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22/02/13 What Works! – The 10th Annual AERO Conference | Education Revolution | Alternative Education Resource Organization
www.educationrevolution.org/blog/aeroconference/ 1/9
Education Revolution | Alternative Education Resource Organization AEROis the primarty hub for those looking for, starting, and researching educational alternatives around the world.
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2013 Conference
What Works! – The 10th Annual AERO Conference
Come to the 10th annual AERO Conference:
May 23-26, at LIU/Post, near New York City!We feel that this is the time for the education revolution, to empower all students, to make learner-centered education possibleeverywhere. This year’s theme is “What works!” This means that we want keynotes and presentations that explore anddemonstrate effective programs in educational alternatives. This could include any learner-centered approach, including homeeducation, Montessori education, Waldorf education, democratic Education, progressive education, charter schools, magnetschools, etc. We are particularly interested in having presentations that involve graduates of educational alternatives, to hearabout their experiences.
AERO was founded in 1989 and this will be our 10th conference!
AERO networks all forms of learner-centered educational alternatives. The AERO conference is unlike any other conference you are likely to attendin the USA. Many attendees have described the conference as life-changing.
Conference Dates
The 2013 AERO conference will run from May 23-26 with pre-conference visits to democratic and alternative schools in the NewYork City area on Wednesday, May 22nd and post conference cultural events on Monday, May 27th.
Press Kit
Information condensed and presented for the media can be found in our press kit (coming soon).
Registration
You can pre-register here and hold the early bird rate by making a deposit.
No refunds for any conference fees will be returned after April 1
Register now!Register now!
Keynote speakers
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22/02/13 What Works! – The 10th Annual AERO Conference | Education Revolution | Alternative Education Resource Organization
www.educationrevolution.org/blog/aeroconference/ 2/9
AERO is proud to present the following line-up of keynote speakers for this year’s AERO conference: What Works!
Alfie Kohn
Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. His twelve booksinclude PUNISHED BY REWARDS (1993), BEYOND DISCIPLINE (1996), THE SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN DESERVE (1999), THE CASEAGAINST STANDARDIZED TESTING (2000), UNCONDITIONAL PARENTING (2005), THE HOMEWORK MYTH (2006), and, most recently,FEEL-BAD EDUCATION (2011).
Kohn has been described by Time magazine as “perhaps the country’s most outspoken critic of education’s fixation on grades [and] test scores.” Hiscriticisms of competition and rewards have helped to shape the thinking of educators — as well as parents and managers — across the country andabroad. He has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs, including the “Today” show and two appearances on “Oprah.” He lectures widely atuniversities and to school faculties, parent groups, and corporations, as well as speaking at staff development seminars and keynoting nationaleducation conferences.
Kohn’s articles include “Turning Children into Data” in Education Week; “Five Reasons to Stop Saying ‘Good Job!’” in Young Children; and “The CaseAgainst Grades” in Educational Leadership.
Kohn lives (actually) in the Boston area and (virtually) at www.alfiekohn.org.
Dr. Peter Gray
Peter Gray, research professor of psychology at Boston College, has conducted and published research ina wide range of fields, including neuroendocrinology, animal behavior, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education. He is author of ahighly regarded college textbook, Psychology (Worth Publishers), now in its 6th edition. Most of his recent research and writing has to do with thevalue of free, unsupervised play for children’s healthy social, emotional, and intellectual development. He has expanded on these ideas extensively, forthe general public, in a blog that he write for Psychology Today magazine and in his recently-published book, Free to Learn: Why Unleashing theInstinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life (Basic Books, 2013).
Peter Gray grew up in small towns in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where he had a rich childhood play life, which, he believes, prepared him well foradulthood. He did his undergraduate study at Columbia University and then earned a Ph.D. in biological sciences at the Rockefeller University, inNew York City. His career since then has been centered entirely at Boston College. His play life continues, not only in the joy he derives from researchand writing, but also in his enjoyment of long-distance bicycling, backwoods skiing, pond skating, kayaking, and backyard vegetable gardening.
Nikhil Goyal
22/02/13 What Works! – The 10th Annual AERO Conference | Education Revolution | Alternative Education Resource Organization
www.educationrevolution.org/blog/aeroconference/ 3/9
Lauded by the Washington Post as a future U.S. Secretary of Education, at age 17, Nikhil Goyal is theauthor of One Size Does Not Fit All: A Student’s Assessment of School by the Alternative Education Resource Organization. His work has appeared inthe New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, MSNBC, NPR, FOX and Friends, FOX Business, NBC Nightly News, The Globe andMail, Huffington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, and Education Week. In 2012, Goyal was named one of the “World Changers” for Dell#Inspire 100. He is also 2013 Forbes 30 Under 30: Education.
