Session Descriptions
Keynote Remarks Deschooling: The Path to Global Healing--Manish Jain
My presentation will explore the role of the unschooling/deschooling movement in the context of the global economic injustice and the resultant spiritual-ecological crisis we currently face. We live in a time in which fresh, alternative views towards learning are needed to address these issues facing the whole of humanity. I see the unschooling/deschooling movement as playing a leading role in confronting the severe fragmentation, commodification, and consumerism which are the natural result of modern lifestyles. Deschooling provides a major path towards helping us to replenish our Soils, Souls, and Societies.
While the issues I will discuss are of a global dimension, I envision the responses to these challenges to be local in nature. Rather than looking to high-tech or economic quick-fixes to reform failing present-day learning systems, I will share many examples of how the Shikshantar Jeevan Andolan (life movement) as inspired by Gandhi, is seeking to stimulate a new freedom struggle by supporting the emergence of vibrant local learning commons. Helping to stimulate this process is at the heart of our work with the "Udaipur as a Learning City" project/process. It is only in this way that a more fundamental transformation of our lifestyles (which will create economic justice, and bring us into balance spiritually and ecologically with our natural environment), can be achieved.
However, this transformation has it's own challenges. In order to make the changes I envision, we will need awareness of the conditioning that impedes us from reclaiming and regenerating own our healthy learning webs, and the struggle to find new ways of thinking about learning and the purpose of education.
While the concepts I will be discussing are the focus of my life's work, they are also near and dear to my heart personally. I will also share with you some of my personal experiences as an unschooling parent to our 5 ½ year-old daughter Kanku, and with our extended family in Udaipur, India.
Tales Around the Table: Sharing our Common Wisdom--Facillitated by Becky Powers
This workshop is based loosely on the model of “speed dating”. There will be several tables for small groups. Each table will have a “theme”, with questions provided by conference attendees either on their registration forms or during our registration time, when everyone will have the chance to submit a topic they would like to see covered during the conference. Each question will get a few minutes at the table for answers and responses from others, including a facilitator. After 20 minutes, we’ll pause and give everyone the chance to move to another table/group to explore more questions and answers with another group. This is not intended to be an opportunity for in-depth discussion, but rather an icebreaker and an opportunity to hear perspectives from a range of experienced and less-experienced unschoolers. If you have a favorite question to ask of other homeschoolers, here’s your chance to get a response from several different people.
Self Motivation--Alison McKee
Self-motivated learners are individuals who are motivated to learn without regard to the obstacles that may get in their way. We don't usually think this when we think of those who may or may not be self-motivated to learn. Why? Our educational system has co-opted this term and re-defined it for us so that most often we think of self-motivated learners as individuals who want to study school material without having to be reminded to do so. Isn't it sad that this narrow minded definition has come to weigh heavy on us, so heavy that most of us believe children are not self-motivated enough to educate themselves adequately. In this presentation, Alison will discuss self-motivated learning and how we can help foster it in our children so that they will continue being the self-motivated individuals they are.
Adult Learners Creatively Learning in the World: Models for our future as Autodidacts--Moderated by Jenina Mella
When we have young children it's sometimes difficult to envision what kind of lives they can look forward to if we choose to raise them as unschoolers. As parents, we wonder "What will their lives be like?" and "Will they be able to function in the world successfully?" Well, the models for successful, happy autodidactic lives are all around us! Come and participate in a a panel discussion with successful adult learners that will show us how good lives are lived. There will be plenty of time for questions and interaction with our panel. This workshop seeks to address the question: How do you operate successfully in the world when you don't do it in the context of school?
Fathers' Perspectives on Unschooling--Moderated by Eric Powers
Fathers have a their own unique perspective to bring to unschooling. This session will give fathers time to talk about the unique challenges and contributions of dads in the unschooling journey. Dads, here is your chance to put your heads together with other experienced unschooling parents, to share doubts and joys, your stories and experiences as only dads can.
Open Conversation with Manish Jain
If you just couldn't get enough of Manish during his keynote, here is your chance for an intimate time to casually ask questions, chat and further get to know our honored guest. His talk at the top of the conference is sure to generate a lot of interesting discussion. Prepare for a fascinating interchange of ideas!
