Don’t Miss the AERO Conference, May 20-25 at LIU/Post University, near New York City!

The AERO conference is a unique event. There is no other one like it in the USA and only one other in the world, the IDEC, this year in New Zealand. It is a gathering of people who are involved with revolutionizing education, and who already have some of the answers. They demonstrate and work toward a learner-centered approach, one that empowers students, teachers and parents. It is based on the fact, confirmed by brain research, that children are natural learners and do not need to be forced to learn. In fact, if students are forced to learn it extinguishes their natural ability to learn, something that, unfortunately, happens in 95% of all schools.

One of this year’s keynote speakers is Sugata Mitra, winner of the TED Award and famous for the “Hole in the Wall Experiment” in which he put a computer in a wall in a slum area of India. Over the next few months the children not only taught themselves to use the computer, but also taught themselves English!

There will be five documentaries featured, some premiering, some with the filmmakers presenting! For example, Amy Valens, who made “Good Morning Mission Hill,” about the extraordinary public school Debbie Meier started, will present her film, and Debbie Meier will join her! Jeremy Stuart, who made the critically acclaimed “Class Dismissed,” which followed an unschooling family for two years, will come from California to present his documentary!to use the computer, but also taught themselves English!