View the Full Event Schedule

See copies of the presentations

Wednesday Afternoon Session Choice Descriptions:

  • Making Makers Through Carnegie Science Center Makers in Motion
    • Join us for an immersive session where educators become architects of innovation. Our Makers in Motion mobile fab lab experience is a transformative journey designed to equip educators with the tools and knowledge to ignite creativity in the classroom. Through hands-on activities, participants will delve into the world of digital fabrication and STEM integration across disciplines, with each session offered geared specifically toward a group of discipline areas. Gain practical skills and pedagogical insights to foster a culture of making, no matter what you teach. 
    • High pedagogical connection; Low to no tech skills needed to attend.
  • Applications of Spatial Computing and XR (Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality)
    • Immerse yourself in applications of Spatial Computing and XR (Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality) across industries and organizational functions to see how these emerging technologies will shape the workplace of the future. We will look into case studies of businesses using the tech and dig into what it takes to implement such solutions as well as explore how business culture and practices will change as adoption of Spatial Computing and AI grows. This will be an interactive session, with input sought from participants and plenty of opportunity to ask questions. 
  • Navigating the Ethical Matrix: Preparing Students for Moral Challenges in the Digital Age
    • In an era where technology intersects with every aspect of life, it is paramount that educators equip students not only with digital skills but also with a robust ethical framework. This session explores effective strategies to integrate ethical considerations into the classroom, preparing students to face and navigate moral challenges in digital, innovative, and technological environments. Participants will learn about creating curricula that emphasize ethical decision-making, critical thinking, and the awareness of potential dilemmas in emerging technologies.
  • BotsIQ RoboRecharge
    • BotsIQ and the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute present RoboRecharge, a pitch contest that brings together robotics and entrepreneurship. 
    • The goal of RoboRecharge is for learning to solve open-ended, complex problems in new and creative ways.  Work in small groups to identify a problem, conceptualize a robotic solution, build a business model, and create and pitch the final product to a panel of industry professionals.  This project-based learning program is great for all classrooms, including business, English/Language Arts, public speaking, and cultures based.  This is a problem solving and critical thinking project you can take straight to your classroom that heightens technology awareness but doesn’t require coding.

Thursday Morning Session Choice Descriptions:

  • OFF-SITE at EKTO VR
    • Tech startup EKTO VR is fulfilling the sci-fi promise of virtual reality with revolutionary immersion-enhancing products, starting with the world’s first robotic VR locomotion solution. EKTO VR Boots offer a new way to experience virtual reality, avoiding the motion sickness and disorientation associated with current VR locomotion techniques, and making it easy for beginners to feel comfortable during their stay in the virtual world. Join us at EKTO VR’s headquarters in Pittsburgh (East Liberty) as Brad Factor, Founder and CEO, talks about the company’s technological and entrepreneurial journey, guides attendees through interactive VR demos, and demonstrates their latest VR Boots.
    • 9-11 a.m. at 6101 Penn Ave, Suite 401 - Pittsburgh, PA 15206
  • OFF-SITE at Digital Foundry at New Kensington

    • Join us in downtown New Kensington at the Digital Foundry, a dynamic regional hub for innovation, problem-solving, learning, and collaboration, where the Foundry’s operations and program manager, Steve Leonard will lead a discussion on Digital Threads. A Digital Thread refers to the virtual representation of a product or process throughout its lifecycle, from its design and manufacturing to its operation. It integrates data from various sources and stages of the product or process lifecycle, providing a continuous flow of information that enables better decision-making, collaboration, and optimization.

    • 9-11 a.m. at 855 Fifth Avenue - New Kensington, PA 15068

  • Making Makers Through Carnegie Science Center Makers in Motion
    • Join us for an immersive session where educators become architects of innovation. Our Makers in Motion mobile fab lab experience is a transformative journey designed to equip educators with the tools and knowledge to ignite creativity in the classroom. Through hands-on activities, participants will delve into the world of digital fabrication and STEM integration across disciplines, with each session offered geared specifically toward a group of discipline areas. Educators will gain practical skills and pedagogical insights to foster a culture of making. Join us for multiple sessions of inspiration, collaboration, and empowerment, and embark on the path to creating tomorrow's makers. 
  • Can AI Play?
    • An interactive workshop where multidisciplinary teams of four harness the power of artificial intelligence to innovate the future of tabletop gaming. Participants will collaborate with AI to conceptualize, design, and prototype board games. This hands-on session not only facilitates a deeper understanding of AI’s creative capabilities but also fosters collaboration and design thinking among higher education professionals. 

