Conversations with Colleagues (October 2025)

Helping Students Navigate Educational Technology

Are your students struggling to keep up with the educational technology you or campus faculty are integrating into their courses? Join us for the next Conversations with Colleagues session focused on Helping Students Navigate Educational Technology.

We’ll explore both the possibilities and barriers students face when using faculty-assigned and system-supported tech tools. Hear how Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College are building proactive student support models that go beyond IT troubleshooting. Then, engage in collaborative problem-solving with peers to consider what might work on your own campus. This session is ideal for faculty, CTL staff, and educational developers interested in helping students navigate educational technology for their academic success. Let’s rethink how we proactively support students in using the tools we encourage—and sometimes require—them to use.

Hosts: Erica Johnson (Minnesota State University, Mankato), Maggie Laurel (Inver Hills Community College), Janet Tilstra (St. Cloud State University), and Martin Springborg (Dakota County Technical College).

Conversations with Colleagues is a welcoming, virtual gathering space designed to connect faculty and staff across Minnesota State. Whether you’re joining from your office, your kitchen table, or between classes, bring your lunch and your curiosity as we come together to share ideas, ask questions, and learn from one another. Note: To prioritize real-time sharing and connection, these sessions will NOT be recorded.

Each session begins with a brief 5–10 minute presentation that introduces a timely or thought-provoking topic. From there, we move into dynamic, facilitated discussions, both in small breakout groups and larger conversations, where participants can explore the topic more deeply, exchange perspectives, and discover new approaches to teaching, learning, and working in higher education. 

This year, our topics are guided by the Minnesota State Network for Educational Development theme – Empowering Every Learner: Strategies for Universal Access. This focus invites us to reflect on inclusive practices, accessible learning environments, and strategies that ensure all students can thrive. 

This is more than just a meeting—it’s a chance to: 

• Learn something new or see a familiar topic in a fresh light 

• Share your own experiences and insights 

• Ask questions and hear how others are navigating similar challenges 

• Build relationships and expand your professional network across the system 

We believe that the best ideas often emerge through conversation. Conversations with Colleagues is hosted by faculty and staff from the Minnesota State Educational Development Committee and is open to all who are interested in fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and mutual support. 

Join us—and be part of the conversation. 

Accommodations

The NED is committed to providing universal access to all of our events, we’d like to discover how we can make the event more inclusive so you can fully participate!

Machine generated captions are available in real-time for all Zoom events, however human generated CART (live caption) service and ASL interpretation can be requested with advanced notice (2 weeks) to make the event more accessible.

Please, let us know of any disability-related accommodations that will facilitate your full participation.

Registration Required

Use the RSVP tool below to register. After registering, a calendar invite will be sent to you as a reminder of the event start date.