SxSWi

South by Southwest Interactive

In the academic/education sphere there is often criticism leveled at the technology world for not getting more involved in education in the U.S. With billions of dollars in I3 and RttT funds flowing into education, might we see new sources of education innovation coming from the high tech, interactive crowd? I think the answer is yes. Personally, as an advocate for gifted children in our public schools, I had often experienced the worlds that technology opened for students who had lost interest in traditional school models. Students who were frustrated with slowly paced, or uninteresting and irrelevant material delivered within the four walls of the long classroom day were going home to eagerly engage in MMORPGs, SIMS, or even Club Penguin’s online worlds at night.

I was absolutely convinced that education belonged at SxSW Interactive. But I was still surprised (excited, elated) when a Core Conversation for KnowledgeWorks was selected AND another Core Conversation for our New Tech subsidiary was approved as well. Since then I have combed through the Panel Picker and Scheduler and have compiled the following list of education-themed sessions. Let me know if I missed any and I’ll add them in. All links go directly to the SxSW website and complete descriptions of each session and presenter.

I hope through this list to generate some excitement in the education/academic sphere for the thought and work going into education innovation by leaders in the technology field.

Jeanne Bernish