Many of you know that I have been working on developing a Schoolinkit – packaging the components you need to start a micro-blended learning school, in theory, anywhere in the world. I was gratified to receive a shout out from Tom Vander Ark as # 13 on his list of top impact players at SXSW EDU in March for this work (see http://gettingsmart.com/2015/03/70-difference-makers-at-sxswedu/).
Based on my experience in visiting over 500 schools in the course of my career, I am convinced that educators often reinvent the wheel and that it is possible to create a fully integrated kit with modular components to enable scaling up quality micro-blended learning schools, both in this country and around the world.
Yes, others are working on this and I am having a great time conversing with people in Brazil, Columbia, South Africa and India. But with over 130 million children in the world who have no access to any education, the need is profound. And with new, improved learning management systems coming on the market and increasingly more engaging digital content, the timing is perfect.
I’m pleased to report that I have raised sufficient funds to create a beta prototype that I am installing in Hope Academy in Galveston, TX over the summer. This school serves primarily adjudicated youth and unaccompanied minors from Central America. My vision is to install a complete demonstration prototype, including the solar powered cargo container to house the school, in the Houston area by March 2016.
Contact me if you are on a similar journey or are interested in potentially joining me on this great adventure. What could be more important than giving children around the world a basic education and therefore the opportunity for a successful, healthy, happy life?
