Attendees of the Beyond Higher Education: Technology & Community

On May 8, Hostos was home to the 2015 Bronx CUNY EdTech Showcase. Titled, “Beyond Higher Education: Technology & Community," the educational technology summit brought together the three Bronx CUNY colleges (Lehman, Bronx CC, and Hostos CC) for a day-long event to discuss classroom technology trends and best practices. Held each May, this event promotes networking, collaborating, sharing technical information, and building effective practices within the CUNY community.

The day began in the Hostos Repertory Theater, with greetings from Hostos Interim President David Gómez and Carlos Guevara, Director of the Office of Educational Technology and Co-Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, as well as Hostos Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Christine Mangino, who served as moderator in the afternoon discussion panel.

CUNY Chancellor James B. Milliken also contributed a special video message. Milliken called it an “exciting time” in education, adding that technology is an invaluable tool in increasing retention and graduation rates.

1 man. Speaker

Also speaking to the importance of technology in the classroom, as well as the importance of working together in the borough, were Ricardo R. Fernández, Lehman President, and Alexander Ott, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for Curriculum Matters and Faculty Development from Bronx Community College.

The morning’s activities also included a presentation from keynote speaker Ben Grossman, the founder and principal of the Bronx Academy for Software Engineering (BASE). The former English teacher left the classroom in 2010 and helped to develop the unique high school that focused on the intersection of art, technology and ethics. As founding principal of BASE, he continues to work to build a school that adheres closely to its original mission: to give students from the Bronx the tools they need to understand, participate in and – where appropriate – work to change their communities.

A panel discussion on the role of technology in high schools, higher education, workforce and the community was also held, as well as over 30 presentations sharing best practices and innovative uses of academic technology in teaching and learning. The panel included Jerome Dazzell, Director of New Training Initiatives and resident Salesforce admin/developer at Per Scholas; Assemblyman Francisco Moya from the 39th District; Stephen Powers, Ph.D.; from the Department of Education and Reading at Bronx Community College (BCC); Cindy Gao, Chief of Staff for the New York City Foundation for Computer Science Education (CSNYC); and Dr. Matthew Cotter, the Director of College Now at Bronx Community College.

3 Women. Red shirts.

The Bronx EdTech Showcase brought together over 180 participants from 13 CUNY campuses, high schools, and representatives from corporate and non-profit institutions.  The next edition of this novel event will be at Lehman College on Friday, May 6, 2016.  To watch the livestream recordings from the keynote address, and panel discussion, as well as the showcase presentations visit http://cuny.is/bronxedtech

About Hostos Community College
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities since 1968. It serves as a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs. The College’s unique "Student Success Coaching Unit" provides students with individualized guidance and exemplifies its emphasis on student support services. 

Recently named one of the top 10 finalists for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Hostos offers 27 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate easy transfer to The City University of New York’s (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. The College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 24 colleges.