From Knowledge Transfer to Human Development: A New Purpose for School from Jane Shore

PODCAST Season 6 EPISODE 12

Jane R. Shore

Founder, School of Thought; Author, People-Based Learning: The Future of Learning is Human

Quotes of the Podcast: 

“The stars we are given, the constellations we make.” Rebecca Solnit

 Introduction of Guest BIO – 

Jane R. Shore, EdD is the founder of School of Thought PHL, and a learning scientist and research visualizer devoted to the idea that learning is, at its core, a human act. She is especially drawn to the hard-to-measure dimensions of learning - connection, reflection and action, and to the conditions that allow them to emerge. Her work explores how People-Based Learning offers a way forward in a world overflowing with information, but starved for meaning, bridging the space between rapidly expanding knowledge, emerging technologies, and our enduring need to learn with and through one another. Through her publication School of Thought, Jane translates research into practice using visual storytelling and lived experience. She is also the co-creator of The Art of Being Human, a collective art project with Sam Chaltain that invites reflection and connection through making and shared inquiry. Her keynotes, workshops, and learning designs create spaces where ideas are not just understood, but felt. Jane’s work has been published across academic journals, book chapters, and research reports, and she also illustrated two books for children, Imagine Song and For All the Curious Girls. Her forthcoming non-fiction book, People-Based Learning: The Future of Learning Is Human, (Routledge, March 2026) brings together research, stories, and design practices to show how learning with and through others makes learning meaningful and lasting.

Interview

Agents of Change: Leaders/Innovators. 

• 30,000 Ft. View – Why do we, as a society invest in education?
• What drew you to education?
• School of Thought - School of Thought exists to make People-Based Learning visible, intentional, and possible everywhere we live, work, and gather. We sit at the intersection of learning science, storytelling, art, and community, translating research into forms people can feel, see, and use.
• People-Based Learning (PeBL), the essential learning we do with and through one another. PeBL is an orientation defined and described through research, stories and experiences in my book! (Routledge, 2026).
• Measuring the important intangibles
• What are the biggest challenges to you?
• What would you like decision makers to know?”

Podcast/ website/ book shoutouts

My School of Thought substack: https://schoolofthought.substack.com/

My The Art of Being Human Substack created in collaboration with Sam Chaltain: https://theartofbeinghumanproject.substack.com/; 

People-Based Learning: The Future of Learning is Human: https://www.routledge.com/People-Based-Learning-The-Future-of-Learning-is-Human/Shore/p/book/9781041089858?utm_source=cjaffiliates&utm_medium=affiliates&cjevent=2dd4af965df611f181da002f0a82b836

Support the show

Education Perspectives is edited by Shashank P athttps://www.fiverr.com/saiinovation?source=inbox

Intro and Outro by Dynamix Productions