It is with great pleasure that the RSA is hosting a unique event on the future of learning – the City of Learning Summit.
The purpose of this Summit to explore a highly innovative and successful US learning initiative, the City of Learning which has already become rooted in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, and Dallas with more US cities to follow in 2016. We will be looking at UK city and work-based digital learning through DigitalMe and the RSA’s research into this area through its focus on ‘the power to create’.
The City of Learning Summit will take place at 9.30am-4pm on March 22nd, 2016 at the RSA, 8 John Adam Street, London, WC2N 6EZ. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
We are very pleased to be joined by Connie Yeowell, CEO of LRNG, the US organisation behind Cities of Learning. LRNG was established with the backing of MacArthur Foundation following ten years of research and experimentation. Cities of Learning engaged 100,000 students in the US in the Summer of 2015 alone. It is expanding rapidly.
The core idea is that a city mobilises behind a culture of learning supported by schools, colleges, libraries, museums, workplaces, and youth/community/civic organisations. Learners of all ages access ‘passion driven’ opportunities through a technology platform which guides them to relevant learning in the city and online and supports achievement through open digital badges (an online and shareable recognition of learning). The aim of Cities of Learning is to engage all in learning, most particularly those for whom traditional forms of learning are proving to be disengaging.
The day will be an opportunity to learn about the US experience but also the considerable experience of open badges in the UK through the work of DigitalMe. LRNG’s new tech platform will also be showcased. The RSA will present its latest thinking on developing a creative educational environment and how that can be promoted through digital badges, system change, and place-based learning networks and movements.