Creating a Free Learner Movement-Phase I

Number of positions available: 3 teams of 2-3 persons The UnschoolingSchool.com team is working with Riipen students across Canada to synthesize the many sources of proof and evidence that Self-Directed Education (SDE) works and is an optimal way to educate children. For more information about the overall scope of our amazing project click on the Resources Section. ​ Free Learner (FL) is a new designation that applies to students who wish to take responsibility for their time and learning path. The FL label is self-assigned by students and their families, rather than by experts, to announce that they require and deserve approaches to learning that work best for them. The FL label indicates to the school that the student will operate under an alternate set of parameters, expectations, and responsibilities and, as such, require accommodation in the class and school. See https://www.unschoolingschool.com/free-learner.html This project is Phase I of, Creating a National Free Learner Movement: empowering K-12 students to stand up to the coercive education system and take charge of their life at school. 1. Planning the movement: - Researching 'how to create a movement' - Development of a comprehensive plan (ie what is needed to make it happen--social media, partnerships, spokes people) 2. Website creation and promotion - FreeLearner.ca (development of a youth-led free-standing site, backed up by UnschoolingSchool.com) 3. Social media - content creation and promotion Possible sources: 1. UnschoolingSchool.com site and Embracing the Innate Philosophy of Learning.doc (in Resources section) 2. Completed reports from our other Riipen projects (in Resources section) Possible approach: - research and brainstorm ways to create a movement - design methodology and phases - develop FreeLearner.ca website and related social media platforms and messaging plan - connect with teams on the Riipen Student Survey project and Grown Canadian Self-Directed Learners project We are looking for 3 teams of 2-4 people working together--one team on movement development outreach and partnership; a second team on website development; and a third team on social media content development. The three teams will need to work synergistically to support each other and create the movement. Deliverable is a function website, integrated social media (Tic Toc, Insta, YouTube, Twitter, FB etc.) and comprehensive plan outlining the next 3-4 phases of the movement (details to be discussed prior to the start of the project) “Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.” – Khalil Gibran

3 - Research Project: K-12 vs neurodiverse populations

Number of positions available: 2 teams of 2 persons The UnschoolingSchool.com team is launching a project to synthesize the many sources of proof and evidence that Self-Directed Education (SDE) works and is an optimal way to educate children. We have partnered with Riipen.com to engage university and college students in short projects to help with the work of gathering and synthesizing the evidence. If you are interested in helping us change the narrative, read the document in the Resource section. This project will be centered on the following problem: The current education system is brain antagonistic and is not set up for a neurodiverse population. How do we know the conventional system does not align with the way we are biologically designed to learn? Deliverable : A synthesis of the answer to the above question based on evidence found in the resources listed below, and other reliable resources, using APA format. Resources a. Gray. P (2013). Free to learn: why unleashing the instinct to play will make our children happier, more self-reliant, and better students for life. Basic Books:/hatchbookgroup b. Mother Nature’s Pedagogy , Peter Gray c. Carey. B (2015) How we learn: the surprising truth about when, where, and why it happens. Random House Trade: Manhatten d. Kelleher, I. & Whitman, G. (2016) Neuroteach: brain science and the future of education paperback. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers: Lanham, Maryland e. The Power of Neurodiversity : Unleashing the Advantages of Your Differently Wired Brain by Thomas Armstrong f. Daniel J. Siegel g. Alfie Kohn h. Gerald Edelman (particularly his work on neuro-Darwinism) We are looking for 2 teams of 2 students for this project. If you know someone you would like to work with, you can apply as a team. The deliverable is a report, we will discuss the format with you at the start of the project.

7 - K-12 & Unschooling/SDE Graduates survey

Number of positions available: 1 team of 5 persons The UnschoolingSchool.com team is launching a project to synthesize the many sources of proof and evidence that Self-Directed Education (SDE) works and is an optimal way to educate children. We have partnered with Riipen.com to engage university and college students in short projects to help with the work of gathering and synthesizing the evidence. For more information about our amazing project click on the Resources Section. This project involves designing and conducting 2 multiple-choice surveys: 1. For Conventional System High School graduates and drops-out— to gather evidence that they would have benefited from a K-12 education that involved much more student agency. 2. For Unschoolers/Self-Directed Education participants-- to gather evidence that their SDE prepared them very effectively for post-secondary education and/or work Possible sources: 1. peers, FB, Insta, Student Unions/Association 2. ALPHA I & ALPHA II (Toronto), Windsor House Vancouver, ‘homeschooled’ Unschoolers (FB groups) Possible approach: - research ways to access the group - design survey methodology - conduct survey - synthesis and share results. We are looking for 5 people working as a team. Deliverable is an APA formatted report & creative sharing of the results, Tic Toc, Insta, YouTube, Twitter, etc. (details to be discussed prior to the start of the project) “Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.” – Khalil Gibran

6 - Research: Self-directed education & equity, inclusion and student agency

Number of positions available: 1 team of 2 persons The UnschoolingSchool.com team is launching a project to synthesize the many sources of proof and evidence that Self-Directed Education (SDE) works and is an optimal way to educate children. We have partnered with Riipen.com to engage university and college students in short projects to help with the work of gathering and synthesizing the evidence. If you are interested in helping us change the narrative, read the document in the Resource section . This project will focus on the following: A synthesis of the evidence that demonstrated Self-Directed Education provides equal opportunities for students, is equitable and inclusive and facilitates student agency. Resources: Yaacov Hecht - Democratic Schools Hannam, D. (2020). Another way is possible: becoming a democratic teacher in a state school. Self-directed learning in a context of democracy, human rights, and community. Smashwords. Gray, P.; Chanoff, D. (1986). ' Democratic Schooling: What Happens to Young People Who Have Charge of Their Own Education'. American Journal of Education, 126 (4). Greenburg, D.; Sadofsky, M. (1992). Legacy of trust: life after the sudbury valley school experience. Sudbury Valley School Press: Massachusetts. Mager, U.; Nowak, P. (2012) 'Effects of Student Participation in Decision Making at School. A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Empirical Research'. Educational Research Review, 7 (1), 38-61. Agile Learning Centre NYC Sudbury Valley Justice Committee We are looking for 2 separate students to conduct this project independently. The deliverable is a report, we will discuss the format with you at the start of the project. We will introduce you to our connections where possible.