CER is proud to reconvene leaders from the US and Italy to engage in building upon the collaborazione that began last year with the first global Ed Tech event in Italy, but was scaled back due to the coronavirus. (You can learn about that program here). With a goal on advancing innovations and technologies that amplify, engage and educate learners at all levels, we will meet to explore what the future of Ed Tech in the US and Italia is and can be. This intimate, invitation-only event will explore the following themes:
Learning who are the important stakeholders in ed tech, in academia, government, universities, and financial systems. Where and how can we apply pressure to build up Italian resources and attract global interest here?
How do we create momentum in ed tech, with accelerators and incubators, and where is there a need to grow or create new opportunities?
What has COVID done to Italy’s view of digital and online education in K-12 and postsecondary?
How do companies do more with less reskill people rapidly and who has the best solutions?
8:00 AM EDT / 2:00 PM CET
Benvenuti from Jeanne Allen
Festival Vision: Why Italia?(click to watch recording)
Jeanne Allen, Founder & CEO, Center for Education Reform
8:30 AM EDT / 2:30 PM CET
CONVERSAZIONE
Watch Ercolano Come Alive! What Digital Technologies, AR, MR and VR can do to open history to the globe (click to watch recording)
Accompanied by Michael McDonald, Founder, Gold Lotus technology and educator
Marco Cappellini, CEO & Co-Founder, Centrica
With Italian based ed tech leaders and curators of the most famous archeological sites, you will be transported to Ercolano, a site preserved like no other site in the world, not even nearby Pompeii. The city was buried beneath 16 meters of ash and mud during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, and this layer of detritus saved two-story domus homes with the internal architecture and décor intact, including features in wood and marble, decorations, jewelry, and even organic remains like food, providing a unique view into the daily lives of the ancient population of Herculaneum. Just imagine the knowledge and learning that students around the world could gain by “entering this site.” From Science to geography to history, education that is delivered with state of the art technology is education that is accessible to everyone.
10:00 AM EDT / 4:00 PM CET
Illumination
Education During a Pandemic: Lessons Learned
An Illuminating talk with Alberto Bonisoli, President, Formez PA, and former Minister of Culture.
Moderated by Michael McDonald, Founder, Gold Lotus technology and educator
11:00 AM EDT / 5:00 PM CET
Illumination
The Future of Work: Implications from Pre-K to Grey (click to watch recording)
Ulrik Christensen , CEO, Area9 Group
NOON EDT / 6:00 PM CET
CONVERSAZIONE
Skills v. Jobs: Higher Education and the Future of Work (click to watch recording)
Matt Sigelman, CEO, Burning Glass Technologies
Carol D'Amico, Executive Vice President, Strada Education Network
Lisa Dawley Ph.D., Executive Director, Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education, University of San Diego and Co-Inventor of Pactful
Marco Gilli, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Politecnico di Torino
The fast pace of technological change is reshaping occupations around the world: the skill profile of some jobs has changed 40% over the past two years. More jobs are hybrids, mixing and matching skills from different fields. This challenges traditional forms of learning and the ways employers find talent. But it also provides opportunities to reinvent learning in ways that will ultimately strengthen the relationships between universities, students, and employers.
1:30-2:30 PM EDT (Virtual)
CONVERSAZIONE
Addressing the COVID-19 Learning Loss (click to watch recording)
Roberto Ricci, CEO, INVALSI
Marc Oswald, CEO, TAO Testing
Moderated by Marco Gilli, Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Politecnico di Torino (Technical University of Torino), Scientific Attaché at the Embassy of Italy in USA
Several years ago the Italian Ministry of Education accelerated their transition from paper to digital assessments by capitalising on advanced, enterprise-class open source technology based on the TAO platform. In response to the COVID-19 nationwide school lock-down that lasted through the end of the school year, the Ministry’s strategy had to be quickly adjusted to deal with this massive 4-month learning disruption. The limited data that exists seems to indicate that even though many students had the ability to go online and follow class remotely, many are believed to have disengaged and dropped out of the learning cycle altogether. This panel explores the measures the Ministry is implementing for Fall 2020 and beyond about strategies for tackling the COVID-19 Learning Loss.
