I joined my Silver Lining for Learning (SLL) co-hosts – Chris Dede, Curt Bonk, and Lydia Cao (with Yong Zhao unable to attend due to travel) – to deliver a keynote at the Global Learning for an Open World Conference. SLL has been a labor of love over the past five years, with more than 200 episodes since its launch in March 2020.

GLOW 2024’s focus on sustainable development through innovative education aligned perfectly with SLL’s mission of highlighting transformative initiatives that support all learners. The conference brought together students, educators, researchers, and policymakers to explore critical themes like global competence, youth voice, and future-ready schools.

For our keynote, each co-host highlighted episodes connected by theme or personal significance. Chris focused on our coverage of national AI institutes in education, Curt explored open education through episodes from Nepal and Antarctica, and Lydia examined ground-up innovations in informal learning spaces.

I my case, I explored two sets of three episodes examining education and creativity in challenging contexts. The first set challenged traditional views of learning, highlighting participatory creativity, unstructured play, and self-directed learning across diverse settings like China’s Anji Play model and the Sudbury Valley School. The next set of episodes focused on three remarkable educational initiatives in Afghanistan at a time of political and educational crisis. From the Asian University for Women’s programs to “Classrooms Without Walls” and Flowers for the Future, these stories demonstrated how technology and global collaboration can sustain learning even in conflict zones. The resilience of Afghan students and educators reminded us that education represents hope and dignity.

All these episodes and more can be found at the Silver Lining for Learning website and on all your favorite podcast platforms.

As we look ahead, we, the hosts of SLL, remain committed to sharing stories of educational innovation and resilience from around the world. These narratives continue to show us that meaningful learning finds a way to thrive when supported by the right conditions and connections.

You can watch the entire keynote below (and access our slides here). A huge shout-out to Lucy Gray and the entire team for helping make this event happen.