Ed Zed Omega - Reimagining Education

This public media "authentic fiction" sought to crowdsource perspectives about education today. The Zed Omega teens, played by actors, "dropped out loud" from high school -- catalyzing open discussion about the structures and purpose of traditional education and its alternatives. The arc of each Zed Omega character was unscripted: they responded to ideas that people presented. The collaborative thought experiment and "interactive documentary" was live on social media during fall semester 2012. (-Learn more-) (-Credits-) (-Facebook-) (-Twitter-)

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On School and Socks

Well, it’s my last video. It’s been such a crazy ride! Thanks so much to everybody to helped us out. Can’t believe it’s over!

I’m gonna miss you guys…

~Nora

Tags Walker Art Center claremorgan ed zed omega edwinacurrie high school homeschool jeremybarns nicoledovant norarosemelendy unschool update xavierwashington video

I’m going to miss all of you and the Zed Omegas so much! Thank you, everyone. And stay excellent!

-Edwina

Tags college counseling credits edwinacurrie good bye! high school thanks video

Well this is my last post. It’s been great learning and growing with all of you. Thank you for staying in tune. - Nicole

Tags video nicoledovant plans college music high school xavierwashington edwinacurrie edzedomega

Edwina says: My top ten – http://the-unschooler-s-journal.tumblr.com/This post inspired me to pursue the idea of “unschooling”, making me realize there are infinitely more options to get an education.  http://edzedomega.org/post/29993868921/making-leaving-school-workI LOVED this post!! It made me so happy that someone else supported our/my decision to drop out, and that there IS life beyond being called a “drop out”.  http://edzedomega.org/post/30520759351/lisa-i-felt-dupedThis post was slightly frustrating at first, however I realized that it frustrated me because it was a combination of support, but also a kick in the pants as well. We dropped out yes, but now we need to make plans! http://edzedomega.org/post/31406807272/education-really-is-the-job-of-a-lifetime-david-foster-wThis post was small, but inspiring. I appreciate the message.  http://athousandlittleletters.tumblr.com/post/32132617945/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-hated-the-nonsenseI REALLY related to this post, mostly because I am older than most of the Ed Zeds, and I am nowhere near the same person I was when I was eighteen. I have different ideas, goals, and different sense of reality.  http://edzedomega.org/post/32395254140/unschool-open-your-mindThis video is FANTASTIC!! Really supports the idea of independence, learning throughout your lifetime, and the idea of the FREEDOM to learn what we want.  http://edzedomega.org/post/32887635415/who-decided-all-students-taught-standardized-curriculumYes, who did decide that? http://edzedomega.org/post/33183368748/able-to-read-but-unable-to-distinguishAnother one of those small posts, but something that both made me laugh and made me say, ABSOLUTELY! http://edzedomega.org/post/34226610607/high-school-stability-away-from-unstable-homeThis post I loved because it was after our first event at the Walker, and they left a message at a corner of the map that I felt was an important aspect of high school that people remember, usually in a negative way.  http://edzedomega.org/post/34166107334/upset-reaction-dropout-uncollege-riseoutI definitely could continue on with more of my favorites, this one was a reflection of a drop out of college, also a visitor of our map  :-)

Edwina says: My top ten –

http://the-unschooler-s-journal.tumblr.com/
This post inspired me to pursue the idea of “unschooling”, making me realize there are infinitely more options to get an education. 

http://edzedomega.org/post/29993868921/making-leaving-school-work
I LOVED this post!! It made me so happy that someone else supported our/my decision to drop out, and that there IS life beyond being called a “drop out”. 

http://edzedomega.org/post/30520759351/lisa-i-felt-duped
This post was slightly frustrating at first, however I realized that it frustrated me because it was a combination of support, but also a kick in the pants as well. We dropped out yes, but now we need to make plans!

http://edzedomega.org/post/31406807272/education-really-is-the-job-of-a-lifetime-david-foster-w
This post was small, but inspiring. I appreciate the message. 