2:30 PM EDT / 8:30 CET
Fireside Chat
Expanding theEducation Landscape: Can online learning be an effective model in breaking down the silos between K-12, career readiness education, and workforce development? (click to watch recording)
Nate Davis, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, K12 Inc.
Antonio Roca, Managing Director at Academica Virtual Education
Moderated by Carol D'Amico, Executive Vice President, Strada Education Network
Online learning has grown dramatically during COVID and continues to change the education landscape from K-12 to career. Join this discussion to explore what the future of online learning looks like, and ways it can uniquely prepare students for postsecondary success- whether they are pursuing higher education or entering the workforce.
11:00 AM CET (In Person)
CONVERSAZIONE
Paradigm Shift: Government and industry needs in the sciences on a global scale (click to watch recording)
Enrico Cardillo, Amministratore Delegato e Direttore Generale di Stoà, joined by:
Leonardo Lecce, President and CEO, Novotech
Col GArn Alessio Grasso, Direttore, Ufficio Tecnico Territoriale, Napoli
The accelerating advancements in innovation and technology have led to a rapid paradigm shift in the political landscape across nearly every sector of the global economy. Join experts and thought leaders from the U.S and Italy explore the intersection between government and industry, and what needs to be done to keep up with the expeditious changes.
8:00 AM EDT / 2:00 PM CET
MASTERCLASS
Enoteca Italiana:Majnoni Guicciardini(click to watch recording)
Join a live Masterclass on the history of winemaking from Italy's most seasoned wine producers. Heritage wine from Tuscany is a must for any soggiorno in Italy. Great winemaking families share their story and a traditional industry that is experiencing a greater foothold in the global marketplace as our world grows closer online.
8:30 AM EDT/2:30 PM CET
CONVERSAZIONE
K-12 Education - Innovations, Challenges and Market Opportunities(click to watch recording)
Daniele Denti, CEO, Ingenium Education
Adriano Allora , Co-Founder/CFO/CTO, Maieutical Labs
Paolo Tealdi, Italian Computer Science Engineer & Scientific High School Teacher
Moderated by Enrico Poli Director, Zanichelli Venture
Education reform has reached maturity in the US. Can Italy learn from its wins and losses as it diversifies its K-12 offerings? Leaders of exceptional school organizations talk about what works, what doesn’t and how to collaborate across the globe.
10:00 AM EDT/4:00 PM CET
Illumination
Why a New Global School? (click to watch recording)
Keynote by Chris Whittle, Founder of Whittle School and Studios. - Introduced and interviewed by Jeanne Allen, CEO & Founder, Center for Education Reform
11:00 AM EDT/5:00 PM CET
Live From Italy: Steps from Pompeii and Overlooking the Bay of Naples (click to watch recording)
Live from outside Stoà in Ercolano, Italy with Marco Cappellini, Italian native and CEO & Co-Founder of CENTRICA. He will talk about culture, history and science live from the most important and historic management school in the South of Italy, steps from Pompeii and overlooking the Bay of Naples.
NOON EDT/6:00 PM CET
CONVERSAZIONE
DEBATE: Can a large US edtech company solve problems in the Italian classroom? (click to watch recording)
Lyman Missimer, Business Development Lead, Newsela
Paolo Tealdi, Italian Computer Science Engineer & Scientific High School Teacher
Moderated by Tammy Barron, President, School Growth LLC
2:30 PM EDT/8:30 PM CET
Fireside Chat
Innovation in a Post-COVID World (click to watch recording)
Featuring:Ben Nelson, Founder & CEO, Minerva
Moderated by Michael Moe, Founder & CEO, GSV
3:30 AM EDT/9:30 PM CET
Illumination
What It Takes To Drive Change In Cities Like DC, Louisiana, and Elsewhere Around The World (click to watch recording)
An illuminating talk by Senator Mary Landrieu.
