Jeff sits down with Cameron Evans from Microsoft Education and educators Glenn Robbins and Michael Braun to discuss how Microsoft and Code.org are transforming the lives of more than 20 million students through code.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services, devices and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Cameron Evans serves as the National and Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft Education, responsible for shaping and leading Microsoft’s empowered learning agenda in US Education.
A 20-year veteran for education and training, Cameron has been a pioneer and leader of education transformation in public schools and universities across the nation. Cameron focuses his expertise on sustainable education initiatives that improve individual learner outcomes and the productivity of people with technology.
Cameron is a sought-after speaker and frequent lecturer on issues impacting learning, the academic enterprise, and school innovation. As the US spokesperson for Microsoft in Education, Cameron conferences and writes on literacy, STEM, entrepreneurship, gaming, leadership, and innovation monthly.
Cameron is a US Air Force veteran. He holds a bachelor’s degree in management-computer information systems from Park University and a Masters in Business Administration specializing in Global Leadership from The University of Texas at Dallas. He enjoys all forms of creative work, fitness tech, eating dessert first, and travel with his bride and daughter.
Michael Braun's innovative approach to teaching Computer Science has been highlighted by the New York Times, the Seattle Times, GeekWire, Code.org, Microsoft Research, TEALS, and the Daily Edventures blog. Washington State's Governor Jay Inslee also recognized the computer science program.
A former Computer Science teacher, Michael Braun currently serves as an Instructional Coach. His focus is in the integration of technology, problem-based learning (PBL), and 21st Century Learning in the public school system. Braun supports curriculum in Common Core State Standards while mentoring teachers on innovative education.
Braun co-founded, organizes, and manages middle school and high school “hackathons” called App Day. The goal of this coding event is to give public school students a taste of computer science and basic programming over the course of a single day. Students use a web app called TouchDevelop to create their own apps on their Windows phones, Androids, iPhones, iPads, laptops, whatever device they are carrying in their pocket or backpack. App Day has received support from Microsoft TEALS, Microsoft Research, Microsoft Citizenship, Seattle Public School’s Career & Technical Education Department, the University of Washington Computer Science Department, the College Success Foundation, and individual IT professionals. The hackathon concept has been a terrific success, as a result of which, Braun has been invited to lead various other coding events and “Teacher Training” computer science workshops across the West Coast of the United States and abroad.
Full bio: http://michaelebraun.weebly.com/
Glenn Robbins Is currently the Lead Learner at the Northfield Community Middle School. He is a digital leader who embraces Twitter (@Glennr1809) and Voxer (Grobbi143) to connect with educators from across the globe to better his students, staff and school as a whole. As a digital leader it has allowed him to bring amazing changes to a school, such as: creating and implementing a 100% secure WiFi building to allow staff and students to use BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), creating a schedule that increased instructional time by an additional sixty minutes per day, designed an APP and school Twitter account to promote more transparency within the community and lastly, developed a mentoring program that allows selected eighth graders to work with fifth grade students throughout the year to ease their transition to the middle school. He has an undergraduate degree from Rider University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Jones International University. He is currently pursuing a Ed.D at the American College of Education in Educational Leader. He was recently named Top 40 Under 40 in Atlantic City. He also is a member of the Edcamp Leadership organizing committee which was held at the University of Pennsylvania in August. He was an organizer and keynote speaker for NJPAECET2, which was by invite only for 150 educators from NJ and PA for professional development and celebrate great teaching. Lastly, he was 1 of 50 people selected out of 1000 to attend Edcamp USA, which was held at the Department of Education in Washington D.C., this past June.
Recorded in 2014