Mount Saint Mary College’s Investigating Research on Campus (iROC) series is proud to host two virtual talks with a focus on technology.
Ludmila Smirnova, professor of Education, will present “Power Up Learning and Pedagogy with Technology” on Monday, October 19, at noon.
Michael L. Fox, assistant professor of Business Law, Pre-Law advisor, and MBA coordinator at the Mount, will present “Electronics, Law & Society – Welcome to eWorld” on Thursday, October 29, at 12:45 p.m.
Both talks will take place via Zoom. They are free and open to the public, but you must register to attend. Register at www.msmc.edu/iROC
Power Up Learning and Pedagogy with Technology: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, educators were forced to host classes online. However, noted Smirnova, “this may be the opportunity we have been waiting for to power up learning and pedagogy.”
When arriving in the U.S. from Russia in 2000, Smirnova had little experience with digital technology. But it caught her interest and she began devouring the literature and testing technology tools actively in her classes. In time, Smirnova became an expert on Web 2.0 technology. She began creating massive online courses on Moodle and other digital technologies. The courses were taught to audiences of thousands, representing educators from every corner of the world. Key to Smirnova’s success was a strong background in, and commitment to, constructivist, student-centered, inquiry-based, and collaborative pedagogy. She has realized that while digital technology is good for replicating face-to-face lectures, it is outstanding for creating alternative forms of teaching that have not yet found a place in American education. The current widespread move to online education thus represents an important chance to correct this imbalance. It is not just the power of technology that deserves recognition, but the potential that technology brings to power up pedagogy and learning.
Electronics, Law & Society – Welcome to eWorld: In the legal world, as a microcosm of larger society, there is heavy focus these days on the discovery of electronically stored materials and social media. Can the world use your social media against you? Are electronic devices subject to searches without a warrant? Furthermore, in light of COVID-19, we have seen a rise in virtual trials, and remote activities never before imagined. Fox will discuss how electronics are shaping and re-shaping law and our society and the new normal. Welcome to the eWorld. Get ready!
This talk is based on Fox’s book, Primer for an Evolving eWorld, now in its second edition. Prior to writing this book, he developed his research through numerous presentations and several articles on various topics concerning electronics and law, presented to both attorneys and lay persons since 2008. Fox began on this path when electronic discovery was first becoming a mainstay in litigation, right after the federal rules of practice were amended to include specific discussion of electronic discovery, and before the seminal Romano v. Steelcase decision, and subsequent decisions, were issued.
The goal of the college’s iROC is to provide a forum for Mount faculty, staff, and students to showcase their research endeavors with the college and local communities. Presentations include research proposals, initial data collection, and completed research projects.
Mount Saint Mary College is ranked a Top-Tier University by U.S. News & World Report, and offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for careers in healthcare, business, education, social services, communications, media, and the liberal arts.