Program

2020 Program

From AI to Workforce and everything in between, the program at LearnLaunch2020 explores the major topics facing education innovators today and in the future.

Download a PDF of the agenda here.

Day 1 – Thursday, January 30

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7:30am – 6:45pm

Third Floor Lobby

Registration

Registration is open in the lobby for the duration of the conference.

If you have registered in advance, you’ll pick up your badge at the top of the escalators on the 3rd floor. Limited on-site registrations will also be available while supplies last.

Business Keynote

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8:30am-9:30am

Room 302/304/306

Edtech CEOs on creating the future of learning

Frank Britt CEO, Penn Foster | Jamie Candee CEO, Edmentum | Michael Hansen CEO, Cengage
Moderated by John Kim Professor, Harvard Business School

Join a panel of CEOs from across the education industry as they discuss the future of learning.

Kicking off the conference, they will assess their biggest opportunities and challenges; describe the evolution of K-12, higher education, and workforce learning; and explore how the structure of education and learning may change over the coming decades.

What is the profile of the types of learners today? In 5 years? What education will prepare learners for the rest of the 21st century? How do you see the industry changing? What will be the impact of the “tech backlash?” Will educational workflows change to allow digital to achieve impact? What will be the impact of AI? In other industries, large investments in tech infrastructure have resulted in consolidation. How is that now playing out in education, and how will it in the future? What excites you most about the future, and what challenges you the most? How can we “unleash the promise” of digital transformation in education?

Participants in this session will:

  • Assess their biggest opportunities and biggest challenges
  • Explore how the structure of education and learning may change over the next 20-50 years
  • Describe the evolution of K-12, higher ed and workforce learning

Thursday, January 30 | First Morning Session

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10:00am-10:45am

Room 312

EdWeek research: Navigating the district buyer journey

Ben Delaney-Winn General Manager, Global Sales & Advertising Product Management, Education Week

EdWeek presents its latest findings.

EdWeek will present its latest findings on the district decision-maker’s journey — from overall up-at-night issues, factors influencing them to look for new vendors or retain existing, top improvement priorities and planned investment changes, buying cycles and district vs school purchasing preferences based on product category and district size, top sources for information, K-12 company perceptions, content marketing consumption patterns, buying team influence, and more.

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10:00am-10:45am

Room 311

The future of work: Looking ahead at trends in workforce edtech

David Blake Executive Chairman, Degreed | Joseph Fuller Professor, Harvard Business School | George Westerman Principal Research Scientist & Senior Lecturer, MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy
Moderated by Karen Cator President & CEO, Digital Promise

Work is changing rapidly and many forecasts predict continued seismic shifts.

There continues to be a gap in the demands of employers for skilled employees and the supply of those employees. What are the viewpoints of researchers, employers, education providers and government with regard to this challenge? What are the key trends they are seeing?

Participants in this session will: 

  • Review leading views on the future of work
  • Address key responses of employers and education providers
  • Explore the key trends driving workforce edtech
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10:00am-10:45am

Room 309

AI advances in assessment & learning

Peter Foltz Vice President, AI Products and Solutions, Pearson | Peter Gault Founder & Executive Director, Quill.org | Rebecca Kantar Founder & CEO, Imbellus | Jennifer Knestrick Senior Product Manager, NWEA
Moderated by Renee Foster Former President, Curriculum Associates

AI is being leveraged in an increasing array of education technology programs.

In the assessment arena, machine learning and NLP are being used to improve assessment algorithms and automate grading of oral fluency, writing, and project-based tasks. AI holds the promise to decrease assessment time, reduce teacher grading time, and provide more rapid personalized feedback to students. Join us to hear leaders in the field discuss how they are using AI to transform K-12 education and where they hope to see the use/potential evolve over the next 2-4 years.

Participants in this session will:

  • Describe how their programs/products are deploying AI
  • Articulate the challenges they face in gathering data sets and training
  • Review the benefits students/teachers/schools are seeing over non AI-based alternatives
  • Discuss the current limitations of AI for their applications and what they see as the promise of AI to help students and teachers over the next 3-5 years
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10:00am-10:45am

Room 304/306

Investors speak

Jennifer Carolan Co-founder and General Partner, Reach Capital | John Duong Impact Investor, Lumina Foundation | Adnan Nisar Partner, Vistria
Moderated by Rob Lytle Managing Director, Head of Education, EY-Parthenon

What are you investing in? Why? With rising valuations, is edtech in a bubble?

Are there certain sectors or technologies which are of greater interest at this time? Are you concerned that your investments might benefit from an industry consolidation? 

Participants in this session will: 

  • Absorb the motivations of a private equity investor, a venture investor and an angel investor in edtech in this session
  • Review their view of the current investment environment for edtech
  • Absorb their comments on sectors and technologies of interest
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10:00am-10:45am

Room 310

Too much tech?

Tara Garcia Mathewson Staff Writer, The Hechinger Report | Lee Rainie Director, Internet and Technology Research, Pew Research Center

Global debates among researchers, clinicians, policy makers, and parents on the benefits versus consequences of children’s screen time exposure are ubiquitous.

Research suggests that excessive screen time is likely consequential for early child development and health. The World Health Organization and various pediatric societies have issued guidelines on screen time, suggesting that preschoolers receive no more than 1 hour of high-quality programming daily. They exclude videochatting with family members.

According to the Pew Center, nearly all U.S. teens (95%) say they have access to a smartphone – and 45% say they are “almost constantly” on the internet. That amount of screen time has raised concerns from parents, educators and policymakers across the country, and even many teens worry they use their phone too much. Their research indicates that students use screen time to pass the time, connect with others, and learn new things.

Educators observe higher-income parents pushing back on tech use, while lower-income parents see their children’s exposure to it as essential to the future. Are these debates a rerun of the concerns about passive consumption of TV and other media? Do they apply to interactive instructional technology? Is enough attention being paid to the development of student social and emotional skills, or their interpersonal skills of persuasion?

As adults are increasingly engaged with software and technology for their work and personal lives, what do we learn from these debates?

Participants in this session will:

  • Review the research on this topic
  • Explore the differences between use of technology in school and outside
  • Discuss what a “Goldilocks”  just right use of tech might be
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10:00am-10:45am

Room 313

2020 Across Boundaries Pitch Competition Semifinals

The LearnLaunch Across Boundaries Pitch Competition has lifted up many edtech innovators in its six years.

