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At Pearson’s Now/Next in learning conference we’ll celebrate how far learning has come and explore where it’s headed next.
Denver, CO
At Pearson’s Now/Next in learning conference we’ll celebrate how far learning has come and explore where it’s headed next.
Denver, CO
Overview
Join us in Scottsdale to hear from the latest innovators in edtech and meet your peers and thought leaders in the digital learning space to:
- exchange best practices
- gain insight into the latest research
- explore new ways to engage and enlighten your students
Who should attend?
Now/Next in learning is perfect for digital learning advocates across the education ecosystem including educators and leaders within the higher education, K-12, edtech, and corporate communities.
What will you learn?
The Now/Next in learning program will expand your knowledge within the following tracks:
Now/Next in career success
Harnessing technology to power education represents an unparalleled opportunity to shape our future workforce. Technological literacy is obviously critical, but being human is what makes us employable. Learners need educational experiences that cultivate skills, including fluency of ideas, originality, judgment, decision-making, and active learning, all supported by collaborative academic and career paths.
This track will explore ideas and initiatives that prepare students for lifelong career success.
Now/Next in access & affordability
By giving students and faculty choices in how they can save money and make progress in their education, they are empowered and can take control of their futures. This is the freedom technology brings to education.
This track will explore ideas and initiatives around what it takes for the industry and institutions to improve affordability for all students, while also improving access to high-quality content and learning experiences.
Now/Next in digital innovation
Learning institutions have a responsibility to provide their students with opportunities to learn in modern, innovative ways so they have both the foundational knowledge and the 21st century skills needed to adapt and succeed, regardless of what the future holds.
This track will explore ideas and initiatives that support a culture of thinking, and new concepts that will create better educational experiences through digital learning.
Have a question? Contact the events team.
Agenda At-A-Glance*
The Now/Next in learning 2019 program is currently being developed. Check back soon for more details.
Monday, April 22, 2019 |
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3:00–5:00 p.m. | Storytelling workshop with The Moth In this workshop, dive into the art of storytelling with experts from The Moth and explore how to enhance curriculum connection, affect classroom engagement, and promote faculty community-building through stories. Participants will learn The Moth’s Seven Principles of Storytelling, apply the principles to craft and tell their own personal stories, and have the opportunity to participate in the opening StorySLAM featuring their peers. |
5:30-8:00 p.m. | Opening reception featuring StorySLAM with The Moth |
Tuesday, April 23, 2019 |
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8:00–9:15 a.m. | Breakfast |
9:15–10:15 a.m. | Opening Keynote The Art of Collaboration: (An Interactive Art Experience) Phil Hansen, multimedia artist, speaker, author, and innovator Finding creativity within limitations will inspire you to stop looking on the outside, and start looking inside yourself for resources that can transform your challenges into opportunities for success. Through jaw-dropping visuals and LIVE interactive art, get ready to break preconceived assumptions, activate your creative capacity, and bring fresh ways of viewing the task at hand that will culminate with success. |
10:15–10:30 a.m. | Break |
10:30–11:15 a.m. | Track: Access & Affordability Who cares about day one access? Phillip Anaya, OER and Digital Coordinator, Alamo Colleges District We may have heard the phrase “Day One Access,” but what does it mean for students? The Open Educational Resources (OER) community brags about it and how it accounts for the success rates of students but those instructors are already rock stars. Let's take a look at Alamo’s IM Direct, inclusive access model and see how beneficial “Day One Access” is to students. Join this session to understand how Alamo’s IM Direct program has impacted students in and out of the classroom. |
10:30–11:15 a.m. | Track: Digital Innovation Outcomes don’t happen by accident: How to make ed tech work for you Dr. Kristen DiCerbo, VP, Learning Research & Design, Pearson Better learner outcomes happen by design and implementation. Ed tech has so much potential to impact outcomes at scale, but it's often a challenge to know where to start. At Pearson, we not only identify the outcomes that matter most to learners and educators and design products based on evidence of what works to improve those outcomes, but we also measure the impact of the implementation of our products can have on learning. This practical, hands on session shares how to make ed tech work for you. |
11:30 a.m. –12:15 p.m. | Track: Access & Affordability What faculty really think: Changing perceptions on access and affordability Gates Bryant, Partner, Tyton Partners Jeff Seaman, Director, Babson Survey Research Group Drawing from the results of multiple national surveys on higher education teaching faculty by the Babson Survey Research Group and by Tyton Partners, this session will review changing faculty perceptions of access and affordability and speculate on what the future might hold. Faculty believe that, "the cost of course materials is a serious problem for my students." Both individual faculty and the publishing industry are reacting to these concerns by taking steps to control costs, including: supporting used textbooks and rental programs, placing copies on reserve, and selecting materials based on cost while publishers are introducing new distribution models, such as inclusive access. The session will cover faculty satisfaction with textbooks, OER, and courseware, the positives and negatives that moving to inclusive access presents, and what faculty and administrators are saying they expect the next steps to be. |