Moderated by Donald Hense, Chairman & Founder, Friendship Public Charter School
8:00 AM EDT / 2:00 PM CET
Illumination
Keynote: The Virtual Dual country diploma (click to watch recording)
Academica Virtual, Dual Diploma office, Verona Italy
Kay Scettro, Chief Academic Counselor, Programma Doppio Diploma Italia-USA
Richard Collins, Director of Programma Doppio Diploma Itala-USA
Antonio Roca, Managing Director at Academica Virtual Education
By leveraging the technological tools of the 21st Century, the Academica International Studies Dual Diploma program has expanded opportunities for thousands of students around the world to obtain a fully accredited US high school diploma from their home country. Through technology and its digital platform, over 12,000 students from 11 countries are acquiring the skills necessary for the workforce of the future including language acquisition, time management and a global perspective. Leaders from Programma Doppio Diploma Mater Academy and Academica discuss the expansion of the Dual Diploma program in Italia, and how this year’s pandemic has brought attention to the importance of online education opportunities- globally.
9:00 AM EDT/3:00 PM CET
Illumination
Keynote: Education to Work - In A New Industry (click to watch recording)
Stephanie Nellons-Paige, CEO, Nellons- Paige Group Inc
Moderated by the Honorable Rod Paige US Secretary of Education (2001-2005)
Rod Paige will moderate a discussion with his wife business executive and workforce development expert Stephanie Nellons Paige on how collaborate with educators and industry to prepare the workforce for the future.
10:00 AM EDT/4:00 PM CET
Illumination
Keynote: What the US and Italy have in common and what it takes to bend the arc of Human Potential (click to watch recording)
A keynote speech followed by Q&A with Michael Moe, Founder of GSV - Introduced by Jeanne Allen, CEO & Founder, Center for Education Reform
10:30 AM EDT / 4:30 PM CET
TEDDISCORSO
Global Education in 10 Charts(click to watch recording)
Patrick Brothers, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of HolonIQ
10:45 AM EDT / 4:45 PM CET
CONVERSAZIONE
The Path to Opportunity in K-12: Can Innovation Alter Destiny? (click to watch recording)
Lorenzo Cesaretti, Co Founder and CTO, Talent SRL
Scott Bess , Head of School Purdue Polytechnic Highschool
Nick Paradiso , VP of Government Relations & Partner Services, National Heritage Academies
Fiorenza Quercioli, Language Resource Specialist, Stanford University - Bing Overseas Studies Center, Florence
Scott Barron, Founder & Chief Reinvention Officer, School Growth LLC
Moderated by: Janine Walker-Caffrey, CEO, Lexplore, Inc.
Access to great education still is largely a factor of the geographic location you grow up in gender, socioeconomic class, and race. It’s the same in both our countries. Can innovation alter destiny?
NOON EDT /6:00 PM CET
Shark Tank!
EdTech Startup Pitches + Investor Insights (click to watch recording)
Isabelle Hau, Partner, Imaginable Futures
Andre Bennin, Managing Partner, New U Venture Partners
Moderated by Ash Kaluarachchi, Managing Director, StartEd Accelerator
Hear from innovation Pre-K12, HigherEd, and Workforce Learning startups as they pitch to the 'Sharks'!
After each pitch, these early-stage investors share their insight and (some of) their secrets for identifying fundable businesses and how the potential for success differs across geographies from the US to Europe and other key markets.
1:00 PM EDT /7:00 PM CET
CONVERSAZIONE
Investment Trends: What We’re Seeing in the U.S. and Globally (click to watch recording)
George Straschnov, Managing Director, Bisk Ventures
Ash Kaluarachchi, Cofounder, StartEd EdTech Accelerator
Vinice Davis, Venture Partner, Imaginable Futures
Moderated by Matt Johnson , Edtech Attorney and Advisor, Cooley, LLP
A panel of early stage investors focused on the future of learning and future of work share (some of) their secrets for identifying successful and venture capital-fundable businesses in the global education space and how that differs across geographies from the U.S. to Europe and other key markets. Learn what the obstacles are to scaling and growth in edtech and their predictions about how the market will evolve and adapt in the years to come.
2:00 PM EDT / 8:00 PM CET
CONVERSAZIONE
US & Italian Breakthroughs for Career Success
Jamey Heit, Co-Founder & CEO, Ecree, Inc.
