David Thornburg TOPICS: Future Communication Globalization FEE CATEGORY:* 5.0k to 10.0k TRAVELS FROM: California Profile Program Outlines Request This Speaker

David Thornburg: Profile

David Thornburg is Founder and Director of Global Operaions for the Thornburg Center. He is Senior Fellow of the Congressional Institute for the Future. He conducts research and provides staff development in the educational futures, multimedia, communications and whole mind education. As an award-winning futurist, author and consultant, he explores ways that technology will change the face of learning, both at home and in the classroom.

"Successful Meetings" magazine lists Dr. David Thornburg as one of the top 21 speakers in the United States. His dynamic, thought-provoking presentations provide transformative experiences to well over 100,000 people per year. His monthly commentaries for PBS on the impact of emerging technologies on learning expand his reach far beyond the podium.

As one of the first employees of the famed Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) in 1971, David took part in the early stages of the personal computer revolution. He has been interested in the educational applications of technology for many years, with a special focus on the creative use of technology by students. He was named by "Technology and Learning" magazine as one of the top ten most influential people in the field of educational technology in the past twenty years. According to the magazine "Electronic Learning" he is one of the six most popular speakers in the area of educational technology.

In his latest book "Campfires in Cyberspace", Thornburg explores the true nature of the World Wide Web as a tool for learning. Reviewers have declared this to be the definitive book on the topic. David has authored numerous books and received several awards for his work in the field of educational technology.

A central theme of his work is that we must prepare students for their future, not for our past. His educational philosophy is based on the idea that students learn best when they are constuctors of their own knowledge. He also believes that students who are taught in ways that honor their learning styles and dominant intelligences retain the native engagement with learning with which they entered school.

At the Federal level, he is involved in helping to shape telecommunications and education policy for the benefit of all learners. In his capacity as Senior Fellow of the Congressional Institute for the Future, David shares his perspectives with policy makers throughout the country. He was recentlly commissioned to write a position paper for the United States Department of the Future of Technology for K-12 Education. Thornburg proposes "Educators have got to stop treating this stuff as if it were somehow special. We've got to look at technology as if it were as common as desks...imagine the impact of a pencil if you had to share it with three other people."

David splits his time between the United States and Brazil. His work in Brazil also is focused on education, and he has consulted for the Federal Secretary as well as firms and educational institutions throughout Brazil.

In addition, David plays blues with Lou Fournier and Ferdi Serim, fellow members of the Bluesmen of the Silicon Delta. Together, they are the world experts in the genre of the Silicon Delta Blues, songs that convey the deep gut-wrenching experiences of those high-tech workers who drive BMWs and have to deal with stock options. Lou, Ferdi and David perform and conduct workshops on the history of this little known brach of the blues for public and private audiences.

* Please note that while this speaker's specific fee falls within the range posted at the top of this page (for Continental U.S. based events), fees are subject to change without notice. Also note that most celebrity keynotes begin in the $25,000 and up range (most list "Contact for Fee Schedule"). For current fee information or international event fees, please contact your Speakers Platform representative.