findings in failings

What our failures produced this year 2010-2011:The Lab vision (Lab site – request from parents, updates/etc )CONNECTed – district visionOptions– empowering choicea bold dream – history & floorplanWe gained a clearer vision: nothing is for everyone. choice empowers. your school/life design it. facilitation per 1-1 mentors. alongside, and beyond be you. share back: ie wikipedia, expositories, portfolio (behance), video logWe hope to gain further progress with these:tag Youtube (& video response) for video logging

work on Junto-ish space to talk

Jim and Sasha - working on virtual reality in Drupal. ie: collegeincolorado - but instead of reading - they would become ie: a chiropractor, scientist, etc.We got asked to post 10 times over the next year on dmlcentral(Mimi Ito, danah boyd, Ethan Zuckerman, Howard Rheingold, Cathy Davidson, Jeff Brazil, …)They have plans for 30 more youmedia ‘s at least 1 more quest2 learn2 page paper from 2008 (50 mill project) digital youth project

A free form curriculum..1click to learn more

A community of choice..2click to go to doc

3A collection of options..Students are making career based decisions on too little information. –Anya Kamenetzshare/find/create more options…

TSDNothing is for everyone.Let’s facilitate that.CONNECTedDennis Littky, the city is our floorplan.

Thinking on space (physical, emotional, mental) ..The making of a dream.A bit of history – if you’re so inclined:Our first week in the Lab, August 2010, the kids were skyping with James Bach.They were already deep into the issue of homelessness and wanted to know his insight on how to solve it.His answer set the stage for the rest of the year.James ‘ reply was that you can’t solve it by thinking you can manage people. Sustainable change begs choice.

He said the best you can do is provide the resources they would need to help themselves, let them know you care, and then rather than try to manage them, be available to them, along side them.James suggested the city with resource buildings rather than schools…. would move a community toward a healthier means to learning/living.*Our brilliant friend Adam Burk has helped clarify verbiage with his great insight in this matter. Community as school could change the systems that are persistently producing conditions for poverty to thrive.Which we thought sounded great.And started to imagine how that could play out. How we could call that school..While listening to the convo – Sugata Mitra kept ringing in my ears. His success – he provided the resources and left for 3 months at a time.

Thinking on space (physical, emotional, mental) ..The making of a dream.A bit of history – (cont)The conversation gyrated back and forth, as did almost every other conversation throughout the year, between a specific situation (this time homelessness) and redefining school.After noticing the similarities of a literal homeless person and a figurative homeless student in a classroom, they jumped to how we could then help (provide resources, get out of the way, be available) to make the time we spend together during the day facilitate more self-directed, rich, passion led learning through an interdependent status.While listening to the convo – Sugata Mitra kept ringing in my ears. His success – he provided the resources and left for 3 months at a time.play Aimee explaining NY’s interdependent status for teens

In finding hunger, in unleashing people, we found it best to deliberately not teach. Thinking on space (physical, emotional, mental) ..A bit of history – (cont)Girls self-directing themselves in Spanish, after experiencing the pilot (self-directed) math the previous year, came to the conclusion that they felt more empowered in a space where the adult had no specific expertise to what they were trying to learn.They found, this wasn’t about no structure, but rather about self-structure.click to playif snipsnip fails, 3:40-4:18click to play:09-:32

1-to-1aboutOne of the biggest mistakes we made the last two years was in thinking the primary 1-1 relationship could be virtual. We made me-videos in order to search for expert individual tutors. We got some amazing volunteers. While a few did connect, we didn’t see any substantial mentorships developing. (Albeit, none were really based on passion, so not a fair analysis.)We thought that would be resolved this year, when passion was the driver of the learner. However, the virtual pairing still wasn’t happening as we envisioned. (Due to scheduling time zones, and district system blocks – specifically skype on a mac.)We still believe this idea of virtual mentors/connections is key to a paradigm shift. But we were missing a key element for making this successful to a person. For now, especially in k-12, we’re thinking, at least one connection needs to be face to face.

Thinking on space (physical, emotional, mental) ..A bit of history – (cont)Something about agendas, expected outcomes, proven methods, can keep us from delightful possibilities, from owning the learning. (click to play)

Doing what has been considered standarddoesn’t equate with success anymore.We need to be freeing kids up to be themselves. Giving them space to fail. Showing them we trustlearning. That it is that fascinating and alluring. Lucas with a CSU student talking about space and permission to be.

In trying to facilitate passion within expected curriculum, (actually anything already offered in the district), we found compromise in that inner drive.For example:Thinking on space (physical, emotional, mental) ..A bit of history – (cont)We tried to get Gabe to like math, through his connection with skateboarding. Even though we had the most incredible tutor, working with him. The design of the board didn’t work. The physics of the movement didn’t work. We need to let kids like Gabe work from the inside out. This could take time. We could look lazy. We need time and trust if we want this to last, to matter. If we want to find hunger.Gabe is gifted and talented. We just haven’t unleashed him yet. Gabe is not alone.