Over the course of the fall, more than 100 applicants from all over the country with burgeoning ventures in early ed, K-12, higher ed, and workforce ed competed in the pitch competition quarterfinals. Ten companies advance to the semi-finals at the LearnLaunch Across Boundaries conference. Top edtech investors select the two finalists who will pitch to the entire conference on Friday. The audience selects the final winner. 

SEMI-FINALISTS

  • Arist, presented by Ryan Laverty, CEO
  • BrainCeek, presented by Jason Fan, CEO
  • Ascend, presented by Christine Nicodemus, CEO
  • 2gnoMe, presented by Ilya Zeldin, CEO
  • InferCabulary, presented by Beth Lawrence, CEO

JUDGES

  • Barbara Clarke Partner, The Impact Seat
  • Ross Darwin Principal, Owl Ventures
  • Terry McDonough SVP and Managing Director, SEI Ventures
  • Liam Pisano Managing Partner, EduLab Capital Partners
  • Katie Warmington Senior Account Manager, Education Technology, Amazon Web Services

 

Participants will:

  • View the most current areas for digital innovation in today’s education ecosystem
  • Absorb what makes a compelling startup pitch
  • Review how seasoned investors question and judge the semi-finalists

Thursday, January 30 | Second Morning Session

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11:00am-11:45am

Room 309

Deeper learning in action: Computational thinking in the classroom

David Dimmett Senior Vice President & Chief Engagement Officer, Project Lead the Way | Shari Metcalf Project Director, Harvard School of Education | Tim Piwowar Superintendent, Billerica Public Schools
Moderated by Eric Klopfer Professor & Director of the Scheller Teacher Education Program and The Education Arcade, MIT

 

Educators increasingly see the need to lay the foundation for computer science and STEM topics in the early grades.

In order to increase the pipeline of students embracing the study of STEM and CS, they believe starting earlier than high school is key. What tools and approaches can be readily absorbed by teachers in the K-8 grade levels?

Participants in this session will:

  • Understand what is Computational thinking. Learn about the elements and how concepts are being experienced in K-12 classrooms.
  • Review the ways Computational Thinking gets integrated into curriculum to create “deeper learning” in STEM
  • Consider the kinds of skills and processes students should learn about in computational thinking and what trajectories that opens up for them
  • Discuss the teacher preparation and professional development requirements for successful implementation
  • Explore how we can make equitable environments for all students
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11:00am-11:45am

Room 311

Credentials are a-changing… or not?

Sean Gallagher Founder & Executive Director, Center for the Future of Higher Education and Talent Strategy, Northeastern University | Cindy Starr Chief Marketing Officer, Penn Foster
Moderated by Brian Fleming Executive Director, Sandbox ColLABorative, Southern New Hampshire University

 

The number and types of credentials are expanding. How are both consumers and employers responding to this new abundance?

Southern New Hampshire University is completing an ethnographic study of how Americans relate to credentials and will share the results. Penn Foster will also share results on its survey of learners who have not yet completed an associates degree. Are institutions responding to demand? Can consumers make sense of it? Do employers value them?

Participants in this session will:

  • Explore american consumers’ understanding and use of credentials
  • Delve into informal institutions and higher education’s creation of credentials
  • Address employers understanding and use of credentials
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11:00am-11:45am

Room 312

Voice technologies in education

Stefan Kohler CEO, Kickboard | Marissa Mierow Sr. Manager, Alexa, Amazon | Douglas Ng Harvard Business School
Moderated by Sanjay Pothen Director, Emerson Launch

Voice is increasingly used as a user-interface to computing systems.

Outside of customer service, what are the likely early application of this technology in education? Smart speakers in student dorm rooms? Smart speakers as a reference tool? Smart speakers to access family engagements systems or grade portals? 

 Participants will:

  • Review key applications of voice recognition in education
  • Address what sort of data infrastructure is required to add a voice user interface
  • Track the development of this emerging area
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11:00am-11:45am

Room 304/306

The future of the university: Stories of digital transformation in higher ed

Julie Greenwood Vice Dean for Educational Initiatives, EdPlus, Arizona State University |Vijay Kumar Executive Director, Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab & Associate Dean for Open Learning, MIT | Patrick Norton Chief Operating Officer, Tulane University
Moderated by Goldie Blumenstyk Senior Writer, Chronicle of Higher Education

Digital transformation is reshaping higher ed.

Online learning is higher ed’s growth sector, enabling institutions to reach new audiences. Institutions are seeking to create digital experiences and blended experiences in addition to residential face-to-face learning experiences for students. What do innovators see as the future of online learning? What additional changes is digital transformation likely to make in higher ed? What does it take to digitally transform the university?

Participants in this session will:

  • Hear key learnings and predictions of leading higher education innovators
  • Reflect on the changing student experience in online and residential learning
  • Review other key areas of digital impact on higher education
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11:00am-11:45am

Room 310

The survivors’ guide to edtech interoperability: What you need to know now

Stephen Laster Chief Product Officer, ellucian | Steve Midgley Managing Director, Learning Tapestry | Erin Mote Executive Director & Co-Founder, InnovateEDU
Moderated by Michael Feldstein Chief Accountability Officer, e-Literate

With hundreds of applications now operational in schools and colleges, educational institutions are demanding better application interoperability.

What standards are now considered established? Which emerging standards are the most likely to gain momentum? What should you demand as an educator? What should you support as an edtech? When is the pain of having a standard less than the pain of not having one?

Participants in this session will:

  • Review the momentum behind key standards
  • Absorb predictions from standards makers and interoperability enablers
  • Examine the role of large industry players
  • Address when the center of interoperability action will move beyond rostering and LTI
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11:00am-11:45am

Room 313

2020 Across Boundaries Pitch Competition Semifinals

The LearnLaunch Across Boundaries Pitch Competition has lifted up many edtech innovators in its six years.

Over the course of the fall, more than 100 applicants from all over the country with burgeoning ventures in early ed, K-12, higher ed, and workforce ed competed in the pitch competition quarterfinals. Ten companies advance to the semi-finals at the LearnLaunch Across Boundaries conference. Top edtech investors select the two finalists who will pitch to the entire conference on Friday. The audience selects the final winner. 

