Season 3: Episode 7 - Maleable Learning and the Dissolution of Barriers with Benjamin Freud
Hear part 2 of the podcast at Coconut Thinking!
https://coconut-thinking.captivate.fm/episode/we-are-human-beings-not-humans-doings-ft-louka-parry
How comfortable are you with not knowing, how often do you change your mind? How do cultures of personalised learning arise?
What happens when the boundaries of disciplines dissolve, replaced with meaningful projects that can have an impact on themselves, others, and the world?
Benjamin is the co-founder of Coconut Thinking, whose ambition is to create spaces for purposeful thinking and action that contribute to the welfare of the bio-collective. Coconut Thinking imagines learning ecosystems that extend beyond physical and conceptual walls. They would be inter-generational and collaborative. Alongside future-ready skills, they would teach future-saving ethics such as “practice eco-reciprocity,” “stand up for justice,” “share with solidarity,” and “act with kindness.”
Benjamin is also the Whole School Leader of Learning and Teaching, Prem Tinsulanonda International School in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Benjamin focuses on the ‘lived’ curriculum: on pedagogy, and what classroom practice looks like. He thinks about how to develop a culture of active learning, where the boundaries of disciplines start to disappear and learners engage projects that are meaningful and have an impact on themselves, others, and the world.
Prior to Saudi Arabia, Benjamin was the Vice Principal of the Middle School and High School, Whole School Curriculum Developer, and teacher at the Harbour School, a progressive PK-12 international school in Hong Kong, which was a “21st century learning school of the year” finalist.
Benjamin speaks English and French natively, Spanish fluently, and German, Japanese, and Vietnamese, all at rusty intermediate levels. In his spare time, Benjamin loves to read, practice yoga, and serve as a jungle gym for his kids.
He holds a Ph.D. in History from the National University of Singapore (2013), a MSc of Education from Mercy College (2015), an MBA of International Business from the Thunderbird School of Global Management (2000), an MA of International Relations from the University of Denver, Joseph Korbel School of International Studies (1997), among other bachelor and graduate diplomas.
