Black Mountain SOLE’s reinvented ‘Unconference’ on education

Here’s the press release from Black Mountain SOLE

BLACK MOUNTAIN, On October 25th ­ October 27th, Black Mountain SOLE, the world’s first “self­organized learning environment” (SOLE) for higher education and beyond, is hosting an unconference to start conversation around how education should be reinvented. The ReinventEd Unconference is an open, participatory event designed to foster deep conversations and inspire action
Dave Dobias, Executive Director at Black Mountain SOLE states “We live in an economy of ideas and connections. What used to be helpful in the past—obedience, memorization, and standardization—is now holding us back from creating real success in the future.”

Black Mountain SOLE is proposing the idea that instead of ignoring 21st century values—like creativity, customization, passion, collaboration, and personal responsibility for ourselves and the world around us— maybe higher education and k­12 education should be designed to prioritize them. Community Director, Katie Cleary says “We feel the call for and urgency of a new educational paradigm that is built around these values in support of personal and planetary transformation. And we believe we can accomplish so much more working together rather than working in isolation.”

Black Mountain SOLE chose to organize a conference on education in alignment with the principles of a SOLE (self­organized learning environment) by designing it as an unconference.They assert that a traditional conference structure, with speakers, presenters, panels, etc., can send the message that the people in front of the room are the experts. They say this dynamic can create dependency, disempowerment, low energy, and complacency ­ similar to what happens i the traditional structure of education.In an Unconference, people self­organize ­ they create the schedule, decide what they want to learn, and choose with whom they want to collaborate, thus ensuring that participants walk away with highest level of value.
ReinventEd Unconference Details

Who: Leaders, visionaries, activists and lifelong learners working or ready to transform higher education – and beyond!

When: Friday, October 25, 2013 ­ Sunday, October 27, 2013

Where: Black Mountain SOLE, YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly, 84 Blue Ridge Circle, Black
Mountain, NC

For more information about Black Mountain SOLE, go to www.blackmountainsole.org. To apply go to www.bmsole.org/apply. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.