Published by: WCET | 7/31/2015
Tags: Accessibility, Adaptive/Personalized Learning, Collaboration/Community, Competency-based Education, Data And Analytics, Higher Education Act, Innovation, Open Educational Resources, State Authorization, Student Success, System/Consortia, WCET, WCET Annual Meeting
You will not want to miss the WCET Annual Meeting in Denver at the beautiful Westin Downtown, November 11-13. Though the fall meeting schedule is packed, a recent attendee said, “WCET is the one meeting on my agenda that I WILL NOT miss.” The following are a few reasons the WCET Annual Meeting provides such significant return on your professional development investment, whether you are a WCET member or non-member.
With over 50 concurrent sessions and over 100 speakers, the 27th WCET Annual Meeting is an outstanding lineup of forward thinking innovators, practitioners, and thought leaders in higher education technology. We have pulled together people from across the U.S. and Canada to share their good practices and lessons learned regarding technology-enhanced teaching and learning. In typical WCET fashion, nearly every session includes multiple perspectives to provide diversity of experience, institution type, and student populations. Additional sessions, workshops, and speakers will be added over the next several weeks.
The topics included in the program cover key issues you and your institution need to be aware of — some may be on your radar while others are further on the horizon:
Additionally, the Annual Meeting program is a blend of panel presentations and unique session formats including loosely organized discussions around a key issue, flipped sessions where attendees view a short video prior to the session and use the time for discussion, and extended in-depth sessions which include panel discussions, audience interaction, and action oriented outcomes around emerging issues.
When you walk the halls of the WCET Meeting you will notice one thing is missing compared to other conferences- there is no exhibit hall. We do not have a typical exhibit hall where vendors sit waiting for attendees to engage with them. WCET finds it more valuable to connect institutional attendees and corporate attendees organically around the topics that matter to all of our work. For the first time, we will be offering a tech expo where 10-12 companies are invited to showcase their edtech products/services. They will each have about 10 minutes to present and then attendees will have an opportunity to visit with the corporate partners they are interested in connecting with. We want to hear from you, what companies would you like an opportunity to talk with? Email wcetconferenceATwiche.edu or leave a comment below.
Whether this is your 27th Annual Meeting or you will be a first time attendee, you will feel part of an inclusive community. The meeting is capped at 450 attendees so you will see familiar faces and build your network. The event includes several valuable opportunities for connecting with people. On Wednesday afternoon, learn more about WCET and see what we are planning for 2016 during the Reflecting and Looking Forward: WCET 2015-2016 general session. First time attendees will have an opportunity to connect with a friendly mentor who will help you navigate the program and the event. A welcome reception will follow, which is a fun social event to reconnect and meet new friends. Wednesday evening also includes our popular Group Networking Dinners where you sign up in advance for a dinner group to join at a nearby restaurant. For the first time, you can combine your Friday morning workout with networking with new friends during Reenergize with WCET — which will include yoga and/or an organized walk/jog/run. Those are just a few of fun networking opportunities available.
I invite you to view the preliminary program and hope to see you in Denver! When we were in Denver in 2013 we did sell out by October, so you do not miss out, register soon.
Cheers from the mile high city,
Megan Raymond
Manager, Events and Programs
WCET