It’s hard to find a college student without a cell phone in one hand and a laptop on their desk. As the world of technology continues to rapidly develop, college students are usually the first to jump on the bandwagon for the newest and shiniest gadget.
To help foster the use of various technologies, as well as social networking sites, Ohio State’s Center for the Study of Teaching and Writing will hold the second annual Digital Media in a Social World Conference on Feb. 19 and 20 in Mendenhall Laboratory.
“This is a great way to learn about new instruction technologies and share the ways which you use social media,” said Doug Dangler, digital media specialist for the CSTW.
Numerous sessions will be held that focus on digital media and how
they can be used in various outlets of technology. Just a few of the sessions include Social Media Advertising, Mobility in Education, 30 Apps in 30 Minutes, Electronic and Digital Poetry and many more.
“The goal is to bring people in conversation about digital media. It’s aimed at being very collaborat[ive] and creating networks,” Dangler said.
Not only will students benefit from this two-day event, but teachers will also be able to experience new ways to use technology in the classroom. The sessions will be held to also introduce new ways for students and professors to reach their work through different types of technologies beyond their laptops.
“There is a lot of information about technology that they can use to integrate in classrooms to promote collaboration,” Dangler said.
The two-day conference plans on bringing in around 200 students and faculty the first day, and approximately 200 Columbus community members the second day.
The conference is being supported entirely through prominent sponsors that have a chance to introduce their own technological products. During the lunch breaks each day, companies such as Apple, AT&T, Microsoft, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint, will set up booths to display what they can bring to the technology table.
The multiple platforms of social media applications result in an overload of technological options, especially at OSU. With the help of knowledgeable professors, students and expert media instructors, the seminars will present different, well-informed perspectives on each topic.
“Since we are such a big university, it is often difficult to communicate effectively and this is a movement towards that: getting people in conversation by finding out what’s happening,” Dangler said.
Dangler is especially interested in the technology that cell phones bring to the educational environment. He said that he has never once met a college student without a cell phone, yet he has met many without laptops. He believes the main source of any communication is soon moving to the cell phone entirely. He thinks that “how we can move things on cell phones can really help the educational platform forward,” he said.
The conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the lobby of Mendenhall Laboratory. Visit dmsw.osu.edu to register for Digital Media in a Social World Conference.
