EdgeCon – Spring 2023

Over two hundred attendees and participants representing 44 institutions from across the region and beyond came together for EdgeCon Spring 2023, hosted at Edge member campus, Middlesex College on March 24. With a focus on Excelling in a Digital Teaching & Learning Future, this premier event offered a full schedule of inspiring presentations and twenty breakout sessions where attendees could learn and discuss the latest cutting-edge technology that is revolutionizing education. The event was supported by eighteen industry-leading vendors from across the academic enterprise who shared innovative solutions for today’s biggest digital learning challenges.

Event participants came from academic, healthcare, IT, and government sectors and included instructional technologists, provosts, and leaders in learning resources, information technology, digital learning and innovation, academic affairs, and research technology. “On behalf of the entire Edge team, I want to express our most sincere gratitude to our attendees and the incredible team from Middlesex College for hosting the EdgeCon Spring annual conference,” says Christopher R. Markham, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, Edge. “Our consortium community networking and professional development events depend on the partnership with our Edge member institutional presidents and their teams, and it was a pleasure to work with Middlesex College to plan the hosting of this exciting event that brought so many community members together.”

Attendees and participants representing institutions from across the region and beyond enjoyed EdgeCon Spring’s thematic content on Excelling in a Digital Teaching & Learning Future.

Compelling Discussions and Breakout Sessions
EdgeCon kicked off the event with a panel discussion moderated by Josh Gaul, Chief Digital Learning Officer, Edge, that explored the Evolution of Digital Learning, and What Comes Next. Panelists Lindsey B. Carfagna, PhD, Director of Learning Experience Design, Office of Online Programs, Affiliated Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology, Villanova University and Stephen T. Kabrhel, Dean, Online Learning, The Community College of Baltimore County, led a discussion on the shift to online and digitally-integrated learning options and how organizations can transition investments made during the pandemic to ensure quality and sustainability for digital learning moving forward.

Through a variety of compelling breakout sessions, EdgeCon attendees had an opportunity to explore topics in more detail and gather insight and expertise from other members in the Digital Learning community. The impressive roster of speakers and presenters shared a diverse range of topics, including:

• Researching the Potential Cybersecurity Threats by Using Virtual Reality Headsets, presented by Stan Mierzwa, Assistant Director & Lecturer, Kean University
• Enable, Encourage, Engage, and Empower: NJIT’s Digital Teaching and Learning Strategy and Journey, presented by New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Justine Krawiec, Assistant Director, Learning Technologies, and Joel Almoradie, Instructional Technology Analyst
• Creating Engaging Discussions, presented by Vanessa Leonardo, Instructional Designer, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Melissa Battisa, Instructional Designer, New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Igniting the Classroom, presented by Nicole Zmuda, Assistant Professor, Fairleigh Dickinson University
• Use of Retrieval Practice as a Learning Analytics Tool, presented by Michael Kolitsky, Online Adjunct Professor, University of Texas at El Paso
• Post-semester “Boosted Learning” Programs, presented by Robert Zotti, Assistant Dean/Adjunct Instructor, Stevens Institute of Technology
• Using Tech Tools to Enhance Questioning and Discussion, presented by Phillip Crisostomo, Supervisor of Instructional Technology, Willingboro School District

• Real Talk about Classroom Technology, presented by Shaun Webb, CBTS & Room Ready
• Extended Reality: A Primer and Its Potential in Higher Education, presented by Peter McAliney, Director, Professional and Executive Education, Rutgers (PEER), and Christine Janssen, Founder & CEO, edstutia   
• Center Students in Technology Enhanced Learning Environments, presented by Manuel Algarin, Senior Educational Consultant, New Jersey City University
• Using Canva for Online Design, presented by Jessica Garon, Instructional Course Designer, Rutgers University, and Liz Hopta, Instructional Course Designer, Rutgers University
• Flexibility is the Key, presented by College of Staten Island’s (CUNY) Patricia Kahn, CIO/AVP Information Technology Services, Doriann Hyland, Director Technology Training Operations, and Linda John, Director Classroom Technology
• Chat GPT: A Discourse Analysis of AI Generated Responses to First Year Composition Assignments, presented by Fiona Harris Ramsby, Associate Professor for Rhetoric and Writing, Bloomfield College
• Awareness of Assistive Technology in the Course Design Process Creates a More Egalitarian System in Human Development, presented by Humberto Hernandez Ariza, Director of Online Learning and Instructional Design, D’Youville University
• Designing Online Courses for Continuing Education Learners, presented by Montclair University’s Joseph Yankus, Instructional Designer, and Patrick Scioscia, Lead Instructional Designer

• You Have to be Slow and Steady to be Quick and Nimble, presented by Seton Hall University’s Renee Cicchino, Director of Instructional Design & Training, and Michael Taylor, Associate Professor, Political Science and Public Affairs
• Revolutionizing Learning: The Pros and Cons of Artificial Intelligence in Education, presented by Kathy Marino, Lecturer, Georgian Court University
• Quality Assurance Certificate Program: Crafting Your Course Design with Quality Matters, presented by Jae Kim, Sr. Instructional Designer, William Paterson University
• Providing Feedback in Online Math Courses, presented by Grace Cook, Associate Professor, Bloomfield College
• Humanized Online Learning: TCNJ’s Approach to Increasing Engagement & Presence in the Virtual Classroom, presented by Ellen Farr, Instructional Designer, The College of New Jersey, and Nicole Baldassarre, Head of Partnerships, InSpace Proximity, Inc.

Positive Feedback from Participants
Following every EdgeCon event, attendees are asked to share their thoughts and feedback about their experience and if they enjoyed the conference speakers and sessions. One Instructional Designer shared, “Overall, I really enjoyed my time at EdgeCon, as it was a great way to meet other IDs from institutions in the area.” An interim CIO shared, “The presentations I attended were good and I got some takeaways to bring back to my campus. Thanks!” Another participant responded with, “This year’s conference was time really well spent, it was great to see people again in person! I find tremendous value in face to face, rather than virtual. The connections made and conversations had made a world of difference.”

Save the Date
To continue exploring the topic of Excelling in a Digital Teaching & Learning Future, the EdgeCon series will be headed to the Delaware Valley area this fall in conjunction with Neumann University. The conference will be held September 28, 2023 where attendees will have the opportunity to engage with a growing community of digital learning professionals. Those encouraged to attend this premier event include:

• Chief Information Officer
• Chief Technology Officer
• Dean of Faculty Development and Learning Innovation
• Dean of Institutional Effectiveness
• Dean of Online Learning
• Director of Instructional Technology & Design
• Instructional Course Designer
• Instructional Technologist
• Learning System Manager
• VP of e-Learning & Learning Enterprises
• Web Application Manager

To learn more about the EdgeCon Delaware Valley event and to reserve your spot, register now »