Third annual ITS Tech Talks set for April 16 at CSUSB

Cal State San Bernardino’s Division of Information Technology Services will host its third annual ITS Tech Talks on Tuesday, April 16, at the Santos Manuel Student Union Events Center, showcasing teaching and learning technologies in support of the California State University’s Graduation Initiative 2025. ITS Tech Talks, which will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., provides an opportunity for faculty and staff to meet and exchange ideas about technology in education, explore current and emerging technologies, and learn about projects that are enhancing the teaching and learning experience. The event is free and no registration is required. Food, music, giveaways, opportunity drawings, free software downloads (bring your own device), hands-on opportunities, displays and demonstrations on assistive technology and other innovations are among the day’s highlights. The faculty panel discussions, moderated by Mihaela Popescu, Academic Technologies and Innovation faculty director, will begin at 12:30 p.m. and will feature: Virtual Reality and VR/Sound DesignKurt Collins and Scott Vance, College of Arts & LettersCollins and Vance implemented project-based learning with virtual reality in their classrooms and at Academic Technologies and Innovation (ATI). They are working with their students to create visual and auditory assets for the virtual reality learning simulations produced at ATI. 360-degree videoArianna Huhn, College of Social & Behavioral SciencesHuhn has recreated her successful exhibition In|Dignity as an immersive environment in which clever use of 360-degree video brings the stories and artifacts to life. She is exploring the pedagogical integration of this exhibition into various curricula exploring diversity. Group Collaboration using SlackTerri Nelson, College of Arts & LettersNelson, a well-known innovator in educational games for learning, enlivens class discussions with Slack, a free app/browser that integrates features of email, text messaging, Facebook and discussion boards. More than 98 percent of the 150-plus surveyed students found Slack-assisted communication to be useful for their learning. Adaptive Learning using Smart SparrowLarry Mink and Andreas Beyersdorf, College of Natural Sciences  Mink and Beyersdorf have developed and implemented an award-winning, open source, adaptive learning set of online homework for CHEM 216 General Chemistry II on the Smart Sparrow platform. Their work builds on research regarding the positive impact of personalized learning in STEM disciplines.  Active Learning SpacesMichael Chen, College of EducationChen’s legacy in active learning design can be seen all over the campus, in every classroom where movable furniture makes small group work more meaningful. He has pioneered the design of classrooms for active learning and has great success using these classroom environments for his teaching. For more information, visit the Tech Talks 2019 webpage.