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G-STIC CONFERENCE, Brussels, Belgium, NOVEMBER 2019
I served as keynote speaker and panel discussion member on the topic of field-based learning. This presentation will provide an overview of topic, “Teacher Training: Transforming Teaching and Learning Towards Sustainable Development” at the Global Sustainable Technology and Innovation Conference – Connecting Technological Innovation to Decision Making for Sustainability.
ICIE CONFERENCE, Prairie View, Texas, USA, JULY 2019
I served as keynote speaker and workshop facilitator on the topic of field-based learning. This presentation will provide an overview of field-based learning – an active, inquiry-based teaching and learning strategy where teaching and learning is extended beyond the classroom/laboratory walls and where students are exposed to real-world teaching and learning settings in the broader community. In field-based learning, students learn by hands-on application of course content and though direct interaction with the environment rather than solely through textbooks and lectures.
ORIGINAL LILLY CONFERENCE, MIAMI, OHIO, USA, NOVEMBER, 2018
I served as presenter at Miami University in Ohio on the topic of higher education for a sustainable future. This presentation will provide an overview of sustainable development. Creating a sustainable future is much more than just creating green campuses or implementing recycling efforts or global citizenship initiatives. Higher education not only has a role to play in that effort but it also has the capacity to play a leading role. It also means integrating sustainable development issues and initiatives into the curriculum across all disciplines at all levels.
ICIE CONFERENCE, PARIS, FRANCE, JULY 2018
I served as keynote speaker and workshop facilitator on the topic of field-based learning. This presentation will provide an overview of field-based learning – an active, inquiry-based teaching and learning strategy where teaching and learning is extended beyond the classroom/laboratory walls and where students are exposed to real-world teaching and learning settings in the broader community. In field-based learning, students learn by hands-on application of course content and though direct interaction with the environment rather than solely through textbooks and lectures.
UWS HETL CONFERENCE, PAISLEY, SCOTLAND, JUNE 2017
UWSHETL2017ScotlandConference-BlessingerPresentation
Improving Student Engagement through Faculty Learning Communities. Patrick Blessinger, St. John’s University, New York, USA; Milton Cox, Miami University, Ohio, USA
UNIVERSITY TEACHING AND LEARNING SHOWCASE, MONTCLAIR UNIVERSITY, NEW JERSEY, USA, MAY 2015
I served as keynote speaker and workshop facilitator on the topic of increasing student engagement and retention with learning communities. Learning communities can be an effective way to engage students faculty more deeply in the teaching and learning process. Faculty learning communities (FLCs) and student learning communities (SLCs) are purposely designed communities that promote individual and shared learning of its members through meaningful interaction and collaboration towards shared learning goals. Research shows that if properly designed they can increase student engagement and retention and academic achievement.
GLOBAL BUSINESS FORUM, BAYLOR UNIVERSITY, TEXAS, USA, MARCH 2015
I served as presenter on the topic of global comparative higher education systems and the democratization of higher education at the 2015 Global Business Forum hosted by Baylor University and the McBride Center for International Business. The Forum recognizes that education is a complex system conducted by a diversity of institutional types (e.g., public and private schools, colleges, universities, corporate classrooms, and e‐learning platforms). Experts from the educational, business, and public policy communities around the world gathered to explore the challenges, opportunities, and successes of educational systems around the world. For instance, how does the U.S. educational system compare with system from other countries?
LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM, ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, USA, MARCH 2015
I served as presenter on the topic of faculty learning communities at the 2015 Leadership Symposium hosted by the Division of Administrative and Instructional Leadership (DAIL) at the School of Education at St. John’s University (New York City). The Symposium recognizes the high quality research conducted by St. John’s University doctoral graduates. The Symposium showcases both a range of topics in all areas of research and the relevance of the work conducted at St. John’s University. The audience consists of the DAIL faculty and all the doctoral students currently enrolled in the division.
EXPLORATIONS IN MEANINGFUL LEARNING THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY, UTAH, USA, JANUARY 2015
2015 HETL Conference Presentation
I served as conference convener, keynote panel moderator, and presenter on the topic of inquiry-based learning (IBL). IBL is a learner-centered and active learning environment where deep learning is cultivated by a process of inquiry owned by the learner. IBL encourages more self-regulated and meaningful learning because the primary responsibility is on the learners to determine the issues and research questions and the resources they need to address the questions.
