Technology of the future may give teachers a hand in the classroom

Desks equipped with touchscreens and 3-D printers may reach the classroom sooner than you think.

As part of the 2014-15 Digital Challenges Series, technology vendors — including the likes of Sony and Verizon — and “Digital Age” experts will present new equipment and hold meaningful conversations on the challenges of educating “born-digital” students.

The next event in the Digital Challenges Series, a two-day program scheduled for Feb. 17-18, is free and open to the public. Attendees are asked to register in advance.

 “The Digital Challenges program and the technology fair hope to stimulate campus conversations on how to improve teaching and learning with technology,” says H. Austin Booth, vice provost for the University Libraries.

The program will open on Feb. 17 with discussions outlining “Teaching and Learning in the Classroom of the Future.” The session will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in 145 Student Union, North Campus.

Kathleen Gradel, professor of education at SUNY Fredonia, will lead a presentation and discussion with local educators on the latest technologies used in today’s classrooms.

Later, Sam Abramovich, assistant professor in the UB Graduate School of Education, will take a look at how teaching and learning could evolve over the next decade.

The day will end with reflections from a panel of UB educators.

The program will continue the next day, Feb. 18, with the UB Instructional Technology Fair 2015 being held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Union lobby, North Campus.

Vendors from companies that include Sony, Verizon, Dell and Intel will show off the latest products and services in the educational technology marketplace.

Attendees also can visit a Technology Salon to watch 3-D printers in action, and view demonstrations of Apple TV and other gizmos and apps. The salon will be staffed by experts from the SUNY Tools of Engagement Project.

The three-part Digital Challenges Series is sponsored by the University Libraries, UB Information Technology, the Center for Educational Innovation and Student Life.

It was developed to raise awareness and provoke meaningful dialogue around current challenges of the “Digital Age.”

The first program in the series, “Your Digital Footprint,” was held during the fall semester. It addressed issues regarding digital security and privacy.

The final program, “What Am I Doing in Your Class: A Student Panel,” will take place on April 1.

For more information about the series and a full schedule of the Feb. 17-18 program, visit the series’ website.