Welcome to the Modern Classrooms Project Podcast. Each week we bring you discussions with educators on how they use blended, self-paced, and mastery-based learning to better serve their learners. In this episode, Zach Diamond welcomes listeners to a summer series featuring highlights from past episodes. The first highlight is from a 2021 conversation with Kareem Farah, co-founder of the Modern Classroom Project.

Here are three key takeaways from this podcast episode:

• Genesis of the Model: Kareem explains that the Modern Classroom Project was born out of a problem: the inability to effectively engage students in traditional classroom settings. This led to the development of a model centered around self-pacing, eliminating in-person lectures, and creating personalized instructional videos.

• Flexibility and Teacher-Driven Innovation: One distinguishing feature of the Modern Classroom Project is its flexibility. Teachers are encouraged to innovate within the model, allowing them to adapt it to their unique classroom needs. The project aims to build a teacher-driven movement where educators learn from each other and share best practices.

• Student-Centric Learning: The model prioritizes student engagement and relationships. It encourages teachers to build personal connections with students and emphasizes the importance of short, focused instructional videos to enhance learning and mastery checks.

The podcast highlights the power of teacher collaboration, the shift away from traditional teaching methods, and the importance of personalized, student-centered learning experiences.

Discussion questions for PLC and PD: 

• The Modern Classroom Project emphasizes flexibility and teacher-driven innovation. How can this flexibility benefit students in various educational settings, and what challenges might educators face when adapting the model to their specific needs?

• Student-centered learning is a core element of the Modern Classroom Project. How can educators shift from a traditional, lecture-based approach to one that prioritizes student engagement and relationships? What strategies can educators use to create a more student-centric classroom?

• The podcast highlights the power of educators learning from each other. How can educators leverage peer collaboration and mentorship to enhance their teaching practices? What opportunities and platforms can educators use to share best practices and support each other in adopting innovative teaching methods?

Our Host

Kareem Farah spent his teaching career as a math educator in Hawaii and Washington, DC. He earned his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and later received a master’s degree in secondary education at Johns Hopkins University. Instead of using a traditional lecture model, Kareem taught math through a blended model where students accessed content through his self-made videos. The cornerstone of his classroom was the ability for students to work at their own pace and Kareem’s ability to assess students on mastery. Kareem co-founded the Modern Classrooms Project to empower teachers worldwide to redesign their classrooms around blended, self-paced, mastery-based learning. 

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