Professional development
Announcing a call for speakers on Technology Tactics in Education 2024: Building a Future-Ready Enterprise
The annual Campus Technology and THE Journal conference will focus on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data, edtech and other emerging trends in K-12 education.
The call for speakers is now open for Tech Tactics in Education 2024. The annual conference, developed by the producers of Campus Technology and THE Journal, will be held in the summer of 2024 in the southwestern United States (location to be announced soon). In keeping with the event's theme, “Building a Future-Ready Institution,” the conference will offer hands-on learning, practical tips and strategic discussions on key technology trends impacting higher and higher education institutions.
Prospective speakers are invited to submit proposals for a variety of in-depth and interactive sessions, including panel discussions, hands-on tutorials, campus/expert perspectives, and interactive Q&As. Sessions should address current and emerging trends in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data, and educational technology that are impacting educational institutions and provide models for implementation, best practices, and strategies for effective technology leadership. Particularly interesting are presenters who can provide practical exercises or concrete information that attendees can leverage to improve IT practices in their local organizations. Proposals are due for submission on March 1, 2024.
The conference program will include concurrent sessions in five tracks targeting audiences in higher education, K-12, or both:
Navigating the cybersecurity and privacy landscape
Educational institutions at all levels are attractive targets for ransomware, malware, phishing, and other types of security breaches, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence provide new capabilities for both attacks and defenses. What's more, evolving privacy and compliance concerns add another layer of complexity to an organization's security posture. In this track, we provide information that IT leaders can use to help defend their organizations or help them recover after the worst happens. We look for best practices, case studies, lessons learned, tips, tutorials for avoiding or recovering from disasters, trends and forecasts in the data/network security space.
- Possible topics include: incident response planning, threat detection, ransomware, network/data security, student and employee privacy, security operations, cybersecurity strategic planning, IT security leadership, IT security funding/budgeting, identity management, zero trust, security Cloud, phishing. , Cybersecurity Awareness, Cyber Liability Insurance, Securing Remote Work/Learning Environments, Risk Management, Disaster Recovery, Employee Training
Lead AI policy and implementation on campus
Until now, AI in the education sector has been a bit like the Wild West: exploration and unbridled potential with a desperate need for governance and strategic direction. In this track, we look for practical applications of AI to advance organizational mission, expert advice on AI risks, trends to watch, and guidelines for crafting corporate AI policy that creates guardrails without stifling innovation.
- Possible topics include: generative AI, predictive analytics, evaluating AI tools, AI skills/training, AI policy, AI risk management, AI impact on education technology, AI security and privacy concerns, responsible AI, workflow automation the job.
Sharpen leadership strategies and promote cultural change
In any IT initiative, technology is the easy part. Managing change – winning hearts and minds – can be more difficult. In this path, we look for lessons learned in the trenches and expert guidance to help IT professionals better communicate and lead their organizations through current and future challenges.
- Possible topics include: soft skills, leadership, IT communication, IT management, promoting culture change, change management, IT strategy, IT mentoring, professional development, and becoming a new CIO/CTO.
Develop data-informed methods to enhance student success
Educational institutions collect a wealth of data on students, but many still struggle to translate this into quantitative impact on student achievement and other outcomes. In this track, practitioners will share how they are revamping their approach to data across campuses to enable data-informed decisions and support institutional mission—all while avoiding risks and ensuring data security.
- Possible topics include: learning analytics, data literacy, data privacy and transparency, developing a data culture, data governance, data integration, data infrastructure, data-informed decision making, retention and student success, developing metrics and analytics framework, student support, student experience
Track emerging education technology trends that interest you
From artificial intelligence to virtual reality, which edtech tools are having a real positive impact on student outcomes? This track aims to separate reality from hype and help keep IT professionals up to date on the latest technological developments in teaching and learning. We are looking for experts and practitioners who can present educational technology trends from an IT perspective, share best practices for implementation, and provide research-based insights into what's next in educational technology.
- Possible topics include: AI in educational technology, the impact of generative AI on learning, virtual/augmented reality, new learning tools, technology-enhanced learning, next-generation learning environments, game-based learning, collaboration tools, distance learning, digital literacy, and leadership. / Evaluating new technologies, the future of educational technology
Types of presentations include:
discussion
Discussion panels feature a moderator and at least two panelists speaking conversationally about a topic or issue important to the educational community. Committee members must be secured before submitting a proposal. The seating is configured theater style.
Interactive questions and answers
In interactive question and answer sessions, an individual or team acts as a leader and moderator for a group discussion about an important topic or issue in the educational community. Audience participation is key, as attendees are encouraged to share their ideas, experiences and challenges. The session should use a shared digital working paper or similar collaborative document to deliver tangible outcomes from the discussion. The seating is configured in a classroom style.
