Ken Shelton

Ken Shelton Speaking Topics

• Techquity™: Creating Learning Environments For Sustainability, Equity & Access

  This interactive keynote will address how to navigate one of the biggest challenges educators face today—providing students with equitable and culturally inclusive learning opportunities. This talk will include a detailed analysis of the varying levels of culture, addressing our social-emotional needs and why we must ensure our students are provided a diverse and equitable educational experience. Further to these points, the primary objective of this talk involves an examination of the ways in which technology functions as an indispensable and pivotal element in achieving this goal. Intrinsic to the presentation are personal narratives that align with the central theme of integrating a pedagogy that is both culturally relevant and culturally responsive across all content areas.

• Revolutionizing Education: Unleashing the Unprecedented Power & Potential of Artificial Intelligence Technology in Education

  Step into the transformative landscape of Artificial Intelligence and witness its profound influence on education. This keynote will delve into the crucial topics of AI’s ever-growing role in our societal norms and its impact on education. The keynote examines how AI can be an automated mechanism in perpetuating or mitigating bias and the contemporary essential relevance of digital fluency skills. We’ll delve into the heart of AI’s impact on writing and research, creative expression, design, and information literacy while also emphasizing its potential in fostering many meaningful and relevant use cases. This keynote will further explore not only how AI revolutionizes time efficiency and student engagement, but also how it shapes our understanding of bias in technology and the importance of digital fluency in today’s world while preparing for tomorrow.

Navigating Digital Frontiers: Confronting Bias & Power for Equity in Education through AI

Navigating our new digital frontier requires us to examine the critical intersection of AI and education at a juncture of innovation and equity. This talk will explore how AI can either perpetuate disparities or empower transformative learning experiences, emphasizing the need for ethical implementation to ensure technology bridges rather than widens both digital and learning divides. This discussion simultaneously invites and challenges educators, leaders, and policymakers to explore strategies for creating/implementing AI systems that enhance teaching and learning while dismantling barriers to an equitable education. Join me as we look into pioneering solutions that confront AI’s challenges, ensuring a more empowering and equitable educational landscape.

Building Sustainable Pathways Towards An Inclusive & Mindful Culture

Among the many factors that play a role in our experiences, being seen, being heard, and being included are critical. School is no different, as these are aligned with some of our basic needs. Yet how often do we look at our own habits of mind and cultural norms to ensure that we are mindful of our actions/interactions and truly inclusive and mindful? In this interactive talk, we will take a macro perspective on school culture and develop strategies for consistently examining our habits of mind and cultural norms. We will look at the norms that can lead to a lack of inclusion and how we can make mindfulness a norm instead.

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. Oftentimes, the design of these environments can be a determining factor in the desired outcomes. In both cases, the designs of each can influence not only the learner but also the breadth and quality of their learning experience. This keynote is designed to explore authentic learning dynamically, where real-world relevance meets classroom innovation. This talk will delve into the essentials of designing learning experiences that resonate with students and empower them to take ownership of their learning. Discover how to integrate interdisciplinary approaches and foster a classroom environment where inquiry and exploration are combined with the strategic use of technology. We'll look at practical examples and strategies to help you transform theoretical knowledge into engaging, real-world applications that empower educators and students.