This AI Tool Saved My Life (Literally) | Sonn Sam of Big Picture Learning

Описание: What if school could help students love themselves more?

Brett sits down with Sonn Sam of Big Picture Learning—a national voice for learner-centered innovation—to explore how real-world learning, AI-powered tools, and deep student purpose are reshaping everything we know about education.

From escaping gang influence through breakdancing to building school models that center student brilliance, Sonn shares his deeply personal story and how AI is helping schools build equity-minded, personalized, real-world learning systems that work.

What You’ll Learn:

🔹 How Sonn’s life was transformed by youth arts—and what it taught him about learning
🔹 Why Big Picture Learning believes “students are the curriculum”
🔹 The 5 design principles of powerful learner-centered schools
🔹 How the ImBlaze internship platform uses AI to scale real-world learning
🔹 Why most students are never asked about their real passions—and how to change that
🔹 How AI can support equity, not replace educators
🔹 Advice for helping students build self-love and purpose using AI

⏱️ Timestamps:
0:00 – Welcome & intro with Brett
1:04 – Sonn Sam’s backstory: Poverty, gangs, breakdancing, and purpose
7:00 – What is Big Picture Learning? Core values + design framework
22:00 – The magic of ImBlaze: How AI scales real-world learning
37:00 – Building student agency, executive function, and legit internships
45:00 – Sonn’s advice to 11-year-olds about AI, purpose, and self-love
54:00 – Ocean’s 11 Question: Who’s on Sonn’s dream EdTech team?
1:00:00 – Sonn flips the mic: What question does he have for Brett?
1:01:30 – Sonn’s closing thoughts + flowers for mentors, educators, parents

💬 What part of Sonn’s story resonated with you most? Drop a comment—we’d love to hear your reflections.

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AmpED to 11 – Where future-ready education gets loud.