Featured Guest and Speaker: Art Smith, Liberty Academy in Kansas City Missouri

Art was so gracious in helping us kick off the conference and explain how he is turning traditional education upside down with his student centric approach to an education.

Art Smith’s Unschool Challenge, or Unschool by Design has drawn national attention to Liberty Academy. The Unschool model has students pick a project and throughout the year work on different parts incorporating math, research, art, science, language arts and even some physical activity.  At the end of the term, students put their work on display with projects ranging from an exercise bicycle that charges a cellphone to a music room with guitars lining the walls for students to use based on a whim.

Students learn in context, acquire soft skills, use voice and choice, have an authentic audience, explore careers, practice design thinking, create professional networks and portfolios, and most importantly build a workshop culture that connects school to the real world.