Jason McKenna | Director of Educational Strategy
VEX Robotics

Jason McKenna, Director of Educational Strategy, VEX Robotics

Jason is the Director of Global Educational Strategy for VEX Robotics, overseeing all curriculum development and classroom integration for the VEX IQ, VEX GO, VEX 123, VEXcode VR , VEX V5/EXP and VEX Workcell platforms. McKenna is an accomplished educational strategist with 20 years of classroom experience implementing STEM programs and robotics competitions for students at all levels.

McKenna joined the Robomatter team in 2015, which was later acquired by VEX Robotics. In his current role, McKenna ensures the company's educational STEM solutions align with global educational standards and fulfill the needs of today's educators. To keep a pulse on society's needs, McKenna travels the world to meet with parents, educators and key government stakeholders to discuss the challenges of preparing students for a 21st century, knowledge-based economy. 

Prior to joining Robomatter, McKenna worked with public school districts in Pennsylvania, at local school and district levels, to align the districts' objectives to educational standards and to establish professional development programs for educators.

McKenna has a proven track record for developing and implementing successful research-based STEM education solutions that use differentiated instruction and assessment to further students' learning. Many of his works have been published, and he collaborated with the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy on STEM education research funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the US Defense Research Projects Agency, to improve how STEM is taught in US schools. 

McKenna is the author of What STEM Can Do for Your Classroom: Improving Student Problem Solving, Collaboration, and Engagement, published by Solution Tree Press.

Appearances:



Day 1 @ 12:00

Empowering K-12 School Leaders: Shaping the future of education with innovative technologies

  • Discuss the growing importance of innovative technologies in K-12 education
  • Share evidence-based success stories of technology implementation in schools
  • Explore strategies for school leaders to foster a culture of innovation and creativity while embracing emerging technologies
  • Address challenges and offer solutions for integrating innovative technologies into the curriculum

Day 2 @ 09:15

AI in Education: Exploring the Potential, Challenges, and Practical Applications

  • Introduce the concept of AI in education and its potential benefits and challenges (15 minutes)
  • Discuss the big ideas in K-12 AI education, including key principles, concepts, and skills that students should acquire (10 minutes)
  • AI Tool Demo: Demonstrate a versatile AI-based tool or platform for enhancing classroom instruction, personalization, and student engagement (20 minutes)
  • Discuss strategies for effectively integrating AI into the curriculum and addressing potential ethical concerns (10 minutes)
  • Q&A session with the audience, allowing for in-depth discussions and sharing of experiences (5 minutes)

Day 2 @ 10:00

Improving math and literacy with hands-on STEM technology: Emphasizing VEX GO and VEX 123

  • Introduce the concept of hands-on STEM technology and its benefits for K-12 education
  • Explain how VEX GO and VEX 123 can be used to enhance math and literacy skills in students
  • Present case studies showcasing the positive impact of VEX GO and VEX 123 on math and literacy learning in various educational settings
  • Discuss strategies for integrating VEX GO and VEX 123 into the curriculum, alongside traditional math and literacy instruction
  • Provide practical tips for teachers to effectively use VEX GO and VEX 123 as tools for reinforcing math and literacy concepts
last published: 08/Jun/23 03:25 GMT

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