The Texas A&M Engineering Program co-sponsored the 2015 Chancellor’s Summit on Academic Technology that was held recently at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center on the Texas A&M University campus.
The A&M System Council on Academic Technology and Innovative Education (CATIE) organizes this premier academic technology event that is in its second year. CATIE is an advisory body with representation from A&M System universities and agencies.
This year’s summit attracted more than 200 faculty members, administrators and staff from A&M System universities and agencies. Among the participants were high-ranking academic and technology officers, provosts, vice presidents, assistant and associate vice presidents, chief information technology officers and directors of outreach, technology, and instructional technology units.
The summit was a unique opportunity that allowed attendees and presenters to engage in a broad conversation on academic technology issues and topics that impact all A&M System components.
The program included a keynote presentation by Dr. Ellen Wagner, the co-founder and chief strategy officer of the Predictive Analytics Reporting (PAR) Framework. Wagner framed the summit’s conversations around radical and forward-thinking ideas to improve student success and the importance of data based decisions.
Other plenary sessions explored intellectual property, identity and collaboration in the era of open and integrated teaching, and next generation learning spaces. Attendees were offered breakout sessions on competency-based education, creating and growing online programs, virtualization, and universal design.
The day culminated with a closing speech from Michael K. Young, president of Texas A&M University, who emphasized the important role academic technology and academic technologists play at their organizations to support the institutional mission.
“The summit provided a valuable update on A&M’s ongoing work to improve and increase the use of technology in teaching,” said Dr. David Ford, an associate professor in the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering at Texas A&M University. “The keynote speaker gave us a glimpse of one possible future through a data-driven strategy for curriculum design. I encourage those who are interested in being a part of moving to the forefront of using advanced technology in education to participate next year.”
The full program and presentation materials are available online.
The 2016 Chancellor’s Summit on Academic Technology is slated for June 22-24. Contact Dr. Yakut Gazi or Sheri Pappas for more information.