11:30 a.m. –12:15 p.m. | Track: Digital Innovation Increasing student engagement and social presence through technology Sean Nufer, Director of Educational Technology, TCS Education System Both traditional and non-traditional students use social media networks (Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest) to keep track of friends, family, industry updates, news, politics, etc., so why not use them in education? Let’s close the gap between educational platforms and popular social media interfaces. This session will discuss best practices and innovative ways to bring social learning into discussions, assignments, and content pages within an LMS to add a collaborative and interactive element to typical course offerings. |
11:30 a.m. –12:15 p.m. | Track: Career Success 5 key strategies for designing impactful digital credentials with employers Brenda Perea, Director, Education and Workforce Strategies, Credly Kim Moore, Director, Workforce, Professional and Education, Wichita State University Heidi Shoemake, Director of Academic Technology and Communications, Division of Information Systems, University of Mississippi Medical Center Hiring and staffing movements are happening as we speak. Employers are shifting from degree hiring to competency-based hiring, creating an opportunity for educational institutions and training organizations to develop digital credentials that offer more precise indications of an applicant’s ability. In this session we’ll provide actionable insights and 5 key strategies to help educational institutions partner with local employers and regional industry leaders in designing digital credentials. |
12:15–1:15 p.m. | Lunch |
1:15–2:15 p.m. | Keynote Panel - Women in Tech Dr. Lisa Dawley, Executive Director, Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education, University of San Diego Sanam Raza, Pearson Mickey Revenaugh, Pearson Hear from the remarkable women working on the front lines of edtech. They’ll talk about the challenges faced in creating diverse and empowering solutions and driving fundamental change for learners around the world. |
2:30–3:15 p.m. | Track: Digital Innovation Transmedia Storytelling: Creating an educational experience across multiple social/digital platforms Rick Ramsey, Education Director for Visual Arts, Full Sail University "Social media", "multi-media", "transmedia" are all terms that speak to the complex systems of communication that are used by virtually everyone. What if we could corral these multiple platforms to work together to present a single idea, lesson, or story? Transmedia Storytelling is the key that unlocks a whole new voice for the educator. Learn to use multiple platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, text messaging, and more to seduce the learner with creative and interactive narratives. More than copying and pasting to multiple forms of media, Transmedia Storytelling sends the learner on a journey of discovery as each piece of the narrative is unfolded on different platforms. Videos, blogs, images, and texts all reveal a part of the story, that when assembled, creates a new experience for the user. In short, Transmedia Storytelling is using diverse forms of media to convey a message in a unique and intriguing way. Learn to use the various forms of communication that are already becoming part of a digital culture to engage critical, creative, and out-of-the-box thinking with Transmedia Storytelling. |
2:30–3:15 p.m. | Track: Career Success The new education: Learning 21st century skills through game design Gregory Garvey, Director and Professor of Game Design & Development, Quinnipiac University This presentation argues that the “New Education” should impart 21st century skills–namely critical thinking, design thinking, systems thinking, algorithmic thinking, creativity and interpersonal skills. Gregory Garvey claims that learning game design teaches these very skills, which can transfer to other knowledge domains and disciplines. When coupled with a solid grounding of a liberal education students are better prepared to be responsible citizenship and to compete in the global economy. This presentation will provide an overview of 21st century skills, along with a discussion of the skills employers are looking for. This will be followed by a discussion of how learning game design addresses the acquisition of these skills through hands-on experiential learning through the methodology of the spiral loop of prototype–test–iterate. The presentation includes a short workshop on game design. |
3:15–4:00 p.m. | Less Stress, Clearer Thoughts Recharge and reset with this mindfulness meditation session. Take these easy techniques back to your colleagues to help promote wellness in the workplace. |
4:00–4:45 p.m. | Track: Career Success The benefits of iterative failure Lauren Liss, Assistant Professor, Interactive Arts and Media (IAM) Department, Columbia College Chicago As educators and design thinkers, we must focus on the process and not just the end goal. This presentation will address the benefits of creating learning environments that allow students to take risks and fail; through this failure, they become more resilient, more realistic, and more accountable. In turn, their future work is more thoughtful and they have a greater ability to be nimble, collaborate, and pivot away from ineffective ideas. |
4:00–4:45 p.m. | Track: Digital Innovation Learning analytics in action: Identifying struggling students with precision for faculty intervention Jason Lokkesmoe, AVP, Big Data & Analytics Business Development, Pearson Jenna Olsen, Data Analyst, Western Governors University A holistic view of the student provides higher education leaders and educators the necessary tools to help optimize their students' educational experiences and, ultimately, their success. Moving beyond a point in time, data gathered from the student experience within digital content allows for a more comprehensive — and early — view of where they are exceeding as well as struggling. Institutional intelligence and analytics help institutions and educators identify these students and act on data to improve student and institutional outcomes. In this session, you'll hear from your peers on the front line at Western Governors University, and see how they’re working together with Pearson to take Learning Analytics beyond student engagement. You’ll also learn more about new methods for unlocking a precise ability for intervention. |
4:45–5:30 p.m. | Learning Lounge on the Lawn Unwind with fellow attendees and share your lessons learned from the day. |
7:00–9:00 p.m. | Evening Social Spend an evening with us at El Chorro — a historic schoolhouse turned world class restaurant — enjoying delicious food and drink and sharing ideas about the future with fellow attendees. Transportation will be provided to El Chorro and then back to the hotel. |
*program & timing are subject to change
Have a question? Contact the events team.
Speakers
We are pleased to announce the speakers for Now/Next in learning 2019!

