University Business - August 2008 - (Page 46)

NY Times tech columnist David Pogue was on hand at EduComm to deliver the opening day keynote--and sing a few songs. EDUCOMM DEALS L AS VEGAS MAY BE KNOWN AS THE “ENtertainment Capital of the World,” but for two-and-ahalf days the city was the location for a dedicated display of the latest applications in audiovisual and information technology. In June, University Business presented the ﬁfth annual EduComm conference at the Las Vegas Hilton Convention Center, welcoming nearly 1,000 key decision makers from more than 400 institutions, with two keynote speakers, 40 conference sessions, and a 20-vendor pavilion. Given by experts and collegiate peers, sessions delved into topics that are impacting or generating a buzz at higher ed institutions today. Everything from classroom technology and distance learning to facilities design and Web 2.0 were covered. Videos of both keynotes and sessions can be viewed online at http://educommconference.com/educomm_archives08.html. Technology and education were a ‘natural’ at EduComm 2008 in Las Vegas. Classroom design was on the priority list for Thomas Hill, director of media services at Winona State University (Minn.). His institution is planning a new College of Business building with rich media classrooms. Edwin LeMaster, dean of the College of Science and Engineering at The University of Texas-Pan American, commented that he wanted to set goals for his faculty on establishing online courses in the physical and natural sciences. Gretchen Bell, dean of the Learning Resources Centers and Distance Education at Piedmont Community College (N.C.), had technology in mind when she attended a session called “Podcasting: Why and How to Get Faculty to Use This Pedagogical Tool.” “I’ll deﬁnitely be back again next year,” Bell said. For Greg Collins, supervisor of audiovisual services at Purdue University Calumet (Ind.), who planned to meet with Echo360, interactive whiteboards were a hot topic. He said his institution is trying to implement “learn labs” to bring more technology into the classroom. “The buzzword is being able to engage students in collaborative learning,” he added. Learning from Others EduComm attendees—both ﬁrst-timers and conference veterans—came to learn how their peers were adapting to and learning from technologies, with the intention of applying them at their respective schools. For example, Jake Cornelius, an AV technician at Keuka College (N.Y.), was there “to ﬁnd solutions we can implement that would allow lecture capturing and student access to media course content.” Anthony Bingham, manager of IT support services at National University (Calif.), came to learn about deploying wireless networks on campus. “It really hits home when you are trying to step up any networking at all,” he said. “It’s good to see how other schools are doing it.” 46 | August 2008 Speeches and Sessions New York Times technology columnist David Pogue opened EduComm with an address on Web 2.0 and social media and how both technologies are quickly transforming the way people interact. Giving an informative yet entertaining talk, Pogue said blogging and podcasting are great ways for institutions to go beyond what they universitybusiness.com http://educommconference.com/educomm_archives08.html http://educommconference.com/educomm_archives08.html http://universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - August 2008

University Business - August 2008
Contents
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Editor's Note
Behind the News
Sense of Place
Viewpoint
On the Hill
Future Shock
Independent Outlook
Community Colleges
Dorms of Distinction
Streamlining Admissions: Opening the Front Door
E-mail, Gmail, and Beyond
EduComm Deals a Winning Hand
What's New
End Note

University Business - August 2008