SPL07
Out with the Old, and In with the New School
At a time when many view the ‘traditional’ school system as being stuck in the past, failing to meet the demands of a modern, digital world, there are entrepreneurs, educators and parents the world over who have taken the approach: if you want it done right, do it yourself.
Learn how education has been re-invented in new school systems that have been created to suit the learners of today. Hear from Maurice de Hond, the Founder of the Steve JobsSchool that’s taking off across the Netherlands, David Cummins from HackerSchool, and more.,At a time when many view the ‘traditional’ school system as being stuck in the past, failing to meet the demands of a modern, digital world, there are entrepreneurs, educators and parents the world over who have taken the approach: if you want it done right, do it yourself.
Maurice de Hond
Founder, Steve Jobs School, The Netherlands
Maurice de Hond is a Dutch businessman, entrepreneur and founder member of the organisation “Education for a new era (04NT)”, which is responsible for the first “Steve JobsSchools”.
He is known in the Netherlands as a prominent election opinion poller and internet guru, regularly invited to speak at events and provide advice to organisations and the Government on future development. His 1995 book ‘Dankzij de snelheid van het licht’ (Thanks to the speed of light) successfully forecast many internet developments.
In 1998, he founded Newconomy – where he also served as CEO – an investment company that has worked with over 20 Dutch internet companies. It successfully public in early 2000. Since 2002, de Hond has been active with his current affairs platform Peil.nl (www.peil.nl), which is regularly quoted in the Dutch Media. Peil.nl is a virtual company without a physical office.
In 2009, he became inspired by his daughter’s (Daphne) use of educational apps on the iPhone/iPad which, in 2012, led to the launch of the foundation O4NT (Onderwijs 4 een Nieuwe Tijd/ Education for a new era), and the development of a completely new school concept called the Steve JobsSchool. In 2013, the first elementary schools began to work with this approach, and currently there are more than 20 schools in the Netherlands operating using the Steve JobsSchool model with remarkable results (www.stevejobsschool.nl). In the coming 12 months, several more schools worldwide will adopt the concept.
Links
http://stevejobsschool.nl/contact/
Johannes Mainusch
E-Post Development GmbH, Germany
Moderator
Inge de Waard
Researcher and Explorer, The Open University, UK
Right now I am researching self-directed learning in massive open online courses (MOOC) for experienced online learners at the Open University of the United Kingdom. Before that I was the eLearning coordinator and educational researcher for the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerpen Belgium. My professional life has been fine-tuned with a couple of on-off jobs along the way: journalist, lumberjack, stand-up comedian, waitress, caterer at movie sets, photographer, writer and once - when I was at my (financial) wits end - I fought a bull in the Roman Arena of Arles, France which resulted in just enough money to get back home to Belgium. All these jobs were a great way to learn more about human nature and on how to absorb and use knowledge really quickly.
I am a firm believer of dialogue, so feel free to start a conversation.
During my professional journey (Women's movement - Belgium, Institute of Tropical Medicine - Belgium, Athabasca University - Canada, The Open University - UK) I became immersed in eLearning and mobile learning from 1999 onward. Working frequently with partners from developing countries, I have been an advisor/consultant for institutes from around the world setting up eLearning initiatives or roll out an innovative learning strategy. My passion for educational technologies has led me to dive into many mLearning as well as online learning projects. After a rocky learning start right up to late twenties, I managed to end up with a background in IT and pedagogy. Thanks to many wonderful people and institutes I have had the privilege to speak on the subject of TELearning and mLearning around the world.
As I have always loved writing, I keep going: as a proud author for the eLearning Guild, a domain expert for the Mobile Learning Curriculum Framework, a member of the MobiMOOC Research Team, member of IAmLearn (national representative and in the communications committee), part of the program committee of mLearn from 2011 onward, reviewer for leading eLearning journals (e.g. IRRODL, BJET, Elsevier' Computer & Science, JIME), member of the Advisory Committee of Online Educa Berlin, review and committee member of IADIS, member of the eLearning learning content community, and organizer of MobiMOOC (free MOOC on mobile learning which ran in 2011 and 2012).