The BLSA podcast’s primary objective is to look clearly and honestly at the situation of young learners in today’s education climate, and to ask what can be done to improve their personal wellbeing and learning outcomes. We can think of no better guest to help us move towards this objective than Dr. Deena Kara Shaffer.

In addition to being a kind, smart and charismatic conversation partner, Dr. Shaffer is an educator, learning coach, resilience consultant, wellness writer, and public speaker. She has recently taken on the new role of Director, Office of Student and Academic Services (OSAS) in the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change at York University.

In this episode, Dr. Shaffer helps us to look more clearly and compassionately at the ways that humans learn, the obstacles that can prevent us from doing so, and the roles that nature and personal wellbeing can play in our reception and retention of new knowledge. Young or old, wherever you are, if you’re interested in learning better, this episode is not to be missed!

And if you’re intrigued by Deena’s #LearnThat project, you can record your own “learn that” story of “what was the hardest thing you ever had to learn and *how* did you learn that?” and email your 60sec videos to info@awakenedlearning.ca

A few of the stand-out programs, references and quotes to look out for in this episode:

 Programs

Awakened Learning – Strategies to Learn and Live Well

@AwakenedLearning (Instagram)

TMU’s Portage Program

Assignment Calculator example

References

Erich Fromm – Biophilia

E.O. Wilson – Consilience

Dacher Keltner – The Science of Awe

Johann Hari – “Stolen Focus” and “Lost Connections”

Quotes:

“That’s a linear story made out of a non-linear life. It’s a lot messier than it is ‘wow’”.

“What are the Health Determinants of Learning?”

“We can be not just both, but all.”

“Prioritize the Relational.”

“The body is all the way there with you.”

“Be 15 things when you’re introduced”.

“It’s not simple, but it’s interesting”.

“I’m a late-onset learner”

If you haven’t listened to our previous Podcast click here