In preparation for the rapidly approaching ITC National Conference, I included an article in this week’s digest entitled: “After the conference: how to turn ideas into institutional impacts.” It raises an issue I have had for a long time – most campuses provide some degree of financial support for attending conferences. But most of those campuses do not have a practice of encouraging conference attendees to share what they learned when they return.
For those of you able to join us in Austin next week, I encourage you to have a plan of attack for the conference. Whether you are coming alone OR coming as part of a team, now is the time to review the conference sessions. Our conference features a number of session tracks—if you are coming for a specific focus, that can save you a lot of time. Otherwise, you have the opportunity to focus on topics or themes or eclectically explore sessions. Be sure to attend the keynotes – they are designed to introduce you to current hot topics or—because it’s a keynote – give you a deeper dive on a contemporary topic. In addition, we have the annual Grand Debate – taking on the issue of AI this year—as well as our great Panel of Experts—discussing everything from the Impact of Federal Government actions in the past year to prognostications about the future of Distance Learning.
In addition, there is a great group of vendors this year, as well as great receptions, breakfasts, and lunches that provide wonderful opportunities to network and learn from each other. And the ITC Board members also are looking forward to meeting you—and making new friends!
As for the plan of attack for the conference—be sure to take copious notes – and remember, session PowerPoints will be collected and shared via the app. These are great resources to refer back to. You also have the opportunity to plan a session or two once you return to your campus to share what you have learned. That is the real gift of attending a conference—bringing back “news your colleagues can use.” Be sure to share with your campus’ leadership as well. And if you get back to your campus and realize you are a bit befuddled about something you learned at a session—well, remember, the app also includes contact information for all attendees. The ITC has a culture of being a smaller scale conference, more relaxed, more welcoming, a great place to meet/make new friends—and forge partnerships. Take advantage of that culture. Remember, you are not alone as a member of the ITC – that’s the best thing about being a member, right?!!?
As always, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with so many of. You AND looking forward to me friendships!!!
Recommended Reading
After The conference: How To Turn Ideas Into Institutional Impacts, eCampus News
Educational conferences are often energizing. You leave with new frameworks, new contacts, and a lot of news ideas. Too often, that momentum fades once you return to your campus and the day-to-day constraints on your time reemerge.
NSF Plans To Boost Staff; Halve Solicitations, Inside Higer Ed
Micah Cheatham also told the National Science Board, which approves NSF policies, at Wednesday’s board meeting that the agency is trying to “consolidate” solicitations for grant awards to half, or less, of the usual amount of these funding opportunities
Age-Friendly Institutions Are The Future Of Higher Ed Growth, The Evolllution
The demographic disruption facing colleges and universities is not a temporary dip. It is a structural transformation. Fewer 18-year-olds. Longer careers. More career pivots. Greater demand for flexible, stackable, and career-aligned learning. The institutions that will thrive are those that recognize a simple truth: the modern learner does not age out of higher education.
Agentic AI Can Complete Whole Courses For Students. Now What?, Inside Higher Ed
A young tech entrepreneur launched the tool Einstein this week, marketing it as a way to free students from busywork—and triggering robust faculty debate. Einstein’s creator says that was the whole point.
AI Adoption Is Surging, But Infrastructure And Language Gaps Persist, Campus Technology
"With more than 1.2 billion users in under 36 months, AI has become the fastest-adopted technology in human history." Measured by the share of working-age adults using AI tools, the United Arab Emirates ranked first at 59.4%, followed by Singapore at 58.6%, Norway at 45.3%, and Ireland at 41.7%. The United States was listed at 26.3%, while China was listed at 15.4%.
Active Learning Classrooms Foster Collaboration Amongst Students, EdTech Magazine
Technology facilitates interactivity and group work in college learning environments.
Video of the Week
How AI Is Reshaping Higher Education for Students And Professors, YouTube
This year’s senior class is the first to have spent nearly its entire college career in the age of generative AI, a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, like text and images. As the technology improves, it's harder to distinguish from human work, and it’s shaking academia to its core.
