{"id":355,"date":"2012-06-24T20:45:05","date_gmt":"2012-06-24T20:45:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ezekiels.co.uk\/eylan\/?p=355"},"modified":"2012-06-24T20:46:03","modified_gmt":"2012-06-24T20:46:03","slug":"hackschool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ezekiels.co.uk\/eylan\/hackschool\/","title":{"rendered":"HackSchool"},"content":{"rendered":"

I want to tell you about a new project I believe you will want to support: <hack>school.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the past few years I have created two exciting projects. I\u00a0 set up and led BrainPOP in the UK<\/a>, and am currently instigating an innovative Free School<\/a> proposal in Oxford – www.onschool.org.uk.<\/a> I have been very lucky to work with some amazing people. I\u00a0 would like your input at the early stages of what, I hope, will be the next stage in my journey.<\/p>\n

I need a job, and an income.<\/a>\u00a0I have been looking at the opportunities and thinking about what I want to do. \u00a0I mean, REALLY<\/strong> want to do.<\/div>\n
Where to apply my professional expertise, express my passion, and be paid for it?<\/div>\n

The answer was very simple:<\/h4>\n
I want to share the knowledge, expertise and passion of the great teachers in my PLN in the transformative use of technology in education to a wider audience. This has led me to want to open <hack>school (domains\/urls secured).<\/div>\n
\n

<hack>school will be a Hub for Excellence in Educational Technology.<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

Seeing as no one has done it in England yet, I thought I\u2019d propose it and put myself forward to be involved. If you are reading this, the background to ‘Why?’ <hack>school is needed should be obvious, as you are very likely already working in EdTech. But, suffice to say, cuts in LA advisory teams and school budgets, and enormous opportunities in the potential of technology to transform the outcomes of young people mean that now is the perfect time for a hub to support teachers to share best practice.<\/p>\n

\"Dandelion<\/a><\/p>\n

I have only sketched the basis of the idea below<\/strong>. I have not included all the details (eg. costs and projected income), as these will need to be shared, in confidence, with potential funders. <hack>school will br run on a lean and ‘agile’ approach – bootstrapping like any start-up should. <hack>school does not make any claims to ‘innovation’ or hugely valuable IP. It hopes to build on the lessons learned and ground cleared by others.<\/p>\n

The concept of a \u2018Hub\u2019 for this aspect of education is not new or unique. The Scottish Executive developed The Consolarium<\/a>, which led and inspired teachers in Scotland and inspired many much further afield, to make use of video games to support teaching and learning. There have long been calls in England (and elsewhere) to emulate this wonderful project. Given that the Consolarium is due to be closed, now is the time to create a hub for the whole of Britain: for Games Based Learning, and much more.<\/p>\n

Nor is it likely that I have been the only one to see this opportunity. <hack>school would welcome other providers developing similar \u2018Hubs\u2019, to create a national network of centres of excellence, which could work together and increase the impact on teaching and learning.<\/p>\n

Like all start-ups, this would be tough – and to get off the ground, we’d need friends, funders, and lots of help sharing the idea. That said, if it does not survive your initial comments and gather support, then it should die now – with grace.<\/p>\n

I believe it is an idea whose time has come. I don’t think I am alone.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/em>——————-<\/p>\n

<hack>school will be an independent hub for a network of evangelists for EdTech, both virtual and physical, based in Oxford, UK.<\/h4>\n

<hack>school will offer an authentic, open-source, credible, crowd-sourced service delivered in collaboration with teachers, subject associations, industry and policy.<\/h4>\n

<hack>school would be an \u2019Maven\u2019 service – a group of trusted experts in edtech, who seek to pass knowledge on to others<\/a>.<\/h4>\n

<\/h3>\n

The <hack>school Offering<\/h3>\n

A physical home for EdTech:<\/h4>\n