Edufuturists #332 Why Learning Needs to be Messy with Nici Foote

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by the brilliant Nici Foote to discuss the importance of joy in learning, the challenges faced by neurodiverse students, and the need for personalised education. Nici shares her journey in education, emphasising the significance of creating engaging and inclusive learning environments. The conversation explores the role of play, the messiness of learning, and the impact of time constraints on effective teaching. We also dig into Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a framework for meeting diverse student needs and the importance of collaborative planning among educators. Find out more about Nici's amazing work at unbarrier.me and connect with her on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicifoote Chapters 00:00 Introductions 01:14 Nici's Journey in Education 03:50 Navigating Barriers in Education 06:36 Bringing Joy into Learning 11:13 The Importance of Messy Learning 15:06 Personalising Education for Every Student 23:12 Cultural Learning Experiences 25:34 Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Explained 30:26 The Importance of Engagement in Learning 37:05 Barriers to Implementing UDL 40:15 Rethinking Time in Education 43:11 The Myth of Limiting Abilities Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you. Ben & Steve x Championing those who are making the future of education a reality. Follow us on X: https://www.twitter.com/edufuturists Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edufuturists/ Join the WhatsApp Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IWXj4PvbvvI5frLGVUj6ih?mode=ems_copy_h_c Check out all about Edufuturists at https://www.edufuturists.com Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touch: info@edufuturists.com Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2026 at: edufuturists.com/uprising26