SEMI-FINALISTS

  • ForagerOne, presented by Ansh Bhammar, CEO
  • Beagle Learning, presented by Turner Bohlen, CEO & Carolyn Bickers, Partnership Development Lead
  • Entrepreneurial Sales Institute, presented by Alan Maguire, CEO
  • CapSource, presented by Jordan Levy, Executive Director
  • College Connect, presented by Natasha Lopez, CEO

JUDGES

  • Terah Crews Partner/ Head of Higher Ed Practice , Entangled Ventures
  • Jessica Haselton Director of Program-Related Investments, ECMC
  • Eduardo Laiter Senior Investment Analyst, Kapor Capital
  • George Moore CTO, Cengage
  • Jason Palmer General Partner, New Markets Venture Partners

Participants will:

  • View the most current areas for digital innovation in today’s education ecosystem
  • Absorb what makes a compelling startup pitch
  • Review how seasoned investors question and judge the semi-finalists

Lunch & Expo

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11:45am-12:45pm

3rd Floor Hallway

Lunch and exhibitor presentations

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12:00pm-12:30pm

Room 309

Google for Education

Google for Education has millions of students and teachers using G Suite for Education, Google Classroom, and Chromebooks.

Come to this session to learn about Google for Education and how to join our partner program as a closely integrated solution for shared users.

Innovation Keynote

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12:45pm-1:45pm

Room 302/304/306

Awaken your futuristic mindset to create the future of work + learning

Parminder Jassal Learn + Work Futures Group, Institute for the Future

Our conference theme is Creating the Future of Learning: Unleashing the Promise. In this keynote, Parminder Jassal of the Institute for the Future will ask you to lean into the future: the world in 2030.

Jassal will aid the audience in articulating future scenarios, picking a preferred future, and going after it. She is focused on enabling teams and organizations to articulate the why, what, and how of moving into the future. 

Drawing on the Institute for the Future’s research on the future of work and learning, Parminder Jassal will enable the audience to use future thinking to unleash education innovation. She will equip the audience with five principles for future thinking and examples which come from the intersection of the future of work and learning, and will share tools to help unleash the promise of the future.

Dr. Parminder K. Jassal  founded and leads the Work + Learn Futures Lab at the Institute for the Future. Parminder investigates the future through three intersecting lenses: the innovations of open economies; the changing role of people in their environments; and the relationship between learning and working. Through new research and research-inspired prototyping, Parminder applies insights from the fringes to promote positive culture shift and solutions by getting ahead of inequities.

Her experiences are driven by cutting-edge gigs at Fortune 50 companies along with co-founding start-ups. Parminder also served as Founding Executive Director of ACT Foundation and program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, supporting postsecondary success for low-income young adults. Parminder’s life itself reflects the world economy. Born in London, she graduated from high school in India and is a product of public higher education in the United States.

Thursday, January 30 | First Afternoon Session

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2:00pm-2:45pm

Room 309

Data, dashboards, and the whole child

Colin Angevine Project Director for Challenge Collaboratives, Digital Promise | Elizabeth Homan Assistant Superintendent, Waltham Public Schools | Lynzi Ziegenhagen CEO, Schoolzilla by Renaissance
Moderated by Katrina Stevens Director of Learning Science, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

How are schools and districts using data to personalize student learning?

As more schools have adopted edtech, there is much more formative assessment data as well as behavioral data. How are districts and schools making the data easier for teachers/leaders to get a full picture of students? Are they using the data dashboards from individual instructional or behavioral products, or attempting to integrate them? How does the data change instruction or culture in the classroom? Is the practice of multi-tiered systems of support assisting in the use of data?

Participants in this session will:

  • Learn how a variety of schools/districts are bringing data together for teachers to inform their decision-making
  • Understand the challenges of creating an integrated data and dashboard system
  • Hear about the steps necessary to make the data useful in practice
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2:00pm-2:45pm

Room 311

The search for new revenue and impact in higher ed: To OPM or not

Patrick Norton Chief Operating Officer, Tulane University | Stephen Spinelli President, Babson College | Todd Zipper Co-President, Wiley Education Services
Moderated by Jennifer Brady Chief Marketing Officer, UMASS Online

Colleges are looking to create new certificate and degree programs to drive new revenue and support their mission.

Partnerships with Operations Program Managers to move online can accelerate expansion. Is building internal capability to deal with rapid change essential, or is speed more important? 

Participants in this session will:

  • Assess when managed services are necessary to launch and run a post-secondary program
  • Explore what capacities need to be present to build new programs in-house
  • Review universities looking to acquire capabilities or establish new physical locations 
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2:00pm-2:45pm

Room 310

Workforce ed for the underserved

Shawn Bohen Chief Transformative Impact Officer, YearUp | Dr. Mary Coleman SVP & COO, Economic Mobility Pathways | Aanand Radia Managing Director, University Ventures
Moderated by David Soo Chief of Staff, Jobs for the Future

What innovative approaches are making a measurable impact on poverty?

How are organizations leveraging technology to deliver services to the underserved or to expand their geographical footprint?

Participants in this session will:

  • Explore different approaches to scaling workforce education for the underserved
  • Address the role of digital-enabled approaches, in conjunction with mentoring
  • Assess barriers to growth in this sector
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2:00pm-2:45pm

Room 312

Gaming and simulations as vehicles for learning and assessment

Rebecca Kantar Founder & CEO, Imberllus | YJ Kim Executive Director, MIT Playful Journey Lab | Priyanka Jain Head of Product, Pymetrics
Moderated by Matt Greenfield Managing Partner, Rethink Education

Game-based learning has seized the imagination of edtech enthusiasts as a way to gain and apply new skills in an engaging environment.

While parents may worry about screen time, designers are looking to apply knowledge from gaming to learning and assessment. Can playing Fortnite be a learning opportunity? 

Participants will: 

  • Review with leaders in the field how games are being used for assessment and learning
  • Explore the range of assessments deploying games: from early ed to workforce hiring and advancement
  • Understand how outcomes are validated in games
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2:00pm-2:45pm

Room 304/306

Entrepreneurs’ stories: Raising capital before the seed round

Helen Adeosun CEO & Co-Founder, CareAcademy | Bryanne Leeming Founder & CEO, Unruly Studios | Devin Young Co-Founder & President, ClassCraft
Moderated by Bill Triant Founder, Talent Ventures

The road to building an edtech company has twists and turns.

