Wonder, Place & What Comes Next
Cala del Sonno, Golfo Aranci
Greetings from Sardinia,
Here on the northeastern coast, August is in full swing, yet my thoughts are already turning to the months ahead and to the power of place in learning, not just as a physical location, but as something that shapes our experiences, perspectives, and possibilities. From the shores of Sardinia to the streets of Reggio Emilia and the sculpture gardens of Princeton, I’m reminded how every place, natural or built, can shape how we think, dream, and connect. Each space tells a story, and those stories become part of how we learn, teach, and grow.
Whether you’re deep in holiday mode or already preparing for the new school year (as many of our colleagues in Northern Europe are), we’re excited to share a few important updates and invitations. From films and workshops to upcoming events and global collaborations, here’s what’s been happening—and what’s ahead.
1. What if Wonder Was the Curriculum? | A Look Back at June in Reggio Emilia
In June, we hosted a group of wonderful educators from three continents in Reggio Emilia for The Hundred Languages of Educators—a week of shared inquiry, creative exploration, and reflective practice.
We walked the city. We worked with materials. We asked questions.
Together, we explored what happens when professional learning becomes creative, reflective, and relational. When we treat the city as a classroom. When we learn with our hands, our hearts, and each other.
We looked into art, creativity, architecture, and pedagogy through hands-on workshops, reflective city walks, ateliers, and shared meals. We listened, observed, and imagined what education can become when we allow ourselves to slow down, pay attention, and create together.
This short film is a small window into that week.
It’s beautiful.
It’s not a 30-second Instagram reel - it’s six minutes. I wrote a short thank-you note on LinkedIn—see it here.
But it will be worth your time.
Whether you were there with us or are just discovering what we do, we hope the film offers inspiration and a sense of what becomes possible when educators from different cultures and contexts come together to think, feel, and wonder.
2. Bringing Wonder to the World Stage – Vote for Our SXSW EDU Session
Together with A.J. Ernst, we’ve submitted a proposal for SXSW EDU 2026—one of the world’s most influential education events and our session is now officially in the running!
What is SXSW EDU?
Held each year in Austin, Texas, SXSW EDU brings together thousands of educators, researchers, and changemakers from around the world to explore the future of learning. Past speakers have included Brené Brown, Sir Ken Robinson, Temple Grandin, and Sal Khan, alongside educators and practitioners offering fresh, provocative perspectives.
Our Session:
The Light, The Child, and The Pinecone: What if wonder was the curriculum?
Rooted in creativity and inspired by Reggio Emilia, in our hands-on workshop, we invite educators to ask:
What if wonder was the curriculum?
We’ll explore:
Curriculum as a space of possibility, shaped by curiosity, place, and time.
Professional development as a creative, relational process of reflection and shared encounters.
Learning environments that leave room for play, emergence, and the unplanned.
How You Can Help
Session selection includes public votes (30%), and voting is now open!
If you believe that curiosity, creativity, and meaningful encounters should shape the future of education, we’d love your support.
🗳️ Vote for Our Session & Leave a Comment & Share with Your Network
🔗 Join the Conversation on LinkedIn
We also shared a post about our proposal. Feel free to leave a comment or share it with your community.
Let’s make space for wonder on the world stage—together.
3. Explore Our Updated Website – Start with the Books
Over the summer, we’ve been quietly updating our website. It’s still very much a work in progress, but we’re excited to open the doors and invite you to explore.
One section we’re especially proud of?
Our new Book Recommendations—a growing list of thought-provoking reads that inspire our work and challenge us to think differently about education, creativity, and learning.
From philosophy and pedagogy to art, design, and social change, these books have sparked conversations, shifted perspectives, and shaped the way we approach professional learning.
We’ll continue to add to the list over time—and we’d love to hear your suggestions too.
If there’s a book that has challenged your thinking, sparked your imagination, or shaped your approach to teaching and learning, let us know. We’re always curious about what others are reading, and we’d be delighted to feature contributions from our community in future updates.
Take a look at the list here.
And while you're there, feel free to explore the rest of the site. We’ll be sharing more updates soon—including new projects, upcoming events, and ways to connect.
4. What’s Next? Two Themes, Two Locations
Il Borgo del Balsamico, Albinea / Reggio Emilia | June 2025
We’re currently working on two new learning experiences for 2026, each exploring how place, creativity, and pedagogy intersect in meaningful ways.
Theme 1: Art, Architecture, Creativity, and Pedagogy
This experience will take place in two very different locations:
– We’ll return to Reggio Emilia, a city that continues to inspire our work
– And a surprise location across the Atlantic
In both places, we’ll explore how art and architecture shape educational spaces, how creativity fuels learning, and how pedagogy can be reimagined through materials, design, and shared experience.
Theme 2: Place-Based Learning – The City as Atelier
This experience will take place in Reggio Emilia, where we invite participants to see the city as a classroom, as an atelier—a space for inquiry, imagination, and relational learning.
We’ll walk, observe, listen, and create—asking how place influences what and how we learn, and how local context can shape global thinking.
Both experiences are designed for small, international groups of educators, creative, reflective, and relational at heart.
In June, we welcomed educators from three continents. In 2026, we aim for five.
We’ll limit each group to 25 participants, with 10 spots available through Erasmus+ funding to ensure space for diverse cultures and contexts to come together.
📩 Let us know you’re interested and send us an email to info@educademy-eu.com
More details coming soon… but for now, consider this your early invitation.
Thank you for being part of our community.
We’re excited about what’s ahead—and we hope to learn, create, and wonder together in the coming months.
Warm wishes,
Ozgen from Educ@demy
P.S. Don’t forget to vote for our SXSW EDU session and explore our growing book recommendations list—we’d love your support and suggestions!
