Service Desk

WNYRIC Tech Fest presentation schedule

Tech Fest Event Schedule

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Vendor Showcase: 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Light Breakfast Refreshments: 8:00am sponsored by M.A. Polce

Lunch (Grab & Go): begins at 11:30 am sponsored by Sedara

**Tech Fest Presentation Schedule**
8:30 - 9:20 am
Human Centered Learning for an AI World Room A1 \| ProSolve Let’s unlock the powerful synergy between AI and human-centered learning! Join us as we dial up the energy and activate your critical thinking, collaboration, and communication in this immersive and hands-on experience. Your team will quickly build synergy as you leverage your human-centered skills to tackle game-based problem-solving challenges, unleashing your creative potential. This session will not only leave you inspired about the impact of experiential learning, but you'll build trusting, collaborative relationships with your team of colleagues, all while having a ton of fun! Improve Visibility with Big Data (System Event Reporting) Room A2 \| WNYRIC - Katelyn Gilbert Are you overwhelmed or frustrated by the sheer volume of data logs you’re working with? Does troubleshooting slow you down? Explore the WNYRIC Big Data Service and how it can transform your data into real-time insights, actionable alerts, and comprehensive analytics. Learn how to improve daily operations, reduce service disruptions, and keep instruction moving. Save time for the problems that really matter! Improving Classroom Listening Environments While Creating a Safer Learning Space Room A4 \| Lightspeed The dynamics of education have changed. It is no secret that listening is critical to learning, but when you consider students spend 75% of their day in listening activities and students don’t hear like adults until the age of 15, it becomes vital to ensure all students are able to listen. This session will focus on the physics of sound and delivering a clear signal of sound to each and every student in a classroom. Additionally, the session will address the growing concern of school safety and how you can incorporate building communications and emergency alert functionality into your buildings and classrooms to create a safer learning space.
9:35 - 10:25 am
Fortinet’s Secure Networking - Simple, Secure and Cost Effective Room A1 \| Fortinet Fortinet provides E-rate eligible security and networking solutions. At the heart of a Fortinet Secure Networking solution is a FortiGate firewall, which every WNYRIC district already owns. The FortiGate converges Wi-Fi, switching, Network Access Control (NAC) and security into a simple-to-manage, secure architecture without the need for separate wireless controllers, costly cloud management or AP licensing, hence offering schools the most secure and cost-effective network solutions available. How to Get the Most Out of the Aidable Cybersecurity Services Available to Your K-12 District Room A2 \| Sedara We’ll explore the aidable value that Managed Detection and Response (MDR)/ Extended Detection and Response (EDR) and vCISO cybersecurity solutions bring to K-12 school directs. These services complement the Erie 1 BOCES cybersecurity offerings by offering 24x7 threat detection, incident response and compliance support, addressing the unique challenges faced by educational institutions. Attendees will discover how these services bolster incident response capabilities, ensuring data privacy and regulatory compliance. Join us for an enlightening session on empowering your school district to safeguard its digital ecosystems. Aruba Switching Updates/Aruba WiFi Updates Room A4 \| Aruba • Aruba Switching updates: An overview of our edge to core switching solution with a focus on what’s new and on the roadmap. We will also focus on our 10K AMD/Pensando Solution. • Aruba WiFi platform updates: A look at WIFI 7 as well as an overview of what’s new with our Wireless portfolio. We will also explore our private 5G offering.
10:40 - 11:30 am
Education Demands Continue to Push the Boundaries of WiFi for K-12 Room A1 \| Extreme Networks In the rapidly evolving landscape of K-12 education, the demand for robust, high-speed, and reliable Wi-Fi connectivity has never been higher. This presentation will delve into the critical role that advanced Wi-Fi solutions play in modernizing learning environments and ensuring seamless educational experiences. Key discussion points include: Increased Bandwidth and Network Speeds with Wi-Fi 7 & 6E Future-Proofing Educational Technology Increase Student Engagement, Success, and Staff Productivity Build Advanced Intelligence into Schools Protect Students, Teachers and Staff Infiltrating the Shadows: An Inside Look at a Real-Life Cybersecurity Breach Room A2 \| Sedara Join us for a compelling presentation where we delve deep into a real-life cybersecurity breach. We'll take you behind the scenes, revealing the sophisticated techniques used by attackers and the critical moments in the response process. This session provides an insider's view into how vulnerabilities were exploited and the steps taken to mitigate the damage, offering valuable lessons and strategies for enhancing your district's security posture. 2024 Update: Trends in Selecting and Managing Edge UPSs Room A4 \| Stark Tech UPSs age and batteries will fail but how can you be more proactive and avoid the fire drill to repair or replace? Manage your UPS environment more effectively with the selection of the appropriate UPS technology (consider LION batteries) and a centralized cloud management tool (Critical Labs).
11:30 am - 12:35 pm
Lunch Buffet served in the B Building, seating available in B1, B2 and A1
12:35 - 1:25 pm
Priorities for Adopting an Exponential IT Mindset in K-12 Education Room A1 \| Dr. Elizabeth Freas, WNYRIC and Carlos Thomas, Info-Tech K-12 education institutions struggle to balance the need for cost optimization in a straitened environment while investing in technology to remain competitive and relevant. IT leaders must no longer be spectators of innovation; they must become strategic institutional partners to the organization’s success. Through visionary guidance, Exponential IT should be explored and adopted to secure a strong position within the evolving landscape of the K-12 industry. How Emerging Technologies are Enabling Data-Driven Leadership Room A2 \| Lightspeed Systems Is data guiding your district strategies on AI policy and usage, digital equity, and purchasing? Gaps in data pose the greatest risk to effective leadership. Join this presentation with Lightspeed Systems to learn emerging best practices on using data to manage the integration of AI tools, on unearthing data on under-utilized or unapproved application usage, and to learn how Lightspeed Digital Insight and Equity can provide concrete home connectivity data to assist in closing digital equity gaps. Navigating Security Challenges in Education with Clear Touch & EDLA Panels Room A4 \| Clear Touch Interactive Join Clear Touch Training Specialist, Chelsea Brien, as she breaks barriers by discussing issues technology professionals face in the educational realm on a day-to-day basis. Follow along as she discusses EDLA certified panels and what that means for security. During this session, attendees will engage as she discusses solutions, such as panel management, emergency notifications, Google Workspace accessibility, and more. All expertise welcome!
1:30
Closing, Cookies and Raffle B2