A Bigger Symposium Than Ever Before
The TLT Symposium expanded to cover both floors of the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center for the first time in March 2014. Along with two amazing keynote speakers, author Daniel Pink and Dr. Robbie Melton, associate vice chancellor of mobilization and emerging technology with the Tennessee Board of Regents, the Symposium featured an increased number of sessions, an area for demos by the Center for Online Innovation in Learning, and more.
A record 488 people attended the Symposium. This recap page can help you relive the Symposium if you attended in 2014, or let you see what you missed if you didn’t. Enjoy this trip down Symposium memory lane…
Morning Keynote: Daniel Pink
Daniel Pink is the author of five provocative books about the changing world of work, including the long-running New York Times best seller A Whole New Mind, and the #1 New York Times best seller Drive. His books have been translated into 33 languages.
His latest book, To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others, offers a fresh look at the art and science of selling. As he does in A Whole New Mind and Drive, Pink draws on a rich trove of social science for his counterintuitive insights. Along the way, Pink describes the six successors to the elevator pitch, the three rules for understanding another’s perspective, the five frames that can make your message clearer and more persuasive, and much more.
Afternoon Keynote: Dr. Robbie Melton
Dr. Robbie Melton, associate vice chancellor of mobilization and emerging technology with the Tennessee Board of Regents, will close the Symposium with a high-energy keynote that will take a unique look at the role of mobile technology in education. Throughout her forty years in the field of education, Dr. Melton has received numerous teaching and technology awards and acclaims. Dr. Melton has published and presented around the nation about the impact and value of mobilization for education and the workforce. She has even acquired a new moniker as an “Appologist”, due to her study of the pedagogy and best teaching practices with mobilization, quality standards for the utilization of mobile apps, and for her creation of the Mobile App Education and Workforce Resource Center.
COIL Co-Sponsorship
The Center for Online Innovation in Learning (COIL) was one of the sponsors of the 2014 Symposium. COIL engages the University’s extensive research enterprise to improve learning through online innovations at and beyond Penn State, and COIL works closely with Teaching and Learning with Technology, the Penn State unit which plans the Symposium. This made for a perfect partnership that enhanced the Symposium experience via the following:
- Four Concurrent Sessions
- Eleven COIL Links (area where various projects, called Research Initiation Grants (RIGS), were demoed).
Attendees
Approximately 490 individuals attended this year, the largest attendance in the history of the Symposium. ll Colleges at University Park were represented this year, including the Dickinson School of Law (did not attend last year). Twenty-three Commonwealth Campus sent attendees to this year’s event. Attendance from campus locations other than University Park rose by 30% this year.
Sessions
There were a total of 44 sessions this year. Last year, which was more typical of all most recent Symposiums, had 30. This is a 47% increase in the amount of sessions.
Elevator Pitches
In preparation for the 2014 Symposium, presenters were asked to record an “elevator pitch” of his or her presentation to grab attendees attention and tell them exactly why they should attend that particular session.
An elevator pitch (or elevator speech or statement) is a short summary used to quickly and simply define a product, service, or organization and its value proposition.The name “elevator pitch” reflects the idea that it should be possible to deliver the summary in the time span of an elevator ride, or approximately thirty seconds to two minutes.
