Moulton Hall is usually filled with interesting technology. Friday was no exception.

The difference was that at Friday’s 2005 Innovative Learning Conference, there were about 190 people interested in learning about the technology and integrating it into their classrooms.

There were several discussions and demonstrations offered throughout the day.

In the lobby, attendees fiddled with the SMART Board, a board that connects to a computer and allows users to virtually draw on the board and save the text or drawings on their computers.

Other discussions focused on everything from technology to help physically-challenged students to using task-based learning for distance education to integrating video and streaming media into classes.

In the keynote address, Carolyn Jarmon, associate director of the Center for Academic Transformation, discussed how large introductory lecture classes could benefit from using new technology to engage students.

Kathleen Banas, senior secretary for the New Media Center, helped plan the event. She said most of the people attending the conference were faculty who wanted to keep updated on the newest technology available for classroom use.

Keith Whitman, graduate student in physical education, said he attended the conference to learn about the types of technology he can use in his classroom.

The conference was open to the public, including students, like Rachel Weese, freshman athletic training major.

“I’m stuck in the Stone Age,” Weese said. “I want to understand computers.”

Attendees came from different disciplines, with education and technology well represented. Banas said most were from Kent State’s main campus, but some came from regional campuses and other schools.

Banas said she and Joe Murray, director of the New Media Center, spent six months planning the event, which was sponsored by the center and the Faculty Professional Development Center.

Technology reporter Meranda Watling contributed to this story.

Contact academic technology reporter Jessica Dreschel at [email protected].