Effective teaching starts with recognizing the humanity of learners. Our innate desire to learn, our need to connect with ideas and with people, and our uniquely human capacity to make sense of the world are at the heart of successful pedagogy. If humanness is central to learning, then where does technology come in? Does technology diminish humanness or extend it? In practice, are there ways that professors can harness the promise of modern technologies in order to promote the human experience of learning?

The speakers have wrestled-sometimes successfully-with these questions. In the spirit of those questions, this talk isn't a talk but a conversation between the two of us about what we have done with technology in our courses, why we've done it, and what we've learned in the process. While some of our conversation will be scripted, our goal is to open up further dialogue with and among the participants as we all seek to respond to these important questions about using technology in teaching.

Robert Talbert is an Associate Professor in the Mathematics Department at Grand Valley State University. Prior to coming to GVSU, he was Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computing Science at Franklin College (2001-2011) and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Bethel College, Indiana (1997-2001). He holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University, where he was a Master Teaching Fellow at the Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching. His mathematical interests include category theory, cryptography, and computer science. His interests in mathematics pedagogy include the inverted or flipped classroom and the use of technology to support active learning environments in the STEM disciplines, particularly through the use of peer instruction, screencasting, classroom response systems, and the fusion of mathematics and computer programming.

Matt Boelkins is Professor of Mathematics at Grand Valley State University, where he has been a member of the faculty for nearly 20 years. A passionate teacher, Professor Boelkins has been recognized with several teaching-related honors, including the university's Niemeyer Award. He has co-authored several research papers with undergraduate students and is also the co-author of three textbooks, including the free, open-source Active Calculus. Professor Boelkins is Director of New Student Advising & Registration at GVSU, in which he leads the large team of staff, faculty, and returning undergraduate student assistants that welcomes Grand Valley's annual incoming class of more than 4000 students. In addition, he is an active member of the Mathematical Association of America, and he is currently serving the Association as its first vice president. In his spare time, Matt enjoys fly fishing on Michigan rivers and refereeing youth ice hockey

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