Learning Accelerant is led by Joseph South
Learning Accelerant
Learning Accelerant is a consultancy led by Joseph South that uses the learning sciences to help organizations redesign learning experiences to address the cognitive, emotional, and aesthetic needs of learners. Purpose-driven expertise, learning engineering, game design, and narrative learning design are a few of our areas of expertise.
Joseph South, Ph.D.
Joseph South is a national educational technology leader, consultant, and international speaker focused on evidence-based learning transformation. He regularly works with education leaders, governments, corporations, non-profits, museums, and learning innovators of every variety to help them realize their vision.
Joseph formerly served as the director of the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education. As a presidential appointee in the Obama Administration, he was an adviser to the Secretary of Education. He developed national educational technology policy, formed public-private partnerships to assist state and local education leaders in transitioning to digital learning, expanded the use of openly licensed educational resources (OER), and worked directly with edtech entrepreneurs, funders, and innovators.
Joseph worked with the White House on a cross-governmental team to bring high-speed broadband, interactive devices, professional development for educators and leaders, and high-quality affordable digital content to U.S. classrooms. He is a strong proponent of the active use of technology by learners.
Joseph was also a design resident at IDEO where he helped shape The Purpose Project—designed to help young people understand their strengths while developing expertise in something they care deeply about to prototype their purpose.
Joseph currently serves as the Chief Innovation Officer for the International Society for Technology in Education ISTE) and ASCD.
He has led learning product development teams at startups, museums, nonprofits, corporations and higher education institutions. He has also directed learning programs and consulted on projects in China, Korea, Mexico, South America and the Middle East.
He holds a doctorate in instructional psychology and technology from Brigham Young University.
What People Are Saying
Joseph inspires those around him to be better versions of themselves. He sets a clear vision and supports teams in developing strategies to meet these goals. I continue to rely on his insightful ability to see quickly into the heart of a matter on a regular basis.
— KATRINA S.
Joseph's projects get noticed. They are always innovative. They are grounded in best practices yet they consistently forge the unchartered territory of what's next.
— JIM B.
Many, many thanks for your inspirational and insightful remarks at our annual meeting. You opened our eyes to a new way of considering this moment. The positive and enthusiastic comments have been coming in fast and furiously. This was a great evening that sent us all away with a renewed sense of mission.
— JENNIFER C.
Thank you for everything you do to impact education on the global level. It is a pleasure working with you.
— MAHMUD S.
Awards
Making IT Happen Award
Top 30 Technologists, Transformers, and Trailblazers
SIIA CODiE Award Finalist
Serious Play Bronze Medal for Online Language Roleplay Game
Patent Awarded: Systems and methods for providing a dynamic continual improvement educational environment
By connecting purpose and expertise, schools become meaningful, connected, engaging, and relevant.
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We are happy to learn more about what you are working to accomplish to see how we may be helpful to you. Let’s connect and see what is possible together!