Build a positive rebellion: Resources

An annotated list of resources aligned to each chapter in Build a positive rebellion: Create new education futures by John W. Moravec.

Chapter 1: Building futures we cannot yet imagine

These sources stretch imagination beyond current school models and offer concrete futures methods for designing new possibilities.

  1. IFTF: Learning Is Earning - A futures map that blurs the line between learning and work. It is a vivid way to see how education could be re-architected.
  2. School of International Futures (SOIF) - A practical doorway into futures thinking with tools you can actually use. Helpful if you want to move from vision to action.
  3. Foresight Institute - A research organization focused on long-term futures. It adds a deep-tech and societal lens to education futures.
  4. Global Education Futures - System-level exploration of new learning ecosystems. Their reports read like field guides for transformation.
  5. ASU Global Futures Education Alliance - A university-community alliance that treats futures work as public work. Great for seeing how higher education can co-create change locally.
  6. HundrED - A global curator of education innovations with real-world case studies. It is a fast way to see what is already possible.
  7. MIT Open Learning - MIT's hub for experimenting with open, digital, and research-based learning. A credible window into how a major institution builds for the future.
  8. The Long Now Foundation - A 10,000-year mindset for long-term thinking. Useful for grounding education futures in responsibility and time depth.
  9. Buckminster Fuller Institute - A creativity-and-systems lens on designing for human and planetary futures. Inspires big, integrative thinking.
  10. The Millennium Project - A global foresight network with annual State of the Future work and tools. Useful for mapping big questions to long-range signals.
  11. Future of Life Institute - A research and advocacy organization focused on long-term human futures. It adds serious ethical weight to any education-futures conversation.
  12. Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies - A non-profit futures institute with education and futures literacy work. It offers methods you can apply to school redesign.
  13. Center for Curriculum Redesign - A future-ready curriculum framework beyond content coverage. It is practical for rethinking what matters most.
  14. Institute for the Future of Learning - A small but focused nonprofit on human-centered transformation. Good for people who want tools, not hype.
  15. UN Futures Lab: Global Foresight Directory - A directory of foresight actors around the world. It helps you find partners outside the usual circles.

Chapter 2: 1.0 schools cannot teach 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 ... kids

These resources show how learning systems are being rebuilt for complexity, adaptability, and new roles for learners.

  1. Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC) - A network of schools redesigning learning around real competencies. Its case studies feel practical, not theoretical.
  2. XQ Institute - Funds and showcases radically redesigned high schools. Great for seeing bold, system-level experiments.
  3. Digital Promise - Research-to-practice innovation at scale. It is a bridge between evidence and real-world school change.
  4. EdTech Hub - A global evidence center for education technology. It helps you separate hype from what actually works.
  5. World Futures Studies Federation - A global community for futures scholarship and practice. It provides perspectives and networks beyond any one country.
  6. Learning Engineering Virtual Institute (LEVI) - Research teams building scalable learning technologies. It reflects a shift from content delivery to learning engineering.
  7. U.S. Office of Educational Technology - Federal strategy and guidance on educational technology. Good for understanding how system modernization is being framed.
  8. Brookings Center for Universal Education - Global research on system redesign and future-ready learning. A strong policy-level lens.
  9. Open Doors (IIE) - Data on global student mobility and cross-border learning. It shows how rigid systems clash with mobile learners.
  10. MERLOT - A curated collection of open learning materials and communities. It is a concrete way to unbundle old curriculum models.
  11. Transcend - Design-based school transformation work. They translate lofty goals into practical redesign processes.
  12. NewSchools Venture Fund - A funder and network supporting new school models. It is a pipeline for bold school experiments.
  13. Education Reimagined - A learner-centered framework for building new systems. Useful for visioning beyond the factory model.
  14. Getting Smart - A long-running platform tracking learning innovation. It offers practical coverage of what is emerging right now.
  15. KnowledgeWorks - Foresight and design work focused on education innovation. It offers practical frameworks for system change.

Chapter 3: Kids are people, too

These sources center youth voice and rights, helping educators design systems that treat students as full humans and co-creators.

  1. Child Rights International Network (CRIN) - A global network focused on children's rights and agency. It brings legal clarity to what many schools ignore.
  2. Child Rights Connect - A coalition strengthening child-rights implementation. Useful for turning rights language into practice.
  3. Save the Children: Education - Programs that link learning with protection and dignity. It provides field-tested models for child-centered education.
  4. UN OHCHR: Convention on the Rights of the Child - The authoritative CRC text in a stable public source. It anchors the ethical case for student agency.
  5. SoundOut - An organization dedicated to student voice and meaningful participation. It provides tools and case studies for youth governance.
  6. Youth Participation Toolkit (SALTO) - A practical toolkit for involving young people in real decisions. It is structured, clear, and action-oriented.
  7. European Youth Forum - A major youth-led network working on participation and rights. It shows how young people influence policy at scale.
  8. Young Invincibles - Policy and research that elevate young adult voices. It connects education to work, health, and justice.
  9. National Youth Rights Association - Advocacy against adultism in law and policy. It is a sharp reminder that rights are not optional.
  10. Search Institute - Research and tools on youth development and relationships. A strong evidence base for dignity-centered practice.
  11. UNICEF: Convention on the Rights of the Child - A clear explainer of children's rights and why they matter. Useful for grounding equity in rights language.
  12. Children's Defense Fund - A civil rights organization for children. It connects education to broader justice and welfare issues.
  13. Right To Play - A global organization using play to empower youth. It adds a developmental and human lens to learning design.
  14. ChildStats.gov - Federal indicators on child and youth wellbeing. It provides a data backbone for youth policy and practice.
  15. Harvard Center on the Developing Child - Research on how environments shape development. It provides a strong evidence base for rights-centered decisions.

