Xerox has a lot to say about education and digital technology, but instead of sending an executive to give a speech or sit on a panel, the company has decided to host the "playground" at the South by Southwest EDU (SXSWedu) conference in Austin, Texas next week.
The playground is an invite-only area at the conference where "edu-preneurs" share innovations and interact with education professionals. An estimated 10,000 people attend SXSWedu, which runs from March 3-6.
"Our intent is to host innovation, and start conversations that help bridge the gap between what educators need and what innovation has to offer," said Eric Hamby, a principal scientist at Xerox. "Our researchers, working alongside teachers, have developed rich insights into how technology can be woven into the everyday fabric of the classroom."
The company also will unveil plans for the Xerox Education Center of Excellence, which will provide thought leadership, stemming from Xerox's long-running support of STEM education; research and development efforts and its expertise in simplifying workflows for customers – including those in education.
Here's a rundown of what Xerox will bring to the playground:
Research: Hamby leads a team of Xerox researchers who work alongside K-12 schoolteachers to understand the learning process, and study how technology can be adapted to the classroom instead of the other way around.
Xerox Ignite™ Educator Support System: Much like the copier revolutionized how information is shared, Xerox has invented a new system that collects, manages and analyzes data in a way that's simple and practical for educators.
Global innovation: Xerox can tap into innovation on a global scale. Manish Gupta, director of Xerox Research Centre India (XRCI), will share how Xerox innovates in India and around the world.
Insight: Xerox's reach across multiple industries provides insight into applications for learning. Inventions in healthcare, social media and HR analytics from Xerox research centers in Webster, N.Y. and Europe will be demonstrated, illustrating how innovation in one sector can be applied to another.
