edACCESS

Peer Conference for IT Staff at Independent Schools Since 1992

Our peer-focused gatherings at edACCESS conferences are made up of three specific sessions: Roundtables, Peer Sessions, and closing sessions.

edACCESS Roundtable: The Three Questions

On the first day of every edACCESS conference, all attendees join a facilitated roundtable discussion, as described on the How It Works page.

During the edACCESS roundtable, each participant has the opportunity to briefly introduce themselves, their institution, their experience, and their wishes for the conference. The three questions that every attendee answers are:

  1. Who am I and how did I get here?
  2. What do I want to get out of edACCESS?
  3. What experience do I have that others might find useful?

The roundtable provides an opportunity early in the conference to discover other attendees with similar interests and relevant experience, and helps to determine peer session topics, the heart of our conference program.

Peer Sessions

At edACCESS the participants determine the peer sessions! 

Using the roundtable discussion, and peer session signup, attendees create a list of session topics, and conference organizers find attendees qualified to lead the sessions. Peer sessions can be presentations, panels, discussions, workshops, or tours…whatever makes sense for the topic and conference attendees. Typically these are more informal and less polished talks since they were selected on day one of the conference. However, this is a primary strength of the peer conference model: choosing topics on day one means the conference is better able to meet the expressed needs of participants.

Example Past Peer Sessions

Though these sessions are not indicative of what might be covered at this year’s edACCESS conference, it is sometimes helpful to see a list of past topics. Below is a list of previous topics covered in edACCESS peer sessions:

  • SSOs and Enterprise Password Management
  • OneNote Class Notebooks in Academic Technology
  • Robotics
  • Technology Career Management
  • Calendar Systems
  • Adobe Trials and Tribulations Part Deux
  • Emerging technology – what is the next thing? AI, VR, etc.
  • Cloud vs On Premise
  • Mac OS Management
  • Asset Management
  • iPad Programs at High School Level
  • How to Maintain Your Health and Sanity Working in IT
  • Cybersecurity Best Practices
  • Centralizing Data systems + Integration
  • GDPR, Student Data PPI Protection
  • Office 365 vs. GSuite
  • Telecom, Upgrading Telephony, VOIP Phone Systems
  • Digital Design and Fabrication Workshop
  • Leadership Challenges in Creating New Technology Spaces  
  • Chrome vs Mac vs Windows
  • OneNote Class Notebooks and Student Portfolios
  • Classroom A/V – Smartboards, Apple TVs and Projectors 
  • Working with Faculty for Curriculum Development Using Technology or STEAM
  • LMS Discussion – Google Classroom, Canvas, onCampus, etc…
  • Manage IT with a small staff – best practices
  • Adobe Mass Licensing
  • Best Apps For Student Engagement in the Classroom

…and more!

Year after year, edACCESS peer sessions receive very high evaluation ratings; they are a perennial highlight of our conferences – and the best part is, you get to help select the topics that are most relevant to you.

Closing Sessions

edACCESS has two peer-focused closing sessions. The first, the personal introspective, provides attendees with time to reflect on their conference experience and what changes they may want to make as a result. The second, the group perspective, provides a place and time for attendees to collectively reflect, share, discuss, and perhaps decide on future projects and activities.

Both of these interactive peer sessions are described in greater detail on the How It Works page.