National conference at UC focuses on technology and education

A three-day national conference at the University of Cincinnati begins tomorrow and will focus on technology in higher education, bringing together state and national leaders in those fields. “Vision2020,” sponsored by UC and Apple, Inc., is an opportunity to learn about innovative uses of technology for instruction in nationally recognized programs in design, education and journalism. Participants will also hear about  best practices in the use of new technology as a tool in emergency management and communications.
 
The presenters include Eric Fingerhut, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, who will speak about technology in higher education as it affects Ohio; Angus King, former governor of Maine, who developed a program to provide a laptop computer to every 7th- and 8th- grader in the state, and Larry Johnson, CEO of New Media Consortium, a group of 250 universities, colleges, museums, research centers, and technology companies.

The University of Maryland’s pilot to provide 200 freshmen with iPod touch devices to deliver academic content, emergency management and mapping will also be featured, as well as an Abilene Christian University program to provide an iPhone or iPod touch to every incoming freshman this fall. “UC is hosting the Vision 2020 conference because of the international stature of a number of our programs on campus, programs that seek out the ‘easiest-for-students-and-teachers-to-use’ technology,” says Anton Harfmann, associate dean in UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning.

Writer: David Holthaus
Source: M.B. Reilly, University of Cincinnati