Twitter Gets EXCITED About Technology in Education

By @SimonCocking

• 2^nd EXCITED Digital Learning Festival running from May 21^st to 23^rd in Dublin Castle
• Programme unveiled on Twitter at 9pm 29^th April
• First speakers announced with over 350 attendees expected
• Special Digital Youth Council Day added

The 2^nd EXCITED Digital Learning Festival www.excited.ie, running from May 21st to 23^rd in Dublin Castle, will be launched today on Twitter at 9pm.  The launch will announce details of the 3 day festival utilising broadcasting platform Periscope and tweets from some of the speakers under #excitedirl15.

The independent and not for profit three day festival of workshops, talks, exhibitions and discussions on the potential of technology in education, brings together the diverse interests of over 350 teachers, students, parents, policy makers and industry leaders in one forum.

“Expanding the Network” is the theme for the 2015 event which will focus on how to meaningfully embrace more participants to have an active part to play in the future of digitally enhanced learning.

The launch at 9pm this evening will begin with a livestream broadcast overview of this years festival via Periscope on Twitter (@WeAreExcited) from Ciaran Cannon, TD under the #excitedirl15.  This will be followed by series of live tweets from some of the other presenters at the festival detailing what they will discuss over the three days.  Speakers lined up include Digital Youth Forum and young technology innovator Harry McCann, school teacher Kate Murray, international educational advisor Gavin Dykes, centre director, Learnovate, Dr Martyn Farrows, and Mags Almond from CESI (Computers in Education Society of Ireland).

This year the international and Irish line up of educational experts includes:

• Mona Akmal from Code.org,
• Keith R. Krueger CEO of the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN),
• Dr Kathy Kipp, lecturer in Trinity College, member of RISE research group (Research in School Education) and advisory board member for the Irish NCCA (National Council for Curriculum Assessment) development group,
• Lara Dabbagh, Assistant Principal in Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, a post-primary school in Galway
• Olajide Ademola Ajayi, Software Engineer, SAP Ireland
• Colm O’Regan critically-acclaimed stand-up comedian, columnist and broadcaster
• Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin science communicator and lecturer in the School of Mathematical Sciences, University College Dublin
• Múirne Laffan, Managing Director of RTÉ’s digital division

2015 will see the EXCITED festival expand to three days, with day one being specifically focused on supporting the Digital Youth Council, a development emanating from the success of last year’s event.  The one day series of workshops for DYC will prepare them to present their finding at the conference and plan activities for 2015.

Last year the festival was sold out with over 350 attendees experiencing a range of international speakers from mobile phone inventor, Marty Cooper to “Ireland’s Digital Champion” Lord Puttnam.

Limited early bird tickets are now on sale for €35 via the website www.excited.ie