Our story begins with research in the neuroscience of memory, trying to solve a critical question: What role does neurogenesis (the new birth of neurons) play in learning? At the Hospital for Sick Children / the University of Toronto, we found that neurogenesis regulates, differentiates, and supports new memories by linking them to learning environments. In reality, it's a little more complex than this. You can check our paper in Nature here.

Inspired by this, we adventured into a new way of teaching through learning environments heavily relying on the principles of experiential learning, multiple intelligences, and the utilitarian angle of STEM (a quick note because sometimes I get asked about this, multiple intelligences are not learning styles, learning styles are a myth despite its pervasive infiltration in pedagogical literature. Multiple intelligences is the understanding of learning through utility. For example, a musician probably has high musical intelligence). With all this in mind, we called this system EDITH a play on Education Diversified on the Imaginative use of Talents for Happiness. Edith was also my mother's name, who was the original founder of the physical school in Mexico City and passed away before I took over. 

In reality, that's why I'm here doing education; it was a tragic accident that I'm trying to turn into a blessing.

So... EDITH is taught in specific learning environments through experiences, emphasizing these experiences' vital role in consolidating more complex learning. We found that children taught through our methodology reached higher learning objectives when compared with traditional systems; this is the central premise of EDITH Foundation in Mexico City, Imagine & Make online, and now, EDITH Learning in Toronto.

Before moving back to Toronto, the school in Mexico grew significantly in the last few years. It began the process of international expansion a couple of months before the development of COVID19. Fortunately and unfortunately, this slowed our growth in Canada and led us to rethink the type of education we wanted to deliver online. Parents had many questions regarding the efficacy of traditional schooling turned digital, and children were not motivated to learn. Honestly, this is not entirely due to the digital migration of education. Still, some parents might think so since this is the first time they had to take a closer look at how traditional teaching works in a traditional school. 

Imagine & Make was born as the logical evolution of the physical school services we offered, but this time online. We immerse students in experiences and learning environments. This time we took it quite far figuratively and literally, with a team of teachers worldwide delivering classes in some incredible places like the top of the Eiffel Tower.

I hope, somehow, I've clearly articulated who we are. I hope I didn't overshare, but sometimes I can't help it since we are heavily invested in this, emotionally and scientifically... and if you've concluded that, you'd be right because that's our secret sauce.

If you have any more questions, talk to me. I love to make new friends, and I love to speak about education. You can schedule a zoom with me, or catch me in the chat tool within our website.

Much love, 

- Rudy

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