UM-Flint Department of Education Helps Bring Innovation in Education Gathering to Ann Arbor

The Innovation in Education Gathering brings together a diverse group of educators, students, entrepreneurs, and others who are working at the forefront of technology in learning.

Solar charger kits for mobile phones that support literacy learning in rural South Africa; fourth grade science taught as a game featuring Creepor the Emissary; students in Cairo making virtual tours of Egyptian cultural sites; kids making custom maps of everything from their school garden to their city; students in Detroit combining photography with bilingual poetry; a virtual trial featuring historical figures from Cleopatra to Gandhi—these are some of the educational technology projects from around the globe that will be featured at the 2013 Innovation in Education Gathering in Ann Arbor June 19-22.

The event is organized by the UM-Flint Department of Education in conjunction with its redesigned Educational Technology master's program, and in cooperation with the Institute for Innovation in Education and UM's Interactive Communications & Simulations group.

The event, which includes a public conference on June 21, is free, but registration is required; more information can be found at http://gathering2013.icsmich.org.

The Gathering aims to meet growing needs for agile, creative approaches to the educational and social challenges of our times; for stronger connections among educational, social, and commercial organizations working together to nurture more highly skilled, knowledgeable, and compassionate citizenries; and for ongoing professional communities to support creative educators dedicated to the design of immersive learning experiences.

Participants will include UM-Flint alumni from across North America and overseas, along with collaborating organizations from as far away as Oman and South Africa.

The June Gathering is part of a series of events that take place once a year in Michigan and once a year in other countries. Another event will be occurring in Durban, South Africa in November.