recorded after the conversation ends. This is where I sit with the ideas discussed with my previous guest. It's good to sort through what our learning is stirring in our own lives and work, and think openly. This is a window into how learning happens for me: slowly, personally, and iteratively. If the episode is the conversation, this is what the conversation is sha...
13 Jul 2026
S2:E1 "Teaching at the edge: Think more, not less" w. Michele Lackovic
Share your thoughts "I don't need an AI detector to tell me this isn't your work." After twenty-five years of reading student writing, Michele Lackovic knows when a voice goes missing from the page — and what she does next is the heart of this episode. Not policing. A conversation. And these learning dialogues with students have reduced her own take home workload, freeing her up to get creative to remove barriers to learning in the classroom. Yes, this is a discussion about AI in education. B...
13 Jul 2026
S2:E0 "Inside Out" with Phil Evans
Share your thoughts WELCOME TO SEASON 2 OF THE EDUBYDESIGN PODCAST! This past year, I decided to sit with an uncomfortable truth: education is full of contradictions. We say every child matters, then design systems around averages. We ask teachers to innovate, then measure them on compliance. We talk about the future constantly — and use it as a reason to wait. For Season 2 of EduByDesign, I hope you will join me as we stop waiting. In this short introduction episode, "Inside Out" I sha...
25 Aug 2025
S1:E11 Mel Coryell on "Braiding College and Career: Indiana's Innovative Apprenticeships Strategy"
Share your thoughts In Indiana, a bold experiment is reshaping how students learn. Through the i-Lab, more than 150 leaders have joined forces to design a statewide apprenticeship model — one that connects high schools, employers, and higher education in new ways. At the center of this work is a breakthrough partnership with IU Health, which not only trains students but guarantees them employment upon graduation. But the real story goes beyond jobs. As Mel Coryell explains, applied learning e...
6 Aug 2025
S1:E10 Jenny Gillett on "Designing for the future: Systems transformation" PART 2
Share your thoughts Join me as I dive into the future of education with Jenny Gillett, the lead architect of the International Baccalaureate's groundbreaking Systems Transformation pilot. In this episode, Jenny reveals how she and United World College communities co-create a two-year, transdisciplinary learning journey—tackling global challenges from biodiversity to river pollution—through systems thinking, design sprints, and challenge-based assessment. You’ll hear: How students apply ...
16 Jun 2025
S1:E9 Jared DuPree on "Designing the future: Challenge-based learning" Part 1
Dr. Jared DuPree discusses challenge-based learning with host Phil Evans, which connects students to real-world problems and invites them to design solutions through collaboration in this interview.
9 Jun 2025
S1:E8 Markus Reneau on “Reimagining Potential: What If We Believed in Every Learner?”
Markus Reneau recounts his experience with a teacher who discouraged him from academic challenges, highlighting the importance of believing in every learner's potential in this interview.
3 Jun 2025
S1:S7 "Improvement by Design: Rethinking How Schools Change" with Joshua Glazer
Dr. Joshua Glazer of George Washington University discusses why many education reforms fail, emphasizing the importance of coherent, community-based systems for sustainable school improvement in this interview.
26 May 2025
S1:E6 ""Measuring What Matters: Empowering Students Through Creative Assessment"" with Dr. Andy Scahill
Professor Andy Scahill discusses innovative assessment methods that empower students to demonstrate creativity and critical thinking, moving beyond traditional tests in this interview with the host.
21 May 2025
S1:E5 Extended "The Human-Centered Classroom — Learning With AI, Not From It" with John Spencer
What does it mean to build a classroom where students learn with AI instead of just from it? In this bonus episode, Dr. John Spencer presents ideas to explore how human-centered teaching strategies can help students reflect more deeply, think more critically, and engage more creatively—even as AI tools become part of everyday learning. We talk about project-based learning, prompt engineering, and what happens when we treat AI as a creative companion, not a shortcut. This is a practical, refle...
19 May 2025
S1:E5 "Learning that sticks: Classrooms were creativity and deeper learning thrive" with Dr. John Spencer
What if the best learning isn’t the most polished—but the most meaningful? In this inspiring episode, Dr. John Spencer—educator, author, and host of The Creative Classroom—sat down with Phil to explore how project-based learning, design thinking, and creative risk-taking help students master academic content and build the core competencies they need for life. From the messy middle of learning to the power of student voice, John shares practical insights and stories that challenge the myth of ...
