In season 2 of Curriculum Encounters, hosts Jackie Simmons and Sarah Gerth take the practices of experiential learning out into the world. These encounters explore family history and culture at the grocery store, new perspectives at a ferry terminal, and feelings of belonging at a sidewalk stoop. Jackie and Sarah pose thought-provoking questions that will inspire educators, students, and just about anyone hoping to challenge conventional thinking about curriculum. At the same time they talk listeners through creative field activities and practices to rethink the spaces where education can thrive.

Grab a field journal and tune in — follow the show and be part of the conversation that explores knowledge, wherever you find it!

• Episode 1 Field Guide Worksheet

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

In case you missed it, tune in for this special episode recorded back in February when Sarah and Jackie were guests on Pop and Play, the spectacular podcast about play and popular culture hosted by Haeny Yoon and Nathan Holbert from the Digital Futures Institute. They share a broader definition of “curriculum” as their conversation touches on the playful aspects of curriculum design and how curriculum encounters offer simple opportunities for play while paying attention to the world around them.

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

A key takeaway from this episode—and the season as a whole—is the idea that curriculum is not just a set of prescribed knowledge, but a social, spatial, and sensory process. Learning happens everywhere, not just in formal educational settings. Jackie and Sarah encourage educators to recognize the importance of these informal, sensory, and embodied forms of knowing and to consider how they might be integrated into curriculum design to create more engaging and holistic learning experiences.

Curriculum Encounters is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.

The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.