Teach42

A few words from guest blogger, Gary Stager

Why I Created Constructing Modern Knowledge
Gary S. Stager, Ph.D.

Sincere thanks to Steve Dembo for the generous loan of his blog!

During my career I’ve had the privilege of working with many of my heroes – Seymour Papert, David Thornburg, Fred D’Ignazio, Jonathan Kozol, Bruce Dixon and countless others whose names you might not recognize. This is not the result of magic. After familiarizing myself with their work, I met my heroes at conferences. The chance to interact with great thinkers and education leaders face-to-face contributed immeasurably to my own personal development and led to opportunities I never could have imagined.

My greatest source of personal and professional pride comes from creating such powerful learning experiences for other teachers. I’ve seen colleagues and students who thought of themselves as “just a teacher” transform into educational superheroes as they shook hands or shared a refreshing libation with an expert they respect. The realization that I stand on the shoulders of giants who are just like me can mean everything to an educator.

Mt other powerful learning experiences are rooted in Mr. Jones’s 7th grade computer programming class back in the mid-1970s. Computers provided an intellectual laboratory and vehicle for self-expression that made me feel intellectually powerful and creative in ways I never imagined while “doing school.” Computer programming felt just like music composition in my head and the computer made all sorts of other connections possible for the first time. The computer can capture my writing, but it also allows me to be a scientist, engineer, composer, mathematician, astronomer, filmmaker, etc.

That’s why I created the Constructing Modern Knowledge summer institute.

I wanted to create an environment in which educators could reacquaint themselves with he joy of learning while expanding their vision of the ways in which computers may be used and interact with some of the most powerful thinkers of our time.

Our four-day institute, July 13-16, dedicates a large chunk of time to learning by doing. Participants engage in personally meaningful projects that challenge their creativity and build upon the expertise of the community. The Constructing Modern Knowledge faculty is comprised of remarkable teachers who love learning and teaching alongside a student.

Last year’s projects included:

• Kinetic sculpture
• Videogame design
• Simulation building
• Robots that played musical instruments
• Puppets that roared

…and much more

Best of all, amazing connections were made between subject areas. Art teachers collaborated with mathematicians while kindergarten teachers shared her molecular models with an accomplished scientist. A good time was had by all!

Such “hard fun” is punctuated by interactions with guest speakers. Can you imagine the thrill of having Alfie Kohn chat with you about your project or have Herb Kohl work with you? Constructing Modern Knowledge wants its participants to be able to say, “I spent time with Deborah Meier,” rather than “I heard Deborah Meier.”

Our learning environment contains laptops, a well-stocked library, LEGO, robotics materials, art supplies, snacks, marshmallows and a Whiffle Bat.

Constructing Modern Knowledge 2009 will be held July 13-16, 2009 in Manchester, NH with an optional pre-conference science and history tour of Boston on July 12th.

Manchester is a small New England city with a great airport serviced by most major US airlines and terrific restaurants within walking distance of the institute site, The Radisson Hotel. There is a free airport shuttle and discounted hotel rates for participants. Manchester is also a convenient drive from most of New England and the Mid-Atlantic states.

Faculty:

In addition to our fabulous faculty of Dr. Cynthia Solomon (one of the three people who invented Logo), John Stetson and Sylvia Martinez, legendary educator and author of more than 40 books on teaching and learning, Herbert Kohl is scheduled to be a member of the team – available to collaborate, chat and create with you throughout the entire institute.

Guest Speakers include:

Deborah Meier – a Macarthur Genius honored for her decades of service and innovation in urban public education. Ms. Meier is the “mother” of the small schools movement and her Central Park East in NYC and Mission Hill in Boston provide stunning examples of creative, compassionate, competent public education.

Lesa Snider King – one of the world’s leading experts on digital photography and imaging. She is such a great teacher that even I understand Photoshop while watching her perform her magic. Lesa just authored the new Photoshop CS4, the Missing Manual.

Brian Silverman – a gifted recreational mathematician, scientist, bricoleur and raconteur who has his DNA on nearly every version of Logo created over the past 30 years. Brian played instrumental roles in the creation of MicroWorlds, LEGO TC logo, Scratch, Turtle Art, the Phantom Fishtank and is now the president of the Playful Invention Company, creators of the Pico Cricket. Brian even built a working tic-tac-toe playing computer made entirely of Tinker Toys.

Peter Reynolds – the award-winning author, illustrator, animator, software developer and inspirer will host a CMK Reception at his famed FableVision Studios at the start of Wednesday night’s Night Out in the Big City (Boston)

Other surprises are planned. Full bios are available on the CMK09 web site.

Registration includes:

• Four-days of learning adventures
• Conference dinner
• Night Out in the Big City (Boston) beginning with a reception hosted by Peter Reynolds at the famed FableVision Studios
• Free creativity software from Tech4Learning, LCSI, Inspiration and FableVision

Hope to see you this July ! Super Early-bird Registration ends March 1st!

Constructing Modern Knowledge is sponsored by The Constructivist Consortium and The Anytime Anywhere Learning Foundation