Devin Mawdsley, Melanie Frank, Jacob Paul and Emi Knight call themselves the
organizers.
Together, they have set up the foundation for the Bloomington Free Skool that lets locals teach their own classes and allows students to learn, all for free.
The idea came from a friend of theirs who knew about a similar school in Santa Cruz, Calif. They used this program as a model for their own here in Bloomington after e-mailing back and forth with the California program members and receiving encouragement.
“It is a fertile space for new ideas,” Knight said. “The idea was embraced by the community and has grown so quickly.”
The Bloomington Free Skool is open to people of all ages in the Bloomington area.
It is a free, non-discriminatory school that offers a diverse variety of classes such as Natural Dyes, How to Teach Yourself Chinese, Knitting Circles, Basic Cooking 101, Beer Brewing and Capture the Flag.
“It’s based on personal interest,” Mawdsley said. “Everyone has something to offer.”
Frank explained that it is up to the teacher to find the location for his or her class. They are provided with a list of possible locations, some on campus, locally or in dorms, houses or other free public space.
“The teachers are what make it happen,” Frank said.
Paul said the process of finding teachers consisted of call-out meetings, outreach to the local community, digital word-of-mouth and talking with the group’s acquaintances.
There has been nothing like this before in Bloomington, and the school’s website helps spread the word. Paul said there are already 300 fans on their Facebook group, and it seemed that “people were hungry for this.” Maudsley said the web presence of the school has been extremely helpful.
“At first we were worried that we wouldn’t have enough teachers, but the offers came pouring in,” Frank said.
Knight said they have friends with “Free Skools” in other cities who don’t have nearly as many classes.
“The community in Bloomington has an interest in learning,” Paul said. “The classes have an open forum.”
The website also features their mission statement, class calendar, and descriptions of the classes. Any new courses that are brought to attention go up on the website. Currently, the spring 2011 schedule is up and running.
Peter Blank, an assistant instructor at IU, teaches the Alexander Technique at the Bloomington Free Skool. This is a technique that performers can use to help them become conscious of their own body. The class shows participants certain ways of handling their body using mostly the shoulders, neck, feet and arms.
“The Free Skool is an educational endeavor that has grown naturally,” Blank said.
organizers.
Together, they have set up the foundation for the Bloomington Free Skool that lets locals teach their own classes and allows students to learn, all for free.
The idea came from a friend of theirs who knew about a similar school in Santa Cruz, Calif. They used this program as a model for their own here in Bloomington after e-mailing back and forth with the California program members and receiving encouragement.
“It is a fertile space for new ideas,” Knight said. “The idea was embraced by the community and has grown so quickly.”
The Bloomington Free Skool is open to people of all ages in the Bloomington area.
It is a free, non-discriminatory school that offers a diverse variety of classes such as Natural Dyes, How to Teach Yourself Chinese, Knitting Circles, Basic Cooking 101, Beer Brewing and Capture the Flag.
“It’s based on personal interest,” Mawdsley said. “Everyone has something to offer.”
Frank explained that it is up to the teacher to find the location for his or her class. They are provided with a list of possible locations, some on campus, locally or in dorms, houses or other free public space.
“The teachers are what make it happen,” Frank said.
Paul said the process of finding teachers consisted of call-out meetings, outreach to the local community, digital word-of-mouth and talking with the group’s acquaintances.
There has been nothing like this before in Bloomington, and the school’s website helps spread the word. Paul said there are already 300 fans on their Facebook group, and it seemed that “people were hungry for this.” Maudsley said the web presence of the school has been extremely helpful.
“At first we were worried that we wouldn’t have enough teachers, but the offers came pouring in,” Frank said.
Knight said they have friends with “Free Skools” in other cities who don’t have nearly as many classes.
“The community in Bloomington has an interest in learning,” Paul said. “The classes have an open forum.”
The website also features their mission statement, class calendar, and descriptions of the classes. Any new courses that are brought to attention go up on the website. Currently, the spring 2011 schedule is up and running.
Peter Blank, an assistant instructor at IU, teaches the Alexander Technique at the Bloomington Free Skool. This is a technique that performers can use to help them become conscious of their own body. The class shows participants certain ways of handling their body using mostly the shoulders, neck, feet and arms.
“The Free Skool is an educational endeavor that has grown naturally,” Blank said.