Chapter 4: Schools must be havens of uncommon safety and extraordinary respect

These sources focus on trauma-informed, restorative, and belonging-centered practices that build safe learning cultures.

  1. National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) - The go-to source for trauma-informed practice in schools. It makes safety a core learning condition.
  2. International Institute for Restorative Practices - A research-and-training hub for restorative justice. It provides real alternatives to punitive discipline.
  3. Restorative Justice Online - A large, accessible library of restorative resources. Good for educators ready to shift culture.
  4. CASEL - Evidence-based SEL frameworks and tools. It links respect, safety, and learning outcomes.
  5. Sandy Hook Promise - Prevention-focused school safety with an emphasis on connection. It is a counterweight to surveillance-heavy approaches.
  6. StopBullying.gov - Federal guidance on bullying prevention and response. It offers clear, practical resources for schools.
  7. U.S. Department of Education: Emergency Planning - Guidance for school safety and preparedness. It supports proactive culture and safety planning.
  8. NIJ: School Violence Prevention - Evidence on what reduces school violence. It keeps safety conversations grounded in research.
  9. NASP: School Climate and Safety - Practitioner resources from school psychologists. It brings a mental-health lens to safety.
  10. Reading Rockets: School Climate - Practical strategies for building positive climate. It links culture to day-to-day teaching practices.
  11. The Trevor Project: Resources - Evidence-based resources for supporting LGBTQ youth. It adds a crucial equity and wellbeing lens.
  12. National School Climate Center - Tools and frameworks for improving school climate. A practical entry point for whole-school work.
  13. IIRP: Restorative Resources - Practical guides and research summaries on restorative practices. It makes restorative work easier to implement.
  14. Learning for Justice - Classroom resources that center belonging and respect. Especially useful for culture-building lessons.
  15. American Academy of Pediatrics: School Health - Guidance on health and safety in school settings. It frames safety as part of whole-child wellbeing.

Chapter 5: Authentic learning comes from freedom, not from being pushed into a predetermined path

These resources show real models where learner freedom is the starting point, not a reward.

  1. Open Yale Courses: About - Free, open access to Yale courses. It models self-directed, high-quality learning without gatekeeping.
  2. Open Yale Courses: Courses - A course catalog designed for independent learners. It makes freedom visible through choice.
  3. Harvard Extension School - Flexible, part-time pathways with academic rigor. It shows how universities can design for adult agency.
  4. Harvard Extension: Course Catalog - A broad catalog built for learners with different timelines. It demonstrates learning without lockstep pacing.
  5. Purdue EPICS - Service-learning design projects with real community partners. It makes authentic learning visible and public.
  6. Open Yale Courses: Program Overview - Details on the OYC mission and approach. It grounds open learning in real academic practice.
  7. Open Yale Courses: Course List - A concrete course list for independent learners. It makes choice and agency explicit.
  8. Tufts OpenCourseWare - Open course materials from a major university. It is a strong example of learning without enrollment barriers.
  9. Johns Hopkins OpenCourseWare - Public health course materials open to anyone. It shows how professional knowledge can be shared freely.
  10. Open Yale Courses: Fundamentals of Physics - A full course built for independent learners. It shows how deep learning can happen without enrollment.
  11. Harvard Extension: Programs - Degree and certificate options designed for working learners. It supports agency over timing and pace.
  12. Harvard Extension: Degree Programs - Degree options designed for flexible entry and pacing. It emphasizes access and learner control.
  13. Tufts OCW: Course List - A navigable list of open courses. It turns curiosity into a concrete plan.
  14. JHSPH OCW: Courses - Open public health courses for independent learners. It demonstrates open expertise in action.
  15. JHSPH OCW: Course Content - Direct access to open course materials. It makes self-directed study immediately possible.

Chapter 6: Learning together, teaching together

These resources focus on collaborative learning structures and peer-to-peer knowledge creation.

  1. Peer Instruction (Eric Mazur) - A classic model that turns students into co-teachers. It is simple, powerful, and proven.
  2. Iowa State CELT: Cooperative Learning - Practical guidance for cooperative learning structures. It is a clear, research-informed primer.
  3. Vanderbilt CFT: Teaching Through Group Work - Practical guidance for cooperative learning structures. It is a clear, research-informed primer.
  4. Team-Based Learning Collaborative - A global community advancing team-based learning. Great for designing authentic group work.
  5. POGIL - A structured, inquiry-based approach using team roles. It makes collaboration a disciplined practice.
  6. University of Waterloo: Collaborative Learning - A practical overview with classroom structures and examples. It bridges research and everyday practice.
  7. Indiana University: Collaborative Learning - A clear overview of collaborative learning with practical strategies. It makes group work intentional.
  8. NC State DELTA: Collaborative Learning - A concise guide to collaborative learning design. It helps instructors structure peer learning effectively.
  9. ASCD: Teaching Students to Collaborate - Practical strategies for building collaboration. Good for immediate classroom use.
  10. AERA - The main U.S. research association for education. It is a gateway to scholarship on collaborative learning.
  11. WWC: Reciprocal Teaching - An evidence report on reciprocal teaching. It shows how peer learning scales in literacy.
  12. IAPC (Montclair State) - The Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children. It provides tools for dialogue and shared inquiry.
  13. American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) - A hub for collaborative learning in STEM. Useful for cross-disciplinary collaboration design.
  14. CMU Eberly Center: Collaborative Learning - A practical guide to structuring collaboration with purpose. It is concise and classroom-ready.
  15. LibreTexts - A massive open textbook and learning resource library. It reframes teaching as shared knowledge production.

