What to See at SXSWedu 2017
Here are our picks for the sessions, workshops and panels that belong on your schedule next week in Austin.
If you're traveling to Austin for SXSWedu next week, you have probably already marveled at the sheer variety and number of sessions, workshops and panels on the program, not to mention films, meet-ups, mentor meetings and more. Particularly from the higher education point of view, it can be difficult to sift through the options and decide what belongs on your schedule. Here are our top picks:
Keynote: Paying the Price
Sara Goldrick-Rab, professor of higher education policy and sociology at Temple University, will speak about the high cost of college and the "outdated assumption underlies all side of this debate: If a young person works hard enough, they'll be able to get a college degree and be on the path to a good life."
Student Privacy in EdTech
Jenna Wolfe, general counsel for coding bootcamp Coding Dojo, will discuss issues around student privacy and digital data, including "the benefits of collecting student data, best practices for data collection, storage, disclosure and common weaknesses that can lead to breach."
Gen Z Is for Sensibility
"Generation Z, which is made up of kids born between roughly 1996-2010, is characterized as much more pragmatic, tech-oriented and realistic [compared to their predecessors]," says education consultant Alexandra Ellison. "Many of them do not remember a time when their families did not own computers and iPhones." Learn where that pragmatism comes from and what it means for Generation Z's education and future opportunities.
Let's Chat … Bots in Higher Education
For the past year, Georgia State University has been working with AdmitHub to assess the effectiveness of chatbot technology on college enrollment. Here, they will present what they've learned so far.
SkillsEngine: Convert Courses into Competencies
Michael Bettersworth, vice chancellor for Texas State Technical College, shares how his institution is using textual analysis to "rapidly translate traditional courses into industry-relevant skill statements" and "help educators analyze and align curricula to maximize student employability."
Big Data, Smart Ethics: The Rules of the Road
Learn about the ethical implications of predictive analytics and how two institutions — Georgia State University and Morgan State University — are using data to support underrepresented students.
Blended Higher Ed: How to Start Your Own College
Hudson Baird, executive director of PeletonU, will explain how his organization's educational model "has blended competency-based education with in-person coaching to provide an effective pathway to debt-free graduation."