Using Mister Rogers' Blueprints to Build Better Learning Experiences Session

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Fred Rogers was more than a nice guy in a sweater—he was also a learning scientist who was decades ahead of his time. In this talk, we’ll explore how Fred engineered Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to develop the “tools for learning” that boost academic outcomes and social-emotional well-being among kids and adults alike. We’ll also discuss how educators, families, and communities can use Fred’s blueprints to nurture those tools today, igniting hope in learning spaces nationwide. With examples from Remake Learning, we’ll share inspiring, actionable ways to follow in Fred’s footsteps.

Learning Objectives:

Identify how Fred Rogers engineered Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to develop the "tools for learning" that experts now consider essential to children's success.
Discover how funders, educators, and other caring adults can use Fred's blueprints to nurture wonder, belonging, justice, and joy.
Understand the "the Fred Method"—that is, Fred Rogers' technique of combining whole-child support with what we're learning about learning itself.
Develop ideas for applying "the Fred method" in attendees' learning spaces.

Ryan Rydzewski

Writer, The Grable Foundation, ryan.rydzewski@gmail.com

Ryan is an award-winning author and speaker who leads workshops for educators, parents, and neighbors nationwide. As a writer for The Grable Foundation — a private family foundation dedicated to improving the lives of children — his stories focus on everything from schools to space travel to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. He's the co-author, with Gregg Behr, of WHEN YOU WONDER, YOU'RE LEARNING: MISTER ROGERS' ENDURING LESSONS FOR RAISING CREATIVE, CURIOUS, CARING KIDS (Hachette, 2021). Website: RyanRydzewski.com, Twitter: @RyanRydzewski.

Track: The Next Experience

What are the emerging trends in society, education, and/or school planning, design, construction, supply, and operation that should be informing our conversation today?

Primary Core Competency
Educational Visioning: Exhibits an understanding of best and next practices related to educational leadership, programming, teaching, learning, planning and facility design. Establishes credibility with educators, community members and design professionals while conceiving and leading a community-based visioning process. Demonstrates the ability to articulate the impact of learning environments on teaching and learning and uses that ability to facilitate a dialogue that uncovers the unique needs and long-range goals of an educational institution and its stakeholders – translating that into an actionable written/graphic program of requirements for the design practitioner.