User:Eric M. Grace

I am an Adjunct Faculty member at RIT in the Department of Information Technology at the College for Computing and Information Sciences. I am teaching the RIT Honors Seminar for the OLPC XO Laptop and Sugar Development.

My interests and background include art and technology integration in education to enhance engagement, increase productivity, and enrich the value of the learning experience. Student involvement in "real-world" problem solving activities, development, implementation, and production of measurable outcomes makes the learning environment more exciting for all of those involved. My focus is on innovation, collaboration, communication, and creativity.

I currently hold a New York State K-12 Art Education Certification and taught in the City of Rochester grades 7-12 for three years. I am continuously involved in the local community and I am the Chair of a local non-profit alternative education and employment organization for at-risk youth named, ArtPeace inc.

My interests in the OLPC and Sugar community is to help facilitate the development of educational programs and curriculum that aligns with state, national, and international standards while incorporating the developmental assets (soft-skills). The educational programs I've written and implemented are developed through a creative and entrepreneurial lense, which teaches youth to contribute to society, to help narrow the digital and educational divide. The XO is a wonderful device for digital inclusion and a means to advance technological literacy on a global scale.