Exciting changes in education

The 2018 KU Annual Conference 'New Frontiers from Strong Foundations' will focus on igniting a new level of excitement for teaching and learning that will propel educators toward “New Frontiers” of education with a sense of anticipation, courage and enthusiasm.

We asked our keynote and sponsored speakers, Steve Sammartino and Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, to share their insights into what is happening in education today and how we can harness that to build strong foundations for future generations.

Five minutes with Steve Sammartino

Steve Sammartino is Australia's most respected futurist and media commentator on emerging technology. Steve is one of the world’s most engaging and thought-provoking keynote speakers on the Future and is the author of bestselling books on the technology revolution. His keynote address will challenge educators to reinvent thinking about reshaping teaching and learning that is congruent with the shifting demographic of contemporary society and the challenge of digital literacy and technologies.

The KU Annual Conference has the theme of "New Frontiers from Strong Foundations". How does the messages in your book tie in with this theme?

The theme is exactly aligned to what's happening right now. Most of us in Australia are lucky we live in a democratic country with a solid starting ground to early education – and this is exactly what "The Lessons School Forgot" is all about. It a new approach to add to the foundation we already have of the three R's. My message is that education is not something we should ever finish. It's a process that must continue if we wish to thrive.

What are some of the key messages that you share in your book 'The Lessons School Forgot'?

The book covers some of the things that school didn’t have time to teach us, or that weren't even invented yet. The world is changing around us at a rapid pace, and while it sometimes seems scary, it has brought with it a chance to rebuild the world in a more human way. For the first time in history we've been given the most powerful tools to reinvent both ourselves, the industry we work in and our society – we just need the will to do it and the will to push forward and create the change we want to see.

What motivated you to write your book?

Some of the most important things I've learned in my life happened outside of school. Things like how to reinvent your life and career, and how to reshape an industry so it can become future proof and better suit its customers. I also wanted to dispel a few myths about jobs and money. Jobs change over time and we need to change with time. I think this is the most important topic in the global economy right now – how to adapt to change because it effects everyone.

What are the main aspects of your keynote presentation?

Technology is not to be feared – it's just a tool like a car is. Very few of us know how a car actually works under the bonnet and that has never bothered us. The only thing we need to know is how to drive and where a car can take us. Modern digital technology is much the same – we only need to know how to make it work for us, not how it works underneath. The rest is about imagination and putting humans first.

Five Minutes with Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg is one of Australia's highest profile adolescent and child psychologists. Michael's presentation will cover the nature and extent of bullying in schools and invite discussion of the nature and extent of the psychological impact of bullying and what we can do about bullying in early childhood settings.

What are some of the important key messages you share in your books?

The rates of mental health problems in young people are increasingly being recognised and there seems to be more risk factors than protective factors in the lives of our young people. As adults we need to concentrate on building wellbeing in our young people through good sleep, a healthy diet, adequate exercise and mindfulness meditation. I worry that as a group this generation appears less resilient than previous generations and we need to concentrate on providing them with charismatic adults, social and emotional competencies, islands of competence, flexible self-talk and a sense of meaning, purpose and belonging.

What motivated you to write your books?

The continuing high rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal ideation and completed suicide amongst our young people. The suicide rate for girls is double what it was 10 years ago.

The KU Annual Conference has the theme of "New Frontiers from Strong Foundations". How does this theme tie in with the key messages you share in your books?

There is a dovetail, as we are both talking about prevention. Build strong foundations and you reduce the overall prevalence.

What are the main aspects of your keynote presentation?

I shall talk about evidence-based strategies to build happy and resilient young people, with heaps of practical tips.

---

Register now for the 2018 KU Annual Conference 'New Frontiers from Strong Foundations'.