History Co:Lab

We’re thrilled to share our annual report, Humanity-Centered Learning: Co-Designing the Future of Learning With and For Young People! Our annual report showcases the progress we’ve made during a transformative year of convergence and expansion. Explore the new playful learning experiences we’re creating with iThrive Games for U.S. history, UnTextbooked’s game-changing year of growth, our catalytic learning ecosystem development work in Kansas City and Pittsburgh, as well as inspiring stories of the young people we’ve learned from and impacted. Dive into our journey of designing and accelerating humanity-centered learning with and for youth: https://lnkd.in/eeFFQsFP #innovation #socialimpact

#Youngpeople want agency. They want participatory engagement and they want meaningful opportunities for self-discovery. Steering our work at the History Co:Lab is a vision of youth-centered learning that aligns with these wants. Explore how we work with them to harness learning science, community, and collaboration and advance youth- and humanity-centered learning: https://lnkd.in/ea9ETBHJ #education #learning

We’ve brought Our Threads, a question card game created by Fugees Family, Inc. and iThrive Games, to every gathering this year. Why? Because it was co-designed by refugee students who understand that sharing stories builds powerful connections. Our Threads fosters connection, #belonging, intergenerational exchange, and a sense of welcome. Learn more about its story and how to get your own copy: https://lnkd.in/eM9KU98t #BuildingBelonging #games #humanity Explore how the game is #BuildingBelonging: https://lnkd.in/eM9KU98t #SEL #edu

#Belonging is a precondition for thriving and democratic engagement. With our newly integrated team from iThrive Games, we’re honored to partner with Re-Imagining Migration, The Human Potential L.A.B., and the architects of the #BuildingBelonging project in work that builds belonging in schools and all learning settings across the nation. Rising rates of student disengagement highlight the urgent need for connection and community-building in young people’s worlds, especially as they navigate the social, emotional and cognitive work of adolescence. Follow us in the coming weeks as we share insights and resources that support connection and community-building in the spaces where #youngpeople learn. Start your learning with this YouTube playlist, featuring insights on belonging shared by leading global experts and gathered by Building Belonging’s project team, formed two years ago as part of New America/Jacobs Foundation’s Learning Science Exchange Fellowship. First up, Pamela Cantor MD, founder of The Human Potential L.A.B.,on the biology of learning and its connection to belonging: https://lnkd.in/d8FQHt_2 🔗 Building Belonging (Video Playlist): https://lnkd.in/dHa2TjVw #psychology #education

"Only by inviting young people into the conversation… will we help them grow up with the experience and knowledge they need to step into their civic roles as makers and leaders of our shared history." Civic identity begins with #youngpeople feeling a sense of belonging and agency in their communities. In this piece for The Hechinger Report, Remake Learning's Tyler Samstag and History Co:Lab’s Fernande Raine dive into how intergenerational co-creation inspires civic agency in youth: https://lnkd.in/eKYkBm46 #history #humanities

🍽️ How has the way we eat changed over the last century? In this episode of UnTextbooked, our youth-led #podcast, producer Grace Davis interviews food historian Dr. Rachel Laudan, author of Cuisine and Empire, to explore the relationship between diet, access, and social equality. Spend this #WorldFoodDay diving into their thought-provoking conversation on #foodhistory: https://ow.ly/xx2c50TGnqm #history

We join many this #WorldMentalHealthDay in elevating the role of social and emotional skill-building in young people’s lives and learning. Social and emotional learning (SEL) lies at the heart of humanity-centered education, nurturing the skills that help young people understand themselves and others, fostering empathy, collaboration, and resilience. By prioritizing SEL, we are not just teaching academic skills—we are empowering young people to navigate the complexities of human relationships, care for their communities, and lead with compassion. Alongside iThrive Games, the leaders of our Creation Co:Lab, we are committed to cultivating humanity-centered learning ecosystems that empower young people to thrive as individuals and as makers of our shared history—for their #mentalhealth and the health of our global community.

Our friends at Re-Imagining Migration (RIM) say, “Belonging begins in schools.” In the second session of their Reimagining Schools: Serving Newcomers, Building Belonging, and Activating Community webinar series, happening Wed, Oct 9, 2-3pm ET, they’ll be diving into how, exploring the way schools can become community hubs that create equitable environments for all students to thrive. Register to join: https://lnkd.in/ehnQtDqe And before we come together, be sure to explore our Building Belonging report, co-authored by RIM and History Co:Lab, for valuable tips and practical strategies for fostering a sense of belonging in school communities: https://lnkd.in/eZgbvbbs #education #socialemotionallearning #school

As poet and #educator Mark Van Doren once said, "The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery." This #WorldTeachersDay, we celebrate the educators who ignite curiosity, foster growth, and nurture the courage to explore. These are the teachers who don’t just provide answers but create environments where young minds are free to ask questions, make connections, and dream big. To all the teachers who’ve inspired us to see the world in new ways and discover the potential within ourselves—thank you! Your guidance is a light that helps learners not only find answers but shape their future with confidence and care. We honor you today and always! #teachers #education

The World Economic Forum reports that 7 in 10 #youngpeople aged 16-25 globally express deep concerns about #climatechange. They don't just worry: they hold a strong determination and ingenuity, and are ready to craft solutions for a livable future. History Co:Lab’s Fernande Raine and Jane Lee, PMP were honored to witness this passion and creativity firsthand over the past two weeks while co-designing #games in support of climate action with 19 young students from the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes. Against the stunning backdrop of the Dolomites, these students were inspired to design and take changemaking action through the power of play. Using iThrive Games’ Game Design Studio model—“a strengths-based co-design approach that pairs young people with learning-science-backed cognitive and creative tools to help them mine their genius and envision research and learning solutions alongside peers, subject matter experts, designers, and developers”—they: 💭 Self-reflected and listened to others to build a more human-centered understanding of climate change 💡 Analyzed and synthesized their insights to define a core problem 📐 Used game design techniques to explore the problem and shape possible solutions 🧩 Created six game prototypes reflecting these solutions, then playtested them with over 100 of their peers It was two weeks of hard work, dedication, care, and creativity alongside young people determined to dream and eager to act. A huge thank you to everyone who made this co-design session possible! #gamedesign #designthinking