Sessions at SXSW Interactive 2011 about Government on Tuesday 15th March

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• Innovation Dot Gov: Designing Democracy for the Age of Networks

  by Beth Simone Noveck

  Former White House Deputy CTO and Open Government leader addresses how to use technology to design smaller and smarter government for the 21st century. Bringing innovation to the public sector doesn’t require new legislation or new budgets. It requires changing the default way of working from closed to open.

  • Democracy
  • Government
  • Innovation

  At 9:30am to 10:30am, Tuesday 15th March

  In Room 9ABC, Austin Convention Center

• Can Design and Technology Fix America's Education Problem?

  by Dennis Littky, Jon Kolko and Steven Tomilson

  In the US, 75% of students graduate high school. Our national college graduation rate is even lower at approximately 54%. And those students who aspire to go to college are faced with a rising tuition cost, which has increased more than any other major good or service for the last twenty years. Looking ahead to the next 20 years, students will pay $221,722 to drop out of a state school, and close to $450,000 to try their luck at a private school in hopes of getting a higher education. These unfortunate statistics don't even begin to describe the current university system's neglect to harness experiential and digital approaches to open-source educational models.

  We are facing an education crisis in the United States. This panel will explore the future of education, examining the roles of design, technology, and human beings in reshaping the way we teach and learn. While the panel is diverse, the speakers all share unconventional views of learning, a passion for design and creativity, and an entrepreneurial commitment to driving change through both action and technology.

  LEVEL: Intermediate

  • Education
  • Government

  At 11:00am to 12:00pm, Tuesday 15th March

  In Ballroom B, Austin Convention Center

  Coverage audio clip

• How Governments are Changing Where Big Ideas Happen

  by Ian Kelso, Sean Kane and Tony Schum

  More than ever, governments across the world, at both national and local levels, are working hard to attract the "creative/digital industries". When you're looking for a job, you may not know how much your city, state or even national government often play a role in what companies are hiring in your community.

  While traditional economic development has typically meant a scenario like bringing a factory to a rural area, a newer practice involves growing so-called industries of the mind. Canada has led the way, but now many states across America are offering incentives to game developers and other tech-related companies (to say nothing of the massive internal investments by certain countries, such as Russia). The benefits can be tax breaks, loans, grants, tax credits and even free rent to get you and your brain trust to make the move.

  This discussion will look at why these sorts of incentives are thought to bring benefit to not just the companies, but to their communities and taxpayers, too.

  LEVEL: Beginner

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Government
  • Innovation

  At 12:30pm to 1:30pm, Tuesday 15th March

  In Room 10AB, Austin Convention Center