Student Protagonism: On Transforming the Learning Experience

In this episode, Dr. Kapono Ciotti, CEO of the Pacific American Foundation, discusses his views on education as a powerful tool for social justice. Ciotti credits his upbringing by two educators and his early schooling experiences for shaping his perspective.  

He fondly recalls his time at a progressive school in Hawaii, where the emphasis was on integrated thematic units and project-based learning, fostering a sense of "student protagonism." Ciotti believes this approach allowed him to see his education as an active and joyful experience, shaping his views on the importance of agency and purpose in learning.