For ELDc19 our theme is Generation Emerging.
Perhaps more than ever in human history, students today have awareness of how they are positioned in the world. With a wide range of technology readily available, being part of a global conversation is no longer just the realm of multinational companies, it is in the hands of anyone with an internet connection. Due to the hypercycling of products, tools, trends, etc., youth not only are, but need to be living on the bleeding edge. Staying current is not just fashionable; it is a powerful skill that is necessary to remain nimble. As costs for education increase while salaries remain stagnant, people need to be intentional when spending resources towards learning. However, as traditional markets collapse, opportunities for the future are also materializing. In the rapid cycling marketplace, beta test is the product and can be the difference between phenomenon and implosion. While all of this has led to an era of uncertainty, it also provides many opportunities for early adopters to transcend structures to make their voices heard. The students of today and tomorrow are living in and being shaped by these conditions. With passion for social responsibility, dedication to diversity, and ambition for engagement, this is a generation emerging.
ELDc19 seeks to grapple with the issues facing the emerging generation and their educational journey. With a society in flux, educating students for an unknown future presents exciting challenges. Self-driving cars, self-replicating AI, and transhumanism will all be common rather than merely on the pages of a science fiction novel in the not so distant future. This future will augment the potential for learner experience design. ELD invites you to engage with and reflect upon how we can best educate the generation emerging and leverage their forward thinking ideals to propel society forward.
