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First eConcordia Summit a hit 

By Russ Cooper

On Sept. 10, nearly 350 people gathered at the Centre Mont Royal for the first edition of the eConcordia Summit; an event described by organizers as “a complete success.”

The all-day conference brought together technology, business and academic experts to discuss new approaches to e-learning. In between exhibitions and networking sessions, eight speakers delivered their observation, opinions and recommendations about the state of learning under the overall theme of the conference, ‘The cultural paradigm of technology and education.’

Among those present were, Concordia Board member and Chairman and Partner of Wynchurch Capital Richard J. Renaud (also co-chair of the conference), eConcordia President and CEO Andrew McAusland (who developed the summit's concept), University of Michigan professor and CEO of GoKnow Inc. Elliot Soloway, and President of Bell Canada Business Markets Stéphane Boisvert.

But the biggest draw was the keynote speech from Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak. In his well-received presentation directed at students, professionals and academics in attendance, Wozniak traced his lifelong dedication to learning through the use and evolution of technology – a dedication that ultimately resulted in his cult icon status as a technological revolutionary.

“I built a ham radio out of tubes and wires when I was a kid. [Very early in my life] I realized education could happen from very far away. [Being able to connect over long distances], that far away stuff… that felt like power to me," he said.

A former grade school teacher himself, he underlined that while the educational experience is continually accelerated by technology, the human element is irreplaceable.

"Just because a computer can do a million things a second doesn't mean it doesn't need a human mind to make sense of them," Wozniak said.

“It went so smoothly and the day's flow was perfect," said eConcordia Special Events Coordinator Dalia Bosis.

Bosis, who's organized many events (three editions of the Concordia Shuffle and the March to Jerusalem among her accomplishments) says this organizational experience was one unto its own.

"This to me was a challenge. I was a bit nervous because there were many different speakers and many technical requirements, but everything went better than planned,” she said. "Mr. Wozniak is such a down-to-earth person. I think he really had a good time and is eager to come back."