Florence McGinn, Senior Executive Vice President and Director of Research for GKE (Global Knowledge Exchange) and board member of the GKE Foundation and the Mediatech Foundation, is a former United States Commissioner on the Congressional Commission on Web-based Education.  She was appointed to that 16 member national commission by then US Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley. Florence McGinn served as the chairperson of the Commission’s K-12 National Education Issues. She continues national advocacy on international learning issues and educational technology initiatives.

Florence McGinn is the recipient of the Technology and Learning United States National Teacher award, and she has been honored as Princeton University’s Distinguished Secondary School Educator. She has received a New Jersey Teacher of the Year award and a United States Eastern Region Teacher of the Year award. She is the recipient of several New Jersey Best Educational Practices awards and a New Jersey Association of School Curriculum Development award.

Mrs. McGinn is presently appointed to advisory boards with Cisco Learning Institute, SchoolTone Alliance, and Technology and Learning magazine. Mrs. McGinn, as a former English teacher, developed pilot projects through support from AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, Liberty Science Center, Lucent Technology, Bose Corporation, COMWEB, GKE, and the Hunterdon Foundation. She has received numerous Best Educational Practices awards, a NJ Association of School Curriculum award, and one of her pilot project was cited as one of NJ’s best web sites by NJ Monthly and as one of the Internet’s ten best educational sites by LearninginMotion. 

Florence McGinn presents widely throughout the United States and internationally on technology-assisted learning policy, design, and methods. She has presented as keynote or spotlight speaker at events such as Australia’s 2002 Change and Challenge Conference, Conference 2000 at the invitation of Singapore’s Ministry of Education, at Singapore’s 2001 E-Learning Symposium at the invitation of Singapore’s National Institute of Education, at NECC, TechSpo, at the international AMC Conference, and at SchoolTech, in China, Japan, Australia, and Korea, on Shanghai television and on NJ Network television, and for the US Dept. of Education, for the NJ Dept. of Education, for the NJ State School Board, and for groups including AT&T, NJASA, PBS, National Teacher Training Institute, and IBM. She has taught courses on technology-assisted learning at The Academy and in New Jersey Educational Teacher Training Centers as well as in a televised, ten part series produced by NJ Network.

David Cavallo co-directs the Lab's Future of Learning group, focusing on the design and implementation of reforms in learning environments and educational systems, on the role that technology can play in this process, and on the design of new technologies for learning. Prior to joining the research staff at the Media Lab, Cavallo led the design and implementation of medical informatics at Harvard University Health Services, and was a principal and consulting software engineer at Digital Equipment Corporation's Artificial Intelligence Technology Center. Cavallo has designed and built numerous knowledge-based systems for industry, most notably a set of intelligent microworlds for training air traffic controllers. He founded and led the Advanced Technology group for Digital's Latin American and Caribbean region. He has advised numerous heads of state and ministries of education on the adoption of advanced technologies for learning and the reform of educational institutions. Cavallo received his MS and PhD from the Program in Media Arts and Sciences at MIT, and a BS in computer science from Rutgers University.

Sherra Pierre has spent the last 18years in the Information Technology field. Ms Pierre is currently the Vice President/CIO for Sesame Workshop, where she owns both the internal operational strategy and R&D on the new generation of distribution networks and channels. Prior to the Workshop, she was the founding partner of Vision IT, a consulting firm specializing in content management and digital asset warehousing. Ms. Pierre was also the VP/CIO for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MLSO), where she managed all of the strategic IT planning and implementation. In this capacity, Ms. Pierre developed a unique content management model for MSLO that enabled specialized publishing opportunities and management of content across all distribution channels.

At Viacom International, Ms. Pierre was the Project Manager for the Advanced Technology Group where she developed best practices involving R&D, collaborative computing and digital asset management. Ms. Pierre had direct responsibility for leveraging technology across Viacom Intl, Paramount Pictures, Showtime, MTV Networks and Simon Schuster. Ms. Pierre was also part of the Information Technology teams of Madison Square Garden and Virgin Atlantic Airways, where she was responsible for the development of their networks both local and international. Ms. Pierre has a BFA in Dance and a BA in Computer Science. This has proven to be a successful combination for her, in that it has given Ms. Pierre a well-rounded vision and foundation that has allowed her to challenge herself throughout her career. The result is a successful career that has generated new methodologies for IT implementation.

