Facilitators

Sir Ken Robinson

Named "Business Speaker of the Year" by 200 European companies, Ken Robinson makes an irresistible case for creativity and innovation and reveals how to increase them in any organization.

World Class Leader in Creativity: Finding and keeping the best employees in business and education in the new global economies lies in revolutionary approaches to unlocking creativity in all your talent. Sir Ken Robinson has led and advised high-impact national commissions on creativity, education and the economy in Europe, Asia and the United States. He has worked with Fortune 500 companies, national governments and some of the world's leading cultural organizations. Robinson translates his diverse and high-level experience into powerful messages with extraordinary warmth, passion and wit. The People Side of Organizations: Robinson's presentations, writing and consultancies draw from his worldwide experience and leading research in business, science, education and the arts. He helps organizations of all types to understand the core principles and strategies in sustainable approaches to fostering creativity and innovation. Robinson pushes leaders, managers and educators to think differently about their talent, showing them how to recognize and develop each person's unique talents so that the whole organization can innovate and thrive in our post industrial economies.

Author and Innovator: Robinson's book Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative is a mind-opening analysis of how organizations can jump-start the creative process by reforming outdated models and assumptions about intelligence and ability. The Element, his forthcoming book, explores how when people are "in their element," doing something they love, they are insulated against unpredictable changes, which leads to a more flexible and productive society.

Marco Torres

Teaching at a gritty urban school in Los Angeles, Marco Torres knows the deck is stacked against his students. “We’re giving them a third world education,” he says. Acknowledging the situation, Torres knew his choices were simple. “I could quit. I could complain. Or I could innovate.”

Torres, who teaches social studies at San Fernando High School, decided to innovate. His method is simple: reach students through the media they’re most familiar with. That means video, music, movies. Torres introduces his students to the techniques of media creation and then turns them loose on projects that are actually relevant to their lives. For most of them, that equals their community, their heritage, their family, and their own experiences. His secret weapons: Macs, iLife software, and Final Cut Studio.

“In my work,” Torres says, “I’m continually confronted by people who say, ‘Yes, but...’ or ‘no way!’ Apple says, ‘Yes, and....’” “We can innovate our way out of our problems.” Student media projects have focused on gangs, violence, and migration issues. At the end of each semester, Torres showcases the projects in what he calls the iCan film festival. The first one filled his classroom with a standing-room-only audience. “The fire marshal freaked out,” Torres remembers. “Everyone came. The abuelitos, the uncles, the aunties — because they were in the movies!” Today, the iCan film festival attracts over 1,000 people.

Torres sets high standards for his students. “I want to blur the line between students and professionals, in a lesson, in a week, in a monthThe results are phenomenal. “I have students who can’t read or write English that have made movies that were shown to politicians in Sacramento and have influenced public policy,” Torres says.

The videos made by Torres’s students are powerful, direct, and speak with the boldness of youth. “We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us.” one student raps in a video about immigration. The video landed him a gig with OzoMatli, L.A.’s hippest new band.

Some student productions are more celebratory. Torres encouraged one student who played in a Mariachi band to compose something using Garage Band. Goofy, affectionate, and laugh-out-loud funny, the result combined the high-schooler’s passion for Mariachi music with his love of the “Star Wars” movies.

The problems facing educators are huge but not insurmountable, says Torres. “We can innovate our way out of our problems.” By reaching his students with lessons that are meaningful and relevant, by providing tools they can use to communicate, Torres inspires his students to achieve.

“When I opened the media lab at San Fernando High, I had policemen bringing students to class,” Torres remembers. “That’s not exceptional. My students are often in trouble with the law. But this is the first time a policeman had ever caught a student hopping the fence to get INTO school!”

Paul Nelson

Paul worked for many years as a teacher and technology director and is often known as "that Linux guy." He currently works for the NW Regional ESD helping districts use technology well. Many of his districts use Drupal for web sites and as a media server for podcasting and videocasting. When not Drupaling, Paul is an avid fan of Moodle and open-licensed content for classrooms.

Steve Dembo

Steve Dembo was a pioneer in the field of educational podcasting. His blog and podcast, Teach42, have served as the inspiration for thousands of educators. In 2006, he was named one of the Top 100 EduBloggers by the Online Education Database.

A former kindergarten teacher and Director of Technology, Steve is currently the Online Community Manager for the Discovery Educator Network. Under his direction, the DEN website has been awarded the 2006 Award of Excellence from Technology and Learning Magazine, the 2007 Distinguished Achievement Award for Instructional Websites from the AEP, and a 2008 BESSIE Award for Best Professional Development Website.

Steve has been a keynote presenter at PETE&C, TRETC, the Maryland K12 Libraries Conference and the Connecting & Learning Conference. He has also been featured at numerous other conferences including MACUL, METC, FETC, Tech Forum, and the DEN National Leadership Conference. He has conducted hundreds of virtual presentations and hosts the DEN's EdTechConnect and Discovery Connect monthly webinar series.

Steve lives in the Chicago area with wife Jessica and son, Aiden Lefty Dembo. If you'd like to learn more about Steve, his permanent record is publicly available on Google.

Detective Micah Smith

Micah Smith is a detective for the Linn County Sheriff's Office in Albany, Oregon. Detective Smith's assignment includes Internet Crimes Against Children investigations, computer forensics analysis of digital and electronic evidence, and other high-tech crimes investigations.

