Episode #20
Designing for Connection: People-Based Learning and Entering Education’s Human Era with Jane Shore
In this episode of Growth Over Grades, host Jordan Lewis sits down with Jane Shore—a lifelong educator, learning scientist, visualizer, and the founder of School of Thought—to explore how we can intentionally design learning environments around human connection. Jane breaks down her concept of people-based learning—an approach that goes beyond basic relationship-building to treat people as essential resources that make learning more inclusive, durable, and tangible. From connecting algebra to video game coding to studying democracy through real-world ethnographic interviews, Jane shares inspiring stories of how human interactions ground abstract concepts into meaningful experiences. Together, Jordan and Jane challenge listeners to rethink traditional school structures and embrace actionable shifts toward a more human-centered education system. In This Episode, We Cover: Defining People-Based Learning: Why viewing people as intentional learning resources makes lessons more durable, emotional, and relevant. Designing for Connection vs. Disconnection: How traditional front-facing rows alienate students, and how simple design tweaks—like flexible seating or peer-citation—build a genuine foundation of belonging. Warm vs. Cold Technology: Utilizing AI and digital tools to foster collaborative "burstiness" and real-world connection rather than isolation. Grading Less vs. Going Gradeless: Avoiding the trap of tying a student's whole identity to a single rigid metric, and shifting toward continuous feedback and growth. Entering Education’s Human Era: Evolving past historical factory and knowledge-acquisition models to focus on what we want students to become.