Marsha Lamb brought a computer into her Montessori class in 1980. The reaction of the children was so immediate and positive, that it convinced her to begin a career that has spanned more than twenty years, working with nearly every application of high technology to the art and science of learning. Here are just a few of her extremely diverse assignments:

Marsha participated in the design of a “digital portfolio” for students, working at Brown University in a project funded jointly by IBM and Intel. - She directed the computerization of the South Carolina State Library System, and then managed the implementation of a new classroom administrative system for all South Carolina teachers. - In the early 1990’s Marsha formed her own company, Enterlearn Technologies, which created internet websites for several client organizations, developed an educational curriculum about nuclear waste management for the Los Alamos National Laboratories, and designed a wide variety of interactive museum exhibits and computer games for NAUTICUS, The National Maritime Center, in Norfolk, VA.- While employed for a time as a Training Director at Oracle Corporation’s headquarters in Redwood City, CA, she helped develop a “netcentric” core curriculum to train sales executives. - She is currently under contract as a consultant to the Cisco Learning Institute in Phoenix, AZ, where she has already helped them establish working relationships with such diverse partners as Intel Corporation, UMass Boston, Open VES, Arizona State University, and the creator of the Star Wars saga, George Lucas.

She will tell you that she is never satisfied using only one side of her brain. Her undergraduate degree is in psychology, while her master’s degree is in systems management, with ongoing doctoral work in instructional technology. Her abiding interest in early childhood education is balanced by her considerable experience in both business and politics. Yes, Marsha also has a political side, having lobbied business and political leaders in South Carolina; worked in support of such prominent figures as Steve Forbes, Congresswoman Heather Wilson of New Mexico, and former US Secretary of Education Dick Riley. She even served along with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Senator John McCain as a delegate to the New Atlantic Initiative Conference in 1997, supporting the admission of both Czechoslovakia and Hungary to the NATO alliance.

Along the way, she has found time to study with some of the most prominent names in the world of education. She has pursued organizational leadership studies with Meg Wheatly and Peter Senge, spent time working with Larry Martel on integrative learning, learned about Total Quality Management from Joseph Jablonski, and studied lateral thinking theory with Edward DeBono. The daughter of a prominent colonel in the US Air Force, Marsha grew up as a citizen of the wider world, living in Europe for many years, schooling in France, Germany, New York, and Washington, DC. It was normal for her to discuss the questions of the day with the Generals, Admirals, and senior diplomatic and government officials who were frequent guests in her family’s home.It’s a practice she continues to this day.

Bill Mosher's career began as a writer in the early 1980's when he founded his own hometown newspaper. He developed his writing skills as publisher of two weekly newspapers--publications which earned him top awards in investigative reporting from the Massachusetts Press Association and the New England Press Association. As a freelance writer, his work has been published by scores of newspapers and magazines, both here and abroad. He is also the author of numerous short stories and novellas; the co-author of two books on local Massachusetts history; and the author of Visionaries, a companion book to The Visionaries television series.

Bill's interest in documenting philanthropic work began during an assignment for Boston Magazine in South America. That trip led to writing and producing videos for many nonprofit organizations, working on location in India, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. Bill's work in television began in 1992 with a project for the Stobart Foundation: a 13-part television series that encouraged young artists to paint directly from nature. The series focused on world-renowned maritime artist John Stobart as he traveled around the globe painting original landscapes on camera. Hosted by Walter Cronkite, WorldScape was broadcast on public television stations nationwide.

Since 1993, Bill has dedicated himself to creating, producing and promoting The Visionaries.

Mass Networks works to improve educational leadership, curriculum, and technology for all learners. In the mid-90s, it organized three Mass NetDay campaigns that involved 20,000 volunteers working with ¾ of the state's school districts. Mass Networks partners with education leaders, provides policy input to public officials, and promotes the integration of technology into school activity. A former teacher and community organizer, Mr. Miller worked on the first Lotus 1-2-3 Reference Manual and was editor-in-chief of LOTUS Magazine. He has been a TV and radio commentator, and on the national boards of Grassroots International (GRI), Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR), and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN). His articles have appeared in numerous national magazines and his book, Civilizing Cyberspace: Policy, Power, and the Information Superhighway, was published in 1996 by Addison Wesley. Miller has received awards from MassCUE, the Mass Software Council, the Mass Telecommunications Council, the Mass. Governor's Office, and the Mass Taxpayers Association. He was an invited Presenter at the 1999 National Education Summit. Steve is a member of the OpenVES Board of Directors.

Karen Kaun is co-founder and Executive Director of Knowledge iTrust (KIT) a private, not-for-profit 501 (c) 3, organization dedicated to educational technology reform whose mission is to bring together users of educational technology (teachers, administrators, students and parents) with solution providers (private sector corporations, other non-profit organizations and academic institutions) to realize the promise of e-learning. In January 2002, KIT launched the Peace Diaries. Students from countries around the globe utilized Internet technologies developed by KIT to learn, share and collaborate on projects that produce educational content for dissemination through books, radio broadcast and the Peace Diaries Web site at www.peacediaries.org. Kaun is an entrepreneur, Internet business strategist and educator whose clients have included BellSouth, Britannica.com, Hasbro Games.com and Havas Interactive. She is also a part-time graduate student at Teachers College, Columbia University in the Department of International and Transcultural Studies, International Education Development.

