General Sessions

 
  • FRIDAY, 4:15-5:45 p.m.
     
     

    Sir Ken Robinson—Historian, Author, and Research Professor of Education, New York University, NY

    Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative

    National education systems worldwide are being reformed to meet the challenges of the 21st century. As a respected adviser to governments in Europe, Asia, and the United States, Robinson argues that many countries are pushing reforms in the wrong direction. Drawing from his groundbreaking book, Out of Our Minds: Learning to Be Creative, he explains why too many countries are locked into a model of education shaped by the Industrial Revolution and a narrow idea of academic ability. Urging schools and colleges everywhere to urgently rethink basic assumptions about intelligence and achievement, he focuses on the vital questions: Why is it essential to promote creativity? Why do so many adults think they’re not creative? Most children are buzzing with ideas. What happens to them as they grow up? Can creativity be developed? In exploring these questions, Robinson argues for radical changes in how we educate all students to meet the extraordinary challenges of living and working in the 21st century.

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  • SAT., 4:15-5:45 p.m.
     
     

    Douglas Reeves—Founder, The Leadership and Learning Center, Salem, MA, Author

    Leadership and Learning 2012: What's New About Change Leadership?

    It’s time to challenge the conventional wisdom about change leadership. Reeves asks several provocative questions: Does system-level change really take five to seven years? Is an implementation dip necessary? Is stakeholder buy-in a precondition of significant change? With compelling evidence from different research perspectives, he challenges these and other prevailing notions of change leadership and addresses other timely topics, including finding resources, assessing 21st century skills, and engaging students.

    How can schools save time and money? In a presentation packed with the latest research and practical applications, Reeves will simultaneously encourage and challenge every member of the audience.