Thinking Out Loud Episode 27

When the Hard Way is the Better Way with John Hagen, Math & Science Teacher

Episode launch date: September 1, 2026

What if the best way to learn something difficult is to stop looking for the right answer? John Hagen brings that question to his math, computer science, and robotics classrooms, where students are encouraged to puzzle through problems, experiment, collaborate, and discover that there can be more than one way forward. From a career in the early days of the internet to creating a fantasy football math curriculum and building JCHS’s robotics program, John has followed a willingness to explore what comes next. In a world increasingly shaped by AI, he argues that versatility, creativity, logical thinking, and the confidence to take on the unfamiliar may be among the most valuable things students can learn.

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