Learn from the stories of entrepreneurs about the ins and outs of “friends and family,” accelerators, pitch competitions, prize competitions, angel investors and venture funds. Have you demonstrated product-market fit? Developed a repeatable go-to-market model? Learn from successful entrepreneurs.

Participants will:

  • Review the range of funding sources available
  • Assess the requirements to be successful at gaining investment funds
  • Understand what must be demonstrated at each stage to be considered investable
  • Discuss appealing to experienced edtech investors and those who are new to edtech
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2:00pm-2:45pm

Room 313

YouTube or Yale:  What will Gen Z choose? The future of informal learning

Clay Colarusso Vice President of Marketing, American Student Assistance | Matt Cooper CEO, Skillshare | Emily Harburg Director of Emerging Technology & Innovation, Education First
Moderated by Amar Kumar SVP of Product & Portfolio Management, Pearson Online & Blended Learning

GenZ rates YouTube as its favorite learning tool. ASA finds millions of students responding directly to its online career exploration videos.

Afterschool learning for K-12 is growing. Workers pursue microcredentials on Coursera and Udemy. Co-working spaces, accelerators, and Meetup are all part of the professional learning ecosystem. Pearson’s Global Learner Survey highlights that learning is becoming more consumerized and DIY. B2C education is growing fast, but what is it disrupting, if anything?

Participants will:

  • Explore if this is additional demand for learning or a disruption
  • Learn which segments are growing most quickly: supplementary ed, career exploration, college transition, lifelong learning
  • Address how to assess and evaluate informal learning. Are credentials necessary?

Thursday, January 30 | Second Afternoon Session

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3:00pm-3:45pm

Room 311

Students speak

Isabel Chae 11th Grade Student, Greater Lawrence Technical High SchoolAliya Hedgecock 12th Grade Student, TEC Connections AcademyEthan Lefebvre 11th Grade Student, Nipmuc Regional High School | Hanan Tuffaha 12th Grade Student, TEC Connections Academy
Moderated by Jessica Lander High School Teacher, Lowell Public Schools

What do current students think about innovations in their schools?

In this session, we will hear lightning talks from students enrolled in traditional public high schools and online secondary schools.

These students will describe the changes most meaningful to them, as schools attempt to personalize their learning and connect it to the world of work. This session will include students who experienced “deeper learning,” project-based learning, internships, or other innovation pathways connected to the world of work. 

Join us as we explore the student perspective on education innovation and gain valuable insights for educators, entrepreneurs, and policy makers alike. 

Participants will:

  • Hear directly from students how changes in pedagogy are shifting their interest in school
  • Explore what students are eager for schools to stop, start, and continue
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3:00pm-3:45pm

Room 304/306

How students choose college

Michael Horn Chief Strategy Officer, The Entangled Group | Bob Moesta President & CEO, Re-Wired Group

In Choosing College, Michael Horn and Bob Moesta offer a framework for how students select whether and where to go to college -- and any form of learning after high school -- based on the “Jobs to Be Done” approach.

Explore the implications of this framework for colleges and educators, high schools, and parents and students in this session with the authors. 

Participants will:

  • Understand the Jobs framework and findings: Get into my best school; Do what’s expected of me; Get way; Step it up; Extend myself
  • Witness firsthand how to begin to uncover a Job to Be Done with an in-person interview of someone from the audience
  • Explore the implications for colleges, counselors, and parents
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3:00pm-3:45pm

Room 313

Talent leaders’ challenges: How does edtech help?

Eileen Cooke Learning and Development, CVS Health | Alejandro Reyes SVP & Chief People Officer, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Moderated by Meredith Rosenberg Technology, Digital Education & EdTech, Russell Reynolds Associates

What problems are talent leaders trying to solve today? Where does edtech help?

Advances in assessment may be changing how talent leaders are evaluating potential hires and employee skills. Labor shortages may mean more attention to upskilling employees. There is much blended and on-line learning content available now. Is it working for talent leaders and their organizations? Even coaching and management development is being offered via video-consults. 

Participants will:

  • Understand large employers’ perspective on digital transformation in identifying and developing talent
  • Address the most promising solutions
  • Explore the unsolved challenges for which leaders want digital solutions 
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3:00pm-3:45pm

Room 312

Student data privacy: Smart strategies to avoid big mistakes

Kerry Gallagher Assistant Principal for Teaching & Learning, St. John’s Prep | Elizabeth McGonagle Executive Director, The Education Cooperative | Leisha Simon Director of Technology & Digital Learning, Wayland Public Schools
Moderated by Kevin Bushweller Assistant Managing Editor, Education Week

School and district leaders are frustrated with education companies’ lack of understanding of their data privacy needs.

That is one of the reasons schools are being more explicit about what student data companies are collecting, how it is being stored, and how it is protected. But finding that balance between protecting students’ data privacy and using technology to innovate can be tricky.  Learn from experts, with deep experience with these challenges, about how to find that balance.  

Participants will: 

  • Learn what K-12 districts are demanding that digital providers ensure
  • Understand the essentials of a student data privacy agreement and the indemnifications required
  • Examine the implications for entrepreneurs and educators when districts and students own their own data
  • Identify the challenges for schools dealing with multiple privacy agreements
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3:00pm-3:45pm

Room 309

Global opportunities

Maria Spies Co-Founder & Managing Director, HolonIQ

Maria Spies, co-founder of HolonIQ, a leading provider of education market intelligence, will update us on global trends in edtech.

With investment in edtech in China outpacing investment in the US, she will lay out the global hotspots. The US leads Europe and India in an increasingly post-secondary and skills/talent dominated agenda as K-12’s early lead in edtech venture capital has plateaued and markets like pre-K and STEAM are coming to life. Who and what will set the pace in 2020?

Participants in this session will:

  • Compare the edtech growth in Asia, Africa, Europe, and South and North America
  • Explore what applications are global and which are local
  • Review potential opportunities for growth
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3:00pm-3:45pm

Room 310

The case for investment in early education

Stephanie Dodson Cornell Managing Director, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation | Jason Palmer General Partner, New Markets Venture Partners
Moderated by Michael Dougherty Managing Partner, Promise Venture Studio

Research, from Nobel Laureate James Heckman to Raj Chetty’s Opportunity Insights, indicates that investing in early education makes sense.

