Lost Generations

Unfortunately, it wasn’t until both my mum and dad passed away that I started to become interested in local history and that of my own family. Too late to ask my parents….

Over the past 6 months I have stumbled into being keenly interested in History through photographs.
I now manage 16 Facebook pages such as Lost Shepparton, Lost Echuca Moama, Lost Bendigo & District (and other Victorian towns with “Lost”). The pages foster people’s interest in their local history by viewing/sharing the old photos and sharing their memories of what has been lost or forgotten.
I have joined 3 historical societies to learn more about collecting and curating these images/artefacts of our past and finding out what are the needs of these groups.
The ‘Lost Pages’ also gave me the opportunity to produce calendars, postcards and poster prints as a way to help raise some money for these historical societies.

I am also developing my own primary school history/technology program called Lost Generations which will be based on hands on learning with the students working with historical societies doing real and relevant projects.

In April I have been invited to speak at the Victorian Museums and Galleries Conference in Warrnambool which is an honour as I am only a newbie to the history scene.

The Roller Coaster of launching an idea

Seth Godin posted his Roller Coaster of Shipping a new book the other day and it really resonated with me.

It is exactly the roller coaster I have been going through with my new learning centre idea and bringing iLearn to reality.
I just changed a few words and wrote it from my point of view.
We have not launched yet the roller coaster of feelings and reality match up really well.

iLearn in the News

Our local paper, the Shepparton News, did a story on iLearn today. Hopefully this gets the word out there enough to recruit a few more students, mentors and business support.

Prototype, People and Program

Wow. What an exciting few weeks.
People I have met interested in this model of learning.
People who are keen to be involved.
Possible places to buy or rent.
Ideas all over the world to use and adapt.

Time now to settle back into reality.
Working now on just using the room I have (no extra cost) – refit our games room to be just how we want it to be.
Link with a couple of key mentors for the students and see how they fit the learning prototype I am creating.
Develop the program using the key elements/principles that produce a personalised learning approach.
Chuck out all the rest or wait to use them if they fit the learning needs of a student.

Discipline is needed now to get to work on what will produce the required result. (Seth Godin tip)

Locations and Leaders

Deciding on a location to operate iLearn – in the REAL world, as a learning centre has been a tough decision.
I have a large rumpus room at home which is a very cost effective option and have found a building in a great location close to residential  and commercial businesses. Short term I am only interested in the front section which has a large carpeted room and an entrance foyer with office, kitchen and toilets. Long term I have big plans for the whole building. I have asked for a lease cost on the front section and if it is reasonable I look like going with that option.

Over the last month I have also met some wonderful people both locally and online who are very interested in my work and we are exploring the possibility of working together collaboratively to help each other.

• Local mentors and business owners
• Video shop owner in a town nearby who pioneered his own internet company in Silicon Valley
• Melbourne educator and technology whiz also setting up his own learning program
• Gippsland writer and educator keen to pass on the love of writing to young people
• Melbourne maths whiz with his own maths learning centre
• A number of educators and innovative learners around Australia and internationally keen to support and mentor young people

I am in the process of getting all my learning systems documented and then put together the promotional materials and then hit the media to recruit students for my full time, face to face program and an online version for students in other towns.

Recently I have been reminded on Gandhi’s saying: “Be the change you wish to see in the world”.
Rather than attempt to provoke change in the education system or advocating for change on the outside I think the best approach for me is to BE who I am called to be, provide the gift of learning to young people and leave the rest to God.

 

Spectator sport

My new beginning is taking the courage to step away from the familiar and to risk failure. I often find myself watching stuff and putting off what I should be doing. I feel a resistance against making a start, making decisions, forming systems and developing a prototype. Seth Godin explains it thus: “Learning how to make things turns you from a spectator into a participant, from someone at the mercy of the system to someone who is helping to run the system. Learning how to make gives you the guts to make more, to fail more often, to get better at making…The spectators are the ones who paid to watch, but it’s the players on the field who are truly alive.”

When I started writing up my ideas for next year and making decisions I started to feel really good. Resistance was being put behind me and I started to break through the passive state that was holding me back. I was alive and moving forward.

I can see that this passivity easily besets my students who delight in watching YouTube videos and reading all the Facebook statuses from their friends. They are locked up in the safety zone of being a spectator. Boredom put aside for a moment.

