What to See at Campus Technology 2017

If you are traveling to Chicago this month to convene with other higher education IT leaders at CT2017, here are 8 sessions worth attending.

This month, the annual Campus Technology Conference kicks off in Chicago (July 17–20), bringing together higher education IT leaders for an exploration of technology's role in campus administration, infrastructure, teaching and learning, and more. Here are eight highlights not to miss:

Faculty Development: Lessons Learned and Innovations Ahead (WS3)
In a hands-on workshop, Virginia Commonwealth University's Gardner Campbell will offer tactics for faculty development and supporting sustainable and effective change on campus. (See our recent interview with Campbell: "Informing the Mission for Institutions of Higher Learning.")

A Framework for Getting Value From Your Institutional Data (ILP2)
James Kulich, director of the Masters in Data Science Program at Elmhurst College (IL), will explain how the CRISP-DM data mining standard can help ensure predictive modeling efforts will yield effective change and institutional value. I saw Kulich speak about IT change a few years ago at Educause, and his session generated a lot of valuable takeaways — this time around is sure to be equally interesting.

Planning for a Career in Higher Education Technology Leadership (CIO3)
Those aspiring to C-level positions in IT won't want to miss these insights from Joy Hatch, vice president for technology at Fort Hays State University, who will cover shifting to a leadership mindset, building skills and experience, forging a career pathway and more.

Terraforming the Academic Terrain (TLD3)
Experts from the University of Arizona's Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center will share apps and tools that help students with learning and attention challenges succeed. Topics will include audio note-taking, text-to-speech, speech-to-text, mind mapping and study/research apps.

Toward a Smart Campus: Implementing an Internet of Things Infrastructure and Applications (ITD5)
Learn how Western Michigan University Libraries developed an Internet of Things environment to facilitate prototyping and implementation of IoT applications and services — and the challenges faced along the way.

Making the Most of Multimedia (TLD5)
Looking to incorporate video lectures, interactive modules, audio/video assignment feedback and other multimedia tools in your courses? A team from the University of Cincinnati will explain how to create more engaging course materials with audio, images and video.

Enterprise Mobile Apps: Buy or Build? We Chose Build (IMN3)
A frequent speaker on mobile, makerspaces, ed tech trends and more, Kyle Parker, senior software engineer for developing technologies at Ball State University, will delve into his institution's experiences with mobile app development

Closing Keynote: The Age of Em: Work, Love and Life When Robots Rule the Earth
Resist the urge to skip the final keynote: Robin Hanson, author of The Age of Em and associate professor of economics at George Mason University, will explore a future dominated by artificial intelligence technologies. His ideas run the gamut from virtual reality, wealth inequality, death and immortality to teleportation, religion, war and love. Plus, Gardner Campbell will join in to consider the takeaways for higher education.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • interconnected cloud icons with glowing lines on a gradient blue backdrop

    Report: Cloud Certifications Bring Biggest Salary Payoff

    It pays to be conversant in cloud, according to a new study from Skillsoft The company's annual IT skills and salary survey report found that the top three certifications resulting in the highest payoffs salarywise are for skills in the cloud, specifically related to Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Nutanix.

  • a hobbyist in casual clothes holds a hammer and a toolbox, building a DIY structure that symbolizes an AI model

    Ditch the DIY Approach to AI on Campus

    Institutions that do not adopt AI will quickly fall behind. The question is, how can colleges and universities do this systematically, securely, cost-effectively, and efficiently?

  • minimalist geometric grid pattern of blue, gray, and white squares and rectangles

    Windows Server 2025 Release Offers Cloud, Security, and AI Capabilities

    Microsoft has announced the general availability of Windows Server 2025. The release will enable organizations to deploy applications on-premises, in hybrid setups, or fully in the cloud, the company said.

  • digital brain made of blue circuitry on the left and a shield with a glowing lock on the right, set against a dark background with fading binary code

    AI Dominates Key Technologies and Practices in Cybersecurity and Privacy

    AI governance, AI-enabled workforce expansion, and AI-supported cybersecurity training are three of the six key technologies and practices anticipated to have a significant impact on the future of cybersecurity and privacy in higher education, according to the latest Cybersecurity and Privacy edition of the Educause Horizon Report.