Sugata Mitra is an educator, innovator, and professor of Educational Technology at the School of Education, Communication, and Language Sciences at Newcastle University in England. In 2013, he delivered an award-winning TED presentation, “Build a school in the cloud”. His ideas of students as self-organized learners are embraced globally. His presentation titled ’Schools in the Cloud - glimpses of the future of learning’ offers a refreshing look on the power of playful learning. (Thursday March 14, 8 AM)
Stephen Nachmanovitch is an improvisational violinist, educator, and computer artist. He is the author of Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art. At the conference, he will offer his insights on Free Play and excerpts from his “soon-to-be-published” book – The Art of Is: Improvising, Impermanence, Imperfection. His address is aptly titled “This is Play.” (Workshop on Thursday March 14th & Keynote address at 8 am on Friday March 15th, 2019)
Lenore Skenazy who has earned the dubious title of “America’s Worst Mom” is a New York City columnist-turned reality TV show host. She will describe the notion of raising Free Range Kids. Her message creates the much-needed space for true play. Please visit Let Grow: Future-Proofing Our Kids and Our Country for more information. (Friday, March 15, 1:30 PM)
Jenny Mills is an advocate for the importance of access to play as a human right for all children. She serves as the Director of Limitless Child International works with children in orphanages throughout the world. Her presentation on the “Role of play for vulnerable children” reflects her passion to give marginalized children a childhood and bring play, learning, and social connections to extremely vulnerable children. Please visit Limitless Child International to learn more about their vision and creative programming. (Thursday March 14, 1:30 PM)
Anna Yudina is director of marketing initiatives at the Toy Association, has been a champion of The Genius of Play program to educate parents about the benefits of play to child development. She will talk about attitudes towards play among millennial parents and the impact of integrated communications on helping parents understand the connection between play and learning. Please visit the Toy Association to learn more about the advocacy and research conducted by the Toy Association. (Saturday March 16 8 AM)
Walter Drew is the President of The Association for the Study of Play. Walter F. Drew, Ed.D., is the founder and executive director of the Institute for Self Active Education. For more than 40 years, he has researched and conducted hands-on adult play experiences with open-ended materials as a process for awakening creativity, strengthening early childhood practice, and as a way of generating hope and optimism across the human life span. He is the creator of Dr. Drew’s Discovery Blocks, chosen Best Toy of the Year by the Parents Choice Foundation in 1982. He co-authored an exciting new book published by NAEYC, titled, “From Play to Practice: Connecting Teachers Play with Children’s Learning“. He is the recipient of Patricia Monighan Nourot Award in 2009 Dr. Drew will deliver the Presidential Address on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 11:00 AM