Chapter 7: No more boxes: Learning in ecosystems

These resources show how learning ecosystems grow beyond school walls and into community, culture, and networks.

  1. LPI: Community Schools - Research and guidance on community school models. A policy lens on ecosystem-based learning.
  2. RAND: After-School Programs - Research and analysis on out-of-school learning. It broadens the idea of where learning happens.
  3. Afterschool Alliance - Advocacy and research on afterschool learning. It highlights how learning ecosystems grow after the bell.
  4. Smithsonian Learning Lab - Open resources from museums and archives. It shows how cultural institutions power learning ecosystems.
  5. Community Schools Coalition - A national hub for community school models. It shows how ecosystems knit services, learning, and community together.
  6. National Guild for Community Arts Education - A network for arts-based community learning. It shows how culture becomes education infrastructure.
  7. Learning and Work Institute - Research and policy on lifelong learning systems. It links ecosystems to labor and community futures.
  8. Urban Libraries Council - A network advancing libraries as community learning anchors. It shows how public institutions support ecosystem learning.
  9. Connected Learning Report (MacArthur Foundation) - A foundational report on learning across settings. It frames ecosystems as networks of opportunity.
  10. GCFGlobal - Free learning resources used by libraries and community programs. It supports self-directed learning in ecosystems.
  11. NSF: STEM Learning - Federal support for STEM learning research and initiatives. It anchors ecosystem learning in evidence.
  12. NGA Center for Best Practices: Education - State-level education leadership and policy resources. It links ecosystems to governance and policy levers.
  13. National Park Service: Education - Place-based learning resources across public lands. It expands the ecosystem through place and ecology.
  14. National Farm to School Network - Place-based learning through food and community. It shows how ecosystems grow through local partnerships.
  15. U.S. Conference of Mayors: Education - City leader perspectives on education priorities. It shows how local policy shapes learning ecosystems.

Chapter 8: Learning at the intersection of agency and self-efficacy

These resources explore how confidence, autonomy, and culture combine to create real learner agency.

  1. ERIC: Self-Determination Theory (PDF) - A research report connecting autonomy, competence, and relatedness. It is a foundation for agency design.
  2. IRIS Center: Self-Efficacy - A short learning module on self-efficacy. It makes the concept actionable for educators.
  3. OYC: Introduction to Psychology - A full course that helps learners understand motivation and behavior. It supports agency through self-knowledge.
  4. OYC: Death - A philosophy course that sharpens reflection and meaning-making. It strengthens agency through deep inquiry.
  5. OYC: Game Theory - A course on strategic thinking and decision-making. It offers tools for agency in complex systems.
  6. OYC: Foundations of Modern Social Thought - A sociology course about systems and power. It helps learners see how agency operates within structures.
  7. OYC: The Moral Foundations of Politics - A course exploring justice and civic responsibility. It connects agency to public life.
  8. OYC: The Early Middle Ages - A history course that builds critical perspective. It supports agency through historical understanding.
  9. OYC: Modern Poetry - A literature course centered on voice and interpretation. It encourages learners to claim their own meaning.
  10. OYC: Principles of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior - A science course that invites systems thinking. It frames agency in ecological context.
  11. OYC: Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics - A course that embraces uncertainty and inquiry. It models agency in scientific thinking.
  12. OYC: Philosophy of Language - A course about how language shapes thought. It helps learners understand how agency is mediated by discourse.
  13. OYC: Introduction to the History of Art - A course on visual culture and interpretation. It expands agency through aesthetic literacy.
  14. OYC: Listening to Music - A course that builds attention and interpretation. It shows agency through disciplined listening.
  15. OYC: Dynamics of Evolutionary Processes - A course that connects math with real-world systems. It highlights agency within complex dynamics.

Chapter 9: Teachers at the crossroads

These resources focus on teacher agency, leadership, professional learning, and new pathways into the profession.

  1. National Board for Professional Teaching Standards - The gold standard for accomplished teaching. It frames teaching as a profession with shared expertise.
  2. Teach Plus - Develops teacher leaders who shape policy and practice. A strong example of educators influencing systems.
  3. Teacher Leadership Network - A grassroots community for teachers supporting teachers. It centers lived experience and peer learning.
  4. Mira Education - Formerly CTQ, focused on collective leadership and system change. It treats teachers as co-designers.
  5. Learning Forward - The leading organization on professional learning. It offers frameworks for teacher growth at scale.
  6. New Teacher Center - A national leader in mentoring and induction. It strengthens early-career teachers and retention.
  7. National Center for Teacher Residencies - A hub for residency-based teacher preparation. It shows how practice-rich pathways rebuild the profession.
  8. PLC Associates - Research-based tools for professional learning communities. It helps schools build teacher-led improvement.
  9. National Writing Project - A teacher-to-teacher professional network. It models inquiry, collaboration, and local leadership.
  10. Digital Promise - Micro-credentials and innovation networks for educators. It shows new pathways for teacher expertise.
  11. National Education Association (NEA) - The largest educator organization in the U.S. It anchors teacher voice in policy and labor debates.
  12. American Federation of Teachers (AFT) - A union of education professionals with strong PD resources. It links working conditions to learning conditions.
  13. Education International - A global federation of teacher unions. It connects teacher agency to worldwide education policy.
  14. Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching - A historic driver of improvement science in education. It pushes schools to rethink professional practice.
  15. National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) - A subject-specific professional home for educators. It shows how teachers grow through disciplinary communities.
  16. Education Week: Teaching & Learning - Reporting on the evolving role of teachers. Useful for tracking shifts in policy, practice, and identity.

