Mary-Kate Najarian, Ed.D., Director of User Success and Learning Technologies, chairs the Montgomery County Community College Technology and Learning Conference. The annual, free, virtual conference celebrates its 30th anniversary Oct. 11. (Photo by Eric Devlin)
With 60 years in educating, Montco is ready for its 30th time of tech con
Coinciding with its year-long 60th anniversary, Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) is proud to announce the 2024 Technology and Learning Conference returns Oct. 11– now celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Similarly, for the fifth year in a row, the annual conference will be held entirely virtually, with participants logging in from around the globe. It will center around three main topics including enhancing the learning experience, technology beyond the classroom and the classroom of today and tomorrow, said Mary-Kate Najarian, Ed.D., MCCC Director of User Success and Learning Technologies, who is chair of the Technology and Learning Conference.
“We are excited for the 30th anniversary of our Technology & Learning Conference,” she said. “We welcome individuals from all over the world and have over 500 attendees each year. We have presenters from all over the United States, covering a wide range of topics. This year, we have a large presence in the classroom of today and tomorrow path, specifically in generative artificial intelligence, accessibility, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).”
The free, virtual conference, sponsored by Elements 451, a next-generation AI student engagement platform, is open to the public and runs from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. EDT. Participants can register for the event via the landing page at mc3.edu/techday.
Attendees will gain access to more than 25 sessions including “We Tried to Create Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) Jeopardy and Failed, Here's Why”; “‘Good at Math’: New Tools and Taxonomies for Aftermath Pedagogy”; “Innovative Youth Engagement at Montco: Next-Gen Learning with VR and AI”; “Implementing a Digital Accessibility Plan at Scale”; “Becoming Futures-Empowered: Being Prepared to Educate Students in Multiple Futures”; “Refreshing Experiences for Online Students: A Case Study of a Cross-Campus Partnership”; “Breaking Down Barriers: How Assistive Technology Fosters Equity, Diversity, and Belonging”; “If We Build Flexible Synchronous Spaces in Asynchronous Online Courses, Will Students Use Them?” and “Embracing Change: Technological Integration in Community College Mathematics.”
This year’s keynote speaker will be Dustin York, Ed.D., an Associate Professor at Maryville University in St. Louis, and guest visiting lecturer at the University of Florida and Stanford University.
According to his biography, York worked in branding for the 2008 Obama Presidential campaign and agency clients like Pepsi Co. and Nike prior to entering academia. His specialties include digital and leadership branding. Beyond his primary passion for teaching, York is a subject matter expert for CNN, Entrepreneur.com, and Forbes, a contributor for Harvard Business Review, and serves as a national keynote speaker. He was awarded the American Marketing Association 40 Under 40, President’s Award for Strategic Leadership and Transformation Innovation, and an Apple Distinguished Educator.
York’s presentation is titled “How Curiosity can be a Roadmap to Educational Transformation.” The address will focus on the opportunities that can come from curiosity in an educational and environment. Topics will include augmented reality, AI and the Metaverse, to physical spaces and changing student demographics. York will demonstrate how a curiosity-driven approach can help transform educational practices, increase student engagement and “prepare for a transformative educational future,” according to a summary.
For more details about the 30th annual Technology and Learning Conference, including the events schedule, vendor and advertiser information, or to submit a proposal, visit mc3.edu/techday.
