John Hunter

Chief Executive Officer, Big Yellow

Search every verified John Hunter interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. John Hunter, Chief Executive Officer at Big Yellow, discussed educational approaches in a 2012 interview at the Aspen Ideas Festival. He described teaching students critical thinking by using examples such as a website about a fictional Northwest Pacific Coast tree octopus to encourage discernment of online information. Hunter advocated for "backwards design," a method where assessment is defined first and curriculum is built around it, allowing students to understand goals from the outset. He also mentioned using students' existing interests, such as games or online entertainment, as a "line of least resistance" to build curriculum around their engagement. Hunter noted that the World Peace Game, a classroom simulation he developed, was being explored for wider sharing. He referenced a planned academy at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business and discussions with a Silicon Valley firm about a potential virtual version. He emphasized that the core of his teaching is building relationships with students, stating that knowing and caring about them is essential for deeper learning.