12 May 2025
s1:E4 "From Compliance to Curiosity: Transforming Education with Inquiry-Based Learning" with Trevor MacKenzie
In this episode of Education by Design, Trevor MacKenzie (https://www.trevormackenzie.com/) explores the transformative power of curiosity in the classroom. Learn how inquiry-based learning fosters self-directed students who take ownership of their education. Discover practical strategies for nurturing curiosity, developing question competence, and creating environments where students are not just taught, but encouraged to think critically and independently. Tune in for insights on how we can prepare the next generation of lifelong learners to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Visit the EduByDesign Blog (https://edubydesign.com/blog)
3 May 2025
S1.E3: “It’s not the students—It’s the system” Dr. John Falino
In this episode of It’s Not the Students—It’s the System, Education by Design host Phil Evans speaks with Dr. John Falino, principal of Dobbs Ferry High School, about the transformative power of systems thinking in schools.
Designed for education leaders seeking practical strategies to empower teachers, this episode explores how shared vision, teacher agency, and systematic design can raise expectations and engagement for all students. Learn how to build a culture of equity, align professional development with real outcomes, and create inclusive pathways that allow every learner to thrive.
If you're a principal, district leader, or school change agent ready to lead with purpose, this is your blueprint.
Check out the Education by Design Blog (https://edubydesign.com/blog)
3 May 2025
S1.E2: “Rewriting the school story: How spaces and narratives shape school culture” Dr. Heather Michael
Discover how to transform school culture, boost student agency, and advance equity in this episode of the Education by Design Podcast featuring researcher Dr. Heather Michael. Phil Evans explores Michael’s groundbreaking use of spatial theory to reveal why many learners view school as irrelevant—and how educators, principals, and district leaders can disrupt limiting narratives, redesign course‑selection processes, and create inclusive, student‑centered learning spaces. Packed with actionable strategies for advanced coursework, and whole‑school reform, this conversation highlights practical steps to help every student construct and own an authentic academic story. Tune in to gain research‑backed insights, real‑world examples, and fresh inspiration to cultivate belonging, relevance, and equitable access to rigorous learning in your school community.
You may also like to check out the Education by Design Blog (https://edubydesign.com/blog)
3 May 2025
S1.E1: “Igniting Joy in Learning” with Richard Hood
"Igniting Joy in Learning” dives deep into the strategies education leaders crave: practical ways to spark teacher inspiration, student engagement, and inquiry‑based learning that lasts. In this episode, veteran IB educator and professional‑development facilitator Richard Hood reveals how shifting from content delivery to joy‑centered, student‑agency‑driven classrooms transforms outcomes—especially in today’s media‑saturated world. Listeners will discover actionable tips for nurturing curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking, building supportive teacher communities, and weaving social‑justice and media‑literacy skills into everyday lessons. Whether you’re a principal, instructional coach, or classroom innovator, this conversation offers high‑impact insights on professional learning, rigorous yet joyful pedagogy, and sustainable teacher motivation. Tune in to “Igniting Joy in Learning” and equip yourself with research‑backed approaches that empower teachers to inspire students—and fuel a culture of lifelong learning.
2 May 2025
S1.E0: “Insight Out” with your host, Phil Evans
FIRST THREE EPISODES MAY 5, 2025
Education by Design is a podcast for educators, school leaders, and changemakers who believe that learning should be more than compliant—it should be empowering. Hosted by educator and storyteller Phil Evans, this series explores how schools can be redesigned from the inside out, featuring conversations and reflections that challenge outdated systems and celebrate bold ideas. Each episode highlights real stories, research-informed practices, and actionable insights to help listeners connect purpose to practice, rethink assessment, spark student curiosity, and build inclusive environments where all learners thrive.
Check out the Education by Design Blog (https://edubydesign.com/blog)
The first three full episodes - Monday May 5, 2025
Who has been a guest on Education By Design
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Jared DuPree
Markus Reneau
Joshua Glazer
Dr Andy Scahill
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
15,546,627
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 60 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
82
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
0
Contact Education By Design
Guest appearances
Books guests
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