Texarkana, Texas – The Program for Learning and Community Engagement (PLACE) at Texas A&M University-Texarkana will host educational futurist, lead education reporter for National Public Radio and acclaimed author Anya Kamenetz for a lecture titled “From Generation Debt to DIY U” on Tuesday, March 22, at 7 p.m. in Eagle Hall of the University Center on the A&M-Texarkana campus, 7101 University Ave., Texarkana, Texas.
In her presentation, Kamenetz will discuss how to solve the debt problems plaguing young adults and what reforms and actions are necessary for young people to escape debt and successfully manage their money. She also will share a glimpse into the classrooms of the future from her experiences running a peer-led self-directed online learning community, playing with robots and 3-D printers, and brainstorming with the designers of free and openly accessible resources for teaching, learning, assessment, and finding a job.
A winner of multiple national prizes from the Education Writers Association, Kamenetz is part of a new team at NPR coordinating national coverage of education both online and on-air. Her debut book, “Generation Debt,” received critical acclaim for stoking debate on the unprecedented economic challenges young people face.
In 2010, she published “DIY U,” prompting the Huffington Post to name her an “Educational Game Changer.” She was prominently featured in the acclaimed CNN documentary “Ivory Tower” about the crisis in higher education and in numerous publications and talk shows, including “Larry King Live” and “The View.”
Critics called her third book, “The Test,” a “must read” for anyone interested in the American education system. It explored the past, present and future of assessment and challenged conventional ideas about intelligence and the achievement of success. Her upcoming book, “Clicking,” focuses on parenting in the digital age.
PLACE is a faculty-led program designed to create a community of learners comprising A&M-Texarkana students, faculty, staff and the community at large.
The lecture is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
