We have been talking about listening to student’s voices for decades now and since the pandemic began it has become quite the buzzword. However, there are still many questions about how to actually do it in a meaningful way. I met Lindsay Dixon Garcia and Robert Bailey of Hapara at ISTE last summer and they are on a mission to share students’ voices on their podcast. Lindsay and Robert shared with me the vision behind their show, the impact it has had so far, and how educators can better understand what their students are saying. 

Lindsay, a former Spanish teacher, and Robert, who has been in leadership roles at edtech companies for 15 years, are the creators of Harpara’s “#Student Voice Podcast” They both recognize that student voices are often ignored and not taken seriously, and with the podcast they aim to change that. 

“#Student Voice Podcast” aims to give students a platform for authentic expression, underlining the importance of hearing what students have to say. Each episode is worth a listen as a student shares their thoughts, ideas, and opinions on education. 

In this episode, we explore the key principles of building trust with students, creating authentic dialogue and engaging young people. Robert and Lindsey also talk about their podcast and their experiences with listening to students.

—William Jeffery is curating Flipboard EDU Podcast

“Coach Jeffery” is an award-winning digital learning educator and principal at Columbia High School in Texas. His tech pedagogy continues to drive him to curate educational content on Flipboard that highlights teaching strategies, edtech, and ways to improve student success. He hosts the “Flipboard EDU Podcast” as yet another way to share resources with peers.