Lucilla Crosta, Edulai ideator, Edulai
Ean Mikale, Chief A.I. Architect, Infinite 8 Institute
Sam Caucci , Founder & CEO, 1Huddle
Andrea Leone-Pizzighella, Director, TESOL Essentials Series, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
Moderated by Amanda Antico, Founder & CEO at EvolvED Global, and CEO EvolvED Global and CSO, Aspireability; and Minerva Education, Managing Director, Corporate
Making life better for learners at all levels requires the most nimble of applications, the most innovative and comprehensive access to the skills necessary to succeed. You’ll meet just a few of the best creators on the planet.
Benvenuti from Italian Leaders
The Future of Work - Implications for Education From Pre-K to Gray
Ulrik Christensen, CEO of Area9 Group
CONVERSAZIONE
The Role of Personalization in Precision Education
Can AI achieve optimal results and personalization? Learn from these gurus what the future holds for AI directed education across the learning continuum.
Scott Bess, Head of School Purdue Polytechnic Highschool
Sallyann Della Casa, CEO at GLEAC
Ulrik Christensen, CEO of Area9 Group, Moderator
Lorenzo Cesaretti, Co-Founder & CTO at TALENT srl
Pranza & Networking
CONVERSAZIONE
Innovative pathways to Grow Strong Readers
Tu Parli Inglese? Tu leggi bene? No. Non posso....But can fix it with the latest innovations to improve reading and language skills! What does the science say about growing strong readers? We can accelerate the acquisition of critical reading and English language skills with the latest in VR and AR. Find out!
Janine Caffrey, CEO of Lexplore, Inc
Michael McDonald, Founder of Gold Lotus
Enrico Poli, Director, Zanichelli Venture
TEDDiscorso
"Customers who bought this item also bought…” How Ed tech can learn from innovations in other industries.
Ed tech is lagging other industries. This session imagines new uses of technology to improve learning and recreate innovations that changed the world (but remain unseen in classrooms).
Mark Defusco, President, Bay State College, Boston, MA
CONVERSAZIONE
Mapping Higher Ed to Workforce Skills Here, There And Everywhere
Hard skills, soft skills, essential skills. Whatever the term, we all agree there are gaps, in the US, Italy and across the globe. But does it have to be that way? Forse, non, if these bold innovators have their way.
Carol D'Amico, Executive Vice President, Strada Education Network; Indianapolis, Indiana USA
Sallyann Della Casa, CEO, GLEAC; Dubai, UAE
Leonardo Lecce, President and CEO of Novatech; Naples, Italy
Col GArn Alessio Grasso, Direttore, Ufficio Tecnico Territoriale, Napoli, Moderator
Wine Tasting Dinner at the exclusive Villa Paolina* is a wine & country resort located in the northern part of the Neapolitan region. It is surrounded by the Monte Maggiore mountains. Villa Paolina is part of Alois Wine making cellar known all over the world for his autoctons ancient wines (casavecchia, pallagrello bianco e Palla grello nero ).
*optional event, not included in ticket price, be sure to add it to your registration when you check out
NotaFondamentale
What it takes to Bend the Arc of Human Potential
Michael Moe, GSV, San Francisco, CA
NotaFondamentale
Future of Work
The fast pace of technological change is reshaping occupations around the world: the skill profile of some jobs has changed 40% over the past two years. More jobs are hybrids, mixing and matching skills from different fields. This challenges traditional forms of learning and the ways employers find talent. But it also provides opportunities to reinvent learning in ways that will ultimately strengthen the relationships between universities, students, and employers.
Matt Sigelman, CEO of Burning Glass Technologies
CONVERSAZIONE
Driving Graduate Success: New Strategies for Universities
The changing labour market is reshaping jobs and challenging the prospects of graduates. But these changes are also opening major opportunities for higher education institutions who look at learning in new ways. Innovative universities from Padua to Boston are using labor market data to rethink how they create programs, reach prospective students, and empower graduates with the skills and information to succeed. We’ll learn how.
Burning Glass Technologies and University partners
Pranza & Pitch
EdTechX Italia Start-Up Pitch Competition
Grab your lunch and listen to some of the globe’s most innovative startups.
