Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education

Based in Half Moon Bay, California, ISKME supports innovative teaching and learning practices throughout the globe, and is best-known for its award-winning OER Commons initiative, as well as its international research agenda on information use in the education sector.

An independent, education nonprofit established in 2002, ISKME’s research and development efforts enable schools, colleges, universities, and the organizations that support them to expand their capacity to collect and share information, and create knowledge-driven environments focused on learning and success.

Today, we are participating in Silicon Valley Gives, a 24-hour fundraising effort where your donation will go towards providing underserved students an extraordinary opportunity to experience a professional learning event and build their networking and design skills.

The donation you make today can range from covering a local student's travel to Big Ideas Fest 2016 - to hosting a one-day workshop tailored to the unique needs of a school of your choice for up to 60 students.

ISKME’s Big Ideas Fest is an inspiring three-day immersion into collaboration and design with a focus on modeling cutting-edge thinking in K-20 education. Key to its success is the cross-section of students and educators from K12 and higher education, administrators, researchers, other change makers in education.

Big Ideas Fest's unique format includes RapidFire talks from leading innovators; interactive networking with a diverse group of participants; and Action Collabs that engage groups in a design thinking process to brainstorm, prototype, and ultimately create scalable solutions to challenges in education.

In particular, the full participation of current high school students throughout the Fest provides a richness of diverse perspective and insight into design challenges during Action Collabs. These opportunities for collaboration remain a highlight for all of the participants because the student voice is often not included in the design of education innovation.

The students get an extraordinary opportunity to experience a professional learning event and build their networking, leadership, and design skills. They also get a chance to learn from the adult participants' educational and professional journeys which help inform their decision making and planning for what they will do beyond High School.

"This was a life changing experience. I’m different now. I’m going to be more positive. I’m going to talk more. I want to be heard. I’m not afraid of being judged for what I have to say." - Big Ideas Fest student participant

“This was the first time I had the privilege of working with High School students. This was a very powerful experience as it re-centered my purpose in education. What we're doing is really for our students and the future, and not just for me.” - Big Ideas Fest educator participant

Your SV Gives donation will go towards providing underserved students and educators an opportunity to fully participate in the Big Ideas Fest experience. Please support this coastside education non-profit!