A Cool Technology and Education Conference for Everybody part 1: Keynote speaker Eric Sheninger

“Pedagogy is the vehicle. Technology is the accelerator!” 
- Eric Sheninger 

This TECH CORNER will highlight some of the wonderful presentations and resources from CONNECT 2015 conference in Niagara Falls, Canada.

A high school student from the Niagara Region ran by me as he entered to listen to the keynote speaker. We both paused at the door to find a seat.  I said, “You look excited.” He responded, “Do you know who this is? This guy is a Makerspace and mind craft junky.  He makes his students do it in school.”  Apparently, I should have known about Eric. “Tell your story!” was Eric Sheninger’s final message in CONNECT 2015 keynote address.  During the presentation, Eric had done just that. As the principal of New Milford High School(NMHS) in New Jersey, he helped transform the learning culture of teachers and students, profoundly altering student success rate and performance using the deliberate and productive practice of technology.

Listen to Eric’s TEDx presentation as he explains his vision and the success of his school. 

CBS News, New York heard Sheninger’s story and was so impressed by NMHS' Makerspace program they produced new segments on the initative. Check out the CBS News segment on NMHS’s 

CBS News also explored NMHS’s pilot project on virtual learning.

Eric’s keynote touched on many of the education technology tools but his focus on the traits of leadership, trust and these traits’ connection to the confidence of taking learning and teaching risks by both teachers and students was his main theme.  His quote, “Pedagogy is the vehicle. Technology is the accelerator! ” was a powerful statement but his emphasis on trust to build this risk taking accelerated the use of the technology that lead to the success of his team.  So what I am saying is TAKE THE RISK!!!

I will conclude this Tech Corner with a few links.

Listen to what Eric has to say on Digital Leadership.

Eric’s website.
http://ericsheninger.com/esheninger/home

Eric’s blog:

http://esheninger.blogspot.ca/

 Eric talks about the brilliance of his team and particularly about New Milford High School’s visionary librarian, Laura Fleming. Laura has become a Library Media Specialist and is an enormous advocate for interactive multimedia technology and pedagogy.  Check out her blog, Worlds of Learning.

http://worlds-of-learning.com/

These are some incredibly innovative educators. I can definitely see why that high school student was so excited. Take the risk and share your story!

This concludes part 1 of CONNECT 2015.

If you have a story where technology has helped increase a teaching or learning goal and would like to share it with us.  If so please contact me at: willjlegge65@gmail.com

Till next time,

Bill