UMD News Releases

Duluth, MN — Dr. Michael Wesch, called “a phenomenon” by the New York Times, will speak at UMD’s Weber Music Hall on Friday, September 26 at 6 p.m. His keynote “The End of Wonder in the Age of Whatever” shows educators how new media can inspire students to wonder, explore, and be curious in an age when people are feeling increasingly disconnected. The event is free and open to the public.

A cultural anthropologist exploring the effects of new media and an associate professor at Kansas State University, Wired Magazine describes Wesch as “the explainer” because his videos on culture, technology, education, and information have been viewed over 20 million times. He says, “The key to teaching with technology is to not focus on the technology, but to instead seek out the real essence of what we are trying to do and then focus our energies there.”

Olaf Kuhlke, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts, led the effort to bring Wesch to UMD after hearing him speak at a conference last spring. “He’s incredibly engaging, showing us how technology is a tool for building real and relevant projects that allow learning to flourish."

Wesch explains that new media and technology have led us to an age of whatever, endless possibilities that amplify feelings of disconnection. He believes that it’s up to educators to inspire students to wonder and be curious.

UMD’s College of Liberal Arts, the College of Education and Human Service Professions, the Labovitz School of Business and Economics, the Swenson College of Science and Engineering, and ITSS are sponsoring the event.