Preserving the Past, Designing the Future: Empowering the Next Generation of Educators through Technology and Invention

How do we honor the history of innovation in the Black community while preparing students and educators for a digital future? In this session, Dr. Sessoms explores the intersection of historical innovation in the Black community and modern pedagogy. By highlighting the achievements of past Black inventors to highlight the innate spirit of human ingenuity, this presentation illustrates that innovation has always been central to the Black experience. Integrating history into practice, Dr. Sessoms challenges future educators to embody this spirit of invention in their own teaching. The session will demonstrate how "invention literacy" and instructional technology can enhance learning where students invent to learn, demonstrating their understanding through creation, design, and problem-solving.

Presenter Biography

Dr. Diallo Sessoms is an award-winning innovator and champion for student success through technology. As a tenured professor at Salisbury University, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) honored him in 2020 for his excellence in integrating cutting-edge technology into the classroom. Dr. Sessoms holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology from the University of Virginia and is currently redefining teacher preparation through his research on educational makerspaces. Transforming theory into practice, he successfully spearheaded the launch of a dedicated makerspace for the Department of Early and Elementary Education in 2022. Dr. Sessoms previously authored a foundational textbook on Technology in Education for undergraduate majors. Building on this work, he is currently authoring a new book on invention literacy and innovation, while simultaneously designing a companion course to integrate these concepts into the curriculum.