Getting Smart is excited to be a media partner for SXSW EDU and will reporting live on Twitter (@Getting_Smart) and recording audio for upcoming podcast episodes. 

Monday, March 4th

Life Beyond the Diploma: Adults with Autism

What: Join an ecosystem of educators and business leaders to discuss emerging learning modules and skill-sets that are effectively preparing students with autism for post-secondary success and meaningful employment. Panelists will discuss how to make these learning approaches and skills. including personalized and project-based learning, more accessible to young adults, specifically those with autism, working in partnership with software development firms.
When: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Where: Austin Convention Center, Room 10C
Who:

• Adam Kulaas, Director of Learning Design, Getting Smart
• Gary More, Co-Founder, President & CEO, nonPareil Institute
• Lisa Marie Coates, Special Education Teacher Leader, Chesterfield County Public Schools
• Kim Tagge, Director, nonpareil Institute

Revolutionizing Edtech with Interoperability

What: Project Unicorn, Digital Promise, and Cajon Valley USD will discuss how districts can dig deeper to develop a digital ecosystem with interoperability and discuss pain points identified by districts, including privacy, security, policy compliance, and rostering. Technology will never replace great teaching. Rather, it can help educators to inform instruction, save time, and improve student outcomes. Learn how to optimize your data and mobilize your movement in the digital space.
When: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Where: Austin Convention Center, Room 11AB
Who:

• David Miyashiro, Superintendent, Cajon Valley Union School District
• Caroline Vander Ark, President, Getting Smart
• Kimberly Smith, Executive Director, League of Innovative Schools, Digital Promise

Tuesday, March 5th

Building Student Agency Through the Power of Place

What: Learning doesn’t just happen within brick and mortar school buildings—powerful learning happens in our communities. In fact, some of the most personalized learning starts when students engage in their communities and unpack who they are, where they are from, and how they can make a difference right now. In this session, participants will work with students to explore Austin as a community and reveal the six essential place-based education design principles.
When: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon K
Who:

• Emily Liebtag, Director of Advocacy, Getting Smart
• Nate McClennen, VP of Education & Innovation, Teton Science Schools

Wednesday, March 6th

Collaborate vs Compete: Sustaining via Networks

What: Changing education is complicated. Working in networks reduces complexity and increases effectiveness and impact. By providing design principles, learning models, tools, and professional learning, networks play a key role in scaling and sustaining high-quality, equitable learning. Informal and formal networks can support the transformation of a single school or an entire system. Hear from network leaders and learn how you can leverage the power of networks to transform learning.
When: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon H
Who:

• Tom Vander Ark, CEO, Getting Smart
• Lydia Dobyns, President & CEO, New Tech Network
• Royce Avery, Superintendent, Manor Independent School District
• Juan Cabrera, Superintendent, El Paso Independent School District

Better Together Book Signing

What: While you’re at SXSW EDU make sure to grab your copy of Better Together: How to Leverage School Networks For Smarter Personalized and Project Based Learning and get it freshly signed by the authors, Lydia Dobyns and Tom Vander Ark.
When: 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Where: Austin Convention Center, Atrium Landing on Level 3
Who:

• Tom Vander Ark, CEO, Getting Smart
• Lydia Dobyns, President & CEO, New Tech Network

Thursday, March 7th

Building Talent Pipelines Through City Ecosystems

What: We live in a time of rapid change. How the next generation learns, expresses themselves, socially and civically engage and what motivates them is shifting dramatically. Join this workshop to explore new approaches to building talent pipelines designed with the city as the core unit rather than educational institutions alone. We will be joined by civic and higher ed leaders as well as entertainment and design experts to discuss creating workforce solutions for the 21st century.
When: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Where: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon K
Who:

• Tom Vander Ark, CEO, Getting Smart
• Connie Yowell, CEO, LRNG
• Paul LeBlanc, President, Southern New Hampshire University
• Rob English, CCO, Friends At Work

Other Sessions Worth Checking Out

Passion as a Skill
When: Monday, March 4 from 12:30 PM – 12:50 PM
Where: Austin Convention Center, Ballroom E
Who: Bennett Huhn, One Stone

Building Equitable Education Ecosystems
When: Monday, March 4 from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Where: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon A
Who: Connie Yowell, CEO, LRNG; Elyse Eidman-Aadahl, Executive Director, National Writing Project

To Design For Youth, Design With Youth
When: Tuesday, March 5 from 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Where: Austin Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 4
Who: Nancy Chou, Learning Designer, LRNG

Project Good: A Toolkit for World Changing
When: Wednesday, March 6 from 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Where: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon C
Who: Ruby Berliner and Jackson Mcewan, One Stone

Ideation CrashUp
When: Wednesday, March 6th from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Where: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon K
Who: Megan Kittridge, One Stone