Teaching conference looks into future of education

With online classes and new technology, the future of education presents a “Prism of Possibility” for teaching and learning. BGSU is hosting a conference by that name for faculty to explore these new resources, network and hear from leaders in the field of educational technology and active learning.

The March 5-7 event is open to all current and future educators. Hosted by the Center for Faculty Excellence, it brings together faculty, scholars and cutting-edge companies dedicated to improving education through technology for a discussion of innovations in teaching and learning.  The event begins at 1 p.m. March 5 and ends at noon March 7, all in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

Through interactive workshops, 30-minute table discussions and poster presentations, attendees will delve into engaged learning, assessment strategies, course and assignment design, and engaged classroom and course technologies. Faculty will present peer-reviewed papers about their experiences in these areas, sharing practical tips and scholarly research.

Some of the educational technology companies who will provide instruction on using their products are Techsmith, whose Camtasia is designed for teachers to make instructional videos; TopHat, whose classroom response system allows students to interact with teachers during lessons, and Pearson, a leading educational services company.

The keynote speaker is Dr. James Therrell, a longtime faculty member and past director of the Faculty Center for Innovative Teaching at Central Michigan University. He will discuss “Focused Learning in a World of Distractions,” on creating the environment and necessary tools for developing teaching excellence. He will speak on the morning of March 6.

According to Karen Harris, assistant director of the center, the conference is an especially good opportunity for adjunct faculty, who according to a recent story on National Public Radio today make up 76 percent of all college faculty. Employers are seeking faculty who are adept with educational technology, and the conference offers an avenue to begin to update their skills to meet that demand.

Register online or call the center at 419-372-6898.