Play, Learn, Tinker, Teach, Create, Make, Share Elastic Learning Network is a next generation learning network in Melbourne. Assisted by a Community Engagement Manager, a community of designers, educators, youth workers, mentors, parents and subject matter experts collaborate within this network. They partner with libraries, museums, galleries, youth services, schools, universities and community organisations. These organisations and individuals seek to explore new and improved ways to work together, share resources and design integrated learning experiences in and around Melbourne.

1. Play, Learn, Tinker, Teach, Create, Make, Share
“The school is not and cannot be the exclusive provider in a community’s
educational system. . . .
There is not one agency, but an ecology of institutions educating-school,
home, places of worship, television, press, museums, libraries, businesses,
factories, and more.”
-- John Goodlad,1984

2. Purpose
The purpose of a learning network is to help
youth identify and integrate learning across
these different formal and informal, virtual and
physical sites.
The goal being to create an ecology that helps
youth forge competency-oriented pathways
from their own interest-driven practices.
New Youth Learning Network- 2009

3. Vision
Elastic Learning Network (ELN) is looked upon as a world
class inclusive learning network and Melbourne as a city
known for inspiring, fresh approaches to 21st Century
learning.
Learning is flexible, experimentation is expected, failure is
accepted, young and old are strongly connected and
intergenerational learning is a common experience.
Cultural institutions, traditional education and youth service
providers work together across Melbourne to ensure all
learners have opportunities to explore and pursue their
interests, and invent their own pathways.

5. Mission
We will offer the best "high-tech" and "high-
touch" experiences in playing, tinkering,
creating, building, for both learners and
teachers in Melbourne.
ELN ecosystem will forge lasting relationships
and collaborations within Melbourne's cultural,
youth, community and education institutions.
We will tap into local wisdom, knowledge, and
talent of individuals who want to share.

6. Mission
We will work to increase young people’s digital
literacy and encourage them to be informed
consumers and creators of digital media.
We will blend all this intentional learning with
core curriculum and life skills to drive awesome
learning outcomes.

8. Mission
We will focus on 21st Century skills and the
learning opportunities will be shaped around
these citizen identities;
Citizen Scientist, Citizen Journalist, Citizen
Designer
The citizen identity approach models authentic
skill-oriented, project-based, real-world roles
and authentic experiences.
New Youth Learning Network- 2009

10. What I can offer your organisation
The Community Engagement Manager works to nourish,
guide, and connect a community of designers, educators,
youth workers, mentors, parents and subject matter experts
who collaborate within the Elastic Learning Network (ELN).
A proficient connector of people to people, and people to
tools, I recognise and inspire opportunities within ELN.
A potential collaborator, strategist and technical advisor to
help you work on innovative projects that use 21st century
modes of learning. When combined with the great knowledge
and resources of the institutions you lead will generate
awesome connections and learning outcomes for all involved.

11. My value proposition
I have a 43 year history of self directed learning. I embody
the 21st Century learner. I am living on the leading edge of
technology and education innovation which means I'm
informed, agile, and respond well to change.
I have experienced the the 39th floor of the corporate
world, I have run my own web/mobile development
business, and have worked as a youth worker for 6 years in
community organisations. I look for and nurture talent
wherever I go.
I'm a critical thinker who can filter information and aquire
resources quickly to find what I need to learn and create.

12. How you can help
Support and funding
Provide me with a letter of support which highlights the
education values and strengths of your organisation, and
how these fit with the aims and networks of the ELN. This
will help me with funding bodies and corporates.
In kind
Get involved right now and collaborate on a project. Donate
learning spaces, purchase software subscriptions and
mobile devices, provide staff to assist in designing learning
experiences and games. Volunteer to be on the board of
advisors.

13. Operating options
Option 1
No formal collaboration.
Option 2
A new organisation (legal entity) formed with a comittee,
board of advisors, administration and open to membership.
Option 3
A structured formal partnership, with a lead organisation
auspicing and managing the administration, expenditure
and applications for future funding on behalf of the network.

14. 3 year plan
Stage 1 - 2 months Stage 2 - 1 year Stage 3 - 3 years
Build and deploy 1 social Make the network formal. Statewide reach. Replicated
game. model, small grants
1 full time staff and budget progran,
Identi-Tee for project development.
Internationally recognised
● Discover your identity A local foucs expanding to as a leader.
through a location Victoria wide.
based game. 3 staff, 20+ programs and
● Tell your story with 6 ongoing programs & projects impacting
rich media (virtual projects 1,000,000 children Australia
artifact) wide.
Attach your story to a GPS
location in the CBD
(Museum?)
● Create an original Tee
Shirt with QR code.

16. Next step
Social Storytelling Game - Identi-Tee
Aim:
This digital storytelling locative game is designed to foster collaboration, build
empathy, enhance communication skills, inspire the designer in all of us and
connect participants with many cultures, subcultures and communities.
Method:
Participants work in pairs and transverse the city as the discover their heritage, their
culture, thier connection to subcultures and brands. They work together to uncover
their own unique identi-tee and use media (text, photo, audio, video) to share their
personal story/identity. They do this by attaching media (virtual artifact) to locations
in the CBD using location based mobile mapping (GPS) technology.
Outcome:
They then create their own design on a Tee shirt including a QR code that links
back to their digital story artifact in the CBD. This then becomes their Identi-Tee.

17. ELN has Augmented Reality channels

18. Recognition for skills & achievements

20. Let's Begin
Brendan O'Keefe
(03) 9018 7340
brendan@elasticlearningnetwork.org
elasticlearningnetwork.org
brendanokeefe.com
Images: Flickr. Creative Commons license. Valhalla Studios Bifrost, aperturismo