Phillip Anaya, OER and Digital Coordinator, Alamo Colleges District
Who cares about day one access?
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 10:30–11:15 a.m.
About Phillip Anaya
Phillip Anaya is the Digital and OER Coordinator for Alamo Colleges in San Antonio, TX. He has been in education for over a decade, ranging from elementary to higher education as a classroom instructor to institutional advancement and now administration. He is truly a life long learner. As part of the Alamo Colleges District, Phillip has lead the implementation of digital and OER (open educational resources) content in distance learning and face to face courses. He has branded AlamoOPEN and IM Direct, and has saved students an estimated $6 million dollars in instructional material costs since 2015.

Nate Anderson, Senior Director, Jobs for the Future
Academic, human-centric, or job specific: Which skills matter the most?
Wednesday, April 24, 9:30–10:15 a.m
About Nate Anderson
Nate Anderson is a Senior Director at JFF, leading efforts to improve career pathways design, implementation and policy to drive stronger job and earnings outcomes for low-income and low-skilled adults. In this capacity, Mr. Anderson manages the Demand Side Engagement and Analytics group, and oversees several bodies of work concentrating on credentialing, labor market information technologies, competency-based education, and the future of work. In addition, he has extensive experience providing technical assistance to community colleges, state postsecondary systems, adult education providers, employers and workforce organizations, and serves on several advisory boards connected to workforce and education efforts.
Before coming to JFF, he taught English in Japan to middle school, high school, and adult students as part of the Japanese Exchange and Teaching program. Mr. Anderson holds a B.A. from Bowdoin College, a Master’s in Japanese history and Asian Pacific studies from the University of Toronto, and a Master’s in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Gates Bryant, Partner, Tyton Partners
What faculty really think: Changing perceptions on access and affordability
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
About Gates Bryant
Gates Bryant is a partner with Tyton Partners, and an experienced general manager and strategy consultant with a successful track record for bridging the gap between innovative strategy and practical execution. Gates has advised institutions, foundations, companies, and investors, and is a frequent speaker and author on transformation in higher education. Previously, Gates was an executive with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, working in strategy, product management, and finance during a period of dramatic change in the educational publishing and technology industry. He spent seven years as a strategy consultant with the Parthenon Group and began his career as an investment consultant with Cambridge Associates. Gates holds an MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth and a BA in Government from Dartmouth College.

