Interview with Ryan Shollenberger, Co-director ALC NYC
Unveiling the Dynamic World of Agile Learning: Insights from ALC NYC's Co-Director
Photos courtesy of ALC NYCIn the dynamic landscape of education, the Agile Learning Center (ALC) model has emerged as a beacon of adaptability and resilience. In this exclusive interview, Ryan Shollenberger, co-founder and co-director of ALC NYC, shares his journey into Agile Learning and provides valuable insights into its application, response to the pandemic, and the potential of digital tools in distance and hybrid learning. As educators, Ryan's experiences offer a fresh perspective on fostering a self-directed and agile approach to education. Read the full transcript of Ryan's interview here.
The Birth of Agile Learning:
Ryan's involvement in Agile Learning began with the co-founding of ALC NYC, initiated by Art Brock from the Manhattan Free School. This innovative approach, rooted in democratic education principles but infused with a 20th-century upgrade from the tech world's Agile and Lean Management, opened doors to a new realm of learning.
I taught in a public school for a very short time and had kind of a not so nice experience there. But it was very important because it showed me that my path and my life in terms of education was not going to work in that system. And I was looking for something different.
Risky vs Dangerous Play
One poignant experience Ryan shares revolves around the concept of risky play. An incident in Central Park challenged conventional rules, allowing students to engage in climbing trees. The story highlights the balance between risk and learning, emphasizing the importance of experiences that, although risky, contribute significantly to personal growth.
Children and people can learn through risky play. And the difference between risky and dangerous play is that dangerous indicates a level of risk, I would say, that outweighs the potential lesson involved, whereas risky play means you might get hurt, you might get banged up a little bit, but your potential to learn something through whatever activity it is outweighs whatever the risk is.
Agile Learning in the Pandemic Era
The pandemic posed unique challenges, but ALC NYC's smaller size and students' genuine enthusiasm for the learning environment made the transition to remote learning smoother. Utilizing Zoom and other digital tools, the center continued its daily meetings and adapted physical offerings to an online format. Ryan also shares the challenges faced by both student and parent communities during this period.
Even if we had decreased attendance and participation during that early time, but nowhere near the same level that most bigger schools did and certainly public schools here in New York City.
I think the biggest challenges for us were not having that in-person community, that is so special about our ALC and all the ALCs I've been involved with.
Continuing with Digital Tools
Even post-pandemic, ALC NYC maintains a hybrid learning model, offering flexibility for students to join activities remotely. The use of tools like Zoom and Slack has not only facilitated learning but also strengthened the sense of community within the Agile Learning framework.
We continue to have an active school Zoom room that's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, kids can connect there if they want. For example, if I'm running my math offering on a Tuesday morning and a kid wants to join, they know that they can text me or message me somehow and say ‘Hey, I'd like to join math remotely’ and they can do that.
Memorable Moments in Distance Learning:
Ryan reflects on the pre-pandemic initiation of a poker offering, blending math, psychology, and online gameplay. The 'Burrito Cup' tournament not only engaged students but showcased the potential for meaningful experiences through digital tools.
This particular kid was really into board game design and games in general, and also pretty adept at math. And so I thought to myself: That's great! poker has a ton of math and also the type that I play is a lot about psychology and reading and understanding people, body language, these types of things… And so once we had to move to all-remote learning, we used a website called PokerNow.Club, And we'd set up a weekly game there.
Embracing Hybrid Learning
Ryan emphasizes the success of hybrid learning at ALC NYC, acknowledging the challenges but highlighting its benefits, particularly in supporting students' well-being during sickness. The flexibility provided by a hybrid system aligns with Agile Learning's core principles of adaptability.
I know how [hybrid learning] looks and honestly it worked pretty well. I won't say there were no issues with it, I mean, I think there's obviously a very different way of connecting with someone when they're physically in a room with you versus just hearing their voice.
All this learning loss that happened during the pandemic, and I have to say I didn't have that experience with our students… They don't have that same sense of ‘I lost out on learning’ or ‘I wasn't learning during that time.
Potential of Digital Tools in Agile Learning
From self-directed learning to the potential integration of cutting-edge technologies like Neuralink, Ryan envisions a future where digital tools empower individuals to seamlessly access information. The key lies in embracing these tools to enhance self-directed learning without losing the value of human perspective.
There's faster and more efficient ways of learning these tools, which are beyond count now. To not encourage and show those to kids I think is foolish… as these new tools and ways of learning emerge, it's able to accept those and incorporate those and grow with them, rather than this sense of pushback, or that it's in opposition to a traditional way of learning.
The Future of Education:
In a profound conclusion, Ryan encourages educators to focus on the present needs of their communities rather than attempting to predict the future of education. The agility of Agile Learning lies in its ability to adapt and evolve based on the ever-changing needs of students and the community.
Agile Learning is an adaptable thing, a thing that's not static or not set in stone.
I think focusing on the present and what our present communities need, that should be our focus and everything else can emerge from there.
Ryan's journey with Agile Learning provides valuable insights into creating a dynamic, adaptive educational environment. As teachers, embracing the principles of Agile Learning can inspire a shift towards a more student-centered, flexible, and resilient approach to education, ensuring that learning remains a continuous, evolving journey.
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