Scrum in Schools, Scrum and kids, Michael de la Maza, Agile Boston

"My intention is to work with a group of educators and Scrum consultants to create a Scrum-in- Schools curriculum, which educators around the world can implement."

So- imagine a world where kids across the USA and in fact the world, learn about Scrum in school. They work it, they do it, they take it with them to college and beyond. That is the vision.

The mechanics include creating a curriculum and making it free to the world.

The desired end result is a better world through kids, through kids that know and use Scrum, and execute on work, with others, using Scrum.

We need 10 teachers to kick this off. We need 10 commited people. Showing up for a meeting of Agile Boston is how you indicate your willingness to commit.

The Scrum Alliance is behind this initiative, and providing some valuable Scrum training to the teachers that commit.

According to Michael,

"I believe that the most effective way to "Change the world of work" is to introduce Scrum before people start working. Hence, developing a program for kids is critical to the success of Scrum Alliance's mission. Ten years from now Scrum might be taught by educators worldwide."

Scrum and kids. Kids taking Scrum into the world. Simple right? Let's see .....

Next steps for you:

1. Find a teacher you know, tell them about Scrum, and get them to contact Michael. (contact info below). Send them a link to this page !! Also, send them here.

2. Are you a teacher? Come to the 7/28 meeting of Agile Boston. "Teacher" means a person teaching grades 7-and-up in any accredited school. Where you are from does not matter, if you know a teacher (or ARE a teacher) in Reno, Nevada, that is OK !! Contact Michael. Are you local? Come to the meeting. Register here.

2. Contact this man:

Michael de la Maza

Phone: 617-575-9707

Email: michael.delamaza [at] gmail [dotcom]

Michael has convinced the Scrum Alliance to help out. Specifically, the Scrum Alliance is willing to provide complimentary training, in Boston, for teachers who commit to helping with the kick-off of this effort. This means the teachers involved get a FREE Certified Scrum Master class.

Repeat-- This means the teachers involved get a FREE Certified Scrum Master class.

We need teachers who want to get in 'on the ground floor' and help kick this off.

The first step is to gather some educators that are interested in this. DO YOU KNOW ANY??

On the 4th Wednesday, we run the monthly meeting of Agile Boston.

The next meeting (as of this writing) is July 28 2010 at 6:30PM

At these meetings, we are inviting teachers from the Boston area that are interested, to attend and connect with this initiative. The teachers that show up are candidates for helping with this initiative, and receiving the FREE training worth $1800.

We need 10 teachers to kick this off. We need 10 commited people. Showing up for a meeting of Agile Boston is how you indicate your willingness to commit.

Boston-region teachers who commit to this are actually committing to the following duties and obligations:

0. Show up at the July 28 meeting to discuss the initiative with Michael;

2. Attending the (free... value = $1800 !!) CSM class;

3. Doing self-study on Scrum;

4. Providing their best ideas on curriculum design;

5. Reviewing the work-in-progress (the curriculum) as it emerges;

6. Conducting a pilot course with some kids and report the results.

The work is about Scrum, so expect to use incremental, iterative technques (Scrum itself) to execute on all this work, with Michael guiding, as the project takes shape.

Questions on this? Call or write Michael:

Michael de la Maza, CSP

Phone: 617-575-9707

Email: michael.delamaza [at] gmail [dotcom]

Teachers: Imagine Scrum. Get started here.

You can also call me as a 2nd person, backing up Michael on this:

Dan Mezick, Agile Boston organizer
203 915 7248
http://www.newtechusa.com/agileboston/DanMezick.htm
dan [dot] mezick [at] newtechusa [dotcom]

Here is the current, high-level backlog on this project:

As a teacher, I want to be able to download lesson plans and materials for the sessions.

As a teacher, I want support in learning how to use the curriculum.

As a teacher, I want to learn how I can use Scrum to teach more effectively.

As a student, I want material that supports my learning needs.

As a student, I want to learn more effectively.

As a student, I want to organize my work more effectively.

As a student, I want to be taught in a wonderful way.

As a student, I want to learn how to communicate through conflict.

As a student, I want to learn how to manage my time.

As a student, I want to learn how to be open about my feelings and needs.

As a student, I want to learn how to ask for help and not be afraid of doing so.

As a student, I want to use my creativity to explore possible solutions to problems I encounter.

As a student, I want to learn how to reflect effectively on decisions I have made.