“Letting Them Lead: Adventures in Game-Based Self-Directed Learning” with Laurie Block Spigel

The Camden Public Library welcomes educator Laurie Block Spigel for a presentation about her book, Letting Them Lead: Adventures in Game-Based Self-Directed Learning on Tuesday, September 17, at 6:30 p.m. in the Picker Room. Books will be for sale after the talk.

Letting Them Lead delves into the transformative power of child-led learning and game-based personalized education, offering a firsthand account of how education can shift when students’ interests guide their learning. The author shares herjourney, emphasizing spontaneous decision-making and the creation of dynamic learning environments.

Highlighting the Magic Formula for class satisfaction and the role of games in solving problems, this guide inspires educators, parents, and learners to embrace an educational approach that fosters creativity and individual expression. It presents practical advice on designing curriculums that respond to students’ queries and passions, making every learning experience enriching and tailored.

Laurie Block Spigel homeschooled her two sons in New York City, where she created the website HomeschoolNYC.com and taught popular classes to homeschoolers. Laurie has lectured at alternative education conferences, written articles and published the HomeschoolNYC newsletter. Her book, Education Uncensored: A Guide for the Aspiring, the Foolhardy and the Disillusioned (2006), part memoir and part homeschooling guide, explains what’s wrong with America’s educational system. Laurie lives with her husband and cat in Maine not far from her younger son and daughter-in-law, where she writes, teaches, and advocates for homeschooling and game-based, personalized education.