Chapter 10: Don't value what we measure; measure what we value

These sources challenge test-centric measurement and offer richer ways to document learning.

  1. CRESST (UCLA) - A leading center for assessment and evaluation research. It supports more meaningful measurement.
  2. Wisconsin Center for Education Research - Research on learning and assessment systems. It provides evidence for alternative measurement.
  3. NCIEA - A national center focused on improving educational assessment. It helps align measurement with learning values.
  4. ETS Research - Research on assessment, measurement, and learning. It adds depth to measurement debates.
  5. CCSSO - Policy and standards leadership across states. It shows how measurement is shaped at the system level.
  6. Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing - The field's gold standard for validity and reliability. It keeps measurement honest.
  7. The Condition of Education - Annual indicators on the U.S. education system. It is a reliable reference for measurement context.
  8. National Assessment Governing Board - The body that sets NAEP policy and frameworks. Useful for understanding large-scale measurement debates.
  9. Common Core State Standards - A standards framework that still shapes assessment design. It shows the legacy you are trying to move beyond.
  10. OECD PISA - An international benchmark for learning outcomes. It shows how measurement shapes policy.
  11. NCES Surveys - A catalog of major education surveys and data collections. It helps connect assessment to outcomes.
  12. U.S. ED: Data Collection - Federal data collection resources for education. It supports evidence-based assessment work.
  13. Data Quality Campaign - Advocacy and guidance for better education data. It links measurement to decision quality.
  14. ERIC - The main education research database. It supports evidence-based assessment design.
  15. U.S. ED: Research and Statistics - A gateway to federal education research and data. Useful for grounding assessment work.

Chapter 11: Bad use of technology is a symptom, not the problem

These sources focus on power, ethics, and design choices behind edtech, not just tools.

  1. Data & Society - Research on how technology reshapes social systems. It helps educators see the structural issues behind bad tech use.
  2. Electronic Frontier Foundation: Education - Advocacy on privacy, surveillance, and student rights. A sharp lens on the risks of uncritical tech adoption.
  3. Common Sense Education - Practical tools for evaluating and teaching with technology. Useful for everyday classroom decisions.
  4. ISTE Standards - A widely used framework for purposeful tech use. It keeps learning goals at the center.
  5. Center for Humane Technology - A movement focused on ethical design. It challenges the incentives behind harmful tools.
  6. Mozilla Foundation: What We Fund - Support for open, human-centered internet projects. Great for seeing alternatives to commercial edtech.
  7. NIST AI Risk Management Framework - A concrete framework for responsible AI use. It helps schools make principled tech decisions.
  8. Pew Research: Internet and Technology - Ongoing research on how technology affects society. It provides context beyond education hype.
  9. Center for AI and Digital Policy: Education Safety - Research and policy guidance on AI risk in education. Good for responsible adoption.
  10. FTC: Privacy and Security - Practical guidance on privacy and data protection. It helps schools demand safer technology.
  11. Algorithmic Justice League - Advocacy against bias in automated systems. Essential for understanding AI harms in education.
  12. AI Now Institute - Research on the social impacts of AI. It brings rigorous critique to education technology conversations.
  13. Center for Democracy & Technology - Policy work on digital rights and accountability. Useful for schools navigating tech policy.
  14. Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) - Deep expertise on privacy and surveillance. A strong resource for protecting student data.
  15. White House: AI Bill of Rights - A rights-based framework for AI. It offers a clear ethical floor for education technology.

Chapter 12: Invisible learning is an organic process: Breathing, taking root, and becoming one's self

These sources highlight learning that grows in informal spaces, across networks, and through curiosity.

  1. Connected Learning: Agenda for Research and Design - A foundational report on connected learning. It makes the case for learning across settings.
  2. Edutopia: Connected Learning (Topic) - Classroom stories and strategies tied to connected learning. It bridges research and practice.
  3. Hive Learning Networks - City-based networks for youth learning in informal spaces. It is a strong ecosystem example.
  4. Exploratorium: Education - Museum-based inquiry learning. It models how curiosity becomes knowledge.
  5. NISE Network - A national network for informal STEM learning. It offers projects that blend curiosity, play, and science.
  6. Edutopia: Connected Learning - A practical overview of connected learning. It supports organic, invisible learning pathways.
  7. MIT OpenCourseWare - Free, high-quality course materials. Great for learners carving their own path.
  8. Class Central - A global index of online courses. Useful for discovering informal learning pathways.
  9. Saylor Academy - Free online courses for self-directed learners. It emphasizes flexibility and access.
  10. Khan Academy Support - Practical guidance for using Khan tools. It helps integrate self-paced learning into classrooms.
  11. Library of Congress: Education - Primary sources and learning resources for educators. It is a strong example of informal learning at scale.
  12. Badgr - A digital badge platform for recognizing learning beyond school. It is a practical tool for invisible learning.
  13. Zooniverse - A massive citizen-science platform. It shows how learning can emerge through participation.
  14. SciStarter - A portal for citizen science projects. It turns everyday curiosity into learning.
  15. Open Humans - A platform for personal data research and learning. It supports self-directed inquiry and reflection.

