Looking Back on 2014’s Leaders in Higher Education

Al Brophy has been teaching law since 1994, and has seen twenty years worth of technological changes in law school learning. He is an active user and advocate for Connected Casebook, a program that enables students to do their law school work digitally. He was chosen for his commitment to preparing law students for the real-world, and for his acceptance and integration of technology in his teachings.

“Today’s law students are “digital natives,”” Brophy says. “They’ve grown up with a high volume of feedback in every phase of their education and in their personal life, from phones, peers, teachers, and particularly in their undergrad classes. They’re used to getting law tutorials and scoring through [electronic sources.]”

Alex Bäcker was inspired to develop his Wait Experience Module by being stuck in line at a theme park. Since deploying his module in schools across the country, Bäcker has cut back on students’ stress and wasted time from waiting in long lines on campus. He was chosen for his innovative time-saving ideas.

“Colleges are so happy that they have it,” Bäcker says. “It eases the quality of life. Students are happy.”

Bill McIntosh has over eight years of experience in AV, and serves as a top expert of integration strategies, online learning and distance learning. He actively contributes ideas and advice to HigherEdTD for higher education officials, including what to consider before hiring an integrator. He was chosen for his sharp knowledge and consistent engagement with the higher education market.

“Within ten years, I firmly believe that today’s third grade students will be expecting 100 percent online asynchronous models when it’s their time to choose a college,” McIntosh says. “As a higher education provider, your short term business plan must include online learning or there will be no need for you to create a long term plan.”

Chuck Wilson has over twenty years’ experience in the commercial electronic systems industry, and is the author of “Under the Social Influence: Going from Reckless to Responsible in Today’s Socially Distracted Society,” a guide for people, especially post graduates, on how to conduct themselves in the work place. He was chosen for his a supportive guidance to all of the TechDecisions.com verticals, and for his special interest in the role social media plays in college students’ academic and personal lives.

“Social media is about building influences,” says Wilson. “Watch yourself, what you post.”

Even though each plays a significant role in higher education learning, both Cyprien Lomas and Ruben Puentedura are known for their Horizon Report predictions. Both are experts in future higher education trends, technologies and pedagogy. They also know how to equip colleges with technology strategies when challenges crop up or plans shift. They were chosen for their in-depth insight on higher education’s future, and their expertise in technological trends within college classrooms.

“Focusing on trends is crucial,” Puentedura says. “Focusing on challenges is also crucial for how to use technologies.”

Dale Gomez is known for the part he plays in FIU’s restaurant lab. He is passionate about giving hospitality students real-world experience, and investing in the technologies that help attain that experience for students. He also believes in equipping the university’s faculty with the necessary technologies that enable them to teach flexibly and efficiently. He was chosen for his heavy involvement in FIU’s restaurant lab project, and for his drive to prepare students for careers after college.

“If we’re providing students with the best education there is possible to get them the best jobs out there, in turn they would of course turn around and benefit our school as well,” Gomez says.

Derrick Silvestri is one of the powerhouse forces behind SCSU’s updated broadcast studio. He fought for the studio’s technological renovations, and is committed to providing broadcasting students with real-world experience. His involvement with the broadcast studio has enabled students to air campus news on local stations, and helped students land jobs with E Networks and Fox Sports. He was selected for his dedication to student success, and fighting hard for necessary technologies to boost SCSU’s communications department.

“We’re always striving for ways to do things differently, yet, we’re still “here’s the way it’s done in the real world, this is the terminology, this is the equipment,” so forth,” Silvestri says.

Aside from her role at Polycom, Marci Powell is head of the United States Distance Learning Association. She is known for her knowledge and experience with digital learning, and is internationally recognized as a keynote speaker. She was selected for her involvement and dedication to online and distance learning in higher education.

“You can take students virtually all over the world,” Powell says. “The next best thing to immersion in a new culture is to virtually immerse people.”

Known as the “App Lady,” Robbie Melton has been in the realm of higher education for 40 years. She is famous for her engaging keynote speeches and fiery passion about getting college classrooms up to speed with today’s necessary mobile devices. She was chosen for her expertise in mobile technologies for the classroom, and her determination to bring all colleges to a productive state in the digital age.

“If you don’t have a strategic plan, you’re going to miss out,” Melton says. “If you don’t network and see what’s coming out, you’re going to miss out…“Look at our world; and educators are still debating whether or not they should bring mobile devices in the classroom.”