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More than 400 people attended theÌýtwo day August 2014 Colorado Learning and Teaching with Technology (COLTT) Conference at CU Boulder.ÌýÌýPresentersÌýexplored a range of teaching with technology topics and programs,Ìýincluding: interactive science simulations, alternative formats for students with learning disabilities, e-books, MOOCs, digital gaming, podcasts, YouTube, Learning Management Systems, and theÌýpsychology of learning with technology.ÌýÌýParticipants represented Adobe, CU Boulder, CU Denver, CSU, Front Range Community College, Regis University, Red Rocks Community College, Metropolitan State University, and the Air Force Academy.Ìý ASSETT sponsored 26 scholarships for CU Boulder College of Arts and Sciences faculty to attend the conference.Ìý ASSETT staff spoke withÌýparticipantsÌýabout ASSETT programs.

CU Boulder Physics ProfessorÌýSteven Pollock gave the keynote speech at the 2014 COLTT Conference.ÌýÌýPollock is the 2013 Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support for Education National Teacher of the Year.ÌýÌý He is active in CU Boulder'sÌýPhysics Education Research (PER) Group, through which Physics professors conduct research of Physics teaching.ÌýÌýPollockÌýsaid that the PER has found thatÌýstudents achieve a better understanding of material in an interactive environment.ÌýÌýHe also said that the PER has found that Learning Assistants Ìý(high performing undergraduates)Ìýachieve higher content mastery after they lead interactiveÌýlearning sessions with lower level science students. ÌýPollock said thatÌýif these LAs pursue careers in K12 education, then theyÌýexhibit stronger scienceÌýknowledge than they otherwise would.Ìý Additionally, he suggested theÌýimplementation ofÌý (Student Centered Active Learning Environments withÌýUpside downÌýPedagogies)Ìýclassrooms, which would feature round tables so that students wouldÌýface one another in optimal position for small group discussion.

Presentations

ASSETT hosted one of the more than 70 sessions at the 2014 COLTT Conference.Ìý ASSETT Teaching with Technology Consultants Jacie Moriyama, Amanda McAndrew, and Nisha AzimovaÌýspoke to a full house during Ìý The consultantsÌýpresented various formative assessmentÌýtechnologies, includingÌýscreencasts, Camtasia, Voicethread, Jing,ÌýiAnnotate,ÌýScreenr, and SnagIt.

Additionally, Angela Galik of Red Rocks Community CollegeÌýpresented researchÌýabout the pros and cons of our growing dependence on electronic devices for learning during herÌý'Tech and the Brain' session.Ìý GalikÌýexplained our generational shift from deep attention (thoroughly reading one book without doing anything else) toÌýhyper attention (changing focus rapidly, such as stopping work on a project toÌýrespond to an email because of Ìýthe flashing alert in the corner ofÌýthe computer screen).ÌýÌýGalik discussed the stress responses involved when we try to balance these distractions while maintaining productivity.