The View from SXSW: Finding Innovation, Optimism, and Passion in Education
“I had been my whole life a bell, and never knew it until at that moment I was lifted and struck.” – Annie Dillard
The South by Southwest (SXSW) Education conference just wrapped up, and I thought I’d take a moment to share some notes and thoughts for anyone who might be interested. Before registering, I hadn’t even been aware that SXSW had an education conference. What did I know?
Education conferences are usually hit-or-miss affairs: some sessions are interesting; some are dull and ordinary. Some addresses bring new information and insight; some rehash things you’ve heard a million times before. This one was no different, although the things that hit, hit hard and rang out loud and clear.
Personalization as a Resonating Theme
A theme that resonated throughout the event was personalization. Temple Grandin highlighted the Autism spectrum and the importance of honoring different minds. Jane McGonigal, futurist and game designer, challenged us to envision a world where every act of learning contributes to a dynamic, endlessly expanding résumé. Another speaker questioned the validity of the “average” as a way of measuring people, suggesting that true learning emerges when students work at their own pace.
While some speakers acknowledged the value of standardization, others questioned whether de-standardizing teaching and learning would risk losing shared culture and common goals. Can we balance personalization with collective educational standards? The conference raised more questions than answers, as it should have.
Hope and Optimism in Education
One answer I found at the conference was that there is an abundance of passion and innovation in American education. It’s easy to feel worn down by the day-to-day challenges of teaching, but stepping back to see the bigger picture can reignite hope. SXSW reminded me that ground-level frustrations aren’t the full story; the education landscape is alive with creativity and determination.
A Story of Long-Term Impact
One of the most moving sessions I attended was about a group of disadvantaged students from Washington, DC, who participated in an intensive program 25 years ago to help them succeed in school. At the time, the program leaders felt they had failed when many students didn’t immediately go to college. However, years later, they realized that nearly all of those students had eventually made it to college, entered the middle class, and created better futures for their children. The investment these adults made had changed the trajectory of entire families, not through high-tech innovation, but through knowing, loving, and believing in those students.
Conclusion
Every once in a while, it’s important to be in the room when a story like that gets told. It reminds you of the hope and passion that drive educators and leaders. It’s a physical sensation, like live music humming through you. They ring the bell inside their souls, and the sound waves reach out to ring yours. It’s a reminder that you, too, are a bell, just waiting to be struck.
