KEEN National Conference
February 3-5, 2021 | Virtual
ONE GREAT EVENT. ENDLESS TAKEAWAYS.
Thank you for attending!
The 2021 KEEN National Conference (#KNC2021) was held from February 3-5, 2021.
Follow the links below to view the plenary talks, get resources, and engage with the presenters on their cards.
Innovate. Integrate. Motivate.
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"I appreciated the opportunity to hear from so many diverse voices across the network. I really enjoyed the blend of faculty voices at all different levels and the inclusion of thought leaders to share their insights."
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- Cheryl Bodnar, Rowan University
The #KNC2021 conference theme was built around Innovate. Integrate. Motivate.
In today’s world, an entrepreneurial mindset has never been more important. As faculty, staff, and administrators, you are the change agents responsible for graduating engineers with both the skillset and the mindset they need to succeed.
- As Innovators, you are reinventing engineering education - both to increase your students’ impact and to adapt to the new normal caused by the pandemic.
- As Integrators, you are implementing and sequencing high-quality student experiences - uniting mindset and skillset to unleash your students’ potential.
- As Motivators, you are inspiring your colleagues and students - fueling your passions and igniting the passions of those around you.
Keynote Speakers
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"Keynote addresses were uniformly excellent. Outstanding speakers and informative presentations."
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- Sundar Krishnamurty, University of Massachusetts
Our keynote speakers were:
- Angela Duckworth, Author and Founder & CEO, Character Lab. View her talk on kindness, grit, and character.
- Luis Perez-Breva, MIT Innovations Team Program. View his talk on what it really means to innovate.
- Kevin Bennet, Mayo Clinic and NaviNetics, Inc. View his talk on the entrepreneur engineer of today—and the future.
KEEN Talks
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"Empowering and well-presented plenaries that were complemented by opportunities to break out and work in smaller groups."
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- Mary Staehle, Rowan University
Our KEEN talkers were:
- Kris Ropella, Opus Dean of the Opus College of Engineering, Marquette University. There's nothing soft about the relational skills students need to become true leaders.
- AnnMarie Thomas, professor of Engineering and Entrepreneurship at the University of St. Thomas and director of Playful Learning Lab. Here's how to get new ideas by embracing the element of surprise!
- Olga Pierrakos, Founding Chair and Professor, Wake Forest University. Learn about the role we all play to ethically change the status of our profession.
- Margaret Pinnell, Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff Development at the University of Dayton. Reimagine the promotion & tenure process with this innovative policy.
Get the Plenary Playlist!
Access all the videos in one handy playlist, and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Sessions
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"I could tell that the presenters in each of my breakout sessions had gone to great lengths to make it an interactive experience. I really liked that format, and am very appreciative of the time and energy it took to make that happen."
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- Mike Rust, Western New England University
Here's a sample of the great breakout sessions from the conference:
Pandemic Insights
How has COVID impacted faculty development and engagement on your campus? What changes did you make inside and outside the classroom? Dig into remote hackathons, use a photography analogy to motivate independent learning, and more!
What Matters? Diversity and Inclusion
Courageously confront the changes needed in classrooms. Learn how to adopt entrepreneurial mindset strategies toward diversity and inclusion initiatives in your classroom, course, and program level activities. Plus, you're invited to contribute to a collaborative effort to share best practices and resources!
Supercharge Student Engagement
Student attention can be slippery to pin down. What are the mechanics behind human attention? Develop ways to make any topic, no matter how dry or technical, more interesting, curious, and engaging.
CardDeck: 2021 KNC Breakout Sessions
Get the full collection of the breakout sessions from the 2021 KEEN National Conference! Design, align, adapt, and implement concepts and experiences from engineering faculty around the nation.
Faculty Development National Workshops
Transform your teaching, research, or service.
Keep the collaboration going with faculty around the nation! Engineering Unleashed Faculty Development National Workshops deliver actionable, adaptable strategies and resources that empower you to create long-lasting value with the entrepreneurial mindset. You’ll receive expert facilitation and guidance in your workshop, and collaborate over the span of a year to bring a project to life on your campus.