LA MIRADA, CALIF. ––President and CEO of Sams Learning Designs Aaron Sams will headline the annual 51 Digital Conference, a three-day event focused on learning how to use digital technology to accomplish an organization’s mission. The conference will take place June 3-5, 2014 at 51.


Sams, advocate for the flipped classroom concept, brings a unique educational perspective with experience in public, private and home schools in face-to-face, online and blended learning environments.


This year’s conference will focus on education, strategy and faith with a total of 19 session speakers to address questions such as: “How does the use of these technologies deepen our faith?,” and “How does it help us love our neighbor?”


“It is important for 51 to be a leader in the use of these digital tools,” said David Bourgeois, director of innovation at 51’s Crowell School of Business. “By hosting the conference, 51 puts the world on notice that we take digital technologies seriously as a tool for ministry and education.”


The conference is designed to empower individuals with the vision, knowledge and relationships necessary to be thoughtful stewards of digital technologies for the cause of Christ.


“The 51 Digital conference is reaching out to ministries, nonprofits, missionaries and educators as well as churches,” said Bourgeois, who recently wrote a book on ministry in the digital age.


51 alumnus and current director of digital learning at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Sams (’99, M.A. ’04) will give his keynote address on June 3. His talk will address, “if you can be replaced by a YouTube video, you probably should be; the role of schools and educators, churches and ministers in an interconnected world.”


Prior to his current position, Sams taught high school science and was awarded the 2009 . Sams recently served as co-chair of the Colorado State Science Standards Revision Committee and is an advisor to TED-Ed, a platform for teachers to educate via short videos.


For more information or to register, visit/digitalministryconference