How are educators making learning more meaningful, inspiring, and accessible in a changing academic and business environment? The Needham Education Foundation invited the community to explore these questions and others in an enlightening dialogue with Dr. Daniel Gutekanst and local experts from Olin College, MIT, and businesses to find out about:

• Needham Public Schools initiatives in interdisciplinary learning
• How online instruction and other creative teaching models engage students in learning beyond just the classroom
• How educators are breaking down silos between academic disciplines to better prepare students for higher learning and real-world problem solving

This event took place on November 28, 2012, where participants engaged in an audience Q & A and joined speakers for dessert after the panel discussion.

Keynote Speaker and Moderator
Daniel E. Gutekanst, Ed.D, Superintendent, Needham Public Schools

• Read Superintendent’s Keynote Address

Panelists included:

• Robert Martello, Professor, Olin College
• Mark Somerville, Professor, Olin College
• Kirby Salerno, Co-Founder, ClassroomWindow
• Mark Chang, Director, Product edX
• Leah Alpert, MIT student, Needham High School graduate, and intern, Khan Academy

As college drop-out rates rise and young adult unemployment reaches levels unseen since the Great Depression, a growing consensus of business and academic leaders are asking whether a traditional four-year college education is always the best path to a successful career. The mission of the Pathways to Prosperity Project at Harvard Graduate School of Education is to get this question out in the open—and encourage Americans to explore new approaches to education reform that offer multiple paths to career fulfillment.

This question was explored at the October 11th NEF symposium, “Expanding the Dialogue: What Do Kids Need to Succeed in the 21st Century?” The first in the 2011–2012 NEF Community Education Series, the event featured a keynote address by Pathways to Prosperity director William Symonds and a panel discussion with Needham Public Schools superintendent Dr. Daniel Gutekanst and other local leaders in business and education.

• Read the Needham Times coverage
• Watch this YouTube video
• Read the Pathways to Prosperity Report
• Check out Boston Magazine

Three researchers from the Harvard Graduate School of Education told more than 150 people recently that students thrive most when teachers and parents employ the use of complex language and language patterns in school and at home.

Their research, which will be published soon, was highlighted at a free symposium, “Let’s Talk: Keys to Your Child’s Academic Success,” hosted February 24, 2010, at Olin College and sponsored by NEF. The speakers were Associate Professor Nonie Lesaux, along with Perla Gamez and Joan Kelley, her research associates at Harvard.

Watch a video news story of the program, produced by the Needham Channel:

Read more about Dr. Lesaux’s groundbreaking research in the San Diego public school system.