Utah Perspective: Leadership, Creativity, and Education

Tech & Learning Utah Regional Leadership Summit Embraces Emerging Technologies in Education

The Tech & Learning Utah Regional Leadership Summit, held in Salt Lake City, brought together educators, thought leaders, and edtech enthusiasts to explore the transformative impact of technology on education. The summit, partnered with the Utah Coalition for Educational Technology, served as a platform for collaboration, idea exchange, and actionable insights.

The event featured a diverse range of breakout sessions, including Digital Literacy and Citizenship, STEM Education and Maker Spaces, Blended Learning and Personalized Instruction, AI In Education, and Esports. Each session delved into the innovative approaches and best practices being used to enhance student learning outcomes.

AI's transformative potential in educational practices was a topic of conversation, with sessions exploring AI-driven personalized learning, adaptive assessment, and data analytics for student success. The importance of ethical AI deployment, data privacy, and inclusivity was emphasized throughout the discussions.

Dr. Shannon Putnam highlighted the immersive learning capabilities of AR/VR technologies, while esports expert Audra Yocom discussed the potential of esports in engaging students and teaching skills. The importance of responsible gaming guidelines was addressed in esports discussions.

STEM Education sessions showcased innovative approaches to STEM education, including integrating maker spaces, robotics, and coding activities. Blended Learning sessions shared best practices for implementing blended learning models and personalizing instruction.

Digital Literacy and Citizenship workshops equipped educators with strategies for teaching digital literacy skills and promoting responsible digital citizenship. The conference also provided a vendor expo, allowing attendees to explore the latest edtech solutions, digital resources, and learning platforms.

The Tech & Learning Utah Regional Leadership Summit offered valuable insights, resources, and networking opportunities for attendees to support their professional growth. After the Leadership Summit, Tech & Learning joined the combined state conference of Utah Educational Library Media Association (UELMA) and Utah Coalition for Educational Technology (UCET) at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

Partners of the event included Apptegy, ClassLink, evolv, ScreenBeam, Lincoln Learning Solutions, GoGuardian, Incident IQ, Education Market Experts, Cignition, Elephant Learning, nXu, Rhythm Nation, Pathway2Careers, and more. Eric Curts, Steve Isaacs, Ken Shelton, and others were among the speakers at the event.

The summit focused on emerging technologies like AI, AR/VR, esports, and design thinking in education, providing a glimpse into the future of education and the role technology will play in shaping it. The event served as a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in education, inspiring attendees to embrace technology and transform their classrooms.