Get Skills. Be Awesome.

Ahh, the age-old question. What do you want to be when you grow up? Today's kids are finding that question harder and harder to answer. Actually, studies show "65 percent of today’s grade-school kids may end up doing work that hasn’t been invented yet" (Cathy Davidson).  If our kids will be doing work that isn't invented yet, what can we do to prepare them today?

Enter DIY.org. 

You have heard of the DIY movement, and you have probably heard of the Maker Movement, but have you heard of DIY.org? 

DIY.org combines the DIY movement with the Maker Movement with gamification and badges (real badges!) with hackschooling and homeschooling. 

Co-founder of DIY.org, Zach Klein, recently wrote an article for EdSurge. (click here to read the full article) Klein describes his childhood and pursuit of personal passions. 

"Whether it’s Minecraft or duct tape wallets, the childhood passions that seem like fads, if not totally unproductive, can alternatively be seen as mediums for experiencing the virtuous cycle of curiosity: discovering, trying, failing and growing. At DIY, we’ve created a way for kids to explore hundreds of skills and to understand the ways in which they can be creative through them."

https://diy.org/skills

What types of skills can kids work on? Everything from Angler to Zoologist, and EVERYTHING in between. Seriously. Take a look. I guarantee there is at least one skill you your kid is passionate about. 

https://twitter.com/DIY

For instance, in my house, my boys have started with the Minecrafter skill. Since they have completed three tasks and uploaded pics/videos, they are eligible for a patch. 

I am using DIY.org to keep my boys active and learning throughout summer. A family down the street is using it to supplement their homeschool curriculum. A local STEM Club is planning to use it to make their after-school projects more personal. 

Access to most of the skills is free and the patches are a mere $4. DIY.org does offer memberships where kids get access to "camps" for only $10. But if you use this link, you can get $5 off! I think the new answer to the age-old question of "what do you want to be when you grow up?" is "Get skills. Be awesome." 

What skills do you have? How do you use DIY.org in your house/classroom? Email me at STEAMingAheadWithSusan@gmail.com .