Recent advances in learning science and technology make the case for investment in early education even stronger. 

Participants will:

  • Understand the latest trends in public and private funding for early education
  • Explore the science that has brought the focus to early education
  • Absorb case studies of successful technology investments in early education
  • Address unmet needs in early education
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3:45pm-4:15pm

3rd Floor Hallway

Book signing: Choosing College

Join Michael Horn and Bob Moesta for a book signing in the main hallway following their presentation.

Higher Ed Keynote

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4:00pm-4:45pm

Room 302/304/306

Reinvigorating the promise of higher ed: Connecting talent and opportunity in the future of work

Scott Pulsipher President, Western Governors University

How can colleges and universities improve the quality and relevance of post-secondary credentials?

How can institutions personalize learning experiences to expand access and improve the success of all learner types, especially traditionally underserved student populations? What are the roles of technology and data in the personalization of learning? How can institutions reduce costs, increase ROI, and make college more affordable? How are competencies established and assessed? How do these competencies impact recruiting and development practices in the workplace?

Participants will:

  • Explore the future of post-secondary learning with the leader in competency-based education
  • Learn to rethink how learning is measured (outcomes vs. time), and how WGU aligns learning outcomes with workforce needs
  • Understand the value of personalized learning journeys in expanding access and optimizing student success

Scott Pulsipher has served as President of Western Governors University, the nation’s premier nonprofit competency-based university, since April 2016, leading all academic, operational, and organizational functions. He cultivates a student-first environment by using technology and data to improve learning outcomes, graduation rates, employment, and overall student wellbeing.

WGU was founded by the Governors of 19 western U.S. states as a non-profit university with a purpose to change the lives of individuals and families. WGU has grown into a national university, serving 125,000 students from all 50 states while receiving numerous accolades and recognition from Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative Companies to #1 NCTQ Teacher Prep Ranking to Center of Excellence for Nursing Education recognition by National League of Nursing. WGU now has 165,000  graduate alumni across all industries and among industry-leading employers.

Prior to joining WGU, Scott led several technology-based, customer-focused businesses, including Amazon Webstore, Sterling Commerce (now part of IBM), and two successful startups that traverse retail, supply chain, banking, payments, and manufacturing sectors.  

He serves on multiple higher education and technology boards, including: Education Co-Chair for Committee for Economic Development, advisory board member at the Presidents’ Forum, board member at the American Council on Education, and member of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board.  

Scott holds an MBA from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in Management from Brigham Young University.

LearnLaunch Accelerator Demo Day

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4:45pm-6:45pm

Room 302/304/306

LearnLaunch Accelerator Demo Day and Reception

 

Day 2 – Friday, January 31

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7:30am – 4:15pm

Third Floor Lobby

Registration

Registration is open in the lobby for the duration of the conference.

If you have registered in advance, you’ll pick up your badge at the top of the escalators on the 3rd floor. Limited on-site registrations will also be available while supplies last.

Pitch Competition

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8:30am-9:00am

Room 302/304/306

2020 Across Boundaries Pitch Competition Finals

 

In the final round of the LearnLaunch2020 Pitch Competition, the audience chooses between the two finalists.

Finalists are selected by a jury of professional investors and industry experts during two consecutive rounds on Thursday following quarterfinals held throughout the fall and winter. 

K-12 Keynote

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9:00am-10:00am

Room 302/304/306

Innovating for equity

Kaya Henderson Former Chancellor, Washington DC Public Schools

The American Dream depends on all children having the opportunity to have access to a great education. Kaya Henderson will tell the story of the gains made in Washington DC, with strategies ranging from talent management to instructional technology.

Kaya Henderson leads the Global Learning Lab for Community Impact at Teach For All. There, she seeks to grow the impact of locally rooted, globally informed leaders, all over the world, who are catalyzing community and system-level change to provide children with the education, support, and opportunity to shape a better future. She is perhaps best known for serving as Chancellor of DC Public Schools from 2010-2016. Her tenure was marked by consecutive years of enrollment growth, an increase in graduation rates, improvements in student satisfaction and teacher retention, increases in AP participation and pass rates, and the greatest growth of any urban district on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) over multiple years.

Most recently, Kaya has served as a Fellow with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a Superintendent-in-Residence with the Broad Leadership Academy, a coach with Cambiar Education, and a Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence at Georgetown University.

Kaya’s career began as a middle school Spanish teacher in the South Bronx, through Teach For America. She went on to work as a recruiter, national admissions director, and DC Executive Director for Teach for America. Henderson then served as the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at The New Teacher Project (TNTP) until she began her tenure at DCPS as Deputy Chancellor in 2007.

A native of Mt. Vernon, NY, Kaya graduated from Mt. Vernon Public Schools. She received her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and her Master of Arts in Leadership from Georgetown University, as well as honorary degrees from Georgetown and Trinity University. Her board memberships include The Aspen Institute, The College Board, Robin Hood NYC, and Teach For America. She chairs the board of Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC), an organization that she co-founded.

Friday, January 31 | First Morning Session

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10:00am-11:00am

Room 300

2020 National Edtech Plan Focus Group

Hosted by Karen Cator CEO, Digital Promise & Jake Steele Deputy Director, Office of Educational Technology at U.S. Department of Education

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10:30am-11:15am

Room 311

How are educators using edtech to close equity gaps?

Kevin Clark Professor, George Mason University | Paul Foster Chief Information & Accountability Officer, Springfield Public Schools | Erin McMahon Chief Academic Officer, Kipp Foundation
Moderated by
Tonika Cheek Clayton Managing Partner, NewSchools Venture Fund 

Edtech is now widely used in K-12 classrooms. Is it making a positive difference in teaching and learning?

These practicing educators will describe how they are using edtech to close equity gaps in their schools.

Participants will:

  • Review how educators weave edtech into the constraints of the school day: in class, after class, at home
  • Discuss the challenges of grade-level material in class while addressing learning gaps
  • Explore the extent of professional development needed to fully incorporate edtech to change outcomes
  • Understand acceleration opportunities
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10:30am-11:15am

Room 310

Student voices: Online programs and breaking the cost curve in higher ed

Moderated by Nina Huntemann Senior Director, Academics & Research, edX

We know students struggle to afford college.