Chapter 13: We cannot manage knowledge

These sources emphasize complexity, sensemaking, and knowledge as a living, shared process.

  1. Cynefin Framework - A foundational model for sensemaking in complex systems. It is a practical antidote to overconfident management.
  2. Plexus Institute - A community focused on systems and complexity. It provides tools for navigating uncertainty.
  3. Santa Fe Institute - A leading center for complexity science. It explains why knowledge resists control.
  4. Complexity Explorer - Free courses on complexity science. A great way to learn the language of complex systems.
  5. Systems Thinking - A resource hub for systems thinking and transformation. It helps educators work with patterns and relationships.
  6. Nesta Foresight - A public-interest approach to futures work. It treats knowledge as evolving and contested.
  7. Edge - A forum for big questions in science and culture. It models knowledge as dialogue rather than control.
  8. Working Out Loud - A practice for making learning visible in networks. It reframes knowledge as shared work.
  9. KM4Dev - A global community of practice on knowledge sharing. It highlights the limits of formal knowledge systems.
  10. Open Knowledge Maps - A tool for visualizing research landscapes. It shows how knowledge is navigated, not managed.
  11. Liberating Structures - Facilitation patterns that unlock collective intelligence. It helps groups learn in real time.
  12. Kumu - A mapping tool for complex systems. It makes invisible relationships visible.
  13. Sensemaker by Cognitive Edge - A platform for narrative-based sensemaking. It captures the messiness of real knowledge.
  14. Community Commons - Community data and resources for shared learning. It centers participation over control.
  15. CitizenScience.gov - A U.S. government portal for citizen science. It reinforces the idea that knowledge is participatory.

Chapter 14: Toward creative futures, beyond standardization

These sources emphasize creativity, design, and experimentation as the core of education, not an elective.

  1. ArtsEdSearch - Research on arts education outcomes. It offers evidence for creativity-focused learning design.
  2. UN International Day of Creativity and Innovation - A global anchor for creativity-focused initiatives. It helps educators connect learning to real-world creative practice.
  3. Adobe Education Exchange - A community for creative educators with ready-to-use tools. It treats creativity as a learnable skill.
  4. Creative Pedagogies (NCSU) - Research-based resources for creative teaching. Concrete and grounded.
  5. World Bank: Education - Research and financing for education systems. It offers evidence for creativity and skill development.
  6. Inside Higher Ed - Reporting on education innovation and policy. It shows how creativity and change play out in practice.
  7. K12 Blueprint - Stories of creative, adaptive education during disruption. A practical archive of what innovation looks like under pressure.
  8. Creative Education Foundation - A long-running hub for creative problem solving. It brings creative thinking tools into education design.
  9. NAIS: Ideas and Resources - Independent school innovation resources. Good for exploring non-standardized models.
  10. Design Week - A global publication on design innovation. It brings outside inspiration into education.
  11. High Tech High - A school network built around deeper learning and projects. A living example of creativity at scale.
  12. IDEO Design Kit - Practical tools for human-centered design. Useful for co-creating new learning experiences.
  13. OpenIDEO - A platform for open innovation challenges. It models collaborative creativity in action.
  14. Fab Labs Communities - A global network of creative fabrication spaces. It shows how creativity thrives in hands-on environments.
  15. Creative Learning Initiative - Focused on building creative learning ecosystems. Useful for local and regional change efforts.

Chapter 15: Learning at the edge of networks

These sources explore how learning happens through networks, open systems, and peer-to-peer knowledge flows.

  1. Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age - The classic article that framed learning as networked knowledge flow. Foundational reading.
  2. Networked Learning Conference - A global research community focused on learning in networks. It surfaces new work and experiments.
  3. Communities of Practice - The core theory for learning in networks of practice. It explains why knowledge is social.
  4. Community of Inquiry Framework - A model for online and networked learning. Helpful for designing meaningful online communities.
  5. P2PU - A global community for peer-to-peer learning. It shows how learning can be run by learners.
  6. Hypothes.is - Social annotation that turns reading into dialogue. It makes networked learning visible on the page.
  7. edX - A major open online learning platform. It shows how networks can scale access.
  8. Open edX - The open-source platform behind edX. It lets communities build their own learning networks.
  9. Open Education Global - An international network for open education. It connects open practice to networked learning.
  10. Schoolhouse.world - A peer-learning platform for free tutoring. A simple example of networked learning in action.
  11. GitHub Education - Tools and programs that use open source as a learning network. Great for project-based, real-world collaboration.
  12. Open Science Framework (OSF) - A platform for open, collaborative research. It models knowledge-building as a networked process.
  13. Zotero - Open-source research management and sharing. It supports knowledge work in networks.
  14. Internet Archive - A vast open library for shared knowledge. It makes networked learning possible at scale.
  15. OER Commons - Open resources that can be remixed and shared. A practical example of networked knowledge creation.

Chapter 16: Degrees are obsolete by design ... when knowledge has the shelf life of a banana

These resources show how credentials, skills, and learning signals are being rebuilt outside traditional degrees.