Michael Mino is a Technology, Curriculum and Professional Development Specialist at EDUCATION CONNECTION, a Connecticut Regional Education Service Center in Litchfield, CT.  Currently his major responsibilities include coordination and management of the Connecticut Office for Workforce Competitiveness IT Curriculum Development Project. This three year projectinvolves the development and disemination of  NWCET standards-based, 9-12 model currciulum for IT programs in Connecticut high schools. He is also Program Director for a nationally recognized interdistrict program called the IT Leadership Academy which brings together 200 9-12th grade students and 20 teachers from 9 subuurban and 3 urban schools. The program provides hands-on experiences in a collaborative computing environment while developing creativity skills and collaborating with IT professionals. On April 9, 2001 a case study of the IT Leadership Academy was inducted into the Computerworld Honors Digital Archive of Information Technology. Michael has been involved as a writer in both state and national standards development projects and has received numerour awards and recognition during the course of his ten years as a high school technology teacher and his five years as a technology specialist. He has been a keynote speaker and presenter at numeorus state, regional and national conferences and sits on both editorial and university review boards. Most recently he received the Net Generation of Youth Service Award from the Education Braintrust of the Congressional Black Caucus for the IT Leadership Academy program.  He is also currently serving in the Apple Distinguished Educators (ADE) program which recognizes K-12 and Higher Education educators throughout many countries who most innovatively integrate technology into education.

Diana Moy is the co-founder and Executive Producer of Knowledge iTrust (KIT), a private not-for profit 501 (c) 3 organization dedicated to education technology reform. Ms. Moy evaluates, produces and distributes methodology, information, and program / technology design for KIT's educational projects.Moy has 12 years of experience as an entrepreneur information / visual designer, educator, and producer of programs and projects for corporate and non-profits organization. Clients include, Bank of America, Ziff Davis, The California Coastal Commission, biotechnology organization - Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco law firms as an information specialist providing investigated diagrams for courtroom presentation, South of Market Child Care, Inc., and Asian American Dance Performance After School Programs teaching art, dance and theatre production. In addition to her consulting she was the co-founder of Aeon Information Design, an Internet design, software development and information management agency with primary focus on the integration of legacy systems as well as digital information design and management. Also, Moy continued her professional training in 1997 and received a certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Robert Stephenson Is the founder and chief architect of the Harvey Project, an international collaboration to build free learning objects for physiology.  One of his current projects, with NSF support, is creating a SourceForge-like portal and ASP to support "open course" projects: i.e. virtual collaborations to develop open learning objects.  Stephenson is Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Wayne State University, where he has taught an online physiology class for five years.  He also spends more time designing computer soft- and hardware than is good for his academic health.  Stephenson holds an A.B. in physics from Princeton, a Ph.D. in neurophysiology from MIT and programming certification in Java from Sun Microsystems.  He lives in San Francisco with his family, his dreams and two cats.

Tracy Adams was a co-founder of ArsDigita and one of the original developers of the ArsDigita Community System (ACS), and open source platform used to create collaborative websites.   ACS has been used for sites all over the world,  including Siemens, Greenpeace, and WorldBank.  Tracy curretly works at Sloan School of business developing and supporting the ACS-based opensource product dotLRN, which supports education, communities and research.

Andrew Nagy is the senior programmer for the Living SchoolBook Project, an educational research and development group within the School of Education at Syracuse University. He has laid the ground work for the LSB by developing a strong open-source platform with the help of fellow employees with backgrounds in Software Engineering, Systems Assurance and Network Security.  His main responsibility with the LSB is to develop the Dialogue Project, a large web based educational collaboration tool, built on the concepts of School of Education faculty.  Andrew has developed this solution along with the LSB's student centered staff pulling ideas from most all of the colleges within Syracuse University.  Previously, Andrew has served as a Programmer at a top-100 web development firm, Refinery, Inc. and also with GIM.net, a well known software development firm.  With Refinery he was responsible for developing intranet applications in both web and wireless web formats.  He received his B.S. in Information Management and Technology, with a minor in Computer Engineering from Syracuse University.  He is currently persuing his masters degree in the Information Technology field.

Dr. James Laffey is an Associate Professor in the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies at the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU). Before coming to MU he worked for six years at Apple Computer, Inc. conducting research and development for learning and support systems.  While working at Apple he was responsible for developing award winning interactive learning systems, and designing innovative performance support systems. As Director of the Center for Technology Innovations in Education, Dr. Laffey leads several R&D efforts to further understanding of the role and potential of technology, especially networked technology, for transforming and improving education. Dr. Laffey has earned NSF awards to research how technology can enable project based learning, and how a technology infrastructure changes the processes and outcomes of teacher education. He also co-leads an effort to develop new interactive shared knowledge systems for enabling learning communities. Dr. Laffey teaches about human-computer interaction, and has led the development of curricular and research initiatives in Networked Learning Systems at MU. Dr. Laffey earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1981, and has worked at the University of Washington, San Francisco State University, Apple Computer, Inc., and the University of Missouri-Columbia.