Overview Nov 2008

Education as we know it, with classrooms, rows of desks and teacher/curriculum driven choices developed with the industrial revolution It was perfect when we needed to help unruly farm

kids, newly arrived with their families in cities, prepare for work in factories with hierarchical decision making

The Future(s) project asks, “How do we redesign this basic model for the world our children today will inherit?”

Global awareness Self directed learning/team cooperation Individual leadership/open source development Networked learning on a global scale Internet/mobile technologies for almost instant

international communication Creativity in the face of adaptive challenge

Reasoning that: Cultures differ Constraints on access to technology differ Relative wealth/poverty/amount of resources differ Outlooks on the important values in life differ

Therefore the designs implemented need to address the new considerations yet be flexible to these differences

Only people living in the context can understand the subtle forces in place

Using the power of the social web to network both “experts” and participatory groups together. Participatory groups have access to current

understanding of the issues, help obtaining funding to implement ideas and support

Network members have access to diverse local thinking to enlarge their understanding of the constraints on education in a global context

Participatory Action Research (PAR) is a process through which teams of people discover, take action,measure the results of their actions and reflect on their progress towards a common goal.

It has proven itself as a way andmeans through which participatory teams can solvelocal complex issues while providing input to national andinternational leaders(James, Milenkiewicz, & Bucknam, 2008)

Time Action

July 2008 Project design implementation begins/ first network participants are invited and express interest

August 2008 University educators express interest, first local team leaders for participatory sites are recruited

September 2008 Website is built

October 2008 First grant is written to support: an initial think tank meeting and technical assistance for participatory sites

November 2008 Meetings begin with large international groups to discuss the project and encourage networking and participation

Time Development

December 2008 Potential site leaders are contacted

January-March 2009

First participatory local team meetings begin – training as to how to use website/social platforms for discussion and interaction begin

April-June 2009 Fundraising efforts continue as sites meet, discuss and report back on initial ideas and understandingsFirst challenges are overcomeFirst funds are received

July-September 2009

All ongoing efforts continueFirst participatory site design plans solidifyTechnical assistance begins to work with local education agencies and corporate sponsors to fund pilot efforts

October-December 2009

Efforts on all fronts continueThe project begins to be known on a broader scale

2010 Implementation begins of pilot designs for the Future of Education

Broadcast this opportunity Join the network yourself and participate

Make suggestions Add to our body of knowledge and ideas

Start a participatory team in your area Connect us to people you know who are

interested in education Connect us to people who have funds

New designs for education emerge and are tested

Increased input from students and communities in educational designs

Increased understanding of the ways and means web based tools affect these designs

International growth towards a new paradigm for education

Fun & interesting interactions with others

The role of the leader is changing. The new role is to help people face reality and to mobilize them to make change. Exercising leadership generates resistance -- and pain. People are afraid that they will lose something that's worthwhile. They're afraid that they're going to have to give up something that they're comfortable with.

(Heifetz , 1999)

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

www.futureofeducationproject.net alana@futureofeducationproject.net 353-21-470-6990