I know what it is like to be busy but not productive. The internet is a candy store for the eyes. A trap that can only be avoided by doing the work. Doing to learn and learning to do.

UnReal Weekly 3 – Street Art Creativity

View this document on Scribd

TGIF – Thank Goodness It’s Friday 1

TGIF – Thank Goodness It’s Friday (weekly newsletter)

Friday March 2nd 2012

Well, two Fridays have passed but I would like to make this a tradition for BP:UL (Big Picture: UnReal! Learning.

TGIF is a tradition in most BP schools and was introduced by one of it’s founders, Denis Littky, who wanted a way to share all the good things that were happening with students, parents and staff.

This video has Dennis Littky talking about how Big Picture started: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbpqVPtUIFQ

These are MY thoughts and as time goes on I would like the students to develop a TGIF newsletter each week which could include my thoughts.

Our first two weeks have been great, interesting, frustrating, disappointing at times, but oh so encouraging with so many opportunities to come.

We are all looking forward to moving into the BP:UL House in Maude St and looks like we will do this on Friday 9th March.

Highlights for the past 2 weeks

• Students have completed all sorts or challenges such as scavenger – learning to solve problems and work together
• Trivia Competitions between advisories
• Trip to KidsTown and Pool Party at Allison Darlow’s House (thanks Leeanne)
• Swim and games at the Goulburn River
• Students learning about Advisory and how important it is for there to be trust and respect
• Planning for camp at Gilwell Park in Gembrook
• Students helping UCCE staff – setting up BP:UL house, Britnee C with Ronni  and Bonnie with Bron
• Brad and Aaron S helping JR with the new fence, tables, sandpit and much more
• Save a Mate program – run by Purple
• Happy Hour (last hour on Fridays) – learning how to congratulate and appreciate each other
• Happy Hour speaker – Alex Bruinier from The Bridge
• A number of students have already secured Shadow Days (1 day work experience)
• Sean T has been offered an apprenticeship in building with his mentor
• Many students are show initiative and confidence visiting businesses and asking for Shadow Days

A  big thank you to all students and parents for their trust in us as a team and we look forward to sharing more great stories and achievements.

Happy Hour in the Hall with Alex Bruinier (The Bridge) our first guest speaker

Geoff Allemand

(And our team, Jen, JR Ange and Monty)

I’m bored!

“I’m bored.”

It amazes and shocks me how often I read or hear this comment from young people today.

It is all over Facebook.
I often read, “I’m bored”…. “Inbox me.”

 

I have heard it once said that if you are bored you must be boring.

I have been musing the reason for so much boredom with young people.
Especially when I also read or hear of it in my own class…where students get to find, explore and follow their interests/passion.
The world is their oyster. There is so much they can be doing. How could they possibly be bored?

What I am finding is that they often don’t know how to take the first step. To get started takes risk. With risk there can be failure…or success.

But with many of my students they have been conditioned by a school system and society that does not reward or encourage initiative or risk, rather it rewards and expects compliance to do what you are told. Or sit in front of a television and be entertained.

So, is it any wonder they get bored when there is no one around them to tell them what to do or think about. Even when they are on the computer or using a device that gives them access to world of information and entertainment.

How do we as facilitators of learning get students fired up to start doing things and making stuff? Is there are better way than teaching them? Which is having the content (curriculum) and getting them to do it….

I read a book (Free at Last – The Sudbury Valley School) about the Sudbury schools which are free and democratic schools where students do what they like and learn what they want. One of the teachers commented about her greatest challenge in working there…
The Art of Doing Nothing
“Doing nothing at Sudbury Valley requires a great deal of energy and discipline, and many years of experience. I get better at it every year, and it amuses me to see how I and others struggle with the inner conflict that arises in us inevitably. The conflict is between wanting to do things for people, to impart your knowledge and to pass on your hard earned wisdom, and the realisation that the children have to do their learning under their own steam and at their own pace.” 

It seems that our young people are not used to doing, working, learning under their own steam. The y need/want to be led and told what to do because that is how things are in society…wait to be told what to do.

What a dreadful shame.

Especially in the 21st century which requires self-initiative, self-motivation and creative types to be the starters of things. Gone are the factories and vast warehouses of people being told what to do.

So, my challenge is to find ways and means to encourage my students to take initiative and take responsibility for their own learning.

Do I take them by the hand or do nothing?

Will learning happen naturally?