INNOVATION IN EDUCATION: MEANINGFUL LEARNING THROUGH CREATIVE EDUCATION, PARIS, FRANCE, EUROPEAN UNION, JULY 2014
I served as keynote speaker at the conference. While many people believe that creativity is mainly the province of geniuses and artists, Patrick contends that creativity should be recognized as the essence of higher order thinking as well as a practical life skill that should be nurtured in everyone. Creativity can be described as the meaningful application of imagination. Creativity is important on both a global scale (innovation) and an individual level (imagination).
INNOVATIVE LEARNING-SCAPES: E-SCAPES, PLAY-SCAPES & MORE, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, USA, MAY 2014
I served as convener and keynote panel moderator at the conference on the topic of Innovative Approaches to Distance Education, Online and E-learning. The purpose of this research panel discussion was to discuss the salient aspects of distance and online learning and assess the effectiveness of these forms of learning within higher education.
THE POWER OF EDUCATION RESEARCH FOR INNOVATION IN PRACTICE AND POLICY, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, USA, APRIL 2014
2014 AERA Conference Presentation
I served as conference presenter on the topic of Effectiveness of Graduate Programs in Administrative and Instructional Leadership. The purpose of this research study was to assess the effectiveness of the school building and school district leadership programs within the school of education at a large private university and to find areas for improvement in these programs.
CONSTRUCTING ENGAGED LEARNING: UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP AND ASSESSMENT, UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY, USA, MARCH, 2014
I served as special guest speaker at the conference. Engaged learning focuses on connecting every student to content, each other, the instructor, and the world. Students are essentially “cognitive apprentices”, novice learners in the field, who benefit from carefully crafted and guided experiences that ensure development of their skills and understanding of the world around them.
THE JOY OF LEARNING, THE UNIVERSITY OF OSLO, NORWAY, EUROPEAN UNION, JUNE 2013
I served as keynote speaker at the conference. The scope of the conference includes e-learning and open and distance education which have become increasingly important fields of intellectual excitement and innovative development. Standards and accountability have also been emphasized but personalization of learning, individual and collective motivation, enhancement of the learning experience, and an overall improvement of learning quality are gaining ever-increasing traction.
ESCAPES: KNOWLEDGE, TEACHING, LEARNING, CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, MONTREAL, CANADA, APRIL 2013
I served as panel member of the Future of Learning Symposium at the conference. The goal of the series is to build connections between professors, students, international scholars and the wider community by engaging participants in stimulating debates on issues of concern to today’s society. Faculty, students and staff explore the possibilities of technology-integrated teaching through three days of presentations, workshops and demonstrations. The conference explores how technology can be a catalyst for new forms of connected learning, widening and deepening opportunities for interaction between students and professors, in classrooms and online.
EXPLORING SPACES FOR LEARNING, UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, USA, JANUARY, 2013
I served as conference convener and keynote speaker. This conference brought together academics from around the world in an exploration of innovative technologies, pedagogical strategies, and international collaborations being used to engage and retain students in the new millennium. Together we will discuss which models and approaches are most promising, how are they being used to engage and retain students, and how we can apply them to advance the scholarship and practice of teaching and learning.
FELICITOLOGY IN EDUCATION, KHOBAROVSK KRAI, RUSSIA, SEPTEMBER, 2012
2012 Felicitology Conference Presentation
I served as keynote speaker for the international conference entitled, A Happy Teacher: Felicitology in Education. The conference explored the meaning and issues involved in academic happiness. The conference was an exciting opportunity to enhance international relations, intercultural communications, and educational development.
PROMISES AND CHALLENGES OF DIALOGIC PEDAGOGY, UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE, USA, MARCH, 2012
2012 Dialogic Conference Presentation
I served as Co-chair of the MCE Symposium. The conference included a two-day panel session (symposium) on Meaning-Centered Education and Learning, organized and chaired by myself and Olga Kovbasyuk who are shown in the photograph. The conference was highly insightful and provided everyone with an opportunity to network and develop deeper working relationships with our colleagues from around the world.