Thursday Afternoon Session Choice Descriptions:

  • Making Makers Through Carnegie Science Center Makers in Motion
    • Join us for an immersive session where educators become architects of innovation. Our Makers in Motion mobile fab lab experience is a transformative journey designed to equip educators with the tools and knowledge to ignite creativity in the classroom. Through hands-on activities, participants will delve into the world of digital fabrication and STEM integration across disciplines, with each session offered geared specifically toward a group of discipline areas. Gain practical skills and pedagogical insights to foster a culture of making, no matter what you teach.
  • Intersectional Tech Fluency: Integrating Social Justice and Sustainability into Technology Education
    • This session delves into how educators can utilize intersectional justice frameworks alongside the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) to cultivate technology fluency among students. Participants will explore the intersections of social justice, environmental sustainability, and technology, learning to create lesson plans that not only teach technological skills but also foster a deeper understanding of global citizenship and sustainability.
  • Let's Talk: Insights on Leading Edge Tech Across the Workforce and Connecting with Industry Professionals
    • We’ll share some insights about technology uses in business and industry that may surprise you, and hope that you will share your ideas as well.  We’ll have a  candid conversation about what students really need to learn as they prepare to work in the field. We also plan to explore ideas for creating opportunities for faculty to work more closely with professionals in the field.

Friday Morning Session Choice Descriptions:

  • OFF-SITE at the Robotics Factory

    • The Robotics Factory is an incubator for robotics startups located in Pittsburgh’s “Robotics Row.”  Join us to learn how their cutting-edge facility is helping to grow innovation that will change the landscape of the future, and get the opportunity to interact with the people behind the technology.

    • 9-11 a.m. at 113 47th St. - Pittsburgh, PA 15201

  • OFF-SITE at the Digital Foundry at New Kensington
    • Participate in a workshop located at the Digital Foundry in New Kensington, focused on industrial robots. You will experience some hands-on demonstrations of both the simulation software and the robots/cobots with some review of how we are training and engaging with industry.
    • 9-11 a.m. at 855 Fifth Avenue - New Kensington, PA 15068
  • Virtual Reality and XR in Your Discipline
    • Explore a variety of options for incorporating VR/AR/XR into your courses and programs.  In this session, we will start with a brief refresher of immersive technologies. However, the bulk of the session will go well beyond focusing on the tools. Rather, you will learn from faculty and students with experience in developing and integrating XR student experiences into a range of disciplines. Integrating XR content into your courses allows you to help your students take advantage of these new ways to see the world and interact with content, whether that be art or anatomy. There is XR content relative to most disciplines. Join us to discuss what type of content might be well suited for your needs.
  • Making Makers Through Carnegie Science Center Makers in Motion
    • Join us for an immersive session where educators become architects of innovation. Our Makers in Motion mobile fab lab experience is a transformative journey designed to equip educators with the tools and knowledge to ignite creativity in the classroom. Through hands-on activities, participants will delve into the world of digital fabrication and STEM integration across disciplines, with each session offered geared specifically toward a group of discipline areas. Educators will gain practical skills and pedagogical insights to foster a culture of making. Join us for multiple sessions of inspiration, collaboration, and empowerment, and embark on the path to creating tomorrow's makers. 
  • Intersectional Tech Fluency and Navigating the Ethical Matrix: A Conversation
    • Dig a little deeper into these topics and other components of human conscious citizenship in this informal opportunity to explore with Jordan and fellow attendees.

Other Experiences During the Academy

Lunch Speakers:

Industry and business professionals will join us for lunch.  A few are selected as Lunch Speakers, and will share their career journeys and a brief description of the technologies they use in their work, then, along with other industry professionals, join us at the tables for lunch and conversation. 

Wednesday, May 15 

  • Michael Wentzel, Trademark Threads, Owner and Entrepreneur
  • Rich Breymeier, Flashpoint Digital Marketing, Owner and Entrepreneur   

Thursday, May 16 

  • Devin Montgomery, Business Development at HEBI Robotics 
  • Alison Treaster, Chief of Staff for velo.ai 

Friday, May 17 

  • Katie Campbell, Marketing and Strategic Communications Specialist from National Robotics Engineering Center. 
  • Steve Wedner, Supply Chain Manager at Carnegie Robotics

Event Keynote Speakers:

WHAT WE DON’T THINK… WE THINK - Victoria Alexander

We all have implicit biases, you, me, everyone. Implicit bias is part of how our brains are wired BUT that does not mean we can’t change them for the better! Victoria uses research, data, and narrative to guide folks to recognize, challenge and change bias in the world around them and even deep within themselves. Even if it can be uncomfortable to admit we are people with biases, we can’t solve a problem we won’t admit exists. Recognition is just the first step as Victoria leads participants through creating powerful and sustainable change in our organizations, communities, and ourselves.

The topics explored include race, class, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, and intersectionality. Organizations and universities may be ill-equipped to support the growing diversity of college student populations, and the increasing demand to speak out against bias. It is more important than ever to support students, institutions, and organizations with knowledge and resources to be active and intentional allies to marginalized communities and in the broader communities in which they move.

After the Keynote, Victoria will be on hand to offer daily experiences centered on creating spaces and events where students feel invited and included.