Western’s Technology in Education Symposium (TIES 2.0) is back on March 27-28, bringing together faculty, staff and students to learn about the latest in instructional technology.
TIES 2.0: Engaging the Community is open to faculty, librarians, staff, and graduate students from across all disciplines at Western and its affiliates. Participants will hear and see how instructors and others employ technology to engage students and enrich learning, and to connect with others from across the campus who are exploring the potential of instructional technology and online education.
The plenary lecture, “New Directions for Teaching and Technology in the Age of ‘Access Education’” will be delivered by Michael Geist, a law professor at the University of Ottawa. In addition to holding a Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, Geist is a syndicated columnist on technology issues, editor of several books and technology law publications, and the author of a popular blog on the internet and intellectual property law issues. 
Geist will summarize key changes in the arc of law, technology, and education over the past 15 years. Despite recent transformations, many are still left with a sense of unease. “I am going to take those concerns head-on, exploring the downsides of these developments and the risks we face as we search for ‘new directions’ in technology and education,” says Geist.
The two-day event will also feature research papers and posters, hands-on workshops and “lightning round” demonstrations, and a student panel in which students will share their experiences learning with instructional technology.
New to this year’s symposium will be a technology “Sandbox,” which will feature live presentations and demonstrations of the latest technological innovations by members of Western’s community as well as private vendors, including Apple, Echo360, EdCom, MLD Solutions, ePearson, and Blackboard Collaborate. 
Date: March 27-28, 2014
Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Student Panel Session: Thursday, March 27 at 9:00am
Plenary Session: Friday, March 28 at 9:00am
Sandbox Session: Friday, March 28 at 3:00pm
Location: John George Althouse Building, Western University, 1137 Western Road, London
More information about the conference including a full agenda is available at: https://www.ties-at-western.com
More information about Michael Geist is available at: https://www.michaelgeist.ca/
MEDIA CONTACT: Stephen Ledgley, Senior Media Relations Officer, 519-661-2111, ext. 85283, sledgley@uwo.ca
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