Michael Furdyk

Michael Furdyk was one of the first to explore the transformative potential of applying technology to the classroom—and to our education system. To properly educate the Net Generation (students born after 1980), a major overhaul of our schools is needed. Furdyk highlights practical examples that are already in use to show us how education can move, assuredly, into the wired future. How can we successfully integrate technology and teachers, taking advantage of the intrinsic strengths of both? How do we develop curriculum to engage students, who, as a fact of life, are always plugged-in, always looking at one type of screen or another? Furdyk has already helped facilitate global education and civic engagement for millions of youth worldwide. The world has changed, he has learned firsthand. It's about time education caught up.

 During this information-packed and entertaining keynote, Michael Furdyk shares his entrepreneurial journey from growing up during the early days of the Internet to starting up three dot-com companies before even turning 18. He provides audiences with an in-depth look at the "Net Generation", and how their use of technology is influencing every aspect of society, and challenging business, government, and education to bridge the gap between how they live, work, and learn.  He shares innovations from TakingITGlobal, the global charity he co-founded that engages millions of young people to understand and act on the world's biggest challenges, and insights into upcoming technology trends shaping our world.

Furdyk has developed youth engagement strategies for some of the world's largest companies, and, in this talk, he shows you how to engage the next generation of consumers and employees using new technologies.