Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education

01/15/2026

We've just launched our new newsletter for OER Commons users and fans! The Remix will be a quarterly email sharing news about new collections, partners, training events, and other open education related goodness.

https://mailchi.mp/iskme/remix-oercommons-january-2026

11/04/2025

In the season finale of Educating to Be Human, we turn our attention to rural education and the transformative power of community-centered learning.

Host and Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education founder Lisa Petrides sits down with Kassandra “Kassi” Talbot, principal of Elementary School on California’s rural coastside - and an educator deeply rooted in the community she now leads.

Kassi shares how participatory and community-based education, grounded in equity and openness, can drive lasting change not only in rural schools but across all learning systems.

🎧 Listen to the episode to explore what it means to center humanity, care, and connection in education.(Link in comments)

10/18/2025

This episode from Season 1 of "Educating to Be Human" hosted by Lisa Petrides feels especially timely today. It explores the question: Why do the names we give places matter? As debates about renaming streets, buildings, and landmarks continue, historian Ruth Mostern offers fresh insight.

Through the World Historical Gazetteer, Ruth shows how mapping the past can transform the way we understand our shared histories and sense of identity.

Podcast Episode · Educating to Be Human Podcast · 10/14/2025 · 37m

10/08/2025

In the latest episode of "Educating to Be Human", Lisa Petrides speaks with Jon Pedigo, longtime social justice advocate, faith leader, and Executive Director of People Acting in Community Together (PACT), about what it takes to build resilient communities in a time of deep division.

Their conversation explores how grassroots organizing empowers people to take action, how faith traditions can foster care and connection, and how communities can turn fear into belonging.

Listen to the full episode to hear insights on collective action, community-led solutions, and the power of creating spaces where people can show up for each other.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-faith-community-organizing-and-belonging-with-fr/id1760809665?i=1000729329505

Podcast Episode · Educating to Be Human Podcast · 09/30/2025 · 41m

09/22/2025

New episode of our podcast Educating to Be Human out now!
Host Lisa Petrides sits down with Paul Kruchoski, former U.S. diplomat, to explore the human side of diplomacy and its deep connections to education.

Diplomacy goes beyond negotiations—it’s about learning across borders, listening across cultures, and building relationships that make peace possible. In this conversation, Paul shares insights from initiatives like the Open Book project and reflects on how programs like Fulbright create lasting networks of connection.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-promise-of-public-diplomacy-with-paul-kruchoski/id1760809665?i=1000727072491

Podcast Episode · Educating to Be Human Podcast · 09/16/2025 · 39m

08/27/2025

🎧 New on Educating to Be Human: AI in the Classroom: Power, Bias and Opportunity with Maha Bali

Lisa Petrides sits down with Maha Bali, professor at the American University in Cairo, co-founder of Equity Unbound, and a leading voice in digital pedagogy. Together they explore how AI is reshaping education—and why digital literacy must go beyond technical skills to include questions of equity, power, and human connection.

This conversation highlights what’s at stake in our digital world and why preparing learners to critically question technology is crucial.

Listen → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-in-the-classroom-power-bias-and-opportunity/id1760809665?i=1000722683319

Podcast Episode · Educating to Be Human Podcast · 08/19/2025 · 45m

08/12/2025

🎧 New Episode on Educating to be Human: Why Community Colleges Matter More than Ever with Keith Curry

In this episode, Lisa speaks with Dr Keith Curry, President of Compton College, where amid fluctuating budgets and shifting state and federal policies, he provides examples of how community colleges can respond to the real-life challenges students face - from basic needs to academic and career success. His focus is on building a culture and structure that holds leaders accountable and delivers real outcomes for the communities they serve.

For Dr. Curry, equity isn’t a slogan. It’s about institutionalizing support systems, embedding change, and ensuring that student success isn’t left to chance.

🎙 Listen now to explore why community colleges matter now more than ever https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-community-colleges-matter-more-than-ever-with/id1760809665?i=1000720694587

Podcast Episode · Educating to Be Human Podcast · 08/05/2025 · 35m

07/28/2025

As libraries are facing growing pressure: defunding, political attacks, and digital shift that favors short-term access over long-term preservation.

In this timely episode of Educating to Be Human, Lisa Petrides speaks with Chris Freeland, Director of Library Services at Internet Archive, about how book bans, licensing models, and the loss of public funding are limiting who gets to access—and ultimately remember—what.

