The Virtual Mayor

Fearless Mastery uses a variety of hands-on and group activities to support success for every learner, regardless of age or ability, including adults (it's never too late!) The practice is powerful because it first shows you how smart you already are and then fills any gaps in foundation with ease. Those learning English as a second or foreign language will progress faster with a holistic foundation in one of the craziest languages on the planet!

Be amazed as Michael Merzenich talks about our marvellous brains. (20 mins.)

Fearless Mastery targets and fills foundational gaps that are often overlooked or misunderstood. Strong literacy skills require mastery of focus and attention, the alphabet, punctuation, dictionaries, handwriting, decoding and comprehension. Fearless Mastery covers all of these topics and more.

Fearless Mastery makes it safe for participants to ask “Why?” and “How?” every step of the way. As we practice learning warm-up techniques for focusing, learning and recalling, everyone feels safe.This empowers them to freely acknowledge confusion and confidently ask questions. Tuning into whether or not something makes sense or feels right becomes a regular state of being. Mistakes are then celebrated as learning opportunities. It is in this space of safety that we cultivate curiosity and confidence, and unleash divergent thinking!

Watch how Diane Laufenberg loves using mistakes for learning. (20 mins.)

Sir Ken Robinson talks about a new paradigm for education and divergent thinking. (12 mins.)

Fearless Mastery demonstrates ways to integrate arts and literacy into any subject with ease. In the First Five Days and REAlity Check Workshops, participants experience the interconnectedness of all life and learn how to apply this understanding to every aspect of their education.

Fearless Mastery provides an architecture of participation in two ways:

• Participants work as much as possible with groups or partners, supporting success for all; and

• Contributions to expand the activities, both in the immediate classroom and in the larger online community, are regularly invited.

The main underlying message is one of mutual respect, value and responsibility, both locally and globally.

Watch Chris Anderson's talk about crowd-accelerated innovation in the 21st century.

We are all naturally creative, that is, we can all produce original ideas of value. Every Fearless Mastery module is designed to facilitate divergent thinking as an essential capacity for creativity . Learners develop their own sense of mastery, or knowing with certainty, within aesthetic activities that integrate music, dance, rhythm, and sculpting into literacy. We also use our imagination and logic to fully comprehend what we read, and see "change” as a natural and desirable state. The result? Learners who can see many possible interpretations of, and answers to questions, and can create life paths that are creative and satisfying.

Laugh while Sir Ken Robinson talks about creativity and schools (20 mins.) and a new educational paradigm (12 mins.)

Fearless Mastery combines face-to-face hands-on activities with online community exchanges. Learners become equally adept at writing with pen and paper and using their hands to sculpt as they are at blogging or vlogging on specially-designed social networking sites.

WHAT MAKES FEARLESS MASTERY UNIQUE?

• critical thinking

• creative problem solving

• communication, including technical literacy

• collaboration

• cross-cultural relationship building

Learn more about 21^st century skills .

Problem: Today's learners are not responding to traditional teaching methods. Solution: Offer participants an engaging online delivery method, an opportunity to strut their stuff and the autonomy we all crave to feel important. It’s all about honouring diversity and serving the needs of every individual. If we want real rather than rote learning we have to do it right!

Watch how Khan Academy is turning education on its head. (20 mins.)

Learners play with relaxation techniques and each other as they take personal responsibility for their learning. Focus and balance come easily as learners breathe, visualize, use their bodies and laugh with others. Feedback is always encouraged. Strong literacy skills are developed through creative uses of modeling clay, teamwork, music, imagination, paper and pencil, and specially developed materials.

The surprising, creative use of cost-friendly, reusable materials makes it fun and easy to complete the Fearless Mastery modules. We are also currently seeking local resources to produce environmentally friendly, fair-trade materials in the parts of the world where Fearless Mastery is being practiced.