NEXT 2024 - November 1, 2024

Bridging Pedagogy and Innovation: AI and Beyond

Innovate. Include. Inspire.

The University of Akron proudly invites you to the 8th annual NEXT (New Explorations in Teaching) conference, a premier gathering for faculty, education professionals, researchers, administrators, and industry leaders. The 2024 theme, “Bridging Pedagogy and Innovation: AI and Beyond,” will explore the intersection of pedagogy and innovation in “The AI Classroom” and how AI can empower educators to create dynamic, inclusive, and forward-thinking learning environments. NEXT is more than just a conference—it’s a movement toward a more innovative and inclusive future in education.

Join us on November 1, 2024, to help shape the role of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning.

Register for NEXT 2024

Registering someone else for NEXT 2024? Follow these directions to register another attendee.

NEXT 2024 Schedule
Press Release

2024 Conference Sponsors

Diamond Sponsor

 Respondus_Black.jpg

Platinum Sponsor

 D2L-Logo.jpg

Gold Sponsor

 Coursera-logo-full-rgb.png

Gold Sponsor

 Pe_logo_blue_accessible_(1).png

Industry Panel: Navigating the Future Workforce: The Imperative of AI Skills for Students

November 1 | 8:30 - 9:30 AM | Ballroom

In today's rapidly evolving job market, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge and skills has become not just beneficial but imperative for students aiming to thrive in their careers. As part of the 8th annual NEXT conference, we are excited to host an enlightening employer panel discussion titled "Navigating the Future Workforce: The Imperative of AI Skills for Students."

This session will bring together a diverse panel of industry leaders and employers who will share invaluable insights into the growing demand for AI proficiency in various sectors. Through firsthand accounts and perspectives, panelists will underscore the critical role of AI knowledge in shaping the future workforce landscape. From understanding the significance of AI in decision-making processes to its impact on job roles and industry trends, attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of why AI competencies are essential for students across disciplines.

Moreover, this panel aims to inspire faculty members to champion AI education within their institutions. By highlighting the real-world implications and opportunities associated with AI integration, our esteemed panelists will empower educators to equip students with the necessary AI skills to succeed in tomorrow's workforce.

Join us for an engaging dialogue that transcends disciplinary boundaries and explores the intersection of pedagogy, innovation, and the pressing need for AI proficiency. Together, let's bridge the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that our students are not just prepared for the future but poised to excel in it.

Panelists

Moderated by Dr. Alexa Fox

Headshot of Alexa FoxDr. Alexa K. Fox is an Associate Professor of Marketing at The University of Akron, where she teaches Social Media Marketing, Digital Marketing, and Consumer Behavior. She earned her Ph.D. in Business Administration (Marketing) from The University of Memphis, and her M.B.A. and B.S.B.A. from The University of Akron. Alexa’s research interests include digital marketing, user-generated content, online privacy, sharenting, and physiological measurement of cognition and emotion. Her work on the company/consumer dyad's use of digital technology is uniquely positioned to inform marketing and business practice as well as benefit society. Alexa's research was a finalist for the American Marketing Association-EBSCO Annual Award for Responsible Research in Marketing and has appeared in journals such as Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Advertising, Computers in Human Behavior, and more, along with book chapters, national conferences, and in the media from Forbes.com, to radio and television segments, to podcasts. Alexa serves on the Editorial Review Board of five high-quality marketing academic journals, and on the Advisory Board for St. Herman’s House of Hospitality, a homeless shelter in Cleveland. Prior to academia, Alexa worked for strategic marketing and online marketing firms, as well as a nonprofit organization, where she conducted marketing research, created online copy, and developed marketing, social media, and branding strategies.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Industry Panel

Navigating the Future Workforce: The Imperative of AI Skills for Students" featuring notable speakers from the Cleveland Cavaliers, ISSQUARED, Inc., Sherwin-Williams Company, and 1848 Ventures. Moderated by Dr. Alexa Fox.

