creativity in education

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

Noah Apple Mayers:  LinkedIn | Facebook | Flickr

Teach Your Kids: Website | X | Instagram | Substack

Manisha: LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Facebook

• Join our premium community with expert support and advice
• Brooklyn Apple Academy: Website | Instagram | Email
• CottageClass: A Microschool Hub That Connects Families With Small-Scale Teachers — & Takes Care of the Business Side – The 74
• NYC Women in Tech Who Are Reimagining Our World – AlleyWatch
• Deschooling Society - Ivan Illich 
• Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships - Marshall B. Rosenberg PhD
• Brightworks

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Time Codes:

00:00:20 - Manisha introduces Noah Apple Mayers, a visionary in alternative education. 

00:01:20 - Noah describes Brooklyn Apple's year-round homeschooling system. The academy mimics a traditional school year, ensuring smooth transitions for students and parents alike.

00:03:00 - Noah unveils a groundbreaking class for teens focusing on NYC's complex infrastructure. Through interactions with city planners and officials, teens can get hands-on civic education.

00:07:27 - Emphasizing the necessity for a creative environment, Noah believes that playtime and messes aren't just tolerated but celebrated as vital to fostering imagination.

00:09:40 - Manisha highlights the growth trajectory of Brooklyn Apple Academy, focusing on the rich diversity of teachers they've onboarded. 

00:15:37 - Child's play is serious business for Noah, who argues for the developmental benefits of controlled risk-taking. In his view, pushing boundaries can yield unexpected life lessons.

00:19:27 - Manisha poses a crucial question, asking Noah about the long-term effects of this type of education on the Brooklyn Apple students, particularly as they transition into adulthood.  

00:22:49 - What does a typical day look like at the academy? 

00:32:00 - The rise of learning pods and micro schools during the pandemic is discussed. Manisha expresses her concerns about micro schools trying to recreate traditional school environments and the lack of parent involvement.

00:34:20 - "What skills are kids picking up?" Manisha's question lets Noah spotlight the complex web of learning that takes place at Brooklyn Apple, from conflict resolution to culinary artistry.

00:38:20 - Noah places equal importance on practical life skills, like cooking and managing finances.

00:43:25 - Field Trip Day isn't just a day out; it's an educational pilgrimage. Noah elucidates on how these outings add another layer of practical education.

00:49:40 - Manisha suggests that the best way to evaluate Brooklyn Apple's effectiveness is by visiting the academy. It's an open invitation, accompanied by an appeal for scholarship donations.

00:52:48 - As the episode wraps, Manisha turns to the audience, encouraging them to drop their questions and thoughts in the comment section. 


 

This podcast is made possible through a generous grant from the Vela Education Fund.

VELA Education Fund is catalyzing a vibrant alternative education ecosystem. VELA provides trust-based funding to entrepreneurs, fosters community-building and knowledge-sharing, and increases visibility through storytelling that promotes cultural awareness and acceptance of the out-of-system space. Today, VELA serves the largest community of out-of-system education entrepreneurs in the country, with over 2,000 community members. About half of VELA’s community members operate small learning environments, and the other half are ecosystem and community builders offering direct services and support across the out-of-system space. Learn more at velaedfund.org.

Get ready for thought-provoking conversations on 'The Truth in This Art' podcast, with your host, Rob Lee, and today’s guest: Derek Cooper, a multi-talented artist, educator, and actor who has made a significant impact at Port Discovery Children's Museum, igniting children's curiosity and fostering exploration. With a rich background in community theater from an early age, Derek's vibrant presence and enthusiasm infuse his engaging story times, music sessions, and theater programs at Port Discovery, delighting both kids and families. As the Senior Education Specialist, he meticulously crafts, trains, and evaluates a diverse range of activities and initiatives that encourage purposeful play and learning. Derek's unwavering dedication to expanding access to fine arts, particularly for children, shines through his work, driven by a desire to witness smiles and laughter. Rooted in a B.A. in Theatre from Lynchburg College, his passion for storytelling is evident as he harnesses its magical ability to emotionally connect and offer diverse perspectives, ultimately illuminating the world for young minds.

Within this segment, we dig into:

• The transformative power of purposeful play as Derek Cooper shares how it becomes a catalyst for inspiration and education, capturing the hearts and minds of children at the Port Discovery Children's Museum.
• Dive into a riveting conversation with Derek Cooper as he explores the universality of creativity, delving into how this indispensable life skill can be nurtured and harnessed across all walks of life and disciplines.
• Join us on an enlightening journey with Derek Cooper as he unveils how theater and storytelling serve as captivating portals to diverse perspectives, paving the way for empathy to flourish and connecting us all through shared narratives.

This is a must-listen episode as Derek shares his journey as an artist, educator, and actor. He discusses the mission of the museum, which is to use purposeful play to inspire and teach children. Derek emphasizes the importance of creativity in education and how it can be used to develop problem-solving and communication skills. He also talks about his experiences in community theater and the impact it has had on his life. Derek believes that creativity is a life skill that everyone can access and use to make things work with what they have.

Mentioned in this episode
Port Discovery

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This program is supported (in part) by a grant from the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation.

If you have a story about art, culture, or community, share it with us at rob@thetruthinthisart.com for a chance to be featured on 'The Truth In This Art' podcast.

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Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard.

Episode illustration by Alley Kid Art.

About "The Truth In This Art"

"The Truth In This Art," hosted by Rob Lee, is a podcast that explores the essence of creativity and its community impact, amplifying artists' voices and their profound stories.

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Michael Cohen, The Tech Rabbi, is a designer, educator and creativity instigator. His mission is to help educators around the world reveal their own creative abilities so they can empower students to solve interesting problems and become positive contributors to our global society. He is the author of the book Educated By Design, which outlines his principles for revealing and nurturing our innate creative courage and capacity. He is a national keynote speaker, advisor, and trainer. When he isn’t traveling the world sharing his message, he serves as the director of innovation for Yeshiva University of Los Angeles Boys School (YULA) where he manages and teaches at the Schlesinger STEAM and Entrepreneurship Center.