The Rolling IT Horizon: Jumping the Curve

The technology horizon continues to roll at a giddy pace. Once a luxury for speedy communication, long a necessity for research computation, information technology is now a requirement for the conduct of baseline operations in all economic sectors, with a constant stream of new tools and applications available.

Higher education continues to lead the curve in many respects. Faculty research and scholarship require quantum jumps in capacity. Effective teaching and learning demand the capability to involve new learners in new methods of constructing knowledge. The proliferation of consumer devices and Web 2.0 services fosters new student expectations for engagement. And the implementation of ever-larger repositories of personal data lures increasing numbers of criminals and malicious pranksters. Thus IT and the staff responsible for it are caught between being both problem and solution.

We invite proposals from faculty and staff at member colleges and universities to share real-world examples of lessons newly learned and successful solutions to common problems in deploying, managing, and supporting information technology.

Presenters must be affiliated with an IHETS member institution, which includes all of Indiana's public and independent colleges and universities. Presentations are welcomed from single individuals or teams. We encourage panel discussions with presenters from multiple institutions.

Proposals are due via the form linked on this page no later than 5 p.m. EST Friday, January 12, 2007. All proposals will be reviewed by the 2007 Tech Summit planning committee. Successful applicants will be notified by February 1.

When and where is the event?

The 2007 IHETS Tech Summit will be held Friday, March 30 at the University Place Conference Center & Hotel on the IUPUI campus in Indianapolis. Breakout sessions will be offered throughout the day after the conclusion of the keynote presentation, beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m. and concluding later that afternoon.

Questions? Please contact:

Susan Scott
Director of e-learning
Indiana Higher Education Telecommunication System (IHETS)
714 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3112
Phone: 317.263.8926
E-mail: sscott@ihets.org

Applications to present at the conference are now closed, with thanks to all who submitted proposals.

Presentation topics

Proposed sessions should describe specific projects or implementations or raise focused questions for group discussion toward a common solution. We encourage formats that allow ample time for questions and discussion to engage conference participants. The following topics are likely to be of interest to a majority of consortium members (but others may be proposed):

• Optical networking—New services, new applications, planning connections to I-Light
• Campus infrastructure—Wireless/mobile/cellular convergence, Skype and VoIP
• Web services—Provision, protocols, content management, support
• Labs and learning spaces—Shifting needs, architectural considerations, portable devices
• Security services—Securing data, machines, and networks; preventing identity theft; identity management
• Storage services—Logistics, disaster recovery
• Support services—Help-desk efficiency, self-service practices and tools
• Applications—Open-source, licensed, self-supported, implementation strategies

Format for concurrent sessions

Each session will be 45 minutes in length, during which presenter(s) deliver a presentation, conduct a panel discussion, and/or engage the audience in a discussion around a single topic or group of related topics. A laptop, LCD projector, and Internet connection will be provided. Other presentation equipment may be available on request.

NOTE: Presenters are encouraged to provide their own hard copies of presentation slides or other material for session attendees. IHETS will post electronic files on the Web site for attendees to download at their convenience.