QCC Celebrates Technology in the Classroom

The Office of Distance Learning and Center for Academic Excellence hosted the seventh annual Using Technology in the Classroom Conference on Wednesday, January 9 and this year’s theme was, “Reimagining Higher Education." Forty faculty and staff members attended this event. Keynote speaker, Carol Hurney, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Colby College, led an interactive session entitled, “Making the Active Learning Count Using the Science of Learning.” During the presentation, attendees worked individually and with groups using three different active learning strategies. 

“Carol Hurney's presentation was absolutely inspiring. I wanted to be a student for the day and absorb everything she had to deliver about best practices in teaching, and be a biology student again," Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education Julie Tzipori.

This session was followed by a panel presentation, “Creative Collaborations Equity and Excellence in the Classrooms and Beyond,” presented by: Professor of Sociology Gaelan Benway; Director of Disability Services Kristie Proctor; Associate Director of Disability Services Terry Rodriguez; Coordinator of Future Focus Program Gilmarie Vonophakdy; Coordinator of Instructional Technology & Assessment Maureen Giacobbe; Director of Gateway to College Marci Skillings; Recruitment Counselor Sabine Dupoux and Associate Professor of Human Services.

A variety of departments and disciplines presented three concurrent workshop sessions:

First workshop session:

• “Using the Google Suite to Support Student Success,” presented by Senior Gateway Outreach Counselor Jenna Glazer
• “Assignment Feedback Charrette,” presented by  English Professor Amy Beaudry, Instructor Robbin Miller and Coordinator of Library Serials & Electronic Resources Cary Morse
• “Distance Education Listening Session,” presented by Dean of Digital Learning and The Center for Academic Excellence Ken Dwyer

Second workshop session: 

• “ ‘Goodbye Accuplacer…Hello QMAT!,’ ” presented by Mathematics Professor Andreana Grimaldo
• “Adopt and Adapt! Invigorating Your Assignments with Educator Idea Vault Materials” presented by Dr. Benway  

  Third workshop sessions:

• “Staying on Top of the Ever-Changing World of Information with QCC Library” presented by Coordinator of Library Reference and Instruction Tiger Swan, Coordinator of Library Services Denise Cross and Ms. Morse
• “Jigsaw Learning: A Student-Centered Approach to Instruction” presented by Assistant Professor of Respiratory Care Amy Hogan
• “CBE @ QCC?” presented by Dean of School of Business, Engineering, and Technology Betty Lauer

“I love QCC Tech Day—it is relatively informal, but there is so much information sharing among colleagues. The keynote speaker presented many creative ideas for teaching as well as multiple measures of student learning for diverse learners. My favorite session was the Competency Based Education session. It was great to hear about this initiative, which appears to be the future of higher education, and it is nice to know that QCC is in the process of laying a great foundation for meeting the needs of contemporary students," said Coordinator of Disability Services Ann Panetta.

Everyone who participated in the event received an attendance certificate.