SEC2013: Learning Rocked and Redesigned!

SEC2013: Learning Rocked and Redesigned!
Inaugural new learning program from Los Altos School District (LASD)

LASD is excited to announce that we are offering a new opportunity for current sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students to share their ideas for reimagining and redesigning their educational experience, using the design thinking model. We know students are full of ideas about how learning can be improved—and this is the time for us to learn from them with the introduction of our new program, the Student Educational Conference (SEC2013). 

SEC2013 is an innovative program designed to teach children a range of important critical thinking skills. It promises to encourage them to express their creativity and learn important lessons regarding teamwork and collaboration, systems design, performance outcomes and influencing others. 70 students from across the Los Altos School District will get the unique chance to work with facilitators to create and prototype new ways of learning.

Selected students will also present their ideas to a panel of school district and community members on the last day of the conference. The panel is hoping to elect a few ideas for actual implementation during the next school year by student teams. Our goal is that students will walk away knowing that their voices are important in our learning revolution and their input is valued and actionable.

In addition, some incredible speakers will come to share their experiences and inspire the participating students. Nikhil Goyal, 17-year-old author ofOne Size Does Not Fit All, will address the conference in an opening keynote. Sal Khan will add his vision of what’s possible in education, and Chris Gerdes will speak about prototyping and share some exciting innovations happening in his Stanford design lab.

Students may start applying now through our website: http://lasd.studentedcon.org. 

All applications are due by May 11th and we will notify selected students will be notified by May 18th.   The conference will take place June 13 and 14 from 8:30-4:00 p.m., and conclude on Saturday, June 15, from 8:30-12:00 p.m. All conference activities will happen at the Covington campus.

We are currently looking for sponsors to help with this event. If you are interested, please fill out the sponsorship form and we will send you more information.

While the students participating in the conference will benefit from this special learning experience, all parents and students in the district will know that we care deeply about students’ feedback regarding what makes an ideal educational environment. We’re counting on your support and participation!

By: Alyssa Gallagher, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction and Kami Thordarson, Innovative Strategies Coach