Place Based Education
Difference Making
Our challenges and opportunities are shared and it’s never been easier, or more important to make a difference.
From hundreds of school visits and thousands of conversations with students, parents, preachers, policy-makers and the like — making a difference has emerged as the most important way for us to transform learning experiences for young people and build a better future for all. We look forward to continuing to share these experiences with you through our blog and an upcoming book.
Difference Making
Student-to-Student: Customize Your High School Experience and Make it Meaningful
By: Grant Ryerse. Seven ways students can pursue their interests and customize high school: Finding "the best" parts, service learning, career exploration, teamwork, hands-on learning, and online learning.
Difference Making
Connections Education & Nexus Academy: Changing the Vision
By: Lindsay Penny. Blended schools like Nexus Academy of Lansing are flowering because they mirror the imperatives of GenDIY: School choice, course-level choice, personalized learning plans and coaching models and access to advanced digital tools.
Difference Making
11 Rights All Students (Should) Have
There are about 55 million K-12 students in this country, and about 20 million in degree-granting colleges. If students are treated as allies rather than subjects, imagine what could be achieved.
Difference Making
Breaking Down Silos: eLo Enables Expanded Learning Opportunities
By: Kip Pygman. Three Illinois suburban school districts recently launched the Expanding Learning Opportunities Consortium (eLo). The new partnership is breaking down the silos that commonly exist across educational institutions to leverage the collective talents of teacher leaders to serve students.
Difference Making
Step Off the Direct Path, Service Something Larger Than Yourself
By: Carol Barash. As the direct path from high school to college to work becomes less normative by the day, more people of all ages build their career and life path based on a wide range of educational options, diverse work and volunteer experiences, and their unique vision for our shared future
Difference Making
AdvancePath Academics: Positive Environments + Flexible, Blended Learning
Programs like those developed by AdvancePath Academics see the potential in students making challenging life choices and are recognizing that with the proper supports, success in secondary education isn’t an exception, it’s the norm.
Difference Making
The Syllabus We All Should Have Gotten
By: Angela Skinner Orr. What we should have heard on the first day of school: If you don’t want to do it, don’t. Hack your education. You will fail. Use your iPhone in class. Grade yourself. You will fail. Document, document, document. You decide what you learn. Start now.
Difference Making
Startup Students: A Look At How Teachers Can Invest In GenDIY
By: Eric Nentrup. What GenDIY needs is more supportive teachers who see themselves as business mentors and “angel investors” who may not be able to invest dollars, but can network and carve out time or space for students to work on these authentic projects now instead of later.
Difference Making
GenDIY Profile: Mikaila Akeredolu
By: Mikaila Akeredolu. From selling the first generation of iPhones to developing iOS apps, a GenDIY story of skilling up, following a passion, and seizing opportunity.
Difference Making
Dating For A Job, Landing A Career
By: Nicolay Lameijer. Graduates are faced with the challenge of knowing where they stand in the job market and employers are receiving thousands of resumes from unqualified candidates. Inspired by dating services, GenDIY student Nicolay Lameijer founded MySlate.