Freeland unpacks how the move from ownership to licensing is transforming libraries from stewards of knowledge into renters of digital content, where access can disappear with the flip of a switch.
As funding cuts hit institutions committed to the public good, we ask: What’s at stake when access to knowledge is no longer public, permanent, or guaranteed?

🎙 Listen now to explore how the architecture of memory is being quietly rewritten. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/libraries-at-risk-access-preservation-and-cultural/id1760809665?i=1000718476415

Also here: https://educatingtobehuman.org/libraries-at-risk-access-preservation-and-cultural-memory-with-chris-freeland

Podcast Episode · Educating to Be Human Podcast · 07/22/2025 · 32m

07/03/2025

New episode of Educating to Be Human is out now!

What if learning began not with a textbook, but with a seed?

ISKME Founder and CEO Lisa Petrides speaks with Stephen Ritz of Green Bronx Machine about how growing kale (and more) in the classroom is transforming learning AND the lives of students in the process.

Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts or visit https://educatingtobehuman.org/food-justice-begins-in-the-classroom-with-stephen-ritz

Rate, review, and share to help us grow a community that believes educating to be human isn’t radical - but necessary.

In this episode of Educating to Be Human, Lisa speaks with Stephen Ritz, founder of the Green Bronx Machine, about how we can transform education by returning to the most essential teacher of all: food.  What if learning began not with a textbook, but with a seed? Stephen's journey - from a Sou...

06/12/2025

What if detention was replaced with meditation?

In the second episode of Season 2 of our podcast Educating to Be Human, Lisa Petrides speaks with Atman Smith, co-founder of the Holistic Life Foundation, about how mindfulness practices like yoga and breathing are transforming schools—supporting learning, healing trauma, and building stronger communities.
Together, they explore what it means to learn through the body, and why centering well-being in education is essential—not optional.

🎧 Tune in wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://educatingtobehuman.org/when-meditation-replaces-detention-with-atman-smith

Rate, review, and share to help us build a community that believes educating to be human is not a radical idea, but something we can all work toward.

In this episode of Educating to be Human, Lisa speaks with Atman Smith, founder of the Holistic Life Foundation, about the transformative power of bringing mindfulness, yoga, and meditation into not just schools, but also rehab centers and senior living centers. What began as a personal journey in s...

01/03/2025

We are celebrating the completion of Season 1, with 10 episodes of the "Educating to Be Human" podcast series. They are meant to be thought-provoking and engaging, and to shed light on the idea that creation and curiosity--essential superpowers of humans--can be harnessed to create a more humane world. As educators, we think a lot about how to do that--in both formal and informal education settings--from the classroom, to the everyday circumstances we find ourselves in. These 10 episodes below feature remarkable individuals who wake up thinking about how to best leverage our innate desire for community and connection.

Ep 1: Monsters - Erin O'Connell
https://educatingtobehuman.org/monsters-with-erin-oconnell

Ep 2: Taking off the Mask - Ashanti Branch
https://educatingtobehuman.org/taking-off-the-mask-with-ashanti-branch

Ep 3: The Power of Place - Ruth Mostern
https://educatingtobehuman.org/the-power-of-place-with-ruth-mostern

Ep 4: Teaching Democracy - Joel Westheimer
https://educatingtobehuman.org/teaching-democracy-with-joel-westheimer

Ep 5: Building Creative Spaces - Nina Barbuto
https://educatingtobehuman.org/building-creative-spaces-with-nina-barbuto

Ep 6: Yes, And; Improv - Chris Miller
https://educatingtobehuman.org/yes-and-improv-with-chris-miller

Ep 7: Language Matters - Mihalis Eleftheriou
https://educatingtobehuman.org/language-matters-with-mihalis-eleftheriou

Ep 8: Paying the Price - Sara Goldrick-Rab
https://educatingtobehuman.org/paying-the-price-with-sara-goldrick-rab

Ep 9: Answering the Call: Young Men in the Pre-K Classroom - Julius Cave
https://educatingtobehuman.org/answering-the-call-young-men-in-the-pre-k-classroom-with-julius-cave

Ep 10: Beyond Recidivism, Higher Education in Prison - Jody Lewen
https://educatingtobehuman.org/beyond-recidivism-higher-education-in-prison-with-jody-lewen

You can also tune in wherever you listen to podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc). Stay tuned for Season 2 in early Spring 2025 for fresh voices and more amazing guests!

12/30/2024

As 2024 comes to a close, we here at ISKME want to express our deepest gratitude for your continued support. We hope you’ll continue to be part of our journey.

Join us in making 2025 our best year yet!



Donate here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=P8DS2YQV9YB7E