Graduate students to host first-ever Georgia Southern Technology in Education Conference
Traditionally, graduate students in Georgia Southern University’s Ed.S. Instructional Technology capstone courses have completed research papers to culminate their work. This semester, however, participants will complete the program by putting their leadership and event-planning skills to the test to host the first-ever Georgia Southern Technology in Education Conference (GTEC).
Proposed by faculty members to assist with the development of leadership skills, the conference will be held virtually on April 14 from 6-9 p.m., and is free and open to the public.
Graduate student presentations will include information on low-cost tech, online tools and application, curricular inclusion, fast formatives, gamification, increasing engagement and more.
“This is the first time this has ever been done in our program,” said Lucas Jensen, Ph.D., associate professor of instructional technology. “They have built the entire conference from scratch, including the schedule, presentations, marketing materials, registration system, website and more. They plan to conduct professional development with relevant and useful educational technology topics that will benefit teachers, instructional technologists and beyond.”
The one-day conference will utilize the expertise of 14 graduate students who are completing the education specialist degree this semester.
“We want to provide attendees with tools and knowledge that they can use in their classrooms immediately,” said Ed.S. candidate Ben Lingenfelter. “In some cases, we also want to help them change their mindsets about technology and how it can help them in their day-to-day work.”
The conference tagline, “Learn from the experts…and from colleagues,” was coined after many of the candidates expressed their initial lack of confidence as experts in their respective fields.
“Many of us haven't thought of ourselves in this way, in this role, so we needed to change the way we thought about ourselves,” added Lingenfelter. “With the new degree, we have new qualifications and need to grow into our roles as tech coaches.”
For more information and to register for the conference, visit www.gtec.tech.
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