Organizers expect to have between 20 and 23 graduate student participants presenting research in this year’s annual Technology, Education and Research Conference, which takes place today in Bibb Graves Hall.

The event, which started in 2009, is a completely student-led conference and is hosted by the Department of Education, Leadership, Policy and Technology Studies’ course AIL 689. A majority of the students participating are higher education majors and will be pursuing future professional jobs with institutions of higher learning.

Shirley Farrell, a Ph. D. student of instructional technology, has been supporting the students for a while now and is excited about the event.

“This conference is where graduate students can present current research, research in action or research that they are proposing,” Farrel said.

She also said the participants wanted the audience to give some perspectives on current research, and what they could do better for next year.

Rebecca Odom-Bartell also had much to say about the event, themed “Exploring Horizons: Technology, Education, & Research,” and what attendees could expect from the program.

“This year, the students wanted to open the conference to other students around campus for a chance to present their research,” Bartell said. “We are pleased that students from Higher Education and Education Leadership within the College of Education have joined us, giving us several concurrent sessions.”

Vivian Wright, professor of the AIL 689 course, has been involved with the program for a long time.

“I have required the students to lead and develop the TERC since 2001, during each spring in which I teach the course,” Wright said.

The majority of the participating students are hopeful in engaging in a four-year institution or are leaders in education, either K-12 or higher, she said. She also said many of the students further develop the research that is presented at TERC into published journal articles and/or dissertation research.

Donations and sponsorships have come from the University of Alabama graduate school, ELPTS department, Instructional Technology Program, Alabama State Department of Education and the College of Continuing Studies.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Alabama Superintendent of Education Thomas Bice, and each attendee is expected to receive a registration packet and complimentary breakfast.