Silvern, a member of the faculty in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching since 1978, presented "Educating Mind and Spirit: Embracing a Confluence of Cultures in the Education of Children." The session explored how embracing a convergence of cultures, philosophies, and experiences improves the educational focus of the whole individual.

ACEI's Headquarters Team honored Silvern for his contributions as an ACEI member in personally and consistently over many years assisting with various projects and serving as "an invaluable source of information, inspiration and wise counsel in the true spirit of volunteerism."

Within ACEI, he has served as chair of the research, publications and technology committees. He has edited the software review column and the research review column in Childhood Education. Silvern has served as both associate editor and editor for ACEI's research publication, Journal of Research in Childhood Education.

Besides teaching at Auburn, Silvern has taught in public and private schools and has consulted internationally. His classes promote early childhood programs focused on constructivist education. Silvern's research centers on children's cognitive development with an emphasis on contributions of play and social interaction to cognition.