In the summer of 2015, I created my first education tribe for the benefit of my son and other young out of the box thinkers like him. It would be a makerspace where tribe members could learn to take their ideas to the next level through mentorship with community volunteers. The tribe would become a space not only for creation and collaboration, but also an innovative shared learning experience for young minds and experienced volunteers. We called the tribe, Club T3 (“Technology Think Tank”) and our local community center donated space for our weekly tribe meetings. Finding volunteers, however, proved to be more challenging than I anticipated and it finally dawned on me that the technology the young members were interested in learning more about was beyond the skill set of the teachers and retired engineers that I was trying to bring on board. Miraculously out of the blue, we found a tech savvy sponsor who generously donated two 3D printers so that our tribe could participate in an extraordinary project called the e-NABLE Give a Helping Hand Project where members around the world could help build temporary prosthetic hands for children and adults.
I've decided to build on this tribe idea for my graduate school instructional design project and create an open networked learning space ("NLS") for those interested in improving their STEAM literacy. The NLS will be inviting not only to young thinkers interested in pursuing STEAM related careers but also inviting to seasoned professionals interested in improving their STEAM literacy.
The spirit of the tribe is to connect 5 generations of thinkers who will be working side by side by 2025. I believe each of these generations has a unique set of skills and learning experiences, and it is my hope that I can build a NLS where members will inspire each other to think more and build an idea or solve a problem.
Consider the following scenario: What if there was a NLS where a 12 year-old computer whiz in pink converse sneakers from America becomes a mentor to a 55 year-old structural engineer from India. Their connection and exchange of ideas gains the attention of other members and with their combined knowledge and skills, collectively these members create something extraordinary that makes a positive impact in the world.
This multigenerational tribal spirit was the vision for Club T3 and the drum continues to beat to evolve this tribe into an active NLS. Although there will be some challenges when it comes to building an initial membership base, I will reach out to the educators, parents/students and STEAM professionals in my social network that I personally know and ask them to support my NLS as inaugural tribe members and share their knowledge and resources in an effort to help the NLS evolve into a global learning network.
I'm creating something that matters because of one little boy who stole my heart the moment I held his tiny body against my heart.
For sentimental sake, here's a video my son and I made together to promote his tribe, Club T3 :
Generate, by Eric Prydz
"All of the love we generate. The only thing that carries me on. There's nothing we need that it can't create."
I remember reading about your NLS idea…. very cool idea, and I look forward to seeing how it comes together.
Hi Michelle! Great to hear from you and I appreciate the kind words (-: Happy Spring!
Impressive concept.