Summary of Steve Wozniak's Keynote & More

I am writing this blog from the Microsoft blogger lounge, replete with plush carpeting, soft lighting, leather furniture and bowls of M&Ms with the Microsoft Office logo (for Mac) printed on them. I have just realized I am the only female in the room, but I feel like I'm in good company surrounded by so many computer geeks. People keep peering in through the open windows (this is a haven amidst the hustle and bustle of the trade show where the number of products, enhancements and innovations is truly overwhelming) so I must constantly shift my position to keep what I'm writing somewhat private.

Steve Wozniak's keynote this morning epitomized his average guy persona. Burly and unrefined and a self-declared non-conformer, Woz share his opinions about education in a very non-linear way. If anything, he had a one-way conversation with us until the very end where the floor was opened up to questions--to which he couldn't find answers for most. This is not a critique. If anything, it was almost refreshing to hear someone so accomplished with a genius mind tell an audience of eager educators that he had no idea why students aren't interested in pursuing science and engineering at the college level.

My notes from his talk are random at best but I'll summarize a few nuggets that stood out for me:

• As someone who loathed standardized tests, fill in the blanks, and other such forms of assessment, Woz's view was encouraging. As a maverick constantly challenging convention, he's more interested in finding new solutions that point to different answers than coming up with the same responses as everyone else. I guess I can finally stop feeling so badly about my poor SAT score in high school.
• The Steve Wozniak formula of life: happiness=the number of smiles minus the number of frowns; the goal is to not to end up in the negative!
• Woz had two goals in life: to become an engineer like his father and to become a fifth grade teacher in deference to a special educator who changed his life. He achieved both! Woz taught fifth grade for 8 years during the height of Apple (in its first incarnation). It was a volunteer position and not subject to the politics and pressures most educators encounter. Of course, all his instruction incorporated technology (this was when Apple computers first hit the market) and he really empowered his students to figure things out for themselves. He believes the Internet and the vast opportunities to access information in so many forms will further enhance children's educational experiences. This is not something to be feared.

My next workshop begins in exactly 7 minutes so I better run. Did try out the iPhone (such fun!) and was even able to make long distance calls on it (checked my home messages--I know, how boring...)

P.S. Also learned about Leopard, Apple's new operating system. What's so exciting about all this technology is that using it gets more fun by the minute.