  1. Credential Engine - A national infrastructure for transparent credential data. It makes alternative credentials legible.
  2. 1EdTech Open Badges Standard - The technical standard for portable micro-credentials. It enables evidence beyond transcripts.
  3. Open Badges - The broader open badges ecosystem. It is useful for understanding credential design and adoption.
  4. European Qualifications Framework - A system for comparing learning outcomes across countries. A model for outcome-based recognition.
  5. Microsoft Learn Certifications - Industry-recognized credentials tied to job skills. A clear example of employer-validated pathways.
  6. Google Career Certificates - A major skills-based hiring pathway. It shows how degrees can be de-centered.
  7. IBM SkillsBuild Credentials - A corporate credentialing ecosystem. It models how employers build their own learning pathways.
  8. edX Credentials - MicroMasters and professional programs as degree alternatives. It reflects the unbundling of higher education.
  9. Alison - A large catalog of free courses and certificates. It lowers the barrier to credentials.
  10. Workcred - A credentialing initiative focused on workforce alignment. It helps translate learning into labor market signals.
  11. CompTIA Certifications - Industry-recognized IT certifications. A practical example of skills-first hiring signals.
  12. AWS Training and Certification - Cloud credentials that are globally recognized. It shows how technical skills can bypass degrees.
  13. Udacity Nanodegree Programs - Project-based credentials tied to job-ready skills. It represents a new type of credential design.
  14. Guild Education - Employer-supported education pathways. It links learning directly to workforce mobility.
  15. SkillsFuture Singapore - A national skills credentialing ecosystem. It shows how governments can reframe lifelong learning.

Chapter 17: Genuine equity demands creative schools

These sources ground equity in data, lived experience, and design, pushing beyond rhetoric into real change.

  1. The Education Trust - Policy and advocacy for equity in education. It provides research and tools for closing opportunity gaps.
  2. UCLA Civil Rights Project - Research on segregation, access, and justice. It grounds equity work in hard data.
  3. Schott Foundation for Public Education - Advocacy and research focused on racial equity. It connects policy, activism, and school practice.
  4. Learning Policy Institute: Equity - Research on how policy affects equitable outcomes. Useful for system-level reform.
  5. NAPE - Tools for equity in STEM and career pathways. It is practical for redesigning programs.
  6. AIR: Center on Educational Equity - Research and technical assistance on equity strategies. It offers actionable guidance.
  7. United Way: Education - Community-based programs targeting opportunity gaps. It shows equity work across sectors.
  8. Understood.org - Resources for learners with differences and disabilities. A strong inclusion lens for creative schools.
  9. Harvard PEPG: Equity and Opportunity - Research and policy ideas for equitable education. It connects analysis with reform strategy.
  10. National Equity Project - Tools and learning for equity-centered leadership. It focuses on practice, not just policy.
  11. Annenberg Institute at Brown - Research on education systems and inequity. It offers deep analysis with practical implications.
  12. Race Forward - Tools and analysis for racial justice. It adds a strong, practice-oriented equity lens.
  13. Racial Equity Tools - Frameworks and tools for equity work. Useful for guiding school redesign.
  14. NCCRESt - National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems. It offers evidence-based equity strategies.
  15. Equal Opportunity Schools - Work focused on access to advanced coursework. It provides practical strategies for opportunity expansion.

Chapter 18: Educating for a shared planet

These resources connect education to climate, ecology, and shared responsibility for our common home.

  1. Project Drawdown - A science-based map of climate solutions. It gives educators concrete, teachable actions.
  2. Climate Interactive - Systems simulations for climate and policy learning. Great for understanding complex planetary dynamics.
  3. Global Footprint Network - Tools for understanding ecological overshoot. It makes planetary limits measurable.
  4. Earth Charter - A global ethical framework for sustainability. It provides a values-based foundation.
  5. Planetary Health Alliance - Links human health to ecological systems. It adds urgency and relevance to planetary learning.
  6. Oxfam: Climate Justice - Resources connecting climate, equity, and education. It emphasizes justice in planetary care.
  7. WWF: Education - Conservation learning resources. It provides accessible entry points for students.
  8. NOAA Education - Climate and ocean science resources. It is data-rich and classroom-ready.
  9. NASA Climate - Visualizations and data for climate learning. A trusted scientific source.
  10. One Earth - A platform for biodiversity and climate solutions. It links planetary systems together.
  11. The GLOBE Program - Citizen science for students and teachers. It connects local data collection to global science.
  12. Earth Day Network: Education - Campaigns and resources for environmental learning. It helps connect learning to action.
  13. Earthwatch - Citizen science expeditions and resources. It makes planetary learning experiential.
  14. iNaturalist - A global biodiversity observation network. It turns local curiosity into global data.
  15. World Resources Institute - Data and policy research on sustainability. Useful for connecting learning to policy.

Chapter 19: The future belongs to nerds, geeks, makers, dreamers, and knowmads

These sources celebrate making, tinkering, and peer innovation - the energy behind a positive rebellion.