An international speaker, Nikhil has spoken at NBC, Dell, Cisco, Fast Company, M.I.T., Florida International University, College of the NorthAtlantic, and other conferences around the world. He is also a guest lecturer at Baruch College.
Nikhil currently serves on the board of FairTest. He is leading a Learning Revolution movement to transform the American school system. Nikhillives with his family in Woodbury, New York.
Dr. Elina Lampert-Shepel
Dr. Elina Lampert-Shepel is currently a faculty at Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership,Walden University. As a Vygotskian scholar, Elina coordinated research, development and implementation of teacher education program based onthe principles of Vygotsky’s cultural-historical concept and activity theory at the first independent teacher educational center, Eureka University,Moscow, Russia. She worked as a teacher educator internationally, establishing dialogue and facilitating projects among innovative alternativeeducational communities. Her research interests include culture and cognition, reflective praxis, cross-cultural research, bilingual education,philosophical and psychological aspects of intersubjuctivity, learning community, cultural-historical psychology and activity theory (CHAT) asresearch methodology, mediational means, and dialogue among Vygotsky, Bakhtin, Dewey, and Freire in education.
The Importance of North Star: Self-Directed Learning for Teens
22/02/13 What Works! – The 10th Annual AERO Conference | Education Revolution | Alternative Education Resource Organization
www.educationrevolution.org/blog/aeroconference/ 4/9
North Star is an original model that combines the both of homeschooling and free schools. Founded inAmherst, MA in 1996 by Kenneth Danford and Joshua Hornick, North Star makes living and learning without school a viable and inspiring option forany interested teen in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. Most North Star members are teens who felt constrained and trapped in school,but who never would have considered or sustained homeschooling without the presence of a center such as North Star. The program offers classes,tutorials, and advisory services to its members, as well as support for its teens to explore and work in the local community. Most North Star membersattend the center two to four days per week. Most North Star members go on to attend college, many beginning to take courses at ages 15-18 yearsold, though plenty of others have proceeded on to meaningful work and other opportunities as a continuation of their self-directed learning process.
Over the past few years, North Star has received numerous inquiries about its approach from disillusioned school teachers and veteranhomeschooling parents interested in helping teens learn independently of schools. North Star has supported people to start similar programs inPrinceton NJ, Ottawa Quebec, Somerville MA,, Framingham MA, New Haven CT, Grand Rapids MI, Portland OR, and elsewhere. Further, NorthStar has consulted with people all over the country and the world about providing the support and structure necessary for more teens to choose lifewithout school. This growing network is becoming formalized with the inception of a new non-profit organization, Liberated Learners, Inc, foundedin January 2013 by Kenneth and Joel Hammon of the Princeton Learning Cooperative. For the past seventeen years, even at AERO, North Star’sprogram was perhaps a bit ahead of its time. The recent growth in homeschooling, along with the ever-increasing number of people ready to startalternatives to traditional schooling, suggest that North Star is now well-placed to share its experience and vision. The core principles of North Star,embodying trust for teens with important supporting roles for adults, are best captured by North Star slogan, “Learning is natural. School is optional.”
Kenneth DanfordKenneth co-founded North Star in 1996, and has supported hundreds of teens to leave school and utilize self-directed learning over these pastseventeen years. Prior to establishing North Star, Kenneth taught in the Amherst, MA Regional Public Schools and in the Prince George’s County, MDPublic Schools as an 8th grade U.S. History teacher. He earned his M.A.T. at Brown University under the auspices of the Coalition of EssentialSchools, and he graduated from Amherst College in 1988. He has two teenage children, both of whom choose to attend public school and consider hiswork at North Star to be eccentric.
Laura RossLaura Ross is a 17-year-old homeschooler currently in her fourth year at North Star. She attended public school until 7th grade and started NorthStar in her 8th grade year. She plays guitar, bass, drums, and piano, and nothing makes her happier than listening to and making music. At themoment she is playing in the North Star band, as well as two bands and a percussion ensemble outside of North Star. She is an avid reader anddancer, and in her spare time she enjoys studying the stars through her telescope. She loves learning about the world and hopes to pursueastrophysics in the future.