Community as a school:What we found, in order for this to work, self-directed, self-owned learning, school needs to be life, period.Kids need to be working on health, budget, environmental issues, etc, … per their passion,rather than us trying to fit any project/inquiry into the tidy and safe box we call standards or curriculum. We need to trust that what matters will show up. From Edutopia: For college ready use PBLschool as life..three factors that support the success of a young person: A solid relationship with an adult mentor, such as a parent, priest, teacher, or coach; A sense of mastery that develops An internal sense of meaning and purpose Perhaps better to say:For life ready use 1-1, PBL as we know it, …on steroids.Interdependencyand beyond

A new paradigm shift.The future ….is sharing. The Mesh, Lisa GanskyGetting to the heart of the matter begs a …to deck for culture of trust

Thinking on space (physical, emotional, mental) ..The making of a dream.A bit of history – (cont)Like we were learning/understanding about homeless people, and would later learn from student experience in the Lab,you really can do anything you want, but you have to want it.So we were beginning to see how a plan to redefine school really could change the world. We were beginning to see that if we could facilitate each person’s passion by providing resources and a sense of belonging through a culture of trust, with at the least a 1-1, face to face mentor, and permission and space to follow your fancy… guided, if need be, through detox……well, we were beginning to see that this really could happen. Little could be huge. Amateur could be pro. Poor could be rich.

click to playKids hard at work that matters. It may take time. It may look ridiculous for a while. But it’s legit. It will change the room.

Thinking on space (physical, emotional, mental) ..The making of a dream.A bit of history – (cont)The crazy notion that each kid could essentially have their own self-made plan, allowed us to envision the entire community as one school.Visions from the previous year of the library being the hubof the school ….… morphed into the idea of the highschool buildings becoming the hubs, or the resource centers, for the entire town. The town asone big school. Like a uni campus. Resources, lectures halls, science labs, art hall, engineering hall, everything/everyone is available – per choice. click to hear original Lab description

Thinking on space (physical, emotional, mental) ..A bit of history – (cont)Throughout the year, we dreamed of such spaces, ones that would capture the fluidity of the web: 24/7, ubiquitous, something for everyone, malleable, continually morphing to suit the needs of whoever is in it.Our first glimpse of this morphism was Palomar 5 (in 3 weeks).Their white walled castle with the freedom to build and change and create, tickled our fancy. As did the passion driven adventures that resulted from their 6 month stay. Kosta Grammatis and @ahumanright.org in particular.Now at the end of they year, we’re certain morph and malleable are key adjectives.Austin on private spaceLucas sketching spaceClay on balance in space

Thinking on space (physical, emotional, mental) ..A bit of history – (cont)whiteboard wallsdeep practicevia Daniel Coyledreaming boldly of spaces that already exist –Lisa Ganskysound proof rooms, space/tools to skypeseparate detox roomvisualizing detoxWe walked Old Towne with Kevin. We walked 4th Street. We talked about Lisa Gansky’s Mesh mentality, how we could do more with less. How we could create new purpose for old spaces.

Thinking on space (physical, emotional, mental) ..We talked to the Mayor about what we could do. He gave us hard work. Work he can’t do alone.Working on this dream: tunnel jamAnd this one to share stories : street artA bit of history – (cont)We talked to community members, as potential mentors. Would they be willing? Would they be interested?(Barry video)We talked to city people, about planning together, legalizing street art, occupying space, sharing stories, bringing people together.(Felicia and/or Marcie video)Aimee & Noah on teen shelter & homelessness.See Michelle’s human trafficking event -slide 100. Aimee sharing their current thinking for a teen shelter.

The beauty of becoming yourself, making yourself, noticing more and being more mindful, is that it empowers you to let go of yourself.You start working for that something bigger than… … that something beyond.You start needing others. You start knowing others.You find yourself dreaming. Dreaming boldly.So now, in sketching such spaces of collaboration, we’re using YOUmedia as an existing visual. Dream boldly with us. Let’s start today.What’s next… is now.

A visual of physical space …A project of dmlcentral.comYOUmedia – click to playDo take a quick peek at this video. The visual will help you follow the thinking in the next several slides. As we share this idea of a floor plan.

keyOver the next year…the Lab: Imagination & PlayPre K-5: vast exposure through games, logic, programming, … dabbling with mentors other than parents6-8 focus: ongoing exposure, solidifying mentors, working on small personal networkDesign/prototypes:i&p , be you web, and Patchwork9-12 – quasi college – Design/prototypes: the Met, detox, and your school design it, , Yaacov Hecht, Education Cities12+ - quasi career Design/prototypes:Cathy Davidson, John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute at Duke, Yaacov Hecht, The Educational-Social Entrepreneuring IncubatorTeachers– google 20% as learners, Teacherpreneurs, Yaacov’s incubator, & Your pd design itCreate a space to house our best resources for the arts.Create a space to house our best resources for engineering.Currently imagining the Lab could roam around the city in diff spaces creating mesh. Rented to them at low cost or free of charge. In return, their time in it is spent designing the space for creativity/allure, one that is alive, a future investment for the owner(s).

over the next year.This is a rough sketch of the buildings in our town, the colored ones part of our vision...

