This year we're delighted that international thought leader and educator Professor Chris Emdin will join us from Columbia University as we celebrate the most inspired teachers in the country.

 

Inspired Teachers recognizes and learns from the teachers who know how to light up a classroom; shares leadership lessons and inspiration and focuses on celebrating excellence in teaching.

Whatever your interest in brilliant teaching, whether you're

• a facilitator keen to learn the best teaching methods available;
• a teacher looking for inspiration;
• a change agent committed to the future of our youth or
• a parent who accepts that education is a community responsibility

don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from the most inspired and inspiring teachers around.

Some of the themes to be discussed:

• Why Teaching and Leadership are inextricably linked;
• the best new ideas for engaging students;
• critical thinking - how to harness and teach the ability to think clearly and rationally;
• the value of mindfulness

and lots more.

Agenda

Keynote: Student Engagement: #HipHopEd as a new approach to Student Engagement

Professor Emdin describes the concept of #HipHopEd and discusses what works and what doesn?t in this growing field. He outlines research-based ways that hip-hop culture can be used in education to increase student engagement and discusses the pitfalls of hip-hop education that is rarely discussed by scholars, researchers and a growing hip-hop "intellectual" audience. In this speech, Dr. Emdin critiques hip-hop while discussing it's immense political and social potential. He also describes a number of projects that have used #HipHopEd to improve student engagement, participation and educational outcomes.

AND

Keynote: Teacher Preparation: Teaching & Learning from the Student's Standpoint

In an age where terms like "multiculturalism" and "cultural relevance" have been littered across the educational landscape, teachers and administrators still have a challenging time implementing instructional approaches/tools that meet the needs of a diverse student population, Education speaker Christopher Emdin explores the current educational buzz words, bridges the divides between theory and practice, and provides tangible tools for educators on improving their practice. This speech will prepare teachers for reflecting on their existing practices, and modifying them to meet the needs of their students.

Dr. Chris Emdin, Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University is a public intellectual and science advocate who holds a Ph.D in Urban Education with a concentration in Mathematics, Science, and Technology. He is the co- creator of the #HipHopEd social media movement, writes the provocative "Emdin 5" series on a number of contemporary social issues for the Huffington Post and is also author of the award winning book, Urban Science Education for the Hip-hop Generation.

 

Keynote: Get Out and Stay Out: Overcoming Self-imposed Limitations

This media mogul stresses the importance of adversity, saying that "sometimes it's important to be fired ... sometimes it's important to be divorced". He says that if he had not been fired from his job as an editor-in-chief, he would not be where he is today. Trevor will also discuss the impact teachers had on his life both positive and negative.

Trevor Ncube is Chair of Alpha Media Holdings based in Zimbabwe, a company he co-founded 18 years ago, as well as controlling shareholder and Executive Deputy Chair of the Mail & Guardian Media Group (SA), publishers of one of the leading weekly newspapers the Mail & Guardian. Ncube has a BA Honours (First Class) from the University of Zimbabwe and has completed various leadership programmes over the years. He has been awarded many prestigious honours, including the International Publishers Association Freedom Prize Award in 2007, in 2010 the Nation Media Group Life Achievement Award for his work in media on the continent. He is chairman of the WEF's Global Agenda Council on Informed Societies. Ncube is married with two children, loves reading and travelling, is a keen golfer and is a devout Christian.

 

Keynote: In one generation

Under the noise of every day's headlines, South Africa is undergoing a tectonic shift as a generation of young people sets about obtaining a university qualification. They do this to change their own and their families' future, but in the process they will change the future of the country. We need them, every one of them. They are bright, determined and gritty, but they cannot do it alone. They need funding - far too large a project for any one institution to take care of, even the state. We must all help. And apart from funding they need emotional support, mentoring, an adult hand to guide them into a new life.

Ruda Landman gained prominence as co-anchor of M-Net’s Carte Blanche, a position she held for 19 years until June 2007. Since then she has been involved in a range of activities, from lecturing and writing to doing interviews for internet platforms. Stellenbosch University awarded her an honorary doctorate in journalism in 2012. She is a director of media giant Media 24, has been married to political-economy analyst JP Landman for 37 years, and has one son

 

Keynote: "Every student is a genius waiting to happen"

Dr Blecher will explore how education is dealing with fundamental attitudes of hearts and minds; the need to awaken what is inside us and unleash the passion, focusing on our greatness. "Every student is a genius waiting to happen".

