Bruce Dixon

I love the work that Missy Emler is now doing at Modern Learners since she took over the work that Will and I were doing. She has been an exceptional Community and Events organiser..... if you've ever connected, I know she would appreciate your…

How do you think the learning experiences of your students will change as a result of the last two months? We want to know. Register for our Transformation of teaching and learning post COVID 19 Virtual Roundtable today. #education…

The Risks and Rewards of Changing the Game

Gamechangers are few and far between. The only place they frequent is of course on our sporting fields, but metaphorically they also well describe those creative, courageous people who see a better way to do something and then they set about making…

Feedback, Affirmation, and the Delusion of Good Work

Despite the concern educators frequently express about the challenges of time in the scheduled life of school, most do still find time for conversations with colleagues. It might be over a morning or lunch break, or at either end of the school day,…

Feedback, Affirmation, and the Delusion of Good Work

Despite the concern educators frequently express about the challenges of time in the scheduled life of school, most do still find time for conversations with colleagues. It might be over a morning or lunch break, or at either end of the school day,…

It’s Time for Your Professional Learning Checkup

As the year kicks off in earnest, maybe you are one of the many who have made great resolutions about your physical health, but have you given any thought to the health of your learning? Seriously, how focused are you on your learning? Have you done…

Modern Learners 2018 Provocation of the Year

We often start the New Year with resolutions, some more ambitious than others, so when you hear Keith Richards is to give up the booze, you know the world is certainly changing! However nowadays it’s also become more common to end the year with…

Following our very successful Modern Learner labs last year in US, NZ and Australia, our next labs will be in Fort Lauderdale, Houston and San Diego in April. Full details at

We're excited to launch our Spring Series of Modern Learner Labs following great response last year in the US, Australia and New Zealand. The first will be in Fort Lauderdale in early April, then Houston, San Diego and then Canada in May. Details at…

Every Kid Can Do Amazing Things

How do you identify potential? Do you know what potential looks like, long before it is realized? Some examples are obvious. You know the sort of kid I am talking about. Almost from when he started to walk, he had a ball in his hand. When he threw…

Why Student Agency Matters...

Finish this sentence… “Imagine a place where students could…” Is that place your school? What would it take for that place to be a reality for your students? What do you think school could, and should be? That question is the focus of thousands of…

Imagination, Inquiry, and Agency

Finish this sentence... “Imagine a place where students could...” Is that place your school? What would it take for that place to be a reality for your students? What do you think school could, and should be? That question is the focus of thousands…

The Unpleasant Truth About Equity

Equity is a topic that takes center stage in many education conversations, and rightly so. It’s about every child being given a “fair go.” We often voice our concerns about the plight of the underserved in our communities, and as educators, we always…

The Rise of the Learning Economy

It’s been a long time coming, but the emergence of the learning economy has been as inevitable as it is has more recently become overwhelming. This is a time when learners rule. When it’s not so much about what you know now, but rather what capacity…

How Long is the Long Run?

I recently reviewed a Seth Godin podcast called the Long Term. It was an interesting commentary by Seth on the significant benefits we see when we are committed to the long run…olive farmers and investors included. So given this week’s post will be…

Who Are These Modern Learners?

With all the talk around modern learners, it’s probably time we got up close and personal to understand a little more about their motivations, behaviors, and attitudes. First up, let’s be clear. Modern learners aren’t defined by an age group or…

Accountability and the Tyranny of Metrics

I think it might be high time we called “accountability” and its kissing cousins “metrics” and “performance indicators” to account. For educators, that draws a focus to assessment, where maybe it’s time we asked if high-stakes standardized testing…

Agency and the Rise of New Power

Surprisingly, it wasn’t Deputy Headmaster Rohan Brown abruptly cutting a student’s hair that was front page news, but rather what came next. It was a day in early March when school photos were being taken, and as the young lad walked through the…

Accountability and the Tyranny of Metrics

I think it might be high time we called “accountability” and its kissing cousins “metrics” and “performance indicators” to account. For educators, that draws a focus to assessment, where maybe it's time we asked if high-stakes standardized testing…

Agency and the Rise of New Power

Surprisingly, it wasn’t Deputy Headmaster Rohan Brown abruptly cutting a student’s hair that was front page news, but rather what came next. It was a day in early March when school photos were being taken, and as the young lad walked through the…