Patrick Crispen

Patrick Crispen is the Instructional Technology Coordinator at a major university in Southern California. He is a doctoral student in the higher education administration program at the University of Southern California (estimated graduation: 2010). He also holds a masters degree in educational technology from Pepperdine University (2001) and a bachelors degree in economics from the University of Alabama (1998).

Prior to moving to California, Patrick was the Internet Training Materials Specialist for the Internet Network Information Center (the InterNIC) at Network Solutions where he was the program manager for the internationally-acclaimed 15 Minute Series, a series of free PowerPoint-based Internet training presentations. Patrick was also a Simulations Director for, and founding staff member of, the United States Space Camp's Space Academy Level II program (now called "Advanced Space Academy.")

Since October of 1997, Patrick has been an invited, weekly panelist on a call-in radio show on WGN Radio in Chicago. The show, the “Website Wednesday Night” portion of the “Steve and Johnnie” show, is broadcast live to 38 states and most of Canada on AM 720 and is also simulcast over the Internet. Callers from around the country ask computer- and technology-related questions which Patrick, and a panel of two other experts, answer.

Darren Hudgins

Darren currently is the Instructional Programs Coordinator at OETC, where he has helped guide various professional development projects such as the ORVSD (Oregon Virtual School District) contract, OR EdTech PD Cadre and Qwest-Foundation for Education grants. Prior to coming to OETC, Darren spent ten years as a teacher, staff developer, and coach in the Hillsboro School District. He holds a master's degree in education along with dual bachelor's degrees in human development and social sciences.

Dottie Coven

Dottie Coven currently works for CIM Audio Visual. She has spent 13 years teaching elementary grades, has been an Intel Master Teacher, a Smart Exemplary Educator, and a consultant for eInstruction. Dottie has presented at a variety of different conferences nationally and throughout the Northwest. She has used a wide variety of technology tools extensively in the classroom and in lab settings and is excited to share a variety of ways that it can positively impact the classroom environment.

Skip Offenhauser

Skip Offenhauser is the principal of Buckingham Elementary in the Bend-LaPine School District. Skip has been an administrator for six years in Bend and Redmond. Prior to this he was a instructional technologist in Beaverton. As an instructional technologist, he worked directly with K-5 students and supported teachers in their efforts to make technology a seamless part of their classroom. As a principal Skip understands how technology can help teachers and administrators work smarter not harder and can enrich classrooms and student learning beyond the four walls of the classroom. He enjoys helping others discover new technologies and incorporate them into their private and professional lives.

Jennifer Gingerich

Jennifer Gingerich is an educational technology trainer with a steadfast goal: “To increase the appropriate use of technology in the classroom by training teachers to use the latest technology tools to engage all students, increase learning, enhance curriculum, and improve academic achievement.”

A former elementary classroom teacher and district technology coach, Jennifer provides educators with training to make practical and creative use of technology tools and products. She has a passionate interest in quality education and an infectious enthusiasm for engaging educators and students in using technology to enhance teaching and learning. Jennifer has worked closely with Discovery Education and Inspiration Software to present at many conferences including ITSC, NCCE, and NECC.

Lynn Lary

Lynn Lary has just started a new job with Springfield Public Schools as the district's instructional technology specialist. Prior to that she worked as the instructional technology specialist at the Lane Education Service District, Lynn provides technology staff development opportunities for the teachers working in Lane County's 120+ public schools. In addition to providing staff development at the ESD, Lynn has written and received multiple grants, and has been instrumental in several statewide projects. Currently she is working with teachers to implement the use of handheld/laptop technologies to support student learning in core content areas. A former award winning high school mathematics instructor, Lynn holds a BS in Applied Mathematics, an MA in Computer Education from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Management from the University of Oregon. Lynn served as the OETC past-president and was on the board 1996~2005.

Nick Viani

Nick Viani is a former instructional technology specialist with Southern Oregon ESD. He has taught in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan where, in 1982, Nick entered the digital world as a Language Arts teacher with daily access to a lab of Apple computers. After returning to southern Oregon, he taught in local schools for several years that led to his involvement with the ESD. That position found him helping students and teachers make technology an integral component of their learning. Nick is board member of the Oregon Council of Teachers of English (OCTE) and continues to visit classrooms, conduct staff and professional development workshops, and present at regional and national conferences.

Tim Chase

Tim Chase is a full-time, in-the-trenches classroom teacher. He taught the first three of his ten years of teaching at a teacher's institute in central China, and the last seven have been in beautiful central Oregon where he lives with his wife, Janet, and three children. Tim serves on the leadership team of Oregon’s EdTech Professional Development Cadre and is also a leader for the Central Oregon Educational Technology Team.

Passionate about infusing technology into his own teaching and providing opportunity for his students to learn with technology, Tim is an enthusiastic promoter of EdTech in his school, in his district, and throughout Oregon.

Todd Hamilton

Todd Hamilton is Director of Technology for the innovative South Lane School District (Cottage Grove, Oregon). In his spare time, he also supports district literacy and leadership initiatives. Todd’s unique position affirms his belief that the tightly woven elements of curriculum, technology, and leadership are essential to the success of staff and students.

Todd previously shared his passions in the Eugene School District as Curriculum and Staff Development Specialist, Instructional Technology Specialist, and Project Director for the 4J Handheld Integration Project. He has also been spotted at local and national conferences presenting on assorted topics related to curriculum, instructional technology, and leadership.

Todd currently lives in Eugene with his wife and their six-year-old daughter. Todd loves to spend time relaxing with his family, an unruly Pomapoo named Pip, and a magnificent mutt named Maggie. He declines to comment on the latest pet rat.