A Brave New World or New Wine in Old Wine Skins?
An ASU+GSV Summit Observation
35,442 ft in the air somewhere above Albuquerque to Atlanta
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
This was my first time attending the ASU+GSV summit at the invitation of the VELA ED fund to join a panel representing our work creating VELA DAO. It was an honor to share the mic with my ‘frens’ and tell our story of bringing ownership, transparency and decentralization in philanthropy! (Keep reading to learn more!)
I didn’t know what to expect from the summit. Would this be a stuffy suit n’ tie situation with reps speaking the practiced marketing line of their product or service? Would traditional teachers and admin fill vending halls seeking the next best curriculum provider? I chose to wear an open mind and a smile to accompany my full authentic self expression, as I rode the escalator to enter my first event at the summit!
At the reception during the first night, I met two Ed tech companies; Josh with HALO AR and Tom Marchal and Chad Udell with SPARKLEARN. We chatted casually and passionately about our offerings in between bites of stir fry and red wine. While both companies were there to network, their introductions were warm and friendly, genuinely wanting to connect and learn why I was here as well. The food was delicious and the pool rooftop views did not disappoint!! Meeting virtual friends IRL (in real life) is always a treat! I was finally able to hug the neck of Shiren Rattigan, founder of Colossal in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida! We spent the rest of the night affirming each other’s journey as edupreneurs, sharing stories of the kids and families we have the privilege of serving and having good old fashioned “sistah gurl” conversations! My soul needed that time!
The 1st day began with breakfast in one of the lobbies. Participants enjoyed coffee, an egg puff and fruit while reading each other's name tags and scanning LinkedIn QRcodes. Promises of engagement were made. Phone calls were scheduled. Hopes of purposeful possibilities hung in the air.
I met with two people while trying to cut my cantaloupe with a fork. The first person was from Boston in the arena of educational research. He mentioned he had heard about this “new movement” called UNschooling and how it’s transforming education. (Insert me breaking the 4th wall) Me, being who I am, chuckled, asked him his name and told him he happened to stand at the perfect high top at the exact perfect moment. I went on to explain that I am the “chocolate champion” of UNschooling and the founder of The Genius School and The Geniī DAO. He asked all the right next questions from people new to this “new movement.” Before he left for his next session, with glossy eyes, he thanked me for sharing and said he was curious to learn more.
The 2nd visitor needing to balance their plate of muffins arrived less than 90 seconds after my glossy eyed friend left. They were a couple from Pittsburg. The husband was a former public school teacher driven from the classroom by burnout and fatigue of not being able to authentically meet the needs of his students. He is now choosing a path outside of traditional ed in the form of after school offerings. He expressed his interest in breaking into and serving the homeschool movement; especially middle and high schoolers. (Again, 4th wall)
(Ya don’t say??)
I asked his name and that of his wife, told them they too chose the exact right high top at the exact perfect moment and went on to share my 20 years of homeschooling experience and gave him actionable steps to take that week to make his offer available to homeschoolers.
By now, servers were clearing away breakfast items and the talk I wanted to attend was beginning. After getting lost, asking for directions and almost getting lost again, I made my way to a small conference room that sat about 60 participants. The title of the room was PERMISSIONLESS Education presented by Stand Together Trust. I was familiar with the term and wanted to hear more. The room was PACKED!!! People were earhustlin’ from the hallway, so I excused myself to a standing spot in the back and listened to the speakers explain how their fund supported edupreneurs funding Permissionless learning centers. The room was full of teachers and admin representing their districts, other business reps and a few micro school and Web3 enthusiasts. During the Q&A portion, I raised my hand. I had two questions; one I asked, the other I knew better NOT to ask. I asked the presenter what is their relationship with UNschoolers who have been doing “PERMISSIONLESS” learning for decades!! A few in the room nodded vigorously. To be honest, I asked the question to make a statement. Those who have paved the way in the Unschooling movement should be respected for their work and sacrifice! The question I knew better NOT to ask was, “and how exactly does PERMISSIONLESS ed work in a system where you have to ask permission to use the bathroom?”Afterwards, a few people experienced in the UNschooling movement thanked me for the question. My web 3 ‘frens’ from EDU DAO gave hugs and ‘atta’girls’ as we connected IRL!
Now, I’ll admit. I was a bit starstruck during the next session. One of my favs was presenting. Kerry McDonald; podcaster of LiberatED, author of Unschooled and writer for various publications. She shared her experience traveling the country and meeting everyday edupreneurs; some parents and former teachers who mostly stepped outside of traditional k12 to create micro schools (many of which are self directed). I was in Heaven!!!! Again, it was standing room only with people sitting on the floor. Again, the attendees were teachers and school admin. Again, glossy eyes and a look of slight bewilderment.
After a failed attempt to grab some lunch, it was time for our panel discussion “Presented by VELA-Web3 and Non-Traditional Education: Ownership in Philanthropy and Beyond.” I had a blast sharing my personal experience DeCentralizing schools, creating GENIE app, Geniī DAO and this new thing we are creating with VELA DAO. What’s possible when we bring ownership and transparency to philanthropy? I am most excited about a “we/us vs they/them” making decisions on funding, sharing our expertise collectively and being compensated for our contributions to Community!
Afterwards, there were limited questions. Most were new to web 3 and didn’t yet know which questions to ask. The 3 web 3 knowledgeable people in the room were ready to go DEEP into tokenomics and Utility. We agreed this was to be a high level summary, not a deep dive into our white paper, so we told them to check in later when we reached that point. Overall, my VELA DAO ‘frens’ represented our efforts WELL!!
I changed out of my 4 inch presentation heels into walkable shoes. We all went to support our VELA team member as she spoke on a panel about micro schools and pods. Again, the theme was creating something that works outside of the old paradigm.
