Outline: Harnessing Hope
1. Opening & Hook (0–10 min)
I start with a quick story and a simple question: “How many of your students think the world is falling apart?”
Then I introduce the Rosie Quiz, a fun “celebration of knowledge” where the audience competes against each other (and my dog Rosie) to see who knows more about the state of the world. It’s always eye-opening, and even educators are surprised by how much progress we underestimate.
Goal: Break the ice with humor, spark curiosity, and reveal the “hope gap” that exists in our classrooms.
2. The Challenge: Fear-Driven Narratives (10–20 min)
Next, I share a striking classroom stat: one of my Grade 10 classes spent 46,000 hours on social media in a single year. We unpack what that means for how young people see the world.
I walk the audience through research on negativity bias and how today’s algorithms amplify fear and outrage, keeping things interactive, asking for reactions, and poking a little fun at myself and them.
Goal: Help participants see how constant exposure to bad news erodes student motivation, creativity, and hope.
3. The Pivot: Data, Stories, and the Power of Inputs (20–35 min)
Here’s where we shift gears. I introduce the Triple P Framework: Problem, Progress, Possibility, a simple way to move from doomscrolling to data-driven hope.
We explore examples from Our World in Data, Factfulness, and The Progress Network, showing how much the world has improved in areas like health, energy, and equality.
Goal: Move from awareness to empowerment by modeling how educators can reframe the narrative in their own classrooms.
4. Application: Tools & Takeaways (35–50 min)
I share a Harnessing Hope Toolkit of free, ready-to-use classroom resources that teachers can apply right away.
We look at short clips and examples from my Institute for Global Solutions, a public school program that helps students take on real-world challenges through systems thinking and social impact.
Goal: Make sure every participant leaves with practical tools and fresh energy to bring into their next lesson.
5. Closing: What Could Go Right? (50–60 min)
I wrap with one of my favorite stories: how a single class discussion (“What’s the point? We’re screwed.”) sparked the creation of the Institute for Global Solutions and my TEDx talk, How to Save Our Children from Cynicism.
It’s a powerful reminder of what happens when we replace despair with data and fear with fact-based hope.
Goal: End on an uplifting note that leaves educators inspired, grounded, and ready to model hope in action.
