Category: Conference

My EDtalk Interview from ULearn14

28 Days of Writing, Conference, Curiosity, Design ThinkingPublished onUpdated onLeave a Comment on My EDtalk Interview from ULearn14

During my trip to New Zealand last October I was contributing some sessions on design thinking for learning to the impressive ULearn conference in Rotorua. Strangely it was the first time I had spent any time in New Zealand running workshops or working with teachers.

It was a memorable week for lots of reasons and the following film was crafted for Core Education‘s Edtalks, in which I outline some ideas around design thinking for learning in our schools.

Tom Barrett from EDtalks on Vimeo.

Tom Barrett of NoTosh in Australia believes there is a place in schools for rigorous creative processes that are built on a similar set of values in the pedagogy we use. He explains Design Thinking, which allows learners to engage with an approach based on curiosity and creativity, and to have an impact on the world around them.
Tom talks about the way technology can speed up “the finding out” – the move from unknown to known, and he challenges teachers to find ways to protract the uncertainty. If children can “stay in the question” for longer, we will allow the inquiry and creative process to begin.

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I hope you enjoy the little snippet of my actual voice and not just my writing voice – feel free to drop a comment below if you have any questions about what I share. If you are interested in learning more about my work with schools on design thinking for learning you can also check out NoTosh.

10,000 Young People: Designing the Future

ConferencePublished onUpdated on3 Comments on 10,000 Young People: Designing the Future

Ever wondered what 10,000 young people could do to solve some of the world’s greatest problems? That’s what NoTosh is wanting to find out this month as we help reinvent the world’s most important ICT event, ITU Telecom World 11.

The October 24-27 event is the flagship meeting of the world’s telecoms industries, brought together by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the specialised United Nations agency responsible for information and communication technologies. In the run up to the event, and during it, we’ll be showcasing the ideas of young people, aged 8-18, alongside the debates, panels and corridor discussions of these influential delegates.

I recall how I felt after attending WISE a few years ago, a little numb with all the talk and a firm realisation that the conference was too far removed from the experiences of teachers and students. I am confident that this will be different.

5019040919 610acfe576 bIt’s a real chance for your students to make a global impact on problems that matter, wherever they are. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime real world project-based learning opportunity, that ties into most teachers’ curriculum at any given point in the year.

We’re providing some brief points of inspiration to get you started, over the seven key themes, and will then open up a wiki space where teachers can collaborate and add to each other’s resources on the areas. Our first theme, appropriately, is how can we provide an education for all?

By October 24, we hope to have videos, photos, blogs and examples or prototypes of what young people believe might help solve challenges on their own doorstep. We want you to tell us how technology could be harnessed to:

  • alleviate poverty and hunger
  • improve education for all
  • address gender inequality
  • make sure everyone has access to health care
  • protect our environment
  • make disabled people’s lives easier
  • close the gap between the developed and developing world
To take part, you just have to sign up your interest, and from there you’re able to submit posts to the project.
Photo by Steven Kim