EWC Students Recognized Nationally and Globally
by William Jackson and Emma Kent
Inspired by Jon Gregory, Joshua Rodriguez and Elisha Taylor

Students attending EWCs Educational Technology, Social Media
and STEM course had the opportunity to attend EdCamps, WordCamps,
and other internationally recognized conferences.
The ability to blog, post intellectual content, speak and present
professional PowerPoint are skills that build a student’s skill
sets that can influence business, commerce, finance and educational
pursuits. Careers require skills of writing, speaking, and creating content to share ideas, interests, and data. Students applied what
was taught by Prof. William Jackson and library skills taught by
Ms. Emma Kent in the Library Services Department, her vast
knowledge of research database and Social Media platforms helped
the students make needed connections and research skills.

Prof. Jackson teaches students basic foundation skills
in the Department of Education and Urban Studies, also mentoring them outside of the classroom. Helping students to network with
industry leaders, programmers, developers, coders, and business leaders in technology and education. The data shows that less than
2% of technology businesses are minority owned shows there is a
serious need for more men and women of color to get excited
and involved in STEM and STEAM initiatives.
These engagements build an important network that allows for
collaboration outside the classroom making a global presence for the students and the college. National and global recognition
can lead to careers not thought of and invite leadership roles
that were once thought unimaginable for HBCU students.

HBCUs or Historically Black Colleges and Universities are
realizing that learning continues outside the classroom, not just in the confines of concrete walls. Students must be
allowed to interact with those in positions of influence if
they are to be the future smart creatives, technical
innovators, leaders and developers that people of color
and culture need to see to inspire children, youth, teens
and young adults of color to be excited about participating
in STEM, STEAM, Blogging, Content Development, Business
and Commerce.

This semester EWC students have participated in national and
international conferences like WordCamp USA in Philadelphia
where Jon Gregory and Joshua Rodriguez attended. Learning how
to be proficient bloggers and content developers. They had the
chance to speak to international bloggers from China, India,
and Australia.

Jon Gregory was the first EWC student to attend and speak at
EdCamp NABSE (National Alliance of Black School Educators)
and had the honor to speak at TEDxFSCJ Salon, a
TEDx event at Florida State College in Jacksonville, Florida.
Even students that are mentored by Prof. Jackson had the
privilege to speak at TEDxFSCJ Salon, Elisha Taylor an
8th-grade student attending Kirby Smith Middle School
actively involved in robotics, STEM, mathematics, and
engineering. Mr. Taylor was requested to speak at TEDxFSCJ
Salon the first DCPS student and he attended the
internationally recognized Florida Blogging and
Technology Conference in Orlando with Jon Gregory,
Rameriez Poole.

Attending WordPress 2016 in Orlando was Joshua Rodriguez
of proud Puerto Rican heritage who shares that Latinos
need to grow their presence as content developers and innovators in technology. Their involvement can lead to careers for Latinos and grow new generations of web developers, programmers that can create jobs and start businesses.

Mr. Rodriguez’s blog can be found at
http://knowledgeablelearners.wordpress.com/
The ability to speak intellectually, passionately and
professionally is a skill that many businesses state that college grads are missing and in dire need of. Students attending Edward Waters College are gaining valuable skills that will allow them to compete nationally and globally not just as educators, but in diverse areas of
business, commerce, and other areas that require speaking,
content development and writing.
To help encourage speaking, articulation and research in
areas of growth, students participated in the first
“Tiger Talks Experience.”
The motto: “Every Tiger has a story that needs to be
told,” developed by Emma Kent of Library Services and
Prof. William Jackson.

This new initiative provides a platform for EWC students
to speak about their passions, career goals, and dreams
for national or global change, and the list grows as
participants grow. “Tiger Talks Experience” is modeled
after the TEDx and TEDTALKS that are global in the speaking of diverse topics of global concern. The difference is that “TIGER TALKS EXPERIENCE,” is geared to HBCU students and their unique backgrounds and cultural diaspora.

The Tedx by Dr. Hill Krishan (TEDxCalPoly)
https://youtu.be/OscDpHfrtog “Who writes your life
story?” shares the importance of students not
to be discouraged because of what others say they
cannot do, to be empowered that they can accomplish anything they dream of being. Many students can identify with Dr. Krishan’s experiences and overcome challenges, the inspiration comes from seeing his success and continued growth.
Students are preparing to compete on global platforms so
must be provided platforms to show their knowledge, share
abilities and access to tools to spread their passions and
intellectual growth and influence.
Students are off to a great start learning in Educational
Technology classes and applying Library Studies tools of
research and application of research skills to invest in
continued educational growth.

Resources:
EdCamp: http://www.edcamp.org/
TEDx: http://www.tedxfscj.com/
WordCamp: http://central.wordcamp.org/
Educational Technology and Social Media
http://ewceducationaltechnology.wordpress.com/