The day ended with introductions and connections over two cocktail parties and dinner. I was joyfully exhausted!
My last day of the summit began with coffee and chatting with one of my VELA DAO zoom friends. The nature of the conversation was how we can use AI in assessment. I gave my ideas of using AI to translate learner engagement into measurable assessment tools. Take what an 8yo is doing in Roblox and use AI to translate that into state language arts objectives.
Oddly enough, the next talk I attended was Hands On with AI and Web3 for Education on the 31st floor, accessible only by a special elevator that only went to the 30-31st floors. The line to get on the elevator was down the hall!! When I hopped in line, I was greeted by a new friend I met the night before at the cocktail party. After confirming that YES there is only ONE elevator that accessed the 31st floor and YES we were in fact standing in the longest elevator line in history, I began a Chat GPT class while waiting for that elevator. I told folks to take out their phones, open up Google and type Chat GPT. Open AI popped up. After logging in, I told them to ask a question.
I received blank stares.
I smiled.
“and THIS is why you don’t have to be afraid of AI taking your job!,” I assured them.
“You have to use critical thinking to know how to ask the right question!”
By this time, the 32 floor elevator was available. We became intimately familiar as we crammed into the space, hoping not to go over the weight limit!
Once again, there was standing room only! We had to step over people to find a spot on the carpet. The presenter was stuck in the elevator line of eternity 30 floors below us, allowing more time for more people to try Chat GPT on their phones and for us to become familiar with our projects. One educator explained she is the only one in her traditional school talking about Web 3 and Chat GPT. She’s not waiting for the admin. She’s considering coaching her teachers on how to benefit from Chat GPT! Once the presentation began, it was very informative! The best part was when the presenter showed us how to use a prompt (how to ask the right question). I bout leaped out of my skin when he said to input data such as a study on learning outcomes from playing with LEGOS and ask Chat GPT to translate. That is exactly what the GENIE app will do!!
It’s both frustrating and refreshing to hear the industry affirm what you’ve been saying for the past 7 years! Finally, I am met with head nods instead of crickets.
The last room I sat in was titled Pods and Microschools: From Crisis Response to Enduring Education.
Again a panel of experienced micro school founders flanked the front of the room telling their stories. Again, standing room only. Again it was affirming to see others doing the exact same work.
The best part of my final session can best be explained in the opener of CHEERS. “Sometimes you gotta go where everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came!”
There is something about speaking with folks who “get you.” Often I am the one holding that space for others during The Genius Conversation, but today it was my turn to be seen, heard and completely GOTTEN! Kim Jacobson, CEO at JW Design Partners, listened as I shared my vision for 5 Pillar Genius Communities. She asked the right questions (Chat GPT would be proud!) She offered suggestions on how to accomplish intentions and name dropped who to talk to. I was full to overflowing!!
During that conversation with Kim, the idea of content vs context came up. She asked me if I saw a way to bring change within the traditional school system. Instead of giving my usual knee jerk “HELL NAW” reaction, I sat with myself and asked my inner Being if alignment was present. I assessed the events of the summit; all the talks, presentations, what everyone was working on and hoping for in education and something became crystal clear. The essential unspoken desire of the summit was bravery to be free to self direct learning in an educational world that wasn’t built to cultivate and sustain it.
The clarity brought with it feelings of hope mingled with helplessness; futuristic possibilities thwarted by frustrated realities; courage limited, freedom tethered. I know those feelings personally! During my family’s DeSchooling to UnSchooling process, I felt the tug of breaking free from the context of traditional school I created in my home. We were following a curriculum as if my life depended on it! My kids got “good grades,” but they were disengaged, listless and lethargic learners. I was a failure, always looking for the next curriculum that would give me what I saw was missing; joy, passion, trust, authenticity. Freedom. Self Directed Learning. I kept changing the curriculum, but getting the same results. Change wasn’t needed, only transformation could bring what I desired!
Content (teacher, admin, parent and learner) is pushing against the current context (traditional compulsory school) demanding the possibility of transformation, not change. Compulsory school is what we currently have. When we apply change, we’ll get compulsory school in a changed form. What isn’t working will persist as long as we keep changing it. This is why school reform hasn’t yielded what we authentically want. Instead, the result of reform is the continuation of what was originally formed. We wonder why teachers are frustrated, kids are disengaged and parents are helpless. It’s the inauthenticity felt when trying to express a new possibility within a context that doesn’t support it! This transformation requires a clearing to be made. Let traditional compulsory school be just as it is and just as it isn’t, add NOTHING to it. From NOTHING, create what is authentic to Self for kids, parents and teachers. Ask Content, “Who do you never get to BE in school? If you could BE that, what could you do, what could you have?” While Self, with its new possibility for learning and school, is the birthplace of transformation, the new possibility is limited if Self’s community remains inconsistent with the new Possibility. When we transform the entire learning community so that it, too, is consistent with the possibility of freedom and self directed learning, the community reinforces the possibility of authenticity and freedom! Imagine Learners, teachers and parents standing in and surrounded by the new Possibility they invented for learning and school!
This is where bravery is required. Leave well enough alone, be with NOTHING, then trust Authenticity will be courageous enough to follow the lead of a child and affirm that the Emperor (Context) in fact does NOT have on clothes!! (Even if your mortgage is dependent upon you believing the lie!)
When we attempt to misappropriate bravery by creating something new in an old paradigm, it lacks integrity. Without Integrity, nothing works! At best, we continue to feel hopeless, frustrated and confused. At worst, we may find the context bursting; imploding upon itself with its precious Content running wildly and quickly to create new structures appropriate for its new Possibility of Authenticity, Freedom and Self Directed Learning.
Touching down.
Landed.