Miguel Cardona, Assistant Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology
Industry-inspired innovation in design education
Wednesday, April 24, 2019, 9:30–10:15 a.m.
About Miguel Cardona
Miguel Angel Cardona Jr. is an Assistant Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology instructing classes in the New Media Design program focusing on user experience and interaction design for digital screens and products. Most recently, he was a lead designer and creative director for imgix, a San Francisco-based image processing company that provides web developers the ability to edit and optimize millions of images instantaneously. Previously, he co-founded the Rochester-based interactive design agency, Dumbwaiter Design. Cardona has more than 14 years experience designing and developing digital products, e-learning, motion graphics, advertising, and interactive games for not-for-profit, educational and corporate institutions. He holds an MFA in Industrial Design and was once internet-famous for illustrating on hundreds of paper coffee cups.

Jimmy Cervin, Program Liaison for Curricular Innovation, BUILD-IT, Arizona State University
Preparing students for a globally competitive world
Wednesday, April 24, 10:30–11:15 a.m
About Jimmy Cervin
James (Jimmy) Cervin is BUILD-IT’s Program Liaison for Curricular Innovation and Lead for Faculty Development. In this role, Jimmy works on curriculum and faculty development aspects for a variety of global partnerships, sponsored projects, and campus-based academic efforts, collaborating with both ASU’s global programs and instructional design teams. He has been working on implementing the design, development, delivery and curation of internationally utilized training and educational materials for BUILD-IT and Vietnam. Before joining the Fulton Schools of Engineering, Jimmy was with Global Launch at ASU, where he served as Southeast Asia Lead and brings close to 15 years of experience in higher education, both from ASU and his time in living in Asia. He has extensive experience with English as a Second Language, program and curriculum development, project management, instructional design, teacher and professor training, and interdisciplinary teaming. He has Masters’ degrees in Postsecondary and Adult Education and Intelligence Studies with a specialization in Counterterrorism.

Dr. Lisa Dawley, Executive Director, Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education, University of San Diego
Keynote Panel - Women in Tech
Tuesday, April 23, 1:15–2:15 p.m
About Lisa Dawley
With over 20 years of experience in educational technology, Dr. Lisa Dawley provides leadership in the award-winning research, design and entrepreneurship of innovative learning technologies and organizations.
Dr. Dawley is Executive Director of the Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education at the University of San Diego, and an adjunct faculty member in the UNC Chapel Hill School of Education, where she served as former director of the M.A. in Educational Innovation, Technology & Entrepreneurship program. She founded ImagineLab, a UNC initiative to support educational innovation design and entrepreneurship. She is former CEO and Founder of GoGo Labs, a gamified educational technology spin-out from Boise State University, where she served as professor and chair of the Dept. of Educational Technology. She co-created the Rezzly (fka) 3D GameLab quest-based learning platform, Teen GameLab, and EDTECH Island, a training simulation supporting international teacher education. Dr. Dawley was primary investigator for Planet Stewards, a DML Badges for Lifelong Learning awardee in cooperation with NOAA, Mozilla and HASTAC.
Dr. Dawley was co-author of the Going Virtual! research series studying professional development for K-12 online teachers. She received a Top 20 Bestselling Books Award for her text, The Tools for Successful Online Teaching. She was an invited research fellow at Stanford’s Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences summer Institute, and recipient of grants from the Spencer Foundation and HASTAC. Dawley is a former board member of iNACOL.

