Papert Matters - Powerful Ideas and Their Impact on
Contemporary Education Issues
Seymour Papert, often referred to as the "father of educational technology," is arguably one of the most
important thinkers of the past half-century. However, too few educators are aware of his ideas and
contributions to the field. Papert’s work is too often dismissed for having the audacity to ask educators to
do better.
Papert’s creation, Logo, was the catalyst for a vibrant community of educators committed to giving voice to
powerful ideas in their classrooms. Yet his influence has been much greater.
Through an exposition of Papert’s lesser-known writing and speeches, this symposium will demonstrate
Papert’s tangible impact on the creation of classroom robotics, the laptop, HyperCard, Squeak, Scratch, the
One Laptop Per Child Initiative, 1:1 computing in Australian schools and creation of the MIT Media Lab.
The presenter will also discuss Papert’s enormous influence on the fields of artificial intelligence, computer
science, mathematics, educational computing, epistemology, learning and the politics of school reform. His
prescience regarding the dominance of the information metaphor predicted the fallacies promoted by
today’s Web 2.0 community and advocates for educational gaming.
This symposium explores just a few of Papert's most powerful ideas about children, computers and learning
through his own words and rarely seen video. Several of the video clips have never been presented publicly
and would not have been seen in Australia. The presenter worked closely with Dr. Papert for two decades
and was the principal investigator in Papert’s most recent institutional research project.
Educators new to Papert's theories will be challenged to think deeper about learning and the role of
technology in education. Others may be inspired to reinvigorate their practice and challenge the status quo.
Biography of the presenter
For twenty-six years, Gary Stager, an internationally recognized educator, speaker and consultant, has
helped learners of all ages on six continents embrace the power of computers as intellectual laboratories
and vehicles for self-expression. He led professional development in the world's first laptop schools in
Australia (1990), has designed online graduate school programs since the mid-90s and is a collaborator in
the MIT Media Lab's Future of Learning Group. Mr. Stager's doctoral research involved the creation a
high-tech alternative learning environment for incarcerated at-risk teens. Recent work includes teaching
and mentoring several of Australian public schools.
Gary is Senior Editor of District Administration Magazine, Editor of The Pulse: Education’s Place for
Debate, Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University, a member of the One Laptop Per Child Learning
Team and an Associate of the Thornburg Center for Professional Development. Dr. Stager is also the
Executive Director of The Constructivist Consortium.
In 1999, Converge Magazine named Gary a "shaper of our future and inventor of our destiny." The
National School Boards Association recognized Dr. Stager with the distinction of "20 Leaders to Watch" in
2007.
Gary has worked with countless independent schools across Australia, with Apple Australia and
extensively with the Victoria Department of Education and Training. His Ph.D. is from The University of
Melbourne.
Most recently, Gary was the new media producer for The Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project - Simpatíco,
2007 Grammy Award Winner for Best Latin Jazz Album of the Year.