Join us for the Italian edition of the 2020 EdTechX Ecosystem Events - a series of ten local startup pitch competitions aiming to feature entrepreneurs transforming the future of learning and work in Europe!
In collaboration with EdReform, StartED and Zanichelli Venture, we'll be showcasing Italian startups who will be pitching to a panel of esteemed judges, including investors and industry leaders.
The winner, selected by these judges and the audience in attendance, will receive the chance to speak in front of 1200+ global thought leaders at the annual EdTechX summit in London as part of the final Global Startup Super League Competition on 18 June 2020.
The Villa Oplontis was a palace built overlooking the sea (the coastline is now further away). Archaeologists deduce that the rambling building had been through several stages of development, and at the time of the eruption which buried it. Join us for this private, hard to obtain tour, part of your full pass or Tuesday registration.
Afterwards, travel into Napoli Centro and enjoy dinner on your own. Buses will leave participants at either their hotel or the city center.
CONVERSAZIONE
K-12 Education - Challenges and Market Opportunities.
Education reform has reached maturity in the US. Can Italy learn from its wins and losses as it diversifies its K-12 offerings? Leaders of exceptional school organizations talk about what works, what doesn’t and how to collaborate across the globe.
Daniele Denti, CEO, Ingenium Education
Nick Paradiso, VP of Government Relations & Partner Services, National Heritage Academies
Scott Barron , Founder & Chief Reinvention Officer, School Growth LLC
Tammy Barron, President, School Growth LLC
CONVERSAZIONE
There’s An APP For That? Innovative Breakthroughs for Career Success. Making life better for learners at all levels requires the most nimble of applications, the most innovative and comprehensive access to the skills necessary to succeed. You’ll meet just a few of the best creators on the planet.
Lucilla Crosta, Edulai ideator, Edulai
Adriano Allora, Co-Founder/CFO/CTO, Maieutical Labs
Ean Mikale, Chief A.I. Architect, Infinite 8 Institute
Jamey Heit, Co-Founder & CEO, Ecree, Inc.
Pranza & Networking
Pitch Contest Winners Announced & Presentation
TEDDiscorso
Economic Opportunity and Workforce Development in the 21st Century
Stephanie Nellons-Paige, Vice President & External Affairs, Texas Central LLC
CONVERSAZIONE
RESOLVED: Innovation Is Equally Distributed (or not) Access to the innovation culture is not equally distributed throughout our country, depending on geographic location you grow up in gender, socioeconomic class, race, you may or may not have opportunities to learn innovation.
Lisa Dawley Ph.D., Executive Director, Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education, University of San Diego and Co-Inventor of Pactful
Andrea Leone-Pizzighella, Director, TESOL Essentials Series, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
Sam Caucci, Founder & CEO, 1Huddle
Dr. Marco Clark, Founder and CEO of Richard Wright Public School
TEDDiscorso
New Perspectives on Post-Diploma Technical Education in Italia
Leonardo Lecce, Novotech, Inc.
Investment Trends: What we’re seeing in the U.S and Globally
A panel of early stage investors focused on the future of learning and future of work share (some of) their secrets for identifying successful and venture capital-fundable businesses in the global education space and how that differs across geographies from the U.S. to Europe and other key markets. Learn what the obstacles are to scaling and growth in edtech and their predictions about how the market will evolve and adapt in the years to come.
George Straschnov, Managing Director at Bisk Ventures
Michael Moe, Founder, GSV
Ash Kaluarachchi, Cofounder, StartEd EdTech Accelerator
Matthew Johnson, Edtech Attorney and Advisor, Cooley, LLP, Moderator
Mangiamo, Parliamo and Enjoy!
A magical place, glimpses of beautiful nature, with a breathtaking overlooking the Bay of Naples totally captures your attention. A panorama to enjoy in a welcoming, youthful and sparkling environment, enjoying a drink with new friends or celebrate the end and the new beginning of our special Us-Italy event 2020.
Continua tu la conversazione!