Dr. Kristen DiCerbo, VP, Learning Research & Design, Pearson
Outcomes don’t happen by accident: How to make ed tech work for you
Tuesday, April 23, 10:30–11:15 a.m.
About Kristen DiCerbo
Dr. Kristen DiCerbo is the Vice-President of Education Research and Learning Design at Pearson, where she leads a team of researchers and learning designers embedding what they know from learning science and assessment research into K-16 digital learning environments.
Kristen’s work centers on interactive technologies for learning and assessment, particularly the use of evidence from learner activity in games and simulations to understand what learners know and can do. She jokes that she only works with things that have three letter acronyms starting with E: Evidence-Centered Design, Exploratory Data Analysis, and (dabbling in) Educational Data Mining.
Kristen has been fortunate enough to participate in some exciting simulation- and game-based assessment projects, including work with GlassLab developing SimCityEDU and Mars Generation One. She also participated in the White House Game Jam.
Prior to joining Pearson, Kristen provided research support to the Networking Academies at Cisco and was a school psychologist in a local school district in Arizona. She has a Bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from Hamilton College and received her Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at Arizona State University.

Gregory Garvey, Director and Professor of Game Design & Development, Quinnipiac University
The new education: learning 21st century skills through game design
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 2:30–3:15 p.m.
About Gregory Garvey
Gregory Garvey is the Director and Professor of Game Design & Development at Quinnipiac University. He started in the games industry at Parker Brothers and later Spinnaker Software developing mass market and educational games. He is a frequent presenter at conferences most recently IEEE GEM 2018 in Galway and at the Games for Change XR Summit 2018 in New York. He has held previous appointments as the Chair of Visual & Performing Arts and Visiting Fellow in the Arts at Quinnipiac; as an Associate Artist of the Digital Media Center for the Arts at Yale University; and Chair of the Department of Design Art at Concordia University in Montréal where he also was a member of the Board of Directors of the Montreal Design Institute. After finishing his graduate work at MIT he held the appointment as Fellow at the Center for Advanced Visual Studies (CAVS) at MIT.

Phil Hansen, multimedia artist, speaker, author, and innovator
The Art of Collaboration: (An Interactive Art Experience)
Keynote: Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 9:15–10:15 a.m.
About Phil Hansen
Phil Hansen is an internationally recognized multimedia artist, speaker, author and innovator. Crashing irreverently through conventional boundaries, Phil works at the intersection of traditional art, electronic media, offbeat materials, and interactive experiences. His sought-after work has been featured in Glamour and on the Discovery Channel, Good Morning America, The Rachael Ray Show, and Last Call with Carson Daly, among others.
Hansen’s artistic journey nearly came to an end when a tremor developed in his drawing hand. In exploring new ways to create art, he discovered that embracing limitations could become a path to creativity. His inspirational story was shared on the TED stage, and then around the world on PBS, BBC, and CCTV. The parallels he has drawn to business settings has led to speaking engagements at TED2013, Adobe MAX Creativity Conference, World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, and the Million Dollar Round Table.
Phil is the author of Tattoo a Banana, a guide to exploring creativity through art with everyday materials. He is also the founder of Goodbye-Art Academy, providing high quality and free art education videos to teachers and students everywhere.

