Adam Gehlhar is Assistant Principal in the West Fargo Public Schools where he has been part of a team of talented educators implementing 21st Century educational experiences through Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Education. He spends his time learning about and implementing innovative approaches to facilitate and assess purposeful learning for all students. His passion is engaging all learners in maximizing their human potential through meaningful, real world, forever learning experiences. He earned a BS in Social Science Education and a MEd in Education Leadership from North Dakota State University.
In a world that changes as rapidly as ours we can best prepare our students by facilitating learning in real world contexts and teaching the whole child. Significant improvement in student learning occurs in schools that are employing strategies to build positive school culture and truly engage learners. For educational professionals to change and adapt to the 21st century they must embrace a culture of empowerment and engagement for students. One way to develop this mindset is to gain experience in a lab school setting with the supports to innovate, create, and practice. The West Fargo Science Technology Engineering and Math program utilizes best practices in education to engage learners in purposeful authentic work. Educators utilize the Engineering Design Process to facilitate Design Focused Learning experiences that bring real world context to learning core content. In an effort to expand the lessons learned from this program Adam and a team of dedicated educators created a summer lab school to facilitate forever learning experiences.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