Speakers

  • Ashland University
  • Baldwin Wallace University
  • California State University, Northridge
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • John Carroll University
  • Kent State University
  • Lakeland Community College
  • Lorain County Community College
  • Marion Technical College
  • Missouri State University
  • Oberlin College and Conservatory
  • Penn State Shenango
  • Pepperdine University
  • Purdue University
  • Rhodes State College
  • Stark State College
  • The University of Akron
  • The University of Cincinnati
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio
  • University of Central Florida
  • University of Delaware
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Valencia College
  • Walsh University
  • Weber State University
  • West Chester University
  • Youngstown State University

Session Topics

Choose from 36 breakout sessions focused on bridging pedagogy and innovation. Session topics include:

  1. Integrating AI in Teaching and Learning: Covering AI's role in classroom activities, lab courses, student engagement, and how ChatGPT can be applied across Bloom's Taxonomy.
  2. AI and Instructional Design: Exploring how AI is reshaping course design, enhancing reflective practice, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for neurodiverse learners, and creating AI-focused courses.
  3. AI Tools and Techniques: A practical look at AI applications, including 20 AI tools in 20 minutes, crafting effective teaching prompts, and using AI Chatbots in STEM education.
  4. AI for Student Empowerment and Support: Examining AI as a tutor, student-led AI initiatives, and how generative AI prompts critical thinking and creativity.
  5. Ethical Considerations and Futures of AI in Education: Addressing the ethical use of AI, imagining potential futures in higher education, and learning lessons from past implementations.
  6. AI Applications in K12 and Higher Education: Tailoring AI strategies for K12 educators and adapting AI models for different educational levels.
  7. AI and Innovative Technologies: Highlighting digital humans with voice cloning, as well as teaching students about AI models and integrating these technologies into broader educational contexts.

SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS

  • Breakfast & Registration

  • Welcome & Introduction

  • Industry Panel

  • Morning Breakout sessions 1-3

  • Lunch and Featured Speaker

  • Afternoon Breakout sessions 4-8

  • Steal My Idea and Raffle

View the Full Schedule

REGISTER FOR NEXT

Don't miss this chance to discover how embracing AI can empower educators to create dynamic, inclusive, and forward-thinking learning environments.

Register for NEXT

TRAVEL AND LODGING

EVENT LOCATION

Student Union

NEXT 2024 will be held in the The Jean Hower Taber Student Union, conveniently located in the center of UA's campus. Learn more about the student union and its amenities: https://www.uakron.edu/studentunion/index.dot

Museumsmuseum

The rich history of Akron has been archived in the city’s many museums.

Arts and culture

akron civic theaterLive Entertainment

Downtown Akron

If you want to get off campus and discover Akron, downtown is the place to start. Easily accessible and only minutes away, downtown Akron puts you in the center of vibrant cultural amenities, living opportunities, delicious dining options, unique shopping excursions and more.

What's going on downtown?

PARKING

NEXT 2024 is located at The University of Akron's Student Union. Attendees who don't already have a University of Akron parking pass can purchase a 1-day pass via the QR codes located at each park lot. We recommend that you park in the South Campus Parking Deck, Lot 36. The South Campus deck is located across from South Hall on Exchange Street. Handicap parking is available on a surface lot directly adjacent to the Student Union on Carroll Street.

 

South Campus Parking Address:

181 E Exchange St
Akron, OH 44304
United States

LODGING

Conference attendees can receive a discounted rate at the Courtyard by Marriot Downtown Akron of $139/night or the Blu-Tique Akron: A Tribute Hotel for $109/night.

Rates are guaranteed when booked by October 1, 2024. Or, contact the Courtyard and ask for the Next Conference rate. The Courtyard is located a short, 5-minute, drive from the The University of Akron's Student Union. The Blu-Tique is 1 mile from the conference venue.

The NEXT Conference rate applies to bookings between October 31 and November 2, 2024. The last day to book at the guaranteed rate is October 1, 2024.

Courtyard by Marriot Downtown Akron

Book a room at the Courtyard by Marriot Downtown Akron

BLU-Tique, Akron, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Book A Room at Blu-Tique Today

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Don't miss this chance to demonstrate your AI capabilities.

Learn about our Sponsorship Opportunities

#