They may try to gain college credit before formally enrolling (through AP, dual credit, early college) or go to less expensive community colleges and then transfer to a four-year university to manage their costs. Online learning has also been growing as a way to serve adult learners. What is the student experience as they pursue college degrees in these innovative programs? Student speakers will reflect on the paths they have pursued to “bend the cost curve” of college: both strengths and challenges.

Participants will: 

  • Hear firsthand from students pursuing online BA degrees; two years at a community college with a transfer to a four-year; hybrid online and face-to-face programs; and a micromasters en route to a Master’s Degree

  • Explore the strengths and challenges of these approaches as students seek to manage the time and investment required to pursue higher ed

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10:30am-11:15am

Room 309

No degree — No problem? Exploring inclusive talent pipelines

Nayla Daly Community Manager, Mass Tech Leadership Council MJ Ryan Director of Workforce Development, Partners Health Care Natalie Van Kleef Conley Product Lead, Google IT Support Professional Certificate, Google
Moderated by Sean Gallagher Executive Director, Center for the Future of Higher Education & Talent Strategy and Executive Professor of Educational Policy, Northeastern University

In the midst of an historically tight market for talent, many employers are increasingly moving beyond relying on bachelor’s degrees as job requirements.

A number of employers – such as those featured in this discussion – are developing more inclusive talent pipelines, through innovative new types of partnerships, alternative credentials, the use of skills assessments, and changes in hiring processes. This session explores these dynamics and what it means for the economy and education ecosystem at large.

Participants will:

  • Explore how employers are changing their hiring and on-boarding processes when exploring credentials and moving away from requiring a BA
  • Address alternative assessments for identifying appropriate candidates
  • Address the huge pipeline issue over the spectrum of talent
  • Review if these are experiments or major initiatives
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10:30am-11:15am

Room 304/306

The convergence of workforce development and higher ed: Reaching non-traditional learners

Pam Eddinger President, Bunker Hill Community College Gregory Fowler President, Global Campus, Southern New Hampshire University Garrett Smith Deputy Chancellor, UMASS Boston
Moderated by Rosalin Acosta Secretary of Labor & Workforce Development, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

More than half of post-secondary learners are adults. They have jobs and families and are not looking for a hiatus from their work lives.

This session examines the key changes that post-secondary educational institutions are making to address this large and growing market. Colleges must address core issues relating to how to collaborate with industry to create in-demand programs, credit for experience and transfer credit articulation, blended and on-line offerings and changes needed in student support service infrastructure.

Participants in this session will:

  • Review how a community college, a public university and an online university address these challenges
  • Explore the technology which is assisting their moves
  • Identify their unsolved challenges
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10:30am-11:15am

Room 313

How can the learnings from Yelp, CarGurus, or Redfin transform decisions on which learning opportunity to select?

Matt Gee Co-Founder & CEO, BrightHive Jeff Merriman CTO, DXtera Institute

Data is powerful, but there needs to be a data model that allows applications to talk to each other to realize the potential of connecting job data and learning opportunities.

Data standards for jobs already exist. What if we could create a map of educational opportunities, a measurement of value, and a link to job opportunities? Google Social Impact and Richmond VA have done so. 

Participants will:

  • Understand the data standards being developed to enable more transparent selection of education opportunities
  • Review experiments happening in the market and the elements that are missing
  • Address the question of what are the next steps to creating student data records and institutional outcomes records that will guide better education investment decisions 
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10:30am-12:45pm

Room 312

Learning Innovation Showcase

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10:30am-12:45pm

Room 302

Future of Work Showcase

Friday, January 31 | Second Morning Session

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11:30am-12:15pm

Room 311

Making learning relevant: Pathways and connections to the world of work

Andrew Frishman Co-Executive Director, Big Picture Learning | Amy Loyd Vice President, Jobs for the Future | Connie Yowell CEO LRNG/EVP, Southern New Hampshire University
Moderated by Annabel Cellini Chief Strategy Officer, American Student Assistance

How are schools and communities responding to changes required by the world of work?

The demand is high for “authentic learning experiences.” Schools attempt to manage partnerships for internships or authentic projects, but it takes time, connections, and effort. Are there ways to simplify this work? What are the unsolved problems and who is trying to solve them?

Participants will:

  • Address how schools and communities are working to make learning relevant for high school students
  • Examine what opportunities exist to move this from individual school efforts to “this is how high school works” and thus expand the number of students
  • Understand the economics and platforms available to assist in making these connections
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11:30am-12:15pm

Room 304/306

Real talk: Leading transformation when it’s not entirely welcome

David Hardy CEO, Lorain City Schools
Interviewed by Andy Calkins CEO, Next Generation Learning Challenge

The challenge of change is real, but we rarely have the opportunity to hear the brutal truth about the pathway and roadblocks that exist within an urban district that is plighted by a state takeover in a community where local control reigns supreme.

Despite the obstacles, David Hardy, Jr, former CEO of Lorain City Schools, charged forward to transform one of the lowest-performing school districts in the country. Join us in his conversation with Andrew Calkins, Director of Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC), where we will engage in a truth-bearing discourse that will force us to rethink the undeniable realities of creating sustainable progress in entrenched school systems.

Participants will:

  • Reflect on the difficulties and roadmines in a program of change
  • Review stories of change for key stakeholders
  • Explore successes and failures on the road to district transformation.
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11:30am-12:15pm

Room 310

Learning analytics and new pedagogies

Donna Kidwell CTO, EdPlus, Arizona State University | Laurie Pulido CEO, Ease Learning | Alan Wolf Managing Director for Academic Technology Services, Harvard University
Moderated by Julie Greenwood Vice Dean for Educational Initiatives, EdPlus, Arizona State University

What is the latest use of learning analytics in higher ed?

In this session, practitioners will lay out the leading edge of learning analytics and how it influences pedagogy in their institutions, describing the context in which faculty adopted the use of learning analytics and how it is influencing teaching and learning. Some institutions of higher ed are able to require their faculty to use digital platforms and learning analytics. In others, faculty must be wooed by release time, academic technology support and other benefits in order to move to new digital learning approaches. 