Dr Taddy Blecher is Chair of the SA National Government task team on Entrepreneurship, Education, & Job Creation, and CEO of the Maharishi Institute (MI). He's the pioneer of the free tertiary education movement in SA. A former actuary and management consultant, Dr Blecher is passionate about the approach of Consciousness-Based Education, a holistic system of education focused on 'inside out' education to develop the full potential of every student. MI won first prize in a global competition to find the world's most innovative education solution in Oct 2010.

 

Panel Discussion: What Should we teach the Teachers who will Teach Tomorrow?

An exploration into the role of the teacher in a changing context of learning in a connected world. What should we let go of, what should we embrace. We'll look at the factors impacting the changes, the changing context of education and the world of work.

Colin Northmore Principal Sacred Heart College. Prior to this he has worked in suburb, township, peri-urban and farm schools in programs aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning and training of management. Colin has a Masters degree in Education from Wits University where he concentrated on pupil behaviour management. Colin has a passion for restorative justice in schools and works to achieve a situation where children are able to develop social responsibility.

 

Morag Rees is the Principal and Senior Art teacher at Crawford College Sandton. She has a BA Fine Arts (Education), a B.Ed focusing on Teacher Education and Educational Management & a M.Ed in curriculum development. She is a mother of 3- two daughters at UCT and one son at primary school, and is particularly committed to creating a positive, dynamic, inspiring, challenging and safe environment for the education of creative leaders.

 

Ariellah Rosenberg is the CEO of ORT South Africa, an NGO in education and enterprise development training. Ariellah is a Google Certified Teacher. In 2009 Ariellah was selected as an Executive member of the South African Board of Jewish Education (SABJE), for which she served for six years. She was also one of the nominees for "Women of the year" in 2010. Ariellah is passionate about education and STEM education in particular and constantly exploring the ways technology can bridge the skills and knowledge gap in these subjects in South Africa. Read her blog http://ariellah.wordpress.com/.

 

Parallel Session 1: Poetry is Dangerous

Teachers who inspire their students are those who are prepared to journey in an authentic way with themselves and with the lives that they touch. This is not about poetry (although poetry will be used), This is about reigniting your passion. 'Poetry is rebellion rolling you and the world' - what is the passion that will bring you alive and bring revolution to your classroom?

Ruth Everson is a senior English teacher at St Stithians Girls' College, and as Leadership Director, is in charge of the whole school's leadership programme as well as development of staff and girls. Ruth is also a published poet who has given poetry readings and workshops across the country, including the National Schools' Festival of the Arts for over 16 years. Ruth's poem, 'Fatter than Life' was used in a musical in Holland. In 2010, Ruth won the Woman and Home short story competition. Her passion is to use her poetry to inspire passion and purpose for all - even those who don't like poetry.

 

Parallel Session 2: The Critical Thinking Toolkit

This session will combine QR Codes, Web-Quests, Google Forms and Paper Hand-outs to lead attendees on a discovery-based journey to build a Critical Thinking toolkit.

Sean Hampton-Cole is a teacher and critical thinking activist. A strong proponent of revolutionizing traditional modes of education, Sean believes that the best education is one which promotes a vivid sense of individuality and independence. He uses his blog (titled 'Ideas Out There') and social media to share his ideas on the power of teaching philosophy and critical thinking, the value of chess in education, teaching with technology and a cornucopia of other topics. Sean is one of South Africa's first ICT Integrators - helping teachers and students to use technology as a means of creating a more relevant, child-centered, twenty-first century pedagogy.

 

Founder and Chair of The Inspired Teachers Conference

Debby Edelstein, passionate conversation creator, facilitator and CEO of QualityLife Company, has discovered that collaborative learning is by far the most fun and effective way to learn. She believes that big questions require creative solutions, dialogue and leadership - the three pillars of all QualityLife conferences.

 

"The best conference I have been on as an educator. Came away feeling totally inspired." Christine Scrooby, Riverbank Primary Education

Exhibitors

 

 

Partners