July 24, 2024
Bloomington, IN. The word “revolution” has been overused. But a revolution is definitely underway with rapidly emerging learning technologies. What do we know about the impact of these technologies on teaching and learning? What’s the future?
The AECT24 opening keynote will address these and other big questions with one of our own, George Veletsianos, professor and Bonnie Westby Hueber Chair in Education and Technology at the University of Minnesota.
“I am thrilled that George Veletsianos will deliver our opening keynote address at AECT24 in Kansas City,” said AECT President-Elect and Convention Co-Planner Tonia Dousay, dean of education at the University of Alaska-Anchorage. “Our members will benefit greatly from George’s insights from his many years of research. He’s the perfect person to open AECT24 and we are so pleased he’s agreed to join us.”
Dr. Veletsianos has been designing, developing, and evaluating digital learning environments for nearly 20 years. His research agenda focuses on three strands: (1) design, development, and evaluation of online and blended learning environments, (2) the study of learning experiences and participation in emerging online environments, and (3) learning futures. In these contexts, he studies experiences with online learning, flexible education, networked scholarship, and emerging technologies and pedagogical practices.
“I love the energy and blend of truly international and U.S. based experiences that the keynotes bring to this year’s convention,” said AECT CEO Nolan Gruver. “George Veletsianos represents our global membership. He was born in Cyprus, spent many years as the Canada research chair in innovative learning and technology, and is now in the U.S. at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Veletsianos’ background is representative of AECT’s cosmopolitan membership in a nutshell.”
Veletsianos’ talk will focus on how the field must rethink learning environments.
“Education systems worldwide face profound economic, demographic, political, environmental, and social challenges,” said Veletsianos. “Traditionally, our field has responded by either embracing the latest technological advancements or striving to make instruction more effective, efficient, and engaging. However, these approaches are not enough. They are limiting and insufficient. They constrain our imagination and curtail our ability to create better educational futures for ourselves, our students, and our societies. In this keynote, I will explore how speculative methods can offer creative, exploratory, and fruitful ways to examine, produce, and rethink the learning environments we are developing and supporting.”
Up to 1,000 people from around the world are expected to attend AECT24 in Kansas City. Discounted early bird registration is open until July 31.
“Our field has been essential in shaping the world of digital learning environments,” said AECT President Joi Moore, associate dean for engagement and outreach and professor in the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies at the University of Missouri. “George Veletsianos’ talk will underscore how and why the AECT community can lead in reimagining design, practice, and research."
Veletsianos’ opening keynote will take place in Kansas City on October 20 at 4 p.m. (CDT).
Media Contact
James Shea
812-320-8963