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Unschooling Advocate
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In March of 2020, the world experienced a shift that turned life as we knew it upside-down and inside-out.
The primary way young people gain access to their education has shifted profoundly due to the pandemic and domino effect of increased racial and social tensions.”
For families with school-attending young people forced to “school-at-home,” the scramble for tools, resources, and equipment to provide and receive instruction and support has been a roller coaster, to say the least. The impact of this shift resulted in a deeper exploration into how and where learning takes place, and I believe museums are beautifully positioned to be the “Schools of Tomorrow.”
Maleka’s Story
As a self-identified lifelong learner and advocate for self-directed learning and unschooling, museums play a vital role in my work, professionally and personally. My high school years were split between school and volunteering with institutions that supported my interests. Known as the School-without-Walls, my high school was unique for its time. What was especially beneficial for me was that the school day concluded at 1:30 pm, allowing students to volunteer in institutions and attend college-level courses during their junior and senior years.
What began as a once-a-week trip to the museum rapidly became part of my daily routine. As a person who thrives in immersive learning environments, I began to view my high school as enrichment while the museum centered my core studies. Though isms and phobias existed in my school and museum experiences, these harmful practices were strongly evident in school, resulting in a lack of identity, belonging, and confidence surrounding my academic abilities. However, my museum experience beautifully reignited my joys of learning and provided the critical tools to navigating life outside school walls professionally and as a parent.
A Largely Untapped Resource
Though museums and schools center education, the space to include parents/caregivers in the learning process is a unique and needed benefit that museums naturally offer.”
Whether families decide to remain in school or homeschool, museums represent more than simply applying a band-aid to our current challenges but a long-term solution to educating young people and adults. From learning about history and traditions worldwide, husbandry to alchemy, museums provide a wide range of free and fee-based workshops and resources for parents, young people, and educators to tap into.
Since founding Eclectic Learning Network six years ago, I have partnered with museums to bring these fantastic offerings to the forefront exclusively for home education families. Earlier this year, I was invited to present at the PA Museums Conference, Reimagining Learning through Museums. Imagine video streaming platforms like Netflix and online learning platforms like Coursera designed exclusively for museums. A one-stop-shop of access and opportunity for all young people, parents, and educators.
With over 35,000 museums and historical organizations across the United States, young people and adults, near and far, have a wide variety of access points to wander and learn, centering individual curiosities, interests, and passions.”
These opportunities create a window of multi-sensory learning experiences that caters to all ages, races, genders, identities, abilities, backgrounds, and cultures, supporting the life-long learners in all of us.
For questions or feedback, reach out at hello@weareborntolearn.org or join our Facebook community to talk more: www.weareborntolearn.org/facebook
Have questions or feedback?
Reach out at hello@weareborntolearn.org or click the link below to join our Facebook community to talk more.
Maleka Diggs
Maleka Diggs, “Disruptor of Monoliths,” is an unschooling advocate, community organizer, presenter, and trainer that centers equity and inclusion, especially BIPOC communities, serving families, schools (public and private), and alternative learning spaces through her organization, Eclectic Learning Network. She is also co-founder of the Philly Children’s Movement, a multi-racial and multi-generational collective of families talking, playing, and “rising up” for racial justice! Her work explores the intersections of race, parenting, and education, its impact on Black and Brown peoples, and those within under-represented communities while exploring ways to pivot away from harmful practices toward liberatory-centered approaches through unschooling and partnership-based learning practices.