http://athousandlittleletters.tumblr.com/post/32132617945/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-hated-the-nonsense
I REALLY related to this post, mostly because I am older than most of the Ed Zeds, and I am nowhere near the same person I was when I was eighteen. I have different ideas, goals, and different sense of reality. 

http://edzedomega.org/post/32395254140/unschool-open-your-mind
This video is FANTASTIC!! Really supports the idea of independence, learning throughout your lifetime, and the idea of the FREEDOM to learn what we want. 

http://edzedomega.org/post/32887635415/who-decided-all-students-taught-standardized-curriculum
Yes, who did decide that?

http://edzedomega.org/post/33183368748/able-to-read-but-unable-to-distinguish
Another one of those small posts, but something that both made me laugh and made me say, ABSOLUTELY!

http://edzedomega.org/post/34226610607/high-school-stability-away-from-unstable-home
This post I loved because it was after our first event at the Walker, and they left a message at a corner of the map that I felt was an important aspect of high school that people remember, usually in a negative way. 

http://edzedomega.org/post/34166107334/upset-reaction-dropout-uncollege-riseout
I definitely could continue on with more of my favorites, this one was a reflection of a drop out of college, also a visitor of our map  :-)

Tags dropout edzedomega riseout topten unschool edwinacurrie

Ch-ch-ch-changes! Hello all!!It’s been awhile! I’ve been so busy finalizing my plans for the spring, but catch my last video coming up soon to find out more!I’m extremely excited to get the ball rolling on everything and have a real purpose!I haven’t seen the Ed Zeds since our final event at the Walker, which was EXTREMELY successful. We had a ton of people show up and everyone got a kick out of our create your own high school persona project! Even though I’m not artistic in any way shape or form, it was fun to prepare everything with X and Nicole and Clare and everyone, it was a nice final wrap up for us.Clare and I had a long conversation with a teacher who works in the area as well, which was extremely eye opening. She was so interested in our story, she was fascinated in the idea that each of us dropped out for diverse reasons beyond what she is so used to seeing. When I told her I wanted to be a counselor she was extremely complimentary, and really commended us for getting our story out there to make a statement about education. She seemed to agree with a lot of our issues about education as a whole, that there are so many things that need improvements and that, even in the smallest way, we are attempting to make that change.Stay tuned for my LAST VIDEO to find out my final plans for school, and my future!Must get back to work. THANKS FOR READING!Stay excellent,Edwina

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Hello all!!

It’s been awhile! I’ve been so busy finalizing my plans for the spring, but catch my last video coming up soon to find out more!

I’m extremely excited to get the ball rolling on everything and have a real purpose!
I haven’t seen the Ed Zeds since our final event at the Walker, which was EXTREMELY successful. We had a ton of people show up and everyone got a kick out of our create your own high school persona project! Even though I’m not artistic in any way shape or form, it was fun to prepare everything with X and Nicole and Clare and everyone, it was a nice final wrap up for us.

Clare and I had a long conversation with a teacher who works in the area as well, which was extremely eye opening. She was so interested in our story, she was fascinated in the idea that each of us dropped out for diverse reasons beyond what she is so used to seeing. When I told her I wanted to be a counselor she was extremely complimentary, and really commended us for getting our story out there to make a statement about education. She seemed to agree with a lot of our issues about education as a whole, that there are so many things that need improvements and that, even in the smallest way, we are attempting to make that change.

Stay tuned for my LAST VIDEO to find out my final plans for school, and my future!

Must get back to work. THANKS FOR READING!

Stay excellent,
Edwina

Tags counseling education education reform edwinacurrie edzed me high school ezedomega

A truth about school on a whiteboard at the Walker Art Center, during the Zed Omega “School Map” event in October. Edwina says, “It’s so sad!” “School…. is an extremely expensive way of showing to the business world that you know how to get (stuff) on with a smile on your face. $35,000 and counting”

A truth about school on a whiteboard at the Walker Art Center, during the Zed Omega “School Map” event in October. Edwina says, “It’s so sad!”

