[MTSU INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE388]

Release date: March 24, 2009


News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919 or jweiler@mtsu.edu
Instructional Technology Conference contacts: Lucinda Lea, 615-898-5570
Robin Jones, 615-898-2214

MTSU INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
SPEAKERS STAND AT TOP OF THEIR GAMES


(MURFREESBORO) — For 13 years, the Instructional Technology Conference has provided thousands of higher education professionals from across the United States with an opportunity to share experiences and expertise in educational technology.
The 14th annual conference should be no different. MTSU again will serve as host to the conference, which will be held March 29-31 at several campus venues as well as the DoubleTree Hotel in Murfreesboro.
This year’s theme will be “Developing a Participatory Learning Culture.”
Featured speakers will be Dr. Michael Wesch, assistant professor of cultural anthropology at Kansas State University; Sarah “Intellagirl” Robbins, a doctoral candidate at Ball State University in Indiana and director of emerging technologies with Kelley Executive Partners at Indiana University; and Dr. Belle S. Wheelan, president of the Commission on Colleges with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
“We’ve always had wonderful speakers,” said Lucinda Lea, vice president for information technology and chief information officer for MTSU. “This year is no exception. Our speakers are on the forefront of what’s happening today in higher education.”
Wesch will discuss “From Knowledgeable to Knowledge-able: Harnessing New Media for New Media Literacy” at 8:15 a.m. Monday, March 30, in the Keathley University Center Theater.
“He’s really about exploring,” Lea said of Wesch. “He’ll explore the impact of new media—emerging technologies like Second Life, Twitter and Flickr—on human interaction.”
Robbins’ presentation is “Navigating the Throng: Using Social Media for Non-Institutional Learning Ecologies” and will be presented at the banquet Monday at the hotel.
“Sarah Robbins will talk about how technology enables collaboration and how universities can use technologies to compete for student attention in the learning environment,” Lea said.
Wheelan’s presentation, “Accountability in Higher Education,” will focus on activities that began with the Spellings’ Commission and continued with the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and the various public responses along the way. It’s scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, March 31, in the KUC Theater. Wheelan is the first African-American and first woman to serve in her capacity.
MTSU faculty making presentations will include Brenda Parker, Drs. Roland Unch and Cen Li of computer science; Dr. Wendy Beckman, aerospace; Dr. Stacey Graham of the Center for Historic Preservation; Dr. Beverly Boulware, elementary and special education; Brenda Kerr and Barbara Draude, Barry Cantrell and Eric Niemiller of the Information Technology Division; Karen Ward, nursing; Dr. K. Virginia Hemby, business communication and entrepreneurship; and Dr. Virginia Donnell, speech and theatre.
For more information, visit www.mtsu.edu/itconf or call 615-904-8111.

For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.

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Media welcomed.

Note: High-resolution jpeg photos are available of featured speakers Michael Wesch, Sarah Robbins and Belle S. Wheelan. To request, contact Randy Weiler at 615-898-5616 or e-mail jweiler@mtsu.edu.