Jayme Heffler, Campaign Strategist, Pearson
Academic, human-centric, or job specific: Which skills matter the most?
Wednesday, April 24, 9:30–10:15 a.m
About Jayme Heffler
Jayme Heffler is a campaign strategist on the Pearson North America Strategic Institutional Marketing team. Prior to returning to Pearson in April 2018, Jayme was Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Gadget Software, a mobile software start-up. With over fifteen years of higher education industry experience, Jayme has won numerous sales awards and has developed and coached award-winning sales teams. Jayme earned her BA in political science from the University at Albany and is currently enrolled in the digital marketing certification program at eCornell. In her free time, Jayme enjoys running, yoga and travel.

Kristin Hunt, Partnership Director, Pearson
Preparing students for a globally competitive world
Wednesday, April 24, 10:30–11:15 a.m
About Kristin Hunt
As Partnership Director with Pearson Online Learning Services (POLS), Kristin provides strategic direction, management and leadership for a portfolio of learning services between Pearson and Arizona State University in partnership with the Vice President of Academic Partnerships. Kristin joined Pearson in July 2018 after a decade long career in the museum field working with Arizona Science Center to cultivate partnerships and funding to support informal science learning.

Lauren Liss, Assistant Professor, Interactive Arts and Media (IAM) Department at Columbia College Chicago
The benefits of iterative failure
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 4:00–4:45 p.m.
About Lauren Liss
Lauren Liss is the Coordinator of the Interaction Design major and the User Experience and Web Development minors in the Interactive Arts and Media (IAM) Department at Columbia College Chicago. She has been a faculty member in this program since 2006, teaching interface design, interaction theory, user experience and usability, and collaborative development. She also runs an interaction design company, Goodspark, which focuses on content management systems and usability analysis for small businesses, with a specialization in women-owned businesses and creative firms. She received her Masters in Education, Learning Design and Leadership, New Learning, from the University of Illinois, where she studied knowledge acquisition and educational theory through the lens of usability and technology.

Jason Lokkesmoe, AVP, Big Data & Analytics Business Development, Pearson
Learning analytics in action: Identifying struggling students with precision for faculty intervention
Tuesday, April 23, 4:00–4:45 p.m
About Jason Lokkesmoe
Jason Lokkesmoe spends his work week as a motivated problem solver, most recently focusing on Pearson’s data and analytics capabilities. Over the past 5 years Jason established a new function, Product Analytics, within Pearson in response to the plethora of various data challenges across Pearson and delivered a best-in-class advanced analytics platform that captures, processes, visualizes and democratizes the once disparate Pearson product data to enable numerous teams across Pearson with insights for making better product and investment decisions. Jason is now extending these capabilities directly with institutions.
Previous to joining Pearson, for 4 years, Jason led the University of Phoenix's Product Analytics & Data Science teams focused on deriving insights around the institutions most important goal; student success and retention.

Kim Moore, Director, Workforce, Professional and Education, Wichita State University
5 key strategies for designing impactful digital credentials with employers
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
About Kimberly Moore
Kimberly Moore, JD, is the Director for Workforce, Professional and Community Education (WPCE) at Wichita State University (WSU). She has 30 years' experience in developing and coordinating workforce and professional development programming. A former state government administrator and corporate lobbyist, Kim served as Association Director of the WSU Division of Continuing Education from 1996-2014. In October 2014, she was appointed Interim Director and served in that capacity until March, 2015 when she was appointed Director of WPCE. Kimberly received her Bachelor's and Juris Doctor degrees from Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas.

Meena Naik, M.S., Faculty & Staff Development Coordinator, University of North Texas
Academic, human-centric, or job specific: Which skills matter the most?
Wednesday, April 24, 9:30-10:15 a.m.
About Meena Naik
Meena Naik serves as a primary contact for faculty development and course re-design for UNT Career Connect. She brings over a decade of experience in a variety of roles in higher education: all centered on supporting student learning, success, and value of education. In her current role, she supports faculty with their implementation of high-impact practices and service-learning through individual consults as well as asynchronous, online, course (re)design programs. Additionally, she is a member of the team leading efforts to support student career readiness, extending the value placed on high-impact experiences by leveraging marketable skills credentialing and learning pathways and signaling to students the additional knowledge and experience they gain beyond curricular content areas. Meena holds a BS in Physiology and Neuroscience from UC San Diego, an MS in Higher Education from Drexel University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Psychology from UNT.

