Human First: Redefining Intelligence and Self-Actualization in Education

 

How can education evolve to prioritize human potential and self-actualization over standardized results?

In the latest episode of “The Future of Education: Class Disrupted,” hosts Michael B. Horn and Diane Tavenner, along with their esteemed guest Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, a Cognitive Scientist, Podcaster, Author, and Coach, explore the transformative power of viewing education through a human-centric lens. Kaufman’s insights challenge the conventional focus on standardized achievements, advocating for an approach that recognizes and nurtures each student’s unique potential.

Horn, Tavenner, and Kaufman’s conversation covers the following:

  • The emphasis on treating students as individuals first
  • Highlighting self-actualization as a core educational goal
  • The importance and nuances of a growth mindset

“I believe firmly that all students should be treated as human first,” Kaufman emphasized, highlighting the critical shift needed in educational paradigms to unlock true human potential.

Recent Episodes

School systems across the country are under mounting pressure to improve student outcomes while navigating shifting standards, staffing shortages, and rising expectations around accountability. Yet many reform efforts fall short because they are fragmented and short-term. According to Learning Forward’s Standards for Professional Learning, sustained and job-embedded professional learning is linked to improved educator…

Workforce shortages, shifting federal and state policy, and rising skepticism about the return on investment of a traditional four-year degree have pushed career-connected learning to the forefront of education reform. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment is expected to increase by nearly 4.7 million jobs between 2022 and 2032, with…

Entrepreneurship is being glamorized in real time. Social media highlights overnight wins, AI tools promise instant scale, and private equity is reshaping industries at a rapid clip. Yet behind every “success story” is something far less flashy: failure, adaptability, and the discipline to keep going when life hits hard. According to the U.S. Bureau…