Participants will:

  • Understand several leading edge case studies of higher ed using learning analytics 
  • Explore the capacities which need to be in place in order to be successful
  • Share views on key challenges to overcome and benefits to be gained
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11:30am-12:15pm

Room 313

AI in higher education…outside the classroom

Jonathon Chillas Vice President & Chief Data Officer, National University | Katy Kappler Co-Founder & CEO, InScribe | Adam Martel Co-Founder & CEO, Gravyty
Moderated by Ramji Raghavan Founder & CEO, Pragya Systems

AI and chatbots are surging in admissions, advising, and administration.

Learn from those deploying them what non-academic problems they are focused on solving. What challenges do they present? What are foundational requirements for success? How fast is the landscape changing?

 Participants will:

  • Review uses of AI by universities beyond assessment and grading
  • Assess key requirements for a successful implementation
  • Absorb the range of AI applications already being deployed in higher ed
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11:30am-12:15pm

Room 309

What does the election hold for education innovation, edtech, and the business of education?

Sean Cavanagh Managing Editor, EdWeek Market Brief | J.D. LaRock President & CEO, Network for Teaching EntrepreneurshipWayne Lewis Dean of the College of Education, Belmont University and former Kentucky Education Commissioner
Moderated by Anna Edwards Co-Founder & Chief Advocacy Officer, Whiteboard Education

Education is a regulated business. Governments pay for over 90% of K-12 education, and are the primary funders of higher education through state subsidies and student loan support.

Governments also fund local workforce boards and their workforce development efforts. Past regulatory actions resulted in the growth of supplementary education, the growth of charter schools and career and technical education, and the crash of for-profit higher ed. ESSA has encouraged the growth of solutions focused on chronic absenteeism. With higher ed legislation on the docket, and a national election in 2020, what is the regulatory outlook for education? Are there areas of agreement that point a way forward? Or should organizations build scenario plans?

Participants will:

  • Review key areas in which ESSA is influencing education innovation
  • Explore the drivers behind reauthorization of federal Higher Ed statutes

Lunch & Expo

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12:15-1:15pm

3rd Floor Hallway

Lunch and exhibitor presentations

Closing Keynote

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1:15-2:15pm

Room 302/304/306

Developing students for the future of work

David Blustein Program Director, PhD Counseling Psychology, Boston College | Ed Hidalgo Chief Innovation & Engagement Officer, Cajon Valley Union School District
Moderated by Tom Vander Ark CEO, Getting Smart
Presented by Jean Eddy President & CEO, ASA

This keynote session will focus on the Future World of Work and how our institutions need to support learners and prepare them for opportunities they will encounter.

With a focus on reimagining the role of guidance and other resources, practitioners will discuss innovative programs being implemented across the country. An example of this innovation will feature Cajon Valley Union School District in the San Diego area, which created a scalable integrated curriculum for students in grades K-8 to explore their interests, talents, and values, and learn how those align with possible careers. Over the course of their elementary and middle school years, students are exposed to over 50 different careers matched to their personal profile. The program was developed in collaboration with the University of San Diego, San Diego Workforce Partnership, Class of the Future Foundation, and San Diego County Office of Education. With a generous donation from American Student Assistance, the World of Work program is now available to 33,000 students in 38 schools in three additional school districts for the 2019-2020 school year. Learn from this cross-sector collaboration how to prepare students for the future of work.

Friday, January 31 | First Afternoon Session

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2:30-3:15pm

Room 304/306

Guidance: Key to academic and career success

David Blustein Program Director, PhD Counseling Psychology, Boston College | Ed Hidalgo Chief Innovation & Engagement Officer, Cajon Valley Union School District
Facilitated by Tom Vander Ark CEO, Getting Smart

Given the dynamic career landscape and expanding secondary and postsecondary options, the guidance gap could be more critical than the achievement gap.

Guidance includes monitoring academic and social development and promoting good decision making; career awareness and postsecondary planning; connections to work/service opportunities and youth/family services. Good schools make guidance everyone’s job through a strong culture and a combination of dedicated and distributed services.  

Participants will:

  • Address the guidance gap and innovations to close it
  • Review approaches to promoting career awareness and postsecondary planning
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2:30-3:15pm

Room 311

Assessments on the move

Ed Dieterle Executive Director of the Center for External Research & Strategic Research Alliances, Educational Testing Service | Jennifer Elineema Assistant Superintendent, Winchester Public Schools
Moderated by Lynn Olson Senior Fellow, FutureEd

As more stakeholders have embraced the need for K-12 schools to address 21st-century skills and competencies, more groups are focused on how these might be measured.

As more schools have adopted edtech, there is much more formative assessment data, including data on socio-emotional development and school climate. Early adopters are experimenting with competency-based progressions. How will these needs drive the future of assessment in K-12? 

Participants in this session will:

  • Examine how educators are creating evidence of learning
  • Address the challenges of assessing capstone projects and “authentic” work with inter-rater reliability
  • Explore the gaps in technology support for this movement
  • Identify the next steps which may drive change
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2:30-3:15pm

Room 309

Superintendents speak on what they want from edtech now

Gary Maestas Superintendent, Plymouth Public SchoolsDavid Quinn Director of Instructional Technology, Mendon-Upton Regional School DistrictMary Skipper Superintendent, Somerville Public Schools
Moderated by Steve Hiersche Retired Superintendent, Beverly Public Schools

Recent research indicates that the average school may be using 700 edtech products.

What do superintendents expect from edtech now that many are already providing a tech-infused learning environment? Are they looking for better support in professional development of teachers? Clearer privacy, security, and interoperability? Better integrated suites of solutions across school operations? More evidence of impact? 

Participants will:

  • Hear directly from district leaders what are the top priorities on their list from their CIOs and heads of digital learning
  • Explore what superintendents believe are the barriers and challenges preventing them from getting value from current and future educational technology
  • Understand what superintendents see as the potential for the next 5 years
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2:30-3:15pm

Room 313

What works to create successful student retention initiatives?

Jackson Boyar Co-Founder & CEO, Mentor CollectiveScott Fleming EVP, Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer, StradaJulia Spears Associate Vice Provost for Academic Innovation, University of Pittsburgh
Moderated by Gates Bryant Partner, Tyton Partners

Colleges are working hard to increase completion rates, both to support their missions and to increase revenue.

