Max Cycles and Canoes across North America in the name of Education
Why Cycle?
In March 2013, SAP announced a partnership with the Interaction Design Foundation (IDF), an organization that provides free textbooks and online education materials that are created by leading academics and practitioners of software design. The Denmark-based IDF develops much of its content as massively open online courses, known as MOOCs, a trend in education that is gaining momentum. SAP is a leading supporter of IDF through sponsorship. So how does this tie into cycling?
The Share the Knowledge Tour
IDF’s educational resources, as well as MOOCs available through Open SAP, are being promoted through the Share the Knowledge Tour. During the first six-month-leg, IDF’s cyclist, Max, will cycle and canoe more than 6,000 miles through North America. Max is sharing knowledge of IDF’s mission of providing free education materials on software design, emerging economies, and the developed world.
The tour kicked off at SAPPHIRE NOW in Orlando on May 17th, and Max is now on his way north. He’s headed to Newtown Square, PA for a full day of activities including an employee rally and design thinking workshop.
Universities, IDF and SAP
Along the way, Max has been stopping at colleges and universities for pep rallies for two hours at a time to present educational resources available from IDF and Open SAP.
The idea is that the stops at universities will receive wide coverage through social media channels (hashtag #ShareTheTour). And campuses will continue to gain valuable coverage in local and university media, showcasing each host campus as a leader in innovative education.
Students, professors, and members of university and local communities along the way meet with Max, hear his inspiring story to bring high quality education materials to every part of the world to improve lives, and see his cutting edge touring technology.
Follow “Mad” Max and Track His Progress
As part of the sponsorship, IDF is collaborating closely with the SAP User Experience Community on educational initiatives — both for SAP employees and the whole world. IDF is also teaming up with the SAP University Alliances program to help its members create learning material that promote simpler, more innovative and efficient product design. Working with more than 1,300 universities worldwide using SAP solutions in the classroom, SAP University Alliances brings IDF content to these institutions.
Follow the Tour via these Channels:
- Tour Video Preview
- Tour Coverage
- Follow the Tour on Facebook
- Follow the Tour on Twitter: #ShareTheTour
- Follow IDF on Twitter: @Interacting
- Follow periodic updates & commentary on @SAPBayArea
Grand Finale
SAP in Silicon Valley will be hosting Max at UC Berkeley and Stanford University towards the end of October at the end of the North America leg of the Tour. More updates to follow throughout the 6-month-tour and once we get closer to the final date. Without giving away too much, it will be a great event!
Don’t you wish you could be part of this adventure? I sure do. At least we get to track it virtually.
If you do happen to be part of a stop along the route, please DO comment on this blog.
Read more #SCN blogs on IDF and “Mad Max”:
Follow updates on #SAP, #SiliconValley and the Tour at @SAPBayArea.
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