10 years re:learn - shift happened!

Shift happens was the motto of re:publica 2009. The idea was borrowed from the US-american teacher Karl Fischer, whoms video DidYouKnow/Shift happens about education and the transformation of the society (that is still worth seeing), back than was going viral.

He apologized for not accepting our invitation for republica by saing that his pupils need him, but from that on, education became a topic and slowly a part of the programm. It was clear from the beginning that digital change had to arrive at schools and universities and also, that the topic was relevant for the re:publica. But, in the beginning there were not many parents visiting the conference and teachers had to be invited individually. 

Jöran Muuß-Merholz was one of the first who was taking part in the conversation. Thanks to his agency and his passion for the topic, he had a big network and integrated the “educational players”. Overcrowded talks and workshops showed, that the re:publica is an excellent meet up for engaged, open-minded teachers and people that are interested in education.

In 2010, education finally became an independent programm category. Re:learn was born and today, you cannot imagine the programm of the re:publica without it. Many speakers that were taking part from the beginning are still on board and also Gunther Dueck had his premiere at the re:publica in context of re:learn.

Other re:learn Highlights were Andreas Schleicher, the director for education at the OECD and inventor of the pisa study at the rp13 or Lorenzo Tural, who shared his first business ideas in 2014 in the age of twelve in front of an overcrowded hall.

Jöran, you are a part of re:learn from the start and you co-curate it until now. What has always remained in your memory (besides overcrowded halls)?

The “21st Century Skills”, that Andreas Schleicher presented in 2013 are becoming more and more a part of the discourse. The day of the re:publica talk, is the day that Wikipedia dates for the start of the debate in Germany. Other talks had also a big influence, but there was a time lag between.

For example?

At re:publica 2010 we were discussing the question “Do trojans move into educational institutions on the digital way and change the cultures of learning?” Exactly this metaphor was a german politician using lately by talking about what is happening right now in her state.

Is there something special you are looking forward to this year?

This years Call for Participation is focused on open/ indie web, but we did not get a lot submissions. Therefore, I am really happy to have so many great international speakers like Jim Groom, Philipp Schmidt and Christer Gundersen who are taking a deeper look at the topic. 

Yes! I would also like to include our opening speaker danah boyd, who analysed in 2009 as one of the first media scientists the media use and learning behaviour of teenagers. 
10 years ago we were hoping, that schools would be thought totally new in the course of radicalisation and chances for change would be opened. We were totally wrong with this, but we were thinking early about that and we still do. 

The interview was conducted by Tanja Haeusler