Virtual Reality Educational Pathfinders (VREP) Adds Popular User Social Network
VREP, which has grown exponentially in Iowa and across other states, has added a nifty social networking and sharing site to its efforts. To see it and join the conversation, go here.
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Rick Ackerly: Talks About the Power of Learning from Mistakes
On Thursday, May 3, Willowwind School had the pleasure of bringing speaker, educator and author , Rick Ackerly, to speak on “Learning, Mistakes and Failure: Crafting New Myths for Successful Kids and Better Schools.” His lecture was part of the 
40th anniversary celebration at Willowwind.
His talk at to the community at Willowwind School focused on what he termed unrecognized learning disabilities – the avoidance of conflict, fear of failure/avoidance of mistakes, the pursuit of happiness, and the inability to let go of Self. He talked about how each of these disrupts the learning process and inhibits student’s growth. The audience was challenged to create homes and school where students could say, “I am excited to learn from my mistakes.” The audience engaged in a dialogue with Rick and he left with three mantras: embrace all challenges, be New and learn from each other.
About Willowwind: For four decades, Willowwind’s mission has been to create an environment where children can thrive through exploration, inquiry and discovery. We believe that children are our community’s richest resource and that our homes and schools should be places where children are able to grow, learn and thrive. To this end, we are interested in a deep engaging dialogue about how to understand children. Rick Ackerly’s book, The Genius in Children. spurs this conversation as did his lecture last night.
Write up provided by Carly Andrews, Head of School for Willowwind.
Read MoreMake the Future Video on Education
I ran across this today as I was researching for the IowaTransformED resource and “explainer” library and the Museum of Awesomeness. I thought it tied nicely to the Co-Creators Camp and to the discussion about education going on in the Creative Corridor and across Iowa. It is from BeyondCurrentHorizons.org
Watch. Engage. Discuss.
MAKE THE FUTURE
by Alex Dobbin
alexdobbin.co.uk
Co-Creator Camper proposes a set of next steps to help bring vision developed at Camp to fruition.
A Next Step
by Riley Eynon-Lynch, Co-Founder of ActiveGrade.
On April 14th at the Co-Creators Camp for Transforming Education we spent our time dreaming about the future. Three things stuck out to me:
● Our dreaming was positive. We talked about what we might do more, not about what we should stop doing, so we identified fundamental values.
● This wasn’t just a few teachers in a teacher’s lounge, or parents at a neighborhood party, or businesses looking for ways to improve their bottom line. Many interests were present.
● We proved we’re all willing to invest. Everyone put in money, time, and effort.
Such a group effort, with so much attention paid to basic principles of community, and so much money invested in making it possible… I think this is real!
The Gazette’s coverage of Co-Creators Camp
“The great thing about today is that parents aren’t just talking to parents, business leaders aren’t just talking to business leaders, teachers aren’t just talking to teachers,” said Aaron Farnsworth, a Solon High School language arts teacher.
In addition to a video presentation, an opportunity to speak with local representatives, and a chance to share their own personal passions for education, attendees spent much of the afternoon in small-group sessions.
During the sessions, participants discussed various education topics such as the value of Learning Advisers, the concept of passion-driven learning, and a push for a competency-based learning system.
Read the rest of the article and then leave a comment to share with the rest of the community how you felt about the day and the efforts of your co-creators!
Read MoreRepresentative Tyler Olson’s Video Update Focuses on Education Discussion
This edition of Representative Olson’s weekly video update focuses on education and specifically he discusses competency-based education and the need to engage our communities in envisioning the educational system we want. He also mentions the Creative Corridor’s own Matt Townsley – Director of Instruction at Solon – in his message.
Representative Olson will help to kick off our Co-Creators Camp for Transforming Education with fellow Representative Renee Schulte this Saturday morning where he and Representative Schulte will share their vision for the educational system we want and need that would unfold the potential of every child.
Read MoreSuperintendent Makes Reasoned Appeal to Legislature to Refocus Their Educational Discussions
Ben Petty, Superintendent at GMG and BCLUW posted an interesting “Letter to Iowa Legislators” today on his blog. It is well worth the read. Click here to read it. Follow Ben on Twitter at @benpettyiowa
Read MoreHogan’s Homeroom Link Here!
Click here to stay up-to-date with relevant and important education news in the Creative Corridor, the state, and the nation with our own Patrick Hogan’s “Homeroom Period”!
Read MoreRepresentative Olson’s Weekly House Review
Representative Olson posted comments and thoughts on the House education bill that passed yesterday and other Iowa Legislature issues. Below is the text and video message about the education bill. His full report on other topics can be found here.
Here is the text from his education-focused comments:
The House approved its version of the education reform bill this week. The amendment I developed to ease the way for districts to pursue more individualized learning was approved unanimously. The language would get rid of the requirement for districts to get an annual waiver to begin transforming their learning and assessment models. The amendment also asks the 28 districts currently using this process to develop model lesson plans, student assessments and professional development so we don’t have to keep re-creating the wheel.
There were a number of provisions in the House bill that would only serve to cement the current one-size-fits-all system. Everyone agrees kids should be able to read by 3rd grade, but mandatory retention because of an arbitrarily chosen score, on a particular test, at a particular point in time totally ignores the fact kids have different strengths and weaknesses and learn at different paces. The bill also requires more standardized testing, which drew a comment from Rep. Sharon Steckman with which I agree: we want our kids to have an education, not a test-ucation.I am excited about the opportunity to expand more individualized learning plans and assessments. It is the first step in a long process to truly transform our education system from one based on a factory model to a flexible system that values innovation, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving. These are skills essential to success in today’s economy and we owe it to kids across the state to move forward on the journey.
What are your thoughts? Do we have a mixed bag here – some items focused on creating 21st century schools and others cementing in the factory model? We’d like to hear from you!
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