“School…. is an extremely expensive way of showing to the business world that you know how to get (stuff) on with a smile on your face. $35,000 and counting”

Tags edwinacurrie Walker Art Center edzed map

At our Walker event, a teacher left a message* about how he loved high school and how great all the things he did were like sports and clubs and stuff. But then Jeremy asked him about his job and he got into it about how he wasn’t not so sure his students’ experience is all that great, like it was for him. HUH. INTERESTING.

* 612-756-ZEDS (9337). Ahem, what are you waiting for.

~Edwina

Tags Walker Art Center edwinacurrie edzed map high school jeremybarns story share teacher video

Onward and Upward! SOOO I decided to make a quick post here instead of posting on my blog since I’m running around like a crazy person today! BUT…DA DA DA DA! I have finally decided that I want to pursue higher education. I really want to study social work, and eventually be able to become a counselor for high school students. Students like myself, and the rest of the Zed Omegas. After everything that Mary Johnson and this experience has done for me, I would love to be able to pursue helping future students that I know will have the same issues with education and just need someone to tell them that they’re not drains on society, and they’re not ruining their lives. They simply wish to pursue a different path in life. So I’m looking online for local schools, checking in on what requirements I still need, and seeing how soon I can get the ball rolling! ANY SUGGESTIONS would be greatly appreciated, until then, as always, stay excellent! Edwina

Onward and Upward!

SOOO I decided to make a quick post here instead of posting on my blog since I’m running around like a crazy person today!

BUT…DA DA DA DA! I have finally decided that I want to pursue higher education. I really want to study social work, and eventually be able to become a counselor for high school students. Students like myself, and the rest of the Zed Omegas.

After everything that Mary Johnson and this experience has done for me, I would love to be able to pursue helping future students that I know will have the same issues with education and just need someone to tell them that they’re not drains on society, and they’re not ruining their lives. They simply wish to pursue a different path in life.

So I’m looking online for local schools, checking in on what requirements I still need, and seeing how soon I can get the ball rolling! ANY SUGGESTIONS would be greatly appreciated, until then, as always, stay excellent!

Edwina

Tags high school counseling education riseout dropout edwinacurrie

What We Did at the Walker Art Center

Okay so you’re probably wondering by now, “What’s the deal with those voice mails at EdZedOmega.org?” and, “What are the Zed Omegas talking about when they talk about the “map thing” that they did at the Walker Art Center…?

Well here’s a little explanation.

And even though you may not be able to come stand on our map with us, you CAN call the number and tell us where you stand on the subject of high school. (Did you have love it? Did you hate it? Both? Neither?) WHAT’S YOUR HIGH SCHOOL STORY?

Call:

619-756-ZEDS (9337)

…and leave us a message!

Tags Walker Art Center claremorgan edwinacurrie edzed map high school hotline jeremybarns lizabethdavis nicoledovant stories submission xavierwashington video

Oh, to live on
Sugar Mountain
with the barkers and the colored balloons

You can’t be twenty
on Sugar Mountain
though you think you’re leaving there too soon
You’re leaving there too soon…

Now you say you’re leavin’ home
‘Cause you want to be alone.
Ain’t it funny how you feel
When you’re findin’ out it’s real?

Tags neil young lizabethdavis edwinacurrie youth childhood state fair

I began explaining how I felt restless and unhappy, coming from a large family left me feeling pressured to do well, etc. And immediately we bonded over our mutual frustration with the institution of public education. He reiterated several times how intelligent I seemed, and how I had the tools to go absolutely anywhere in life, and how school really is about paying your dues… Edwina blogs about the Zed Omega’s map project at the Walker Art Center.

I began explaining how I felt restless and unhappy, coming from a large family left me feeling pressured to do well, etc. And immediately we bonded over our mutual frustration with the institution of public education. He reiterated several times how intelligent I seemed, and how I had the tools to go absolutely anywhere in life, and how school really is about paying your dues…

Edwina blogs about the Zed Omega’s map project at the Walker Art Center.

Tags edwinacurrie walker art center wac edzedomega edzed map school education