Jonah MeyerJonah completed elementary school, barely. He spent four years at North Star as a member, then spent a year studying alternative education andNorth Star’s place in that world. He attended the AERO Conference when it was in Albany, and continues to be committed to supporting alternativesto traditional school. In 2012-2012 Jonah was the youngest member in the history of the Greenfield Community College Outdoor LeadershipProgram, and he has spent the past fall and winter traveling and rock climbing in the western United States. He has just returned from climbing Mt.Cotopaxi, a volcano in Ecuador.
Workshops and presentations
Online AERO Conference ProgramOnline AERO Conference Program (2013 program details coming soon!)
Aside from the keynote speakers at the AERO conference, there are dozens of other workshops, presentations, and discussions that will occur on agreat variety of issues related to educational alternatives.
If you are interested in presenting a workshop, organizing a discussion or other activity at the upcoming AERO conference, please send us yourproposal by February 15th. You can start by sending a paragraph about your proposed presentation. This year we plan to have fewer plannedpresentations and presenters at the conference so we can have more spontaneous presentations, so send your proposals as soon as possible. Enter yourproposal information here into this Word document and email the saved file to [email protected].
We will have a small number of display tables for individuals and organization with resources useful to AERO members. If interested write [email protected].
AERO state and local representatives
AERO has always had an informal network of representatives. When someone needs a contact in a certain city, state or country, we know who torefer them to. Last year we formalized that network. Some representatives may be requested to do consultations. They will also be organizing localevents. For example, we would like to see fairs highlighting public and private educational alternatives in their areas to let parents, teachers andstudents know what their educational choices are. As we did last year there will be special meetings for AERO representatives
To summarize, representatives will:
Post events and news about educational alternatives taking place in their state on the AERO website.
22/02/13 What Works! – The 10th Annual AERO Conference | Education Revolution | Alternative Education Resource Organization
www.educationrevolution.org/blog/aeroconference/ 5/9
Be available as a contact person for those in their state looking for alternatives or other help.Keep track of state laws effecting educational alternatives.Help organize events and gatherings that share information and network local educational alternatives.Refer people to the AERO office as appropriate and help promote the AERO annual conference.
Representatives get exclusive benefits such as:
Community organizing training and guidance from the AERO team.Network and learn what works with fellow representatives around the world.Free AERO membership!Discount to the AERO conference!Access to AERO databases to use for their service.Possible local consultations
If you are interested in being an AERO international, state or local representative, write to [email protected].
AERO Conference Documentary (2010):
What is the AERO conference?
The most important activity at AERO conferences is the networking. There have been some very powerful and inspirational keynote speakers such asJohn Gatto, Riane Eisler, Alfie Kohn, Herb Kohl, Patch Adams, Yaacov Hecht and Sir Ken Robinson. The workshops, presentations and panels areoften done by people who would have been keynotes at other conferences, but are also done by grassroots people, who are simple practitioners ineducational alternatives, including homeschooling parents. Furthermore, unlike most conferences, AERO always reserves space in every time sessionfor spontaneous workshops that are posted daily.
Here are some comments from former attendees of the AERO conference:
“I enjoyed and profited greatly from the AERO conference. I was very interested in the concept of democratic schooling and also wanted toexplore other “alternatives” such as unschooling, Waldorf and Montessori, and the conference gave a boost in getting more information andunderstanding of those concepts. The informality and potential for dialogue, both organized and spontaneous, was significant. It wasparticularly helpful to interact with some of the leaders in the democratic school movement, as well as the “troops on the ground” who try tomake it work every day. It’s also gratifying to see people who are taking this idea seriously.”“I so much appreciated your love, commitment, energy, compassion, thoughtfulness, bravery, and creativity in putting on the conference. Ithad a huge impact on me and my husband.”“Amazing… to be among like-minded people from around the globe. One could write a book about the characters attending it. The topicsdiscussed (sometimes into the wee hours) were exceptional. Fading into the past, but not from my mind. This portrayed a dream of the world Icarry in my heart and soul. Not an impossible dream. May we wake soon to find these dreams a reality for all. Thanks!”“What a great time… I am still on cloud 9 from the conference. Everything was so positive, sincere, and loving…”“Thank you for causing a Major Ripple in my life. Thank you for the experience and my awakening.”“I’d like to thank you all for sharing your energy. It was truly a memorable experience, and I have a feeling that many flowers will bloom fromthis gathering.”“The conference was indeed a great event–from which I learned a multitude of both the conceptual and directly practical. I feel extremelyfortunate in my life to have been able to experience it.““Being there was the high point of my life (other than the birth of my sons) and I will never forget the experience!”
Who should go to the AERO conference?
