Ken Shelton

Educator, Expert in the Field of Transformational Teaching, & Author

Traveling From: Los Angeles, CA

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Why Book This Speaker

Ken has more than 30 years of experience training, having participated in 2,500+ speaking engagements, working with 20+ corporate partners, and impacting more than one million students, teachers, and education leaders. With both international experience and deep passion, Ken is a thought leader for the future of education.

Program Descriptions

Design Matters: Rethinking Learning Environments

In today’s age, the terms learning and classroom (learning space) have taken on a myriad of different and newer meanings. Both regularly occur and are associated with physical and digital environments. Often times the design of these environments can be a determining factor in the desired outcomes. In both cases, the designs of each can not only influence the learner, but also the breadth and quality of their learning experience. It is this experience that can mean the difference between successful engagement in learning and disengagement. During this keynote we will examine ways in which we can leverage the designs of physical and digital space to create a unique learner experience as well as strategies for effective design of learning environments. Because, Design Matters.

Transformational Teaching and Learning with Technology

In our quest to provide students with rich learning environments, we often strive to find creative ways to further engage our students. In some cases, this may involve the use of technology to a variety of degrees. Since technology has a ubiquitous influence in the everyday lives of our students, one of our biggest challenges is to identify ways in which we can leverage it for increased student learning. This keynote will examine a variety of methodologies and strategies for effectively implementing and integrating technology into the curriculum. We will also look at ways in we can leverage the use of technology to increase student engagement as well as foster environments for equity.

A New Approach To Literacy: Information, Media, and Technology

We have an unprecedented level of accessibility to information. This information can be research, news, stories, and data. In many cases our access to that information can, and often does, occur across a myriad of technological devices including a computer, a tablet device, and a smartphone. Given the mass quantities of information available, it is vital for us to develop strategies on curating, analyzing, critiquing, and using this information. Part of this is discerning what is useful versus what is not. What is reliable versus what is not. This keynote will focuses on identifying appropriate strategies and methodologies for developing a Literacy around information, media, and technology. The keynote also examines why these skill sets are critical for our students and ourselves.

Watch Ken in Action

About Ken

Ken (He/Him/His) currently holds an M.A. in Education with a specialization in Educational Technology as well as New Media Design and Production. He has worked as an Educator for over 20 years and spent most of his classroom experience teaching technology at the Middle School level. As a part of his active involvement within the Educational Technology community, Ken is an Apple Distinguished Educator, a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, and a Google Certified Innovator. Ken has worked extensively at the policy level with a number of State Departments of Education, Ministries of Education, non-Profits, and was appointed to the Education Technology Task Force formed by a previous California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Ken regularly gives keynotes, presentations, consults, and leads workshops, covering a wide variety of Educational Technology, Equity and Inclusion, Anti-Bias/Anti-Racist, Multimedia Literacy, Cultural Intelligences, Visual Storytelling, and Instructional Design topics. Ken is the International Society for Technology in Education Digital Equity Professional Learning Network 2018 Excellence Award winner. Ken is the International Society for Technology in Education 2022 Making IT Happen Award winner due to his extraordinary commitment, leadership, courage, and persistence in improving digital learning opportunities for students. Because of his extensive and broad impact, Ken has also been named by EdTech Magazine as an influencer to follow. Ken has had the privilege to speak at many major conferences and events around the world as well as in schools, school districts, and school boards. He brings a worldly breadth of practical experience, knowledge, and perspective. Among his many National and International speaking opportunities, Ken had the privilege to speak at the TEDx Burnsville ED event, and CRESSTCon16 at UCLA in front of a predominantly Higher Ed audience, both of which are below. Ken has also provided and continues to provide consulting support to many companies, State Departments of Education, Ministries of Education, school districts/systems Nationally and Internationally, as well as non-profits such as the California Emerging Technology Fund’s School2Home program which is designed to support closing the Achievement Gap and Digital Divide at low-performing California middle schools. Ken is currently serving on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Board for several tech companies as well as non-profits. His Board services include advisement, platform analysis, policy analysis, and outreach, in addition to the development of both equitable and inclusive internal recruitment and retention programs.