SOAR 2024 Recap

Technology is powerful and gives us access to a worldwide audience! In this keynote presentation, attendees took a deep dive into strategies to inspire students with the right tools and steps to make a positive footprint on the world. They also discovered the keys to transforming learning environments into places where students find their drive, harness their most powerful ideas, and are allowed Several Attempts in their Learning (S.A.I.L) to see their ideas begin to blossom.

Global challenges such as political instability, emerging market growth, inflation, de-dollarization, financial market controls, sector consolidations, and generational wealth shifts are significantly influencing discretionary spending, thereby shaping the landscape of innovation. This keynote session explored how cost remains a crucial factor in an era characterized by technology-driven innovation and optimized processes.

Vineet Jain is a distinguished finance transformation expert with over two decades of experience. Currently the Director of Finance Transformation CFO Services at Genpact USA, he has held key positions at IBM, Fidelity Investments, and Oracle Corporation. 

This session introduced the Integrated Cybersecurity Awareness Training (iCAT) model, addressing the evolving cybersecurity landscape. iCAT incorporates knowledge graphs, serious games, and micro-learning for flexibility and effectiveness. Real-time monitoring and feedback ensure engagement and knowledge retention, offering organizations an accessible and efficient training solution.

This session examined how artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as language translation and sentiment analysis, assist in bridging cultural communication gaps in compulsory education settings. By promoting inclusivity and cross-cultural understanding, AI empowers educators to create more equitable learning environments. The research presented explores the strengths and limitations of using AI in diverse classroom settings.

This presentation benchmarked Moodle's performance across varying user numbers for optimal implementation on privately-owned clouds, addressing challenges in Cloud Education and various technical aspects for self-hosted Moodle. 

It aimed to identify efficient Moodle deployment strategies for educational institutions, focusing on scalability and feasibility.

This presentation explored the transformative impact of AI and predictive analytics on epidemic response and public health surveillance. By leveraging advanced machine learning models, we can enhance disease prediction, improve outbreak management, and optimize resource allocation. These innovations promise to revolutionize public health strategies, ensuring timely and effective interventions.

This session outlined the redesign process for the first half of an undergraduate art history survey at a Southwestern community college, shifting from a chronological-region-based approach to a purely chronological organization.

The presentation detailed the course design methodology and discuss anticipated data for future revisions, offering insights into curriculum development in art history education.

This session explored the effectiveness and challenges of creating and conducting workshops on ESL digital learning resources to enhance the technological teaching strategies of ESL teachers at a language institute in Venezuela. Key findings from pre- and post-workshop surveys were presented to show the impact of the workshops.

This presentation revealed how integrating experiential learning with high-impact practices (HIPs) significantly boosts student achievement and retention. By attending this session, participants discovered effective strategies, real-life examples, and practical tips for educators, administrators, and policymakers to optimize academic success and personal development through internships, service-learning, and other hands-on opportunities.

This presentation demonstrated how the Gatherverse enhances communicative and academic English skills in learners from Lingowow school through activities designed to help students develop speaking skills and patterns for professional argumentation. Preliminary results showed an enhancement in students' performance when facing complex communicative tasks.

This presentation explored strategies and barriers associated with migrant teachers' technology integration to enhance the educational experience of the students. In the study, respondents will be determined by snowballing technique. The study is expected to shed light on unique challenges faced by migrant teachers in integrating technology into the classroom.

This session about the DEI Strategies for Success Model promoted innovative best practices to identify student challenges and provide resources that help overcome barriers. Attendees explored how these strategies enhance student success across five educational benchmarks: recruitment and access, retention, timely graduation, passing the NCLEX-RN exam on the first attempt, and entering the workforce as practice-ready RNs.

This presentation explored if there is any way to prolong physicians’ interaction with patients and how information technology helps to reduce the overloaded paperwork. Attendees discussed answers to why physicians spend only a few minutes while examining you and if modern information tools including AI technology and data science are a solution to this problem.

Through a quantitative analysis, this session explored the influence of SDOH on the life expectancy gap between two Florida counties, Collier (with high life expectancy) and Marion (with low life expectancy). 

Examining these two contrasting counties aims to identify how social determinants of health contribute to this disparity.

In this session, presenters examined the separate impacts of Sustainalytics -Morningstar E, S, G, ESG, and carbon risk scores on two financial performance indicators (return on invested capital and sales growth) and two risk-return performance indicators (Jennsen Alpha, and Sharp Ratio) of 100 randomly selected U.S. based equity ETFs.

This presentation highlighted how banks determine the creditworthiness of corporate clients based on the real experience of credit risk assessors working in the Egyptian banking sector.  Additionally, participants were able to learn how banks can mitigate the credit risk of corporate clients and why it is important.

In this session, the presenter examined the energy situation, challenges of energy access, and affordability in Kutumsang village. The study shown involved primary data collection through interviews and Q/A sessions with local authorities and residents, complemented by secondary data from academic journals and reports.

This session discussed a quantitative quasi-experimental research paving the way for leaders to use machine learning to enhance practical applications. Machine learning can be used in applications (e.g., demand forecasting, fraud transactions, customer service automation). This research will produce training to convert what may seem like an out-of-reach technology into practical applications.

This symposium session examined the security challenges of IoT devices and discussed future directions for enhancing IoT security. 

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of interconnected devices that communicate and exchange data. IoT devices have benefits across many sectors but have also pose a risk of cyber-attacks.

The key to running an efficient appointment-based business with numerous clients is to ensure you have a dynamic scheduling system. This presentation focused on Strategic Scheduling Optimization (SSO), which helps establish a cost-effective, well-organized allocation of resources to the right place at the right time on a daily basis. The result would be a leaner, more focused business that emancipates the business owner for maximum client engagement

In today's world, remote work has become the norm, but comes with cybersecurity challenges. In this presentation, we explored how to manage these challenges using a Cybersecurity Maturity Model. 

Attendees learned practical skills to assess and improve their organization’s security practices using effective strategies and current best practices.

This presentation explored the recent decline in corporate DEIA and CSR focus. Through interviews with Orange County CSR leaders and analysis of reports, the session investigated causes like economic conditions and political shifts. 

The talk examined consequences on employee morale, company reputation, and business performance, offering insights into this complex trend affecting organizations today.

This presentation discussed a research study that develops and validates a theoretical needs analysis framework for effective English-Medium Instruction (EMI) in Mexican higher education. 

It incorporated an integrative literature review, stakeholder feedback, and expert validation to create a theoretical framework for application in emerging contexts globally.

This session examined educators' views on how students' use of generative AI tools impacts academic performance and engagement. 

Attendees explored AI's influence on learning and classroom dynamics, providing insights for educators, policymakers, and technology developers.

This presentation explored how OpenAI can bridge global communication gaps in education, addressing language differences, cultural contexts, and ethical concerns such as privacy and bias. It aims to create equitable and inclusive learning experiences, providing a step towards greater access worldwide.