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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hacking Your Traditional High School Experience
By: Dan Cardinali. Don’t feel like you’re stuck with only one path through high school. Take control. Make your own opportunities. Hack your education and your future. But do those things while keeping the big picture in view.
Doing It Yourself: From Independent Learning Plans to Organizing Your Instructional Path
By: Chris Sturgis. Through competency-based models students take responsibility and ownership of their journey to a career of their choosing. This is what GenDIY is all about, students creating, designing, and owning their education.
All About That App, ‘Bout That App, No Trouble
By: John Hardison. A list of must-have apps, that will inevitably change overtime, but reflects the reality that acquiring the necessary skills for careers requires a combination of several tools to fashion a future that is both fulfilling and fruitful.
CompetencyEd And Why Everyone Should Learn To Code
By: Melinda Barlow. Why competency-based learning models and learning to code promotes dynamic and flexible exchanges and enables students to think and function in ways that supports greater opportunities for careers.