Lynn Rasmussen - Learning Strategist

Last week I ran my new idea for a business by a few people. David Fisher, Maui’s SBA guy, thinks it’s “hot” and thought that it might be useful for his business courses. Kawika Kekaula, the new director for the Hawaiian program at the Neighborhood Center of Wailuku, jumped on it as a basis for his program. (Kawika did an amazing series on Hawaiian values on Radiopio this year!) Patricia Inman, founder of Home School Learning Network, wants to be the system architect. Les Vogel outlined all of the functions for the development of the system and told me that none of it would require any substantial new tech development. My husband and closest friends ask all the difficult questions and make me think.

Here it is, so far:  I’m envisioning a “merit badge” system for achievements on a wiki-type website.  It might be called Ohana Pono and, if so, people would earn Pono Awards. (Laura Civitello, queen bee and muse of Radiopio, thinks that this name sucks on a bunch of levels. I’m thinking that because people can pronounce “obama” they can now pronounce “ohana.” She’s concerned about deeper issues).

Anyone can design (using a template), edit, teach, earn, tag, rate, or link a Pono Award. Awards can be for raising a puppy, mastering multiplication facts, or organizing a fundraiser. Each Pono includes vocabulary, concepts, skills/activities, and an application of that skill/knowledge in the  community.

The first Pono Awards will be each of eight or nine Hawaiian/universal values. Also the first Awards will be for writing/designing the Pono Awards and using the Ohana Pono system. A Pono Award may be consciously earned or can be awarded by a colleague, teacher, fellow volunteer, etc. for recognition of achievement.

Ohana Pono involvement will be recorded on facebook type/social networking pages. Your page shows what you’ve earned, taught, designed, and/or edited. Your qualifications as a teacher/grantor of a Pono Award will be on the page. You can link to your projects, maybe on youtube or flickr, and people can see how you earned a particular Pono Award.

Ponos can be tagged/categorized as “basics for citizenship” or “qualifications for firemen.” They can be linked to references, to how others achieved this Pono, and to other similar Ponos.

The system will spread using the Obama campaign system:  Paid field organizers meet 1:1 with community people and arrange house meetings where videos are shown and stories told. Field organizers sign people up to try the system and help them use it. They locate sponsors, collect data, make/meet goals, and suggest ways to improve the whole system.

The system is self-supporting. Individuals and local businesses could sponsor Ponos. Verification and/or certification services could form up. It could be a resource for employers for those who opt in.

The idea is BIG. It may be something else in a week. It’s moving from my mind, to my friends and family, and now here. Soon it will have its own site and blog. Keep in touch.