In an unprecedented partnership between Salem College, Salem Academy, Summit School, Forsyth Country Day School and the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System, the Comenius Collaborative welcomes internationally respected educational technology thinker and speaker, Marc Prensky. Prensky will speak on the topic, “Yesterday’s Education Tomorrow?” on Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Hanes Auditorium in the Salem Fine Arts Center.

Prensky, a former CEO, speaker, inventor and author of three books about modern education (Digital Game-Based Learning, Don’t Bother Me Mom—I’m Learning and Teaching Digital Narratives), has spoken internationally about new trends in education and digital learning.

WSFCS superintendent Dr. Don Martin will moderate the evening. The event is free and open to the public. A book sale and signing will follow Prensky’s presentation.

On Oct. 20, Prensky will also speak at the Comenius Symposium, the graduate research symposium for Salem College Teacher Education and Graduate Studies students. From 5-6 p.m., graduate students will make research presentations in various locations in the Salem Fine Arts Center and at 7:30 p.m., Prensky will deliver the keynote address, "Teaching Digital Natives:Partnering for Real Learning," based on his latest book. The talk addresses the critical issues of student engagement, the role of the 21st century teacher, integrating technology in ways that students find meaningful, and ways in which content and assessment can be reconciled with relevance. The symposium is also free and open to the public.