Keynote Speakers
Frank Anderson, Jr. | Stephen Downes | Henry Kelly | Sid Meier |
David Thornburg
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Frank Anderson, Jr.
Mr. Frank Anderson is President of the Defense Acquisition University (DAU), an award-winning corporate university. DAU has been selected by the United States Distance Learning Association for multiple e Learning best practice awards for 2002 (also in 2005). In 2003, DAU won the coveted Brandon Hall Gold Medal Award for Excellence in e-Learning Best Practices for its Performance Learning Model (PLM). In 2004, Frank Anderson was selected Chief Learning Officer of the Year by Chief Learning Officer magazine. Also in 2004, DAU was selected as the top corporate university in America by the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) Best Award. Recently in September 2005 and 2006, DAU was selected by Leadership Excellence magazine for the best Leadership Development Program in the military / government sector. Finally, DAU was selected in 2006 as, “Best Overall Corporate University,” “Best Mature Corporate University,” and as, “Best Virtual Corporate University.” In addition, Frank Anderson was again selected as “Corporate University Leader of the Year for 2006”.
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Stephen Downes
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Stephen Downes lived and worked across Canada before joining the National Research Council as a senior researcher in November, 2001. Currently based in Moncton, New Brunswick, at the Institute for Information Technology's Internet Logic Research Group, Stephen has become a leading voice in the areas of learning objects and metadata, weblogs in education, content syndication, digital rights and related issues.
Stephen is perhaps best known for his daily research newsletter, OLDaily (short for Online Learning Daily), which reaches thousands of readers across Canada and around the world. His work also includes the development of educational content syndication systems such as Edu_RSS and DLORN along and the design of a digital rights management system for learning resources. Stephen is also frequently to be found the road giving seminars and lectures on the field of online learning, including the notable Buntine Oration delivered in Perth, Australia, in October, 2004.
Prior to his employment with the National Research Council Stephen worked as an information architect at the University of Alberta, hired under contract to design and build a one-stop knowledge, learning and resource portal for the province's municipal sector, MuniMall. While with the University of Alberta he also contributed his unique approach to information architecture to projects such as the Alberta Motion Picture Industries Association (AMPIA) portal and to PEGGAsus, a learning and resource service for petroleum engineers, geologists and physists. Stephen also worked as an instructional and new media designer at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon, Manitoba, designing the College's website and launching some of the first online courses in the country.
Stephen's formal education is in philosophy; he obtained a BA and MA at the University of Calgary (1986,1987) and continued his studies at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. During his varied career as an undergraduate student, he served two terms as the editor of the University of Calgary student newspaper, the Gauntlet. In Edmonton, he distinguished himself as the president of the Graduate Students' Association for two terms, sitting on the university Board of Governors and Academic Council. Stephen also worked at Athabasca University as a distance instructor for seven years, and as the voice of that university's tutor community was a representative on Athabasca University's Governing Council. He also taught at the University of Alberta for a couple of years and Grande Prairie Regional College for one year.
After completing high school at Ottawa's School of Continuing Education while working as a concession stand worker and dishwasher, Stephen studied computing science for one year at Algonquin College while working as a telephone equipment installer and (later) as a security guard. He worked for a year as a computer operator for Texas Instruments in Calgary, then as a pot washer, 7-Eleven clerk, and development education programmer for the Arusha International Development Centre. Stephen has also been a newspaper carrier, waiter at a race track, hot dog vendor, building cleaner and camp counsellor.
Stephen lives in Moncton with his wife, Andrea, and two cats, Bart and Polly. He is 47. Stephen reads a lot of science fiction and books in general. He enjoys movies, television and sports, especially hockey. He enjoys playing darts and NTN Trivia (though since Moncton has no NTN locations, it's a lot harder to play. He is an avid Civilization III player and an enthusiastic photographer. His cat, was the first feline in Manitoba to have had her own web page.