  1. Fab Foundation - The global network behind Fab Labs. It supports hands-on learning and invention.
  2. Fab Labs Network - A directory of makerspaces worldwide. It helps learners find a local hub for making.
  3. Maker Ed - Professional learning and resources for maker educators. It connects maker culture with school practice.
  4. Exploratorium Tinkering Studio - Open-ended, playful making activities. It captures the spirit of learning by doing.
  5. Arduino Education - Tools and curricula for creative electronics. A gateway into invention and prototyping.
  6. Raspberry Pi Education - Resources for physical computing. It makes coding tangible and accessible.
  7. Hack Club - A global network of teen coding clubs. It is a real-world example of youth-led innovation.
  8. Instructables - A massive library of maker how-to projects. It shows peer-to-peer learning at scale.
  9. Khan Academy: Computing - Free learning pathways into coding. A low-barrier entry into maker culture.
  10. Maker Faire - A global showcase of maker creativity. It connects learning to public celebration.
  11. Adafruit Learning System - Step-by-step projects for electronics and making. Great for independent learners.
  12. Open Source Hardware Association - Standards and community for open hardware. It supports a culture of sharing and remixing.
  13. Scratch - A creative coding platform for young makers. It makes computational creativity accessible.
  14. MIT App Inventor - A visual tool for building mobile apps. It empowers beginners to become builders.
  15. Make: Magazine - A long-running publication for maker culture. It is a steady source of ideas and inspiration.

Chapter 20: Reality is not optional: Defending education from disinformation, weaponized postmodernism, and the erosion of truth

These resources build the habits and tools needed to protect truth, reason, and shared reality.

  1. Stanford History Education Group (SHEG) - Research and curricula on civic online reasoning. One of the strongest evidence-based resources.
  2. Civic Online Reasoning (COR) - Practical lessons for evaluating online sources. Ready to use in classrooms.
  3. News Literacy Project - A nonprofit dedicated to media literacy. Its tools help students separate fact from manipulation.
  4. International Fact-Checking Network - Global standards and training for fact-checkers. It models transparent verification.
  5. MediaWise - A youth-focused media literacy initiative. It shows young people leading truth defense.
  6. European Digital Media Observatory - Research and tools on disinformation in Europe. Adds a broader global perspective.
  7. First Draft - Research and training on misinformation. It explains how information disorder spreads.
  8. FactCheck.org - Nonpartisan fact-checking with clear explanations. A good model of transparent reasoning.
  9. Snopes - A long-running fact-checking archive. Useful for teaching how rumors spread and get corrected.
  10. AllSides - A tool that compares news across political bias. It helps learners see how framing shapes reality.
  11. Checkology - An interactive news literacy platform. It makes media analysis hands-on for students.
  12. Bellingcat - Open-source investigations that model verification. Powerful for teaching evidence-based inquiry.
  13. Global Disinformation Index - Research on disinformation risk. Useful for understanding the economics behind misinformation.
  14. Calling Bullshit - A course and resource hub on critical data literacy. It is sharp, practical, and culturally relevant.
  15. Wikimedia Foundation - The nonprofit behind Wikipedia and open knowledge. It provides a living example of collective truth-making.

Additional resources on combating disinformation:

Chapter 21: The missing planet

These sources anchor education in planetary systems, biodiversity, and the ecological limits we often ignore.

  1. Planetary Boundaries - A scientific framework for Earth's safe operating space. Essential for planetary literacy.
  2. IPCC - The authoritative global climate assessment body. It provides the most credible evidence base.
  3. IPBES - Global assessments on biodiversity and ecosystems. It expands the climate conversation to living systems.
  4. UNEP - The UN's environmental authority and data hub. A broad gateway to planetary data.
  5. Our World in Data: Environment - Clear data visualizations that make planetary change visible. Excellent for student inquiry.
  6. Global Carbon Project - Annual budgets and analyses of carbon emissions. It brings planetary change into numbers.
  7. The Nature Conservancy - Conservation programs and resources worldwide. It connects ecosystems to human futures.
  8. Conservation International - Research and policy on biodiversity protection. A strong source for planetary stewardship.
  9. World Bank: Climate Change - Global data on climate impacts. It links planetary change to human systems.
  10. IUCN - The global union for conservation and species assessments. Essential for biodiversity literacy.
  11. NASA Earthdata - Open data and tools for Earth system science. Great for hands-on planetary analysis.
  12. Copernicus Climate Change Service - European climate data and analysis. A strong complement to NASA sources.
  13. GBIF - Global Biodiversity Information Facility. It gives open access to biodiversity data.
  14. World Resources Institute - Research on global environmental systems. Useful for policy and systems thinking.
  15. NOAA Ocean Service Education - Ocean-focused learning resources. It expands planetary learning beyond climate.

Chapter 22: In the absence of hope, we must build communities of trust

These sources focus on rebuilding trust, social cohesion, and collective capacity to act together.

  1. Pew Research: Trust in Government - Long-term data on public trust trends. It grounds conversations in evidence.
  2. Edelman Trust Barometer - A global survey of trust across institutions. It offers a cross-cultural view of trust dynamics.
  3. World Values Survey - Comparative data on social trust and values worldwide. A key resource for understanding trust at scale.
  4. Saguaro Seminar - Research on civic engagement and social capital. Offers practical ideas for rebuilding community trust.
  5. National Civic League - Tools for civic collaboration and problem-solving. It shows trust as an active practice.
  6. Collective Impact Forum - Resources for cross-sector collaboration. It demonstrates how trust is built through shared goals.
  7. CivicWell - Community-based civic engagement and resilience work. A grounded example of trust-building.
  8. AmeriCorps - National service that builds community ties. It shows how trust grows through action.
  9. VolunteerMatch - A platform connecting people to local service. A practical way to build trust through contribution.
  10. Prosocial World - Evidence-based frameworks for cooperative group behavior. It links trust to shared norms.
  11. Listen First Project - A coalition for bridging divides through listening. It models trust as a daily habit.
  12. Braver Angels - Civic organization focused on reducing polarization. It offers structured dialogue tools.
  13. Living Room Conversations - Guides for meaningful conversations across difference. It is simple and actionable.
  14. Kettering Foundation - Research on democracy and civic life. It connects trust to public problem-solving.
  15. We Are Water Foundation - Community-based projects around water access. It illustrates trust through shared stewardship.

