One year ago, we were ready: Educators in the Remake Learning Days regions nationwide had planned more than 1,000 in-person, hands-on learning events. Remake Learning Days Across America was going to effectively turn the nation into a pop-up theme park of learning by welcoming more than 50,000 children and families from pre-K through high school.
And the party very nearly started.
But then suddenly, public events were impossible. COVID-19 had even made school seem impossible, at least in the ways it had always been conducted.
The 12 months that followed have been a difficult and remarkable time of resilience and innovation. While juggling tremendous stress, parents have helped their children learn and partnered with teachers more fully than ever before. Schools have adapted and innovated, finding new ways to connect with students and families to keep the learning going no matter the challenges.
Through all this struggle and innovation, we’ve seen the role of digital learning change and grow. The early days of Zoom classes were awkward at best. But as the months have passed, students have developed stronger digital learning skills. Teachers have found new ways to engage kids online and they’ve used virtual connections to build real-world bonds with parents and students.
At the same time, there’s a new appreciation for the moments when learning can happen in person in COVID-safe ways. Building new skills and discovering new ideas together feels more meaningful than ever.
This all makes the return of Remake Learning Days Across America (RLDAA), happening April 22 through May 23, an even bigger, more joyful celebration — one that educators and families tell us they’re very much ready to enjoy.
Launched in Pittsburgh in 2016, this year RLDAA includes more than 700 in-person and virtual events hosted by a variety of organizations – schools, museums, libraries, community hubs, tech startups and more — in 17 regions of the country. These events are designed for parents and caregivers to learn alongside their kids and offer relevant and engaging educational experiences that can help students get excited about learning and even discover future career paths. The majority of events are free.
“After a year unlike any other, we’re excited to bring back the joy of Remake Learning Days Across America and make new ways of learning fun and accessible to more kids, enabling their families to experience remarkable learning that happens everywhere,” said Gregg Behr, executive director of The Grable Foundation and co-chair for Remake Learning.
Families can search events by six learning themes: arts, maker, outdoor learning, science, technology and youth voice. There are also professional development sessions planned for educators.
Perhaps the most exciting part is this: Because many of these 800+ events are virtual, families nationwide can join in events happening anywhere throughout the festival.
Search here to explore the wide range of events covering topics from learning about the science of flight, telling stories in a cartoon workshop, discovering nature at an outdoor scavenger hunt and STEM family festivals to exploring career paths of making virtual reality games at a tech company and understanding the science behind making tortillas.
For parents, these events are an opportunity to engage in learning alongside their children, something researchers at the Global Family Research Project (GFRP) have found has tangible benefits. Data gathered during previous RLDAA festivals has shown that while all children benefit from hands-on STEAM (science, tech, engineering, arts and maker) learning, those who learn alongside parents and other caregivers benefit even more.
These learners are more likely to succeed academically, more likely to take advanced STEAM courses and more likely to pursue STEAM-related careers.
For parents interested in encouraging this kind of learning and academic success, the award-winning Remake Learning Days festival offers a huge selection of fun and free opportunities to engage in hands-on learning as a family this spring.
“With parents and caregivers more engaged in children’s learning than ever before, our hope is that these festivals spark new passions for youth and inspire families to deepen their learning experiences together,” said Dorie Taylor, producer of RLDAA. “Speaking from personal experience, it’s my family’s favorite time of the year, as we connect to community learning resources together.”
Remake Learning Days Across America is led by Remake Learning, with partners PBS Kids, Digital Promise, Common Sense Media, Learning Heroes and Noggin. National sponsors include The Grable Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Schmidt Futures, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Ford Foundation.