I conceived and launched SURPASS, for teens, in 2007. What I initially wanted to create was an event for teens, including my daughter, that included some of the best ‘camp’ experiences I had had when I was a teen, and add some other components that I thought would make it richer. Those other components included […]
No School? No Problem … Here’s How to Keep Learning Your Way!
In the face of the present education stand-off in British Columbia, I thought I would contribute 25 cool learning ideas that kids can do, starting right now! 1. Build a fort 2. Learn some biking and boarding tricks. While you’re at it learn to ride a unicycle 3. Learn a skill you’ve always wanted to […]
Back to School? Time to Learn Your Way!
The start of September marks back-to-school time across the land (though not quite yet in BC public schools). Legions of kids are walking through school doors for the first time in several months, my daughter among them. This week she is starting her fourth year at university. To all the children and youth re-joining the […]
Beware the Jabberwock, ‘er Margaret Wente, on 21st C Learning
Globe and Mail columnist Margaret Wente doesn’t let the facts get in the way of a hyperbolic rant against 21st Century, Personalized Learning. In a column on June 28th (Brave New World of 21st Century Learning) Ms Wente cherry-picks criticism and PR bumpf to trump up her opposition to the long-overdue movements to remake approaches […]
Social Innovation Week – Let Learning Flourish in Schools
This is Social Innovation Week in Vancouver, with many events planned to stimulate thinking and collaborating about … social innovations (Find out more here). I have an innovative idea to share with SIW in mind, one I perceive as arising with starker irony given the province-wide teachers’ strikes that have also arisen this week. To […]
SURPASS 2014 for teens, 13-17 years – check it out!
Registration for ‘SURPASS 2014’ is open for teens, 13-17 years. This will be our 6th SURPASS event, to be held again at Camp Byng, July 13th – 20th, on the Sunshine Coast of BC, nearby to the town of Gibsons (which also happens to be where I live). SURPASS is a week-long program in which […]
SURPASSING Expectations
The end of July saw the wrap of another very successful Surpass workshop-camp for 26 teens, out of Camp Byng on BC’s Sunshine Coast. Surpass is a week-long experience of multiple activities designed to promote community and personal development. The sub-context to Surpass? Feeling good emotionally and physically; good enough to try out some new things […]
“Generation Flux” report: Youth need more help
I just finished reading “Generation Flux” a report on youth (15-24 years) produced by the Community Foundations of Canada as part of their annual “Vital Signs” report series. Well worth the read, the report (found here) highlights many trends though I consider the following most pertinent: – youth are quick adapters to our changing world […]
Michael’s book, Learn Your Way! SelfDesigning the Life You Really Want, Starting Now is an ERAC-approved middle and high school textbook for career planning and health education courses (British Columbia), and it has received many endorsements. Contact Michael directly to obtain a pdf copy of the book.