KeelWorks
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KeelWorks will offer a web-based comprehensive response to struggling learners. Using a Master and Commander metaphor learners will discover the excitement and adventure of learning while gaining core learning competencies. Key features include: peer-to-peer support, collaborative learning, and progress metrics.
About You
Section 1: About You
First Name
Thomas
Last Name
Garrod
Website URL
Country
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
KeelWorks
Organization Website
Organization Phone
360.679-4279
Organization Address
2398 West Beach Road, Oak Harbor, WA 98277
Organization Country
United States
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Your idea
Name Your Project
KeelWorks
Country your work focuses on
United States
Describe Your Idea
KeelWorks will offer a web-based comprehensive response to struggling learners. Using a Master and Commander metaphor learners will discover the excitement and adventure of learning while gaining core learning competencies. Key features include: peer-to-peer support, collaborative learning, and progress metrics.
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
This is the only comprehensive approach to learning dysfunction that is available to all economic levels. It may be the only comprehensive approach to learning that doesn't involve tutoring. This program hopes to employ a variety of innovations for learning to include interactive team games, communities, and peer-to-peer support for progress. It will be metrics-based - every goal must have a measurement strategy. In parts, our project is not especially unique, in combination, it is unique.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
This program will implement in a pilot program for California students who failed to graduate or are behind in credits putting graduation at risk. These students will participate in content development. They will start by learning about their individual strengths. They will learn teaming, practice written and verbal communication, and discover how learning works. Their school work will be actual program content (not just an academic exercise). If participants show a measurable change in learning behavior we will have demonstrated program value.
Problem
The great problems of the world are directly related to learning. With a better understanding, Hitler would have made a different impact. Hitler was a brilliant but dysfunctional learner, he was an outcast from secondary school on. He turned to the fringes of society to make his impact. Were he a better learner, he may have been better employed and the outcome may have been different.
Too many students are disengaged from learning. These learners fail to reach their potential, communities and families fail to benefit from their contributions. Prisons are full of failed learners. Families suffer because these students cannot earn a sufficient wage. Even good students often fail because they lack the emotional intelligence to apply their knowledge constructively. The attitude of society is that poor students get what they deserve. Unfortunately, the effects are not as isolated as they imagine.
Actions
Our program teaches critical values and attitudes and develops learning competency. This learning competency translates to life competency.
Results
Our learners will see learning as an adventure, they'll appreciate the hidden gifts of all kinds. They will appreciate diversity and demonstrate core competencies; they will contribute to better communities and a better world.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
We just need to keep taking one step after another. If our pilot project is successful, we'll have a firm basis to proceed. We will pursue corporate sponsorship to pay for computers, net access, and support more elaborate development. We also have an internship program under development with hopes that interns will participate in program development.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
I run out of steam. Developing this project has taken much of my time. I continue to work a full-time job at the same time.
How many people will your project serve annually?
1001‐10,000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
Less than $50
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Idea phase
In what country?
United States
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
Define established. KeelWorks is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation registered in Washington State, US
How long has this organization been operating?
Less than a year
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
No
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
No
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
Much of the development of this program is supported by Knowace, a private instructional design firm. We also have a small contribution from the Gallup foundation in the form of materials for strength testing.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
Complete the Maine Prairie High School Pilot project successfully.
Compete an internship structure and implement the internship program.
Obtain grants to support full-time work on the project.
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
Reading To Conquer the Air: The Wright Brothers and the Great Race for Flight
by James Tobin (New York: Free Press, 2003) got me thinking. The Wright brothers were not the best educated, but the found excitement and adventure in learning. They were taught to be curious and to find answers. A key to their success was their ability to collaborate.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
I am a high-school dropout with a significant learning disability. With proper treatment at age 30, I returned to school and eventually earned a master's degree in education. I am an instructional designer.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Web Search (e.g., Google or Yahoo)
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
My wife found your site.
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