Let’s Talk!
Sometimes I sit down with people in or adjacent to the Wayfinding community to talk about what we are doing and why we are doing it. Here is a collection of some of these conversations:
Student Success Outcomes: Are Colleges Measuring What Really Matters?
Louisa Mariki joined Wayfinding Academy in the role of Provost and Vice President of Development. She chats with Founder and President Michelle Jones about exactly what provost-ing involves, how it's different at Wayfinding and how the nerdy data stuff actually underpins our rebellious and revolutionary approach. :)
It also shows that what you measure is what really matters to you whether you're an individual or part of an organization. So if you want to get a real sense of an organization's true priorities, ask them what they measure. At Wayfinding, student satisfaction, happiness, community relationships and resilience are top priorities, and we track and measure them that way.
Are Colleges Institutions of Systemic Racism? How Can We Do Better to Make Learning Equitable?
Director of Equitable Learning, Erica Compere and College President, Michelle Jones, speak the morning after the Breonna Taylor verdict is released (which wasn't part of the plan) to discuss rage at systemic racism, how to communicate from the head and the heart, why Erica said "yes" to Wayfinding and how to address white supremacy in the education industrial complex.
Reflections on Being a College Student During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Michelle Jones, Founder and President of Wayfinding Academy, talks with a student, Jessie, about her first year as a student, including the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Jessie reflects on some of the opportunities (from attending a TED event to planning a trip to Guatemala for the Wayfinding community) she's had over the course of her first year, and how the pandemic has impacted those plans.
What is it Like When Alumni go to Work for Their College?
In this interview, President and Founder of Wayfinding Academy, Michelle Jones, chats with an alumnus, TJ, about their Wayfinding experience and shifting from being a student to being on staff! In her TEDxSalem talk "How to Do College Better," Michelle introduced the world to TJ as a student and after they graduated, TJ joined the staff member as an Equity and Inclusion Specialist through AmeriCorps.
Michelle and TJ catch us up on TJ's journey and cover what it's like to go from student to "crew member", how they've zeroed in on their passion and learned to be more selective in saying yes, how high schools could assist in preparing students for "purpose focused" education and how to unlearn behaviors that made it more challenging. They end with what gives TJ hope for the future.
How is the COVID-19 Pandemic Changing Higher Education? Most Colleges Are in an Existential Crisis.
As COVID-19 has forced nearly all schools, including colleges and universities, to shift their educational model, the higher education world is having to make some difficult choices -- but there is a silver lining. We're seeing institutions move away from categorizing young people based on grades and test scores and move towards getting to know the actual person. Watch Michelle Jones, Wayfinding Academy Founder and President, talk with Ty Adams, Marketing and Communications Manager, about why these changes are a positive for students, despite the difficult and challenging circumstances that have caused these shifts to happen.
Should You Go to College? To Decide, Do This First.
Young people are still getting the message that going to college is key to their success in life. But how do you know if it's really the right choice for you? Watch Wayfinding Academy's Founder and President, Michelle Jones, Ph.D., discuss why taking the time to pause and consider all of your options can lead to more informed and intentional choices when it comes to attending (or not attending) college.
What is the Purpose of College?
How are colleges and universities helping students connect with their passions, values, and priorities? Are they focusing on this enough or at all? Watch Wayfinding Academy's Founder and President, Michelle Jones, Ph.D., discuss how we can better help students figure out what they want to do in the world and build skills so they can start doing it.