Together with Co-Director Professor Bill Lucas, Guy has opened the new Centre for Real-World Learning (CrL) at the University of Winchester. CrL's mission is to find out more about how people learn in real life, discover what helps them learn as quickly and powerfully as possible, and tell them about it. CrL was launched on 1 October 2008 by former Secretary of State for Education Baroness Estelle Morris, founder of The Mind Gym Octavius Black, and Andy Powell, Chief Executive of the charitable organisation Edge. Edge is funding CrL in its first year to the tune of £130k.
The Centre's key premise (for which there is good evidence) is that people who feel equipped to tackle difficult and rewarding things live happier, more fulfilled and more productive lives. Though partly financial and social, the key elements that underpin this confidence and adventurous spirit are certain habits of mind, beliefs and strategies. CrL will assemble and broadcast rigorous, practical information about how these qualities can be helped to grow. In particular, we want to make schools into places that nourish and cultivate the spirit of lifelong adventure more effectively. See www.winchester.ac.uk/realworldlearning for more information, and how to get involved.
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Guy's new book What's the Point of School? Rediscovering the Heart of Education was published by Oneworld on 8 September 2008. The book has been enthusiastically endorsed by Professors Howard Gardner and David Perkins from Harvard, Toxic Childhood author Sue Palmer, neuroscientist Baroness Susan Greenfield, creativity guru Sir Ken Robinson, NAHT President Clarissa Williams and architect of the new UK school curriculum Mick Waters. The book argues that schools owe it to today's young people to be preparing them for a learning life, and that many of young people's troubles reflect the lack of this core confidence. The book shows teachers and parents the many practical ways in which they can grow resilient and resourceful kids. |
Following the hugely successful This Learning Life international conference Guy organised in Bristol in April 2006, the second took place in Bristol again in June 2008 (the weekend before Guy married Tate Britain's Chief Curator Judith Nesbitt, on about the only dry Saturday all summer... It was a busy couple of weeks!) Keynotes came from Professor Barbara Rogoff of the University of California at Santa Cruz, Professor John Bransford, Director of the LIFE Centre (Learning in Informal and Formal Environments) at the University of Washington, and the UK Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Director of Curriculum Mick Waters. Reflecting on their learning lives were iconic scientist Heinz Wolff, international horse-riding instructor Mary Wanless and ITN's premier news journalist Alastair Stewart. It was, again, a really thrilling event. See www.thislearninglife.org
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