Join us to explore Imagining Liberatory Education Futures, a new Knowledgeworks forecast which considers what the education landscape might look like in twenty years. It explores possibilities related to social cohesion and the responsiveness of public institutions, raising the stakes for imagining and pursuing liberatory education futures.

"We want a world where every child feels like they belong, like they matter. It’s time to start making decisions that benefit each child – not just our own."

Jason Swanson will share the forecast, explain its origins and consider how it might be used in ways that support equity, access and innovation.
A panel of local educators from the Ōtautahi Futures Collective will engage through the lens of foresight, education and local context. What does it mean for us and how can we use this to meet the needs of rangatahi?
There will be an opportunity to ask questions and to explore the future together.

About the forecast

The Knowledgeworks forecasts have always surfaced both difficult and exciting possibilities and have tackled complex and controversial issues. Given the level of inertia in education and other social systems and increasing awareness of how inequities are baked into education and other social systems, Knowledgeworks decided that it was time to take a more pointed look at what it might mean to make education systems truly equitable. We asked ourselves, “To what extent might education systems be liberatory and unconstrained by systems and structures of oppression?” Check out the forecast at https://knowledgeworks.org/forecast-learning-liberatory/

About the Presenters

Jason Swanson is the Director of Foresight at Knowledgeworks. He has authored dozens of articles and forecasts, ranging from the future of work and readiness, the future of credentials, the expansion and diversification of educator roles and the creation of learning ecosystems. Jason is a graduate of the University of Houston’s Master of Foresight program, and a fellow in the Royal Society for the encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (the RSA). Jason has been a friend to Ako Ōtautahi Learning City Christchurch from the very beginning and has twice visited Ōtautahi to support the future of learning journey.

The Ōtautahi Futures Collective Panel:

Josh Hough is the Professional Learning Services Programme Manager at CORE Education, Tatai Aho Rau. He is a founding member of the Ōtautahi Futures Collective.

Alicia Poroa is the Tumuaki/Principal of Kaikoura Suburban School.

Lex Davis is the Professional Learning Facilitator at CORE Education, Tatai Aho Rau.

The conversation is hosted by Dr Cheryl Doig, Think Beyond. Cheryl is the founder of the Ōtautahi Futures Collective and Chair of Ako Ōtautahi Learning City Christchurch.