Welcome to Remake Learning Days Across America (RLDAA), a celebration of nearly 850 hands-on learning events continuing to the end of May on topics relating to arts, making, the outdoors and technology. The majority of events are free, located across America from Eastern Kentucky to Pennsylvania and Chicago to Tennessee.
The types of events vary widely. Take the World’s Largest Matt’s Maker Space for example, which will be hosted by Mt. Lebanon School District in Pennsylvania on Saturday, May 11. Matt’s Maker Space is a place where kids can explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) through experiential and hands-on learning.
Interested in innovative spaces? New Castle School District, also in Pennsylvania, will host an upcoming workshop addressing how educators can redesign learning spaces to support personalized learning and student agency.
These are just two of the hundreds of events taking place during across the country.
What is Remake Learning Days Across America?
The first, and now annual, Remake Learning Days launched in 2016 in response to the emerging reality that youth in the digital age are pursuing knowledge, developing their identities and seeking support differently. The original Remake Learning Days spanned nearly 300 events across the Southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia region—from libraries and laboratories to schools and startups to radio stations and gardens.
Remake Learning Days originated from the Remake Learning Network, established in 2007, a network that ignites engaging, relevant and equitable learning practices in support of young people navigating rapid social and technological change. The transformation into a national celebration came in response to a desire for more real-world learning experiences that prepare youth from all backgrounds and all neighborhoods. Family-friendly events are located at libraries, museums, schools, tech companies and nonprofit organizations.
To navigate all the events, learning themes were developed to help youth, families, grandparents and educators to discover creative ways of learning during Remake Learning Days Across America.
Arts features hands-on learning and expression through all kinds of art including: theatre, dance, visual art, music, photography and more.
“Making” is about taking things apart and putting them back together. Tinker, build, and create with all kinds of materials. Try a 3D printer, take apart a toy to see what’s inside and then rebuild it, or create something new.
Outdoor Learning is about experiencing and learning about the natural world. How can we think about the environment, sustainability and more by exploring our very own backyards?
Science is all about experimentation. Kids and adults can explore chemistry, biology, geography and more. How does our world work? What can we test and explore in the world around us?
Technology gives kids the chance to explore their digital world. Want to try coding? Build robots? Learn circuitry? Look for technology events that help you discover new things.
Youth Voice is about youth leadership and amplifying youth voice. Youth have the ability to express themselves in so many ways such as: through audio, video, art, music and more. Youth voice-related events highlight how youth express themselves in their own ways.
For traditional and non-traditional educators, credited and non-credited professional development featuring STEAM-inspired learning is offered by various organizations.
The Remake Learning network has collaborated with PBS KIDS and Digital Promise, who join this effort as national partners by offering support through their networks to inform parents, educators and communities. (The RLDAA effort is supported nationally by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Grable Foundation and Schmidt Futures.)
Why Get Involved?
Today, millions of students are sitting in classrooms with a sense of fearlessness and optimism to change the world. RDLAA hopes to ignite and celebrate these students through a movement of educators, parents, and students. Combining an array of learning opportunities, fun, and expertise, RLDAA serves a change agent to help communities design the future they envision.
Dorie Taylor, producer for Remake Learning Days Across America, considers it a celebration of learning that energizes youth and families. Playful learning can lead to building such essential skills as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, communication and innovation—in other words, skills necessary for creating brighter futures.
