Overview Nov 2008
The Future(s) project asks, “How do we redesign this basic model for the world our children today will inherit?”
Student motivation is down Interest in technology is up Access in schools is haphazard Learners are diverse Curriculum varies
Creativity in the face of adaptive challenges
Reasoning that: Cultures differ Access to technology differs Relative wealth/poverty/amount of
resources differ Outlooks on the important values in life
differ Only the people who live there know
how to design for those specifics
Participatory Action Research (PAR)
In which people:1.Discover, 2.Act3.Measure the results of their actions4.Reflect on their progress
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 express interest
August 2008 First local university level team leaders for participatory sites are recruited
September 2008
Website is built
October 2008 First grant is written
November 2008
Meetings with large international groups to discuss the project and encourage network participation
Time Development
December 2008 Potential site leaders are contacted
January-March 2009 First participatory local team meetings begin – training designed
April-June 2009 Fundraising efforts continue Sites meet, discuss and report back on initial pilot ideas
July-September 2009
First participatory site design plans solidifyTechnical assistance works to fund pilot efforts
October-December 2009
The project begins to be known on a broader scale
2010 Implementation begins of pilot designs
Fun & interesting global interactions New designs for education emerge and
are tested Increased input from students engages
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
Tell us about other similar efforts Broadcast this opportunity Join the network and participate Start a participatory team in your
area Connect us to people you know Introduce these ideas to funders
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