By: Brandon Kay
OMAHA, Neb.
Every year, the TYCA Midwest Conference is hosted by a different university. This year, that university is Metropolitan Community College. MCC faculty member Alison Arant put together a three-day conference featuring panels, breakout sessions, and a keynote speaker, all following this year’s theme: “The Cutting Edge.”
The importance of conferences like this comes from how we see the digital world, and advancements in technology that grow every day. With artificial intelligence on the rise, and a decrease in literacy rates throughout the United States, it becomes clear why it matters to have conferences for educators to share innovations in teaching, amongst these new developments.
Alison Arant spoke on this topic, stating, “I think it’s a tricky time in higher education in some ways, and so we wanted to create a space where people can kind of talk about that and be honest about it, and then also take heart through camaraderie and sharing strategies for kind of how we’re staying connected to the mission of our work.”
One example of how educators are working to adapt in this changing landscape is a class taught by Metropolitan Community College professor Chad Jorgensen, who is teaching a zero-technology class. This means zero computers, projectors, online assignments and zero screens. By going back to physical media, Jorgensen is able to more personally teach and assist students without the distractions of technology.
The TYCA Midwest Conference will be held in Madison, Wisconsin in 2027, and Overland Park, Kansas in 2028. To learn more about these upcoming conferences, you can visit the official TYCA Midwest website.
