Conference To Promote Techonology and Enhance Teaching

“Digital Communication in the 21st Century” is the theme of the annual e-Volution: Innovations in Learning Environments Conference Sept. 25-26 at the University of Wyoming.

The conference goal is to help teachers and trainers discover and share innovative ways of using technology to enhance teaching and learning. All sessions are free and open to campus and the public. A complete schedule of programs, registration details, live streaming opportunities and other information can be found atwww.wyoforum.org.

“The e-Volution conference provides a free forum in which educators share best practices examples of technology use at university, community college, K-12 and other learning environments,” says conference facilitator Meg Van Baalen-Wood, an instructor with the UW Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning. “The aim of e-Volution is to facilitate dialogue about the effective use of existing and emerging technologies in learning environments. This year’s conference is particularly focused on conversations about digital communication tools, strategies and techniques.”

This will be accomplished through sessions ranging from paper presentations to hands-on workshops as faculty share their experiences with lessons learned and exciting innovations in both virtual and on-campus arenas, she says.

Robbie Melton, associate vice chancellor for mobilization and emerging technologies with the Tennessee Board of Regents, will be the keynote speaker. She will discuss “Education On-Demand and Within Your Hands: The Impact of Mobile and Emerging Technologies in Higher Education,” Thursday, Sept. 25, at noon, in the Wyoming Union Ballroom. Registration is required for the keynote lunch.

Melton will provide an overview of the latest innovations of emerging mobile technologies for enhancing teaching, learning and student services, including influential mobile apps across the higher education spectrum.

“Students are coming to campuses with mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, computers, gaming consoles and wearable technologies. Do we ‘connect’ or ‘disconnect’ these students?” Melton asks. “How can these innovative devices serve as effective teaching and learning tools?”

Other topics include building an engaging online classroom; new insights into gaming to better reach students; learning implications of the abuse of Ritalin and other performance enhancers; social networking; technology cloud services and policies; integrating songs into the humanities; and video technology use for self-evaluation.

The UW Outreach School, Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning, UW Libraries and Laramie County Community College are the conference sponsors.