Fireside chat Featuring:
Ben Nelson, CEO and Founder of the Minerva Project
Festival host Jeanne Allen
and other special guests
Wine Tasting Dinner at Villa Paolina – Monday, September 21, 2020
At the beginning of the Sele Valley, a short distance from the hot spring of Contursi Terme, surrounded by a huge park with olive groves and vineyards, is Villa Paolina. Set in a pristine environment near the source of the river Sele, the Villa is an ideal place to meet, relax and enjoy good food. Located in the northern part of the Neapolitan region, and surrounded by the Monte Maggiore mountains, the vineyards at Villa Paolina are part of Alois Wine, known internationally for their success in Campania region and antique wines. This is an unusual spot and selected uniquely by a local, influential leader who is part of the advisory team for the US-Italia Ed Innovation Festival.
For those who add this optional and special event to their registration, you will depart the Festival at Stoa at approximately 5:30 by bus, and travel 50 minutes through the beautiful country of Campania. There you will be greeted by our host, GianFranco Alois, who will lead you through an experience you would not normally find anywhere.
You will taste wines only found in this region in their ancient cellars, taste the conciato romano cheese selected as one of the best cheeses in all of Italy and enjoy local Casertan pork alongside. You will have wine called Trebulanum, casavecchia DOC di Pontelatone aged in french barrels, Cunto, pallagrello nero aged in Austrian oak wood, that are the high level of Alois production and last selected cheese and ham. This experience will be followed by a sumptuous dinner before you head back to your hotel.
Included in your registration is this opportunity to tour
Villa Oplontis – Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Villa Oplontis is a large structure situated in the ancient Roman town of Oplontis (the modern Torre Annunziata). The Roman elite favored the Bay of Naples for holiday retreats. Just as today’s wealthy Romans and Neapolitans head to the island of Capri, in ancient times this area was a refuge from the heat and bustle of Rome in summer and a place to relax and indulge in civilized leisure; the pursuit of otium.
The Villa Oplontis was a palace built overlooking the sea (the coastline is now further away). Archaeologists deduce that the rambling building had been through several stages of development, and at the time of the eruption which buried it, the villa was undergoing restoration works, and was perhaps somewhat neglected. There had been a major earthquake in 62AD, and many smaller tremors in the build-up to the big eruption of 79AD, which may explain this. During its lifespan, though, the villa must have been one of the grandest dwellings in the area. Its wall paintings are some of the finest examples of Roman painting in existence. Its large gardens were decorated with statues as well as trees and plants. Approached by land or sea, the villa would have impressed visitors even before they entered the colorful and refined halls, strolled through its various colonnades, or glimpsed the huge garden swimming pool.
The ruins are well-enough preserved that it’s possible to gain some idea of how people might have lived here; relaxing under a portico, taking a dip in the huge pool. Rooms are numbered and descriptions in the guide-booklet help to explain the decoration and what is assumed about their uses.
Buried until its gradual discovery over the last four centuries, this huge and lavish palace has been associated on slender evidence with Poppaea Sabina, the unfortunate wife said to have been kicked to death by the Emperor Nero. Her family are believed to have come from this area, and the grandeur of the villa suggests it belonged to someone either very rich or very well-connected. A wine amphora found here bore the inscription of the name “Poppaeae”. Consequently, the villa is sometimes called Villa Poppaea, and is also known as Villa A by archaeologists studying the ruins around the site of the Roman seaside village of Oplontis (and as Scavi di Oplonti in Italian).
Lying under the modern Naples suburb Torre Annunziata, the full extent of the villa complex hasn’t been discovered. But what there is to see is very impressive. (Wear comfortable shoes).
Included in your registration closing dinner on the Naples Bay!
Villa Tirone Restaurant – Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Don Antonio, founder and soul of the restaurant, since the early 1950s, draws on the secrets of the great tradition of Neapolitan cuisine. The structure is located in an enchanting geographical position, with an umbrella pine forest and vineyards that rise up the slopes of Vesuvius, facing the breathtaking panorama of the Gulf of Naples and the island of Capri.
Careful choice of products, the quality offered with love and passion combined with the warmth and humanity of a group of people in love with their work. A magical place, glimpses of beautiful nature, with a breathtaking overlooking the Bay of Naples totally captures your attention. A panorama to enjoy in a welcoming, youthful and sparkling environment, enjoying a drink with new friends or celebrate the end and the new beginning of our special Us-Italy event 2020.