Oct 26-28th: help us empower at-risk kids and reboot education.

From Oct 26-28, during the DIYDays LA conference and Open Access Week, The Workbook Project along with UCLA, FreedomLab Future Studies and the Mozilla Foundation will host a think-tank meets hackathon called Wicked Solutions for a Wicked Problem (WSWP).

WSWP works to bridge the gap between technology, storytelling and problem solving within a collaborative environment. The experience will begin on Oct 26, 2011 at UCLA's Charles E. Young Research Library. Over the course of 48 hours, a “core team” of programmers, designers, storytellers, community leaders and researchers will work to harness the power of storytelling to impact the future of education and help alleviate the problems of high student to teacher ratios. On Oct 26, the core team will spend 12 hours in a "Mindstorm," developing a spec that uses storytelling to improve the education experience. They will then hand over this spec to a group of hackers, who will have 24 hours to create a prototype that places education directly in students’ hands in an effort to unlock creativity. On Oct 28, the team will present a working prototype to the DIYDays LA audience.

On Oct 26th -- during the Mindstorm --  Work with us, online, as we try to figure out which paradigms of storytelling can be applied to improve the education experience. Participate in the conversation, contribute your own education experiences or expertise and collaborate with a team from all over the world on harnessing the power of storytelling for a social good. The Mindstorm will take place from 8:30am-7:30pm Pacific Standard Time. 

We're looking for educators and perspectives from all over the world -- if you are interested in participating online, please e-mail ekp2102@gmail.com with your name and the time you will be available to collaborate.

On Oct 27th --  If you are in the LA Area -- We’re looking for some talented hackers to take part in building prototypes designed to put education directly in the hands of students. Prototypes will be presented on stage on Oct 28th at the close of DIY DAYS in front of an audience as well as a special panel of angel investors, NGOs and educators. Hackathon takes place Oct 27th (11am to 10:30pm) @ Charles E. Young Research Library on UCLA’s campus. Come with a team or come and find a team to work with. This is a social hack that is intended to be fun and for a very good cause. The goal is to help reboot aspects of the educational system, find ways to empower students and learning while at the same time having fun. Food and drink supplied by your friends at the Mozilla Foundation.

But it's not just for hackers!

It’s not enough to bust a hack—you need to spread the word. We’re inviting creative people of all stripes to help communicate what the teams have made over the course of the hackfest.

Bring a camera, bring your thinking cap, and help the teams advertise the fruits of their labors.

Will you make a movie-style trailer for their hack? An web-based interactive intro? A slidecast?

Help these ideas spread by catching the world’s attention. Everyone of all skill levels is welcome.

SPACE is limited so if you are interested in taking part please send an email to work@workbookproject.com with the subject “hack for social good.”