These organizations are re-thinking the experience of education from high school through continuing education. To recommend an organization for this list, please use this form.
A few years ago, I had the privilege of joining a learning community called Summit Oxford. I found the community quite by accident when I was impressed by several of the members who seemed to be on top of the learning game at Oxford University. I asked to join them for one of their gatherings and was welcomed into the group.
The learning community consisted of 12 students in a variety of disciplines who lived together, shared meals together, took trips together, and met for discussions on particular topics. In addition to personal studies based on learning contracts with the university, we all had to complete weekly readings and meet for discussions that could last from 1-8 hours. The longer discussions took place over break and included several books we would explore. The community had a central leader who had designed a curriculum on critical thinking within Christianity and used a constructivist model of learning to help each student apply the framework to his or her particular field of study.
For the first couple of weeks, relationships were based around the common material, but after spending time together, the common material was heavily influenced by relationships. Each individual had something valuable to add from his or her own experience and interests. Discussions began taking place outside of the classroom and every activity seemed to take on an increased weight. Instead of reading the books for my own benefit, I began to do so for the sake of those I would discuss them with. I was free to begin to think on my own and come up with crazy ideas because I was comfortable in my learning community.
To this day, my experience with the Summit Oxford learning community remains the highlight of my academic career and is something I wish for on a regular basis. I maintain relationships with these learners from my past and will be meeting with other alumni from later years this weekend. Anyone who has been through the program has an instant connection with all the others because we know what it’s like to be part of a learning community and have continued that experience into our every-day lives.
Because it worked so well, I would definitely be attracted to any similar learning community.
Bright Global Futures is a young company dedicated to creating resources and relationships for international students to maximize their university experience in the United States. Using Kolb’s model of experiential learning, they are creating a platform to crowd-source an educational experience that is based on developing all aspects of the individual for academic, career, and life success. Visit www.brightglobalfutures.com
CreatEd is one of those rare organizations whose unique value proposition helped to inspire my research into Human-Centered Learning. They are the first organization to be formally researched to discover the impact of learning fluency on student success and could rightly be called pioneers in this area. They have developed a unique blend of liberal arts education with an incubator program to encourage entrepreneurs who achieve success not only in business, but in life. As they like to say,
The future of culture largely depends on the worldview of the next generation of entrepreneurs. -Dave Blanchard
Listen Love Lead Companies
Do you have what it takes to change the world?
Henry Ford once said, “If you think you can, or you think you can’t, you are right!”
Listen Love Lead Companies exist to help you develop the mindset of a leader – and equip you with the resources you need to act on this.
Also Considering…
These organizations are presently under consideration for inclusion in the register of Human Centered Learning organizations. Please note, a more formal evaluation tool is under development. If you want to learn more, please visit “Re-Discover Human Centered Learning” or send a message here.
University of St Mark and St John – http://www.marjon.ac.uk/
Sudbury Valley Schools
Venture capital high Minneapolis
Reggio schools in Italy
Grangeton
A+ schools Oklahoma
Heroic Life Discipleship – https://heroiclifediscipleship.com/about-us/
Human-Centered Learning 
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