In episode 5 of The KindlED Podcast, hosts Kaity Broadbent and Adriane Thompson chat with Dr. Gina Riley, an educational psychologist, and expert in homeschooling, unschooling, and self-directed learning. Dr. Riley shares her experience and research on Self-Determination Theory and how it impacts students' motivation and well-being. Tune in to discover how you can create environments that support students' psychological needs, promote deeper respect for learners, and inspire lasting change in education systems. About the Guest: Gina Riley, Ph.D. is an educational psychologist, Clinical Professor, and Program Director of the Adolescent Special Education Program at CUNY Hunter College. Dr. Riley has over 25 years of experience in online, hybrid, and hyflex teaching and learning at the college/university level. She is known internationally for her work within the fields of homeschooling, unschooling, and intrinsically motivated, self-directed learning. She is currently the President-Elect of the New York State Association of Teacher Educators and a faculty advisor for Supported Decision Making New York (sdmny.org), which is an alternative to legal guardianship for individuals with disabilities. Her books include Unschooling: Exploring Learning Beyond the Classroom (2020); The Homeschooling Starter Guide (2021); and The Joys of Self Determined Learning (2022). 🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST 🎙️ The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments. Powered by Prenda, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning today. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being. 🌟 NOMINATE A KINDLER 🌟 Do you know someone who ignites curiosity, fuels motivation and uplifts well-being in young learners? Share their story with us! Please email us at [email protected]. ✍️ GOT A BURNING QUESTION? ✍️ We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to [email protected]. Let's dive into the conversation together! 🔗 IMPORTANT LINKS 🔗 🔥 Want more KindlED content? 💙 Connect with us 🚀Join The Beginner's Guide to Microschooling course