David Thornburg





=Background information= 1. David was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 25, 1943. His father was a scientist, and his mother was an artist. As a result, David grew up in an environment that supported a wide range of interests. This background has influenced his thinking about education in deep ways. While David was a graduate of a vocational/technical high school (Lane Tech in Chicago), he entered college as an engineering major after a short stint working in the field of electronics. On graduation from Northwestern University with a BS in engineering sciences in 1967, he received his MS and PhD degrees from the University of Illinois in Urbana. while David had always been inventive, his interests in science drew him deeply into the mathematics of non-linear systems, for which computer models were the most effective tool.

After receiving his PhD, he joined the fledgling Xerox Palo Alto Research Center as a research scientist. At this lab he worked on a wide variety of projects, including the development of user interface devices for the first truly personal computer: the Alto. Around this time he also became a father and started developing a strong interest in K-12 education and the role technology might play.

2. The early years: As a child, David's nascent interest in science and technology received a huge push with the launch of Sputnik. As a child of the October Sky, David explored every tool to which he had access. Computers (as we know them) did not exist outside of huge installations at the time, but David built his own computational devices using telephone relays and other components he could find at government surplus electronic stores. He also became an amateur radio operator (K9SRW, since lapsed) and built all of his own equipment either from kits or from scratch. These early experiences modeled the kinds of project-based learning he promotes for all students today. Some of the test and measurement equipment he purchased as a child is still used by him in various projects around the house. By the same token, his inquisitive mind led to his becoming a strong advocate for inquiry-driven learning.

3. Major pioneering efforts and contributions. While at Xerox PARC, David invented numerous devices, some of which are still in use today. Chief among these is the touch screen technology used in the early PDA's and some interactive white boards. David was co-counder of Koala Technologies where the touch tablet was first commercialized. While at Koala, David also invented the Muppet Learning Keys, a special large keyboard for children. During the Clinton years, David was active in promoting strong federal support for educational technology and worked on the development of the e-rate program and other initiatives that have been in place since that time.

4. Up close and personal stories about the pioneer. These can be contributed by many different authors. Try to flesh out the pioneer as a person and his or her contributions as part of the overall human endeavor of developing the field of ICT in education.

5. Autobiographic materials written by the pioneer in the past and/or written especially for this IAE-pedia document.

6. Interview. If the pioneer is not deceased, try to gather interview information via face to face meeting, phone, or email. Here are three sample interview questions:


 * Q. Looking back over your pioneering activities, which do you feel best about? What is your legacy?
 * Q. Drawing upon your years of experience and accumulated wisdom, what do you think are some of the very best ways to improve our current informal and formal educational systems?
 * Q. What else do you want to say to today's students, teachers, parents, and other people?

7. References. This includes references to sources of information about the pioneer as well as references to some of the published works or and other activities of the Pioneer.

8. Author or Authors. You are encouraged to include your name as the initial author of the document.

9. Finally, at the very bottom of the page you are creating, on a line all by itself and in double square brackets, enter the text: Category: Pioneer

=Introduction=

Quoting from the Thornburg Center:


 * Successful Meetings magazine lists Dr. David Thornburg as one of the top 21 speakers in the United States. His dynamic, thought-provoking presentations provide transformative experiences to well over 100,000 people per year. His monthly commentaries for PBS on the impact of emerging technologies on learning expand his reach far beyond the podium.


 * But David is more than a public speaker. He is an award-winning futurist, author and consultant whose clients range across the public and private sector, both in the United States and in Brazil. His corporate clients range from small startup ventures to some of the most dynamic large corporations in the world. His razor-sharp focus on the fast-paced world of modern communication media and its impact on learning has placed him in constant demand as a keynote speaker and workshop leader.


 * As the founder and Director of Global Operations for the Thornburg Center, and as Senior Fellow of the Congressional Institute for the Future, he conducts research and provides staff development in the areas of educational futures, multimedia, communications and whole mind education throughout the Americas. He helps clients to think intelligently about the future and is active in exploring ways that telecommunications and multimedia will change the face of learning, both at home and in the classroom.

=Questions and Answers= This is an "Up close and personal" section. It includes both questions directed to the Pioneer if he or she is still available to answer questions, and personal stories contributes by friends and acquaintances. If it is appropriate, please include the following question submitted by Dave Moursund. Remember, this is a question to the Pioneer, not to the person writing about the Pioneer.

Q. Drawing upon your years of experience in the field of education, what do you think are some of the very best ways to improve our current informal and formal educational systems?

A. (Response not yet provided.)

=References= This includes references to courses of information about the person as well as references to some of the published works of the person.

Thornburg Biography. http://www.tcpd.org/Thornburg/Bio.html.

=Author or Authors=