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Henry Kelly, Ph.D., is the president of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). Prior to joining FAS, Kelly spent more than seven years as Assistant Director for Technology in the Office of Science and Technology in the White House. There he helped negotiate and implement administration research partnerships in energy and the environment, information technology, and learning technology. He also convened the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee and translated their advice into a large expansion and refocusing of federal information technology research. Before his tenure at the White House, he was a senior associate at the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment; assistant director for the Solar Energy Research Institute; and worked on the staff of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. He is the author of numerous books and articles on issues in science and technology policy. Dr. Kelly received a PhD in physics from Harvard University. http://www.fas.org/static/staffbios.jsp
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Sid put computer gaming on the map with such hallmark games as Civilization®, Railroad Tycoon® and Pirates®, all of which are still revered as the greatest games ever made. Just a glance at his career reveals a series of "firsts". In 1982, Sid created one of the very first combat flight simulators, F-15 Strike Eagle®, a title that sold well over one million units worldwide. After F-15, he continued to create thought-provoking, innovative titles such as Silent Service, a submarine simulation and the breakthrough Pirates!, a unique blend of historical simulation, arcade action, strategy and role-playing. By introducing strategy into flight simulation with F-19 Stealth Fighter®, he created one of the most popular flight sims ever. And with addictive strategy games like Sid Meier’s Railroad Tycoon® and Sid Meier’s Civilization®, he ushered a new genre of "God Games" into computer gaming. Civilization, one of the best known series in the games industry with worldwide sales of over 8 million units, was recently honored as the #1 best game of all-time by Computer Gaming World magazine and the #2 best game of all time by IGN.
In 1996 Sid launched Firaxis Games and as Director of Creative Development is still delivering the most heralded gameplay on the planet and is recognized by industry experts such as PC Gamer, Computer Gaming World, Computer Games, Gamespot, IGN and Gamespy as one of the industry's "Game Gods", taking game development to new heights. Through Sid's leadership, Firaxis continues to create incredibly fun, compelling hits such as Gettysburg!, Alpha Centauri, the Civilization III series, SimGolf, Pirates! (PC, Xbox and PSP), and the 2005 Strategy Game of the Year, Civilization IV (along with the popular expansion packs Warlords and Beyond the Sword). In 2008, Sid will deliver a new Civilization experience to console and handheld gaming systems with the release of Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution for the Xbox 360, PS3 and DS.
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David is an award-winning futurist, author and consultant whose clients range across the public and private sector, both in the United States and in Brazil. His razor-sharp focus on the fast-paced world of modern computing and communication media, project-based learning, 21st century skills, and open source software has placed him in constant demand as a keynote speaker and workshop leader for schools, foundations, and governments.
As the founder and Director of Global Operations for the Thornburg Center he conducts research and provides staff development in the several area. He helps clients to think intelligently about the future and is active in exploring ways that telecommunications and multimedia will change the face of learning, both at home and in the classroom.
His educational philosophy is based on the idea that students learn best when they are constructors of their own knowledge. He also believes that students who are taught in ways that honor their learning styles and dominant intelligences retain the native engagement with learning with which they entered school. A central theme of his work is that we must prepare students for their future, not for our past.
In addition to his work at the state and local level, he is also involved at the Federal level in helping to shape telecommunications and education policy for the benefit of all learners. David has shared his perspectives with policy makers in several countries.
He has written numerous books. His latest book, “When the Best is Free,” explores the world of free open source software in education, with special emphasis on tools for use by students. Reviewers have declared this to be the definitive book on the topic.
In addition to his consulting, speaking, and writing, David also has served on several non-profit boards. Dr. Thornburg is the recipient of several awards for product design and is the recipient of both the Golden and Platinum Disk awards from CUE (Computer Using Educators, Inc.) for his contributions to the advancement of learning and learning technologies. In 1999 he was selected as one of twenty "pioneers" in the field of educational technology by ISTE, the premiere organization devoted to the advancement of technology in learning, and was named by Technology and Learning magazine as one of the top ten most influential people in the field of educational technology in the past twenty years.
He has been the subject of numerous magazine articles and has appeared on radio and television throughout North America. According to the magazine, Electronic Learning, he is one of the six most popular speakers in the area of educational technology.
David splits his time between the United States and Brazil. His work in Brazil also is focused on education, and he has consulted for the Federal Secretary of Education as well as for firms and educational institutions throughout that country.