Our attendees are from an amazingly wide spectrum. We have had people from every state and dozens of countries.
Our conference has always been friendly to students and children, usually including presentations by and for children and students. Therefore manyattendees bring their children and teachers bring groups of their students. Student and children’s rates are discounted. We also have very reasonablypriced child-care.
There will be daycare throughout the conference at a total cost of only $100 for the whole conference, half price for a second child for children age 3through 12.
22/02/13 What Works! – The 10th Annual AERO Conference | Education Revolution | Alternative Education Resource Organization
www.educationrevolution.org/blog/aeroconference/ 6/9
Attendees have been:
Teachers, administrators, parents and students from public and private alternativesPeople from Democratic, Montessori, Waldorf, higher education alternatives and charter schoolsHomeschooling familiesResearchersMainstream public school personnel interested in changeMediaEducation writers
Hotel, meals, & transportation
This year’s conference will be held on Long Island University’s C.W. Post campus. The location is just a 45 minute train ride to Manhattan.
TRAIN TRANSPORTATION
It is easy to get to the LIU/Post campus by train. If you come by AMTRAK to New York City you end up in Penn Station. On the lower floor in PennStation is the Long Island Railroad. You would take the train to Hicksville. That train runs every half hour or so. It is a 10-minute taxi ride fromthere. You could also go to Greenvale, which is slightly closer but that train runs less frequently (about every hour and a half).
If you fly into JFK you can take the monorail to the Long Island Railroad station at Jamaica and take the train from there to Hicksville.
If you fly into LaGuardia Airport you’d need to take a taxi or bus to Jamaica.
If you fly to Newark, New Jersey there are easy busses and trains to Manhattan and Penn Station.
The Long Island Railroad Station at Hicksville is only a half-mile from the Econolodge if you are staying there.
Here’s a link to the campus map. We will be having our keynotes and meals in Hillwood Common, #19. Socializing areas are also there. The dormsare just to the right at #54 and #55. The workshops will be in #21. So the conference is in a pretty compact area.
Lodging for most attendees is conveniently located in the dormitories on the POST/LIU campus, right next to the presentation/commons buildingand the cafeteria. The cost for a bed in a double room is $49, for a single room is $65 a night. You can sign up for these directly below.For parents or school groups with children under 13 we have made special arrangements with the nearby Econolodge and will provide dailytransportation to and from the Post/LIU campus. To get the $80 room rate there call (516) 433-3900. Mention that you are going to the AEROconference.
Meal tickets for 10 meals, from Lunch on Thursday the 23rd through Lunch on Sunday the 26th can be purchased in advance of the conference foronly $12 a meal, a total of $120. You can also purchase just the 7 lunches and dinners for $105. Some a la carte food can be bought at the campussnack bar.
Order your meal tickets and reserve your rooms hereOrder your meal tickets and reserve your rooms here
Pre- and Post-Conference Events
Please email [email protected] if you are interested in the pre-conference school visits. This will include school visits on Wednesday, May22nd.
Please email [email protected] if you are interested in the Memorial Day (May 27th) post conference cultural events.
Child care
We will be providing childcare each day of the conference (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and half of Sunday) for children ages 3-11. Click the button topay for and arrange this.
Reserve child careReserve child care
Tables
We have a limited number of display tables available. These will be located in the central area of Hillwood Commons, where all keynotes andpresentations will be made. To arrange for this write to [email protected] or call (516) 978-7812.
Volunteers
We are looking for a handful of superstar volunteers to help out at the conference. This will involve overseeing the meals. Helping in the dormitories,working at the registration/conference info table, helping with the bookstore, helping put up signs, childcare, audio/visual, putting togetherconference packets (info about the hotel, Portland info, brief schedule). If interested, write to [email protected] Volunteers will get aconference discount.
Tags: 10th annual aero conference, 2013 conference, aero conference, alternative education, alternative education conference, education conference,educational alternatives, featured
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About AERO
The Alternative Education Resource Organization is the primary resource for families looking for educational alternatives, school/resourcecenter starters, and alternative education researchers.
AERO's mission is to help connect individuals and groups and share ideas related to alternative education. Our goal is to help people around theworld experience learner-centered education.
AERO publishes important news, articles, and books on issues related to alternative education, dem ocratic education, hom eschooling,unschooling, public alternatives, Montessori, Waldorf, and Sudbury schools.
AERO organizes conferences, events, and online school-starting courses and is sustained by its m em bers, including indiv iduals and organizations, thatsupport AERO in realizing the education revolution.
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