Penn State Introduces EdTech Network, Plans Summit

By Christine Kern, contributing writer

Penn State University announced the creation of the Ed Tech Network, part of President Eric Barron’s $30 million Invent Penn State initiative, designed to “leverage the University’s size and broad research strengths to be a driver for job creation, economic development and student career success.”

Higher education is being transformed by the literal explosion of technology in the past few years. To respond to the introduction of mobile devices, multimedia, and other forms of technology into education, the Ed Tech Network will “advance the educational technology sector in State College, attract entrepreneurs and develop relationships with companies by providing opportunities for collaboration with faculty, staff and students.”

Penn State has already begun to expand its stake in the Ed tech sector through its evolving partnership between Penn State World Campus and InsideTrack, a leading student success organization that helps colleges and universities improve student enrollment, completion and career readiness. As part of the contract, InsideTrack will have six full-time employees and four student interns on the University Park campus.

As part of the initiative to bush boundaries further, the EdTech Network also will host a summit at the Penn State University Park campus on Nov. 2 to 4, 2015. All companies, investors, alumni, entrepreneurial students and faculty who specialize in educational technology are encouraged to attend.

“We are pleased with to announce the creation of the EdTech Network and host the inaugural summit at Penn State,” Craig Weidermann, vice president for Outreach and vice provost for Online Education said. “The summit will provide an opportunity to discuss transformational ideas, products and services designed to advance teaching and learning. The long-term goal of the network is to grow the educational technology sector at Penn State, within Pennsylvania, and beyond.”