Professional Development
Speaker Call Reopened: Technology Strategies in Education 2024
Rescheduled as a virtual event for Sept. 25, the annual conference from Campus Technology and the creators of THE Journal will focus on AI, cybersecurity, data, edtech and other emerging trends in K-20 education.
Call for speakers has reopened for Tech Tactics in Education 2024. Organized by the creators of Campus Technology and THE Journal, the annual conference will be held online on September 25, 2024. In line with the event's theme, “Building Future-Ready Institutions,” the conference will provide hands-on learning, actionable tips, and strategic discussions on key technology trends impacting K-12 and higher education institutions.
Potential speakers can submit proposals for a variety of in-depth and interactive sessions, including panel discussions, hands-on tutorials, campus/expert perspectives, and interactive Q&A. Sessions should address current and emerging trends in AI, cybersecurity, data, and education technology that impact educational institutions and provide implementation models, best practices, and strategies for effective technology leadership. Of particular interest are speakers who can provide practical exercises and tangible tips that attendees can leverage to fine-tune IT practices at their institutions. The deadline for proposals has been extended to July 10, 2024.
The conference program will feature concurrent sessions targeted at higher education, K-12 education, or both. We are calling for sessions in the following topic areas:
Understand the cybersecurity and privacy landscape
Educational institutions at all levels are prime targets for ransomware, malware, phishing, and other security breaches, and emerging technologies such as AI are bringing new capabilities for both attack and defense. Additionally, growing privacy and compliance concerns further complicate the security posture of educational institutions. This track will showcase information that IT leaders can use to defend their institutions or recover after the worst-case scenario occurs. We are looking for best practices, case studies, lessons learned, tips, tutorials, trends and predictions in the areas of data/network security to avert or recover from disaster.
- Possible topics include: incident response planning, threat detection, ransomware, network/data security, student and staff privacy, security operations, strategic cybersecurity planning, IT security leadership, IT security funding/budgeting, identity management, zero trust, cloud security, phishing, cybersecurity awareness, cyber liability insurance, securing remote work/learning environments, risk management, disaster recovery, and staff training.
Advancing AI Policy and Implementation on Campus
To date, artificial intelligence in education has been a bit of a Wild West: unlimited exploration and potential, but also in serious need of governance and strategic direction. In this track, we seek practical applications of AI to advance your institution's mission, expert advice on AI risks, trends to watch, and guidelines for developing institutional AI policies that establish guardrails without stifling innovation.
- Potential topics include generative AI, predictive analytics, AI tool evaluation, AI skills/training, AI policy, AI risk management, the impact of AI on education technology, AI security and privacy concerns, responsible AI, and workflow automation.
Hone your leadership strategies and drive cultural change
In any IT initiative, the technology is the easy part. Change management – bringing hearts and heads together – is much more difficult. This track seeks lessons learned in the field 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, facilitating cultural change, change management, IT strategy, IT mentorship, professional development, becoming a new CIO/CISO, and more.
Developing data-driven approaches to increasing student success
Educational institutions collect vast amounts of data on students, but many struggle to translate it into quantifiable impact on student grades and other outcomes. In this track, practitioners will share how they are innovating approaches to data across campuses to enable data-driven decisions and support their institution's mission, while avoiding pitfalls and ensuring data security.
- Potential topics include learning analytics, data literacy, data privacy and transparency, fostering a data culture, data governance, data integration, data infrastructure, data-informed decision-making, student retention and success, developing metrics and analytics frameworks, student support, and student experience.
Track important emerging trends in education technology
From artificial intelligence to virtual reality, what educational technology tools are truly impacting student outcomes? This track aims to separate the hype from the reality and keep IT professionals up to date on the latest technological advancements in teaching and learning. We are looking for experts and practitioners who can present on educational technology trends from an IT perspective, share implementation best practices, and provide research-based insights into what's next in educational technology.
- Potential topics include AI in educational technology, the impact of generative AI on learning, virtual/augmented reality, new learning tools, technology-enabled learning, next-generation learning environments, game-based learning, collaboration tools, remote learning, digital literacy, piloting/evaluating new technologies, and the future of educational technology.
The presentation types are:
panel discussion
Panel discussions feature a moderator and at least two panelists in a conversational format about important topics or issues in the education community. Panelists must be secured prior to submitting a proposal. Seating is configured in a theater format.
Interactive Q&A
In an interactive Q&A session, individuals or teams act as leaders and moderators in a group discussion about a topic or issue of importance to the education community. Audience participation is key, encouraging participants to share their ideas, experiences, and challenges. The session should provide concrete takeaways from the discussion using a shared digital worksheet or similar collaborative document. Seating will be configured in a classroom format.
