I will be speaking on a panel at SXSW Interactive 2009, in just a few weeks. I’m excited. A year ago, I barely dreamed of attending SXSW, but being able to speak is such an honor. For those of you who don’t know about the organization, SXSW is a company that is devloted to histing and promoting events related to media. They have three conferences: Music, Film, and Interactive. For more info, check out their website.

In August, Alex Leavitt, a senior at Boston University, invited me to speak on his panel – he had been looking into my Academic Technology work and was interested in my EduTech program I created at the Cambridge School of Weston. I was amazed – my only previous speaking engagemtns were at PodCamps in the Boston area and at an education conference in Hawaii. I didn’t realize the impact of my work as a high school student. Of course, I accepted his offer.

So, Here I am, creating my own Educational and Technological Philosophy. I’ve just begun rethinking and redefining my thoughts on Education and Technology. Once I have something, I’ll let you know.

Here are the details about my presentatinon and the panel I will be speaking on. If you’re planning on attending SXSW Interactive, it’d be great to meet. Send me an email.

Panel Info

Blackboards or Backchannels: The Techno-Induced Classroom of Tomorrow
Room B
Sunday, March 15th
11:30 am – 12:30 pm

The traditional classroom: obsolete? Chalkboards, lectures, and even teachers may be on their way out as social technology enters the classroom. How do kids want technology integrated into the curriculum? Or do they even want it? Five students speak out to debate the potential for Wikis, backchannels, and social tech, and dispute tomorrow’s r/evolution in teaching and learning.

Alex Leavitt / Boston University
Kelly Sutton / Founder, HackCollege
Kabren Levinson / Philosopher, Technologist, Artist, Bard College
Archana Ramachandran / Campus Ambassador, Radar/Tiny Pictures/UT Austin
Diana Kimball / Harvard College

Anyone else going? Let me know.

My Schedule

I talk about the list of recommended educational technologies I am releasing to the public in a Wiki. You can find the list here: http://kabren.wikispaces.com/rec-tech . Go in, make your edits. I am only a student; if you’re a teacher working with technology, let me know what you’re using and why you use it.

Recommended Technologies from Kabren Levinson on Vimeo.

Hey guys,

Many of your comments got deleted. When I upgraded to Wordpress 2.5, I had a huge wash of spam come in because all my plugins (including spam-prevention ones) got deactivated. I’m sorry! It doesn’t make me happy – some of my comments were deleted, too! Keep commenting in the future, don’t let it discourage you!

-Kabren

I just want to say thank you to everyone who wished me happy birthday, means so much to me!

-Kabren

Thank you! from Kabren Levinson on Vimeo.

Well. The site was down for a little bit there. First off, MediaTemple, my amazing host, was down for some maintenance, and all my sites were offline for about 12 hours. And then when I installed the NNR Forums, something got messed up with my database password and all. But everything is back, in action.

It’s been over a month since I’ve written a post, but expect a few in depth updates on projects I’m involved with soon. Just thought I’d talk to you guys a little.

Also, go sign up on the NNR Forums. Yeah.

I’m going to send out all my college applications this Sunday, so I’ll be a little more free then.

Kabren

I’m experimenting with video. Take a look!

Well, it was bound to happen. There has been a lot of downtime recently. And I do have to say, it’s not my fault. Dreamhost has been having “network problems”. Feh. I’m fed up with Dreamhost. I’ve had way too many problems with my websites this summer (and last summer too for those of you who listen to Nerd News Radio). I’ve been down I think twice in the past 7 days. 

So, I have to be proactive. I’ve made the decision. I’m moving to Media Temple. I’ve heard such good things, I just can’t look away. Of course, as with all hosts, I’ve heard bad things too, but I’m willing to make the leap. I called them today using the phone number on their website, almost no wait time (just ringing for 7 or so seconds), and the man I spoke to seemed very knowledgeable. He didn’t need to go look at notes or anything. So far I’m impressed.  

Over the next few days, expect downtime on www.kabrenlevinson.com (including this blog, sorry) and www.nerdnewsradio.com . Thankfully, I have my domains registered with GoDaddy, and I won’t be changing that anytime soon. So all I have to do is transfer all my data and databases over to Media Temple once I create an account. I’ve already begun the process of backing everything up.   My email may also be out of commission. Who knows. Catch me on Pownce if you’re on Pownce. Peace.

First post. This is always the most awkward one to make. I’m going on a short 3 day road trip to upstate New York (from Mass) to visit 2 colleges, Skidmore and Vassar.  I’ll be gone until Tuesday evening. I will have Internet access some of the time, but I obviously won’t be online all the time. That’d be, well, dumb.  

Send me email.