Jenna Olsen, Data Analyst, Western Governors University
Learning analytics in action: Identifying struggling students with precision for faculty intervention
Tuesday, April 23, 4:00–4:45 p.m
About Jenna Olsen
Jenna Olsen is a researcher in learning analytics. Her key areas of interest are pivot points – key concepts, patterns, and behaviors in the learning path – and markers of learner struggle. She has degrees in Management Information Systems and Instructional Technology & Learning Science from Utah State University. She is a contributing member of IMS Global Learning Consortium – working on the EDU-API, App Vetting & Privacy, and Learning Data & Analytics groups. She is also a mentor for GLAD (Glamorous Ladies and Data) and has developed courses for Snow College and Girl Develop It. She is currently leading a growing team of analysts providing learning analytics research and tools for Western Governors University.

Sean Nufer, Director of Educational Technology, TCS Education System
Increasing student engagement and social presence through technology
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Innovative technology in education: What's hot right now
Wednesday, April 24, 2019, 10:30–11:15 a.m.
About Sean Nufer
As the Director of Educational Technology for TCS Education System, Dr. Nufer works collaboratively with the Instructional Design team to ensure utilization of state-of-the-art resources in the classroom. Dr. Nufer is an advocate of innovation and is always searching for technology and strategies to make online teaching and learning better.

Brenda Perea, Director, Education and Workforce Strategies, Credly
5 key strategies for designing impactful digital credentials with employers
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
About Brenda Perea
Brenda M. Perea brings 25 years of experience spanning secondary, post-secondary and workforce educational fields to help learners identify and target workforce skills not apparent in traditional credentials. She led Colorado Community College System (CCCS) to implement a system-wide badge initiative. Brenda believes identifying competencies is critical to establish career and educational pathways in conjunction with business and industry to ensure relevant post-secondary education and career training for today's workforce. Brenda speaks nationally on digital badges and works with the international Open Recognition Alliance and IMS Global to share the conversation on badging, industry and business engagement and workforce credentialing.

Mickey Revenaugh, Director, New School Models - Pearson Global Schools
Keynote Panel - Women in Tech
Tuesday, April 23, 1:15-2:15 p.m
About Mickey Revenaugh
Mickey Revenaugh is co-founder of Connections Academy, a pioneering provider of K-12 online learning that is part of the Pearson family. She currently works with educators around the world as Director of New School Models for Pearson Global Schools to bring innovative learning opportunities to kids everywhere, and serves as business lead for International Connections Academy, a global virtual private school. She is also immediate past Chair and current Vice Chair of the Board for iNACOL, the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, and is Board Chair of Brooklyn Lab Charter School in Brooklyn, New York. Previously, Mickey helped launch the E-rate to wire every American school to the Internet, and was education technology editor at Scholastic. Mickey has a BA from Yale University, an MBA from New York University, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Bennington College.

Nguyen Minh Quang, Can Tho University
Preparing students for a globally competitive world
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 10:30–11:15 a.m.
About Nguyen Minh Quang
Nguyen Minh Quang is a lecturer at the School of Education, Can Tho University (CTU) and currently a PhD researcher at the International Institute of Social Studies (the Netherlands). He has spent the past five years producing groundbreaking analyses and research on higher education reforms in Vietnam, three of which were presented at scientific workshops in Singapore (2016-2017) and Japan (2018). In 2016, his Supervicon Project, an online interactive performance-based assessment tool, was awarded “First Prize” by CTU and recognized one of the “Top 10 Outstanding Education Innovation Initiatives” by Ministry of Education and Training respectively.
Now a change leader at Mekong Environment Forum, he is of the opinion that reinforcing global competence is vital for young generations to thrive in a rapidly changing world, and for societies to progress without leaving anyone behind.