Chapter 23: Break the rules that break us

These sources explore principled resistance, justice, and redesigning harmful systems.

  1. International Center on Nonviolent Conflict - Case studies and learning resources on nonviolent resistance. Practical examples of strategic rule-breaking.
  2. Albert Einstein Institution - Research and training on civil resistance. A foundational resource for principled dissent.
  3. U.S. Institute of Peace - Resources on conflict transformation and civic action. It frames rule-breaking as disciplined civic learning.
  4. Nonviolence International - Global education on nonviolent change. It adds international perspective and strategies.
  5. Institute for Research on Poverty: Resources - Evidence on structural injustice. It grounds rule-breaking in real harm.
  6. MADRE - A global women's rights organization supporting grassroots movements. It shows community-led resistance.
  7. Rights4Girls - Advocacy against the criminalization of girls. A strong example of challenging harmful rules.
  8. ACLU: Juvenile Justice - Legal advocacy against unjust systems. Useful for understanding policy levers.
  9. Equal Justice Initiative - Research and advocacy against systemic injustice. It provides evidence and narratives for change.
  10. Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (EMU) - Education and training on justice and peacebuilding. It offers practical frameworks for change work.
  11. National Juvenile Justice Network - Advocacy and research on youth justice. It connects school discipline to wider systems of harm.
  12. Prison Policy Initiative - Research on mass incarceration and policy. It connects school-to-prison issues to broader systems.
  13. Brennan Center: Justice - Policy research on justice and democracy. Useful for structural reform strategies.
  14. National Lawyers Guild - Legal resources for movements and civil rights. A practical ally for principled resistance.
  15. Human Rights Watch - Documentation of rights violations worldwide. It provides evidence for why rules must be challenged.

Chapter 24: Activism as learning: When students teach the system a lesson

These sources treat activism as a learning pathway, showing how research, action, and civic courage can be taught.

  1. CIRCLE (Tufts) - Research on youth civic learning and engagement. It provides evidence that activism is a powerful form of learning.
  2. CIRCLE: Quick Facts - Data snapshots on youth civic participation. It grounds activism-as-learning in current evidence.
  3. iCivics - Civic education tools and simulations. It supports action-oriented learning in accessible formats.
  4. Mikva Challenge - Youth leadership and civic action programs. It shows how students learn by leading real change.
  5. Generation Citizen - Action civics in schools and communities. It connects curriculum to student-led policy change.
  6. Facing History and Ourselves - Education for civic courage and ethical action. It links historical inquiry with activism.
  7. Earth Force - Youth environmental action projects. It exemplifies learning through community-based activism.
  8. National Youth Leadership Council - A leading organization for service-learning. It shows how activism and learning reinforce each other.
  9. Participatory Action Research - A portal for community-based research and action. It gives students a research-to-action pathway.
  10. Youth Activism Project - Curated resources and stories of youth-led change. It helps students see themselves as agents.
  11. SchYPAR - A resource for doing youth participatory action research in schools. It is practical and teacher-friendly.
  12. YPAR Hub (UC Berkeley) - Curriculum and resources for youth participatory action research. It is one of the richest repositories.
  13. Youth Leadership Institute: YPAR - A program model for youth-led research and change. It shows activism as a learning cycle.
  14. DoSomething - A global hub for youth-led campaigns. It shows activism as a real-world learning environment.
  15. Global Citizen Year - A gap-year model focused on leadership and action. It reframes learning as civic engagement.

Chapter 25: Question everything

These resources cultivate disciplined skepticism, critical reasoning, and the courage to challenge weak claims.

  1. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Critical Thinking - A rigorous foundation for what critical thinking means. It keeps inquiry precise.
  2. Foundation for Critical Thinking - A practical framework for teaching critical inquiry. It turns theory into pedagogy.
  3. Purdue OWL: Logical Fallacies - A concise guide to common reasoning errors. Immediately useful in classrooms.
  4. The Fallacy Files - A comprehensive catalog of reasoning mistakes. Great for deepening analytic habits.
  5. Argument-Centered Education - Resources for teaching reasoning and argumentation. It emphasizes evidence and structure.
  6. TED: Critical Thinking - Curated talks that model questioning and analysis. Useful for sparking discussion.
  7. Wireless Philosophy: Critical Thinking - Short, accessible videos on logic and reasoning. Student-friendly and clear.
  8. Science Buddies: Scientific Method - A practical guide to disciplined inquiry. It links questions to evidence.
  9. Skeptic Magazine - A long-running publication focused on evidence and inquiry. Great for real-world examples.
  10. Brain Science Podcast - Accessible science communication about cognition and reasoning. It helps learners question their own thinking.
  11. Clearer Thinking - Interactive tools for improving reasoning. It makes critical thinking a practice, not a slogan.
  12. LessWrong - A community focused on rationality and decision-making. It offers deep dives into how we think.
  13. Kialo - A structured debate platform. It helps learners practice argument mapping and evidence-based discussion.
  14. Metaculus - A community for forecasting and prediction accuracy. It teaches probabilistic thinking and humility.
  15. Explain xkcd - A playful way to practice interpretation and evidence-based explanation. It shows critical thinking can be fun.