Livia Veneziano proposes a session for SXSW Edu 2014 on fostering individuality, community, and civic engagement in the connected classroom. The proposal discusses how classrooms can integrate technology into lessons while allowing for customization of learning styles and alternative environments. It also addresses how connectivity between systems and peers can transform the role of MOOCs and accessibility of education. The session will explore how civic and experiential engagement models can overlap to impact digital transformation in education from the ground up.

1. © Livia Veneziano 2013 | SXSWEdu ‘14 Proposal 1
Fostering Individuality, Community and
Civic Engagement in the Connected Classroom
Proposal for SXSW Edu 2014
Livia Veneziano
CTRL/ALT
pg. 2 CTRL/ALT Proposal
pg. 8 About Me

2. © Livia Veneziano 2013 | SXSWEdu ‘14 Proposal 2
The foundation for how students interact
reflexively and with each other, as well as how
technology reciprocates is built on the interaction
of many modes of learning. Discovering how
they can work together to create an effective,
supportive environment that scales beyond the
classroom is the key to connectivity in education.
Spatial vs. social vs. perceived immersion
The connected classroom is more than
a place that fosters “digital literacy.”

3. © Livia Veneziano 2013 | SXSWEdu ‘14 Proposal 3
NY Times Article published June 18, 2013 Turkey Arrests Dozens in Crackdown on Protests
Photo Credit: Marco Longari/Agence France-Presse -- Getty Images
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/world/europe/turkey-arrests-dozens-in-crackdown-on-protests.html?smid=pl-share
The Connected Classroom
Customizability vs. Universality
Experience and Synesthetics
Community Mobilization
Transformational Civic Engagement
Let’s talk about
transformation...

4. © Livia Veneziano 2013 | SXSWEdu ‘14 Proposal 4
As classrooms integrate technologies into
their everyday lessons, we should take a close
look at the systems and services that we
come in contact with and learn with.
Single Focus Classroom Transformation Focus
(Multi-Focus Field)
Customizability, personal learning style
& preference can be explored using the
same lesson plans, and alternate learning
environments can be experimented with.

5. © Livia Veneziano 2013 | SXSWEdu ‘14 Proposal 5
Conventional “ability” changes from fitting
one learning model, to customizing the mode
of learning through the introduction of
connectivity with systems and peers. In this
context, we will discuss the role of MOOCs and
wide-reaching learning platforms.
Focusing on accessibility and non-traditional
audiences helps grow networks of people who
otherwise cannot access community circles.
Immersive Displaced Immersion

6. © Livia Veneziano 2013 | SXSWEdu ‘14 Proposal 6
Innovative and targeted-use models
can transform into global access points;
from one to many to one through
collective knowledge-sharing and
movement of information.
Virtual Immersion Global Mobility

7. © Livia Veneziano 2013 | SXSWEdu ‘14 Proposal 7
Model Credit: Ethan Zuckerman
According to Ethan Zuckerman of MIT’s Center
for Civic Media, the civic engagement model
falls along an axis of symbolic vs. impactful
actions and thick vs. thin levels of engagement.
In this talk, we will discuss how the
civic & experiential engagement
models overlap, and how that impacts
the ground-up approach to the digital
transformation in education.
THIN
THICK
SYMBOLIC IMPACTFUL

8. © Livia Veneziano 2013 | SXSWEdu ‘14 Proposal 8
Livia Veneziano
I am a hybrid designer with a penchant for pixel
perfection and focused on maintaining the core values
of universal design, system-thinking and accessibility
for cross-platform projects.
With background in the fine arts, publishing and
advertising, I bring a unique approach to designing
for digital. I have worked with clients in the banking,
mobile payments, education and healthcare industries.
I am passionate about projects that advance the
practice of accessible design in today’s rapidly
changing digital environment as well as looking
critically at the role of digital within the environment.
about me

9. © Livia Veneziano 2013 | SXSWEdu ‘14 Proposal 9
Interfaces, Accessibility & Superheroes
UX Magazine, SXSW & Google
Colleague Yvonne So and I met in 2011 and found a
common interest in alternative interaction models
and accessibility.
Together we wrote and published an article about
accessibility in UX Magazine and went on to present
our point of view at SXSW the spring of 2013 and at
Google’s headquarters June.
We are excited and honored to share our
thoughts and learn from others who use new and
old technologies to access the digital and spatial
world around them.

10. © Livia Veneziano 2013 | SXSWEdu ‘14 Proposal 10
Accessibility is more than the
additional features that each platform
provides - it is necessarily a part of
each step in conceiving and designing
a service. While many tools today are
targeted towards an audience with
particular needs, a truly universal design
practice allows new or re-applied
interaction models to be a part of
everyone’s experience, and opens up
new opportunities to advance
experiences and create new standards.
An accessible PowerPoint of the original SXSW presentation is available here:
http://www.slideshare.net/liviaven/superheroes-sxsw-2013
Please contact me for the revised presentation given at Google in June.

11. © Livia Veneziano 2013 | SXSWEdu ‘14 Proposal 11
livia veneziano
livia.veneziano@gmail.com
brooklyn, ny