Rick Ramsey, Education Director for Visual Arts, Full Sail University
Transmedia Storytelling: Creating an educational experience across multiple social/digital platforms
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 2:30–3:15 p.m.
About Rick Ramsey
Rick Ramsey joined Full Sail University in 2001 as the developer and Course Director for Digital Cinematography. In 2007, he became Department Chair for Production before becoming Program Director of Film. He also co-developed the Digital Cinematography and Media Communications Bachelor Degree Programs as well as the Film Production Master of Fine Arts Degree Program. Currently Rick serves as the Director of Visual Arts where he oversees the Bachelor degree programs for Film and Video, Media Communications, Digital Cinematography and Creative Writing. His latest achievements include serving as line producer for the movies To Write Love on Her Arms and Real Rob, and as a producer for the series Architects of Hip Hop.

Dr. Jeff Seaman, Director, Babson Survey Research Group
What faculty really think: Changing perceptions on access and affordability
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
About Dr. Jeff Seaman
Dr. Jeff Seaman is the Director of Babson Survey Research Group. He created and ran the Computing Resource Center and served as Associate Vice Provost for Computing at the University of Pennsylvania and as Chief Information Officer for Lesley University. His industry experience includes serving as Chief Technology Officer at HighWired.com, and as the Vice President of Engineering for Vista Associates.
Dr. Seaman has been conducting research in the impact of technology on higher education and K-12 for over a decade, beginning with comprehensive national studies of technology use in US higher education. He has served on academic technology advisory boards for multiple information technology companies, including: Apple Computer, IBM, and Microsoft. He holds degrees in Demography/Statistics, Sociology, Electrical Engineering, and Housing, all from Cornell University.

Heidi Shoemake, Director of Academic Technology and Communications, Division of Information Systems, The University of Mississippi Medical Center
5 key strategies for designing impactful digital credentials with employers
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
About Heidi Shoemake
Heidi Shoemake is responsible for supporting the academic and research missions, technical training for faculty, staff, and students, and IT communications. She has 20 years’ experience working in higher education environments, with over 13 of those in Information Technology. Heidi holds a Master of Arts in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Administration at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Hotel & Travel
Get away to the Now/Next in learning conference at The Scott Resort & Spa. The Scott artfully blends the upscale appeal of a downtown Scottsdale location with the casual elegance of a lush desert retreat.
All Now/Next in learning sessions will occur at The Scott Resort & Spa.
The Scott Resort
4925 North Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85251, US
Book your hotel room to get a special conference rate of $259/night (includes negotiated $10 resort fee*) plus tax. Rooms are available on a limited basis, so book now!
*The resort fee includes in-suite internet, 24-hour access to the Fitness Center and Business Center, and a shuttle that will take you within a three mile radius of the property.
Transportation
The Scott Resort & Spa is a short 9 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX / KPHX).
Transportation options include:
- Estimated Lyft fare: $20-25 one way.
- Estimated Uber fare: $23-30 one way.
- Estimated Taxi fare: $37-40 one way.
Parking
- Off-site parking fee: complimentary parking.
- On-site valet parking fee: complimentary valet parking.
Registration
Register now to lock in these great conference rates. Your registration fee includes access to all sessions and workshops, receptions, and food and beverages.
Individual rates |
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Full conference | $449 |
Monday Welcome Reception only | $25 |
Day pass - Tuesday | $150 |
Day pass - Wednesday | $75 |
Group ratesAvailable for four or more attendees from one institution. Attendees must register together. |
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Full conference | $399 |
Justify Your Attendance
You recognize the value of attending Now/Next in learning, but how do you communicate that to the team responsible for approving your professional development requests? Download this customizable letter we’ve prepared to help justify your trip.
Have a question? Contact the events team.