SXSW EDU 2025: Where K-12 Meets the Future of Education
- By Renata Salazar
- 02/11/25
Join education's most passionate community this March 3-6, 2025 at a special 15th-annual SXSW EDU Conference & Festival in Austin, Texas. SXSW EDU is the ultimate destination for education professionals in the K-12 space and beyond who are eager to explore the future of education. Dive deep into the latest trends, tech tools, and strategies shaping how we teach and learn in today’s rapidly evolving world. Explore the latest news and exciting announcements you can look forward to this March.
Whether you're looking to connect with like-minded professionals, discover new ways to integrate technology into your classroom, or stay ahead of the curve in education innovation, SXSW EDU has something for you. The event serves as a vibrant meeting ground for education professionals from all corners of the globe bringing together educators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, students, government officials, parents, philanthropists, administrators, and more, all in one place to collectively move conversations to new heights. Spark new conversations and build bridges across diverse perspectives.
At SXSW EDU, we believe in creating a new tomorrow for learners everywhere. Join your fellow educators this March to get inspired and empowered with the tools and insights to shape a better tomorrow — today. Highlighting how K-12 education is evolving alongside groundbreaking tech innovations, and with more than 400 sessions already confirmed, look forward to more than 200 of those sessions having a focus area geared towards K-12.
SXSW EDU 2025 Program
The annual conference and festival is a celebration of innovation, creativity, inspiration, and learning through a wide range of compelling sessions, in-depth workshops, engaging hands-on experiences, mentorship, film screenings, trailblazing competitions, performances, an expo, networking opportunities, and so much more. A wide range of topics and ideas that will be explored across the program are organized by 12 thematic tracks focusing on timely topics in education ranging from the Future of Tech to Teaching & Learning and Leadership for Tomorrow to Equity & Justice, and more.
Here's a look at some key speakers and sessions that we think will resonate with you, as a sneak peek into the exciting conversations happening around K-12, technology, and ultimately, conversations you won't want to miss.
Hear from Keynote Emily Calandrelli, the 100th woman in space and Emmy-nominated science TV host, who will share her powerful insights on breaking barriers for women in STEM. Featured Speaker Manu Kapur, professor of Learning Sciences and Higher Education, will dive into how we can learn from failure — not just by reacting to it, but by intentionally designing for it. See more powerful thought leaders confirmed for March.
Learn How Youth Use Gen AI: Time to Rethink Plagiarism, in this solo presentation led by Elliott Hedman from mPath. This idea tackles the ongoing debate around GenAI in schools—specifically, the tension between banning it due to concerns over plagiarism and finding ways to embrace it as a tool for learning. In this session, Hedman will share three strategies to prevent plagiarism while teaching students how to use GenAI effectively, focusing on self-reflection, self-efficacy, and transparency. Hedman is showcasing an approach that highlights the need for educators to move beyond simply rejecting new technologies and instead leverage them for student growth, aligning with the realities of how these tools are becoming an integral part of younger generations' lives.
The podcast MindShift KQED: Can Better Conversations Improve Media Literacy Among Students? shines a light on the challenges students face in a world overwhelmed by both information and disinformation. It underscores the urgent need for students to develop critical skills to navigate the vast amount of content they encounter online. Connecting learning with the technology students use in both their personal and academic lives, this podcast session explores how personal identities and social relationships shape the way students process and understand information. By focusing on fostering better conversations, the session aims to empower students to engage more thoughtfully with the media they consume.
If you're passionate about K-12 education and its intersection with technology, the SXSW EDU community is here to support your goals and will help the inspiration of new ones. Become the architect of your experience and navigate through the program tailored specifically to your interests, from sessions to workshops to big-picture discussions on the future of education.
Get connected to other thought leaders, educators, and tech innovators, in a unique space for fresh ideas, cross-disciplinary collaborations, and create solutions to today's most pressing educational challenges. We want to welcome and encourage THE Journal readers to join us this March, for an opportunity to connect, learn, and contribute to shaping the future of education.
Browse the full schedule and start building your SXSW EDU 2025 schedule.
Find Your Community at SXSW EDU 2025
Join us for SXSW EDU 2025 from March 3-6 in Austin, Texas. Register and book your hotel to ensure your seat in the groundbreaking sessions, networking opportunities, in-depth workshops, mentorship, film screenings, competitions, an expo, and more.
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