What we envision next year:Fine tuning a means to monitor growth:Expository, portfolio, wikipedia editOver 500 videos – tagging/sharing this summer, documentaryMore focus on logging (video as well), writing locally & for dmlcentralCommunity involvement:Best asset right now – word of mouth trumps moneyCommunity gatherings – films at feed and grain this summer [I am, Schooling the World]Artspace & ACE (robotics - dog as open source for programming, Rushkoff – program or be programmed, legal street art, JR – maybe of 1-1’s)Focus:1-1 mentors (and beyond)Inform the community on ed options – nothing is for everyoneLog/share/map activity/thinking in the LabOnline as open source Visit: Met – BIF 7 - Gansky, boyd, Pink, Littky, Haque, Hagel, Visit: Patchwork,TED: Collins June 29?click for Adam’s 1st video log

Space – Downtown spaces – June about Artspace – Grace church? – ACE – roboticsLiabilitySchool during the day – united way afterTransportationBus routes city and schoolCity – bike programFunds:Looking into United Way, local support, major companies with like vision, businesses offering 10% time to employees to mentor, savings from paperless, less policy, etc, donation,ResourcesWhat we currently are using: Macbooks, flips, furniture from warehouseFuture: access to warehouse, access to recycleds

Over the next 3 years…Resource spaces, similar to Patchwork, with meeting times, etcTo facilitate space for your school design itResource spaces, similar to YOUmedia, with meeting spaces, etcTo facilitate space for your school design it

Existing buildings morph into resource centers, meeting spaces, with specialty buildings shared by the community..over the next 3 years.

Facilitated per 1-1 mentors and rateyourprofessors.com type matching.Our vision last year for world school – beyond face to facePre-k through 8th – exposure - design via i&p , be you web, and Patchwork9-12 – quasi college – design via the Met, your school design it12+ - quasi career - design via John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute at DukeOver the next 3 years…

Pre-k through 8th – exposure - design via i&p , be you web, and Patchwork9-12 – quasi college – design via the Met, your school design it12+ - quasi career - design via John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute at DukeBy our 4th year… 2010-2011 having been year one…

Not so far off. Not so ridiculous.What we found, so many are already doing cool things… let’s just start calling it all school. Let’s use the 650 bill for that, not have to wait for the weekend, or after 3 or the summer..We can’t even keep up with all the innovations/learnings/etc:Luma and the Independent Project and … and …We just need to make sure we don’t pigeon-hole. Which we all want to do once we find something cool. [How do you think the curriculum was founded?] We need to focus on: nothing is for everyone.We’re thinking the glue is: Some process for learning how to learn, such as detox. So that everyone is left hungry for more, and knowing how to feed that hunger in the future. The process of knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do, being usefully ignorant, as second nature.Some means to facilitate the craziness of differentiating to infinity. Declaration of interdependence with 1-1 mentors and beyond. School/prof/project per choice with a type of rateyourprof local match ups.

via The Lab in Loveland, CO because of the space, permission and trust given to us by Thompson School DistrictSPACEto experiment on the edge.Connected adjacency with the district.docboard for this slideshareideas from year

Some more of what we learned/did this year:Everett & Chase on browsersChaseEverettslideshare on the labClayLucyMorganMonday nights, importance of communitySamErinYou can see more here. We’re figuring out a tagging system.Our site.what we learned about ourselvesOur detox video

Parent on googleTeachers in the classroom catching the allure.The goal of the lab is to see what happens in a free space in order to encourage others (teachers/students/admin) to bring more of that freedom into their already existent spaces. Tom is one in particular, fully embracing Erica McWilliams: be usefully ignorant.Parents making connections, strewing more curiosity, as they follow their kids’ fancy.Amazing what this open environment has produced. A 10 year old that I need a dictionary to talk to. I’m currently borrowing his 2 inch thick html code book, he read 2 years ago.A 6 year old that just the other day had 140 views on her latest dog story.1-1 provides every kid with this. Per danah boyd, the best filter is a human one.It’s a family affair. When matters to them, it matters to me.Sharing talents because we’re connected.Suggestion for Lab

Working on easier ways to credential work outside the course book.Dear Admin,Realizing your hands are tied on many things..We (the Lab) can work both in and out of the system.Let us do/support/facilitate things you can’t.literacy standardswho mandates this?math state standards to coursesand this?Gus w/our superintendentAustin & Jenny Luca, speaking at EdubloggerconSam w/board member

findings in failings

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findings in failings