What works to create a successful program? Are there preconditions to enable success? What role does technology play? What transparency and data privacy are required? Are their governance approaches which increase success?

Participants will:

  • Learn from a five-year longitudinal study of college student success initiatives 
  • Explore the types of tech solutions that are being employed to support student retention: behavioral nudge software, data analysis software, CRMs 
  • Address new advising strategies and the technology that can support them
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2:30-3:15pm

Room 310

AI and adaptive learning

Barry Malkin CEO, Carnegie Learning | Venkat Srinivasan Founder, Intelligent Machine Lab
Moderated by Vijay Kumar Executive Director, Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab and Associate Dean for Open Learning, MIT

In digital instruction, AI algorithms are prescribing automated personalized learning paths for students and suggesting interventions to teachers.

Data analytics and research teams are leveraging machine learning to optimize performance predictions and algorithms. Join us to hear leaders in the field discuss how they are using AI to transform K-12 education and where they hope to see the use/potential evolve over the next 2-4 years.

Participants will:

  • Articulate the benefits students/teachers/schools are seeing over non AI-based alternatives
  • Discuss the current limitations of AI for their applications and what they see as the promise of AI over the next 3-5 years
  • Address how these approaches are being introduced into schools
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2:30-4:00pm

Room 300

Building products your learners will love

Facilitated by Amy Baron Director, Education & Education Technology, Cantina | Alice Chiang Lead Designer, Cantina | Randy Duke Experience Strategist, Cantina | Katrina Stropkay Service Designer, Cantina

Participate in a hands-on workshop where product designers from Cantina will walk you through the process of working through a problem.

Participants will: 

  • Practice applying design thinking skills to address learner challenges 
  • Explore key principles of learner-centered design 
  • Learn about methods to help you identify your key target learner audience 
  • Discuss the practicality of design thinking and your business goals
  • Learn how to apply industry best practices beyond the workshop

Friday, January 31 | Second Afternoon Session

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3:30-4:15pm

Room 312

Career education in middle school

Facilitated by Tom Vander Ark CEO, Getting Smart

With a wider array of high school options, some that include accelerated pathways to college and careers, it’s critical to provide career awareness in middle school.

It can also increase relevance and boost student engagement. A cohort of Massachusetts middle schools, funded by American Student Assistance, are bringing career exploration and post-secondary readiness into their schools. Each school is approaching the process in a unique way. Some have changed curriculum, some changed scheduling, and all have provided teacher professional development in order to move career development into the middle school years.

Tom Vander Ark will facilitate a discussion with Massachusetts middle school leaders about how they provide career education in ways that build a sense of purpose and support informed high school choices 

Participants will:

  • Learn from practitioners the approaches and challenges of addressing this topic
  • Address innovative approaches to provide more career exposure to middle schoolers
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3:30-4:15pm

Room 311

Moving to personalized teacher professional development – how?

Malika Ali Director of Pedagogy, Highlander Institute | Chris Audette Principal, Tansey Elementary Fall River Schools | Grace Magley Director of Digital Learning, Natick Public Schools | Jennifer Nicol Director of Innovation, TechBoston Academy, Boston Public Schools
Moderated by Beth Rabbitt CEO, The Learning Accelerator

How should we train and support educators to work with innovative platforms to deliver learning?

Panelists will describe how districts are personalizing teacher PD, in particular what solutions they are using. Are these moves related to key initiatives like teaching CS in all grades, adding more STEAM to the curriculum, adopting  universal design for learning, or moving to personalized learning? How might CEUs/PDPs and additional salary be used? What about the role of unions, or teacher leader groups? 

Participants will:

  • Investigate how innovating districts are addressing the move to personalizing teacher PD to support key initiatives and teacher career development
  • Explore which tech platforms are assisting them to make the move
  • Understand how blended learning, train-the-trainer approaches, coaching models, and other strategies are used
  • Review major challenges, and how they might be overcome 
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3:30-4:15pm

Room 304/306

Where is the AR/VR applications market in education heading?

Umar Ashad VP, Head of Growth, PTC | Mark Atkinson CEO, Mursion | Renee Franzwa Product Manager, Education, Unity Technologies |
Moderated by Jeffrey Pomerantz Associate Professor of Practice and Coordinator of Online Programs, Simmons University

XR investors list gaming, health care and education as the top fields adopting extended reality.

We may be familiar with VR field trips, VR anatomy, VR physics, and VR workplace training. While there are lots of interesting experiments in AR/VR in education, where is the technology making a unique contribution and growing fastest? The cost structure of the hardware means that most applications are currently in a lab setting. Given the cost, what is the learning value over and above other products that educators already know? How do developers decide on a platform and establish a go-to-market? Are platform providers growing the content market?

Participants will:

  • Review the current state of the AR/VR market in education and workforce training
  • Assess the go-to-market strategies available
  • Explore the market development strategies of majors like Google, Microsoft, and PTC
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3:30-4:15pm

Room 309

Ed credentialing on the blockchain

Joe May Chancellor, Dallas County Community College District | Amin Qazi COO, Greenlight Credentials | Rick Van Rice Architect, GNY.io
Moderated by Donna Kidwell CTO, EdPlus, Arizona State University

Blockchain continues to grow as a development environment for smart contracts and a decentralized education credential certifier.

This panel will address the most recent pilots and progress, and the prognosis for further growth or pilot use cases.

Participants will:

  • Connect with early adopters of the technology
  • Absorb updates on the latest pilots
  • Review projections for the future
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3:30-4:15pm

Room 310

Financial innovation in paying for learning: How will it change education?

Angela Ceresnie CEO, Climb Credit | Jerome Hodges Managing Director and Chief Research Officer, Jain Family Institute | Karthik Krishnan CEO & Co-Founder, MentorWorks
Moderated by Richard Price Research Fellow, Clayton Christensen Institute

Bootcamps and some colleges and universities are enabling income sharing agreements for their students to finance higher education.

Does this approach bring higher education and employers into closer interaction? Do intermediaries such as bootcamps provide this for higher ed, or is this a fintech innovation? How will these alternatives to standard student loans change education?

Participants will:

  • Review the economics of ISAs: how they work for the lender and the learner
  • Explore the ramifications of these new instruments which cross the boundaries of higher ed and workforce

Register Now for 2022!

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